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Community Links
20/02/2018 14:54:00......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
Continuing the theme of meeting stakeholders in our community, we recently had the opportunity to meet the trustees of the Turnpike Hill Estate (THT – www.turnpike.org.uk). Their primary aim is the continued improvement of the Estate and the well-being of its residents. Issues raised included additional security and accessibility measures in response to incidents of criminal activity, damage to property and general anti-social behaviour often committed by outsiders. We promised to keep in regular contact, liaise with Safer Neighbourhood Teams and offer our future support in any way we can, particularly if elected as their local councillors on 3 May. When subsequently talking to the Turnpike Link residents, while these issues were clearly a concern, what was apparent was a positive response on the doorstep with a genuine community spirit and a willingness to see the continued improvement of the Estate for the benefit of all.
Conservatives - Cleaning Up in Addiscombe West!
23/04/2018 10:34:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
A big thank-you to local residents, and not forgetting Lexi the dog, who turned out for the second of our "Clean Up Addiscombe" events. It was wonderful to see both familiar and new faces, who clearly care so much about their local community. A great team effort collecting a huge amount of litter and reporting several fly-tips in the area. Over the last six months, Jade, Lindsey and myself have had the opportunity of meeting many local residents, listening to their concerns, and on 3rd May we can all bring about change in Addiscombe West and Croydon as a whole by voting Conservative.
Little Road Playground
16/04/2018 17:16:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
Little Road Playground is under threat - having lost its protections under Labour's Local Plan. It is one of the few places for kids to play in the area, serving residents from across western Addiscombe.
I am campaigning for a Council that is on your side - one which will protect Little Road Playground. It is terrible that an important public space like it would lose protections in the first place.
When East Meets West.......in Addiscombe!
14/04/2018 16:00:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
A great opportunity for local residents to "Meet the Candidates" on our combined Addiscombe stand. Our excellent local candidates were ably supported by neighbouring Shirley Cllrs. Sue Bennett and Richard Chatterjee, and from further afield, Cllrs. Margaret Bird and Jan Buttinger. Time and again residents voiced their frustration at the continued closure of Blackhorse Lane, Labour's total traffic mis-management in Addiscombe West and increased fly-tipping throughout the borough. Sadly, in view of recent events, the increased incidents of knife crime was also a major concern. With Manifestos, election addresses and posters in hand, we were able to spread the message that 3rd May can bring about change in Addiscombe East and West, and Croydon as a whole.
Spring Clean Up Addiscombe
06/04/2018 10:44:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
Over the last few months we have been out and about across Addiscombe. Residents have told us time and again that fly-tipping, street cleaning, litter and graffiti are major concerns and we want to start to tackle this together! Armed with black sacks and litter pickers we'll be collecting rubbish and reporting graffiti and fly-tipping.
COME AND JOIN US! - Sunday 22 April 2018 - 12 Noon - Meet at the junction of Addiscombe Road and Park Hill Rise. ( oppositeThe Cricketers pub - Lebanon Rd Tram Stop )
See you there!
Addiscombe West Action Day
27/02/2018 14:02:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
A huge thank you from Jade, Lindsey and myself to those who turned out in numbers from across the borough and beyond to give support to the Addiscombe West campaign. Whilst the weather was decidedly chilly the response was far from it. Covering the ward over two sessions the recurring theme is that Labour is not listening to residents' concerns. This applies to borough-wide issues such as their Local Plan, the threat to Croydon's valuable green spaces, delivery of Westfield, re-opening of Fairfield, the 20mph speed limit and local issues such as CPZs, fly-tipping and the traffic mis-management system. But it doesn't have to be this way, change can happen, and with sufficient support that change can begin on 3 May.
Local campaign to save The Glamorgan Pub
21/02/2018 17:09:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
Already boarded up, becoming increasingly derelict and attracting fly-tippers, The Glamorgan is quickly becoming Addiscombe's latest eyesore. Local residents and campaign groups (www.change.org/p/croydon-council-croydon-planning-department-save-the-glamorgan-pub) are working together to get it designated as an ACV (Asset of Community Value) - "the new owners want to demolish it and replace with flats. We want to save it and make it a community pub for all". Addiscombe West Conservative candidates are happy to support this campaign.
Meeting local community organisations
19/02/2018 16:12:00.......Posted by Michael O'Dwyer
An important part of our campaign is meeting as many groups and individuals who have a vested interest in improving the area and bringing people together for the benefit of all. We were delighted therefore to have the opportunity to meet up with East Croydon Community Organisation (ECCO – www.eastcroydon.org.uk) whose aims are "to bring together, represent and promote the interests and well-being of residents and organisations in the area".
Issues raised included the lack of affordable housing and high cost of renting. This can lead to a transitory population who are often less likely to engage with their neighbours and may have a lower regard for the area as a whole. It is estimated that 25% of the population within the ECCO area changes every year. Other concerns were the introduction of the divisive one-way traffic system, the delivery of Westfield and the delayed re-opening of Fairfield.
These will become our priorities with the return of Addiscombe West Conservative candidates and a Conservative Council on 3 May.
Meeting and Listening to the residents of Addiscombe West
12/02/2018 15:42:00.......Posted by Lindsey Blackburn
Since October 17, Jade Appleton, Lindsey Blackburn and Michael O'Dwyer the Addiscombe West Conservative Candidates for the May 18 Council elections have been out and about on the streets of Addiscombe West meeting and listening to residents. We have heard the frustrations at the Labour Council's inability to keep the streets clean, delays in Westfield and Fairfield Hall, parking issues, the confusion over 20 mph implementation and signage and mixed views on the new one way system. We're committed to continuing to listen to residents and will fight for to make Addiscombe West a better place for all.
Holocaust Memorial Day
26/01/2018.......Posted by Jade Appleton
The Power of Words was the theme for the Memorial Service held at the Town Hall.
"Words can make a difference - both for good and evil".
With poetry, songs and testimonies written and performed by Croydon schools, a string quartet from Whitgift School and witness accounts from a survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto. I attended with my wife, Marion, whose mother and two aunts arrived in England from Vienna in 1939 on the Kindertransport. By this time Austria had been annexed into Nazi Germany and her grandparents and extended maternal family ultimately all perished, but to this day in circumstances unknown.
As well as remembering the horrors of the Holocaust it was also a reminder that history can and does repeat itself with genocides committed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.......Lest We Forget.
Introduction of Controlled Parking Zones
11/01/2018.......Posted by Jade Appleton
After listening to residents on the doorstep, feelings are running high in the roads recently consulted on the introducton of a CPZ.
The majority of respondents in Rymer, Stretton and Vincent Roads opposed its introduction but it seems that Labour is still pushing ahead, despite their pledge "It will not be imposed on any roads that vote against the proposals".
With this in mind we petitioned the roads (email your petition support to firstname.lastname@example.com) to get this decision overturned.
We also put a public question to Cllr. King, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, at the full Council Meeting on 29/01/2018 (can be viewed on Croydon Council webcast from 23mins). The next Traffic Management Advisory Committee meets on 06/02/2018 so there should be more information then.
See older blog posts


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Hey guys, I don't know if anyone is interested in the mental side to tennis, but I recently stumbled across a site that gives you a free 2 week lesson. I tried it out and seemed to help out quite a bit, just thought I'd share. The site is:
Does anyone else know any good sites for helping the mental portion of tennis (since it's so significant)?

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
Text number is 72718
"Many thanks to each of the TS Bank and TS Institute employees for their support, guidance, help, time and talent in launching a student bank at Rue Elementary. I was positively overwhelmed by the number of bank, school, community members and Rue parents who attended the bank open house. We have a great thing going with the TS Bank and TS Institute partnership -- You can bank on it!"
Tips and advice on how to protect your accounts online activity to prevent theft, fraud and maximize your security.Learn more


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Ernst Lieb, the U.S. Chief Executive fired last October for allegedly violating Mercedes-Benz ethics policies plans to refute the charges in a German court.
The popular former executive claims, through his attorney, that he did not misuse company funds – and will fight to reverse his dismissal.
"None of the accusations are justified. And we will prove that," attorney Stefan Naegele told Automotive News.
The firing, he insisted, was the result of an unfair crackdown by Mercedes' parent, Daimler AG, which has been struggling to prove that it no longer tolerates the ethical lapses that cost it $185 million in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department in 2010.


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Five Things to Look for at the 2013 ACM Awards
The 2013 ACM Awards are just days away, and while the country music industry is anxiously awaiting to see who wins the big awards, fans are looking forward to the performances, surprise collaborations and unexpected moments of brilliance. These potential moments could prove to be the ones fans are talking about come Monday.
Eric Church leads all nominees with six in 2013, followed by Hunter Hayes with five and Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert with four each. If history has taught us anything, it's that losing early in the night could pay off big later. From George Strait to Joe Diffie, we've got five things to look for at the 2013 ACM Awards in Las Vegas.
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Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan's Chemistry
The 2013 ACM Awards will ultimately be remembered for how well Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan work together. Both have a unique sense of humor, and the top awards shows recognize talent and let that dictate the direction. If the two men are asked to act out gags not of their making, it could become uncomfortable.
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Will Brantley Gilbert and Jana Kramer Walk the Red Carpet Together?
They're engaged and have been dating for over a year, but Brantley Gilbert and Jana Kramer have yet to officially appear together. Both were photographed solo at the 2012 CMA and ACA Awards. They're such a striking couple, one begs to see them shine together.
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Garth Brooks and George Strait... Together
George Strait and Garth Brooks have never taken the stage together, but the two most recent ACM Artists of the Decade will sing together to honor Dick Clark on April 7. Clark was the longtime producer of the ACMs, as well as the man behind many other awards shows. The rare musical event almost overshadows the purpose, however. One wonders what the two legends will sing. Is it too early to start rumors that they'll be touring together? Probably.
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Who Loses the Male and Female Vocalist Awards
In the last 20 years, only three ACM Entertainer of the Year winners also won their respective Male or Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Carrie Underwood was the last to do it in 2008, and before her it was Toby Keith (2003) and Reba McEntire (1994). This signifies two things: that the industry likes to split a ballot to recognize as many stars as possible, and -- more recently -- fan votes aren't in line with industry votes. Taylor Swift has never won a Female Vocalist Award, yet she's won three straight ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies. Expect the night's big winner to lose in these earlier categories.
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Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie
Joe Diffie wasn't a part of Jason Aldean's '1994' video, so there's really only one last chance for a magical collaboration (the CMA Awards would come after the buzz wears off). The 'Pickup Man' singer hasn't been a part of the ACM Awards in years, but if he's not involved in this year's ceremony, all parties missed a great opportunity. Really, one would have to wonder why. According to his official website, Diffie has a day off from the road on April 7.


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In early March, researchers at the 2014 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) revealed a stark 12.1% HIV incidence among young black gay men in Atlanta, Georgia -- the highest rate ever measured in any population of a resource-rich nation.
We turned to one of the early strategists of the HIV prevention justice movement, the Atlanta-based writer Charles Stephens, to weigh in on this data and to spell out (in a four-point plan!) what is needed for a more effective and just response.
In the research presented at CROI, researchers pointed to multiple structural factors including imprisonment, unemployment, and lack of health insurance as primary contributors to the high rate. Adding the growing recognition of high HIV infection rates among young black gay and bisexual men to persistent calls in Atlanta and across the South to expand Medicaid to provide critical access to health care, the study illustrates on how these factors are so strongly intertwined in perpetuating the epidemic.
Stephens weighs in on the implications of the study, revealing layered issues of collective trauma, cultural and sexual identity, intimacy and desire, structural violence, and the everyday stigma that young black gay men face. In this interview with HIV PJA, Charles challenges the institution of public health, calling for a deeper-level of understanding what young black gay men face. He discusses how a new era of prevention strategies -- in which promotion of resiliency is twinned with policy change -- could curb the rising HIV epidemic among young black gay men in Atlanta and beyond.
HIV PJA: What was your first reaction hearing about this study at CROI and the 12.1% incidence rate?
Charles Stephens: I've been hearing statistics like this, doom and gloom, my entire life. Initially, it was about gun violence, drugs, or incarceration. Then it was about HIV. Unfortunately, the counter to this is often rooted in incentivizing and affirming various kinds of institutional assimilation, representative of pictures of black kids getting into Harvard.
This "talented-tenthism" reproduces a kind of mythology that institutional access, no matter how limited, is an example of collective social uplift. I think it's very dizzying, these simplistic depictions (statistics are a form of representation too) that as black men we get shoved into. And HIV statistics also paint both a very clear, but also very narrow picture of what it means to be a black gay man, and certainly a young black gay/bisexual man in this culture today. It can feel very overwhelming.
HIV PJA: The research that came out of CROI, reinforces much of what we already know about how structural factors such as incarceration and unemployment impact a highly marginalized and misunderstood community. What do you think is contributing high incidence among young black gay men in Atlanta?
CS: First, the role of collective trauma as a structural vulnerability that impacts the lives of black gay and bisexual men, and even young black gay and bisexual men. This needs to be considered more. We still have yet to fully grasp the impact of AIDS and death on the 1980s generation of black gay and bisexual men, and all of that "unmourned grief."
My question is, what happens to a community or communities, a culture, when in a decade or more, many if not most, of the leaders, artists, visionaries, warriors, are taken away, and in a relatively short amount of time. How does that impact not only the cultural production, economic power, political force, of a people, but its spirit? What happens to the spirit of that community? The political will? The agency? The cultural landscape? I believe that collective trauma has functioned as a major structural vulnerability for not just individual black gay and bisexual men, but black gay and bisexual communities. It's insufficient to only speak of networks from a sexual risk perspective, without considering how trauma also impacts many of those networks, many of those groups. The problem isn't black men sleeping with each other, it's the environment that surrounds them.
Second, certainly having access to all of the tools that are currently available is critical. Expanding Medicaid in Georgia is essential, as is access to sexual health education, condoms, PrEP, PEP, Treatment and Care for HIV positive individuals, and everything else in our arsenal. We need every tool and resource available to us in the hands of young black gay men.
We also have to understand the ways that "no fats, no fems," and other forms of micro-aggression that we have absorbed from the dominant culture and reproduce among ourselves, diminishes our resilience and disrupts our agency. What does it mean to access an app looking for community, or even momentarily sexual pleasure, and be assaulted or affirmed based on your ability to embody the values of the dominant culture? We are rewarded and punished based on our compliance to narrow notions of desirability. Which I think also stems from early boyhood trauma and wanting to be accepted by other boys, or at least survive them. We must figure out ways to create healthier and more affirming spaces. Spaces where young black gay and bisexual men can be affirmed, feel valued, and feel recognized not just based on their desirability, though certainly eros is important too, but also their humanity.
Though I recognize that structural violence often takes the form of oppressive federal and state policies, we also have to think about structural violence as manifested ideologically and institutionally. Ideology is the hammer of structural violence, the boot, the fist, the Public Relations division. It's not enough to say: use a condom, get PrEP, fill out that housing application, fill out this treatment application, go see your Case Manager, call your therapist, go get insurance ... navigating bureaucracies, even the most culturally competent ones is an exercise in resilience for even the most empowered people. So we have to be willing to identify ways to build the agency of young black gay and bisexual men. Especially when so many forces around them tell them "no."
HIV PJA: Is there a hidden story? What do you think is not revealed in this study?
CS: We need to better understand how black men having other black sexual partners might describe some of the HIV vulnerability we are facing, while being careful not to stigmatize the intimacy between black men, which I think may be a kind of implicit assumption of this framing around sexual networks.
I believe that the prevalence of HIV in sexual networks of black men is perhaps descriptive, yes, but I worry that this descriptor may tumble down into the realm of causation, which I think can lead to some conclusions that might reproduce the things we are attempting to interrupt.


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Was I just talking about the heat not too long ago? As June rolls in, so does our rainy (or "wet") season, the second season of our two-season year (the other being, you guessed it, "dry" – or summer if you want to give it a prettier name). The season's misty monsoon spray showers us all, bringing with it its usual accoutrements – grey skies and power outages, leaks and traffic, and on the more serious side, the dreaded typhoons.
Although a gloomy, overcast aura that hangs over the city (and nothing does gloomy like a city in the rain) and slowly dampens warms summer spirits, there is a silver lining for those who care to see it. After the blazing heat of the summer, the rains bring me fresh relief (and I love summer so don't think I'm a sun-shunner). The steady thrum of raindrops, even the severe lashing of torrential downpours, can make my oft-too-hot apartment seem like a cozy and cool cave. I sometimes open the windows just a sliver to let some of that chilly wind in (supervised of course). Weekends ensconced in a warm duvet, good books tucked into its folds, musings both important and random to keep me entertained – that's rainy season.
And that is not even saying anything about the absolute best part of all this – the comfort food! Soups, stews, hot chocolate! I love this type of food, both the making and the eating of it. Slow-simmered pots of goodness, hearty with sustenance and comfort and memories. Unfortunately, with most of the year being under a glorious tropical blanket of humidity, this is really not the place to indulge in such home-and-hearth dishes. Which doesn't stop me of course. It's just much better to enjoy them when you aren't breaking a sweat.
I've spoken about munggo guisado before and how much I love this humble bean stew. It is a dish that crosses many social, political, and economic barriers over here. Eaten by all. Perhaps not enjoyed by all though, but definitely enjoyed by my brother and I who, even as children, would scrape our bowls of munggo clean and fight over the last remnants in the pot. This definitely ranks as one of my top comfort foods of all time. I can eat this for days on end and still come back, like little Oliver, empty bowl in hand, asking for more.
Munggo Guisado is basically a kind of bean stew using munggo or mung beans. The beans are boiled until soft, and then sautéed with a mixture or onions, garlic, tomatoes, flavourings, vegetables, meat or fish…or any combination thereof. It's very typical here, the type of dish you would find in somebody's home rather than on a Filipino restaurant menu.
Since I started cooking munggo on my own, I've experimented quite a bit. Beans being what they are, this dish is open to limitless versions. Here is one of my favourites (with tinapang bangus – smoked milkfish). This is another.
Spanish-style Munggo Guisado
- 250 grams munggo beans
- 4 cups of water
- 4 – 5 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 150 grams Spanish chorizo for cooking (either what is known here as chorizo bilbao, or any other Spanish-style chorizo that is meant for cooking)
- 100 grams slab bacon, chopped
- 1 cup malunggay (moringa) leaves, optional
- Canola oil
- Sea salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
– Clean the munggo by dunking the beans in a bowl of tap water and skimming off the "floaters".
– Place munggo in a pot with the 4 cups of water and cook on low heat until soft (around an hour, more or less). Add water if you see it drying out.
– Once beans are done, start with your guisa (sauté).
– Heat some oil in a large pan (large enough to fit all your cooked and softened munggo).
– Sauté garlic, onions, and bay leaf until the onions are soft.
– Add the bacon and chorizo and sauté until the bacon is cooked but still soft and the chorizo has rendered its orange oil.
– Add cooked munggo and stir. If you have a lot of liquid with your munggo don't add it in all at once, add all the beans and some of the liquid first. As you cook the stew, keep adding liquid until you reach your desired consistency. Some like this very soupy, some like it thick.
– Let it simmer until all the flavours have melded together, about 20 minutes, stirring every so often. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
– If using, add malunggay leaves, give it a few stirs (they'll cook fast), and you're done.
If you really want to give this amazing depth of flavour, boil the beans in ham stock instead of water, just make sure to taste before adding any salt…you may not even need any. If you don't have 4 cups of ham stock lying around you can use part ham stock or part water. Or you can also toss a small piece of ham bone in the water when boiling the beans.
If you don't have any slab bacon you can use whatever bacon you do have. I've labelled the malunggay (moringa) leaves optional because it doesn't really fit with the Spanish theme but I really do love greens in my munggo so I always add them – and it still does taste wonderful with this addition. I like to eat this atop a bowl of steaming rice with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Some argue that I've fancied our munggo up unnecessarily with this but I have to disagree. I think munggo is a perfect canvas for all sorts of adaptations and we should experiment far and wide with our little green bean. Why would we give the same treatment to lentils but not munggo? And it's delicious! Which is really all the reason I need to make something 🙂
As I type this the sun has peeked out again, hissing at the moist leavings of last night's rain. But this is only the beginning of rainy season, so I foresee more munggo on the horizon.


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Friday, October 7, 2011
39 Sites For Using iPads in the Classroom
How Much Did Steve Jobs Change the World? You might be reading this on your iPhone, iPad or computer, but whether or not you have a Macintosh or a PC, Steve Jobs is responsible for so much of the technology we are using today. Did you know that Windows computers copied the drop-down window interface from Apple computers? Yes, all true. So today, when the power went out in the school and we couldn't get on the Internet, I noticed what an important part of my life technology has become. Talk about making a dent in the world. Jobs' legacy will live on in generations to come. Here are 39 sites for using one of Jobs' greatest innovations: THE iPAD.
5 Great iPad Apps For Early Childhood Teachers
10 iPad Apps Everyone Should Have- from PC Magazine
10 Must Have iPad Apps for Students and Teachers
10 Ways to Use iPads in Your Classroom
40 iPad Apps Librarians Love
40 Most Awesome iPad Apps for Science Students
50+ iPad Apps By a Geography Teacher
62 Interesting Ways to Use an iPad in the Classroom
100 Incredibly Useful and Free iPad Apps
Best Academic Reference Apps for the iPad- some $$, some free
A Day in the Life of the iPad Classroom
The Debate Over iPads in Education
Digital Storytelling with the iPad
An Incredible Way to Teach Music Using iPads in the Classroom- from Edudemic
Five Ways Readers Are Using iPads in the Classroom
Getting Started With iPads- site is constantly being updated
How to Access Over 30,000 Free Books For the iPad
How to Set Up Class iPads and iPods
iPad Apps- from Teach With Your iPad Wiki
iPad Apps for Kids in the Classroom
iPad Apps for Physical Education
iPad Apps for Social Studies- LiveBinder covers civics and government, geography and culture, U.S. history, world history.
iPad Resources I Can Use- comprehensive LiveBinder
iPads For Education
iPads in the Classroom- Kathy Schrock's web site
iPads in School- this blog is all about just that
iPads in Schools LiveBinder- comprehensive site
iPads in Science
Math That Moves: Embracing the iPad in the Classroom- New York Times
Mobile Learning 4 Special Needs
Pros and Cons of iPads in the Classroom- from Forbes Magazine
Quick List of iPad Resources For the Classroom- from Steven Anderson's blog
Road Show- Browse your favorite websites — Vimeo, Funny or Die, MSNBC, TED Talks, and thousands more — to find great videos.
ScreenChomp- app for the iPad; share lessons on your iPad
Snag Films iPad App- free full length documentaries
Top 20 iPad Apps for Teachers
The Ultimate Guide to Using iPads in the Classroom- from Cool Stuff For Nerdy Teachers
The Ultimate Guide to Using iPads in the Classroom- from Edudemic
Using My iPad in the Classroom This Year- the Nerdy Teacher
Posted by Julie Greller at 7:24 AM 16 comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Oh, How Young Kids Love Dinosaurs! Here Are 33 Web Pages About Dinosaurs
Best Books For Teaching About Dinosaurs- from Education World
Billy Bear's Land O' Dinosaurs- story with links
Books About Dinosaurs-books here for kids and teachers (reference books)
Books About Dinosaurs- from Barnes and Noble; reviews online
Dinobuzz- current topics concerning dinosaurs
Dinosaur Central- Dino viewer from Discovery
Dinosaur Crafts- from Enchanted Learning
Dinosaur Floor- why dinosaurs are extinct
Dinosaur Hall- The Academy of Natural Sciences
Dinosaur Lesson Plans- from Lesson Plans Page
Dinosaur Safari- The UnMuseum of UnNatural History
Dino Dictionary- dinosaurs from A to Z
Dino Time Machine- fun, facts, books, toys
Dinobuzz- topics which concern dinosaurs
Dinodig-online games
Dinopedia- a wiki about prehistoric life
The Division of Paleontology- American Museum of Natural History
Enchanted Learning-lots of fun!
Great Dinosaur Books for Kids- from Amazon.com; reviews online
National History Museum- (England)
Printable Dinosaur Worksheets- from TeAchnology
Sue at the Field Museum- The largest, most complete, best preserved T. rex
Take a Closer Look at Bizarre Dinosaurs- interactive from National Geographic
Posted by Julie Greller at 5:39 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: dino, dinosaur, dinosaurs, museums, natural history, paleontology, safari, tyrannosaurus rex
Sunday, October 2, 2011
New Page For Media Specialists and Teacher-Librarians
Posted by Julie Greller at 4:49 PM No comments: Links to this post
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11 Ways To Green Your School
Whether you are a parent, teacher, school staff member, student, or community volunteer, you want your school to provide a healthy, welcoming place to learn. Green schools aren't just important on Earth Day, so the Center for Green Schools came up with 11 simple ways you can help make your school greener year-round! You can also see this piece featured on Kiwi Magazine's Blog !
- Ready, set – wait, where do we start?
It's hard to know what to fix if you don't know where you stand. If you want to kick off a recycling or composting program at your school, it's helpful to know how much of each kind of waste your school produces so you target the right items. If you want to help your school save energy, you need to know how much energy it uses today and where the biggest energy inefficiencies are. There are a lot of reasons to find out where your starting point is—the celebration of your school's success will be so much sweeter if you can measure how far you've come. And showing measurable success is the best way to get others on board to help out.
- Go behind the scenes
Speaking of figuring out where your school stands—why not ask the real experts? When is the last time you talked to your school's custodians? The men and women who take care of school buildings are the best source for knowledge about how to make schools more efficient, healthier, and more environmentally responsible. They have often been trained on green cleaning methods or energy efficiency initiatives. Where can the lights be turned off more often? Why is there a strange smell in that corner room? They know their buildings inside and out, and asking them for ideas is a great way to appreciate their work and bring them onto the team.
- Put the kids in charge
If you are a parent or you work with kids, you know that no group is better able or more willing to speak up about why being smart about the environment is important than kids–they get it! Students across the country are starting green clubs in their schools, with the help and support of teachers and parents. These students plant gardens on school property, calculate carbon footprints, advocate for environmentally preferable purchasing, assess school energy use, enforce the school's recycling program with their peers, encourage teachers to bring sustainability curriculum into the classroom, and much more. Help start a club at your school, and let the kids run with it!
- "Hey, what's this thing do?"
Your school might already be a green school. Heck, your school might be the greenest school in the world. But how would you know? There is a simple way to find out (and share) this information: SIGNS! We've seen some fantastic examples of schools that use signs to help tell their buildings' stories. Take a look at this video about Manassas Park Elementary in Virginia, where you can see all of the various ways the school tells its occupants what's going on around them. The more you find out about your school and how it works, the more you will gain to share with all of the students, faculty and staff in the building. If you want to green your school, everyone needs to feel like they're part of the team—and people don't get behind something they don't understand.
- You are what you eat…and recycle, throw away and compost…
The attention that school lunch food has been getting lately—through programs like Alice Water's Edible Schoolyard and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution—is beginning to change the way Americans look at the food we give our kids. You can get the movement started at your school in a number of ways. You can plant a school vegetable garden to help students understand where food comes from. You can work with kids to prepare fresh meals or snacks that they can enjoy on the spot. And don't forget about the opposite end of the lunch period—what about hosting a waste-free snacks day?
- Let the Sun Shine In
If you've ever had to spend a few hours in a windowless office or conference room, no one needs to tell you much about the relationship between daylight and productivity (and happiness!). But in case there is any doubt, several studies have connected the two in adults as well as children. So open the blinds! Take that student artwork off the windows and hang it somewhere else. No windows or small windows in your kids' classroom? Move class outdoors every once in a while or to a room with more access to the sunshine.
- You know it's dust, but what IS it?
We don't always think about it, but dust is not just magically-appearing gray clouds. It comes from our clothes, our skin, and various other items we use during the day. It also, importantly, contains dust mites and cockroach dander (yes, it's true!) that can be very harmful to breathe, especially to kids with asthma or other respiratory problems. The EPA's Tools for Schools Indoor Air Quality program gives tips for keeping a healthy classroom—one of the simplest and most crucial is to clean out the clutter. Those corner piles of paper and decorations and science experiments serve as great collection areas for dust—not to mention their tendency to block daylight from windows and get in the way of air conditioning and heating vents. Clean them out and your classroom will be automatically easier to keep clean and healthy.
- No really, what is that smell?
We know schools can really smell—whether it's someone's day-old snack, the students' recess sweat, or the closet full of who-knows-what. The temptation is to mask all those smells with plug-in or spray air fresheners, but please don't! The problem is that those smells could also be coming from mildew under the sink, cleaners or sealants used by the custodian, mold above the ceiling tiles, or any number of other sources. If you mask the smell with something additional (like the air freshener), you're not only NOT getting rid of the problem, you're also ADDING to the asthma triggers within the classroom. Air fresheners and bleach-based cleaners do not make air better for students and teachers; they only add other smells on top of an already bad situation. Learn more about air quality in classrooms by exploring the Green Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality resources from the Healthy Schools Campaign and by taking a virtual walkthrough developed by Greenguard.
- Lights out!
Did you know that lighting typically uses over 25% of the energy used in a school? A school-wide lighting retrofit is an easy way to save on electricity bills—the payback time from the decrease in energy costs is typically less than two years. But if a retrofit isn't in the cards for your school, a good old-fashioned "Turn Out the Lights" campaign can go a long way. Your student green team (see #3) and your excellent signage (see #4) will forge the way, and a chat with your custodian (see #2) will ensure you're hitting all of the bases. If you're looking for more ways to save energy at school, you can find great tips from Alliance to Save Energy, SchoolDude, and EPA's EnergyStar program.
- Carpooling – jump in, the water's fine!
You can start small, but a school carpooling program can have a big effect. The more kids or teachers in a car on the way to school, the less fossil fuel used per person and the less pollution emitted per person. Start in one or two classes to see if parents seem interested in reducing the number of times they need to drive back and forth from school. There are several ways to scale it up from there—from a simple bulletin board by the office to a paid service for online carpool coordination. You could also start a campaign to get kids and families walking or biking to school (as a group), and see who will stick with it for the year.
- Stand up on your (fragrance-free) soap box!
The more excited you get about greening your school, the more comfortable you'll be talking about it with others. Present what you've discovered to your school or school district leadership. They'll likely be impressed by your service to your school, and your voice can add to the encouragement they are getting from their peers and leaders. Encourage them to join the Coalition for Green Schools—a group that includes the National School Boards Association, National PTA, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, American Association of School Administrators, Association of School Business Officials, Council of Educational Facility Planners and other leading education and school building organizations. Use examples from the PBS Special Growing Greener Schools, from actions of state legislators around the country, and from inspiring schools such as Environmental Charter High School in LA and the School District of Philadelphia.


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Brook F needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 159 designs submitted by 41 freelance designers.
LCG SOLUTIONS is a spinoff from our Parent Company "Luxury Capital Group". We're a 100% Referral based Affiliate Marketing Firm for the Financial Services Industry. Clients come to us for guidance, education, and direction on where to find, say, the best Credit Restoration Specialist, or where to Get "Incorporated". We even specialize in helping small busines owners get access to Lines Of Credit. We work directly with the Specialist in their Respective field, then Private Label their "product", In turn, brand it, sell it, and empower americans of all genres to utilize the Best Of the Best in the financial services industry.
We take a strong Consumer Advocacy Approach. Why This Lender over That Guy? Is there TRUE Credit Restoration? How Do you Know who can REALLY do a "Mortgage Modification"? How would My Company go about Building "corporate Credit"?
These are the Questions that we answer on behalf of our Customers.
I think of us as the "Gear Sprocket" that keeps most people's Assembly line to their Lives moving (monetarily, legally, and financially.) Or I envision us as the CENTER to of an old Wagon Wheel, and Each Spoke represents the Service Provider that we're connected to.
We're Young, Personable, Hip, and Ahead Of our Time!
We Bring Personality to a subject topic that's boring, confusing, and very "Corporate-ty".
Let's Do Something Cool!
We're Reaching out to AMERICANS of all Genre and Class.
Our Mission is to raise the Financial Awareness of All Americans.
No Real Target Audience....................(However, these days, It's all about Credit Restoration - so, if you have a fico score and it has Tanked....then You're a prospect)
No Real Requirements. I like "Stealth, Hip, Cool". Maybe Descrete.
I like the idea of the name being the "Actual Logo" (so, create a design out of the word "LCG SOLUTIONS")
I've envisioned the word "LCG SOLUTIONS" to have two "Gear Sprockets"..............but HONESTLY -- I WANT SOMEONE TO GIVE ME SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NEVER THINK OF.
I'm open to the Creative!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Taylor Smith and her friends weren't expecting to come face-to-face with a pair of fully outfitted astronauts while waiting for the bus on the University of Colorado campus Tuesday afternoon, but that's exactly what happened.
Forget the fact that the space travelers were wearing dress shoes instead of moon boots.
Alex Cox, a filmmaker and CU assistant professor, and Pablo Kjolseth, director of CU's International Film Series, borrowed two Apollo-era replica lunar lander space suits from the aerospace engineering department to put to use in Cox's upper-division film production class. The two men decided to test out the mobility of the suits, and have a bit of fun, by suiting up -- with the help of professor David Klaus -- and moon-walking their way from the Engineering Center to Cox's office in the Atlas Center.
They hadn't made it very far when Smith and her friends approached and asked for a picture.
"At first, we thought we were hallucinating," Smith said. "And then we were wondering why astronauts were walking around CU."
The engineering department purchased the suits, similar to those worn by the actors in "Apollo 13," six years ago for $1,200 apiece, Klaus said, when students in the bioastronautics program were helping design a new lunar landing module. Klaus said the suits are now being used to help students evaluate cockpit design for Sierra Nevada Corp.'s Dream Chaser spacecraft.
He said the department also is using the suits in its promotional materials.
"They're not as old as the Apollo suits, but they're starting to show their age a little," Klaus said. "It's just enough to give you a little flavor of what it's like to wear a spacesuit and the challenges of working in a spacesuit."
Cox, best known as director of 1980s cult classics "Repo Man" and "Sid and Nancy," has been a CU film studies faculty member since 2011, teaching screenwriting and film production.
He said the suits, which will be returned to Klaus on Thursday, will be used to shoot some generic footage in the Atlas building's Black Box Studio performance space to see how they move and look on film.
Cox is working on a film adaptation of Harry Harrison's 1965 satirical science-fiction novel "Bill, the Galactic Hero," and the footage he shoots with the space suits may be used in a video for a Kickstarter campaign to help raise money for the film.
"It was quite fun, really. As you're walking, some people would make eye contact with you and some wouldn't," Cox said of his giant leap across campus. "For our needs, (the suits) are perfect."
Kjolseth had a slightly different impression. He peeled off his helmet outside Cox's office after making his trek from the Engineering Center as temperatures hovered in the 70s Tuesday.
"It's unbelievably hot in this thing," Kjolseth said. "There is a sense of isolation. You can hear your own breathing."


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Nearly four months ago, supporters of Governor Sarah Palin--including yours truly--were gearing up for the first-ever Grizzly Fest event. Inspired by Sarah's October 5th challenge to "continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the 'fundamental transformation' of our nation, and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law," panelists focused on how to most effectively move forward following Sarah's announcement that she would not make a 2012 bid for the White House. And, move forward they have, supporting strong conservative candidates nationwide.
This second event, the Online Winter Summit, will focus on sudden and relentless reform. Part one will focus on the watchdogs, with Sarah Nuckles and Adam Andrzejewski, two panelists who are well acquainted with what it means to hold the government accountable. Part two will be hosted by Peter Schweizer, author of the new book "Throw Them All Out", and Luigi Zingales, co-author of "Saving Capitalism From The Capitalists." Together, they will give listeners a crash course in crony capitalism. Part three will focus on the theme of the summit: sudden and relentless reform. Listeners will have the privilege of hearing from Alabama state senator and Congressman Bachus opponent Scott Beason, and Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who is facing a recall election in her state because of the stand she's taken against public sector unions alongside her Governor, Scott Walker.
The Online Winter Grizzly Fest Summit will be held this Saturday, February 25, at 1:00 PM ET. I encourage you to listen live on the Grizzly Fest website so that you, too, can learn more about returning this great nation to the principles upon which it was founded.


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In keeping with the dish's Roman roots, this semolina gnocchi is made from coarsely ground semolina flour, hot milk, and eggs. To form the gnocchi, a rich polenta-like paste is prepared, cooled, and then cut into disks using the wet rim of a small glass. The disks are then sprinkled with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and baked in a hot oven to puff them up.–Jessica Theroux
LC Gnot Your Gnormal Gnocchi Note
Nope. No potatoes or fork tines or tiny little pillows in sight. And that's not a terrible thing, not when you consider how light and airy this intriguing approach to gnocchi can be. Still, they're quite indulgent, much more a starter or a side than a centerpiece to a meal. So indulgent that we think you, like us, won't want to waste a single scrap of dough. Which calls to mind Marcella Hazan's tactic for dealing with gnocchi trimmings in Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. Just knead the trimmings together into a ball (you can wrap and refrigerate the trimmings for up to a day or two). Then pinch off croquette-size pieces and shape them into short, plump forms that are tapered at both ends, about 2 1/2 inches in length. Roll the forms in dry, unflavored bread crumbs and fry them in hot vegetable oil until they take on a light, golden crust. Sounds lovely, yes? And that's just the trimmings. Wait until you try the actual gnocchi…
Semolina Gnocchi
- Quick Glance
- Makes 4 entrees, 8 starters
- 1 quart (4 cups) whole milk
- 2 to 3 teaspoons salt
- 7 ounces (just over 1 cup) semolina flour
- 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1. To make the semolina gnocchi, heat the milk and salt in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. When the milk starts to simmer, slowly sprinkle the semolina flour over the surface, whisking constantly to make sure that lumps do not form. Once all the semolina has been added, reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to whisk for 7 to 10 more minutes, until the gnocchi-to-be mixture becomes thick and velvety. The mixture may thicken considerably after just a few minutes, but try to continue to cook it for the full 7 to 10 minutes.
- 2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, the eggs, and the butter. Turn the mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet, spreading it evenly into a 1/2 inch thickness. Set aside in the fridge, if there's room, or set aside at room temperature until cool and firm, about an hour.
- 3. Preheat the oven to 400° F (200°C). Using a cookie cutter or the mouth of a glass that's about 2 inches wide, cut the cooled semolina into gnocchi. Dip the cutter or glass into water between each press to prevent the dough from sticking. Place the cut gnocchi on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet, making sure to leave at least 1/2 inch between them so that their edges can caramelize.
- 4. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan and the bread crumbs on top of the semolina gnocchi. If you don't want them thickly coated, don't use all of the cheese and crumbs. Bake until the semolina gnocchi are golden brown, slightly puffed, and crisp around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve hot.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.


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The 700-acre Prommitr Film Studio in Kanchanaburi was created to serve as a filming location of Thailand's greatest historic trilogy movie The Legend of King Naresuan, that portrays the history of King Naresuan the Great who freed Siam (former Thailand) from the ancient Burmese (Hongsavadi) kingdom during the Ayutthaya Era in circa 1584. The set then comprises of abundant replicas of gilded chedis, temples, ordination halls and traditional villages of anciant Siam and Burmese people. Architectures and buildings you have only read from legends have become true here; with highlights include the Sanphet Prasat throne hall, of which its real build was burned down during the war as well as the Lion Throne of the ancient king.
Visitors can actually spend the whole day wandering around the set featuring stunning buildings, learn the history of the ancient kingdoms through exhibitions and lectures, and try putting on ancient-style clothing and have a photograph opportunity,
Opening hours: Daily 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
Admission: 200 baht
Getting there: It is located at Surasi Military Camp, which is about 24 kilometres away from Kanchanaburi Town. Take Route 3199 Kanchanaburi – Srinakarin Dam for 18 kilometres to Lat Ya Intersection. Then turn right to Surasi Military Camp and follow the signs for around 3 kilometres.


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WASHINGTON, June 5, 2007 — The Board of Trustees of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has selected the recipients of its 2007 honors, the highest awards the Society presents each year. The medals, the Community Service Award, and the Landscape Architecture Firm Award will be presented on October 8, 2007, during the ASLA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.
The ASLA Medal: William B. Callaway, FASLA
William B. Callaway, FASLA, of Sausalito, California, will receive the ASLA Medal – the highest honor the ASLA may bestow upon a landscape architect – for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the profession, the welfare of the public, and the environment. Callaway has 40 years of experience in the profession of landscape architecture. The past 38 of have been spent at SWA Group, where he has worked his way up from draftsman to president and now serves as CEO. Due in large part to recognize Bill's leadership in the profession, in 2005 SWA became the third firm in ASLA history to receive the Landscape Architecture Firm Award. Callaway's personal leadership, charisma, and professional passion inspire designers to retain an idealistic view of the profession and the world. His many accomplishments encompass both design excellence and leadership in firm management.
Richard Haag, FASLA
The Design Medal: Richard L. Haag, FASLA
Richard L. Haag, FASLA, of Seattle, Washington, will be awarded the ASLA Design Medal in honor of his exceptional accomplishments in design. Since 1958, Haag has participated in over 500 built projects, the majority of which are located in the Pacific Northwest. His two best known projects are Gas Works Park in Seattle and Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Haag was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Japan for two years and was named a Fellow at the American Academy in Rome. The most fundamental aspect of his work has consistently been a concern for landform and sculpting of the land. His choice of plants and their juxtaposition is often rich, bold, and strong, yet accomplished with the use of only a few species and groups at a time. In 2003, he received the ASLA Medal for his lifetime achievements and contributions. He continues to teach and lecture internationally while practicing as principal of Richard Haag & Associates.
The Jot D. Carpenter Teaching Medal: Terence G. Harkness, FASLA
Terence G. Harkness, FASLA, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will receive the Jot D. Carpenter Teaching Medal for his sustained and significant contributions to landscape architecture education. Harkness' passion for teaching continues to inspire many leading designers in the profession today. Former students describe him moving seamlessly from presenting a complex design issue to respectfully questioning a jury, to actively listening to one-on-one desk critique that bring out the best in a young designer. He treats students as entry-level designers and involves them in live, "real-world" projects. His teaching principles bear fruit in students' work: they win clients, commissions, and competitions – including ASLA professional and student awards.
The LaGasse Medal/Landscape Architect: Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA
The LaGasse Medal in the Landscape Architect Category will be awarded to Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, of Washington, DC, for his leadership in management and conservancy of natural resources and public landscapes. From 1992 until recently, he served as coordinator of the Historic Landscape Initiative, a program of the National Park Service. There he provided national policy guidance, developed standards, directed conferences, published books, guided web development, coordinated partners, and oversaw volunteers. In 1995, ASLA awarded the Historic Landscape Initiative the President's Award of Excellence. In 1998, Birnbaum founded The Cultural Landscape Foundation and now serves full-time as the Foundation's president.
The LaGasse Medal/Non-Landscape Architect: Sarah S. Boasberg, Honorary ASLA
The LaGasse Medal in the Non-Landscape Architect Category will be presented toSarah S. Boasberg, Honorary ASLA, of Washington, DC for her leadership in conservancy of natural resources and public landscapes. Boasberg is the founder and president of Green Spaces for DC, a non-profit organization working to develop public-private partnerships to improve District-owned green spaces. In 2004, Green Spaces for DC provided seed funds for the city to hire the first landscape architect on its park department staff. Boasberg is the author of the award-winning study, "Re-Greening Washington: Managing the Street Tree Crisis in Our Nation's Capital." In addition, she served as Chairman of the Board of the American Horticultural Society and founding Co-Chair of the Cultural Landscape Foundation. She is also head of the Master Planning Committee of the Friends of the National Arboretum."
The ASLA Medal of Excellence: James R. Urban, FASLA
The ASLA Medal of Excellence will be awarded to James R. Urban, FASLA, of Annapolis, Maryland, for his significant contributions to landscape architecture policy, research, education, project planning, and design. Since 1982, his extensive research, articles, and lectures have built invaluable industry knowledge about planting urban trees in a variety of landscapes – ranging from suburban lots to difficult downtown streetscapes. His efforts have led to testing of new urban tree systems, planting concepts, and innovative approaches to landscape architecture design, detailing, and specifications. Urban has worked on many architecturally and historically significant properties including the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Additionally, he writes about plants for Landscape Architecture magazine and serves as a visiting lecturer at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.
The Olmsted Medal: The Great Valley Center
The Great Valley Center, based in Modesto, California, will receive the Olmsted Medal for environmental leadership, vision, and stewardship. This nonprofit think tank is dedicated to the environmental, economic, and social quality of life in California's heartland: the Great Central Valley. With the valley's population set to double within the next 40 years, the research, communication and planning measures taken now are of critical importance. By sponsoring forums for change, building frameworks for strong local and regional leadership, and creating new impetus for innovation, the Great Valley Center addresses issues key to the region and much of the world. The center acts as a tireless facilitator for regional research and planning, hosting conferences, developing partnerships and projects, as well as publishing data and reports that drive planning and decisions at local, state, and national levels.
The Landscape Architecture Firm Award: Sasaki Associates, Inc.
Sasaki Associates, Inc., with offices in Watertown, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California, will receive the 2007 ASLA Landscape Architecture Firm Award. While Sasaki has evolved over the past 50 years into an interdisciplinary firm of tremendous breadth and scope, it is still firmly rooted in and inspired by a landscape architecture legacy begun by Hideo Sasaki, FASLA, in 1953. Remarkably prescient for his day, Sasaki not only foresaw collaboration among design disciplines but was also an early advocate of environmental responsibility, introducing in the late 1950s at Sea Pines Plantation in South Carolina a non-invasive design that restored the coastal site's damaged ecosystem. Later projects like the John Deere Headquarters in Moline, Illinois, Greenacre Park in New York, and Charleston Waterfront Park remain some of the most renowned landscapes in the United States, and the firm's penchant for elegant, timeless design can be seen in current work, from the master plan of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Green to waterfront and campus projects in American cities and throughout the world. To date, the firm has won more than 400 awards. Sasaki maintains the rich design legacy set by its founder and is admired not only by the landscape architecture profession, but the design and construction industry at large.
The Community Service Award: Frederick R. Steiner, FASLA
Frederick R. Steiner, FASLA, Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, will be awarded the Community Service Award for his sustained, pro bono service to the community demonstrating sound principles and values of landscape architecture. Steiner contributes his expertise in environmental planning, design excellence, and sustainable design to organizations and communities across the country. Steiner was appointed by the mayor to the City of Austin Bond Election Advisory Committee and serves on the Site/Landscape Design Committee for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. From 2002 to 2006, he served on the Board for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which he worked to bring into the University of Texas system in order to provide more resources to the Center. Steiner works with Envision Central Texas project and co-chairs the Land Use and Transportation Committee. He has also held many leadership positions with the Landscape Architecture Foundation since 1995, including as vice president for research and education and as president.
Kevin FryDirector, PR and Communications email@example.com JR Taylor PR Coordinator email@example.com


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Paulson Says Senate Stimulus Plan Too ComplexBy David Lawder. Reuters | Posted 2008-01-31 Print
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned that the $157 billion stimulus package passed by the Senate
Finance Committee was too complex and he prefers the simpler House of
Representatives version.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned on Thursday that the $157 billion stimulus package passed by the Senate Finance Committee was too complex and he prefers the simpler House of Representatives version.
"Complexity is our enemy and I'm concerned that the bill that has come out of the Senate Finance Committee is already too complex. Once it gets on the Senate floor it's in danger of looking like a Christmas tree," Paulson told a news conference to highlight the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers.
Paulson urged swift Senate action on the bill but cautioned senators not to load the bill up with pet spending projects and more tax breaks. He said the House resisted that temptation and its bill was simple, broad-based and bipartisan.
"I wish it were on the president's desk today so that we could sign it and start working to get the checks out," he said.
The Senate Finance Committee's bill would offer nearly all taxpayers rebates of $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples, including some 20 million senior citizens that would not receive checks under the $146 billion House bill.
The Senate measure as passed also would extend unemployment benefits beyond the 26 weeks offered by most states and offer nearly $6 billion in tax breaks for the renewable energy sector.
Those provisions are not included in the House bill, which calls for tax rebates of $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples.
The Senate bill also would make higher income people eligible for the tax rebates by doubling the phase-out income levels to $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for couples. Many economists say rich taxpayers are more likely to save the rebates, negating their stimulative value.
Low-income and unemployed people are viewed as more likely to spend the cash immediately on necessities such as food and gasoline, flushing it through the economy more quickly.
Paulson made his remarks at a news conference to highlight the Earned Income Tax Credit, which will provide low-income workers with a credit as high as $4,716 this year for a family with two or more children.
Asked about the plight of private bond insurers that are struggling to maintain the top credit ratings necessary for the business, Paulson said the Treasury was monitoring the situation along with state insurance regulators and private sector companies.
"If you're in the financial services industry and you need capital or think you may need capital, I'm very much urging every organization and every institution to raise capital when they can get it," Paulson said. "Again, I think that's the theme for the private bond insurers, there's a lot of focus on market-based solutions here."
A financial services sector source in Washington familiar with the situation said last week that the Treasury had shown "some reluctance to create another government backstop" for bond insurers.
(Editing by Richard Satran)
Copyright Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
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Developers at Detroit's Gateway Marketplace have something to brag about. Construction for a Meijer Superstore, the development's anchor store and the corner stone of the Woodward revitalization project is ahead of schedule. Leasing on the $72 million project also is moving forward, and the center will be 95 percent leased or better this fall, said Bruce Babiarz, a spokesman for the developer, Southfield-based Redico
"There's a resurgence in Detroit. It's not only downtown, but it's happening here at Eight Mile and Woodward. We're building a brand-new shopping center from the ground up. It's the largest in terms of size in the city in decades," Babiarz said.
The Meijer Siperstore which is slated to open in July of this year and the Gateway project are expected to spur development in the surrounding area along Woodward, particularly the former Michigan State Fairgrounds, Babiarz added. "It's got real potential, and the success of this project may be the catalyst for that property."
Meijer Inc. is starting its hiring push to bring about 400 of the estimated 700 jobs to the Gateway project. Other retailers slated to open this year include discount retailer Marshalls, apparel retailer Dots, PNC Bank and a McDonald's. In all, the project has more than 325,000 square feet of retail.
Read more http://www.michronicleonline.com/index.php/news-briefs-original/11623-meijer-to-open-along-woodward-corridor-in-detroit


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Well, Wall Street's not exactly celebrating this morning.
Ninety minutes after the open, the DOW's down ~ 300.
Republicans will presumably blame the election results. But there's also a big slowdown in Europe. And we've also got the possible fiscal cliff coming up.
SEE ALSO: Here's Everything You Need To Know About Getting Stoned In Colorado


text: Junior Lewis Mundt publishes collection of poems and proseHamline University junior Lewis Mundt has just released his first book, You Better Close That Window; They Say It's Gonna Rain Tonight. The communications and creative writing double major spent the last two years writing the collection of poetry and short prose for his first major book release. The general theme is about the relationships that Mundt has developed and how those people have influenced him."This is my way of giving back to the people in my life," Mundt said. A Hamline University-sponsored service-learning trip also influenced Mundt to start this collection."My inspiration for the book came from a volunteer trip I took to Chicago with Hamline's Office of Service-Learning and Volunteerism," Mundt said. "I met artists there who were very much self-made people."Inspired by their initiative, Mundt decided to write a book when he returned from the spring break trip and this book is the result of that effort.For more information about Mundt and his work click here, or watch a video interview with the author, produced by Robert Fones,here. Mundt will be having his Saint Paul book release on Saturday, September 11 at 8:30pm in Gingko Coffeehouse (721 Snelling Avenue North). In addition to book readings, the two hour show will include local bands and musicians: Adeline Pike, Christof Rochel, and Uvia. You can also find more information about the event by clicking here.


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stjohnwayne needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 44 designs submitted by 15 freelance designers.
Logo for catholic men's athletic and wilderness adventure club
I am looking for a logo for a club called "The Shady Characters," being formed for Catholic young men, run by DailyStrong.com. The idea of the club will be a social group that helps eachother grow mentally, spiritually and physically. The club is named after the club Blessed Pier Giorgio formed, and will involve wilderness excursions, group workouts, group intellectual discussions, going to church together and good old fashioned trips to the bar.
- Something bold and memorable
- Use of silhouette's a plus
- Edgy and esoteric
- Manly.
- Not required, but interested in seeing an example with "Aladdin.ttf" or similar font
- Too complex
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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It is important to keep in mind, however, that the approximate square footage of an apartment is often just that – an approximation.
Different appraisers or professionals may use different methods or standards in coming up with their square footage figures. Some will determine square footage of an apartment by measuring the space between the interior walls, including bathrooms, closets and foyers, while others may use exterior walls or other benchmarks. Some will include unusable floor area such as columns, mechanical pipe shafts and chases in their calculations.
Moreover, many Manhattan apartments, including pre-war buildings, often have hard-to-measure elements like oddly shaped rooms, removed walls, or even turrets or alcoves. This is especially true for many of New York City's oldest and most prestigious residences.
In addition, while many cooperative apartment buildings may have filed floor plans with the Attorney General's office as part of their offering plans, those floor plans may not be up to date. Condominium offering plans also include floor plans and measurements, but developers often use different methods for measuring the square footage of their respective units. For example, some will include hallways or foyers or bathrooms in their square footage figures, others will not.
Offering plans will only tell you the approximate square footage and the method used to measure it by the developer at the time of construction or conversion. Plans will not tell you how the square footage is measured at the time of a resale.
All potential purchasers should be made aware that all square footage measurements that are provided by brokers are usually just estimates, and are not certified or deemed reliable by either the listing firm or a participating co-broker. In addition, a buyer determined to have a square footage measurement should consult or retain their own professional, and have that professional explain the methodology for the measurement.


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I'm extremely disappointed in my colleagues for not voting Roberto Alomar into the Hall of Fame. Part of the criteria is to dominate your position for an extended length of time, which is what Alomar did at second base in the American League.
Alomar was a player who could beat you in so many ways. He was a five-tool player. A perennial All-Star and Gold Glove winner, he was the standard for second basemen during his career.
The only blemish on his resume was the spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck. It was out of character and he paid for it. But, he shouldn't have to pay for it any longer.
He got my vote. He'll get it again.


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Train Reading: Wall Street Still Runs Through D.C.
The private sector has done a remarkable job of maintaining its composure even while all around it, politicians are losing theirs — Free Exchange
Wall Street still runs through D.C. — Heard on the Street
What's behind the bull market — Ben Rooney
Will all that cash move into stocks on cue? — Michael Santoli
When will U.S. hit 6.5% unemployment? — Barry Ritholtz
Four reasons why Apple won't see $700 again — MarketWatch
Dow 14,000, then and now — Josh Brown
Why investment bankers will be depressed next week — Gina Chon


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Anybody available to hit Sat afternoon (1/28) anytime after 2 or Sunday after 12? I'm a rusty 4.0 player. Happy to play singles or doubles if there happens to be any folks looking for a fourth. Live in Berkeley - closest courts to me are @ the Rose Garden, but I'm flexible. If this weekend doesn't work, let me know if you'd like to hit/play some weekend in Feb. Thanks, Mark.
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I'd like to play. Singles or doubles is fine with me. Thanks
Let me know whaen you are available.
Looks like rain this weekend, but if it clears up and is nice, I'm available to hit tomorrow afternoon/evening. Busy Sunday. Also, available next weekend as well.
Hey, I am looking for a weekly partner that can play at Cedar Rose park, Ocean View park, James Kenney Rec, Plaza Tennis or Strawberry Creek park. Would you be interested?
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What would become of us, players of video games, without these wonderful, terrifying enemies and friendly final phase bosses? After long and heavy items trying to get to this part of the adventure we come face to face with a mastodon that we must overcome to find his only weakness.
This song was composed background music for one of those great moments. A simple but effective song that has been designed for use in video games retro style.
Want more? (Click on images)


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ØRC✨PK✨GOD✨ wrote:Dont worry people theres two new pk like games that are going to be realesed
what are the games? havent been able to find a single one yet. nearest i can find is map your empire but even the beta for that isnt set for release till july or september.


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Results 1 to 10 of 102
Sunday, 20th May, 2012, 09:59 PM #1
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EN World Interview With Mike Mearls, Lead Designer of D&D Next
In December I attended the D&D Summit and was made aware that Wizards of the Coast were working on a new edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Mike Mearls, the D&D Next design team lead, ran a session of the game and then spent an hour talking with me, answering my questions, and allowing me to pick his brain on D&D Next and role-playing games in general. It was a great experience, and I shared it with the readers in January, when the announcement of the next iteration of D&D was finally made to the public.
Well now, six months later I was given the opportunity to interview Mike Mearls again, this time without NDA restrictions. I have had six months of personal play experience with the playtest materials and would be allowed to ask pretty much anything I wanted. I am a hardcore gamer, so of course I took this opportunity to talk about the one area that the NDA had prevented anybody from talking about specifically: mechanics! I would like to thank Wizards of the Coast and Mike Mearls for allowing this to happen and taking time out of their insane schedules with the open playtest just three days away.
I only have one question about the Monte Cook departure - and I am sure you are exhausted of being asked about it, so I thank you in advance. On which areas of D&D Next will the departure of Monte from the design team have the most immediate effect?
The core concept and direction remains the same, so really nothing has changed in terms of our big picture ideas. As weve come down to the final stretch of prepping for the public playtest, weve been working short one person, but our team has done an incredible job of making sure that we have materials ready to go out the door. We wish Monte well in his endeavors but right now we are just looking forward to seeing what kind of feedback fans have for the open playtest.
I know the game has evolved a lot already. The game I played in December differed greatly to the game I played last week. I have heard rumors of multiple rule sets being used during the "Friends and Family" playtest. Were there different sets of rules sent to playtesters, and was the feedback from the different playtest rules narrowed down to the rule set that will be released in the open playtest on May 24th?
Yes, weve already gone through a number of iterations. The next wave represents some of the biggest changes. In most cases, were streamlining things and making sure that the classes have the basic functions and match what people want from them.
The fighter, wizard, rogue, and cleric and the human, elf, dwarf, and halfling have already been announced as the classes and races of the first open playtest. What classes and races do you think you will focus on after those core classes and races have been polished?
I think almost every class has undergone at least a basic concept pass. The next wave of material will depend on how the first one goes. For instance, if people think that the fighter is in good shape, that means we can move on to the ranger or paladin. Classes that share a similar place in the game will likely rely on feedback for earlier classes to help shape their initial form.
I am glad to see themes being integrated into D&D Next in the core of the new edition. Are there plans to perhaps collapse some of the older classes into themes that would just expand the powers and tone of another class? For example what if the warlock was a theme that would allow any class to sell their soul?
Weve actually talked about it, but havent yet made any final decisions on things. The key will be keeping an eye on how themes play out and what people like about them. If people like themes as bundles of big, interesting abilities, then that paves the way for some classes to migrate into themes. The key is that we need to accept that if something becomes a theme, were OK with almost any class entering it.
The fighter in D&D Next feels like a fighter of old, but with more tricks up his sleeve than before. In my opinion the fighter feels like the one class that seamlessly melds the feeling of all editions into one class (surge power from 4E, hit point dominance from 1E, specialization from 2E and 3E). Is thought put into the classes so that each class has aspects which represent it in each edition, or was it just a perfect storm in the case of the fighter?
I think that youve captured the basics of our approach though, interestingly enough, the fighter changed a bit from that initial draft. Ill explain some of the mechanics for folks:
The surge mechanic was a fighter-only ability that let fighters heal. Based on closed playtest feedback, we added a mechanic that lets all characters heal by resting.
Like the basic D&D and AD&D fighter, the current fighter design has the best hit points, weapons, and armor class.
Weapon specialization has moved into themes. Again, based on feedback, we moved the fighter away from picking one type of weapon to be good at.
In any case, I think that every class has drawn from each edition. The interesting part to me is how much 2nd edition has influenced things, primarily from the idea that characters can be customized primarily according to how they fit into the world. Rogues pick a scheme, inspired in part by the 2e mechanic that let thieves allocate points to their skills so that they could focus on one ability or another. Our new take on domains moves a little closer to spheres in intent, while our focus on themes as bundles of feats that are tied to organizations, training, or some other element expressed in the setting is another nod to keeping characters grounded in the campaign world, rather than only in the mechanics.
I really love what you did with the familiar in 4E, and again so far in D&D Next. One of my players played a wizard with a witch theme and had a pair of ravens - which were useful, but not overwhelming. There is also no reason to attack the familiar and ignore the wizard to metagame an advantage (like CON loss or XP loss). Do you think we will see this sort of mechanic used for other companions such as a ranger beast companion, druid animal companion, or the paladins warhorse?
Its a tricky line to walk. A familiar has a clear tie to arcane magic, so we have some flexibility in how we present them. I think well look at how people react to the familiar mechanic to get a sense of how much flexibility we have here. Some people really like the feeling that a companion animal is a flesh and blood creature, but there are a lot of advantages to presenting it as a spirit companion or something similar.
I saw some elements of 4E represented in some of the defensive spells - such as mirror image being set as interrupts (works well by the way). One of the complaints that I and lots of fans have with 4E is that the proliferation of interrupts for offense slowed the pace of each turn to a crawl. I know in December we spoke about the pace of the game being very important to you. With that in mind will we be seeing the interrupt mechanic more in an offensive way or just defensively?
Id like interrupts to serve either two purposes. First, I think quick, simple interrupts that boost a defense are OK. For instance, an interrupt that boosts your AC or reduces damage you take. You resolve it quickly and it doesnt slow the pace too much.
For more complex interrupts, like those that require die rolls or decisions, Id prefer the interrupt to take away part of your next turn. That way, the total time it takes to go around the table remains relatively constant. In essence, youre taking your action ahead of time rather than getting two actions during a round.
Wizards have long been considered by some to dominate the game, especially as they begin to climb in level. You recently mentioned this in your Legends & Lore article. You definitely did a great job with fixing this by having spells memorized at higher levels (as far as combat spells are concerned). In regards to utility magic, as you move forward with the game will this be something that you give extra special attention to with the open playtest feedback?
Yes, definitely. Ideally, the wizard feels like a good fit in any campaign, regardless of the focus on combat, exploration, or interaction. The trickiest thing with the wizard is that since that class has to expend spells, it makes sense for those spells to be really good. You need to make sure that the class that is a steady contributor, like a fighter, isnt constantly overshadowed by the wizard. Ideally, in a party of the four core classes each one has the same amount of spotlight time and the same chance to play a big role in the adventure.
Domains were mentioned in the playtest material I had. There were no rules yet establishing what those domains were going to be or how they would look. What do you have in mind for domains and will they be included with the base cleric class, or something modular added to the core rules?
We decided to include them in the base cleric, of course playtest feedback will help determine the final form. We really like the idea of clerics looking really different based on the gods they worship. The key is to let clerics embrace a lot of different abilities based on the various gods in D&D without letting them become overpowered.
Lots of themes in the playtest material had feats that were much more related to the other two pillars that we have heard mentioned besides combat: exploration and role-playing (the friendship feat of the diplomat and the Explorers Explore Guild Member feat for example). Is this by design? If so, is it a design element that you plan to use on a majority of the themes?
When we looked at race, class, theme, and background, we decided to make background 100% focused on exploration and interaction. That means that every class has something to contribute in those situations. It also freed us up to focus on using a more organic approach to designing classes and races.
The key is that classes provide you with all the baseline combat abilities you need, so if you take a class and a background youre covered in the three pillars. Classes can also have non-combat abilities as needed.
Themes are a place where people can find their own specialization. Most themes offer a mix of abilities, but you can choose to focus on one part of the game if you want to. Still, a guy who takes a combat-based is only marginally better than a character who takes a theme that focuses elsewhere.
While themes are by no means complete, Id love it if you could play the game without them and need only minimal or no modifications by the DM. That would be a good option for groups that want a slimmed down experience or who simply dont want feat-style abilities in the game. For instance, our assumption for now is that if you want to build NPCs using classes, you dont have to give the NPC a theme or background. That speeds things up considerably, while pointing us in a direction where PCs could also do that.
The design of having each one of the abilities represent a potential defense for something in the game gives each ability arguably equal importance. I noticed a henchman chart next to the Charisma score and a player in my group loves the idea of henchman. Is this something we will see supported right out of the gate? If so would you look at building henchman with some sort of minion mechanic, swarm mechanic, something closer to the henchman of earlier editions, or something else?
We decided to remove the henchmen rule from the game for the time being, primarily because we felt it wasnt something that we could assume all groups would need in the core. I anticipate it will be a rules module, and well likely take an approach similar to AD&D where followers were divided between servants, men-at-arms, and one or a small number of adventurer-quality henchmen.
Specialization has done a lot for spreading out the weapons that a player would choose to use, especially since multiple classes offer specialization. Did you think it important that one weapon have a different feel from another weapon, especially in the hands of an expert? Do you think we will see something for weapon speed, perhaps in a modular addition? (I miss it and always enjoyed this little bit of simulation).
Weapon speed is definitely the kind of thing we could address in a module, though wed have to get a sense of how many people want to use it.
I think that weapons should feel different if thats what a player is interested in exploring. Right now, were planning on moving weapon specialization into a theme so that any class can take it. People like building unique characters, and having a signature weapon or fighting style is definitely one way that you can make a character different. That provides a good template for our philosophy. For instance, we might have very simple rules for weapons in the core game, and then themes open up much more complex options. A DM running an encounter with orcs armed with spears, axes, and swords doesnt need to know more than the damage those weapons do. A player who wants more detail can opt into that. We can keep the system simple for the DM and players who dont care, and create more layers for the player who wants that sort of thing.
Id be remised if I didnt throw out one last thing: Were really looking forward to having people try out the playtest materials and wed encourage you to start on May 24th and see how player feedback starts shaping the different updates to the playtest. This is your chance to play a role in the development of the rules.
Last edited by Gaming Tonic; Thursday, 13th September, 2012 at 03:59 PM.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 05:53 AM #2
Great interview. Looking forward to the playtest! You should include a byline at the top of articles so people know who's writing what.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 07:34 AM #3
I think there is another question by Gaming Tonic that's gone unhighlighted within the second response. I could be wrong.
>>"What classes and races do you think you will focus on after those core classes and races have been polished?"
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 07:42 AM #4
Not the question I would've asked about Monte, but otherwise, neat.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 08:14 AM #5
Superhero (Lvl 15)
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I'm not so sure I like the cut of his jib this time around.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 08:54 AM #6When we looked at race, class, theme, and background, we decided to make background 100% focused on exploration and interaction. That means that every class has something to contribute in those situations. It also freed us up to focus on using a more organic approach to designing classes and races.
The key is that classes provide you with all the baseline combat abilities you need, so if you take a class and a background youre covered in the three pillars. Classes can also have non-combat abilities as needed.
Themes are a place where people can find their own specialization. Most themes offer a mix of abilities, but you can choose to focus on one part of the game if you want to. Still, a guy who takes a combat-based is only marginally better than a character who takes a theme that focuses elsewhere.
While themes are by no means complete, Id love it if you could play the game without them and need only minimal or no modifications by the DM. That would be a good option for groups that want a slimmed down experience or who simply dont want feat-style abilities in the game. For instance, our assumption for now is that if you want to build NPCs using classes, you dont have to give the NPC a theme or background. That speeds things up considerably, while pointing us in a direction where PCs could also do that.
I'm not sure what to make of this. The separation of the pillars into nonintegrated areas seems problematic. Class seems to be tied to combat role still, which is something I've not liked in the past. The assumption that the game is combat focused seems to pervade the design such that in the area of theme he talks of "a guy who takes a combat-based [theme] is only marginally better than a character who takes a theme that focuses elsewhere" which suggests the design belief that characters geared toward non-combat themes are less the focus of the game by default. Between the lauding of 4E mechanics which are being carried over into the initial design and the continued assertions that somehow spellcasting classes need to be restricted in overall power but given piecemeal combat abilities so they can be useful in combat while not overshadowing noncasting classes seems to be an approach that leads to homgenization of classes that has been tried and not found full support in the wider player-base WotC states they wish to draw on board for fifth edition.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 10:54 AM #7
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 10:56 AM #8
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I liked the interview, learned quite a bit.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 01:37 PM #9
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Now we ARE talking mechanics now, right?
So my question to ENWorld is this: Do high level games play fluently and as fast- paced as low level ones? We were promised short and fast combat turns and general task resolution, and I wanted to know if this premise still holds at the higher levels of the game. Almost all feedback we will give will be of the game portions they provide, and to my understanding, most of it will be for Heroic (low) level games. How much of the open playtest will be for post- 10th level characters?
I do like what I've read so far, and an answer to sooth my concerns would be very much obliged.
Monday, 21st May, 2012, 01:42 PM #10
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Habaal if you are around this evening after six p.m. est I will answer a few of those questions for you. I would love to share the actual playtest feel with gamers. I have to go do the whole real world thing but if a thread is on the forums I will hop in and answer everything I can. My NDA has been lifted so that I can share my experience with you. I think that says a lot about how WotC wants to include the fans in the process. They did not have to release my NDA. Those who are around this evening I would love to talk. Thanks for the feedback.
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participants at the CMS/WHMSI meetings in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Bonn, 20 March 2014 - From 11 to 14 March 2014 representatives from the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) and members of the CMS Flyway Working Group met in Montego Bay, Jamaica to discuss the conservation of flyways of the Americas and the CMS Global Programme of Work (POW) for Flyways 2014-2020.
After reviewing the many activities and initiatives that are currently taking place in the Western Hemisphere, including the "Integrating Migratory Bird Conservation Initiatives in the Americas" plan developed by WHMSI, meeting participants felt a need to develop an overarching strategy or framework for the "Flyways of the Americas".Such a strategy will be open to participation by all national and international stakeholders in the region. A separate "Action Plan" based on "Integrating Migratory Bird Conservation Initiatives in the Americas" would be finalized as well; this would specifically take account of WHMSI's contribution to the strategy.
The "Flyways of the Americas" strategy will be submitted to CMS Scientific Council in July for review and proposed inclusion within the CMS Global POW for Flyways 2014-2020. The final POW will then be submitted for formal adoption to the 11th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to CMS (COP11), which will take place from 4-9 November 2014 in Quito, Ecuador. Furthermore it was agreed that implementation of activities under the "Flyways of the Americas" strategy would benefit from adequate institutional arrangements and coordination support from WHMSI and/or CMS. These discussions will be continued with the Range States and relevant regional stakeholders during a side meeting in the margins of COP11.
The second part of the meeting was focused on reviewing and further improving the current draft CMS Global POW for Flyways 2014-2020, inclusive of considerations for activities in the Americas.
Last updated on 27 March 2014