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Saying State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman is out of touch with educators, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby has joined dozens of other Superintendents across the state in signing a petition that has been sent to Governor Bill Haslam.
The petition originated with Dan Lawson, director of the Tullahoma City Schools but Willoughby wholeheartedly supports it.
The petition alleges that Huffman's office "has no interest in a dialogue" with local officials and the superintendents' efforts to improve their schools are being thwarted by low teacher morale because of policy changes on the state level.
In a recent indepth interview, Director Willoughy and members of his central office staff went into more detail with WJLE about issues of concern not completely covered in the letter to the governor.
"We would like for the Commissioner of Education to have a dialogue with the people in the trenches. The people who are doing the work. We would like for him to listen to us and take in what we're saying and just not give a canned speech back to us. That's what we feel is happening," Willoughby said. "When we do have an opportunity to tell him our concerns, which in my opinion are very few times, he says he listens but in my opinion it goes in one ear and out the other. The majority of the people in the field of education have been in it for years and years and have a lot to offer and a lot of experience. They should be heard," he said.
According to Director Willoughby, educators are concerned that the commissioner is trying to implement too many changes too quickly, not giving local school systems time to adjust. In some cases, educators are outright opposed to changes being proposed. "What the letter (petition) is basically saying is that we would like for the Commissioner to slow down on everything he is trying to implement. "Teacher evaluations, curriculum and content, and test changes. All of this is happening at once. Teachers and kids can't keep up," he said.
"When the teacher evaluation system started it created a hardship especially for school systems like ours that didn't have assistant principals (to help with the evaluations). " I don't think our Commissioner realized there were schools in Tennessee that did not have assistant principals. During the training process for the evaluation, administrators went to the training. Teachers saw a 45 minute video and then after the next couple of weeks, administrators were in their classrooms evaluating them (teachers). I don't think that's a proper way to implement something. It was basically shoved down everybody's throat. If he (Commissioner) would come and be in the schools and actually see what our children and teachers are doing in the classroom, maybe he would appreciate that more," Willoughby said.
"Our goal as administrators is to help teachers become the best they can be," said Director Willoughby. "We have some teachers who are fantastic when they start out teaching and they do wonderful. Others improve with time. This administration seems to think when you start you had better be close to on top," he said. But instead of being attentive to the needs of educators, state officials have created a climate of uncertainty for many, tying teacher licenses to student test data, according to Gina Arnold, Special Education Supervisor. " We were trained with a new teacher evaluation model, which was a national training model. But Tennessee redesigned it and tweaked it to be a way to link how a teacher is doing with punishment repercussions for not scoring a certain score or doing a certain thing. No other state has used it in this way. Tennessee now uses it as a punishment," said Arnold.
Under the proposed changes to teacher licensure, which will be implemented July 1, 2015, the three most recent years of performance data will be reviewed at the time for professional license renewal. In order to renew a professional license, an educator must have earned a 2 or better on the overall evaluation and individual growth score (if applicable) for at least two of the last three years. If the teacher has not met performance expectations, the professional license will be extended for one year under review status. If the teacher has not met performance expectations through the TEAM evaluation model at the end of the review status period, the license may not be renewed.
This type of evaluation isn't fair to anyone, according to Willoughby but especially to special education teachers. "When you're asking them (special education students) to learn and grow at the same rate as others and you're going to withhold their (teachers) license (if they don't), it doesn't seem like it's right to me. In certain cases, you (teachers) would be able to appeal that or go back to college. But, for example, if a teacher in Metro Nashville lost their license because of test scores, they could not come to another county and apply to teach because they wouldn't have a license," said Director Willoughby.
"In our training they said for this (evaluation) to be valuable for teachers, it has to be used in a way for them to be able to strengthen an area that they may be weak in and not feel like they're not going to be rehired because of it or lose their license. In no other profession can you lose your license in this manner. You shouldn't lose a license based on a score on one test . When you're measuring overall quality, that is just one piece," added Arnold.
Teachers' groups have also criticized Commissioner Huffman for calling for changes to the minimum teacher salary schedule for new teachers, reducing steps in salary increases from 21 to four and eliminating incentives for doctorate degrees and post-master's training.
" He (Commissioner) would like a new teacher to start at a certain salary and not get an increase until their sixth year and the next increase would not come until their eleventh year which would be top out. In my opinion that would be the wrong thing to do.," said Willoughby. "Young teachers who have just graduated from school and have debt. You (commissioner ) are not going to give them a pay raise for six years and you're expecting us to recruit more people into the teaching field? This Commissioner of Education is out of touch," said Willoughby.
"Under the current pay scale there are gradual step increases over twenty one years of service. The proposal is to bring it down to four levels," said Arnold. "Right now if you have a bachelor's degree, that's one scale. If you have a Master's degree, that's another. If you have an EDS, an educational specialist or doctorate, there is a scale for that. Currently, the level of pay increases each time you improve your degree," she said. "Under the proposed new scale, someone with a Master's degree would get the same increase as someone who has a Doctorate degree. People are not going to advance their degrees (under proposed new pay plan). They're not going to go back and get additional training because it will not benefit them financially to do so," said Arnold.
Director Willoughby said he and other educators also don't like the idea as some have proposed of using public tax dollars to help fund private and charter schools through vouchers and other means. " I don't have anything against private schools. If anyone wants their child to go to a private school, that's fine but I do not think it is proper to take public money and fund private schools or charter schools. That takes money away from our public schools. Charter schools are not public schools and the states does not hold private and charter schools to the same accountability standards as public schools," he said.
Willoughby also takes issue with whether Commissioner Huffman should have the authority to override decisions of local school boards who don't want charter schools in their districts. "In Metro-Davidson County last year, a charter school had requested to be approved through the board of education. The board turned it down. When the board turned that down, the Commissioner of Education withdrew $3.2 million from Metro-Davidson County. That doesn't seem to be the right thing to do. Metro has many charter schools and they were only asking that this charter school follow the same regulations that the other charter schools follow," said Willoughby.
Arnold said she would like to see the state shift its focus more toward funding better resources for classrooms. "A lot of money has been put into creating more rigorous assessments but I would like to see more funding filtered to classrooms where teachers could have the resources they need to have more books, computers and enough technology for the kids," said Arnold.
"We're asking our teachers and children to compete with schools that have tools that we're not going to be able to afford (in DeKalb County). "A child will read off an IPAD when they don't read as much out of a book. Technology has changed so much and we need the resources to change with it. In 2015 we're supposed to give all-online tests. I sure hope that happens. I don't know how every child will be able to take all of their assessments (if it doesn't happen). If the state is going to demand that we do something by passing these policies and making these changes, then they need to fund it," Willoughby said.
"Our teachers and administrators are working extremely hard. Harder than they ever have. They're held more accountable than they have ever been held accountable. I think they are also less appreciated by the state than they have ever been appreciated," said Director Willoughby.
Despite concerns, Willoughby admits progress has been made in education but he would like state education officials to give credit for that where it is due, to teachers. "I regret that when our Commissioner talks about progress that has been made, it comes across that he is taking credit for that. The credit should be given to the teachers and the administrators that are in the schools. I feel that he does not recognize the hard work teachers are doing because he hasn't been in the schools to see the hard work they are doing," Willoughby concluded.
The petition letter to the Governor states as follows:
"The superintendents who have chosen to sign this document have enjoyed hundreds of years of experience and have led schools in the state of Tennessee to accomplish tremendous outcomes. Each signee aspires to accomplish more and utilize state and community resources to continue with the challenging task of comprehensive and sustained school improvement. The schools we are working to improve are in the communities where we live and serve our children".
"As leaders, we have participated in some of the most comprehensive reform efforts in our nation. Our participation has been intentional with a goal of providing a brighter future for the children in our charge while improving increased economic, educational and social opportunities in our state."
"During the last year, the signees have developed a belief that the office of the Commissioner of Education in this administration has no interest in a dialogue with those of us providing leadership for school systems. We have begun to feel that the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education considers school teachers, principals and superintendents impediments to school improvement rather than partners. While no superintendent will have all the answers, we are confident that many of the efforts underway by our state would be enhanced by our active voice and genuine participation in the decision development process."
"Superintendents have attempted to accomplish participation in the decision making process through the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, through the Superintendents Study Council and through more informal measures. Instead of a receptive ear, our overtures have been met with scripted messages and little interest in accomplishing great change by changing culture."
"It has become obvious to the signees that our efforts to acquire a voice within this administration is futile. We have been patient, professional and focused on the needs of each of our communities but the expertise we have and the passion we feel must become a part of the efforts to improve Tennessee education."
"The superintendents signed hereto have been willing to take this extraordinary step not as an act of resistance rather as a plea out of a sense of responsibility for each of the communities we serve. Today we feel that we are not respected or valued and that the unique culture of our state is not valued. Today, we feel that we are unable to lead many improvement efforts due to our change of attempting to address morale issues of many of our employees who feel voiceless and powerless."
"We are not content with the current leadership and feel that we are not best serving our state in this manner. We request that Governor Haslam and members of the Tennessee General Assembly consider carefully and prayerfully the future of free public education in our state and address our concerns and the concerns of many of our parents, teachers, and principals," the letter concluded.


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Back when I lived in Vancouver, I took a film and wardrobe styling course. I wanted to be a part of the fashion industry, and while in Vancouver, that is a small arena, so I thought film wardrobe was my way to go. I ended up starting fashion styling instead. I really enjoyed it and desired to become a fashion stylist like those I read about and followed in magazines. A lot of the time I was working with young models as they built their book and needed to gain some experience. I remember one distinct day where I was … Continued
Native Model Making her Mark
Categories: Fashion

subset: commoncrawl


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UVM Adaptive Sports Club Grows in Size and Impact
- 02-27-2013
- By Jon Reidel
It's an important moment when the parents of a child with a disability find someone who connects with their son or daughter, helping make physical and emotional progress. The father of an eight-year-old boy whose son has taken a liking to senior Mitch Snowe, a UVM Adaptive Sports volunteer, is grateful for the connection and is convinced it benefits both his son and his new mentor.
"My son really looks forward to working with Mitch," says Ted, who prefers to keep his son's name confidential. "It's a good opportunity for younger children like my son, who has ADHD, to spend time with a highly functioning college student for mentoring and instructional purposes. He needs a good male role model to help with his development, and he really connected with Mitch. I think it's a win-win for both of them."
Snowe agrees.
"He's almost always excited to go skiing, and although he is sometimes a bit timid to try new trails, he seems to really enjoy them once he gets going," says Snowe. "I have learned a lot this season from him as well as other skiers with disabilities, who despite their added challenges, love to be out there on the mountain tearing it up just like the rest of us. I've had a lot of fun this year volunteering and have met some truly amazing people in the process."
Relationships like these have become more common in recent years thanks to a resurgent UVM Adaptive Sports club – a student-run volunteer organization that partners with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports to provide outdoor and athletic opportunities for clients with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. UVM students ski with individuals at Killington Resort and Pico Mountain in Killington, Sugarbush Resort, and Bolton Valley, and also work with children and adults with disabilities at kayaking, canoeing, sailing, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, tennis, horseback riding and other activities.
Under the leadership of program coordinator Harrison Keyes, UVM Adaptive Sports, which operates along with 15 other volunteer clubs under the umbrella of Volunteers in Action, has experienced a recent surge in membership and fundraising. Keyes spearheaded a grant application to the Newman's Foundation, resulting in a $10,000 award used to purchase three Mountain Man bi-skis and other equipment. Keyes, who has worked with similar organizations since middle school, was awarded the Jim Hutchinson Volunteer of the Year Award from Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports in 2012 for showing exemplary volunteer efforts.
"The UVM club is super motivated and we love the commitment and support they lend to the program," says Erin Fernandez, executive director of Vermont Adaptive, who estimates that college students account for about 25 percent of her organization's 400 volunteers. "Harrison has tirelessly offered his time and talent to the organization throughout the year and has not only moved the program further along, but has fostered leadership and training among younger members he recruited to carry on the tradition after he graduates."
From class to slopes
The approximately 35 members of UVM Adaptive Sports, which has been around in various incarnations since the 1970s when it focused on Special Olympics, initially joined for a variety of reasons. Some volunteers are admittedly enticed by the free ski passes, but end up finding the experience of working with children and adults with disabilities truly meaningful. "The ski passes are a great way to get people interested, but it turns into something much more for those who keep coming back," says Keyes.
Sophomore Sam Fairchild, who volunteered at a similar program in high school, didn't need much coaxing by Keyes to join the club when he arrived on campus two years ago. "I'd worked with a sit-down skier who went through a tough transition when he was about 10 years old with other kids treating him differently because he had a disability," says Fairchild. "Skiing was a real release for him, and he ended up being a better skier than most of the other kids. It was really rewarding being able to see him progress and work through that tough time."
Some students like junior Jesse Groom, an exercise and movement science major, have managed to tie the experience of working with individuals with disabilities to their coursework. Students are required to take two days of training at a ski resort and another day of orientation before they start working with athletes with a broad range of disabilities including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairments, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, ADHD and other impairments.
"Working with students with disabilities who ski and play sled hockey has allowed me to make some connections with what I've learned in class," says Groom, adding that Susan Kasser, exercise and movement science program director and associate professor of rehabilitation and movement science, encourages student to join UVM Adaptive Sports to make these connections. "It gives meaning to what we learn in class."


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(S.D.)-State Legislature Begins Tuesday With Governor's Speech
By: Roxie Graham-Marski Posted at: 01/08/2013 08:56 AM PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - State lawmakers are ready to start South Dakota's annual legislative session.
The session opens at noon Tuesday with the election of top officers in the House and Senate.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard then will give his annual state of the state speech, which is expected to start at 1 p.m. CST.
The governor's speech is expected to focus on a plan to make sweeping changes in South Dakota's criminal justice system.
A plan submitted by a panel appointed by the governor, Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson and legislative leaders would emphasize locking up dangerous offenders while treating those convicted of nonviolent crimes outside prison walls. Officials say the proposal would slow the growth in prison inmates, allowing the state to avoid building two new prisons in the next few years.


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The three-member Savannah Ethics Committee dismissed this morning a compaint by radio host Chester Dunham against Alderman Tony Thomas.
Dunham, who did not show up to the hearing, alleged in a March complaint that on Jan. 31, Thomas had "stumbled by" and uttered obscenities at him while he interviewed a state senator during Savannah-Chatham day at the state Capitol.
City Attorney Brooks Stillwell advised the committee that the allegations, if true, did not violate the city's ethics code, meant to prevent conflicts of interest and public officils from financially benefiting from their position.
Regarding the allegations, Thomas said the two did "exchange words", but Dunham had sensationalized the conversation after instigating it. Thomas said he did not regret any of his comments and would not apologize, as suggested by the committee chairman as a way to resolve the matter. Thomas said that the ethics committee did not know the full story and that he would likely be taking legal action regarding things Dunham has said on his radio show.
For more on this story, check online at Savannahnow.com or Saturday's edition of the Savannah Morning News.


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The Institute communicates its scientific and educational information in a number of ways. One major outlet is peer-reviewed publications and reports. Cary Institute staff regularly publish in the best-rated journals in their respective fields.
Export 15 results:Sort by: Author Title Type [ Year]
Filters: Author is Belt, Kenneth T [Clear All Filters]
Down by the riverside: Urban riparian ecology", Front. Ecol. Environ., vol. 6, p. 315-321, 2003., "
Nitrogen fluxes and retention in urban watershed ecosystems", Ecosystems, vol. 7, p. 393-403, 2004., "
Increased salinization of fresh water in the northeastern United States", Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 102, p. 13517-13520, 2005., "
Urban land-use change effects on biogeochemical cycles", in P. Canadell, D. Pataki and L. Pitelka (eds.). Terrestrial Ecosystems in a Changing World, 2007, p. 45-58., "
Watersheds in Baltimore, Maryland: Understanding and application of integrated ecological and social processes", J. Contemporary Watershed Research and Application, vol. 136, p. 44-55, 2007., "
Interaction between urbanization and climate variability amplifies watershed nitrate export in Maryland", Environ. Sci. Technol., vol. 42, p. 5872-5878, 2008., "
Streamflow distribution of non–point source nitrogen export from urban-rural catchments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed", Water Resour. Res., vol. 44, p. Art.No.W09416, 2008., "
Land use and climate variability amplify contaminant pulses", EOS, vol. 91, p. 221-222, 2010., "
Rising stream and river temperatures in the United States", Front. Ecol. Environ., vol. 8, p. 461-466, 2010., "
Phosphorus export across an urban to rural gradient in the Chesapeake Bay watershed", J. Geophys. Res - Biogeosciences, vol. 117, 2012., "
Socioecological revitalization of an urban watershed", Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 28 - 36, 2013., "
Longitudinal patterns in carbon and nitrogen fluxes and stream metabolism along an urban watershed continuum", Biogeochemistry, 2014., "
Potential effects of leaf litter on water quality in urban watersheds", Biogeochemistry, vol. 121, no. 1, p. 61 - 80, 2014., "
Climate Variation Overwhelms Efforts to Reduce Nitrogen Delivery to Coastal Waters", Ecosystems, vol. 18, no. 8, p. 1319 - 1331, 2015., "
Dynamic heterogeneity: a framework to promote ecological integration and hypothesis generation in urban systems", Urban Ecosystems, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 1 - 14, 2017., "


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Traditionally testing on any project is left till last, but even then testing of client-side code is usually overlooked entirely.
With the rise-and-rise of jQuery the world at large is finally recognising that JavaScript is not a second-class citizen.
Web applications the world-round are leveraging JavaScript - and in particular jQuery - to build large scale applications that serve millions. Of course to ensure a high-level of quality and robustness it's necessary to test all this code.
Enter stage left - QUnit.
10th February 2012


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The lights are on
In this new video, the head of Bungie himself demos over seven minutes of awesome gameplay footage.
While we'd be happy just to have a trailer this long, it's even cooler that it's narrated by Bungie founder Jason Jones.
No one has commented on this article.


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Miami Meltdown- HeDIDN'T
But what was gong on with Hedo? Well Jay Triano would say it was a DNPCD which if you are not a basketball junkie means did not play coaches decision. It would seem that Hedo is alright from his stomach flu or whatever was wrong with him. At this point you wonder if he even was sick at all. The comparison I made to Vince Carter seems pretty legit now doesn't it? If this was a message being sent it sure was a heck of a time to send it for Triano. The Hedo signing is looking like perhaps the worst signing in Raptors history since Yogi Stewart. Apparently Hedo according to a story by Michael Grange was seen out on the town Friday after the loss to Denver. He apparently has been fined and last night was a suspension of sorts. Hedo was not popular before this. Now he is going to be to that epic level of Vince Carter fan hate. That being said he is under contract for 4 more years and has a contract that is likely unmovable.
The one thing is clear Raptor fans have not exactly fallen in love with Hedo to begin with. Now what will happen is anyone's guess. But given how Raptor fans treated Vince Carter it is safe to say Hedo Turkoglu has signed his death warrant with this fan base. Even if he ever snaps back and starts to produce some fans are never going to forget this. 4 more years is usually a term used for presidential campaign's in the states. This is more like a 4 year relationship going to hell before it starts. Worse yet, if the Raptors continue this slide out of the playoffs and that paves the path for Bosh to leave town, that will only add to the ugliness. Is it so unreasonable the fans will blame Hedo at least in part, for their superstar leaving town.
Jay Triano also may lose his job at least in part to the lack of production from HeDON'T. This Raptor team has been falling apart on the floor and it would appear have been falling apart off the floor as well. Lost in the whole Hedo drama is the fact Andrea Bargnani has not learned how to commit a hard foul. I can think of at least 2 maybe 3 situations where Bargnani fouled Wade allowing him to score and get an extra and 1 foul shot.
All of this drama and still a very important game to play vs Charlotte. No Idea if Hedo will play in that one. But what I do know is that if the Raptors lose the game they will be tied with the Bulls for 8th spot. The Raptors chances of making the Playoffs are looking very grim, as are the chances of Chris Bosh staying. Now maybe we at least in part know what Chris Bosh has been frustrated about. It is the same thing we all have been....HEDO FRIGGIN TURKOGLU!!!!
I never supported this signing at the time. However, I never could have painted a scenario as bad as this reality. It is safe to say Turkoglu is well on his way to challenging Vince Carter for being the most hated Raptor of all time. If Chris Bosh were to leave would people boo him? You might not be able to tell as they will be to busy booing Hedo to hear if they are or are not. 53 million dollars is a lot of cash and it is a number that will always be mentioned when you mention Hedo. Fans now apparently have a growing list of reason to hate Hedo.
In all honesty who can blame folks. He is spiting in the face of his team mates, the organization and the fans by his actions. You even wonder if he was ever sick to begin with. When I see Alvin Williams on a Raptor bench now as a coach. I wonder what he must think. He once said he would gladly die on the court. He meant it as well. I honestly believe if Alvin Williams was shot with a gun in the first half of a game he would have asked for them to remove the bullet, stitch up the hole and play in the second half. When this is standard for what Raptor Fans expect from players than Hedo is a -10 on a scale of 1 to 10.
While this blog and the Raptors should be focused on the Charlotte Bobcats who are 3 games in front of the Raptors. But instead, we are talking about a player that did not even play a second last night. In all honesty some fans would prefer he went back to Turkey and never came back. I would join them in that if not for the terrible cap hit the Raptors would have to take.
3 comments:
As much as Iam a Raptor fan..I would rather see them not make the playoffs. It will just add more fuel to the fire playing the cavs and getting sent out with their tail between their legs. I have said from the beginning this club is not all suffering due to Hedo..This club needs to take a good hard look at upper management and the incompetencies. BC is the one who should take full responsibility for their failures this time round. The team still lacks , identity, character and most importantly..LEADERSHIP. Until this is addressed then perhaps their chances are a little greater. Lastly, its been the same ole written script year after year no different than the rest of mlse organization. Fans in the T dot do not really show their displeasure by showing up and forking huge coin to watch disatrous clubs. So really is there a problem?ReplyDelete
As long as the money is flowing ..why complain.
I truly believe teams like Lakers, cleveland, Boston would never put up with the crap that went on this weekend with Hedo. Its unfortunate there is nothing to say positive right now because quite frankly thats reality. Their game ending pitfalls are no different then their positioning in the standings..Always dangling by a string. It sad.
Again thisshould be a very interesting summer regardless at this point.
- AnonymousMarch 29, 2010 at 3:28 PM
any further comments ..Dino blogger?ReplyDelete
They are going to give up another one in North Carolina...no toughness at all.ReplyDelete
Turk is no delight that's for sure. Expect Araujo-like abuse for him from here on in...


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Scores of youngsters descended stepped into the limelight in a bid to land a spot in a Doncaster pantomime.
It might be the height of summer, but preparations are already well underway for the production of Peter Pan which will be held at Doncaster Racecourse in December and January.
Scores of young hopefuls have spent the last two days trying out for judges hoping to land a part in the show which stars Man About The House and Railway Children star Sally Thomsett.
The racecourse team and pantomime producers David Lee and Stadium Entertainment Events Ltd have been overwhelmed by interest around the auditions which saw hundreds of youngsters showcase their talents
Organisers were on the hunt to find two teams of six young performers to appear as 'The Lost Boys' in the magical adventure this Christmas and they were also looking to cast Michael and John Darling, two key parts in the production.
"We have always had a great response from the youngsters in the region," said director David Lee.
"I've always been very impressed with the standard of the talent here in the north."
Mark Huby of the Nellie Stagles Dance Academy said: "The standard has been amazing - it is definitely one of the toughest auditions we've ever done. Everyone has been so good and we've not wanted to reject anyone.
"We want to bring back the traditional Civic Theatre pantomime to Doncaster this Christmas and that's exactly what we will be doing,
"We are really looking forward to it and the tickets are already selling like hot cakes."
For further information visit www.peterpandoncaster.co.uk


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You really wonder if new episodes will come or air date release – join us! Do you want to know when the show will come back with new episodes?
When will start / premiere date?
Release date: According to rumorsand 2015
About TV Series
Since this is a pilot episodeand very little information. Wait for the update.
Dir: Diego Cantor


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Baker going to state meet in powerlifting
Thanks to a second-place finish in the 148-pound weight class, Donald Baker is advancing to Abilene where he will represent the Sweetwater boys at the state powerlifting meet later this month.Baker's total lift in the three categories — squat, bench press and dead lift — at the regional meet held Saturday at Sundown High School was 1,085 pounds.Baker, a senior, will be making his first appear-ance at the state meet.Just missing out on a trip to the state meet with third-place finishes were Jay Lomas (910) in the 132-pound class and Austin Marlett (1,090) in the 165-pound class. Lomas actu-ally tied for the second-best total but lost a chance to advance due to a slightly higher body weight than that of Greenwood's Cole Byerly, who was awarded the second-place regional medal in the weight class.Both Lomas and Marlett will be state alternates by placing third.Also, Kendall Rea (1,210) was fifth for Sweetwater in the 242-pound class and Steven Le (1,025) finished sixth in the 165-pound weight class. Trey Harvey also went to regionals in the 148-pound class but did not make weight.This year's boys state meet will be March 23.Roscoe had two athletes at the Region I, Div. 3 meet in Sundown.Jose Rangel placed third for Roscoe in the 165-pound class and is a state alternate after a lift of 1,165 pounds. Landon Jones also competed in the 181-pound class but did not score.Sweetwater's six athletes competed Saturday at the Region I, Division 2 meet in Sundown.


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Food and Family - Isabella Morgia di Vicari has two passions -- food and family. They've always been her recipe for happiness. When Isabella had a midlife crisis, she didn't come out swinging -- she came out cooking. *Miss Matchmaker - Driven by a fear of failure, Michelle Valentine learned to light the spark of passion, not just in herself, but in others as well. Her success in creating a world-class dating service helped her to a clear understanding of how to help others build powerful relationships of all kinds. Don't Stop Believin' - The recession has led to difficult times for a lot of people, including 48-year-old Don Cupo. A year ago, he had lost his job and his optimism. But then he decided to take action and a leap of faith. He enrolled at the nation's second largest university to pursue his passion -- film and music. And since he was already being bold, he decided to chase another dream. He tried out for and made the marching band. Now he's pushing himself in ways he never thought possible, and he's got a message for anyone who's lost hope -- don't stop believing. Taking the Plunge - More times than not, the one thing that gets in the way of trying something new is fear! What if there was a way to eliminate it? Would you be willing to try something like scuba diving? Find out how taking risks in life can bring you more rewards than you imagined.
Visit the Website: http://growingbolder.com/
Episode #211 / Length: 26 minutes


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The days are getting longer and warmer and for many Coloradans that means it's camping season. Spending a little time exploring the great outdoors and sleeping under the stars is tons of fun for you, and it may also be a great time for your canine companion under the right circumstances. With the proper knowledge and preparation, dogs can be great camping buddies. Here's a little bit of info to help you decide whether or not to bring your pup along on your next foray into the wilderness.
Happy camper?
Different dogs may be better fit for camping, depending upon their size and breed. Smaller dogs might find camping a very strenuous and stressful experience, while larger breeds might require a lot of maintenance. Breeds such as Jack Russell Terriers have a tendency to be territorial, which could present a problem if your pup comes face to face with a wild animal. Dogs also have their own personality traits that may contribute to either enjoying camping or preferring to stay at home.
Timid dogs could find all of the unfamiliar sights, smells, and sounds of the outdoors very overwhelming, where an aggressive dog might pick a fight with a porcupine and end up the loser. The important point here is that you really understand whether your dog is a good candidate for camping or not. It is much better to keep the camping to yourself and plan other activities that will be enjoyable for both you and your pet than to bring your dog along and create a situation that could be stressful at best and disastrous at worst.
Supplies for your dog
Remember that while your dog is an animal, he's not a wild animal. Dogs aren't used to living outdoors in unpredictable situations. You'll need to make sure that you're adequately prepared to share the joys (and challenges) of camping with your furry friend. Temperatures vary in the outdoors, sometimes quite dramatically. Bring a blanket to keep your dog warm on chilly nights and be prepared to have him sleep in your tent with you for safety purposes and to share warmth.
Bring an ample supply of your dog's regular food and also bring water. If you're camping near a stream or lake, you may be tempted to just let your pup drink from it, but even running water can contain parasites or other creepy crawlies that could make your dog sick and dangerously ill. As an alternative to lugging water around with you, bring water purification tablets and treat water according to the instructions on the tablets before you or your pup drink it.
Bring toys for your dog to play with during the day as well as his normal leash and a longer leash or rope to keep him in your campground area but let him roam within sight. If you plan on hiking for an extended period of time or over rough terrain, you may also want to bring booties to protect his pads.
Lastly, you might consider fitting Fido for saddle packs so that he can carry some of his own supplies to and from your campsite. Whether saddle packs will work well for your pup depends on his breed and temperament, so keep that in mind and consult your vet if you have any questions.
Camping etiquette
Never take an untrained dog into the wilderness on a camping trip. When you're away from home, you're surrounded by the possibility of unpredictable situations, some of which can be dangerous to your dog's health. For instance, in Colorado it is not uncommon for campers to come into contact with coyotes, moose, or even cougars and bears. Having a dog that is aggressive or doesn't listen to you when you warn him away could turn a tense situation into a hazardous one. You should make sure that your dog knows and obeys the following commands:
Come: This is a very basic command, but the point is your dog needs to actually know to drop whatever he's doing and come to you when called.
Stay: Until you tell him he can get up again. It's crucial that your furry friend listen to you and stay put rather than running off on his own agenda.
Leave it: This could save your pup from a tangle with a wild animal or call him away from getting too close to an area of unstable terrain.
Whoa or Heel: This is a bit of an advanced command, but it's incredibly valuable. You can teach your pet that Whoa means to stop whatever it is they're doing immediately and freeze. It may take a bit of extra training, but 'whoa' can save a life on a camping trip.
If you're camping in an area with other people and potentially other dogs, you'll want to consider your pup's disposition before bringing him along. Does your dog have a tendency to be aggressive toward strange people or animals? If so, he could end up hurting other campers, their pet, or some wildlife. Don't take aggressive dogs camping unless you're committed to keeping them secured to you at all times.
Do not let your dog roam around off leash while you're camping. Doing so not only puts your dog in danger from encountering unsafe situations involving poisonous plants, wild animals, and a host of other things, but it's also very inconsiderate if you're camping near other people. No one wants to deal with a strange dog roaming through their campsite, day or night.
Lastly be conscious of your dog's need to relieve himself while in the outdoors. If you're on hiking trails, don't let your dog do his business on the pathway. Also, in some areas of protected wilderness, it is illegal to not pick up after your dog. This is because dog excrement contains traces of foods and chemicals that might attract dangerous wildlife to the area, but might also cause wild animals whose bodies are not used to the substances in dog food to become sick if they ingest it. So know the rules about the area you're camping in and heed them to prevent any problems.
and preparation
Since camping involves getting away from your normal routine, it is highly likely that you'll find yourself not only far from home, but likely also far from any veterinary facilities. We highly recommend that you make an appointment with your vet before taking your trip to confirm that your pup is up for the vacation. Make sure that your dog is up-to-date on his vaccinations, especially rabies and heartworm. You may also wish to discuss tick safety with your pet's doctor so you know how to regularly and thoroughly screen your furry friend. If your camping trip involves hiking or other strenuous activities, you'll want to know that he's up for the challenge.
We hope these tips are helpful to you and we thank you for taking the time to prepare for a safe and fun camping trip with your animal companion. Applying a little bit of forward thinking to your summer camping plans will make you both happy campers.


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Championship teams figure out a way to win those games like the one the Ravens stole from the Vikings on Sunday in snowy Baltimore.
Bad teams like the Vikings – whose star player might have thrown in the towel in the 2nd quarter – produce all kinds of comical ways to lose in a 16-game season. They'll never author a laugher quite as side-splitting as the one they choked away on Sunday in a 29-26 loss to the Ravens.
The Ravens improved to 7-6 on the season and remained firmly in the AFC playoff race by pulling off a miracle — not once, but twice — at M&T Bank Stadium, getting great assistance from the referees along the way in one of those "better to be lucky than good" kind of outcomes. The refs somehow upheld an early fumble by Minnesota that clearly wasn't a fumble to anyone with eyes and then, on the game's final drive, a pass interference penalty that was certainly ticky-tack went Baltimore's way, paving a snowy path to the end zone with four ticks left on the clock.
It wasn't just a miracle. It was a season-saver, potentially.
If the Ravens somehow wiggle their way into post-season and then beat a team or two in January to earn a trip to the AFC title game, they'll look back at the final minute of the game against the Vikings and say, "We were dead…the season was over…but we didn't give up. And something good happened."
That something good was their $60 million quarterback, who refused to give in late in the 4th quarter when the Ravens looked all but cooked after a Minnesota TD put them up 12-7.
Flacco led the Ravens downfield late in the contest and connected with long-lost pal Dennis Pitta on a 1-yard TD throw that everyone ASSUMED would be good enough for the win.
But, the Vikings connected on a TD of their own, then Jacoby Jones ran the ensuing kick-off back while the Minnesota kicker played two-hand touch with him along the sidelines.
Over now, right?
Cordarrelle Patterson burned the entire Ravens defensive backfield with a catch and run that gave the visitors yet another lead.
Then, it was up to Flacco to earn his money.
And, he did.
Granted, the Ravens got a fairly soft pass interference call on an interception that would have sealed the game, but no one said the referees were flawless.
With four seconds left, the Super Bowl MVP found Marlon Brown in the end zone and the Ravens were winners.
They didn't deserve it, honestly.
Anyone watching the game would admit they were vastly outplayed by the Vikings.
The Baltimore defense got shredded like cheese in the prep room at Chipotle in the final two minutes.
But, these games reveal a team's character.
The Ravens have heart. They showed that a few weeks back against Cincinnati and again on Thanksgiving night when the Steelers came to town and left with their feelings hurt.
The Vikings have nothing under the hood. When you give up three touchdowns in the final two minutes of a football game, you're a choker, plain and simple.
Speaking of "nothing under the hood", I saw the replay about five times while I was in the press box and then again another ten times on the DVR when I got home from the game and I don't see how Adrian Peterson got injured that seriously in the second quarter. He looked a lot like an Italian soccer player rolling around on the ground and grabbing his leg. I'm not saying he threw in the towel — but it might have been an underhanded toss, at the very least. He looked disinterested all game, if you ask me.
It was lucky, no doubt.
Anyone who says it wasn't isn't really being honest with themselves.
But that Ravens win over the Vikings on Sunday showed why they're a championship organization.
They'll fight you until the end.
And if you can't take their last punch, you're losing.


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BILL EVANS is well-known within the bluegrass music community not only as a musician, but also as a teacher, writer and scholar. Bill is a master on the banjo. His new CD, In Good Company, features an all-star cast of 26 musicians, including the Infamous Stringdusters, Tim O'Brien, Joy Kills Sorrow, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, David Grier, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan and many, many more. KAYLA BENDER is an amazing 12 year old banjo picker from Oklahoma. She has placed in several banjo competitions and will be showcasing at both IBMA's Kids on Bluegrass and Walnut Valley Festival this year. The broadcast includes Bill giving Kayla a global banjo lesson and ends with a monster banjo jam between the two of them.
Visit the Website: http://www.woodsongs.com/tv.html
Episode #1210 / Length: 56 minutes


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Press FAQ
How much money, overall, has Mary's Walk raised?
Between 1998 and 2015, the lifetime total of Mary's Walk has been just over $2.4 million. It's worth noting that for the first time, we had a local business owner (Mark Stevens of CRI-SIL Silicone Technologies) step in and offer to be the "presenting sponsor" of the walk with a very generous donation of $15,000.
What is the money used for?
Proceeds from Mary's Walk are used to support the work of Maine Cancer Foundation. The foundation's mission is to improve the health and well-being of Maine people by providing grants for cancer research, education and patient support programs. We have an independent board that reviews grant requests three times a year and issues grants ranging from $10,000 - $100,000. In addition, we have several smaller on-going scholarship programs for oncology professionals who need help to keep or upgrade their certification. The one rule of the foundation is that grant recipients must be located in Maine. 100% of the funding stays here in the state. You can see a full list of our grantees on our website: www.mainecancer.org
What makes Mary's Walk so special?
Community. The Mary's Walk & the Kerrymen Pub 5K run have become a springtime institution in the Saco/Biddeford area. Everyone gets involved- the schools, local businesses, the whole town.
Is this event one of Maine Cancer Foundation's major fundraisers?
Yes. $250,000 is a significant amount of money in a state our size. That translates into 25 patient support grants (for things like transportation, hospice, CAP programs, Survivorship assistance etc.) or two and a half years of research study in a lab. A viable medical treatment can easily take more than 10 years to develop from initial concept to FDA testing, and that early support is key. We try to balance between addressing immediate needs and investing in future cures. We sometimes call ourselves the "kickstarter" of cancer research.
Is it surprising that an event like this has become so well known and popular?
Cancer is a strange thing- virtually everyone knows someone, or has been personally affected in some way by cancer. But the fact is, most of us will never be a researcher or a medical professional, so it leaves us with a feeling of uselessness when someone we love is sick. Events like Mary's Walk really help- not only because the donations make a positive effort toward finding treatments, you also get to stand up and join your friends and family and actually do something tangible. Cancer is not as scary when we all stand there together.


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23andMe for DNA testing and the possibility of finding potential related individuals.
This week I had my first glimpse at the information about people with whom I share a portion of DNA. My initial reaction was a bit disappointing. The individual I was most closely matched with showed that we share only .42% DNA. That's less than one half of one percent. The percentage of shared DNA goes down from there.
There are several of us "DNA Testing Buddies" who are discussing our experiences on a Facebook group. I'm not the only one who was a bit disappointed in the initial results. However, our DNA guru, Joan Miller of Luxegen Genealogy, is doing her bit to keep us upbeat and pointing out that this is a long term process.
The original results in the Relative Finder on 23andMe showed I have 386 potential relatives. It is now at 387. 23andMe permits you to contact five of these people per day. So far, I've initiated only the first five inquiries. I've received correspondence from about half a dozen potential relatives, and for most of them, we did not find any familiar surnames.
One of my correspondents pointed out that the connection could definitely be from siblings of our direct ancestor or any of the various descendants. This probably requires posting more than the surnames of only the direct line ancestors.
Another correspondent and I found we both have the Kelly surname in the United States. His family was in the eastern United States around 1790. My family immigrated circa 1850. I brushed off the connection. He pointed out that the possibility exists that it may have taken decades for the members of the family to complete the migration pattern. I was reminded of this again over the weekend during Lisa Alzo's webinar on tracing female ancestors. Patience. Patience.
Where do I think I come from?
It was not surprising that my DNA results show these origins of my ancestors. I've learned that I am in the maternal haplogroup J1c.
This is still a relatively new aspect of genealogy. It's not going to replace research by any stretch of the imagination. And I shall do my best to remain open minded about the entire process. Just sit back and wait and see what happens.
Read all my posts about my DNA testing journey.
Monday, March 21, 2011
About this DNA thing
Posted by Unknown at 5:00 AM
Labels: DNA
1 comment:
I have been reading about mtDNA. I only know back to my 3rd Great grandma, it is my brick wall, and it has been passed down to my mother and Aunts that she was Native American {I know, most people get this story} but would mtDna tell me if she was Native American? My dad did DNA for our Davis name and it was Western European.ReplyDelete
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Roanoke Travels Back to Stevenson for Quarterfinals for Second Straight Season
SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke was led by Joey
Coretti's (East Grand Rapids, MI, East Grand Rapids ) four
goals in a 15-9 triumph over #12 Gettysburg in the second round of
the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon. The Maroons, ranked seventh
in the country (USILA Div. III Poll), improved to 16-3 on the
season. The Bullets ended their season with a 12-7 record. RC
advances to the national quarterfinals and a rematch with Stevenson
University, which beat Roanoke in the same round in 2010.
Coretti has been hot in the NCAA Tournament, scoring seven goals over the past two games this week. He has recorded a goal in the last five games, scoring the most goals this spring since a five-goal outburst against Randolph (4/9).
The win will advance Roanoke to the NCAA National Quarterfinals for the fifth time in seven years. They will take on #3 Stevenson, a 13-8 winner over Cabrini earlier today. It will be the second trip to Baltimore in two years, as the Mustangs defeated the Maroons, 15-14 in overtime in last year's national quarterfinal.
Roanoke, now 6-5 in the series against Gettysburg, won its fourth-straight over the Bullets while extending its winning-streak to 11-straight. It's also the second-straight year that GC's season has ended by the hands of Roanoke. The Maroons are now 4-0 against the Bullets in the NCAA Tournament.
It was a milestone win for head coach Bill Pilat, who earned his 250th career victory. He is the sixth all-time in NCAA Div. III history in career wins. The 23-year coaching veteran is the ODAC's winningest coach, a milestone he accomplished earlier this season.
RC boasts a 44-8 record in the friendly confines of Kerr Stadium, including a 15-1 record in the post-season. Entering their 23rd appearance in the national tournament, the Maroons are now 19-21 all-time in the NCAA's, advancing to their ninth national quarterfinal.
Gettysburg, which has played in three national championship games, won 16-of-28 face-offs and was successful in 19-of-22 clear attempts. But the Maroons edged the Bullets in shots (46-42), groundballs (37-33) and was successful in 27-of-29 clear attempts.
Roanoke, which entered today's contest with the third-best offense in NCAA Div. III, never trailed after bolting to an early 5-1 lead, using a 4-0 run that spanned 5:47 of the first quarter.
Gettysburg, which boasts one of the nation's best defenses in Div. III, scored three unanswered goals to close to within one, 5-4 with 13-minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Maroons responded with a 5-0 run, including two goals from Coretti, to assume a 10-4 lead with 2:02 left in the half.
Gettysburg answered back, scoring three of the next four goals to make it, 11-7 with 11:09 to go in the third period. Richard Lachlan (Port Coquitlam, B.C., Terry Fox Secondary) found the back of the net to ignite a four-goal run for the Maroons to extend their lead to a game-best eight, 15-7 with 5:21 to play to put the Bullets away for good.
Mike Hayden (Vienna, VA, James Madison HS) had three goals and an assist to lead Roanoke with four points. Drew Bracken (Towson, MD, Towson) and Lachlan added two goals and an assist each while both Jeff Keating (Chatham, NJ, Chatham) and Tim Hamernick (Darien, CT, Darien) had a goal and two assists.
Charles Pease (Landisville, PA, Hempfield) (12-2) finished the day with a career-best 18 saves and collected six groundballs. Drew Manley led the Maroons with seven groundballs and caused two turnovers. Justin Tuma (Bloomfield Hills, MI, Lahser) contributed two assists, six groundballs and won 10 face-offs.
Martin Manilla led GC with four goals followed by Henry Tesar with a goal and two assists. Chris Cahill added a goal and an assist for the Bullets.
Nick Avedisian collected five groundballs and won all 16 face-offs on the afternoon. Defender Tommy Barnett totaled four groundballs and two caused turnovers as Matt McMurray scooped four groundballs.
JT McCook (12-7) had seven saves in goal for the Bullets, which finished the season 5-4 on the road.
The men will return to where their season ended last season, in Baltimore, MD as they take on #3 Stevenson University in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
This release is courtesy of the Roanoke College sports information department.


text: 131 0 Posted October 15, 2010 1. Some days ago, i got my asus hd5670 work. 2. Now, i get hd5570 work also. Boot with boothink, and snow leopard retail version, make sure you have update to 10.6.4 and install graphicupdate 1.0. place the ATY_int.kext to c:\darwin\system\Library SL\Extensions\ and boot with '-f -v' then repaire permission after you start up.(5570 hard id is 0x68d9) Also, you can install this kext by other tools. just need one kexts after install the graphicupdate1.0. Thanks to netkas and David. That's ok, have a good day! BTW: for my base system is AMD X3 435 +785G, SO I CAN NOT TEST FOR IF IT IS WORK UNDER 64 BIT. ATY_Init.kext.zip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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A flutter of anxiety shook Mina as she heard her husband, Majid, and their son-in-law, Donald, in the backyard, talking in not quite agreeable tones. Majid, who rarely raised his voice, shouted, "Stop, stop, she can fall and hurt herself."
She went to the window and looked out. Donald was throwing Leila, her three-year-old grandchild, into the air and catching her. She was squealing with laughter, her face all red. Donald continued to play, throwing her into the air and catching her. He was a hefty, broad-shouldered man, with long blond hair, and a strong, square face. Just the way he looked drove Majid to distraction sometimes. Is this going to develop into something more volatile? she wondered. She turned away from the window and went into the kitchen to begin to prepare dinner.
In a few moments she heard soft classical Persian music coming out of their bedroom, what Majid liked to play.
The baby had brought their daughter closer to her and Majid, after years of rebellion against them. During her high school and college years, in her attempt to fit in with the American way of life, Setareh had tried to separate herself from her parents. She had been twelve years old when they emigrated to America, and in many ways she had adopted her peers' free attitudes. It was when Setareh got pregnant that Mina and Majid decided to buy this country house together so that they could all spend a lot of time with the baby. Setareh had resisted the idea at the beginning, concerned about how they would all get along, thrown together like that. But then she had come around and managed to convince Donald that this family closeness was good for the baby.
Mina had fallen in love with this house from the beginning. She liked its symmetrical layout, four rooms upstairs and four downstairs, four windows in each room. From any spot of the house you could see mountains. The air blowing in through the windows was fragrant with the scent of grass and wild flowers. The house, the mountains surrounding it, reminded her of her childhood summer house in the Damavand Mountains. She and her siblings and many cousins had spent idyllic summers there with their parents.
She took a bowl down from a shelf and, as her mother used to do, started to mix flour, honey and milk for a cake. She poured the mixture into a pan and put it in the oven to bake. After it was done, she put the baked cake on a platter, trying to stop herself from eating some. A bad habit, she thought, that she hoped to quit since it made her gain so much weight.
Donald came to the door and said he was going to do grocery shopping. Setareh had put the baby down for a nap. Mina gave a start seeing Donald in his creased tee-shirt and banged up blue jeans, torn at the knees. Why couldn't he dress properly? He was a husband and a father after all.
Through the window Mina watched him getting into his car, which had a sticker on the bumper saying, DON'T LIKE MY DRIVING? THEN GET OFF THE SIDEWALK, one of his attempts at humor among many that she and her husband just didn't appreciate. The car screeched loudly as Donald pulled out of the driveway and hit the curb, then bounced back to the asphalt. It's amazing, she thought, that he hasn't gotten killed the way he drives.
He was so wound up all the time.
Before Setareh met Donald, Majid—and she too—had wanted her to accept a proposal from Karim, the son of one of their friends. Karim was a well-mannered boy and was also going to university, as Setareh was at the time, though in a different city. Of course she and Majid couldn't force their daughter into marriage, not in a country where young girls made their own judgments; still, they had tried to make her understand their way of thinking, that parents had better judgment because they were more experienced. Aware of her parents' disapproving attitude about dating, Setareh had kept her relationship with Donald to herself.
When Donald returned from the grocery, he carried several overloaded bags. Americans, she had noticed, always overshop. Setareh came in and the two of them began to load food into the refrigerator—milk, eggs, jars of baby food, his usual treats, popcorn kernels, Hershey bars. In addition to the food, Donald had bought three straw hats, in different colors: purple, pink and green. The green one was as small as a dessert plate.
"I found them at the flea market by the road, for the three girls here in the household," he said buoyantly.
He put the purple hat on Setareh's head. "You look good in it," he told her. He kissed her hard on the lips. She smiled. Tall, big-boned, Setareh still seemed delicate next to him. He took the hat off her head and put it on his own and tried to imitate her posture by pushing his hip to the side. She snatched the hat off his head, put it back on her own again, then ran giddily into another room. He began to chase her from room to room.
Mina heard them doing something—wrestling—then their bedroom door closing loudly. This was something she had not anticipated when they began to share the house, watching her daughter play with her husband.
Later, still wearing his torn-up clothes, Donald went into the yard to mow the grass and Majid—still brooding over this morning's disagreement—went into the living room to read the bilingual Farsi-English magazine he subscribed to.
Setareh padded back into the kitchen and began to make a salad with yogurt and cucumber and mint, a Persian specialty she had learned from Mina. Working beside her, Mina sprinkled turmeric, dill and lime juice on fish the way they did in Iran, and put it under the broiler. Mina thought how for a long time Setareh had avoided Iranian food. As a teenager, she used to go out and buy fast food with her allowance rather than eat the food her mother made. Now that Donald actually liked the Iranian cuisine, Setareh had started appreciating it too.
Setareh said, "Mom, can you taste the salad to see if I put enough mint in?"
Mina took a spoon and tasted the salad. "Perfect. You've become good at it."
Mina knew that Setareh, aware of her mother's critical attitude towards her husband, was happy with any compliment from her.
Donald came in from the yard, picked up Leila from her crib and carried her into the living room. Mina couldn't help noticing that grass was clinging to his tee-shirt; she worried about it getting on the baby. He sat on the carpet and started blowing up small balloons. She was about to tell him to change his dirty clothes, but then she heard Leila make excited noises, then laugh again and again. To her granddaughter, each balloon was magic.
After the food was ready, Mina and Setarh set the table on the deck and they all sat down to eat. Mina served everyone, including the baby with her special food. Majid was silent, eyes half closed. Was he falling into the realm of memories? Mina wondered.
He opened his eyes and stared at the fish on his plate. "Poor fish," he said. "They must have been swimming happily in the brook before they were caught."
"Look at the wild flowers, so bright in this light," Setareh said in turn, trying to look cheerful
Donald started telling her about what had happened to him in the city yesterday.
"I looked out of my office window and there was this guy—standing on the other side of the glass—washing it. First it seemed like he was dangling down but then I saw that he was just standing on the ledge there. You know those belts? He was hooked to the window. It was a nice day, so I thought I'd get out on the ledge and have my lunch there. You should have seen this guy's face."
"You didn't, did you really?" Setareh said, sounding amused.
"You have a child now to take care of," Mina said to him.
"It wasn't that dangerous," he said. "My office is on the second floor." He raised his hand as if to illustrate the height.
"You know Mother worries a lot," Setareh said, caressing his naked arm.
He smiled at his wife and seemed to shrug, though he did not shrug.
The sunlight was fading and birds were hopping around the tree branches, singing. Mina, who had fallen into a melancholy state like her husband, admonished herself. Why this sadness? We should be singing with the beauty of nature and all that we have, a daughter who has come around to accepting us, a son-in-law who never tries to alienate her against us, a healthy, pretty grandchild, inheriting her father's big blue eyes and her mother's curly dark hair, a striking combination.
After they finished eating they all helped clear the table. A full moon was out and Setareh and Donald left the baby with her and Majid and went for a walk. She had a glimpse of them on the narrow, hilly road that ran by their house and ended two miles up the hill at a dairy farm.
"It's a young country and people remain young too," she said to her husband. But that fuzzy, distracted look was still on his face.
In bed that night Mina had a nightmare that a group of people were holding hands and dancing around a fire, then as if by some gravity they were all pulled into it and started screaming with pain. She could see in the bright light of the moon that their eyes were glaring with fear and blood was streaking out of their faces, arms, chests. She woke in a cold sweat and put her arm around Majid. Majid was deep in sleep. A good thing; he had been so tense all day.
Unable to sleep, she felt herself falling into her own long-ago memories.
She thought of the years before she got married. She and Majid lived in the same neighborhood in Tehran and she kept running into him in different places—the Bandari Cinema, the Mellat Park cafe. Once, when she and one of her girlfriends were sitting in the cafe, he had come to their table and introduced himself for the first time. Then he sent his parents over to her house to ask her parents for her hand in marriage. He had been full of life and ideas, then.
She kept going through corridors of the such memories until she was in a room where she and Majid were alone together for the first time after they got engaged. She was wearing a green dress and tortoise-shell comb held her hair back. He had on a maroon shirt, flattering on him, bringing out the brown of his eyes and hair, a few shades darker than hers. He had just kissed her for the first time two weeks after they were engaged, properly holding himself back. When they were on their honeymoon in Babolsar by the Caspian Sea, they went on a tour: the guide would whistle a tune and masses of tiny, yellow butterflies would swarm in the air, creating a cloud of color around them.
As a lawyer, Majid had opposed human rights violations in Iran: Revolutionary Guards had stormed his office and confiscated his files. After that, he had gone into hiding until they found a way to escape Iran with their daughter. Life in the United States had turned out hard to adjust to. Their English was inadequate and their expertise, hers in Iranian history and his in criminal law, didn't transfer to the new job market. They worked at unchallenging jobs, she as a hairdresser and he for a mail order plant and garden equipment company. In Brooklyn they had made some Iranian friends, but most of them had to work at several jobs and had little time for socializing. The Americans they met seemed frivolous, oblivious to their kinds of problems.
She managed to fall back to sleep only to awaken to someone banging on the door. Revolutionary Guards—the thought rushed sharply through her mind. Then she saw a tree was rapping against the window. It was five in the morning, the luminous clock beside the bed showed. It was eight hours later in Tehran. All the shops and offices would be opening after the long daily siesta and streets would be teeming with the bustle of life, people rushing to work, traffic racing, vendors hawking their merchandise. She and Majid could never have gone back.
Knowing that, she wondered, Why is it that Majid and I cling to the past?
After breakfast, Majid did some work, using one of the rooms in the house as his office. And Donald vanished into his tool shed where he liked to paint. Some of his oil paintings in bright colors, of children holding hands or birds flying, hung on the living room walls. Mina actually liked those cheerful paintings. They reminded her of the patterns she used as a teenager to make little tapestries. Late in the afternoon, Mina and Setareh took out the baby in her stroller, each of them wearing one of the hats that Donald had bought. Mina felt a little silly wearing the hat, but then she liked the way it connected her to her daughter. Sunlight glittered on the tree leaves, which were turning already in September and looked gem-like in their brightness.
They walked on the narrow, asphalt road in front of the house, pausing now and then to look at an interesting sight—an old, abandoned barn, the fish darting in creeks, a brook with children quietly riding on it in inner tubes. A field filled with white-yellow chamomile stretched on the other side. Flat-faced cows grazed in another field.
After a spell of silence, Setareh said: "Mom, you and Dad get worked up over everything Donald does."
Mina did not reply, but she was thinking, Wasn't it better that her daughter married Donald, a playful, happy man, rather than Karim, who had become a very serious, somber man with a critical attitude towards everything?
They passed a house with several children playing in the front yard. One was swinging on a swing; two others were chasing each other, laughing. A little girl came out of the house and began to run down the road, her skirt billowing around her, her hair jumping on the back of her blouse. Then she disappeared into another house farther along.
When Mina and Setareh reached that house, they found that a girl and a small boy had set up some apples and squashes on a wooden table in the yard. "Ten cents each," the girl said as they approached her.
Mina and Setareh paused to buy some.
"The apples are from our own yard and the squash is from my aunt Jennie's yard," the girl said in a bubbling way. Her cheeks were flushed from having run, her hair wind-blown.
"I'll buy all the apples," Mina said, surprising herself. The girl smiled up at her.
Leila who had fallen asleep woke up and reached out to take one of the apples from her grandmother's hand as she received them from the girl.
As they wheeled away, Mina carried the apples in a large plastic bag. She saw that someone in the distance was walking in their direction. It was Donald. He was waving at them, calling, "Setareh, Mina, where are you, time for lunch." He wore faded blue jeans and white sneakers and an iridescent shirt with pink and blue wave-like designs on it and was kicking something, a can or a piece of gravel into the stream running along the road. He reminded her of a big child.
Setareh ran to him. Wearing the purple straw hat that he had given to her, with her hair flowing out from under it, she had a carefree air about her. Donald was beaming as if he had just seen his wife after a long separation.
Mina stopped in the road and set down her heavy bag of apples. She looked at her daughter running, and felt a tremor of joy and thought how nice it would be to run like that, a child in a world of wonders.
The following links are virtual breadcrumbs marking the 27 most recent pages you have visited in Bucknell.edu. If you want to remember a specific page forever click the pin in the top right corner and we will be sure not to replace it. Close this message.


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LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — Shares of Affymax Inc. plummeted more than 85% Monday after the company recalled its antianemia drug Omontys following a handful of fatal reactions that came after use of the medication in first-time users.
At the close, Affymax shares AFFY, +11.43% had dropped $14.10 to $2.42 — an all-time low — after the company jointly announced the recall with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. of Japan TKPYY, -0.95% , its partner on the drug. Takeda's U.S. shares were down nearly 3% to $25.15.
The drug is believed to have caused serious hypersensitivity problems, including anaphylaxis. Omontys was injected into patients for treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease for adults on dialysis. U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have concurred with the decision, Affymax said in a news release.
The medication caused deaths in 0.02% of patients, the release said. Dow Jones Newswires reported that translates to five fatalities.
The news prompted a number of brokerages to cut their ratings on Affymax, including Robert W. Baird, Piper Jaffray, Stifel Nicolaus and JMP Securities.
It also helped boost the shares of Amgen Inc. AMGN, +0.10% , whose blockbuster anemia drug Epogen was being threatened by Omontys. Amgen climbed more than 3% to $89.55, a gain of $2.73 a share on the news, reaching a new high.
Elsewhere, Elan Corp. US:ELN surged more than 5% to $11.14 after Royalty Pharma announced it has made a bid for the Irish-based biotechnology firm. Closely held Royalty approached Elan a week ago, and has held several discussions with the company, Royalty officials said in a news release.
The news comes as somewhat of a surprise, since Elan issued a statement on Friday announcing its plans for life after selling its stake in the multiple-sclerosis drug Tysabri to Biogen Idec Inc. BIIB, -0.97% Elan had announced its intention to sell the stake in Tysabri on Feb. 7.
The Friday announcement detailed plans for investing $3.25 billion in a number of business assets, a debt refinancing and a share repurchase program, but did not mention the offer from Royalty.
Royalty officials said they were "surprised" that no mention was made of the offer, adding that the risks of pursuing a strategy of acquiring properties was too risky. The company went on to say that "the current senior management team of Elan has not made any significant acquisitions or in-licensed any significant late stage products for Elan and thus does not have a track record of generating attractive returns from acquisitions or in-licensed products."
Elan officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.


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Game Downloads
This page showcases games developed by the talented Flash developers who have earned cash sponsorships from Kongregate. If you are a Flash game designer who wants to earn some money and you think you have what it takes to be sponsored by us, check out our FAQ.
You may download any of the games on this page and post them to your own website, provided that you do not modify the games in any way and that you obey our Terms of Use.
We can also provide you with this handy xml feed of all our sponsored games, including thumbnails, descriptions, ratings, and so much more!


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GROTON -- At its recent meeting, the Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee:
Voted to appoint a new screening committee charged with receiving and reviewing applications for school superintendent. The new group's membership is to include representatives from Groton's and Dunstable's boards of selectmen, teachers and school administrators, parents and citizens. The deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, with preliminary interviews of candidates by the committee for Dec. 14. After a finalist has been appointed by the School Committee, the new full-time superintendent is expected to began work on July 1.
Voted to approve field trips for the high school's ice-hockey team and boys and girls' basketball teams. Hockey players are expected to arrive in Bourne on Nov. 30 and hold scrimmages with area teams before returning Dec. 2. Basketball players will attend a Basketball Jamboree in Harwick where they will arrive Nov. 30 and return Dec. 2.


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San Carlos (Nicaragua)
Earth : North America : Central America : Nicaragua : Rio San Juan Region : San Carlos (Nicaragua)
San Carlos is a city in Rio San Juan department of Nicaragua.
San Carlos is kind of the local transportation hub. That doesn t mean that there is a lot going on but if you move in the region you can t miss San Carlos. In November 2009 the municipality inaugurated the brand new Malecon which gave a necessary face-lifiting to the city.
Get in
There are several ways to get into San Carlos.
By Boat
By Bus
By Plane
There are daily flights from Managua (~120 US Round Trip)
Get around
It s a small city - everything is in walking distance.
Since November 2009 there is an ATM from Red Cajero XPress "BanPro". The only ATM in this region
Around the Malecon there are several little Sodas where you can get decent food from 7 am in the morning. At 11 am the more fancy restaurants open but don t expect to much. Fish is the thing to eat in San Carlos (if you are not vegetarian)
There are several budget Hospedajes all around the Malecon and in the streets leading up the hill.
Get out


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Are you bored this weekend? Need something to pass the time? Tune in each week to FileShack, where we round up the very best video game demos, patches, mods, and tools from our files database.
FileShack for the week of April 28, 2012 features the Stellar Impact free to play client, A Valley Without Wind demo, and more.
Stellar Impact free to play client
BOOM video 12371
A multiplayer player versus player space combat game, Stellar Impact is a radical mix of Defense of the Ancients and Homeworld. Choose between different classes of starships, including the fast-corvette, heavy dreadnaught, or cruiser and get promoted through the ranks to earn rewards in the form of better crew and equipment for your fleet. Download the client and play for free!
A Valley Without Wind demo
A Valley Without Wind is an indie 2D side-scrolling adventure game that casts you in the role of a lone wanderer out to defeat the terrible Overlord. Fight him at any time, but be prepared to die if you have not spent much time questing and exploring. Download the demo for Windows or the demo for Mac.
MacGuffin's Curse demo
Help magician turned thief turned werewolf escape the dastardly clutches of a Private Investigator, funded by a powerful billionaire, and lift the curse before being captured and turned into a horrific science experiment! MacGuffin's Curse is a hilarious puzzle adventure game with tounge in cheek dialogue inspired by classic adventure games. Try the Windows demo or the Mac demo.
Telepath RPG: Servants of God demo
Telepath RPG: Servants of God by Sinister Design describes itself as "a hybrid western RPG / strategy RPG set in a unique Middle Eastern steampunk fantasy setting," emphasising tactical turned-based combat, meaningful dialog with lasting consequences, and a story about the existence or non-existence of a supernatural being. Try out the demo to see what you think.
Arx Libertatis for Arx Fatalis free game
Based on Arkane Studios Arx Fatalis and its publicly released source-code, Arx Libertatis is an open-source remake of the game featuring new bug-fixes, modifications, and driver changes for a smoother experience on modern systems. In order to run Arx Libertatis, you need to either own a copy of the original game or simply the demo, which you can find here at Shacknews. After installing the Arx Fatalis demo or full game, download Arx Libertatis for Windows 32-bit or Windows 64-bit architectures.
Want a file mirrored with Shacknews? Submit a news tip here!


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I never dreamed that my selection of a CD player would come down to whether or not it has a pause button but alas it has. I am trying to piece together things for bass race next season and since I traded my deck for some speakers to a needy world finals participant I am out a deck earlier than expected. I have a chance to buy a used Eclipse CD7000 for $350 but I cant seem to find a pause button on the unit anywhere. So what are my options for CD players with a pause button? I am open to pretty much any brand as long as it has a pause button and the company makes a CD changer for it. I am looking to spend no more than $400 used or new and would really like a unit that doesnt give you a ****ing credit card remote (I lost my pioneer remote the first day...never lost my old alpine remote). The unit also needs to be new enough that it plays MP3's and high voltage preouts are a big bonus (atleast 4V)
I have owned Pioneer, Alpine and Eclipse in the past and I am open to these brands again.


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TypeLiqueurs, fruit-flavored
Also known asPeter Heering, Heering
DescriptionProprietary Danish cherry liqueur with brandy base produced since 1818 under various names such as "Heering," "Peter Heering," and "Cherry Heering." Highly valued in cocktails; considered the best of the dark cherry liqueurs.
AvailabilityLimited availability. Produced and sold in Denmark. Distributed world-wide. Export and/or distribution unreliable. Regional. Available for on-line ordering in some markets.
Substituteother cherry-flavored brandy, other cherry liqueur
Usage examplesThis ingredient appears in 28 recipes in CocktailDB.
|Pousse Cafe Variation #14
|Rocky Dune Cocktail
|Flame Thrower
|Cherry Sling Variation
|Cherry Champagne


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By Sam Mamudi
It seems all it took was a new CEO and thousands of layoffs to bring the sheen back to Citigroup (C).
Analysts at Goldman Sachs have added Citi to their Conviction List, at the same time knocking JPMorgan & Chase (JPM) off the List, downgrading that stock to a Buy.
Supporting their Citi thesis, the analyst wrote:
We believe Citi shares are mispriced given the company's core earnings power, especially considering further restructuring could generate additional upside for shares. Under new CEO Michael Corbat, we believe Citi is poised to improve returns and increase efficiency, with several potential avenues to achieve this through (1) the successful implementation of the restructuring plan announced in December ($1.1bn of cost savings, 4% accretive to EPS), which will improve Citi's core efficiency to a level consistent with peers, (2) a quicker rundown of Citi Holdings, either through reserve release or further asset dispositions, (3) improve efficiency in the consumer bank and (4) improve balance sheet and/or expense efficiency in Securities and Banking.
Citi's shares are having a good afternoon, up 1.5% at the latest. Regions Financial (RF), another bank stock on Goldman's Conviction List, is up nearly 2%.
JPMorgan's downgrade is mostly about the fact the stock has held up better than its rivals this cycle — the same reason is behind Goldman's downgrade of Wells Fargo (WFC) and BB&T (BBT) to Neutral. As the analysts wrote:
[They are] three of the banks that have navigated the cycle most successfully so far. While this will continue to translate into returns that are best-in-class, it leaves them with fewer levers to grow earnings in a tough revenue environment…During and directly after the financial crisis, BBT, WFC, and JPM were able to take share and pursue financially attractive M&A while competitors retrenched. With "weaker" banks having rebuilt their capital position, this advantage is dissipating.


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DALLAS (Reuters) - Dallas Cowboys player Jay Ratliff had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit in Texas when his pickup truck hit an 18-wheeler truck on January 22, police said on Monday.
Ratliff, a 31-yar-old nose tackle, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at the scene of the crash. He was released on $500 bail last Tuesday from the municipal jail in Grapevine, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb.
Police in Grapevine said on Monday that Ratliff's blood-alcohol level was .16, double the state's legal limit of .08.
Ratliff was the second Cowboys player to be arrested in an alcohol-related crash within a little more than a month. Josh Brent, also a nose tackle, was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury on one count of intoxication manslaughter on December 28 stemming from a December 8 crash in Irving, Texas, that killed his friend and Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown Jr.
Brent had started for the Cowboys this season because Ratliff was sidelined by injuries.
Grapevine Senior Police Officer Sam Shemwell said Ratliff did not initially appear to be drunk after his Ford F-150 struck the 18-wheeler at about 12:30 a.m. on Texas Highway 114 near the entrance to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. But he failed a field sobriety test. Ratliff declined a breath test at the jail so a blood sample was drawn for testing.
Neither Ratliff nor J.R. Wilson, the driver of the 18-wheeler, was injured. Wilson called 911 and reported that the pickup truck had flipped over, according to the 911 recording.
The blood-alcohol report has been sent to the Tarrant County district's office in Fort Worth, Shemwell said.
"Having recently experienced the most tragic of circumstances regarding this issue, we, as an organization, understand the ultimate consequences of driving while impaired," said Calvin Hill, a consultant for player development for the Cowboys. "We know that one incident is too many."
"We have been in communication with Jay Ratliff regarding this incident, and we will monitor the legal process and work within the NFL guidelines for player behavior moving forward," Hill said.
A first offense of driving while intoxicated carries a punishment of up to six months in jail.
Cowboys Player Jay Ratliff Had High Blood-Alcohol Level At Time of Crash
DALLAS (Reuters) - Dallas Cowboys player Jay Ratliff had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit in Texas when his pickup truck hit an 18-wheeler truck on January 22, police said on Monday.


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Snowman's LandRSS
Movie Description(Click Here To Hide)
While protecting a crime boss's home in the Carpathian Mountains, a contract killer and his lifelong friend get into a dangerous situation when the boss's wife is accidentally killed.
Snowman's Land Reviews
2012-10-01 14:39
Movie Review: "Snowman's Land"
-- Rating: Not Rated
Length: 95 minutes
Release Date:...
Snowman's Land News
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A quick summary of the latest announcements
April 2011 | by Nick Harris
In the cover story this month, Lee Cleveland, Distinguished Engineer, Power Systems direct attach storage, and Andy Walls, Distinguished Engineer, chief hardware architect for DS8000 and solid-state drives (SSDs), sat down to talk about all of the new storage technologies IBM has been releasing lately. What I didn't have room for in the article was a nice summary of the technologies that can help you improve access, manage growth, protect data, reduce costs or reduce complexity. Whatever your goals, IBM has an integrated storage option for every organization.
Here are the quick highlights of the latest storage announcements:
IBM Storwize V7000
New advanced software functions
New easy-to-use, Web-based GUI
RAID and enclosure RAS services and diagnostics
Additional host, controller and ISV interoperability
Integration with IBM Systems Director
Enhancements to Tivoli Storage Productivity Center (TPC), FlashCopy Manager (FCM) and Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) support
Proven IBM software functionalities
Easy Tier (dynamic HDD/SSD management)
Storage virtualization (local and external disks)
Non-disruptive data migration
Global and Metro Mirror
FlashCopy up to 256 copies of each volume
Thin provisioning
IBM Storwize Rapid Application Storage Solution
Runs on: AIX 7.1-5.3, IBM i 7.1-6.1 (with VIOS), Red Hat and SUSE Linux, z/VSE, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X


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HARTSVILLE, S.C. – David Olliver has been named head coach for men's lacrosse at Coker College. He had served as interim head coach since March 7.
"This is an amazing opportunity," Olliver said. "I cannot thank the Coker administration enough for the opportunity as a head coach. The support I have received since I arrived here – especially from Dr. Wyatt, Dr. Griffin and the coaching staffs – has been tremendous. It is my full intention to establish a program the college, its faculty, staff and alumni are proud of. The future of Cobra lacrosse is very bright."
Under Olliver, the Cobras went 4-4 and averaged over 11 goals-per-game. They notched wins over Conference Carolinas foe Lees-McRae College, Young Harris College and future South Atlantic Conference opponents Wingate University, Lenoir-Rhyne. For the season they finished 5-10 overall.
"David understands how to recruit and mentor student athletes, and I feel sure with his many accomplishments both at Wingate University and here at Coker this spring he will continue to build a winning program for Coker," said vice president of athletics and facilities Lynn Griffin.
Prior to joining Coker, Oliver was an assistant coach at Wingate University from 2008-13. He was also a four-year player for the Wingate Bulldogs, anchoring one of the top defenses in the conference. He won the John R. Dodd Coaches Award during his senior year. Olliver holds a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation administration from Wingate.
For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations and marketing, at 843-383-8018 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.


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Release Details
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns of dangers from generators, candles, and other products that might be used if Hurricane Isabel knocks out electricity.
-Never use a generator indoors or in a garage.. Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide which can be deadly if inhaled. Use a portable generator outdoors in a dry, ventilated area away from attached garages or air intakes to the house. Do not store gasoline in the basement or in an attached garage where gasoline fumes could be ignited. CPSC has more details about safe use of generators at: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/portgen.pdf
-Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy-duty outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.
-Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet. Do not turn on damaged electrical appliances because of the hazards of electric shock or fire.
-Never use charcoal indoors because burning charcoal gives off carbon monoxide.
-Make sure the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm are fresh. Test these alarms to make sure they are working.
-Exercise caution in the use of candles. Use flashlights instead. If you use candles, do not put them on or near anything that will burn. Never leave burning candles unattended. Douse candles when you leave the room.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


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Ann Zimmerman, director of UW Law School's Pro Bono Program, has been named a 2013 Leaders in the Law honoree by Wisconsin Law Journal.
Zimmerman, a Law School alumna, will be honored at a February reception in Milwaukee along with 25 other award recipients.
Each year, the Leaders in the Law program recognizes Wisconsin attorneys, judges and educators who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, vision and expertise in the legal profession.
The Law School congratulates the 2013 Leaders in the Law honorees, including the following UW Law alumni:
- Allen Arntsen '81, Foley & Lardner LLP
- Stephen Chernof '68, Godfrey & Kahn SC
- Sarah Coyne '95, Quarles & Brady LLP
- Peter Fox '01, Fox & Fox SC
- Andrew Gonring '77, Washington County Circuit Court
- Bruce Huibregtse '79, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
- John Mitby '71, Axley Brynelson LLP
- David Pliner '89, Corneille Law Group LLC
- Thomas Pyper '80, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC
- Kirk Strang '85, Davis & Kuelthau SC
- Carol Wessels '88, Nelson Irvings & Wessels SC
- Ann Zimmerman '93, University of Wisconsin Law School
Submitted by Law School News on January 29, 2013
This article appears in the categories: Articles


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WASHINGTON -- House Speaker John A. Boehner said holders of U.S. government bonds should be paid first if the nation's debt limit is breached, even if that means that China would get preference over the salaries of U.S. troops.
Boehner (R-Ohio) defended a Republican bill set for House consideration Wednesday that would order the Treasury Department to prioritize payments if the nation exceeded its statutory debt limit.
The bill comes as congressional Republicans and President Obama prepare for another showdown over raising the debt limit as soon as this summer.
"Our goal here is to not default on our debt," Boehner told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday. "I think doing a debt prioritization bill makes it clear to our bondholders that we're going to meet our obligations."
QUIZ: Test your knowledge about the debt limit
Interviewer Peter Cook asked if that meant the Treasury would pay China, the largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt, before U.S. troops, as Democrats have charged the legislation would require.
Boehner reiterated that holders of U.S. debt should take priority.
"Listen, those who have loaned us money, like in any other proceeding, if you will -- court proceeding -- the bondholders usually get paid first," he said. "Same thing here."
The White House on Monday formally threatened to veto the Full Faith and Credit Act, arguing as it has in the past that the debt limit applies to spending already done by the U.S. government.
It accused House Republicans of "political gamesmanship" on the debt limit.
"American families do not get to choose which bills to pay and which ones not to pay, and the United States Congress cannot either without putting the nation into default for the first time in its history," the White House said.
The legislation is unlikely to advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The U.S. reached its $16.4-trillion debt limit at the end of last year, but accounting maneuvers by the Treasury Department allowed the U.S. to continue borrowing until a deal was struck as part of the fiscal cliff negotiations to put off the battle until later this year.
Congress temporarily suspended the debt limit until May 18, when it would need to be raised.
The Treasury Department again would be able to juggle the nation's finances to buy some time. In addition, improved economic growth and higher tax revenue this year will delay the need to raise the debt limit.
The Bipartisan Policy Center projected last month that the government would run out of borrowing power sometime between mid-August and mid-October.
The Treasury Department has not provided an estimated date as Republicans and Democrats maneuver in the political battle over raising the limit.
Republicans reportedly are considering tying an overhaul of the tax code with raising the debt limit. Boehner did not rule that out.
"We're just starting to have our conversations with the members," he told Bloomberg Television.
"And we're going to have a robust conversation about how do we best address this debt ceiling that we're probably going to have to vote on sometime this summer," he said. "Everything's on the table in terms of consideration."
Dow continues to sizzle, topping 15,000 for the first time
Home builders struggling to find enough construction workers
House Speaker Boehner unlikely to support Internet sales tax bill


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HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen has admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs from 1998 to 2010 in the latest doping scandal to hit the sport since Lance Armstrong's confession this month.
Rasmussen says he took testosterone and growth hormones and had blood transfusions in an effort to boost his performance.
He says he will quit the sport immediately and cooperate with anti-doping agencies.
Rasmussen led the 2007 Tour de France until he was kicked off for lying about his whereabouts when he missed pre-race doping tests. He later admitted that he had lied and was banned from cycling for two years.


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Potluck Dinner
Steve Simpson
Associate Director
University of Missouri
Columbia, Mo.
Several of our units host potluck meals where employees bring a favorite dish from home to share with co-workers. We presented a modified version on a department level at the 2009 Campus Dining Services Fun Day when each operation brought its specialty to the luncheon. Everyone got to try the other units' products, which they do not often get to do.


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Social Media hijacking: It's a danger that threatens us all. And celebrities are no exception.
Take Russell Brand. Comedian, movie star, and husband to pop princess Katy Perry. Between them, the couple have over 12,000,000 followers on Twitter, and they all saw the following fracas unfold before them:
While Katy's frape (that word wo
- Reposted by


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St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola is inactive for Sunday's road test against the Buffalo Bills.
Amendola sustained a foot injury late in the first half of a Nov. 18 loss to the New York Jets and was limited to just one catch for 38 yards the following week against Arizona before sitting out last weekend's 16-13 overtime victory against the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers.
The fourth-year wideout has hauled in 51 passes for 576 yards and two touchdowns in eight games this season.


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That's IT! I am leaving! I cannot stand Karen or Paul, any of you guys, YUCK! I am DONE! You are all mean, you all lie to me, I lie right back to you, I don't even HAVE any cats, and Jonah isn't really my child, I stole him from WalMart (half priced at that), and, another thing, I don't even LIVE in the US, and I hate girl scout cookies.
I just wanted to type it to see how I felt. Much better, now, thanks.