text:
Should billionaires rule our schools?
No, but I don't think they are (well, at least no more than they rule everything else). The summary makes two HUGE jumps here. It starts by saying that the NewSchools Venture Fund is giving grants to charter schools. Then it attempts to smear the very idea by criticizing one particular practice of one particular group of charter schools in Chicago. Then it makes an even bigger jump by equating this with billionaires "ruling" our schools (as if individual donors to this fund created this one controversial policy, or even had any idea that it existed). I think that whoever wrote this summary is being unfairly critical of charter schools, and even more unfair to those rich donors who are actually *trying* to help (as opposed to those who just hoard their money and or just their wealth to buy new Ferraris).
In an era where the rich are able to get by paying so few taxes in the U.S., I think that those who still CHOOSE to help our ailing schools should be praised, not chastised, for the policies of one particular charter school (and I don't even find their policy that egregious in the first place). It's nice to know that not *all* rich people are just greedy pricks who would say "fuck all" to the poor.
Ideally, the U.S. would have a system where this kind of charity isn't necessary in the first place. But until that day, I don't think we should turn away any help just because it comes from Bill Gates.
Exactly. Billionaire/corporate greed is easy to understand, rooted in money. Political greed is the scary one. Rooted in the domination and megalomania of ruling over other people because they are smaller than me and I know better than them.
And what makes you think they are completely separate? One feeds the other.
Yeah... and I don't know if I trust "billionaires", but I don't know if I trust City Hall a whole lot more, either. Especially when the existing teachers unions are making campaign contributions.
Why hate the teachers unions so much? They aren't perfect, but most of the things they are asking for correlate to giving students a better education (smaller classrooms, more pay so they don't need a 2nd or 3rd job, etc).
All of the focus is on the teachers unions, but no one looks at the administrators who enjoy the same benefits (or more) while spending most of their career trying to not rock the boat.
In an era where the rich are able to get by paying so few taxes in the U.S., I think that those who still CHOOSE to help our ailing schools should be praised, not chastised, for the policies of one particular charter school (and I don't even find their policy that egregious in the first place).
So you're fine with private organizations imposing fines on a whim? And that a school teaches its students to submit to such arbitrary authority?
And the rich pay less than their fair share of taxes because they have
So you're fine with private organizations imposing fines on a whim? And that a school teaches its students to submit to such arbitrary authority?
They're not imposing fines on a whim. You sent your kids to their school, their rules were agreed to. I disagree with some of the rules (they get fined for hot chips? really?), but if I chose to send my kids to that school, I chose to make it so that every bag of chips my kid brings is expensive. Any organization can impose fees and fines on member who agree to abide by certain rules. You can avoid those fees and fines by severing your affiliation with the group. In this case by enrolling your kid in a normal public school.
And the rich pay less than their fair share of taxes because they have used the power their riches bring to bring it about. They deserve no more praise than a mugger who calls an ambulance for his victim would.
You're making several assumptions here. The first and most important is that every rich person agrees with what every other rich person does. Let's say you and I are both billionaires. I spend a lot of money lobbying to make sure that the fourth jet purchased by any single person is tax deductible. You buy a fourth jet and your accountant deducts it from this year's taxes. Does that make you culpable? Maybe in some ways, but in all probability you didn't even know the damned thing was deductible when you bought it. You might have been perfectly fine just paying the extra taxes. Warren Buffet has been rather vocal that he feels he should be paying more taxes than he is. Does that make him culpable for a tax rate he didn't have anything to do with setting?
The rich are like politicians or lawyers: there might be a few who are honest or even decent, but as a group, they have earned their reputation.
But again, does that mean we shouldn't reward positive behavior? Maybe if enough rich people receive enough positive feedback, more of them will be more willing to help. Even one billionaire parting with even 5% of his/her fortune is able to make more of a difference than I could if I gave away everything I ever made.
They're not imposing fines on a whim. You sent your kids to their school, their rules were agreed to.
They are posing as and comparing themselves to a public school! And they are lobbying to replace more public schools. This "miracle" system will break down if they are unable to charge money and then scare off poor and undisciplined students. Public schools don't get to filter their students to focus on the good ones only.
So you're fine with private organizations imposing fines on a whim?
It is troubling that we have to get to this to impose discipline, and it sure raises a few eyebrows. But on a whim? They aren't. These are infractions. Yes, not having your shirt buttoned or chewing gum, those are behavioral infractions. Fining over them can be argued to be questionable, but flagging these kind of things as infractions is perfectly reasonable. You need to get off your cornbread boundaries and visit other countries with more successful education systems than ours - wearing a proper school uniform is typically one of their common features. There are many reasons why this is so, and it is not rocket science why it works and why it is necessary.
And that a school teaches its students to submit to such arbitrary authority?
It's called discipline, something that apparently you were never exposed to during your primary and secondary education.
It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber. -Robert Fulghum
Fortunately, that day will never come.
It's impossible to "fully fund" public education because however much funding public education gets the result will be that it's not enough. The proof is in this question: how much money constitutes "all the money they need"?
The answer, never given explicitly, is always "more".
Schools already got all the money they need but they just used it to hire more administrators and other staff. I don't think throwing even more money at them will help without some fundamental changes in the way they operate.
In 1955, teachers constituted about 65% of local education workers; today, despite years of rapid gains in teacher ranks, they amount to only about 40% of the eight million local education workers. Per-pupil spending in public schools has grown to $10,500 today from $2,831 (in 2010 dollars) in 1961.
From: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204531404577052194234235910.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0 [wsj.com] (paywalled)
> In an era where the rich are able to get by paying so few taxes in the U.S.,
What, as opposed to the 47% of citizens that now net zero federal taxes [nytimes.com] at all? That the top 1% already pays 40% of the national tax burden? I'm not in either group, but even I can see that's not exactly "fair"...
Wow, those are misleading numbers. You cannot have any idea of fairness from those numbers at all. At the very least you need to compare the tax burden of the top 1% relative to their wealth and income. Simplistic example: if I rent my car to 99%, I will assume 100% of the tax burden related to the ownership of the car, and the 99 other nothing. But that would be very misleading to say the 1% pay 100% of the tax burden.
Also, a fair system is not necessarily linear with wealth and income. It is not unacce
> In an era where the rich are able to get by paying so few taxes in the U.S.,
What, as opposed to the 47% of citizens that now net zero federal taxes [nytimes.com] at all? That the top 1% already pays 40% of the national tax burden? I'm not in either group, but even I can see that's not exactly "fair"...
Of course that 47% includes the retired on Social Security, students, unemployed people, etc. Also, those numbers do not include social security taxes which are a federal tax.
Real data suggests that the working poor - those who work 32 hours or more a week do indeed pay taxes. Of course, if they are making minimum wage and have a child or two, it is very possible that their standard deduction may negate the taxes except for social security. But then, if you want the minimum wage workers to pay more in ta
What, as opposed to the 47% of citizens that now net zero federal taxes [nytimes.com] at all? That the top 1% already pays 40% of the national tax burden?
That's exactly the opposite of what the article said. Did you actually read the article you are linking to? If so, then you're deliberately misrepresenting it.
The actual headline is:
"Yes, 47% of Households Owe No Taxes. Look Closer."
The article says that's true only if you define "taxes" to exclude payroll taxes. It says:
"About three-quarters of households pay more in payroll taxes than in income taxes."
I really get pissed off when people try to have an intelligent, informed conversation and you have to spe
I agree, any group that receives 80% of the profits from society should pay 80% of the costs of society. The fact they get away with 40% seems more than a little "unfair". The proportion of wealth in the hands of the rich is increasing, that seems like clear proof that they aren't paying their fair share.
Then it makes an even bigger jump by equating this with billionaires "ruling" our schools (as if individual donors to this fund created this one controversial policy, or even had any idea that it existed).
And then it attempts to act as if the financial status of someone has any relevance when evaluating the worth of a school, or their ability to run it.
If Bill Gates opened up a university that started churning out top-notch MBAs who by and large ended up successful entrepeneurs, who the heck cares that Gates himself is successful?
Class warfare indeed: Aparently where it was once the practice to discriminate on other inherent characteristics, we have moved beyond that kind of prejudice to one based on someon
Actual, better pretty much any group than Public Sector Unions.
Fix the System:
1. Triple every teacher's salary
2. Eliminate Collective Bargaining and Tenure, replacing with individually negotiated Employment Contracts with a maximum 3-year term.
3. Teachers without Employment Contracts have their salaries available for merit-based increase biennially.
3. Eliminate Pensions.
In short, make teachers' jobs like most every other valued job for which you want constant strong competition among skilled employees and potential employees.
The problem with Rhee's "plan" was that it was all based on test scores. The teachers were basically being asked to agree that they could be instantly fired if their kids didn't do well on a standardized test that they had no part in creating. If you aren't a teacher, you wouldn't know that sometimes no matter how hard you work and how well you teach, you get a bunch of kids that doesn't score well on tests. This is because the main factor in a student's performance in parental engagement and involvement. Rhee's plan was to fire all these "bad teachers" and hire shiny new ones, who she would then fire the next year. How about instead, do what good teachers do and look at what works and what doesn't and use that to improve next year?
My SO works in the DC office responsible for training the evaluators who assess teachers in the classroom. I don't know exactly how it worked under Rhee, but I do know the way it works now... about half of teacher evaluations are based on standardized test scores, and the other half is based on in-class observation by professional evaluators.
No one is going to argue that teachers can overcome the strong influences of parental involvement and other exogenous factors. However, of the things that can be dealt with in the school, teacher quality is likely the most important. If year after year you have a teacher whose students show no improvement at all and there are other teachers in the same school (and even same subject) who students do show improvement, what do you do?
There are in fact efforts to identify high quality teachers and disseminate their practices to the rest of the teaching population (this was my SO's last work project), so it's not as if there are no resources going into actually improving the quality of teachers in the classroom. However, the fact remains that in many cases you have teachers who may very well be veterans of the classroom but who frankly aren't all that good at their job. Tenure for primary and secondary teachers in this day and age doesn't make sense - you need to be able to fire poor performers.
The teachers were basically being asked to agree that they could be instantly fired if their kids didn't do well on a standardized test that they had no part in creating.
The school administrators also have no part in creating the standardized tests. It's a neutral test made by a third party.
I agree that parental involvement is the most important factor, but teachers are fighting the wrong battle by pitting themselves against standardized tests. They will not win because their position defies common sense. Everybody understands the need to measure outcomes and the need to compare those measurements.
The fight should be about who bears responsibility for low scores. If parents are the biggest factor, then parents should suffer for their underperforming children. If you extended this school's idea of fines for breaking rules to fines for getting bad grades, would teachers still have the same loathing of standardized tests?
I don't "loathe" standardized tests. They are a useful tool, but they only measure what they measure. They need to be one tool in the toolbox of assessing teachers. We also need better training of teachers, better pay for teachers to attract better new teachers, better administrative observation and assessment of teachers, a shift in focus from lecture to project and problem-based learning and more.
And don't be so enamored of those "neutral third parties" who are making these tests. They are in it for money
It's a neutral test made by a third party.
I agree that parental involvement is the most important factor, but teachers are fighting the wrong battle by pitting themselves against standardized tests. They will not win because their position defies common sense. Everybody understands the need to measure outcomes and the need to compare those measurements.
These "neutral" tests are also invalid tests. As TFA http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781 [dissentmagazine.org] mentioned in passing, the National Academy of Sciences and other organizations reviewed the current tests and found out that they don't do what they're supposed to do: They don't tell you whether a teacher is good or bad.
The New York City department of education was using a test to determine whether new teachers would continue on the job. The test had a complicated formula that (literally) no one could
Fine, some of those are good ideas. They would get rid of the small percentage of egregious teachers. But how do you measure the merit-based increases when so much of a student's performance depends on their parents? Teachers can only work with the material they get.
Also, why would you want to encourage competition among teachers. The Finns don't do that. Instead the foster cooperation and it works.
Having gone to a good public school let me retort.
1 Teachers with some years in make a good pay for a job with a short day and a short year. According to there web site average first year teacher salary is not great at 40-46k and once they have put there time in (14 years) it's 83k. Mind you the towns median household income is 87.5k so yearly for a married couple they are on par with average to start. Lets not forget they have a couple months to pick up summer school and other gigs. Yes every industry
Pft. Considering the state of public education these days, fuck'em. And I say that in the nicest way possible. About 3/4's of the kids in the neighborhood where the wife and I are are either home schooled or go to a private school, simply because parents don't believe that they're being taught correctly. Then again this is Ontario, no the US. But the more flappyheadeness that comes from a teacher and unions over 'attacks on public education' the further I come to believe that there's something fundamen
Chewing gum.
Carrying visible "flaming or hot chips.''
Tardy to class more than 3 minutes.
Forgetting your belt.
Carrying a Sharpie or other permanent marker.
Forgetting to place quotation marks around another writer's words.
Having visible Red Bull, other energy drinks or pop.
Not wearing dress pants or the school shirt.
What's the problem here? These seem pretty straightforward and hard to fuck up, less the Tardy to class one, but you know what? A lot of workplaces aren't cool with that either. I think it's not a bad thing.
Maybe it's have a rule saying no food in class.
As for gum make the fine about if you make a mess
Now maybe in a few classes you may need a permanent marker so maybe retool that rule.
the dress code rules are fine as well as being late.
Problem is, consider two groups: The Popular Jocks. Us Geeks.
Now.. which group do you think freely flouts the rules but hardly ever gets 'charged' (in the most literal sense) for it.
What's the problem here?
1. Children who think they can do anything.
2. Parents who make sure their children are not wrong.
Forgetting to place quotation marks around another writer's words.
These seem pretty straightforward and hard to fuck up
Oh, the irony.
The problem is some of these do not normally warrant a detention.
Forgetting to use quote marks, is an academic issue which should be dealt with in class, at most by a deduction of points from the grade. If it gets to the point of plagiarism then that is a different matter and should be dealt with accordingly, but there is no qualifier to that extent.
What wrong with possessing those food items?
Often time backpacks are required now to be mesh or clear, so even if you kept it in your bag the whole day and neve
And if breaking the rules meant that the student should be expelled on their first offense? Will you defend that by saying "Dems' the rules".
I have no issue with the rules themselves, just the severity of the punishment.
Paying real money and spending time in detention for what could have easily been a typo does not "fit the crime" by any stretch of the imagination.
I assume you work. What if every time you made a typo in an email or here on
They missed off:
If paying these fines is a problem, then make sure you don't get hit with them.
If you don't want your kid to be educated with a strict set of rules in the school, then choose a different school.
I notice one example of a bad apple... and then a question about the whole bunch at the end. Without more examples, it's hard to say anything about the bunch.
What's wrong with rich people giving money to an already privatised school system? The US is the most capitalistic (large) economy in the world. You guys chose to have this system. You chose to have privatised schools. You chose to have a relatively small group of people who are relatively wealthy. Given all those democratic choices, if I were you, I'd
What's wrong with rich people giving money to an already privatised school system? The US is the most capitalistic (large) economy in the world. You guys chose to have this system. You chose to have privatised schools
No, the US has a public school system, very much so. It just sucks, quite badly, so people who want their kids to have a decent education are forced to found and fund private schools so their (and other) kids can graduate high school knowing how to write and do basic math.
Thanks for the clarification. Still, there are privatised schools, so the point stands.
First off, are these fines working?
Seriously, gum chewing in schools is a big problem. It is disgusting finding your pants stuck to a desk because someone stuck their gum there.
What's wrong with teaching about plagiarism with a fine. In the real world, fine's are much more.
What are the penalties of not paying a fine? (Can it be sent to collection and ruin your credit rating? That might be too much.)
Are the kids learning? Is the learning environment better than the comparable city schools thanks to the discipline?
Disciplining children. I mean we removed spanking. We removed yelling. Now we're having issue with financial penalties.
Would someone like to propose an alternative for keeping out classrooms from being like zoos?
Step 1: Give schools millions so they can provide inexpensive education to poor kids and so indirectly give millions to poor kids
Step 2: Impose trivial fines sufficient to get parents attention focused on educational problems
Step 3: Smarter and more responsible kids with involved parents.
Works for me.
In the real world, fine's are much more.
Improper use of an apostrophe. $50 fine and 20 points from Gryffindor.
What are the penalties of not paying a fine?
According to TFA, they make you repeat the year, regardless of academic performance.
I agree with the gist of what you are saying.
Growing up, I studied in schools which were fairly strict (including uniforms), where you'd be punished if your shoe was not polished well. Looking back, that sense of discipline has served me well in everything I do.
I think parenting also plays a role, but it's more of a case of values: good parents imbibe their children with fundamental values around work ethics, integrity, honesty, the value of hard work, good education and ambition. To an extent, friends and family also play a role in how children perceive this.
Both my parents are extremely well educated, but my Mom decided to stay at home to take care of me when I was born, dropping her doctoral studies. In a way, that sense of parental responsibility speaks volumes and it is hard not to be raised with a similar sense of responsibility when your parents continuously demonstrate it.
Now, I am sure there is also an element of nature vs. nurture, but those seem few and far between.
I find that education today has become largely impersonal, and the vast majority of the teachers and the parents don't seem to have a personal, vested interest in individuals. They both look to the system, and the system as a whole is a joke.
I've heard that one of the reasons kids from Asian families do well in education is because culturally, the family and friends push education, and those values get absorbed. You see this to an extent with a lot of Jewish families, as well, where education and achievement is pushed. But you only mostly see it in immigrant and first generation families -- once they get acclimatized, those values slowly fade away.
Things like financial penalties are basically an attempt at getting parents involved and interested in a child's education, but that is clearly not working well enough. Unless people take a genuine interest in education all around (including family, friends, and lastly, the teachers), this problem is not going to be fixed.
Students at Noble schools receive demerits for various infractions -- four for having a cellphone or one for untied shoelaces. Four demerits within a two-week period earn them a detention and $5 fine. Students who get 12 detentions in a year must attend a summer behavior class that costs $140.
Five dollars for four demerits appears reasonable. Do the students get a warning and then a demerit?
12 Detention @ $5 a pop
1 Mandatory Summer Course @ $140 for 12 Detentions
$200 total cost from 12 Detentions which requires you to earn 2 demerits every week for 24 weeks.
As the Fact Sheet we have provided shows, when students receive more than 12 detentions, they have to pay $140 to attend a "behavior class." And if they receive more detentions, they have to take two discipline classes, costing a whopping $280.
A $140 fine for 12 detentions? Really? Why is the student not simply suspended after 5 detentions in one year and expelled after 7-8 detentions?
I went to Missouri Military Academy. Although we didn't have to pay fines, sorry fees, there were a ton of different rules that would get you in trouble. Some demerits were worth more than others. For each point we got the joy and pleasure of marching in a square for 15 min/per demerit. Or 30 min of study hall, depending on the day, or holding an 8 lbs rife straight out for 5 min. The only thing we had to pay with was our free time. In a non boarding school situation money is the only thing you've got to work with, and it has the effect of getting the parent involved as well, since they are paying. I'm sure life isn't good for the kids when mom and dad get a bill for $X and the kid get to spend his time at home working it off. It's looks like the cost of the demerits are fairly cheap, less than a pack of off brand smokes. So it's not like people are getting saddled with huge costs. Sure the list of demerits seems pretty nit picky, but I've experienced worse. "Not sitting up straight, Running in front of the admin building, Gigline not straight." I'm glad some schools out there are trying something different, esp if it seems to be working.
I dislike the fines, but this is EXACTLY the way things like this should be tried out. Try things at relatively small scale and on a population that volunteers for it. This is exactly the way medical research is carried out. If you want the cancer treatment that looks promising, but might not actually work, you have to volunteer to get it and it's available to a limited number of people.
Contrast this with what we usually do: entire school districts, or worse, entire states, or MUCH worse, the whole country tries some harebrained scheme, or even some halfway decent sounding scheme, which turns out to have real problems. Take No Child Left Behind, for example. Testing to measure performance sounds like a really good idea. Could we perhaps have tried it out on a smaller group than the whole country in order to find out it doesn't work?
*I* don't like the idea, but my kids aren't going there. Leave them alone unless there's sufficient data to prove this performs worse than the default.
I think you're sort of on the right track. The problem is how much do we respect the students' ability and right to informed consent? Do the students' have a voice at all, do they deserve one, and for that matter, how informed are the parents going into these experiments? This is true of both large and small project, and solutions are hard to come by, which is part of the issue with the snails pace of educational reform.
NCLB isn't a new idea, in fact, that isn't even the real name. It is actually a set of additional rules for Title 1 funding from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act from 1965. Title 1 federal funds have had various stipulations through the years, and the current AYP goals on annual tests are just the latest. There are other sections, also, like Title 3, which deals with funds for language learners. The federal government can't influence educational policy directly, so they gather up as much money as they can, and then attach as many strings as they can, so that eventually federal policy becomes mandated at the local level. Who does this affect the most? The least funded schools in low socioeconomic areas. Wealthy school districts don't need Title 1 money, and have always been able to just tell the feds to screw off.
But since not all schools are funded the same way (in California, look at the "Basic aid" vs. "Revenue Limited" issue which ensures the disparity) the federal money is very, very important to some districts. In fact, my current position is funded entirely through federal funding sources. Some here (actually many, having read through the comments) would say I'm exactly the kind of person who is part of the problem with public education and spending. I work out of the district office as a technology coach for integration with curriculum and teacher training, as well as a bulk of the data collection and analysis for student performance. Here's a quick hint: if you make test scores and data more and more important to schools, they will hire more and more statisticians and administrative analysts.
Anyway, sorry for the rant. I get that people all over aren't happy with what schools are doing and how much they cost, but I also don't think people understand how complicated it all is, and how impossible it is to deliver on all the expectations with a fraction of the money. It wears me out a bit.
Incredibly good, I assume.
In evaluating the school, I think you have to first judge how well it is serving the students and families. Then things like the welfare of the teachers and the quality of the facilities. The billionaire connection is rather far down the list of things that I would be concerned about.
Should billionaires rule our schools?
First answer these questions:
1) Will the Billionaires try to make more people like themselves, or more worker drones?
2) If the Billionaires will freely give us the secrets to being Billionaires, do we want our kids to become Billionaires?
If my child grew up to be Warren Buffet, I wouldn't be too upset, but I don't want my kids to be or marry a Don Trump.
A side question is "Do the Billionaires really know how they got where they are, and can they teach it?" (If they inherited their initial money
Should college dropouts rule our schools?
well college does not tech all the skills you need for the job and in some jobs you need a TECH SCHOOL / apprenticeships.
Part of why schools are bad is the TEACH THE TEST IDEA and College as to many classes that you pass by just cramming for the test.
Should college dropouts rule our schools?
Why not have a few college dropouts teach at schools? (Assuming they are successful in some aspect of their lives)
The people who teach and lead in the school system, did well in the school system. Getting people for whom the current system works to teach and run the schools leads to a system just like it was before.
If you have a system that is running at 100% efficiency, as well as it can, then it makes sense to put the same kind of people in charge year after year. But if it isn't, then perhaps
At least these schools give one a choice. Unfortunately, I bet that everybody still has to fund public schools whether their children go there or not--and while that's precisely analogous to the "Microsoft tax", I bet there will be slashdotters who will defend it.
Look at it like a toll road versus a freeway. You pay for the public roadways regardless of whether or not you choose to take the toll road. If you take the free roads to work you may forego certain benefits but at least you're getting something for your money. If you take the toll road you pay extra for whatever benefits you feel you get. Either way, it's your choice. Would you advocate a refund of the money paid out in taxes for the miles you traveled on the toll road? If so, expect lots more traffic on t
Barretta quotes aside, this is something that public schools are no longer able to do.
You can't "punish" Johnny for fear of reprisal from a variety of sources, and make no mistake, with the levels of parental non-involvement, Johnny *needs* some reining in.
Now, does the school need to keep $190K of "fees"? No. They need to make an effort to do something visible and positive with that money, preferably involving the students, in their communities. That would be a lesson everyone could get behind.
... it all really avoids the main issue. Not all students can be expected to do well or even like school. School is work and if schools want to see results kids should be paid to get high marks. "Learning" masks what learning really is - a lot of work. Now some of us like/love learning but statistically speaking most people don't like learning, especially things they think are hard or tedious.
Learning in the modern world is a means to an end, lets face this fact. Many societies in the past got by witho
"Should billionaires rule our schools?"
To that question, I answer NO! At least to schools that receive ANY public money. If it is an ENTIRELY private schools, OK. Most charter schools (at least in my state) receive a voucher from the parents which, in my opinion, is the same as getting state money.
On another front, which I find extremely troubling, is universities accepting Koch Foundation funds. The money coming from this foundation comes with BIG strings attached. The university has to agree to allow
Chicago has how many public schools in it? And this is ONE private school you have a problem with? As noted, sending your children there is a choice - something the vast majority of parents lack for their children.
BTW, Chicago teachers, after being forced to forgo this year's 4% pay raise are trying to negotiate a 25% raise next year, with another 4.5% the following year [chicagotribune.com] - based, in large part, on the extension of the school day. Apparently the teachers that used to argue they were salaried professionals are now arguing they are hourly workers.
This is also Chicago, where TVs are falling and killing small children [usatoday.com] at alarming rates.
This is Chicago, the city that was recently ranked the most corrupt city in America. [chicagotribune.com]
This is Chicago, where nearly 40% of all students dropped out [k12.il.us] before graduation LAST YEAR.
This is Chicago where almost 31% of students either meet or exceed standards on the PSAE examinations. [k12.il.us]
Did parents know about these "fees" when they enrolled? Were the reasons for them explained to the parents when they enrolled their children?
There must have been some reason these parents choose to enroll their children in this school.
OK here's what perhaps people are missing about this scheme and what's really insidious
Researchers know that paying someone money to learn (or the reverse of this, fining them for not learning) has the effect of making learning uninteresting to the learner unless money is involved as an incentive / disincentive.
http://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V72N6/0401_feature1.html [rochester.edu]
This of course perfectly describes the mind set known as "greedy" where all expenditure of mental effort is evaluated first and foremost on a transactional basis and is never its own reward.
The people who most fit the above description are of course just those billionaires funding these schemes.
So these schools become narcissistic projections of the funder's own egos and value systems.
But these personalities don't invent, they aren't creative, they aren't the source of technological progress.
Rather they're the specific personalities that fill the role of monopolist winners within a system that is guaranteed to produce such winners in any event. Given our system of deregulatory capitalism and pliable legislators and courts, someone was going to be Bill Gates and someone was going to be Larry Ellison. They're not unique in that sense.
Ellison himself characterized the early buggy database as a "roach motel for for information- data goes in, but it never comes out..." which is not surprising since he invented none of it and barely understood E F Codd's relational model to begin with. Nevertheless he's a business winner.
Gates famously invented nothing of note; he was good in his capacity as a narcissistic leader and good at surrounding himself with co-dependents who could be relied on to fiercely buy into the cult of personality and do actual work.
This is in marked contrast to the mindset of the lowly researcher who actually invents new technology and makes actual discoveries. This type of person is curious for curiosity's sake and feels wonder at things that motivates her towards knowledge for knowledge's sake. Some of them become entrepreneurs it's true but they're two different personality types- one is mercantile and transactional and fundamentally disinterested in anything that won't make her money and the other is more likely to seek out a position in life which will let her pursue her interests and be comfortable. All of academia is built on this basic fact.
Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them. -- Bill Vaughn


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(Corrects headline and text to say 21 satellites, not 20)
BEIJING, March 18 (Reuters) - China said on Tuesday that it has deployed 21 satellites to search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner with 239 people on board.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the comments at a daily news briefing.
China has begun searching for the missing jet in those parts of its own territory covered by a northern corridor that the aircraft could have flown through, state media said earlier in the day.
No trace of the plane has been found more than a week after it vanished, but investigators believe it was diverted by someone with deep knowledge of the plane and commercial navigation.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey everyone, I just moved back to the Denver area and, with my new insurance (score!), I am looking for an open-minded doctor to help monitor my MS. Can be a GP or neuro, but would prefer someone who is open minded to natural approaches and will support frequent blood checks, etc. If anyone has a good one, please PM me the details!
Thanks a million.


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Home > Clothing & Accessories > Women > Pants > Women Fashion Ankle Length Legging Hollow Out Tight Pants Rose
Product Details
Do you want to be much thinner and more fashionable like the superstars? We are excited to recommend you this Women Fashion Ankle Length Legging Hollow Out Tight Pants. The tight legging instantly shape and slim the body by flattening desired areas such as the waist, hips, buttocks, and thighs, also can make you look thinner and help hide trouble areas. Additionally, they are perfectly fit for any of your attire,make you cool in the street.Don't miss it! Excellent hollow out legging and affordable price, so, what are you waiting for?
- Unique horizonal stripes hollow out , slim fit nine point design
- This thin tight legging is designed with hollow out feature, which is sexy and fashionable
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- Keep you cool in the hot days
- This tight legging does not hurt your skin
- Matching with different clothes, you will be more beautiful with this tight legging
- Has a good elasticity , durable for wearing
- The color of this legging can match with the other clothes easily
- Be made of good quality material for easy comfort style
- This cheap legging can give you a chic and elegant look
- A perfect gift for someone special or treats for you
- Size: Free , that fits most people
- Color: Rose
- Material: 94% Cotton + 6% Spandex
- Your purchase will be shipped right away following cleared payment
Package Includes:
- 1 x Legging
- Not include other matches
- Please keep the legging away from fire and preserve them after cleaning and airing
- Please be reminded that due to lighting effects, monitor's brightness / contrast settings etc, there could be some slight differences in the color tone of the pictures and the actual item.
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Usermin is a Web interface that can be used by any user on a UNIX system to easily perform tasks like reading mail, setting up SSH, or configuring mail forwarding. It can be thought of as a simplified version of Webmin designed for use by normal users rather than system administrators.
A modified version of the rwhod daemon as distributed by 4.3BSD once upon a time. Features include being able to send notification to a specific server (instead of broadcasting to everybody) and using network byte order for the files stored in /var/spool/rwho. It can also filter which hosts to listen to.
Minotaur is a generalized extension which lets you run Python scripts from Tcl, or Tcl from Perl, or any of the other combinations. Minotaur works by loading the appropriate shared library into another script language's context. So, for example, running Tcl from Python means that the Python main program imports the Minotaur extension, which in turn loads the Tcl libraries - thus Tcl becomes "embedded" into the Python runtime environment (which is similar to embedding Tcl in a normal C program). As involved as that sounds, performance is already surprisingly good, and the capability is turning out to be quite useful. Minotaur 0.1 is an alpha level release, meaning: it works, aside from a few quirks and bugs, but its API and implementation might still change in incompatible ways in future releases.
A universal JavaScript framework.
A tool that handles the basic administration of MySQL over the Web.


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|Date / Time
|Thursday May 07, 2015 @08:15AM
|AMD Outlines Plans For Zen-Based Processors, First Due In 2016
|Saturday September 21, 2013 @12:05PM
|A C++ Library That Brings Legacy Fortran Codes To Supercomputers
|Tuesday May 14, 2013 @12:28PM
|Has Supercomputing Hit a Brick Wall?
|Wednesday March 13, 2013 @03:49AM
|Ask Slashdot: Building a Cheap Computing Cluster?
|Tuesday June 05, 2012 @10:04AM
|Australian Company Promises Switching Hardware With Sub-130ns Latency
|Sunday April 22, 2012 @06:42PM
|First Full Observable-Universe Simulation
|Monday August 08, 2011 @06:58PM
|NCSA and IBM Part Ways Over Blue Waters
|Monday July 11, 2011 @06:32PM
|JPMorgan Rolls Out FPGA Supercomputer
|Thursday June 02, 2011 @05:20PM
|Simulations Show Quantum Error Not As Bad As Believed
|Tuesday May 24, 2011 @06:09PM
|Cray Unveils Its First GPU Supercomputer
|Thursday October 28, 2010 @10:52AM
|China Makes World's Fastest Supercomputer
|Thursday September 02, 2010 @01:44AM
|Solving an Earth-Sized Jigsaw Puzzle
|Friday July 16, 2010 @06:32PM
|Recomputing the Sky
Marvelous! The super-user's going to boot me! What a finely tuned response to the situation!


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Submission + - Star Rips Exoplanet to Shreds with X-Rays (discovery.com)
astroengine writes: "Some relationships are doomed from the beginning, and the same can be said of some planetary systems. In the case of the star CoRoT-2a, some 880 light-years from Earth, it is quite literally ripping its orbiting exoplanet to shreds. Five million tons of material per second is being stripped from the closely orbiting world CoRoT-2b by powerful stellar X-rays. But it's OK, the destructive nature of this planetary system is mutual; CoRoT-2b's orbit is likely maintaining the high spin rate of the star, boosting magnetic activity, thus boosting the X-ray output. This is one relationship that can only end in tears."


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The QuantumChange Component Management System is a system that manages logical software components, subsystem views of those components, and product configurations. It targets large and/or distributed component based development efforts where there are many products consisting of similar but different components.
SPM (formerly known as SPAM) is a set of tools that help manage change in an AIX environment. It uses a client-server architecture and is focused on five functional areas: collection of configuration, reporting configuration changes, comparing configurations, extracting configuration, and searching for configuration changes. Each of these functional areas also includes reporting and export capabilities. The collection of configuration is achieved by installing a client package on all systems being managed. The SPM Server provides a Web interface for reporting and examining configuration changes.
Tasktop Pro adds productivity features and connectors to Eclipse Mylyn. Tasktop Pro extends task focus to your time tracking, Web browsing, and desktop documents. It includes connectors to Firefox, Google GMail and Calendar, and Outlook/Exchange email and calendars. You can easily install additional connectors to Atlassian JIRA, Crucible, Rally, and CollabNet. Tasktop Pro is available with connectors to IBM ClearQuest and Danube ScrumWorks.


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Gunslinger Girl series by Yu Aida
Read by: Anna/Copley Teen Room
What's in the violin case this little girl is carrying around the city is… NOT a violin. This is a series listed for ages 16+ and deals with children and political issues in Italy. This is the story of a group of young girls who were in need of a new life when their old one expired for various reasons. Many of them were on the brink of death until they were saved… by the government. They were given robotic components and brainwashed to become cyborg assassins in a secret program known as the Social Welfare Agency. They work together with their adult handlers to wipe out terrorists and anyone who wishes to do Italy harm. They do their work well, and don't even remember a time when they didn't have a gun in their hands. Yet, at the same time, normal human emotions do plague them. They have trouble figuring out their feelings for their handlers, and wonder what they should be doing, if it's not killing for a living. All the while they're busy training for their next job.
I've been reading this series for awhile now, and I'm absolutely enthralled with it! I love finding out what each character has been up to, who they meet when they do their jobs, everything. These are sweet, innocent girls who know how to kill. They also know how to apprehend without killing when the situation requires it. They get stuck in sticky situations and have to find their way out. Sometimes they are forced to face their past, be it their past within the Social Welfare Agency, or the past they've forgotten. And sometimes, it's the past of their handlers that come back to haunt them. Two other reasons I like this manga are the fact that it's set in Italy, which is a new and interesting place to imerse yourself, and that I can easily identify each character. Other mangas make it hard to determine who's who because they all look alike and are wearing the same uniform. Not in this one.
The sad thing is, this manga is coming to the end very soon. The final two volumes are being released in an omnibus edition later this month. But, I suppose it's for the best. Even good things must come to an end at some point. And it is definitely a talent for an author to know when to end a series and not drag it on into infinity. I have read up through volume 10, and am greatly looking forward to volume 11! Volume 9 and 10 had less action and fighting and more of an emotional journey than the previous volumes, but they were still just as important to the plot, and important/scary things are revealed about the cyborgs themselves. So don't miss out on these volumes!
Volume Information: Each volume published in English has been published separately through volume 6 until now. New Omnibus collections have come out with the following volumes: Collection 1 -Vol.1-3; Collection 2 – Vol.4-6; Collection 3 – Vol. 7-8; Collection 4 – Vol. 9-10; Collection 5 – Vol. 11-12; Collection 6 – Vol. 13-14. Volume 14 is the final volume in this series and the omnibus collection 6 is due out in January 2013! As of this post date, the library owns up to collection 4. But rest assured collection 5 & 6 are on the way to the shelves as fast as we can order them and get them ready for you awesome readers.


text: It is important to know that when a drug is approved it does not mean that we know everything about it. Oppositely, the real test starts when thousands or millions start taking it and large volume of new evidences become available. New effects, side-effects or indications may appear that originally was not recognized. Scientists work all over the world to analyze all available data and draw conclusions about the indications and side-effect of a drug, investigate the effective dose, reveal drug-drug interactions any many more. Our portal was developed to inform you about the latest knowledge of drugs. We are collecting all available scientific data for drugs in the market with references so you can stay tuned and get more insight about a drug that you, your relatives or friends are taking. We hope that this information will help you to get more insight what you can expect when using a medication but never forget: talk to your doctor first.


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|missed med
Jul 24, 2004
Hi. Over the 4th of July weekend, I missed 3 days straight of my Sustiva because I was out and the pharmacy I use was closed for the weekend (yes, I know I should have ordered them before I ran out). Long story, but its definitly not what I wanted to happen. I continued to take the other 2 meds (Viread and Retrovir) At last check, I was undetectable and CD4 of 450. I've been on Sustiva for about a year and about 95% adhearant with it. Do you think I blew it with the Sustiva or do you think I'll still be ok with it? I know I won't really be able to tell til my next doc appt in August, but wanted to get your opinion on the matter. also, I've heard before that if you stop taking one med for whatever reason, you should discontinue taking them all.... any truth to that? Also, ever since I've started the retrovir (since April) I've only been taking 1 pill a day instead of 2. I guess being fairly new to all this and hearing such bad things about AZT, I thought if I took half the dose, I won't get all the wicked side effects I've heard of. Your honest opinion of this would be appreciated. If you are going to tell me to take both pills, do you think its ok to start now, or have a also blown that pill. Thanks in advance for your response and all this site has done for me.
Response from Dr. Sherer
I am most concerned with your decision regarding Retrovir, or AZT. The worst thing you can do is take only half the dose, as you are doing. And there is not enough information on the use of once daily AZT to justify its use in that manner.
For both of these reasons, you should talk to your doctor immediately to ensure that you are on a regimen that you will take in full doses, at the right time.
You are also right to be concerned about missing days of doses in a row with efavirenz (Sustiva, Stocrin). At present, when a physician decides to discontinue a regimen that contains efavirenz or nevirapine (Viramune), they are advised to continue the two NRTIs for a week after stopping the efavirenz, due to the longer half life of the NNRTI in the blood.
In you case, however, you were only taking half of the proper dose of AZT, and only once daily, when AZT should be taken twice daily at the least. So it is very difficult to estimate the degree of risk for this regimen.
Taking all of this together, I again urge you to contact your doctor right away and figure out with him or her the proper next steps.
And I urge you not to assume that 'you have blown it', because we have been surprised before by events that run counter to our expectations.
The other clear message in this response is that while you may be new to this, you do not have the time to learn slowly by making mistakes. The virus is unforgiving, so don't give it another opportunity like this.
Late Dose
Wrong Dosage
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Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Review our complete terms of use and copyright notice.


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Halladay Wins Wild One Against Former Team
Just being in the Rogers Centre in Toronto today, I could sense that it was going to be a big game. Fans on both sides were anxious to see Roy Halladay pitch. The Blue Jays fans wanted to welcome Roy back to Toronto and Phillies fans were salivating for another win.
With all the hype going into the game, no one could have anticipated the fireworks that were about to explode inside the dome.
Halladay got a standing ovation as he took the mound. It was a unifying moment between Jays fans and the many Phillies fans who traveled to another country to see their team play. But the moment lasted exactly that long; for only a moment.
The Phillies offense jumped on the Jays early, scoring a run, although they should have scored much more. But once Halladay began pitching, the game took on a new life. It turned into a rollercoaster battle with a number of lead changes.
The Jays rallied in the fifth after a Chase Utley throwing error turned an out into a triple. The Jays scored twice, but Utley made up for it my smashing a 2-run homer in the seventh to give the lead back to the Phils.
The defense was mostly solid, despite the one error and Jimmy Rollins even turned a double play to end the game.
But before that, all sorts of drama ensued in the ninth inning. First, a rabid fan ran onto the field and had to be hunted down by security. Why he had no shoes on is a mystery, but it was very entertaining:
And just when you thought the inning could not get any better, pitcher John Rauch issued a walk to Ryan Howard which he clearly did not think was a walk. He did not say anything though until the next batter, Shane Victorino, singled to score Utley:
Directly after the run scored, the 6'10" Rauch got in the umpires face and screamed at him. As Rauch was ejected, he lost his mind and went all Incredible Hulk on the ump, even having his jersey torn off in the process. Being that Rauch is big enough to be the Hulk, umpire Alfonso Marquez quickly realized that he did not like Rauch when he was angry ;o)
The Jays manager got into it next after helping to restrain Rauch and he too was ejected.
Fans quickly got on the umpire, tossing things onto the field and Marquez had to call security for extra assistance. But the game remained a 5-3 Phillies lead, despite all the hollering.
Halladay finally took the mound for the bottom of the ninth and closed out the game, going the distance once again. Over nine innings, he allowed just eight hits, three runs and struck out eight batters.
Here is the full Photo Album from the game. I will have photos after tomorrow's game as well when Cliff Lee takes the mound and tries for a 3-game sweep of the Jays.
Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
*Read more about the Phillies at my other home page, Phightin' Phils Phorum in the MTR Media network*


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The Perfection 4990 Photo scanner features a high optical density of up to 4.0 Dmax and can distinguish a broad spectrum of subtle colour variations, reproducing a tonal quality previously unmatched in a film scanner of this size and price point.
The Perfection 4990 Photo is aimed at photo enthusiasts and professionals, looking for the best in fast, multi-format film scanning technology. It offers 4800 x 9600 dpi resolution and has several features to facilitate scanning large archives of prints and films. A built-in transparency unit for 35mm film, medium and large format film allows you to scan entire photo contact sheets in one batch. While the integrated LED allows you to track the progress of the film scanning, preventing you from inadvertently interrupting the scanning process before completion.
Priced at RRP £349 (inc vat) , the Epson Perfection 4990 Photo is bundled with Epson's new Creativity Suite software. This software allows you to manipulate images pre- and post- scan. The scanner also incorporates DIGITAL ICE™ technology that removes dust and scratches from scanned images, enabling you to restore prints and films.
"The Perfection 4990 Photo offers exceptional processing quality for both photos and film. With processing speeds up to 40% times faster than previous models, it is one of the highest performing, most versatile scanning solutions on the market today," says Richard Baylis, Sales and Marketing Manager, Consumer Products, Epson UK. "We also believe that the medium and large format film support capabilities it offers, will be very attractive to photo enthusiasts and professional photographers."
Epson Perfection 4990 Photo features summary


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Extension > Garden > Yard and Garden > Flowers > Stem rot of clematis
Stem rot of clematis
Clematis is subject to infection by several diseases including powdery mildew (Erysiphe ploygoni), crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens), and various leaf spots (Cercospora squalidula, Septoria clematidis). However, the most serious fungal disease of clematis is Ascochyta clematidina, which causes leaf spot and stem rot .
Leaf infections in the home landscape are rare, when they do occur they appear as small, water-soaked spots. Later, these spots become large, tan lesions, with red margins. More often, infection occurs on individual stems near the soil line. Red lesions near the base of the stem eventually enlarge and girdle the stem, causing the upper portions of the plant to wilt and die. Later in the season, stem lesions turn gray and produce black spore-containing structures called pycnidia. The fungus survives winter and releases spores in spring and early summer, which infect the new growth.
Diagnosis and control of this disease may be difficult since the fungus infects stems near the soil line and survives on old stem debris. To minimize disease, increase ventilation within the plant by supporting vines on trellises and planting them farther apart in well-drained soil. Remove and properly dispose of all infected stems. Fungicide sprays may aid in controlling this disease. Apply wettable sulfur before new growth starts in the spring and early summer. Repeat fungicide applications may be necessary. Carefully read and follow directions on the fungicide label.
Pirone, P.P. 1978. Diseases and Pests of Ornamental Plants. John Wiley and Sons, New York. p.205.
Revised by Chad Behrendt and Crystal Floyd 2000


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- Child Francis Tanner, died June 1844 in Iowa.
- Husband John Tanner, died April 1850 in Utah.
- Mother Anna Lamb Beswick, died September 1852 in New York. (It probably took Elizabeth a while to hear about her mother's death.)
- Child Sariah Tanner, died March 1853 in California.
[Note, May 2012: Maria Tanner Lyman is also wearing a bonnet of a similar style but with a ruffle that has been hand-colored purple. She lost a daughter in 1848, her father in 1850, and a member of her husband's family in 1846. Oh! Is it possible that they were wearing mourning for Joseph and Hyrum Smith? The two of them died on June 27, 1844. The fact that the two of them are wearing mourning is inconclusive.]
San Bernardino
- Carvalho (Solomon) — in Los Angeles for a month (August-September 1854) operating in partnership with A. M. Johnson
- Da Lee (Amon Gilbert) — rented Hallman's daguerreotype studio in Los Angeles in 1856.
- Hallman (A.) — had a portrait gallery in Los Angeles from about 1856-1857. He may have remained in the general area, since he was in San Diego in 1858.
- Hereford (T. S.) — in Los Angeles around 1853.
- Johnson (A. M.) — operated a daguerreotype gallery in Los Angeles.
- Lewis (J.) — operated a daguerreotype studio in Los Angeles around 1853.
- Osburn (William B.) and Searles (Moses) — had a daguerreotype gallery in Los Angeles in 1851.
- Penelon (Henri C.) and Davoust (Adrien L.) — operated a photography studio in Los Angeles as early as 1853.
- Smith (William, later known as Amor De Cosmos) — a partner of Marsena Cannon in Salt Lake before he left for California where he was an itinerant daguerreotypist until he moved to Canada in 1857.
To be continued...
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: We Meet the Tanners
Part 3: What is a Daguerreotype?
Part 4: Technology Meets the Tanners
Part 5: Woman at Right
Part 6: Woman in Center
Part 7: Boy in Back — First Possibility
Part 7: Boy in Back — Additional Possibilities
Part 8: Man at Left — John Tanner?
Part 8: Man at Left — Options
Part 9: Summary


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KLRU is proud to present the following programs for Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.
Stonewall Uprising: American Experience airs Monday, June 13th at 8:00 pm.During Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, the encore presentation of STONEWALL UPRISING: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE explores the dramatic event that launched a worldwide rights movement. Told by those who took part, from drag queens and street hustlers to police detectives, journalists and a former mayor of New York, and featuring a rich trove of archival footage, this film revisits a time when homosexual acts were illegal throughout America, and homosexuality itself was seen as a form of mental illness. Hunted and often entrapped by undercover police in their hometowns, gays from around the U.S. began fleeing to New York in search of a sanctuary. Hounded there still by an aggressive police force, they found refuge in a Mafia-run gay bar in Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn. When police raided Stonewall on June 28, 1969, gay men and women did something they had not done before: they fought back. As the streets of New York erupted into violent protests and street demonstrations, the collective anger announced that the gay rights movement had arrived.
Emile Norman—By His Own Design airs Monday, June 13th at 9:30 pm. This film is a portrait of the artist Emile Norman, who, at age 88, is still working with the same passion that inspired him through seven decades of a changing art scene and turbulent times for a gay man in America. The film chronicles his early days in the San Gabriel Valley, his success in New York City and the freedom he found in Big Sur, where he and his partner of 30 years created a haven for artists that is still growing today.
Independent Lens "Two Spirits" airs Tuesday, June 14th at 9:00 pm.Fred Martinez was a Navajo youth slain in a hate crime at the age of 16. Martinez was also part of an honored Navajo tradition – the "nadleeh" or "two-spirit," who possesses a balance of masculine and feminine traits. Weaving Martinez's story with commentary from his mother, fellow two-spirit community members and activists, this documentary explores the historical, spiritual and cultural significance of gender in the Navajo tradition as it relates to the crime that eventually took Martinez's life.


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COBE interim dean announced
Dr. Dennis Grady, currently Radford University (RU) Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, was named May 14 to serve as interim dean of the College of Business and Economics (COBE) during the 2013-2014 academic year. Outgoing COBE Dean Dr. Faye Gilbert is departing RU to serve as the Dean of The University of Southern Mississippi's College of Business.
In making the announcement, RU Provost Dr. Sam Minner said, "I am certain that Dennis Grady will provide excellent leadership and management of COBE during this critical transitional year."
As a result of Grady's interim duties as dean of COBE, Dr. Nora Reilly has agreed to serve as Interim Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Minner also announced that Dr. Matt Dunleavy will serve as the Interim Assistant Vice Provost, working on an expansion of RU's Gaming, Animation, Modeling, and Simulation (GAMeS) lab as well as managing several other academic affairs related duties.
Learn more about Radford University at www.radford.edu.


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Iowa enacts changes to leasing program for farmers
October 25th, 2013 by Ric Hanson
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is giving priority to new farmers leasing public land owned by the state. The state Department of Natural Resources says available land that's managed by the agency can be viewed online beginning in early November. Farmers will have a month to review the details before the agency begins awarding leases.
A participating farmer must be a permanent Iowa resident, have appropriate skills and have a net worth of less than about $691,000. They must also be certified as a beginning farmer. The change is part of legislation that passed this past spring.


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Thomasville is going Hollywood, well Birmingham actually.
Thomasville is going Hollywood, well Birmingham actually.
Joy Hall Thompson, co-owner of Southern Sisters Restaurant & Grille in Thomasville, co-hosted the taping of several segments with Edie Hand for her television show "RX for Healthy Lifestyles" on Monday.
Hand, who lives in Alabama, is an author, television personality and cousin to Elvis Presley. Her program "RX for Healthy Lifestyles," is seen on the RFD-TV network and combines healthy eating tips, medical advice and recognition for people who make a difference in the world.
The two women were introduced by a mutual friend and they hit it off when Thompson went to Nashville to tape a segment of the show.
"She is a wonderful lady and we had such a good time cooking together," Thompson said. "I'm thrilled she decided to tape her show here in Thomasville."
Hand has been involved with broadcasting 40 years. She started with inspirational cookbooks, but that has progressed into a television series for more rural viewers. She says she understands how people are very loyal to the foods they have eaten throughout their lives. She said that when you are talking about Southerners, you can't just tell them not to eat the foods they love, but you can encourage restraint and portion control.
"You can't deprive Southerners of their foods," Hand said. "We all need comfort food, just don't eat the whole pan."
She encourages people to try substituting healthier ingredients in their regular recipes, like using yogurt in place of mayonnaise in cole slaw or ground turkey instead of hamburger.
Thompson said that she understands that her recipes are not really considered healthy, but feels you can have anything in moderation.
"We are concentrating on portion control," Thompson said. "I know some of these recipes are not healthy, but I believe in controlling yourself, not denying yourself."
The taping included full shows with recipes from the restaurant, but also includes segments called "You Paved the Way," which is dedicated to recognizing people who have had great influence others lives.
Dr. Michael C. Blackwell, president of North Carolina Baptist Children's Homes based in Thomasville, was lauded for being a role model to Clifton Lambreth, CEO of Daniel, Brandley and Matthews, and who has also worked at Ford Motor Co. for over 26 years. He is an author of three books focusing on leadership and motivational topics and has been involved with some of Hand's business ventures. Lambreth and in his brother were residents of the children's home from 1966 to 1978 and he dedicates most of his success to Blackwell's influence.
"He has paved the way for my success," Lambreth said. "He showed us that the more we share with each others, the further you can go. That influence has made a difference in my life."
One segment that was taped was dedicated to Thomasville being selected as an All America City and included chili recipes and a guest appearance by Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett.
"I am so proud to be invited to speak about Thomasville being selected as an All America City," said Bennett. "We had a dynamic team of people who went to Denver and told our story. We started as a city of furniture, but we have become so much more."
Thomasville was one of 10 cities chosen nationwide for the All America designation in recognition for civic projects and community initiatives. Thomasville was selected because of its well-known Memorial Day parade dedicated to veterans as well as the refurbishing of seven citywide playgrounds.
Another segment was promoting the local charity Kisses4Kate, named for Thomasville native Kate Thorton who died of in 2010 from lymphoblastic leukemia at age 5. Tammy May, general manager at Southern Sisters, participated in this portion to promote the charity in remembrance of her nephew Caleb, who died at a young age from a rare form of blood cancer.
"Kisses4Kate helped Caleb because many of the treatments for rare diseases are not covered by insurance," she said. "The group helped the family by paying some of their daily bills to ease their financial burden."
Hand is a three time cancer survivor who recognized the need to support charities that help those going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Southern Sisters picks a different charity each month and donates a portion of its proceeds to that organization.
The show also included tips on how to de-stress from Lexington chiropractor Dr. Kristi Maudlin. In portions dedicated to being active, local band Crossing Avery played and the Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors from Clemmons were on hand to show how exercise can come in many forms.
"You can get exercise anywhere," said Hand. "You can do by dancing in your own living room, you can do it through ballroom dancing or you can do it with a mop and pearls. Whatever it takes to get you moving."
Hand says that she even as a born and bred Southerner, she has never experienced hospitality to this extent before.
"Joy has such originality and inventiveness," Hand said. "From her business to her family, there are bits of this lady all over the place. Southern Sisters is wonderful place and wonderful addition to this community."
The schedule for when the Southern Sisters segments will be shown has not been decided.
Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at email@example.com.


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The plot for "Seven Psychopaths" might be the most confusing thing I've ever read but it also might have the greatest cast ever. The film is about a screen writer who finds inspiration when he gets caught up in a dog napping ring that mistakenly takes a psychopathic gangsters Shih Tzu. Still with me? Now to the cast, Woody Harrelson , Tom Waits and Olga Kurylenko have just been confirmed to join Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell in the film. It's like the heavens read my diary and put together my perfect dream date.
If you loved "The Jungle Book 2" then you're going to want to sit down for this one. Writer Evan Spiliotopoulos, who also penned "The Lion King 1½" has been tapped to write the script for the upcoming big screen adaptation of the classic video game "Asteroids". Matt Lopez has already taken a pass but when you get a chance to work with the guy who wrote the script to the direct to video follow up to some classic Disney cartoons then you don't pass it up. That's just logic.
Ah crap! It looks like Robert Zemeckis has decided to step down as the as the director of the upcoming sea monster flick "Here There Be Monsters". No replacement has been picked and as of right now no reason has been given for Zemeckis' departure. I keep calling him but he must be busy or something. I'll keep trying though and let you know what I find out.
I trust everyone named Max. It's just a rule I live by. So even though I don't know a single thing Max Borenstein has done I still trust him to write the script for the upcoming remake/reboot of "Godzilla" for the Legendary Pictures. I'm not sure if they took my opinion into consideration while making their decision but I like to think they did.
"Hitman" is based on the popular video game series for the Playstation 2, and follows the exploits of "47", an agent who has been trained from the time he was a small child to join the ranks of the world's best assassins. We're shown this through a clumsy montage over the opening credits, that for some inexplicable reason uses old footage from the show "Dark Angel" (circa 2000). We then jump into the future to see 47 confronting an investigator that we learn has been tracking him, and then we jump back in time three months to the beginning of the story.


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Lipase test
Lipase is a protein (enzyme) released by the pancreas into the small intestine. It helps the body absorb fat. This test is used to measure the amount of the lipase in the blood.
How is the Test Performed?
A sample of blood will be taken from a vein.
Preparation for the Test
DO NOT eat for 8 hours before the test.
Your health care provider may ask you to stop taking medicines that may affect the test, such as:
- Bethanechol
- Birth control pills
- Cholinergic medications
- Codeine
- Indomethacin
- Meperidine
- Methacholine
- Morphine
- Thiazide diuretics
How the Test will Feel
You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted to draw blood. There may be some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn. Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.
Why is the Test Performed?
This test is done to check for disease of the pancreas, most often acute pancreatitis.
Lipase appears in the blood when the pancreas is damaged.
Normal Results for Lipase test
In general, normal results are 0 to 160 units per liter (U/L).
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your test results.
Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Higher-than-normal levels may be due to:
- Blockage of the bowel (bowel obstruction)
- Celiac disease
- Duodenal ulcer
- Cancer of the pancreas
- Infection or swelling of the pancreas
This test may also be done for familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency.
Lipase test Risks
There is very little risk from your blood taken.
Other uncommon risks may include:
- Bleeding from the needle puncture site
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Blood collecting under the skin
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Forsmark CE. Pancreatitis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 144.
Tenner S, Steinberg WM. Acute pancreatitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2010:chap 58.
Related Images
|Review Date: 2/4/2015
Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with gastrointestinal specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
© Copyright 1997- 2018 A.D.A.M., Inc.


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PHILADELPHIA — Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia announced May 4 that the archdiocese had reached a partial resolution to the investigation of 26 archdiocesan priests who were placed on leave in 2011.
"The work of the special team investigating the 26 priests publicly placed on leave by Cardinal [Justin] Rigali last year is now largely done," he said. "Eight of the 26 cases are being announced today. Most of the remainder will be announced in a matter of weeks."
The long-awaited announcement provided welcome news for a small number of priests — three — who have been approved to return to ministry. But the fate of 17 others has yet to be determined, with some cases still under review by local prosecutors more than a year after the individuals were removed from ministry.
Expressing his commitment to the difficult process, combined with a measure of frustration at its slow pace, Archbishop Chaput explained that the task of investigating past abuse allegations "cannot be hurried or abbreviated without violating the whole purpose of the review."
He also noted that "[s]ix of the 26 cases have not yet been cleared by law enforcement, so our own internal investigation has not begun. In two more of the 26 cases, we've just recently received clearance from law enforcement, and our internal investigation is now proceeding."
Twenty-six Philadelphia priests were placed on administrative leave in the wake of an explosive 2011 grand jury report, which criticized the archdiocese for failing to address issues raised in a 2005 grand jury report and for not removing priests credibly accused of abuse.
The 2011 report led to the criminal indictment of three priests for child rape and an archdiocesan official for child endangerment. The trial of Msgr. William Lynn, the former archdiocesan official, continues.
Archbishop Chaput's sober commitment to redouble efforts to protect children and reach out to abuse victims underscored the urgent need for the local Church to rebuild its credibility with victims, priests, the faithful and the larger community.
At the May 4 press conference, the archbishop said that the needs and healing of victims would come first. He outlined and defended the exhaustive process of scrutinizing the full record of the accused and the charges leveled against them.
He also spelled out the role of newly appointed staff and a revitalized lay review board in the multilayered investigation of the charges. The grand jury report had attacked the archdiocese for failing to follow its own procedures for evaluating and responding to abuse allegations.
On May 2, Archbishop Chaput met with the priests of the archdiocese to summarize the initial conclusions of the investigation. He has also met personally with the eight accused priests whose cases were resolved to present the outcome of the investigations. At the press conference, he said those meetings had been "very difficult," though the priests who learned they could return to ministry were deeply relieved.
In the past, the archdiocese has been criticized for what some detractors described as a cavalier or insensitive treatment of accused priests, who have not been able to publicly defend themselves after their names surfaced in media reports and parishes learned that they had been removed.
Further, while the media have broadly characterized the accused as sexual predators, some priests have been removed because of boundary violations, which can be hard to define but can involve non-sexual hugging or kissing. Experts say that boundary violations can signal an effort to "groom" potential victims for illicit and criminal contact; in the U.S., there is no uniform Church policy for addressing this issue.
At the press conference, Archbishop Chaput and the investigative team said they would not provide the details of specific cases. But Gina Smith, who led an independent investigation on behalf of the Philadelphia Church, confirmed that the "allegations as they emerged were either [dealing with] boundary behaviors or sexual abuse of minors based on a 'more likely than not' standard, and decisions were based on that rubric."
Archbishop Chaput said that those priests who were permanently removed from public ministry, and accepted the Church's judgment, would be monitored for the remainder of their lives. Others could appeal the decision and, depending on the outcome, might ultimately face a Church trial.
In a poignant exchange, the archbishop was asked if the name of an accused priest, now deceased, could be cleared. Gently, he said that the priest's death made it impossible to complete an investigation and that any change in status for his case would depend on the accuser withdrawing his or her charges.
He has also released a letter to Catholics in the archdiocese that explained the status of the accused priests and his ongoing effort to make the archdiocese's institutional response a model program.
Cascade of Crises
Archbishop Chaput arrived in Philadelphia just eight months ago. Over the intervening period, he has sought to address a cascade of crises, including the fallout from the grand jury report. He has approved massive school closings and other decisive actions designed to stem the tide of red ink in the archdiocese's budget. Throughout, he has employed his bracingly frank approach for explaining his actions, marking a leaner, more humble era for the local Church.
At the May 4 press conference, he told the gathering of Church officials, investigators and reporters that the archdiocese has subjected all 26 cases to intense review by "a veteran Philadelphia child-abuse prosecutor, Mrs. Gina Maisto Smith, and a multidisciplinary team of recognized experts in the field of child protection."
"Moreover, the multidisciplinary team's findings were then studied by the reinvigorated Archdiocesan Review Board," whose members had broad experience addressing the sexual abuse of minors from a variety of perspectives.
Archbishop Chaput said the scope and depth of the investigation underscored the archdiocese's commitment "to protect children, assist victims, restore the integrity of the priesthood and provide evidence to the broader community, that it can have confidence in these outcomes."
Amid the pain, damaged reputations and loss of credibility that have resulted from the grand jury report, he expressed his hope that the Church could earn back public trust and that its struggles could aid other institutions seeking to protect minors from sexual predators. Last year, in the state, Penn State's president and top football coach were forced to step down in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal involving a former assistant coach.
Archbishop Chaput outlined a number of permanent changes in the archdiocese's formal response to abuse allegations. For example, the archdiocese has removed the investigative function from its victim-assistance program.
"We created a separate Office for Investigations and appointed Mr. Al Toczydlowski, former Philadelphia deputy district attorney, as its head to ensure immediate referral to law enforcement, cooperation with county district attorney's offices and thorough investigations as part of the canonical process," he said. "This office uses a trained forensic interviewer to take victim statements in an effort to reduce any potential re-victimization.
"The clear division between victim assistance and investigation allows our victim-assistance efforts to focus exclusively on the needs of victims."
Following his prepared remarks, the archbishop also signaled a firm commitment to protect the financial resources of the local Church. When asked about whether he would support attempts to lift the statute of limitations on civil suits arising from allegations of sexual abuse of minors, he said the statute of limitations had a purpose, and he rejected any attempt to lift it unless it was broadly applied.
"Our position is the statute of limitations is very important for the discovery of truth. We support it," he said. If it was lifted, he expressed the hope that "all parts of the community would be treated fairly."


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From the Bucknell Press Release:
LEWISBURG, Pa. — The freshman combo of Peter Burke (Walpole, Mass./St. Sebastian's) and Todd Heritage (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) had a hand in every one of Bucknell's second-half goals and the 17th-ranked Bison improved to 7-2 on the season with a resilient performance in an 11-9 win over No. 16 Albany Saturday afternoon at sunny-but-chilly Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Burke, a first-year midfielder who is just coming back from injury, logged three goals and an assist in his second career start. Included in that total was a big fourth-quarter insurance goal. Meanwhile, Heritage had two goals and an assist, all coming in the second half. None was bigger than his goal on a rebound with 3:59 left in the third quarter, which snapped an 8-all tie and gave the Bison the lead for good.
Bucknell dominated time of possession and finished with a resounding 54-22 shot advantage, but Albany (3-4) stayed in the game with its quick-strike offense and a 21-save performance from goalie Edmund Cathers. The Great Danes jumped into the national rankings with consecutive wins over Delaware, No. 5 Massachusetts and No. 13 Ohio State, but now they have lost three straight.
The Bison improved to 5-0 at home this season and 2-1 against ranked opponents. Earlier in the year Bucknell defeated Villanova, which was then ranked No. 20 and is now up to No. 7, with its only loss coming in Lewisburg.
Bucknell was determined to shake off a frustrating loss at Robert Morris on Tuesday, and things seemed dire when Albany scored three times in less than two minutes to take a 6-3 lead in the second quarter. The latter two goals in that run came just 11 seconds apart from Eric Sanders and Ty Thompson, and Bison head coach Frank Fedorjaka called timeouts after each tally.
Momentum quickly swung back in favor of the home side when Ryan Klipstein (Califon, N.J./Rutgers Prep) gobbled up a rebound and stuck it back home with 8:28 left in the second quarter. That ignited a run of five straight goals for the Bison.
Burke scored from a tough angle on the left side off a feed from Klipstein exactly one minute after Klipstein's goal, and then Klipstein himself tied the game with a layup on the crease from a nice feed from Mike Danylyshyn (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) with 5:49 left in the half. Just 30 seconds after that, Bucknell took its first lead of the day when Charlie Streep (New Canaan, Conn./Loomis-Chaffee) spun and shot through a defender.
The Bison led 7-6 and held a whopping 33-10 shot advantage at halftime. Thanks to an Albany unnecessary roughness penalty with two seconds left in the half, Bucknell started the second half with a man advantage and capitalized when Heritage finished a nice diagonal pass from Burke 36 seconds into the period.
Albany was not done, however. Bucknell's only failed clear of the day, coming on an interception by Joe Resetarits, led to a Miles Thompson goal. With 4:59 left in the third quarter, Ty Thompson evened things up at 8-8 with a shot off a feed from Brian Caufield.
Only a minute later, Cathers made an initial save on Streep's outside shot, but the rebound caromed in front and Heritage came darting through traffic to nab the ground ball and fire it back past Cathers for the go-ahead goal. The Bison nearly had another just before the horn, but a tracer from Nick Gantsoudes (Redding, Conn./Avon Old Farms) struck the left pipe.
In the first minute of the fourth quarter Bucknell went back up by two on a goal by Streep off an assist from Heritage, and then Burke made it 11-8 with 11:19 to play.
Albany closed within two on a Miles Thompson goal with 7:23 to play, but Kyle Feeney (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) and the Bucknell defense were tremendous down the stretch. Feeney made five of his eight saves in the fourth quarter, all of them with a high degree of difficulty.
Bucknell went 13-for-22 at the faceoff X, led by a 10-for-15 day from Jake Clarke (Cos Cob, Conn./Grenwich), who also had eight ground balls in the game. Freshman Jackson Place (Wayne, Pa./Episcopal Academy) had five ground balls playing the wing on faceoffs, and defensemen John Collett (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) and Alex Lyons (Owings Mills, Md./Boys' Latin) added five ground balls apiece.
Streep, Heritage and Klipstein all finished with two goals and one assist, while Danylyshyn had two assists for the Bison. Gantsoudes and Chase Bailey (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Prep) chipped in goals as well. The Bison played without hot-scoring middie Billy Eisenreich (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) for a second straight game due to injury.
Resetarits had a six-point game with three goals and three assists for Albany. Miles Thompson added three goals and Matt Johnson three assists.
Bucknell has two more home games next week, coming against Penn State on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Holy Cross on Saturday at 3 p.m. Both games will air live on Bison Vision.


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Does anyone know if gene therapy has progressed far enough to actually apply this to cell DNA? Is this actually a real cure for AIDS
Sure. They just use a mostly-dead other virus to permanently change your genetic code. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
No. Grinding up HIVs for cell receptor antibodies is almost useless because any cell that has a CD4 receptor can be attacked by the HIV anyways. This is sort of like giving your generals the battle plans (the T helper cells ready to make antibodies). HIV then kills the generals before the battle plan can be implemented.
Very true. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of full-blown AIDS run too deep, so that even expelling AIDS would still leave the body in a likely incurable state. Still, that would certainly prolong the lives of those diagnosed with AIDS, so it's still a worthy cause.
Is it? The parent is "insightful" for making unsubstantiated accusations of acodemic impropriety with their research, yet provides no links or another kind of support, yet it's "insightful"?That research lab at Alberta is know for releasing under-researched findings before complete testing is applied.
As a useful general rule, science articles shouldn't appear on here (and waste everyone's time)
You seem to have a misguided interpretation of the role and purpose of Slashdot...
In the end, my opinion as a virologist is that stopping the spread of HIV, and continuing to develop a larger palette of inhibitors are the proper solutions to the HIV problem. If we treat the people who have been infected, and don't infect any more... HIV will not be a problem after 2 generations.
Try it the other way around. For a virus, as for any parasite, killing off the host is a bad move. Taking the point of view of the HIV virus, its best move is to delay the onset of AIDS as long as possible, to maximise its chances of infecting new hosts. We might not evolve to
In the end, my opinion as a virologist is that stopping the spread of HIV, and continuing to develop a larger palette of inhibitors are the proper solutions to the HIV problem. If we treat the people who have been infected, and don't infect any more... HIV will not be a problem after 2 generations.
Good luck implementing that plan in Africa.
Even with US & UN aids money they can't afford to provide, to everyone, the generics made by countries that have broken US pharma patents.
Always Remember: AIDS is Deadly. It is not a "chronic condition." It is a death sentence, maybe it'll take 5, even 10 years to kill some small group of victims, for many it is as few as 6-24 months. Way, way to many young people somehow manage to remain ignorant of this.
But the amount of healthcare provided can be a spectrum, not all or nothing. I believe that for a nation to call itself a civilization, certain things must be assured to its population. Food, as in your example, is one of those things. Another is that a person will not die from a preventable cause when there is a treatment or some other form of action available. A country which allows its citizens to die needlessly is not a civilization.
This is not the same as doing everything possible. But citizens physi
If the person you're "feeding" dies of malnutrition, then you didn't actually provide them with sufficient sustenance, much less fine dining.
Likewise if someone dies of a treatable condition, you didn't actually provide sufficient health care.
Not providing filet mignon healthcare means no facelifts, tummy tucks and so on. It could even mean limiting reconstructive surgery to functional goals. Perhaps they just have to put up with minor allergies. A ward or rather than a private hospital room. That can
.Barr's research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. The findings are published in the Public Library of Science Pathogens.
Because life that doesn't find a way to live, doesn't. As a result, all that's left is life that does.
Loose bits sink chips.


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The Rockies are on Fire….Seriously
9/6/10 Four Mile Canyon Fire…Day 1
I know I complain about the rain all the time but it has a purpose. Right now there is a huge wildfire burning about nine miles as the crow flies from our cabin and I'd give anything to see those precious rain drops right now.
I noticed the huge plume of smoke when I was at work yesterday. It was scary because it looked like it was really close to the cabin. We had to take the back way to get home yesterday as the main road was closed due to mass evacuations.
Here a picture and a video I shot on my way home from work.
Here's the story from Jeffery Wolf of 9news.com
BOULDER – Several homes have been destroyed by a fast-moving fire in a canyon west of Boulder, but it is unclear how many. The fire is being driven by winds and had grown to 3,500 acres by Monday night and 1,000 homes were evacuated.
Laura McConnell with the Boulder County Incident Management Team said "multiple and/or dozens" of homes were lost to the fire. She said four of the structures lost belonged to firefighters who were battling the blaze. They were taken off the line when their homes were lost.
Many of the structures that were lost were in the Sunshine and Four Mile Canyon areas.
"It sounded like a raging river just getting louder and louder," David Mann, a person who was recreating in the area and had to evacuate, said. "We just turned and ran and started yelling to get out of there."
As he left the area, Tom Hammond, a resident, had to face the helpless truth.
"Whichever way the wind blows, it's gonna blow toward the houses," Hammond said.
"I started hearing the roar of the fire and it was like a tornado roar. So when you start hearing that, you know that you've got a serious wildfire," Linda Tarr, an evacuee, said. "So devastating was to hear those houses burn. To hear the popping, maybe propane tanks? It was like gunfire. I don't know what that was, but there were explosions also. But the wood burning – I've never heard a house fire, but now I have."
Mann says it was very scary.
"Just: 'Get the hell out of here. 'Why am I here? My wife's gonna kill me,'" Mann said.
Cmdr. Rick Brough with Boulder County Emergency Management says a fire truck was also consumed by the flames.
There are no reports of any injuries from the fire and fire crews would not even discuss containment or control on Monday night.
The fire is moving northeast toward Highway 36 and also growing to the west.
The number of homes evacuated soared to 1,000 by Monday night. The evacuations started in the Gold Hill area and then spread.
The general boundaries of the evacuation areas are the Peak to Peak Highway to the west, Left Hand Canyon to the north, Highway 36 to the east and Boulder Canyon to the south. The Sugarloaf area was being evacuated on Monday night.
No people are being allowed back into any of the areas that have been evacuated.
The Boulder County Office of Emergency Management says the emergency alert notification system was not working properly and residents in the area should not wait for alerts to evacuate.
Before the problems, About 2,500 messages were sent to residents in the area, telling them they have to evacuate or they should be prepared to leave.
The only remaining evacuation center that is open is at the Coors Event Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. The North Boulder Recreation Center, the Nederland Community Center and New Vista High School are no longer open. There were less than a dozen evacuees at the Coors Event Center late Monday night. The Boulder County Fairgrounds is set up to accept large animals that were evacuated and the Longmont Humane Society is also taking in some animals. Longmont is asking for help with some food for dogs and cats.
Many of the evacuated residents were staying at the Holiday Inn Express at Broadway and Lee Hill Drive because they were allowed to take their pets there. The hotel waived its pet fees for the evacuees.
Boulder Valley School District's mountain schools will be closed Tuesday due to the fires and road closures. That includes mountain schools in Jamestown, Gold Hill and Nederland elementary schools, as well as Nederland Middle/Senior High School. BVSD mountain school bus routes including those to the Boulder schools will not drive to or from the mountains on Tuesday. More information is on http://bvsd.org.
Authorities say it has been a struggle to transport water up to the area.
Because the fire has moved so fast, authorities say it was hard for firefighters to get ahead of the fire and create breaks. About 100 firefighters are in the field battling the fire and another 50 to 75 are on standby. They are working in rugged and steep terrain and are trying to protect structures. They are clearing out about 30 yards around any structures to try and keep the flames away from them.
Firefighters were staying overnight to fight the fire and keep it away from homes.
By Tuesday morning, it is hoped that seven tankers will be used to fight the fire. Crews were able to use three on Monday evening. They had to wait until after 5 p.m. to take off because of high winds in the area.
Power has been cut to some communities in the area while crews fight the fire. There is also a 10-mile flight restriction around the fire area because of the air tankers that need to get through.
Both directions of Highway 119 are closed from Boulder to Nederland due to the wildfire. Fourmile Canyon Road and Sunshine Canyon are also closed. Many roads in the area are shut down due to the fire.
A total of 35 different agencies have responded to the fire. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is also asking state and federal authorities for help.
The smoke from the fire is easily visible from Denver and people in Boulder say ash has fallen on their homes.
Earlier on Monday, winds were from the north-northwest at 15 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph, according to the 9NEWS Weather Team.
There were reports of two other smaller structure fires, one of them in Eldora, but those fires were contained.
For more information, the Boulder Office of Emergency Management is updating its website: http://boulderoem.com/.
Scary stuff. I have tickets to the Rockies game today. I really hope the wind stays calm. A repeat of yesterday violent winds could be really really bad.
I'm "D" The Rockpile Ranter and let me tell you….The Rockies are already hot, we don't need a fire to prove the point.
Send your positive thoughts to the Mountain folk who are affected by this….D **Props to Nasty Fasty Ubaldo Jiminez, I really wanted to see his 18th win**