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The crossing is located at the intersection of State Route 202/Bendigo St. (SR 202) and Northwest Railway Museum's tracks in the city of North Bend.
Northwest Railway, which uses the crossing for passenger trains, proposes to increase the length of the westbound approach block to a minimum of 270 feet from the present 238 feet. Extending the approach block to 270 feet will allow Northwest Railway to increase the total warning time for users at the crossing from 32 to 40 seconds. The railroad company states that during heavy traffic times, cars do not always properly clear the crossing before the gates descend. This upgrade will improve the overall safety at the crossing because all vehicles will clear the crossing before the gates lower.
SR 202 is a three-lane roadway with a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour. The average daily traffic through the crossing is estimated at 11,060, which include motor vehicles and six school buses. No freight trains operate over the crossing.
The upgrades must be completed by March 1, 2013. State GCPF funding is limited to $20,000 for the project. The approximate cost of the project is $42,300. Northwest Railway will pay the excess costs.


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Reading on a Kindle is not the same as reading a book
"Amid the seemingly endless debates today about the future of reading, there remains one salient, yet often overlooked fact: Reading isn't only a matter of our brains; it's something that we do with our bodies. Reading is an integral part of our lived experience, our sense of being in the world, even if at times this can mean feeling intensely apart from it. How we hold our reading materials, how we look at them, navigate them, take notes on them, share them, play with them, even where we read them—these are the categories that have mattered most to us as readers throughout the long and varied history of reading. They will no doubt continue to do so into the future. Understanding reading at this most elementary level—at the level of person, habit, and gesture—will be essential as we continue to make choices about the kind of reading we care about and the kind of technologies that will best embody those values. To think about the future of reading means, then, to think about the long history of how touch has shaped reading and, by extension, our sense of ourselves while we read."
via Slate Magazine

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Great Gardening "Spring Special"
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Need some green in your life these days? And what will this garden season bring? Host Pamela Fish reunites with local experts Bob Olen and Tom Kasper for a Spring Special. A full 90 minutes of Great Gardening comes your way. Northland gardeners prepare your questions for "Season 12" of our call-in show, with our garden experts providing timely and tested advice.
Great Gardening Spring Special
Premieres Thursday, March 13 at 7pm on PBS North
Saturday, March 15 at 5:30pm on PBS North
Sunday, March 16 at 4pm on Create
Pledge online now to receive your spring or summer garden tour tickets
Bob and Tom will discuss the harsh winter conditions and their expected impact on this year's garden season. We'll also tell you how to get seeds for your vegetable garden-for free!-at the public library. Take a tour through a Duluth garden, vibrant with azaleas and nearly every shade of green. We'll also take you to Bayfield, Wisconsin; overlooking Lake Superior for a sweeping view of gardens filled with flowers in every color of the rainbow and lush raised vegetable beds.


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When you hear the now famous quote "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing", you probably think of Vince Lombardi and you probably think of football.
While it seems the quote is most widely attributed to Lombardi, various sources suggest that it was UCLA football coach Red Sanders who first uttered the phrase in 1950, 9 years before Lombardi made it famous. So if you thought of it as a football saying you were right. If you thought of it though as a "Lombardi-ism" you were wrong.
Interestingly enough 50+ years of football history seem to suggest that when Sanders said it to his UCLA football team, given the razor thin margin for error afforded in college football, he was right; but when Lombardi spoke those same words to his 1959 Packers he was basically wrong.
As the Ravens prepare for the Super Bowl in New Orleans, an opportunity so rare and special that it currently makes the Ravens and 49ers and their respective fan bases the envy of the pro football world, there are many Ravens fans likely wondering how this magical (so far) season managed to unfold around them and how they took so little time to appreciate and enjoy it as it did.
There are literally decades worth of evidence to suggest that being the best regular season team has little or nothing to do with Super Bowl success, yet somehow football fans allow themselves, each and every year, to forget all of that history and instead hold their teams to some unrealistic ideal suggesting that championship teams are supposed to look like champions at every turn of the schedule.
When it comes to NFL football, winning isn't everything, the only thing or at times even the most important thing to establishing a championship foundation.
Obviously teams have to win enough regular season games to earn a spot in the post season, and the more wins they can manage the more favorable they can make their post season circumstances by earning byes and/or home field advantages. Still, when the playoffs come around, and push comes to shove, home games and even bye weeks take a back seat to the experiences that teams have collected along their 16 game journey.
The 16 game season is about a lot of things, and there's no true "magical" formula for playoff success, but history has proven that collecting experiences is at least as important as collecting wins; building confidence in the face of adversity is perhaps more important than building a resume that might help you avoid it. The Ravens stand as living proof of that, as do the Giants before them and Packers before them.
Throughout the season few teams consistently handled their business as well as the Falcons and Texans. Along the way to piling up those wins, they seemingly failed to realize that teams could handle them at their best. Now they prepare to watch as neither is in play for the championship game. The Denver Broncos piled up 11 consecutive wins to finish out the season but along the way seemingly forgot how to respond when faced with the potential of losing.
When you get to the playoffs, adversity is the expectation, the ability to steal wins away when the chips are down is the requirement; and it seems that the teams best prepared to deal with those circumstances are the ones who lived with them and thrived under them regularly during the regular season. The Ravens have been one of those teams.
We could see it as a lesson learned, but it's one that most will forget again when next October rolls around and the national media is touting the dominance of the current powerhouse of the season's first 6 or 8 games. And it's likely a lesson we'll have to learn and forget all over again the following season, and the one after that and the one after that.
When it comes to NFL football, winning is neither everything nor the only thing, it's just a thing. It's just one of many experiences that teams will have to amass and learn from if they hope to be successful in the post season. And losing by default isn't always so bad either as long as it doesn't happen too often. It's easier to learn from failures than from successes and as we're seeing again this year, those lessons can have real benefits when the playoffs come around, and when winning really does become the only thing.


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Finding aid to Franciscan Missions of California Photographs by Watkins, circa 1876-1882
BANC PIC 1972.008--ffALB
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The Franciscan Missions of California album contains 35 albumen prints taken by Carleton E. Watkins circa 1876-1882. Watkins probably began photographing the missions while returning from a trip to Southern California in 1876, during which he also photographed scenes along the newly constructed Southern Pacific Railroad line. The album is believed to be the earliest general photographic collection produced of the California Missions, and includes photographs of most of the missions found in the state.
Carleton E. Watkins was born in Oneonta, Oswego county, New York, on November 11, 1829. He was the youngest of five children of a Scottish innkeeper. During his youth he became acquainted with Collis P. Huntington, who frequented his father's hotel. Soon after the discovery of gold, both young men went to California, where Huntington later became one of the Big Four who built the Central Pacific Railroad.
1 album of 35 albumen photographic prints; images measure 8 1/2 x 12 in., mounted to 13 1/4 x 18 1/4 in. 35 digital objects
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Original prints are restricted and may not be viewed unless permission is granted by the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Viewing prints are available under the call number: BANC PIC 1972.008 --PIC.
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GREEN BAY—Much maligned and criticized over the past month, the Packers defense did more than just stand a little taller on Sunday.
The defense was the reason for a season-saving, come-from-behind, 22-21 victory over Atlanta at Lambeau Field.
A second-half shutout that featured a pair of three-and-outs, a sack-fumble to set up a touchdown, two stops inside the Green Bay 35-yard line and an interception in the waning seconds – all in that order – fueled and preserved the Packers' rally from a 21-10 halftime deficit that has pulled them back to within a half game of the NFC North lead.
"Today was one of those games we've been searching for, fighting for, and we hadn't found a way to get one this year," linebacker
The 21 points on the board for Atlanta at intermission were a misnomer, as far as the Packers defense was concerned. The Falcons put together one long scoring drive of 78 yards, but their other two TDs were the result of Packers turnovers, one at the Green Bay 13-yard line and the other a fluky, deflected interception that was run all the way back for a score.
"In the game of football, one half it can swing one way and the other half it can swing the other way," outside linebacker
After the consecutive three-and-outs led to two field goals to make it 21-16, Neal became the first of many defensive heroes. He strip-sacked Falcons QB Matt Ryan on the second snap of the fourth quarter, and teammate
Four plays later, the Packers were in the end zone and grabbing a lead for the first time since the end of the first quarter.
"We didn't have much room for error, and guys came out and played like that," cornerback
The work was just beginning, however.
Protecting that one-point lead, the Packers allowed the Falcons on their next two drives to cross the Green Bay 35, right on the edge of field goal range on a cold and slightly windy day. Five or 10 more yards and the lead could have changed hands.
The first time, the Packers got a huge break, as the Falcons called a wide-receiver screen on third-and-12 and caught Green Bay in a blitz. But receiver Harry Douglas, with more blockers in front of him than defenders, couldn't pull in Ryan's quick throw. Kicker Matt Bryant then came up short on a 52-yard field goal try.
That dime back was
"Matt Ryan has a comfort level with him," Bush said of Gonzalez. "Fourth down, why not go to the sure-hands guy?
"I did my due diligence, studying him and knowing what he likes to do route-wise and scheme-wise, and it paid huge dividends today. I'm just happy we got the win. Huge team win."
Bush, described by Jolly as a player who "works so hard when no one is looking," wasn't done. The Falcons got one last-ditch chance from their own 9 with 44 seconds left. Two completions moved the ball to the Atlanta 43, but Douglas dropped another one along the sideline that would have given the Falcons a first down well across midfield.
Instead it was third down with 11 seconds left, and Ryan's pass into an eight-man coverage scheme was picked off by Bush, his first interception since Week 15 of 2011.
"Clutch," Williams said of Bush, though the word could also be used to describe the defense as a whole on this day. "He's been here eight years, battling with us. He was into the moment. He made the play when we needed it."
Getting their first win since late October, a stretch that Neal said "felt like forever," the Packers and their defense came to life on Sunday. As a result, the season lives, too.
"Only being a half game back provides hope," linebacker


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RHP Travis Chick, Reds
For the briefest of moments in 2004, Chick was flavor of the month in prospect land, putting together seven monster starts (2.13 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 42 innings) for Low-A Fort Wayne after being traded from the Marlins to the Padres in a deal for Ismael Valdez. The Padres jumped the then 20-year-old Chick to Double-A to begin 2005, and it proved to be an overly-aggressive move, as Chick struggled with his command and began to press, which led to issues with his delivery, which led to lower velocity, which led to more problems. After putting up a 5.27 ERA in 19 starts for Double-A Mobile, Chick was included in another trade, going to the Reds as part of the Joe Randa deal. So now he's 21, in his third organization, and back in Double-A, and Chick has reeled off four straight starts allowing two or fewer earned runs, something he never accomplished last year. If you were a young pitcher looking for a chance, Cincinnati could be the ideal organization. He's not coming up anytime soon, but a major league debut sometime this season is within reach.


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The Chinese yuan is currently pegged to the US dollar. And the US dollar is the one hundred pound gorilla in the currency markets that has finally awaken after a year of sleep.
The Euro is rioting down like Greek protesters. The Aussie dollar is going down under. The Canadian dollar momentum is going the same way as the Montreal Canadians (it was fun while it lasted CAD and HABS :) And the South Korean Won is starting to hide from the North Koreans.
Last year everyone was hating on the US dollar, now everyone is in love with it again. Such a fickle market. That is why you should never stay married to any one trade.
As the US dollar goes UP, so does the Yuan (as long as the peg holds). So, lets look at some of the Ninja Yuan appreciation in the past couple of weeks.
Euro Down over 16.5% since December 2009.
China is involved with a lot of trade with those countries. If China believes that a small appreciation in the Yuan will hurt exports, then this must be a major kick in the pants.
Can you still say the Yuan is desperately undervalued. Or, is it starting to look overvalued? The Chinese may continue to keep the peg, but they have to be careful if the US dollar continues to surge against all currencies. If the US dollar continues to fly in the coming year, the Yuan will rise as well and the Chinese government will not be too happy with that. China posted it's first trade deficit in March, but further deficits will inevitably come with such a dramatic short term rise in their currency.
Therefore, will a depreciation of the Yuan be in the works instead?


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Butterflies and bees are taking over our decorating. A cake decorated with a bevy of fondant butterflies in different colors and sizes is the first project. Next, Diana Rodriquez is back with a brownie treat for busy moms. Then, a bee hive cake uses dimensional pans and a special recipe that was developed in the test kitchen. Nancy's tool tip segment is a tutorial on easy bag and tip borders. The last segment features pretzel and candy butterflies.
Visit the Website: http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com
Episode #812 / Length: 26 minutes


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Search our database of handpicked sites
Looking for a great physics site? We've tracked down the very best and checked them for accuracy. Just fill out the fields below and we'll do the rest.
You searched for "lagrangian point"
We found 16 results on physics.org and 50 results in our database of sites
(of which 49 are Websites, 0 are Videos, and 1 is a Experiments)
Search results on physics.org
Under sunveillance
Is Time Travel Possible?
See the world differently
Why the North pole is actually a South seeking pole
How does auto-tune pitch correction work?
The Herschel Space Observatory
How does technology know where in the world we are?
London Science Uncovered
Why do earthquakes happen?
All about... the Venus transit
Large Hadron What?
Was life on Earth started by an asteroid?
How is physics used in archaeology?
Setting Hearts Aflutter
What does the 5 sigma mean?
How does cloud seeding work?
The Elegant Universe - String Theory
Related to a TV programme on string theory, contains a lot of fascinating information including interviews and different view points. Also has a good table summarising subatomic particles and some ...
How Internet Infrastructure Works
A brief description of how Internet Infrastructure works, covering domain name servers, network access points and backbones. From HowStuffWorks.com.
Orbit Xplorer
Orbit simulator software for school and college students and teachers. The orbit simulator allows laboratory exercises on gravitational physics, elliptical orbits, double stars, escape velocity, ...
Physics of Cricket
12 points about cricket examined from a physics perspective.
How cameras work
Explains the optical principles and technology behind cameras (SLR and point-and-shoot) and photography. From HowStuffWorks.com.
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
A weekly foray into the latest news and topics from the world of the paranormal, fringe science, and controversial claims from a scientific point of view.
The First Men on the Moon: Apollo 11
Relive the first moon landing from NASA's point of view including images and recordings of what people were saying.
Celestial Sphere
The stars can be imagined to be points of light on a sphere which rotates about the Earth. Projecting the Earth's poles and equator out onto this imaginary sphere provides a framework for celestial ...
OHMZONE Circuit builder
Create a circuit by dragging components (battery, bulbs, wires, resistors, voltmeter, ammeter) on to a circuit board. You can use the ammeter and voltmeter to check the current and voltage at ...
The Science of Boiling an Egg
How to boil an egg, from a physicist's point of view. Includes an equation to calculate the time required to boil a (spherical and homogeneous) egg, and other interesting facts about eggs.


text: Easter Mass Disabled RI Boy Kissed by Pope Francis By Flo Jonic • Apr 2, 2013 The image of a Johnston, Rhode Island boy being cradled and kissed by Pope Francis has brought people around the world to tears. Now, his parents are speaking out about the extraordinary encounter. It happened Easter morning after Mass. Among the thousands of people who thronged St. Peter's Square to see newly installed Pope Francis, the pontiff chose to stop his Popemobile to hug eight-year-old Dominic Gondreau of Johnston.


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Well this one's probably going to break the internets. The only thing the hip crowd likes more than Wu Tang isThe Wire, and now the most beloved actor from The Wire is playing the most beloved member of Wu Tang in a biopic (okay, Ghostface is probably more beloved, but he's not dead). Oh indeed, thank you, Jesus and Big Baby Jesus.
EW has learned exclusively that Michael K. Williams, 45, will star in an upcoming film about the legendary Wu-Tang Clan rapper and all-around troubled soul Russell Jones, a.k.a. Ol' Dirty Bastard, whose impressive mic skills and outrageous showmanship were eclipsed by his erratic offstage behavior, assorted arrests, and an early death.
Joaquín Baca-Asay, the cinematographer on We Own the Night, Roger Dodgerand Jay-Z's video for 99 Problems, is also joining the project, making his feature directorial debut.
The movie is based on the final years of ODB's life — a true story that is nonetheless stranger than fiction.
Titled Dirty White Boy, the film focuses on the offbeat friendship between the Wu-Tang Clan co-founder and Jarred Weisfeld, a 22-year-old VH1 production assistant who through a lot of hustle (and the occasional lie) talked his way into becoming the rapper's manager when Jones was serving a three-year stint in prison in the early 2000s.
Despite Weisfeld's inexperience, and having a client whose talent was undermined by addiction and mental illness, the novice manager engineered an unlikely comeback — only to have it cut short by the star's fatal drug overdose in 2004 at age 35. [EntertainmentWeekly]
Who do you think should play Old Dirty Weisfeld? Jonah Hill? Shia Labeouf? Gabourey Sidibe? Whatever the case, this seems like an amazing idea on paper, as pretty much anything that involves both Dirt McGirt and Omar Little would. But ODB was such a comedic genius (mostly unintentional, it seems, but intentional too) that I have a hard time imagining a hardcore dramatic actor like Williams (who, let's be honest, is a little over-the-top in Boardwalk Empire) in a presumably-dramatic role (a biopic about a dead guy, how could it not be) being able to capture the true comedic absurdity of ODB. The last thing I want is someone trying to make sense of ODBisms, like "You gotta know how to blend in. Some girls don't know they alphabets. Some girls do."
Pretty much everything I know about ODB I learned from Danger Guerrero, but this whole clip is pretty amazing, especially the Drew Barrymore exchange.
MTV GUY: We got Drew Barrymore, you a fan of Drew Barrymore?
ODB: Who da f*ck is that?
MTV: She's got a new movie coming out. Actress? She was in ET.
ODB: Is that the, the girl with the bald head?
MTV: The… the… the blonde girl, she was in ET. She was like this tall?
ODB: …I remember da nigga dat was riding a bike in the sky.
I just can't imagine a recreation of that being able to do it justice.


text:
Gallup Wins Sportsmanship Award
BOSTON–Danika Gallup , a senior at Lake Region Union High School, has just been awarded $5,000 as part of the Hood Good Sport Scholarship Program. For the second year in a row, HP Hood has awarded $5,000 scholarships to varsity athletes who demonstrate good sportsmanship on and off the field, as well as excel in academics and is an involved community member. Out of the over 2,400 submissions received, 3 winners were selected out of 10 finalists in each New England state. Gallup was 1 out of 3 chosen for the scholarship in Vermont. She will be attending Saint Michael's College in the fall.


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Not for the first time this season, a high profile Arsenal defeat was swiftly followed by a deluge of transfer stories suggesting Arsene Wenger would be backed in the summer transfer window, and handed wads of cash to improve his squad.
After the Gunners' humiliation in the Capital One Cup at the hands of Bradford in December, the Daily Mail carried a story suggesting Wenger would be handed a transfer war-chest to help turn their season around. Sound familiar?
That's the price the north London club pay for basing their existence around finances it seems. Unable to win a trophy? It's because clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City are able to go out and splash the cash. Hiking up ticket prices to eye-watering levels? It's because of the need to compete financially with their rivals.
Every move Arsenal make, and every question asked of them, is framed within the context of finances.
Much has also been made of the supposed millions sitting in Arsenal's piggy-bank just waiting to be spent. The fact no replacement for Robin van Persie was purchased in the summer and sufficient reinforcements didn't arrive in January prompted most Arsenal fans to speculate that either there is in fact no money or that a stubborn Wenger is digging his heels in over some misplaced sense of morality.
But one question remains; are Arsenal are underachieving because they haven't spent in the transfer market in recent years? Or do their troubles run deeper than that and in fact lead right up to Wenger's office door?
Well GMF has had a little rummage around and dug up some statistics about Arsenal and their's spending, or lack thereof, to see if pounds really do equal prizes as well as the approach their rivals have taken. It makes for some interesting reading.
The moment everything changed for Arsenal fans came back on May 21, 2005; not just a moment of joy for the Gunners as they won the FA Cup, but their last moment of joy, at least in terms of silverware.
Arsenal have been in the Champions League for the last 16 seasons, and are staring down the barrel of an 8th season without a trophy, which gives us a nice time frame to compare and contrast their spending.
From the summer of 2005 to the 2012 summer transfer window, Arsenal spent over £200 million. In the seven seasons before that, they spent £155 million. During the latter period, the Gunners scooped two Premier League titles and three FA Cups. Conversely in the last seven seasons, they have of course won, well, nothing.
So more money has been spent in the last seven seasons for less trophies than in the same period leading up to their FA Cup win in 2005. A sure sign that spending money doesn't mean automatic success?
Well yes and no. It has to be remembered that the effect of supremely rich individuals taking over clubs (Roman Abramovich, Sheikh Mansour) has inflated fees for clubs like Arsenal. Equally inflation needs to be take into consideration.
What has certainly affected Arsenal's spending in recent years is that big-name players have left in recent years prompting Arsenal to spend more on what most deem inadequate replacements.
But what came first, their failure to secure trophies prompting players to leave, or players leaving cuasing them to drop back?
Now it is an indisputable fact that Chelsea's spending has driven them up the league. In that respect, it is impossible to argue against the fact they 'bought' the title after Roman Abramovich injected millions into the club.
The Russian has spent over £700 million since he took over in 2003, and since then Chelsea have won three league titles, four FA Cups, and the Champions League.
But it isn't as black and white as that; if you take a look at the years they spent the most money it doesn't always equal a high league position and trophies.
In the 2011/12 season Chelsea spent over £91 million overall but finished a lowly 6th (although won the Champions League), while the last time they won the Premier League, in 2009/10, they spent a record low £26 million. That has a lot to do with the stability of the club overall, while star buys like Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo have generally tended to fail.
Tottenham are obviously Arsenal's main rival for a top four finish so it is interesting to see how they stack up against Arsenal in recent years. Their rise to prominence has been fairly steep over the past four or so seasons.
In the two seasons leading up to their qualification for the Champions League in 2009/10 (their first ever) Spurs spent £200 million; in the two full seasons since then they haven't got anywhere near that figure.
That shows it took them a certain level of investment to get them competing with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea for a top four spot. Compared to Arsenal they have spent a considerable amount less while also losing key stars, like the Gunners, in Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Luka Modric.
What is worth nothing however is that it was recently reported that Tottenham spend on average £1 million a week less on their wage bill compared to Arsenal.
Manchester United
A lot has been made of Manchester United and their spending since the Glazer family took charge in 2005.
Missing out on a host of high-profile targets has not done a lot for the fans' perception of Manchester United, but thanks to years of stability they are always near the top regardless of their transfer market activity.
And despite the perception that the Glazer family have harmed United's power in the transfer market (although there is no doubt they have), the club have spent big on the likes of Phil Jones, David de Gea and of course Robin van Persie when needs be. The stability of having the same manager for such a long time means the effect of transfer activity is negated to an extent.
Manchester City
Along with Chelsea, Manchester City are the biggest spenders in recent years. Of course, City scooped their first league title (2011/12) for 44 years while the FA Cup came the season before.
Sheikh Mansour has spent over £500 million in the last four seasons up to last summer. Most of that was spent getting City up to a level where they can compete at the top (around £270 million in 08/09 and 09/10 compared to roughly £230 over the following two seasons) while their spending has slowed dramatically this season.
Ironically, now the new signings have stopped arriving they appear on course to lose their Premier League trophy and are out of the Champions League.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


text: Gender-based violence includes any act or threat of physical, sexual, or psychological aggression against a woman. According to the World Health Organization, 1 out of every 4 women reports having been subjected to gender-based violence by an intimate partner. Considering the harmful effects it can have on a woman's sexual and reproductive health, IPPF/WHR developed a regional project to combat gender-based violence in Latin America and the Caribbean. One result was ¡Basta! Women Say No to Violence, a video that is used to sensitize health care providers and the general public about the complexities of violence against women.


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Three field events competitors were the only Lady Vikings to qualify for the state track meet at the Fort Wayne Northrop Girls Track Regional on Tuesday, May 21.
Senior Alexis Wygant in pole vault and juniors Maddie Klender and Lindsey Foster in shot put and long jump, respectively, will be waving the HNHS banner at the state championships on Saturday, June 1, at Indiana University.
Klender had the best HNHS finish on the day, placing second in the shot with a throw of 38-1.50, while Wygant got the third and final qualifying spot in the vault with a height of 9-6. Foster only placed ninth in the long jump, but her distance of 17-4.50 exceeded the state meet standard of 17-4 and earned the junior her ticket.
Klender was runner-up to Summer Blackmore of Kokomo in the shot as Blackamore took the event with a heave of 43-4. Sara McKeeman of Carroll won the pole vault at 12-0, with
Anh Pham of Kokomo second at 11-6.
Holly Hankenson of Bellmont was the long jump winer at 18-11.75.
The Lady Vikings finished ninth as a team out of 30 squads, scoring 23 points. Fort Wayne Northrop won the meet with 78 points, followed by Bellmont with 68 points and Carroll with 66.
The Lady Vikings missed by one place of advancing on in the 3,200-meter relay, finishing fourth with a time of 9:37.75. Team members were Kayla Patrick, Hannah Stoffel, Stephanie McElhaney and Lauren Daas.
Senior Machaela Mertz got the next-best finish for HNHS as she placed sixth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:01.29.
[1] http://www.huntingtoncountytab.com/sports/22254/three-wave-hnhs-banner-state-girls-track-meet


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Time: January 25, 2012 from 6pm to 8pm
Location: 381 Main Bar and Grill
Street: 381 Main Street
City/Town: Little Falls, NJ
Website or Map: http://www.381main.com/
Event Type: passaic county, social, members
Organized By: Brian and Mike
Latest Activity: Jan 25, 2012
New year, new chance to make friends! The Little Falls Happy Hour is back and if you come out in droves we'll keep it on the calendar.Expect drink specials, strangers meeting strangers and a bar packed with happy Young Professionals.
Who should attend:
Dues Paying Members who are 21-39 years old. There is no cover but please RSVP so we know you are coming.
1 item minimum per person.
What to expect:
Our Happy Hours are very casual. There are no sign-in tables, no name tags, and no ice breakers. Expect people to walk up to you to introduce themselves and feel free to walk up to others who you do not know. Newbies are at EVERY NJYP event so if this is your first, you won't be alone.
How to Find the Group:
Look for signs or ask staff. We'll have a cluster of high tops saved for the group.
Big parking lot but there is also street parking if the lot fills up.
I can only stay for about an hour. What can I say? I'm a busy man and I'm in high demand.
I'm hosting, so look for my smiling face if you get lost at the bar!
381's happy hour specials ($1 off drinks and select appetizers) run until 7:00, so come early for the best deals!
I still miss the fishies that you used to be able to feed.
Wish I could go, but I have a prior commitment that evening.


text:
Lost Iron Range
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Do you have a fascinating story of lost Iron Range history?
The Iron Range was instrumental in building a nation and a super power from its raw materials and strength from its diverse community. The intriguing history of the Range continues to transform but with it some legacies have been lost to time.
WDSE•WRPT is digging up the remnants of the forgotten history of the Iron Range for a new documentary, set to air next March. If you have any stories, souvenirs, pictures, film and/or video of things you would like to share, please contact WDSE•WRPT.
Email: ironrange [at] wdse [dot] org
Call: 218.788.2831/toll free: 888.563.9373
Mail: Lost Iron Range c/o WDSE•WRPT 632 Niagara Court, Duluth, MN 55811
You can also join us October 15 at 5pm at Hibbing's Sammy's Pizza for an open meeting to share ideas for the upcoming documentary Lost Iron Range.


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National Forum On Judicial Accountability
NFOJA member Daar Fisher asked: "Is every US court case somehow rigged? Are lawyers making money they should not be if the system wasn't so corrupt? Are judges more like organized crime figures than public servants paid with tax dollars? Are the courts the tool used for international corporations, banks, and organized crime taking over America?"
We thank him for asking these questions. They are not terribly different than the central question of "The Matthew Fogg Symposia On The Vitality Of Stare Decisis In America": https://www.facebook.com/FoggEvent Yet beware of answers based on any determination that a person or group is "corrupt" if it's made without the benefit of a fair and impartial trial including opportunities for discovery, cross-examination, and all that due process entails. No matter how compelling any evidence of corruption may be, it should not replace adversarial proceedings as America's truth finding process; particularly when the corruption alleged amounts to a crime. As long as alleged criminals are deemed innocent until proven guilty upon trial, such as they are in America, everything untested by trial but offered as proof of a crime or criminality, is no more than evidence.
Multiple, serious malfunctions and dysfunctions of America's legal / judicial system can be proven through sound social science research, empirical data, and analysis. Some of those malfunctions and dysfunctions are in our anti- legal / judicial corruption mechanisms. So we can reasonably presume there is unchecked legal and judicial corruption in our country. In fact, compelling evidence of it abounds. But "proving" that corruption in specific instances and / or pinpointing its exact scope without trial, is beyond our jurisprudence.
Views: 78
This assessment prompted creation of NFOJA: "It seems 'the real problem for our country is not the reality or unwarranted perception of judicial misconduct' . . . , but the lack of forums for addressing allegations of judicial misconduct that do not rely almost exclusively for effectiveness on judicial integrity and/or that of lawyers and/or public officials whose power and/or careers are controlled or substantially impacted by judges. This is not to suggest that judges, lawyers, and public officials whose power and/or careers are controlled or substantially impacted by judges are not generally honest people of great integrity. This report instead decries "a judiciary that is '. . . essentially final arbiter of whether it has been corrupted and exclusive regulator of any attorney or judge who would object'." Final Report and Recommendations from the Citizens' Forum On Judicial Accountability, p 11, (May 2009), available at http://www.njcdlp.org/files/CFOJA_RR_7.pdf
Well said! Suspicion that something is terribly wrong has its value which can only be vindicated or produce results by proof in an appropriate forum.
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What to know before you borrow
Looking at borrowing, where do you start? Try our Loand and Credit guide to what to know before you borrow.
The Checklist
Can you afford cash? Perhaps this is self-evident, but the cheapest way to buy an asset is to pay for it in cash. This is because you do not have to pay for the right to use someone else's money, not only the interest component, but also any charges and fees that apply to the initial loan and its ongoing maintenance.
Ask yourself, "do I need this product, and is it worth incurring more debt"? Ok, this seems straightforward, but a good tip is to always walk away, take a deep breath, and see how you feel about the purchase the next day.
What percentage does this loan represent of your family's available income? Is it greater than 30%, or will it push current borrowing past this figure? If so think twice, then think again. If necessary talk to a trusted financial planner.
What contingencies have you allowed for? The possibility of unemployment, a relationship break-up, illness, launching a new business?
Are there any other expenses you have not included in your calculations e.g. the repair to a house you mortgage?
Have you clarified with the lender the true cost of the loan? Do you know what it will cost in "real dollars" over the length of the loan?
Is this a fixed or variable loan? Have you taken advice to decide which is best in the circumstances?
Do you know whether there are charges that effectively add to the interest payments e.g. a loan maintenance fee?
Will penalty rates be triggered if you repay the loan over a shorter period?
If you use a mortgage broker to find the best loan, ask yourself whether you can better do the research yourself. What fees do you pay for the broker?
Don't refinance unless you first understand the associated costs. Beware of offers for "loan minimisation" or similar - do your homework.
A redraw facility (you make additional repayments into your loan account and then access those extra funds when needed) may be attractive, but make sure you know the charges and any constraints on your ability to "redraw".
If you are considering consolidating your debts (i.e. rolling over all the debts into one single loan) make sure you get advice from an independent financial counsellor that it will actually achieve a reduction in your debt burden.
Is the interest rate lower overall, are there penalty costs associated with early repayment of loans? Is your family home now exposed to a lender whereas it was not previously?
Check this out, and if you have any doubt, see a licensed financial counsellor. We deal with this issue later in this chapter.
Consumer Credit Code
Be careful that the following is disclosed to you pursuant to the mandatory Consumer Credit Code:
- the amount of the credit;
- annual percentage rate and where it can be found if it is variable;
- the method of calculating the interest rate under the contract;
- the amount, frequency and total amount of repayments;
- credit fees and charges; changes that may affect the obligations of the borrower and how the borrower will be notified e.g. a change in the credit rate;
- how often accounts will be issued;
- whether there is a mortgage or guarantee that attaches to the provision of credit;
- any commissions payable by or to the credit provider;
- details of insurance that is to be financed under the credit contract.
Mandatory Comparison Rates
Legislation amending the Consumer Credit Code introduced mandatory comparison rates for Code-regulated credit contracts (except continuing credit such as overdrafts, credit cards and consumer leases), a tool to help consumers identify the true cost of a loan.
It applies to personal, term loans and most mortgage products. It is a rate which includes both the interest rate and fees and charges that are relevant to the loan, revealed in a single percentage figure.
For instance, a bank's interest rate as advertised may be 6%, but its "comparison rate" 7.2%. The interest rate is calculated by factoring in many of the fees that are typically associated with the loan.
Advertisements that include the annual percentage rate for the loan are required to include a comparison rate.
Debt Consolidation
Debt consolidation is advertised widely, but before you leap into a debt consolidation agreement, make certain you know:
- whether you will make significant savings in the total interest payments, after you have factored in all the fees, the new interest rate and any other costs;
- whether you can DIY e.g. have you asked your accountant about rolling over or refinancing loans and what it will cost;
- what costs are associated with paying out the loans;
- whether you will be more exposed to lenders following debt consolidation. This is a crucial issue that you are unlikely to have considered. If you roll over unsecured loans such as credit cards, and replace them with a secured loan over your house (a mortgage), you have in effect provided the lender with the means to sell your home if you cannot make the payments;
- that the problems you had paying a higher interest unsecured loan will not necessarily disappear just because the interest payments are now lower. Have a frank discussion with your accountant. Understandably you want to grab a lifeline when you're desperate, but make absolutely certain you won't end up in even worse trouble;
- whether you are prepared for rising interest rates on the new secured loan;
- that there is no other reasonable option. Have you seen a financial planner? What does the bank say? Is a building society prepared to assist you? If they do not believe you will be able to keep up the payments on a consolidated loan, ask yourself why you should prefer the judgement of a debt consolidation agency. Is it because they are telling you what you want to hear? Remember, if you lose your home you lose everything - the agency has nothing to lose, and gains brokerage fees, charges, and commissions from the lending institutions;
- whether you can vary the loan on hardship grounds. Under the Consumer Credit Code you can ask for a variation of the loan because of temporary financial hardship, including unemployment or sickness. If you need free legal advice get in touch with the Consumer Credit Legal Service in your State. They will be able to explain your rights to access the legal system to adjudicate your hardship application. They can also provide excellent specialised advice about these loans.
Last Updated April 2010
Most Viewed in Money
Morning & Afternoon Newsletter
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Quapaw Tribe, Arkansas National Guard sign agreement
By The Associated Press
This article was originally published January 15, 2014 at 7:07 a.m. Updated January 15, 2014 at 12:39 p.m.
QUAPAW, Okla. — The Quapaw Tribe and the Arkansas National Guard have signed an agreement to protect the tribe's cultural and historical resources.
The agreement will help the tribe protect and enhance sacred sites and resources of historical and cultural importance in Arkansas. The Quapaw Tribe lived in Arkansas for hundreds of years before its statehood.
The agreement calls for the Arkansas National Guard to work with the tribe in developing and implementing the state's cultural resources management plan.
Quapaw Chairman John L. Berrey said the agreement is important because the area was the tribe's homeland before they were moved to northeast Oklahoma. Berrey said historical sites dating back hundreds of years that feature artifacts, villages, burial sites and more need to be protected.
Comments on: Quapaw Tribe, Arkansas National Guard sign agreement
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The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the authorization of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) for many Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodity, disaster, and conservation programs through 2013. This includes the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) and Average Crop Revenue Enhancement Program (ACRE).
Sign up for the 2013 DCP enrollment began on February 19, 2013 and will end August 2, 2013. Producers can either sign up on-line using the eDCP automated website or they can visit the Grundy County FSA office to complete their 2013 DCP contract. The Grundy County office is using an appointment system again to help with the sign up process. Producers that did not receive an appointment time by either e-mail or postcard should contact the office to make an appointment to sign up.
Payments are calculated using base acres and payment yields established for each farm. Eligible producers receive direct payments at rates established by statute regardless of market prices. Counter-cyclical payments vary depending on market prices, and are issued only when the effective price for a commodity is below its target price (which takes into account the direct payment rate, market price and loan rate).
Producers can also elect the ACRE option. The ACRE program provides a safety net based on state revenue losses and acts in place of the price-based safety net of counter-cyclical payments under DCP. In exchange for participating in ACRE, a farm's direct payment is reduced by 20 percent, and marketing assistance loan rates are reduced by 30 percent.
All eligible participants in 2013 may choose to enroll in ACRE for the 2013 crop year. This means that eligible producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 will need to enroll in DCP in 2013 or may re-enroll in ACRE in 2013. The ACRE sign-up period will end on June 3, 2013.
ISU Extension has developed a 2013 calculator that can assist producers in making the decision of whether or not to enroll in ACRE. This calculator can be found at: www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/xls/a1-45acrecalculator.xls
As producers begin considering shares for the 2013 DCP or ACRE contracts, they are reminded that: All producers planting on DCP bases acres must be identified on the DCP/ACRE enrollment contact and receive a proportionate share of DCP/ACRE payment for the farm. Changes in ownership, producers, or the crop share arrangement on the farm made after enrolling in DCP/ACRE must be reported to your local FSA offices.
Producers should note that changes to their 2013 DCP/ACRE enrollment contacts cannot be made after September 30, 2013. The contract cannot be approved until all required producer's signatures on the contract, including those with a zero share of the payment, have been submitted to our office.
The 2008 Farm Bill extension states that no 2013 advance direct payments for DCP and ACRE are to be issued. Direct payments at rates established by statute are expected to be made in October 2013.
For more information about the programs and loans administered by FSA, contact the Grundy County FSA office at 319-824-5416 or www.fsa.usda.gov"www.fsa.usda.gov.


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Cashing in on Cashless
Cashless payment systems, which use pre-loaded debit cards, benefit operators and customers alike.
All over the country, schools, healthcare facilities and corporate dining operations are making the switch from cash registers to cashless transactions. The systems, most of which debit pre-loaded cards to pay for meals, boast a number of important benefits—from speeding up cafeteria lines and making customers happier to increasing transaction amounts and streamlining back-office operations.
Parental Control: Cashless payment systems offer "a considerable advantage for our operation, and for the customer," says Cameron Bolender, director of corporate services for Michael's Catering, Phoenix, AZ. Last August, he installed new payment systems at Michael's accounts at the private Rancho Solano School, which has a pre-K-through-8th grade enrollment, and Brophy College Preparatory School, an all-boys Catholic high school.
With approximately 1,800 students, Rancho Solano operates on a quartet of campuses. "We created a program where parents set up declining balance accounts for their children," says Bolender. "At the beginning of the month, they can select from a variety of meals offered each day." Michael's employees use itemized lists arranged by class and student name to ensure everyone gets what they ordered. Cold meals and a limited hot-meal selection are offered.
Each meal includes an entree, fresh vegetable or fruit side, and a snack. On any given day, for example, vegan, ethnic, and other choices are available to appeal to a wide variety of students.
The cashless system is "a huge win for parents because they can go online and easily make purchase decisions and print out their orders on a calendar that shows them what days the kids are getting what meals," says Bolender.
At Brophy Prep School in central Phoenix, transaction speed is the most important benefit of the cashless system. There, Bolender has to feed 1,250 students in a very short time. The morning break is from 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m., and Michael's processes approximately 550 transactions in that time. Lunch is from 12:10 to 12:45, with an additional 600 transactions during that period.
Says Bolender, "There is no possible way we could do that without the cashless payment system." Each transaction—from the time the child arrives at the register until it's complete—averages just nine seconds, and parents like the fact that money in the declining balance account can only be spent in the school cafeteria.
What's in your wallet: Ease of use, both operationally and for customers, is what Kenneth Sheridan, director of café management and finances for Emigrant Savings Bank in New York City, was looking for when he installed a cashless payment setup at the 200-seat dining operation last November.
Emigrant wanted a system that would be simple to manage from an accounting standpoint, Sheridan says. "They didn't want to have to worry about theft, or about overages or shortages."
They also wanted something that would be convenient and efficient so that guests could move through the line without having to pull out credit cards or cash and wait for change.
The security badges carried by the 500 Emigrant employees and 500 other occupants of the building double as their ID cards for the cashless system.
The cards are loaded with money in advance. "You decide how you want to fund the account," explains Sheridan. "When you present the card to the reader at the terminal, it takes money out of your account, gives you a receipt, and off you go."
Revenue boost: Of course, generating more revenue is one of the most compelling reasons for switching to a cashless transaction system. Since Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center in New Brunswick, NJ, installed its cashless system in November 2005, it has seen a boost in sales.
Prior to that, the medical center used an outdated voucher system for residents and interns, notes Tony Almeida, director of Food & Nutrition/Environmental /Host Services.
The medical center's 325-seat cafeteria will generate about $4 million in sales this year. It is open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., with an additional "midnight meal" from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. There is also a gourmet coffee bar in the Children's Hospital that uses the cashless system.
Almeida also loves the fact that the cashless system takes his office out of the loop. "The medical school deals directly with it," he explains. "They issue the cards, and by doing that we save $10,000 a month. It costs us $1,500 a month and we save $100,000 to $120,000 on charges."
"The clincher is that the system has boosted revenue. About 600 employees have signed up for the program, and their average transaction is 10% higher than for people who pay cash," he says.
"The switch over was easy," says Almeida. The supplier put a tag reader next to each register and programmed the interface. Best of all, "if customers have any issues, they go to the supplier, not to us," he says.
Charges are deducted from payroll, which can be complicated. However, the supplier handles the entire transaction. "What I like about this system is that it is really easy for us," notes Almeida. "We pay a monthly fee, which I don't think is really that high. We've been on this program for a year and a half and we haven't had one issue."


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Victims no longer: men recovering from incest and other sexual child abuse
Cedar, Aug 16, 1993 - Adult child sexual abuse victims - 325 pages
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Myths and Realities
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Here it is, the start of a new year. For many, this is the time to make resolutions - you know, those promises we all make to ourselves that more often than not, end up by the wayside, forsaken due to a lack of time, too much on our plates, etc. I'll be the first to admit I haven't done the best job of following through on resolutions and I?know I'm not the only one.
I can think of one group that routinely blows off their resolutions, if you can call them that, with complete and utter disregard.
Our legislators - at both the state and national level.
Allow me to explain.
At the state level, this has become crystal clear of late on a local level - our public schools. For the past couple of years, our public schools have been forced to operate with zero "allowable growth" (ie) state funding, because our state lawmakers have neglected? to set a rate of allowable growth.
Here's the broken resolution, if you will - by statute, the Legislature is required to set allowable growth each Fall for the coming school year for Iowa's public schools.
Let me repeat that - Required, by state statute, to set allowable growth.
Guess what didn't happen in the Fall of 2012?
Now, try to set a budget for your school if you get no allowable growth, even when your operating expenses continue to rise at an average of say three percent a year.
Sure, you can develop a budget based on zero allowable growth, but then, you eat into any budget surplus you might have, to pay your bills after your budget comes up short, because the government won't give you any allowable growth.
Why, it wasn't that long ago that the allowable growth turned into a 10 percent cut for school districts. I believe every public school had to tap into their savings that year, because the state had no money.
Oh, by the way, did I?mention that if you run your budget surplus out of money,because the state doesn't give you your money, then you get called before the state and have your hands slapped?
This all seems strange, given reports from our state capitol that the state has a very respectable budget surplus. If that is the case, then why can't our lawmakers do what they are required to do by statute?
That brings up another point - if the lawmakers ignore state statutes, why are there no repercussions against them? If Joe Citizen breaks a law, Joe Citizen is ticketed or fined.
Oh, that's right - lawmakers do no wrong - how could I forget?
Yes, the lack of action on school funding strikes a chord with me, as I've sat in several meetings over the past weeks with school boards looking at options to be able to continue to provide quality education for our youth, with their district's very existence being impacted by the school financing game. You can see the frustration, the apprehension and the sense of anger with our state government over their attitudes toward our rural schools.
But the state isn't just affecting education - the promised redesign of our state's mental health service delivery is in just as much turmoil. There are no rules, no regulations for counties to establish the regions that are described by the redesign, and without the rules, how do these regions operate??How are funds to be distributed?
It's a little tough to play by the rules when there are no rules - that's the message that boards of supervisors are sending to the statehouse.
Will the statehouse listen? Will our lawmakers open their eyes and see that good intentions don't always equal the right way to do things? The old adage of not fixing something if it isn't broken can't even apply - it seems as if everything is broken because of attempts to "fix it better."
Lawmakers run for election on the promise of serving the people - Let's hope that in 2013, they will remember that resolution and do just that - represent the people.


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Hi Everyone
I am a complete novice when it comes to the world of web development, and I have some questions about the process, and what web developers do (and why). My motivation is this; I am a student in business school, and have a project to market a web-based tool, and just need a better understanding on how this all works. Here are my questions:
How do you find out about the latest & greatest in web development? What sites, publications, conferences, etc. do you patronize?
How do you select your shopping carts, gateways, merchant accounts, etc.? Which ones are best and why? Is a one-stop shop for these services attractive? Why or why not?
Do you receive referral fees from any of these e-commerce suite of tools? If so, how is that structured? What is the maximum you could generate from such referral business?
Are your core clients small business owners? How do THEY find YOU?
Where would you go to find other web developers?
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am checking out other forums for web developers and social media websites too.


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Stocks fall on fresh signs that even Federal Reserve policymakers aren't sure how much is enough when it comes to boosting the economy. NBR's Susie Gharib speaks with Vanguard's Chief Economist Joe Davis. More mixed numbers on the housing market. NBR's Darren Gersh takes a look at what may be some bright spots. And, two big, and struggling, office supply companies are teaming up in a billion dollar deal. NBR's Erika Miller breaks down what the deal means for the office supply space.
Visit the Website: http://nbr.com/
Episode #32056 / Length: 26 minutes


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ROCK FALLS – Mayor-elect Bill Wescott is planning another way to get input from residents.
Wescott, who takes office Tuesday, said he wants to form a citizens advisory committee to give his administration feedback on issues. He said he would likely send letters to prospective members next month.
He said he also wants to start another type of City Council meeting – formally known as a committee of the whole – in which members would take no action but have an "open discussion" of issues.
As it is, Wescott said, City Council members fully discuss issues in meetings of various committees, which few residents attend. Then, he said, residents are surprised when those issues come before the full council, which takes a "rapid vote" without discussion.
"There should be more explanation," he said.
On April 9, Wescott beat Mayor David Blanton with 75 percent of the vote. Wescott, the city clerk for the last decade, is being succeeded as clerk by Eric Arduini, who beat two opponents in the election.
For the past few weeks, he has been training Arduini. He said he appreciated that Arduini has devoted time to learn the clerk's job.
If Arduini has questions after he is sworn in, Wescott said, all he has to do is walk down the hall to the mayor's office.
Wescott said he and Blanton have also met since the election.
"Dave and I sat down and talked. He was very gracious," Wescott said. "He brought me up to speed on things that he had knowledge of and I didn't. I appreciated it."
'Welcome to Sterling' signs irritate some
ROCK FALLS – How friendly is Sterling? The city welcomes people even when they're leaving.
Since last year, Sterling-bound motorists see "Welcome to Sterling" banners on the First Avenue bridge. And those who are headed south into Rock Falls are greeted with the same message.
It's Sterling's bridge, so the city put up the banners on lampposts after the state completed a bridge reconstruction project last fall. The city paid for the entire cost of the bridge's decorative railing and lights.
But the lamppost banners didn't sit well with Rock Falls residents, Mayor-elect Bill Wescott said.
When he campaigned this year, he said, he met many residents who were angry that Rock Falls didn't get a chance to welcome people on the banners.
Wescott said Sterling had no intention to offend Rock Falls residents, but he said it's "a little silly" welcoming residents to Sterling both ways.
He said he had asked Sterling Mayor Skip Lee for an estimate of the cost to put up new banners. Rock Falls could pay for half, Wescott said.
Lee said Sterling is open to the possibility of sharing costs for the banners, so each town is recognized.
"The bridge is a celebration of both of our communities," he said.
Over the years, the cities have increased coooperation. For instance, Sterling's interim fire chief, Gary Cook, is also the deputy chief in Rock Falls.
Last month, Wescott beat Mayor David Blanton with 75 percent of the vote. Wescott, the city clerk for the last decade, will be sworn in Tuesday as mayor.
Wescott said he wanted to find more areas of cooperation with Sterling, including the sharing of resources in their police and public works departments.
"Sterling is our sister city," he said. "I don't think either city wants to take over the identity of the other city. We're both proud of our communities."
Both Blanton and Lee have noted that they met regularly, both dismissing criticism that the towns haven't worked together closely enough.
The Rock Falls City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 603 W. 10th St. The meeting will air live on Channel 5.
Bill Wescott will be sworn in as mayor and Eric Arduini as clerk.
Go to www.rockfalls61071.com for an agenda for this meeting and minutes from past meetings. Call 815-622-1100 for more information.


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Florence M. Eid
- Published in Obituaries
Florence M. Eid, age 91, of Blair, died on Sunday, May 6, 2012 in the Grand View Care Center in Blair.
Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Evangelical Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery both in Pigeon Falls.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 10, 2012from 4-7 p.m. in the Jack Funeral Home in Blair and also one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.


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Variance granted for grant program house
- Details
- Category: News
- Published on 24 November 2013
- Written by Mount Vernon Optic-Herald
A hardship variance was granted to construct a house with 2011-12 HOME Grant program funds. The distance from the lot line was allowed to be four feet rather than the normal 6-10 feet at 320 North Kaufman St. in Mount Vernon.
The variance was granted by the Mount Vernon City Council in its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, November 12. For more details about this and other action taken at the city council meeting, see the November 21 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.


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Punxsy-proud Parsons passing on her passion for education through her field
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Growing up in Punxsutawney, Ashley Parsons knew from
the time she was a very little girl that she wanted to be a nurse and help others.
Now, after graduating from PAHS in 2002, from St. Francis with a bachelor's in nursing in 2006 and from Clarion and Edinboro's combined master's of science in nursing program — and after years of experience as a staff nurse at Punxsutawney Area Hospital (PAH) — Parsons is living out her dream right here in her hometown as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) in obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) in Dr. Emil Dib's office at the hospital.
"I knew I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was about 8 years old," she said. "So, when I got out of high school, I went to St. Francis for my undergrad and earned my bachelor's in nursing. In May 2006, I started here at the hospital and moved to the Expecting You unit in the fall of that year. Working there, I found my passion. I love the whole aspect of the pregnant person and the education aspect that we can offer here. I loved and believe in what we have here at PAH, and I think it's a very special thing."
Parsons said that it was a fellow CRNP, Don Pallone, who works in a practice downtown, who convinced her that she should keep going with her education after her bachelor's.
"I thought I'd had my fill, but he convinced me to think about it. I applied and got early admission for the next year. They accepted me, but they wanted me to put in a little more clinical experience. So, I worked for one more year to build that experience."
While her dream wasn't always to work in OB-GYN Parsons said she fell in love with the department and everything about it through her time as a nurse there and through her own experience as a patient.
"The hospital sort of created this position for me because of my passion for the OB department," she said. "I just had a baby in October, and I came here. And I just believe in this place. I was perfectly comfortable having my daughter here, knowing the girls and Dr. Dib. So, when I came back from maternity leave, I jumped right in, and here I am."
A large part of her desire to work at PAH, Parsons said, comes from growing up here and wanting to contribute back to the community.
"The fact that I grew up here plays a big part in my passion for working here," she said. "I love this town. When I got out of college, I know that I could have gone to any of the great-big city hospitals, and those hospitals are necessary, but I like the small-town, 'I know your aunt; I know your mom,' feeling Punxsutawney has. And I think it's great to work in that environment."
As a new addition to the staff in Dib's office, Parsons can offer a plethora of services to PAH's patients.
"I can do routine women's health care — annual exams, PAP tests and breast exams.
I'll be going in April to learn how to insert a new type of birth control that actually goes in through the arm. And I've been learning some routine, minor procedures, as well," she said. "I can also co-manage a pregnant woman. I can't deliver her (baby), but I can take her through the process."
As a self-described "education junkie," though, Parsons' favorite part of the job is the opportunity she has to help educate women, both pregnant and those who aren't yet pregnant, about the process of having a baby.
"The thing I'm most passionate about is the education," she said. "I really feel that a pregnant person understands what's going on in her body more than anyone and that she can best maximize those signals. If she's having leg cramps, those cramps are telling us something, so she gets to be a part of the process as we figure that out."
Another part of the education that Parsons looks forward to is helping women overcome the misunderstandings that come from generations of stories from well-meaning friends and family.
"There are a lot of misconceptions about things like antibiotics, and another thing I'm excited about is educating women concerning breastfeeding. I've got a pretty good foundation from the teaching standpoint — and experientially — of how to help maximize that experience for people. I have gone through it myself with my own child, and in fact, I was worried it wouldn't work for me. If it was sabotaged for me, I knew it would be tough.
"So, I want to be there to help support the folks who have no idea what's going on with it or don't have anyone available to help them with the process. Lots of people don't have relatives who have breastfed, so I'm here to help women who would feel comfortable talking to me about it."
Parsons said that breastfeeding is something that the Expecting You staff always saw the importance of, and she hopes to pass those lessons on to her patients, as well.
"I know this department from working in it, and we have a very strong sense of the importance of the practice," she said. "It used to be a choice, but now, we understand how big the impact can be on both the mother and the baby. If the mother is willing, I will go above and beyond to make sure we can make the experience work for her."
While working with Dr. Dib was "a great experience," Parsons said she also understands the fact that there are some things that some patients might feel a bit more comfortable asking her, as she's gone through pregnancy herself.
"I really enjoy working with Dr. Dib, but he's never breastfed anyone, and we know that," she said. "So, while he's familiar with it, he's not familiar in an experiential way. Some people need to connect a bit more with that experiential end. I can relate with folks as to how it works. Working there was different. Having gone through it, I know that, 'Yes, your hips really do ache,' or, 'Yes, I know you're exhausted.' Having someone who's been there before might help."
So far, Parsons said, a large part of what she's been able to do at the hospital has been aligned with her desire to educate others.
"I've worked a lot with our new OB patients, and I take about 30 to 45 minutes with them just talking — asking what their fears are, their concerns, what they've heard from aunts or moms.
Because what everyone's heard is different," she said. "I relate pregnancy to fishing stories. If everything was going smoothly, it doesn't make for a good story looking back. 'The weather was terrible, and it was raining sideways.' Those are the kinds of stories we hear. But pregnancy's not always like that. It's not always a horror story, so I want to talk through their fears with them as early as I can."
With the technological era fully upon us, Parsons said that education can push against some of the things they've heard or read from other sources, as well.
"I love to explain things to people in a way that they can understand easily," she said. "You read things in books or on the Internet, and they just don't always tell the whole story. The book can't tell you where their fears are. Even if it's not dealing directly with their pregnancy, though, it's nice to have someone who understands and wants to educate you about your own healthcare. There are just a lot of misconceptions out there."
While Parsons acknowledged the need for hospitals of all sizes in all places, she also pointed out that she's quite content working where she is exactly because of the size and location and what those offer.
"Our OB patients are quite often the only ones here," she said. "When I was here as a patient, I got one-on-one care, my husband got one-on-one care, and the baby got one-on-one care. We don't shove the baby on you and say, 'You're on your own.' There are a thousand babies born every day, but your baby is born on one day. This is your baby and your experience, and it's the most important thing to you. That's why
you're here. You are important, your baby is important, and you deserve quality care."
While Parsons knew what she wanted to do from a young age, she admits that nursing isn't for everyone. And with that in mind, she offers the opportunity for anyone who is considering nursing as a career to stop by and talk with her.
"I extend the offer to anyone who thinks they might want to be a nurse or a mid-level," she said. "They can come any time and shadow me. I'll explain to them my triumphs and my frustrations. It's a lot of hard work from college on up. My college friends were out having fun, and I was working on a care plan. It's not all fun and games, but my family helped me push through it by reminding me to keep my eyes on the prize. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here today. I want to be able to be here for folks if they need that support."
Much like Parsons, though, not everyone will fit every mold in nursing, either.
"Nursing isn't for everyone," she said. "But even those who want to be a nurse, there is a lot of diversity there. You can be an emergency room nurse, an operating room nurse. Actually, when I was in school, I thought OB was too warm and fuzzy for me. I wanted ER or something fast and furious. But I found out that OB is the fast and furious for me. It's quite the adrenaline rush, but there are just so many places you can go by starting out with an RN degree."
For those interested in pursuing a nursing degree, though, Parsons offered one final word of advice: "I would recommend that anyone coming out of school and getting his or her bachelor's degree, it's so much easier to get it right up front than to go back and get it. In high school, I knew I wanted to be an RN. I didn't even think about
being a nurse practitioner. But once life starts happening, it'll be tougher to make that switch."
Anyone with questions or an interest to set up an appointment with Parsons can contact her through Dr. Dib's office at 938-3343.


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COUDERSPORT, Pa. (AP) — A northern Pennsylvania man has waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges that he murdered his ex-wife while she was serving as organist at a church service.
The Bradford Era (http://bit.ly/14Q4zkQ ) reports that 53-year-old Gregory Eldred did not appear in court to waive the hearing Wednesday, but rather signed papers to that effect at the Potter County Jail.
Eldred has been jailed since state police say he fatally shot 53-year-old Darlene Sitler at the First United Presbyterian Church of Coudersport on Dec. 2. The church is about 140 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
The hearing had been twice delayed so Eldred's attorney could obtain a mental health evaluation of the suspect.
By waiving the hearing, Eldred acknowledges enough evidence exists for the case to be tried in Common Pleas Court.
Information from: The Bradford Era, http://www.bradfordera.com


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i recibed my aquapet yesterday, i already change the battery.
on the begining it work wanderfully, but then, i let it alone, when i was whit him, it start to sing and dance. then, i press the button "caress" and it start dancing and singing, i talk to him and it dosent answer! y press the "feed" button but either answer!
what is happening?
type: floptopus
i REALLY need help!
Started by alessita , Nov 21 2006 01:50 PM
Started21 Nov 2006
Last Post27 Dec 2006
Posted 22 November 2006 - 06:20 PM ( #2 )
you say it's just singing and dancing.hhhmmm.Well posibly you got ripped off.I have a kazzu aqua pet and affter a little bit it shuts off.I'm not sure why but I sure got ripped off.
my point is it might be broken.
my point is it might be broken.
Posted 27 December 2006 - 10:12 AM ( #4 )
I think it is taking a nap. press both of the buttons together two times fast to wake it up.


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Shaken-baby conviction for Bartlett women reviewed further
Bartlett day care provider Pamela Jacobazzi, who was convicted 13 years ago in the death of a 10-month-old child in her care, gained the support of Northwestern University students and their professor. The school's Medill Innocence Project found the initial police investigation to be lacking and that pre-existing medical conditions in the infant were not revealed during the trial that may have factored into the death. Full story.
Concealed carry ruling splits suburbs
Some suburban lawmakers celebrated the federal court ruling yesterday that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed weapons, while others are holding out for an appeal. Lawmakers have 180 days to lay the ground rules and write the new law. Full story.
Jewel sells out of Hostess items
Some of the last Hostess goodies sold out quickly yesterday at suburban Jewel-Osco stores, and eBay may now be buyers' best bet. Almost 22,000 units of Twinkies sold in 10-packs flew off shelves immediately, as well as Orange Cup Cakes, Ding Dongs and a variety of Zingers. Full story.
Search still on for Lisle burglary suspect
Police continue to search for a man who broke into a Lisle home early yesterday and got away -- despite being shot at by the homeowner. The incident caused a nearby Steeple Run Elementary school to go on lockdown for three hours. Full story.
Prospect Heights to study lake water option
Bringing Lake Michigan water to every home and business in the city of Prospect Heights is being kicked around as part of a series of three studies approved Monday. One study includes extending water to 385 homes, and another to 300 homes. The third study examines bringing it to the entire city. Full story.
Algonquin officials choose traditional pedestrian bridge
Officials choosing from among 10 styles for a pedestrian bridge over Randall Road in Algonquin picked a traditional design. The $3.1 million bridge will feature brick pillars and a bowstring bridge. Construction is set for 2014 and is expected to take 10 months. Full story.
Sunny and above average temperatures with a high of 44 degrees today. Temperatures will be 28 degrees when you head out the door this morning, then dip back to 30 degrees overnight tonight. Full story.
IL. Route 31 is closed in Elgin between Big Timber Road and Wing Street due to a crash. Rescue crews remain on the scene assisting injured. Officials said a car crashed into a utility pole and debris remained in the roadway. More traffic.
Bears could be going nowhere fast
If the Chicago Bears can't capitalize on homefield advantage to beat division-rivals Green Bay Packers Sunday, they might as well throw in the towel, sports writers say. A loss Sunday would be the fifth in six games. It would also strongly indicate the Bears, even if they pulled off victories in the final two games of the season, couldn't handle tougher playoff competition. Full story.


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At ChocolateGelt.com
you can buy chocolate gelt and a variety of Passover
supplies. Click Here to find great bulk deals!
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Map - Testimonials


text:
Latest Features
(SC Times) Swiss Forward Joins Huskies
Luca Cunti is the subject of a feature by Kevin Allenspach in today's St. Cloud Times.
Luca Cunti is just happy to be here.
Wearing a St. Cloud State hockey T-shirt, on Tuesday he began his assimilation with the rest of the Huskies' freshmen.
A forward from Switzerland, Cunti attended his first class earlier in the day, then was one of the first to arrive for an afternoon workout at the National Hockey Center.
While eight other incoming recruits started school last week, Cunti is a late addition. He committed in July and it wasn't until little more than a week ago that he made the decision and processed the necessary paperwork in an effort to begin college this year instead of in 2008.
He's still waiting for clearance by the NCAA, but expects to be able to play when the team opens the season next month.
To read the rest of this story, see the St. Cloud Times.
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- Printer-friendly version


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For example, lets say I have a "main model" called "Customers." They have some kind of field that indicates a kind of ice cream they got with a number. So, in the model -
class Customer extends CActiveRecord { ... private $iceCreamType; //stores a number (0/1/2) to determine the column to look at ... }
In another model, "IceCream", it defines what each kind of ice cream is:
class IceCream extends CActiveRecord { ... private $iceCreamType-1; //Chocolate private $iceCreamType-2; //Vanilla private $iceCreamType-3; //Strawberry ... }
In this case, CGridView is using "Customer" as its main model as that's where most of the data comes from. My question is, how do I tell CGridView to use Customer::iceCreamType in the data set from the IceCream model to obtain its output value? I guess I'm looking for something like this:
<?php $this->widget( 'zii.widgets.grid.CGridView', array( 'dataProvider' => $dataProvider, 'columns' => array( array( 'name' => 'iceCreamType', 'header' => 'Type of Ice Cream', 'value' => '$iceCreamData[ "iceCreamType-" . $data->iceCreamType ]', ), ... ), );
Are there any ideas on this? I tried something like this to no avail:
'value' => 'IceCream::model()->findBySQL( "SELECT iceCreamType-" . $data->iceCreamType . " FROM IceCream WHERE ...'" ),
In addition to not working properly, it looks very ugly and isn't super usable. Any ideas? Thanks!


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Hi all,
I just did a lengthy update from Gnome2 to Gnome3. While I like the G3 layout pretty much I am somewhat missing my shutdown button. Even in the menu I didn' t see a shutdown entry.
Am I legally blind ? (well, I somewhat am if I look at my glasses but anyway )


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The Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) purchased the Hill Ranch on the west side of Angostura Reservoir in 2010. The Hills retained their ranch residence until last fall and GFP staff converted the house into a rental lodge over the winter.
The lodge includes four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and is located two miles from Angostura Reservoir and the Sheps Canyon boat ramp and campground. A log bunkhouse is located on the property and is available for rental in conjunction with the lodge. Like other state park camping cabins, the bunkhouse has lighting and heating but no plumbing.
Angostura Recreation Area Park Supervisor, Willy Collignon, says the lodge has a beautiful view of Angostura Reservoir and will be a nice addition to the area. "With the great fishing and boating on Angostura, thousands of acres of public hunting land and the many recreational facilities nearby, the lodge should be very popular."
At their March meeting, the GFP Commission proposed the nightly fee for the Sheps Canyon Lodge at $240 for up to 12 people age 12 or older and $17 per night for each additional person over 12. The bunkhouse camping cabin sleeps four and can be rented with the lodge for an additional $37 per night.
Reservations for the lodge and the 22-site campground can be made online atwww.campsd.com or by calling 1.800.710.2267.
Sheps Canyon Recreation Area is located 6 miles south of Hot Springs on SD 71 and 5 miles east on Sheps Canyon Road.


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"We are so thankful for the generosity of Belmont President Robert Fisher and the Belmont board of trustees for helping us in this way during our time of need," Union University President David S. Dockery said. "We continue to give thanks to God for the outpouring of support from our friends at places like Belmont."
Fisher sent the check to Dockery Feb. 14, along with a personal letter.
"Please accept the enclosed check as an expression of care and concern from Belmont University students to Union University students during this time of incredible challenge," Fisher wrote.
"Belmont faculty, staff, students and trustees are continuing to seek opportunities to show their support for Union, and as funds from these efforts are available they will be forwarded," he continued. "However, we know that there are urgent needs and did not want to delay sending this gift.
"Please know that your students, faculty and staff remain in our prayers."
Union students will return to class Feb. 20 after a two-week absence. The Feb. 5 tornado resulted in the demolition of two housing complexes at Union, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the student housing units on campus.


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Story highlights
- Few Americans understand how background checks actually work
- For some Republicans, the idea of expanded record-keeping is a deal breaker
- The background check system is linked to several databases managed by the FBI
- Since 1998, almost 2% of background checks have been denied
A central part of the gun legislation Congress is expected to take up this week is the idea of expanded background checks on gun purchases. But few Americans understand how background checks actually work.
Leaders from both sides of the aisle -- and an overwhelming number of Americans in national opinion polls -- support expanded background checks before the purchase of guns. But when it comes to specifics, the divide shows.
Meanwhile, some congressional Democrats are pushing not only for expanded background checks, but also for broadening the requirement for records of sale transactions.
For some Republicans and gun rights activists, the idea of any type of national gun registry is a deal-breaker.
Here's how the current system works:
Once you have decided to purchase a gun from a retail outlet -- it could be a local gun shop or national chain such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas or Walmart -- the store enters your name and information into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, via a toll-free number or the Internet, to check the eligibility of the buyer.
The check usually takes a few minutes to complete.
The NICS system is linked to several databases managed by the FBI, including the National Crime Information Center, and runs an individual's name through federal and state criminal records.
Individuals can also be added to the NICS index outside of potential gun sales, on the recommendation of psychiatrists, mental health institutions and family members.
Under the current NICS system, buyers may be denied the purchase of a firearm for reasons such as being indicted or convicted of a felony, admitting to being addicted to a controlled substances, having been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, being subject to a restraining order, as well as other regulations.
Since its implementation in 1998, 2.1 million background checks have been denied out of 118 million requests, or almost 2%.
The use of the NICS however is not required for private sales of firearms, which make up about 20% of all firearm transactions.
A Democrat-backed bill being discussed in Congress closes this loophole, requiring background checks for all gun transactions, even private ones. This would extend background checks to purchases made at gun shows and on the internet.
The current NICS is required by federal law -- the Brady Act of 1993 -- to destroy background check request records within 24 hours.
And since the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, licensed gun dealers -- called FFLs or Federal Firearms License holders -- are required by the ATF to also have gun purchasers to fill out a federal Form 4473, which allows law enforcement officials to trace guns to their original purchasers.
That document -- which contains the name, address, date of birth, copy of ID, NICS background check transaction number and model and serial number of the gun purchased -- must be retained by the dealer for 20 years and carries with it the same federal privacy restrictions as a federal tax return.
Some opponents of changes to background checks cite the ineffectiveness of the current system as a reason not to expand it.
The current system cannot force states to share all of their records with the NICS database, especially ones regarding mental health. This lack of records allows some people with mental issues to legally purchase guns.
Seung-Hui Cho, the shooter in the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, had been declared mentally ill by a judge two years before he murdered 32 people. But Cho had gone through a background check and been cleared.
Others see the expansion as another waste of government dollars, believing that people who are not likely to have background checks approved, like felons, won't even attempt the process, and instead will go straight to the black market to purchase firearms.
A recent CNN/ORC poll showed that nine out of 10 Americans said that they support a background check on every gun sale.
Hope grows for compromise proposal on gun control


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If you're looking for a career in health care, the future appears bright. Political vagaries aside, health care offers a good future with challenging, rewarding work and an opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives.
In Alberta, a shortage of nurses has been a long-standing concern. With thousands of nurses set to retire over the next few years, the near-term job outlook for nurses is "very, very good. Workforce demand is certainly there," says United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) president Heather Smith.
"It's a national shortage; in fact, it's international," adds Mount Royal University School of Nursing Department of Nursing chair Lynn Judd.
With the average age of nurses in Alberta in their late 40s, retirements are looming. At the same time, post-secondary institutions aren't able to graduate enough new nurses to meet the shortfall, Judd says.
"For the foreseeable future there will be lots of opportunities, not only in the hospital, but also in the community sector as we continue to support individuals to manage their chronic illnesses in the community."
The nursing profession needs workers and leadership in all areas: practice, education, research and administration, says Judd, noting there are expected shortages of people to teach nursing, as well as those who can provide leadership in a research or administrative capacity.
According to Judd, carefully researching a nursing career is important before starting out. "They are going to need to really dedicate themselves, because it's a lot of work." Nursing is an academically rigorous program. "There is a tremendous amount of knowledge one needs to be able to grasp, not just psycho-motor skills, but also communication, teamwork and collaboration skills. It also encompasses accountability, responsibility, having a clear sense of ethical and legal perspectives, and the willingness and capacity to work in teams."
After completing a four-year nursing degree, they must then write and pass the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination in order to be licensed to practice.
The work itself can be demanding. Shift work is part of the role if you are working in a hospital environment. Nurses could work days, evenings, nights or weekends, "because nurses are there all the time," Judd says, noting that nursing is the only health care profession that requires 24/7 staffing. However, those kinds of hours don't necessarily apply to nurses working in the community.
Nurses earn "a good wage." In addition, nursing offers great flexibility, and can be done in a variety of places, such as in a hospital setting, in the community, or in primary care networks. It's a career with lots of portability.
"If you become registered in one province, it's fairly easy to be registered in another," Judd says. Canadian nurses are also very well regarded internationally.
The returns that nurses receive, not only financially, are what make this a great career, according to the UNA's Smith. "It's very satisfying work. It's that direct contact -the satisfaction of assisting people and knowing you made a difference, whether in comforting somebody's family, or maybe in saving somebody's life."
As Judd puts it: "It's a wonderful profession. It's a very privileged place to be as a nurse, because you are walking alongside individuals at all phases of their life."
Dr. Lloyd Maybaum, president of the Calgary & Area Physicians Association, is also positive about the outlook for health care industry careers. "I think the future is looking bright. We're emerging from some dark days in health care. If you want longterm, steady employment, consider health care."
If you go into medicine, you'll have guaranteed employment, Maybaum says -and it's the same situation with nursing. There is also a growing shortage of health care providers who are non-physician, non-nursing professionals, for example pharmacists, physical therapists and medical technologists.
Medicine is "a very exciting and dynamic field, where you get to use your cognitive abilities," Maybaum says. "And there's the feel-good side of things, that you are helping other people."
One of the pluses of going into medicine is flexibility in terms of choosing what you will do, according to Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull, president of the Canadian Medical Association and chief of staff at the Ottawa Hospital. Whether you become a specialist or a family doctor; you can choose where you will work; and as a self-employed person, how much you will work.
"In most circumstances, as a family doctor throughout the country, you could find a job where you can open your practice and be quite full, quite quickly," Turnbull says. For the vast majority of specialists as well, it's usually easy to find employment. "Medicine is a very rewarding career and provides many options."
There are significant challenges to becoming a physician, Turnbull adds. Among them: it's a very long process to get into and to complete medical school. Medicin is a very rewardin It's challenging to get in, and it's very competitive. Candidates typically require an undergraduate degree, followed by medical school, involving four years of training, followed by a minimum of two, and often six years of further training after that.
Medical school is strenuous, mentally rigorous and physically demanding. You are up at night on call, working late and long hours.
At the same time, it's very emotional, since you are caring for people who are very sick.
"On the other hand, it's incredibly rewarding."
As a physician, "you work very hard. You are well paid, you accept a great deal of responsibility and can work independently. And at the end of the day, you can go home knowing you've done a good job and directly influenced somebody's life," Turnbull says.
Rapidly aging population fuels need for workers
Health care is a promising career field, for a number of reasons. There's the rapidly aging population, a smaller proportion of working-age citizens, and a significant number of health care professionals in the boomer age group who are headed for retirement. "Between the requirements for health care services and the increasing retirement of health professionals, if there is an industry that is relatively immune from economic ups and downs, it is health care," says Elisabeth Ballermann, president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), a union representing non-nursing and non-physician professionals in Alberta.
HSAA represents about 21,000 people in 240 health care disciplines in its paramedical/professional/technical bargaining unit. The range of positions encompasses everything from entrylevel jobs such as assistants and aides who are direct care providers, to staff who maintain the buildings, clean, and do clerical work, and from nursing attendants providing personal care to technologists doing lab work, taking X-rays, and doing MRI and nuclear medicine tests; physiotherapists; pharmacists; and speech language pathologists.
"It's the entire spectrum of care."
Those considering a health-care career should have a desire to work with people, Ballermann says. They need to realize the working environment can be challenging, involving everything from shift work, to the stress of trying to meet never-ending needs. Virtually all the schools that educate health professionals have quotas, so anyone who is interested in this field should study hard -"because it's difficult to get into the programs."