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This week, the National Christmas Tree arrived at the White House and holiday decorating got underway, while the President marked Small Business Saturday, and met with leaders of businesses large and small to discuss the importance of avoiding a middle class tax hike next year. He also welcomed the President-Elect of Mexico, his Cabinet, his science and technology council, and the 2012 American Nobel Laureates.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Delta and JetBlue Drop Sandy Re-Booking Fees for Teachers
House Republicans rejected President Obama's plan to avoid the "fiscal cliff." Also, talks resumed in Calif. to end the strike that has shut down most of the nation's busiest port complex. Finally, Delta and JetBlue Airlines will drop flight change and re-booking fees for teachers and and families who had to change plans due to superstorm Sandy. Ashley Morrison reports.
Moyers Moment (2007): Benjamin Barber on Holiday Capitalism
Moyers & Company
Air Date: November 26, 2012
In this Moyers Moment from 2007, political theorist Benjamin Barber describes the holiday tradition of getting consumers to buy things they don't want or need.
Secretary Clinton on U.S. Foreign Policy
Air date: November 29, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about the foreign policy issues and trends likely to confront the U.S. during the year ahead. Of the Syrian civil war, she said that the Syrian opposition was "now capable of holding ground" and "better equipped" to bring the fight to the government, but stopped short of declaring the country at its "tipping point." She also discussed the future of U.S. foreign policy and economic growth and Pacific Asia. In addition, she spoke about the various challenges in the Middle East, stating that the biggest challenge was getting "the big crises right."
'Post-Sandy Recovery: Legal and Tax Considerations'
Special Seminar Will be Hosted by Senator Addabbo and Assemblyman Goldfeder
Queens, NY – On Monday, December 3, New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and New York State Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Far Rockaway) will co-sponsor a seminar with local attorneys Brady & Marshak to discuss "Post-Sandy Recovery: Legal and Tax Considerations."
Two sessions will be conducted: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m to 9 p.m. PS 146, located at 98-01 159th Avenue, Howard Beach, will serve as the host site. Anyone interested in attending should contact Brady & Marshak at 718-738-8500.
The attorneys will cover important topics like recovering lost documents, navigating insurance claims, and landlord/tenant issues -- commercial and residential.
Accountants Vincent Cervone and Dominick Maiorano will also be on hand to go over tax issues for homeowners and business owners.
For more information, call Senator Addabbo's Middle Village office at 718-497-1630.
HSBC Jobs to be Retained Through PHH Mortgage Corp. Expansion
Up to $3 Million in State Funding Leverages $35 Million Private Investment
PHH Mortgage Corporation will move forward with a $35 million expansion plan in Amherst, Erie County that will retain 400 jobs that were in jeopardy of being lost after HSBC Bank announced major job reductions last year.
To help facilitate the job retention and expansion, New York State will provide up to $3 million in incentives through Empire State Development, tied to both the retention of the 400 HSBC jobs as well as the creation of up to an additional 400 jobs at PHH Mortgage's Western New York facility.
As part of the agreement between HSBC Bank USA, N.A. ("HSBC") and PHH Mortgage, HSBC will outsource its mortgage processing and servicing business to PHH, and transfer 400 former HSBC employees to PHH Mortgage.
"Last year, when HSBC announced that they would cut thousands of jobs – including hundreds of positions here in New York – the state and our business community quickly stepped up to the plate to preserve the jobs at retail banks," Governor Cuomo said.
"Today's action by PHH Mortgage, assisted by up to $3 million in state resources as well as local support, is a big victory for Western New York, allowing 400 HSBC employees to keep their jobs and enable the potential hiring of hundreds more over the next years. This announcement demonstrates that New York State once again is open for businesses to grow and expand, and is another example of the state working in partnership with the private sector to leverage major investments and job creation."
"We are excited to partner with HSBC and thrilled to welcome many HSBC employees to the PHH Mortgage team," stated David Tucker, President of PHH Mortgage.
"The outstanding workforce in Erie County is a key reason we decided to remain in this area, and as our relationship with HSBC thrives, we look forward to building on our presence. I would like to thank the State of New York and the Amherst Industrial Development Agency for welcoming PHH Mortgage and supporting our plans to do business here."
PHH Mortgage had considered locations in other states to accommodate its future growth. After meeting with state and local officials, the company chose to locate to an approximately 100,000 square foot facility on Wehrle Drive in Amherst that will be built specifically for the company.
New York State will provide up to $3 million in Excelsior tax credits while the Amherst IDA will provide an estimated $1,312,500 in sales tax savings.
The expansion project will begin in 2013 with PHH Mortgage occupying temporary space until the proposed facility is complete in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Amherst IDA Executive Director James J. Allen noted, "Cooperation and confidentiality between several levels of elected government and agencies were critical to secure PHH Mortgage's investment in the region. The Amherst IDA was pleased to partner with New York State, Erie County, the Town of Cheektowaga and Village of Depew on a project that highlights our competitive position of having a highly skilled workforce for prominent financial services companies like PHH Mortgage."
In May 2012, it was announced that HSBC had entered into a strategic relationship with PHH Mortgage to manage its mortgage processing and servicing operations, which is currently located at a facility on Walden Avenue in Depew.
After extensive review, PHH determined that it could not remain at the present site and undertook a property search as it needed a larger facility to meet its expansion needs. PHH Mortgage projects the need for a large facility to house approximately 400 employees it will shift from Depew, once the transaction with HSBC is complete in 2013, along with plans to add additional new jobs in the future.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, "Creating additional jobs in the financial sector will create tremendous opportunities for the Western New York workforce. Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, the state is working harder than ever to show companies like PHH Mortgage that New York State is the right place to invest and grow its business."
Today in History: November 30th
Pink Floyd releases its best-selling album "The Wall"; Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Dick Clark born; World Trade Organization's meeting met by 40-thousand protesters.
M23 to Withdraw from Goma
The leader of the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo has told Al Jazeera his men will leave their stronghold of Goma on Friday. The withdrawal is one of the conditions for talks with the government in Kinshasa. But few on the ground are convinced that the fighting is over. Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports.
Palestinians Celebrate U.N. Victory
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court say they will study what a Palestinian status upgrade at the UN will mean for future war crimes tribunals. It's one of the real implications for what's seen by many as a largely symbolic victory for the Palestinians. But for now, people in the West Bank and Gaza are celebrating, as Nadim Baba reports.
Mexico's Drug Wars Hurting Tourism
Mexico inaugurates a new president as it welcomes back a party that ruled the country for nearly 70 years. President Pina Nieto will also have to deal with a drug war that has killed more than 60,000 people. Acapulco was once top tourist destination, but as Al Jazeera's Rachel Levin reports, it has become the second deadliest city in Mexico.
U.S. Court Asked to Settle Gay Marriage Issue
The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are widely expected to decide in a private meeting to enter the legal fray raging over same-sex marriage. An announcement to take a case could come as early as Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Thirty-one of the 50 states have passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage while Washington, D.C., and nine other states have legalized it. There is a growing demand to settle the matter on a nationwide scale. Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey reports.
Polar Ice Melt 'Accelerating'
A group of scientists has discovered that polar ice is melting three times faster than it was twenty years ago. More than 20 polar research teams that have been studying ice in Greenland and Antarctica say the melting is already causing sea levels to rise. Emma Hayward reports.
Wikileaks Founder 'Needs Medical Attention'
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is in urgent need of medical treatment and needs to be allowed to visit a hospital, according to officials at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Assange has been taking refuge in the building since June, in order to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning in relation to sexual assault allegations. He denies those allegations, and says that he is concerned that he could be further extradited from Sweden to the United States to face charges connected to the leaking of confidential US government and military information. Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull reports from London.
Deadly Cough Syrup Leaves 19 Dead in Lahore
At least 19 people have died after drinking toxic cough syrup in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. The deaths have raised questions over the poor regulation of the country's medical industry. Doctors in Lahore, for example, say that the number of drug inspectors there has remained the same for the last 40 years, despite a massive increase in the population during that time. Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports from Lahore.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
U.N. Votes to Upgrade Palestinian Status
Overwhelming majority of states vote to give Palestinians non-member observer status, despite Israeli criticism.
Politics in Action: S. 3254
S. 3254 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013
(Sen. Levin, D-MI)
The Administration appreciates the Senate Armed Services Committee's continued support for our national defense and supports a large number of the provisions in S. 3254, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013, such as its support for both the base budget and for overseas contingency operations; the Administration's initiative to modernize the military retirement system; and authorities that enhance the Department of Defense's (DOD's) ability to operate in unconventional and irregular warfare, counter unconventional threats, or support contingency or stability operations. However, while there are numerous areas of agreement with the Committee, the Administration has serious concerns with provisions that: (1) depart from the President's FY 2013 Budget request; (2) constrain the ability of the Armed Forces to carry out their missions consistent with the new defense strategy; and (3) limit key authorities of the Executive. If the bill is presented to the President for approval in its current form, the President's senior advisers would recommend that the President veto the bill. The Administration strongly supports the overall goals of this legislation and looks forward to working with the Congress to address these and other concerns, a number of which are outlined in more detail below, and eventually signing this important legislation.
Detainee Matters: The Administration strongly objects to section 1031's restrictions on the use of funds to transfer detainees from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to foreign countries. When he signed past versions of this legislation, the President objected to the restrictions carried forward by section 1031, promised to work towards their repeal, and warned the Congress that the restrictions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay to foreign countries would in certain circumstances interfere with constitutional responsibilities committed to the Executive Branch. Since these restrictions have been on the books, they have limited the Executive's ability to manage military operations in an ongoing armed conflict, harmed the country's diplomatic relations with allies and counterterrorism partners, and provided no benefit whatsoever to our national security. The Administration continues to believe that restricting the transfer of detainees to the custody of foreign countries in the context of an ongoing armed conflict interferes with the Executive's ability to make important foreign policy and national security determinations, and would in certain circumstances violate constitutional separation of powers principles. The Administration also continues to oppose the prohibition on funding to construct, acquire or modify a detention facility in the United States to house any individual detained at Guantanamo, which shortsightedly constrains the options available to military and counterterrorism professionals to address evolving threats. The restrictions carried forward by section 1031 were misguided when they were enacted and should not be renewed.
TRICARE Fees and Co-Payments: The Administration strongly encourages the Senate to adopt its requested TRICARE fee initiatives that seek to control the spiraling DOD health care costs while keeping retired beneficiaries' share of these costs well below the levels experienced when the TRICARE program was implemented in the mid-1990s. The projected TRICARE savings of $1.8 billion in FY 2013 and $12.9 billion through FY 2017 are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs. DOD needs these savings to balance and maintain investments for key defense priorities.
Structure of the Air Force: The Administration strongly objects to Title XVII, which would place limitations on funding to be used to divest, retire, or transfer units of the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, in addition to creating a commission to study the appropriate makeup of the Air Force. These provisions would force DOD to operate, sustain, and maintain aircraft that are in excess to national security requirements, as defined by the new defense strategy, and are not affordable in an austere budget environment. They also would impair the ability of the Secretary to manage the Department and, by retaining large numbers of under-resourced aircraft in the fleet in today's fiscally constrained environment, could contribute to a hollow force.
Reductions in Civilian and Contractor Workforce: The Administration objects to section 341, which would reduce funding for the civilian and contractor workforce by a rate that is at least equal to the percentage of funding saved from the planned reductions in military personnel end strength. This would require savings in the civilian and service contractor workforces in excess of $5 billion over planned savings through FY 2017. The Administration believes the size of the civilian workforce should be determined based on workload and funding, not on arbitrary comparisons to the military. To comply with this legislation, the Department would need to significantly divest workload and impose workforce caps.
Alternative Fuels: The Administration strongly objects to sections 313 and 2823, which would limit DOD's ability to procure alternative fuels for military applications. Section 313 is overly broad and has the potential to restrict investments by making price the sole factor in determining if DOD could use an alternative fuel, without any consideration of military capability, mission, or circumstances contributing to long-term energy security. Section 2823 would limit DOD's ability to contribute to the development of a domestic capability to produce cost-competitive advanced drop-in biofuels at a commercial scale. Such a capability, pursued in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Energy, would help insulate the Nation, as well as the military, against potential supply disruptions.
Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS): The Administration strongly objects to section 236, which would prohibit the use of funds for the MEADS program. If the Congress does not appropriate FY 2013 funding, there is a high likelihood that this action would be perceived by our partners, Italy and Germany, as breaking our commitment under the Memorandum of Understanding. This could harm our relationship with our allies on a much broader basis, including future multinational cooperative projects. It also could prevent the completion of the agreed Proof of Concept activities, which would provide data archiving, analysis of testing, and software development necessary to harvest technology from U.S. and partner investments in MEADS.
Missile Defense: The Administration appreciates the support for DOD's air and missile defense programs as well as support for the Government of Israel's Iron Dome rocket system.
Replacement Project for Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Building: The Administration strongly objects to section 3111, which would require construction of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) facility to begin in 2013. The Departments of Defense and Energy agree that, in light of today's fiscal environment, CMRR can be deferred for at least five years, and funds reallocated to support higher priority nuclear weapons goals. An interim strategy will be implemented to provide adequate support to plutonium pit manufacturing and storage needs until a long-term solution can be implemented. Further, S. 3254 would require funding for the CMRR in FY 2013 to be taken from other National Nuclear Security Administration priorities, creating undue risks for other parts of the program, including delays to critical infrastructure modernization, underfunding operations of the nuclear complex, and curtailing science, engineering, and key nonproliferation initiatives. Finally, section 3111 specifies an operational date but caps total funding at the low end of the agency estimate, which may not be achievable.
Limitation on Reimbursement of the Government of Pakistan: The Administration strongly objects to the certification requirements in section 1216. These certification requirements – some of which require the Secretary of Defense to certify Pakistani cooperation on issues outside of his purview – are proposed at a particularly sensitive time and would severely constrict DOD's ability to respond to emergent war-time coalition support requirements, putting at risk the success of our campaign in Afghanistan.
Cybersecurity: The Administration objects to sections 925 and 929. The provisions significantly limit the Administration's flexibility by specifying technical choices that do not allow the National Security Agency to most effectively execute its mission and take advantage of the economic and technological advantages of cloud and next generation technologies. In particular, section 929 would, in effect, deny the use of an open source project for DOD and establish a dangerous precedent for the use of open source in general.
Unrequested Authorizations: The Administration objects to the unrequested authorizations for the advance procurement of additional F/A-18E/F Navy fighter aircraft and for unneeded upgrades to the M-1 Abrams tank. Funding these items in this fiscally-constrained environment would divert scarce resources away from more important defense programs.
Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq (OSC-I): The Administration appreciates the Committee's full funding for the OSC-I. However, section 1212 does not include the Administration's requested language that authorizes the OSC-I to conduct critical training and assisting activities for Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Counter-terrorism Service (CTS) personnel. This authority is needed to continue supporting the Government of Iraq's efforts to address Iraqi Ministry of Defense and CTS capability gaps, which was authorized through the Iraqi Security Forces Fund.
Requirements and Limitations for Suspensions and Debarment Officials: The Administration objects to section 881, which would impose an identical organizational structure and set of duties for each of the suspension and debarment programs operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The proposed restrictions would unnecessarily force DOD to make disruptive and costly changes to its existing programs – especially at the Army and DLA –that already are among the most active and effective in the Federal government in protecting taxpayers from fraud, waste, and abuse. DOD should be allowed to retain the discretion to appropriately tailor its suspension and debarment programs so that they may operate in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
Military Construction Funding for Guam: The Administration strongly objects to the limitations imposed by section 2208 on the obligation and expenditure of United States and Government of Japan funds to implement the realignment of the U.S. Marine Corps units from Okinawa, to which the United States remains steadfastly committed. The provision would unnecessarily restrict the ability and flexibility of the President to execute our foreign and defense policies with our ally, Japan. In April 2012, the United States and Japan announced a new plan to implement the realignment of U.S. forces from Okinawa to Guam. Prohibiting the use of funds could adversely impact the United States' ability to move forward on the new plan. Additionally and separate from the section 2208 restrictions, the Administration has serious concerns over the lack of authorization of appropriations for essential upgrades to the fuel pipeline from Apra Harbor to Andersen AB, theater-wide strategic capability. The reduction of $233 million would impede the implementation of our new defense strategy, which calls for an increased focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
Electro-Optical Imagery: The Administration objects to section 930, which would require the Administration to sustain the commercial imagery program through FY 2013 at a funding level that is significantly above the President's request. The plan reflected in the President's Budget results in an approximately 50 percent cost reduction while keeping about 75 percent of the planned capacity growth. This option represents the best value for the government.
Incremental Funding: The Administration strongly objects to the use of incremental funding for the Space-Based Infrared System satellites and the VIRGINIA class attack submarine because incremental funding undermines program stability and cost discipline. Although the Administration supports the underlying programs, the requested full funding and advance appropriations is preferred.
Military Personnel: The Administration appreciates the inclusion of the requested 1.7 percent military pay raise and the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. However, congressional support for the Administration's force management proposals is also critical. Maintaining readiness, while responsibly reducing our force structure, will be a major challenge in the years ahead. Enacting the force management proposals, which will provide a key tool in achieving the necessary force drawdown, will give DOD flexibility to create a more agile force, ensure DOD retains the right skills, and preserves the morale of the all-volunteer force.
National Language Service Corps: The Administration has concerns with section 941 and looks forward to working with the Congress to address those concerns.
Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health: The Administration supports section 711, which would include the rape and incest exception to the general prohibition on using appropriated funds to perform abortions under section 1093(a) of Title 10. The inclusion would make this provision consistent with other major abortion funding restrictions in Federal law. In addition, the Administration supports the restoration of policy to ensure that servicewomen and military dependents – including servicewomen stationed overseas – have the ability to obtain abortion services using their own, private funds.
A number of the bill's provisions raise additional constitutional concerns, including separation of powers. The Administration also looks forward to working with the Congress to address these and other concerns.
Obama, Romney Have Lunch at the White House
Discussed America's Leadership Role in the World
This afternoon, President Obama and Governor Romney visited for an hour over lunch in the Private Dining Room adjacent to the Oval Office.
Governor Romney congratulated the President for the success of his campaign and wished him well over the coming four years.
The focus of their discussion was on America's leadership in the world and the importance of maintaining that leadership position in the future.
They pledged to stay in touch, particularly if opportunities to work together on shared interests arise in the future.
Their lunch menu included white turkey chili and Southwestern grilled chicken salad.
Actions Taken to Expedite Sandy-Related Insurance Claims
DFS to Publish Online Report Cards Detailing Each Insurance Company's Performance
After meeting with top insurance company executives this week, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a series of measures to expedite the payment of claims for New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy and launched a new online report card system, www.NYInsure.ny.gov, to hold insurance companies accountable.
At the Governor's direction, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) issued a new regulation that will cut by more than half the amount of time insurers have to send adjusters to homes and businesses to inspect claims, thereby helping consumers receive their payments sooner.
In addition, Governor Cuomo signed an executive order that will allow for expedited, temporary licenses to be issued to qualified out-of-state public insurance adjusters, increasing the number of adjusters available to New York consumers to help get their claim settlements faster.
Finally, at the Governor's direction, the DFS will publish report cards assessing insurance companies' performance in responding to the disaster and paying claims. The report cards will be published on a new website, www.NYInsure.ny.gov, which the Governor launched today. The website will be updated regularly.
"In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, it is vital that New Yorkers receive their claim settlements as soon as possible, so that they can rebuild their homes, businesses and lives," said Governor Cuomo.
"There simply is no substitute for speed when it comes to insurance payouts after a storm. We must do everything possible to make sure we hold insurance companies accountable to their customers. Today's actions do just that."
Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, added, "The performance of insurance companies after a storm like Sandy is incredibly important. Homeowners and businesses have the right to know how their insurers are performing and how quickly the companies are handling claims."
Governor Cuomo also announced today that, at his direction, DFS Superintendent Benjamin M. Lawsky will continue the moratorium barring insurance companies from cancelling or terminating homeowners' and small business owners' insurance policies in storm stricken areas for any reason, including non-payment of premiums, for an additional 21 days through December 15.
This executive order and moratorium applies to residents and business owners in Bronx, Kings, Nassau New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
The Governor's order also extends the time the Superintendent may deny applications by licensed mortgage bankers or registered mortgage brokers to open branch offices and temporarily suspends a requirement involving community development investments.
Launches Online Report Card System of Insurance Companies
At the Governor's direction, DFS Superintendent Lawsky launched an online report card system concerning insurance companies who are operating in the areas that were affected by Hurricane Sandy. This action will hold insurance companies accountable to consumers and allow New Yorkers to see the performance of their insurance company compared to other companies.
The report cards will be published on the DFS website and will be frequently updated. They will be available today at www.NYInsure.ny.gov.
Among other criteria, insurance companies will be graded on: number of claims and dollar amount of claims; average time for an adjuster to inspect; number of claims closed with and without payment so far; amount of claims paid so far; total number of consumer complaints; and the number of complaints as a percentage of number of claims.
DFS will be publishing report cards on the following companies: Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, Hartford, FM Global, Allstate, Chartis/AIG, State Farm, USAA, Utica National, Zurich, Metropolitan, Narraganset Bay Insurance Company, QBE, Arch, New York Central Mutual, Amtrust Financial, Travelers, Tower, Adirondack Insurance Exchange, Chubb, GEICO, Andover, Assurant and NYPIUA.
New Regulation to Speed Up Timeframe for Claim Investigation
The new regulation issued by Governor Cuomo will shorten the timeframe in which insurers must send an adjuster to inspect a claim. This action will help insurance companies process the claims faster and pay out claims to consumers sooner.
Starting today, the new regulation will require insurance companies to start investigating claims in six business days after the claim is made to the insurer, rather than 15 business days under current rules.
The new rule applies to Storm Sandy. In addition, the regulation makes clear that to protect health and safety, other than for policies issued under the national flood insurance program, claimants can commence immediate repairs to heating systems, hot water systems, and necessary electrical connections, as well as exterior windows, exterior doors, and, for minor permanent repairs, exterior walls, in order to enable properties to retain heat.
Executive Order To Expedite Claims
The Governor's executive order will authorize qualified, out-of-state public adjusters, whose job is to advocate on behalf of homeowners, to obtain temporary licenses to work in the state. Currently there are more than 16,800 out-of-state adjusters who have received temporary licenses to work on behalf of insurance companies, which more than double the amount of adjusters working for insurers in New York State.
DFS has been allowing more insurance adjusters to operate in the state so that insurance companies will be able to assess and pay out claims in a timelier manner and help New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy rebuild.
The new order will allow the licensing of temporary public adjusters, who work on behalf of a policyholder to negotiate a claims settlement on the consumer's behalf.
To qualify, out-of-state public adjusters must: apply for a temporary license with DFS; have a valid insurance license that has not been revoked in the last 10 years; have not been convicted of or plead guilty to any crime in the U.S. in the last 10 years; and have not been accused of fraud or unethical conduct in the U.S. in the last 10 years.
The Department's representatives will be available to meet with residents inside the agency's Mobile Command Center, which will be stationed at these locations:
Suffolk County: Friday, Nov. 30 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lindenhurst Library, 1 Lee Ave. in Lindenhurst.
Queens: Saturday, Dec. 1 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Tilden Park, 1-119 Rockaway Point Blvd. in Breezy Point.
Brooklyn: Sunday, Dec. 2 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Coffey Park – Redhook, 85 Richards St.
Monday, Dec. 3 and Tuesday, Dec. 4 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2109 Gerritsen Ave. in Gerritsen Beach.
Staten Island: Wednesday, Dec. 5 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hurricane Relief Event at 4212 Hylan Blvd.
Department representatives will help citizens contact their insurers if they have been unable to do so and answer questions about homeowners', renters' and business owners' insurance coverage.
Citizens unable to go to the Mobile Command Center are encouraged to call the Department's storm hotline (800) 339-1759 which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
DFS Offering Insurance Assistance
Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, announced representatives of the Department of Financial Services will be at five locations in New York City and Long Island to offer help to homeowners, renters and business owners with insurance-related issues stemming from damage caused by Storm Sandy.
The Department's representatives will be available to meet with residents inside the agency's Mobile Command Center, which will be stationed at these locations:
Suffolk County: Friday, Nov. 30 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lindenhurst Library, 1 Lee Ave. in Lindenhurst.
Queens: Saturday, Dec. 1 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Tilden Park, 1-119 Rockaway Point Blvd. in Breezy Point.
Brooklyn: Sunday, Dec. 2 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Coffey Park – Redhook, 85 Richards St.
Monday, Dec. 3 and Tuesday, Dec. 4 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2109 Gerritsen Ave. in Gerritsen Beach.
Staten Island: Wednesday, Dec. 5 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hurricane Relief Event at 4212 Hylan Blvd.
Department representatives will help citizens contact their insurers if they have been unable to do so and answer questions about homeowners', renters' and business owners' insurance coverage.
Citizens unable to go to the Mobile Command Center are encouraged to call the Department's storm hotline (800) 339-1759 which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Insurance information is also available on the Department's website, www.dfs.ny.gov.
'We Have Made Great Strides in Combating This Disease, and an AIDS-Free Generation is Within Sight'
Statement by the President on the Observance of World AIDS Day
This Saturday, December 1st, on World AIDS Day, we will come together as a global community to stand with people affected by HIV/AIDS, to remember those we have lost, and to renew our commitment to ending the pandemic once and for all. We have made great strides in combating this disease, and an AIDS-free generation is within sight. Here in the United States we are implementing a National HIV/AIDS Strategy and concentrating our efforts in communities where HIV rates are highest, including among gay men, Latinos, and African Americans. We are investing in comprehensive HIV prevention and care, including through the Affordable Care Act, to prevent infection and ensure that all people living with HIV have access to life-extending treatment. Testing for HIV remains a top priority, and thanks to ongoing scientific advancements, finding out your HIV status has never been easier and treatment is more effective than ever.
Today, I am pleased my Administration will make public new data that demonstrates we are on track to meet the ambitious treatment and prevention targets I announced on World AIDS Day a year ago. As of today, we are treating over 5 million people with lifesaving medicines for AIDS, up from 1.7 million in 2008, and, as I pledged last year, we are on track to treat 6 million people by the end of 2013. This year, we have also reached over 700,000 HIV-positive pregnant women with antiretroviral drugs that will prevent them from passing the virus to their children. As we meet these new targets, we are joined by a growing number of countries and the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, who share our commitment to doing more so that more may live. As we continue this important work with our partners around the world and here at home, let us remember the lives we have lost to AIDS, celebrate the progress we have made, and, together, recommit to ourselves to achieving our shared vision of an AIDS-free generation.
Image courtesy of http://webclipart.about.com.
President Obama Holds a Cabinet Meeting
President Obama discusses the issues his cabinet will be working on in the coming weeks and months.
First Lady Previews the 2012 White House Holiday Decorations
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes military families, including Gold Star and Blue Star parents, spouses and children, to the White House for the first viewing of the 2012 holiday decorations.
U.S. Brands Associated with Deadly Workshop Fire
Some famous American retail brands are now being associated with a deadly fire in Bangladesh. More than a hundred people died when a clothing factory burned to the ground last weekend. Caroline Malone reports.
White Supremacist Building New Compound in Idaho
Aryan Nations member Shaun Winkler is planning on building a new compound in the Hoodoo Mountains of Idaho to host white supremacist rituals and ceremonies. KREM's Ashley Korslien reports.
Politics in Action: H.R. 6429
H.R. 6429 – STEM Jobs Act of 2012
(Rep. Smith, R-Texas, and 68 cosponsors)
The Administration values reforms to attract the next generation of highly-skilled immigrants, including legislation to attract and retain foreign students who graduate with advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees; however, the Administration opposes House passage of H.R. 6429. This legislation, if enacted, would allocate immigrant visas for advanced graduates of a limited set of STEM degree programs, would offer a limited number of visas for families through the "V" nonimmigrant visa program, and would eliminate the long-standing Diversity Visa program that makes immigrant visas available to certain individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
The Administration is deeply committed to building a 21st-century immigration system that meets the Nation's economic and security needs through common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform. As a part of immigration reform, the Administration strongly supports legislation to attract and retain foreign students who graduate with advanced STEM degrees, to establish a start-up visa for foreign-born entrepreneurs to start businesses and create jobs, and to reform the employment-based immigration system to better meet the needs of the U.S. economy. However, the Administration does not support narrowly tailored proposals that do not meet the President's long-term objectives with respect to comprehensive immigration reform.
The Administration is encouraged that the Congress appears to be ready to begin serious debate on the need to fix our broken immigration system and looks forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans to enact a common-sense approach that includes reforms to the legal immigration system. Such an approach must provide for attracting and retaining highly skilled immigrants and uniting Americans with their family members more quickly, as well as other important priorities such as establishing a pathway for undocumented individuals to earn their citizenship, holding employers accountable for breaking the law, and continuing efforts to strengthen the Nation's robust enforcement system.
Mitchell-Lama Development Will Remain Affordable for 35 More Years
Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg, HUD Secretary Donovan and Wells Fargo Announce Closing on $621.5 Million Deal
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the closing of a $621.5 million loan to the Co-op City development in the Bronx.
The Federal, State and City governments announced that their respective agencies have collaborated to jointly insure the mortgage loan made by Wells Fargo Bank, which will refinance Co-op City's existing debt at historically low interest rates.
Under the terms of the loan, Co-op City, the largest Mitchell-Lama co-op that first opened to the public in 1968, will remain affordable to residents for 35 more years.
"If it were an actual incorporated city, Co-op City would be the twelfth largest in our state -- and so it is hard to exaggerate the critical role it has played for over 40 years in keeping housing in New York State and New York City affordable," said Governor Cuomo.
"I am proud and grateful that all levels of government were able to work effectively together to secure a deal that protects the middle and low-income New Yorkers who call Co-op City home."
"Keeping Co-op City affordable and viable is great news not just for current tenants but for thousands of Bronx residents who need inexpensive housing options," stated Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
"We have a long-standing commitment to preserving affordable housing for this generation and for the generations to come – that's why we've set an ambitious goal to finance the creation and preservation of 165,000 affordable housing units by the end of 2014 under the New Housing Marketplace Plan. Thanks to Governor Cuomo and HUD Secretary Donovan for their partnership on this important project."
"This is about preserving affordable housing for the next generation of families living and working in one of the nation's highest cost rental markets," added HUD Secretary Donovan.
"Working closely with the State of New York and New York City, we're making certain that working families have a decent and affordable place to call home while saving private owners of affordable housing significant money that they can reinvest back into their properties."
Alan Wiener, Managing Director of Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital, noted, "Wells Fargo is a proud partner in financing, protecting and keeping Co-op City affordable for decades to come. Structuring such a deal was not easy, but like most of the valuable community-based development that Wells Fargo does, the results are incredibly rewarding. Because of today's historically low interest rates, our refinancing of its current debt will save Co-op City and its residents more than $150 million over the 14 year remaining term of the current loan and eliminate refinancing risk should interest rates rise. Wells would like to once again thank the Governor, Mayor and Secretary for making this important deal possible."
The Wells Fargo loan to RiverBay Corporation, which controls Co-op City, is the largest ever insured under HUD's 223(f) program, which protects lenders against loss on mortgage defaults at multi-family rental properties.
It is also the first time the program has been applied to a co-operative development. The Mortgage Insurance Fund of the State of New York Mortgage Agency (MIF/SONYMA, within New York State Homes and Community Renewal, or HCR) and New York City's Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will provide credit support with $55 million and $15 million coverage of the loan, respectively.
Loan proceeds will be used to prepay Co-op City's current mortgage and complete capital projects currently underway, and for the first time provides for additional new reserves to address future capital needs, as well as to fund ongoing maintenance.
"The hard-working residents of Co-op City, uncertain about the long-term fiscal and physical health of their development, needed to know that their government was behind them. Today's closing ensures that that is the case for many years to come," said HCR Commissioner/CEO Darryl C. Towns.
Located in the Baychester section of the Bronx, Co-op City is situated on 330 acres located along the west bank of the Hutchinson River.
In addition to 35 residential structures, the site includes three shopping centers, a 25-acre educational park, eight parking garages, three elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, a weather station, 14 gymnasiums, two swimming pools, 12 churches, six nursery schools and day care centers, four basketball courts, five baseball diamonds, numerous restaurants, and a power plant.
New York State's Mitchell-Lama Housing Program was first proposed by State Senator MacNeil Mitchell and Assemblyman Alfred Lama and was signed into law in 1955 by Governor William Averell Harriman.
Under the state's Private Housing Finance Law, the program provided for the creation of affordable housing, both rental and co-operatively owned, for middle-income residents.
Developers received tax abatements and low-interest mortgages, subsidized by the federal, state, or New York City government.
In total, 269 housing developments with 105,000 units were developed with State aid under the Mitchell-Lama Program.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) consists of all the State's major housing and community renewal agencies, including the State of New York Mortgage Agency, the Affordable Housing Corporation, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Trust Fund Corporation and others.
Since 2003, when Mayor Bloomberg's New Housing Marketplace Plan was launched, the NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has raised more than $6.7 billion in financing and contributed in excess of $1 billion in subsidy from corporate reserves for the creation or preservation of more than 60,000 affordable units in privately owned and managed multi-family affordable housing developments.
Free Mammograms Available in Woodhaven on December 1
Senator Addabbo poses with Multi-Diagnostic Services and American Italian Cancer Foundation staff during a mammography van visit to Woodhaven last year. (Click on image to enlarge.)
Senator Addabbo: "Make an Appointment as a Holiday Gift to You and Your Family"
Queens, NY – On Saturday, December 1, between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. in collaboration with the American Italian Cancer Foundation (AICF), is sponsoring a free Mobile Mammography Van with staff from Multi-Diagnostic Services (MDS.
The van will be stationed outside the Woodhaven Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 78-15 Jamaica Avenue, in Woodhaven.
Women ages 40 and over are urged to have a free screening for cancer and clinical breast exam. This is the 11th free mammography event the senator has coordinated for women in his district since October 2008. An appointment is necessary, so you are urged to place a toll free call to 1-877-628-9090.
"We know that early detection of breast cancer can save lives. Once again, I worked with the American Italian Cancer Foundation to bring their Mammogram Van to my district, offering free, vital health care services for women ages 40 and older, who have had no mammograms in the last 12 months, who either have no insurance, or are insured by Medicare, Medicaid or other health insurance, which will be billed for services," explained Addabbo.
For women without health insurance, services will be paid for by the Screening Partnerships of the New York State Cancer Services Program (NYS CSP) or through generous contributions by the American Italian Cancer Foundation's donors.
"However, even insured women will not be charged a co-payment and will not receive a bill," added the Senator.
On the day of the Mammogram Van visit, women with Medicare, Medicaid, or other coverage provided by Medicare, Medicaid or almost any other health insurance must bring their membership card.
For more details about the NYS CSP, call 866-442-CANCER (2262).
On the day of your appointment for a no-cost mammogram screening: wear a two-piece outfit; do not use any oil, powder, deodorant, or perfume in the breast, underarm or chest area; if you have Medicare, Medicaid or other health insurance, you must bring your card with you.
In addition to a mammogram performed by a certified, licensed mammography technologist, professional medical services from Multi-Diagnostic Services (MDS) staff will include the following:
Clinical breast exam and instruction in breast self-exam by a trained professional
Radiological interpretations performed by Board Certified Radiologists
Results will be sent to each woman and/or her doctor within 10 business days. You are urged to provide MDS staff with full name, address to send results to the doctor.
If you provide MDS staff with previous mammogram films, a comparison radiological study will be done, which in some cases eliminates the need for additional testing.
For more information about MDS, please call 1-877-628-9090.
Senator Addabbo notes, "Give yourself and your loved ones an early holiday gift by making that appointment call for a free exam. I want to thank all the generous donors who have funded these American Italian Cancer Foundation's Mobile Mammography screenings in my district: Avon Foundation Breast Health Outreach Program, National Breast Cancer Foundation, New York City Council, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, The Greater NYC Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, and the New York State Department of Health."
Photo courtesy of the office of Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr.
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BUMP+ The Experiment is an attempt to determine whether story can succeed where nearly four decades of angry rhetoric and political posturing have failed.
Inspired by President Obama's call to people on both sides of the abortion debate to open the lines of communication and find workable solutions to the problem of unintended pregnancies, Yellow Line Studio is starting that conversation inside the safety zone of a fictional world based on real life situations.
Is our society willing to give it a try? How authentic are these characters? And how serious are we about an open, honest exploration of this controversial topic?
You tell us. Please.
The BUMP pilot premieres January 22, 2010. We can't predict how it will end because we're waiting for your input to finish the upcoming episodes.
That's right – their choice is up to you.
Full disclosure: we're thinking outside the ballot box here. (Real life isn't that simple; and, besides, haven't we all had enough of politics clouding this complicated issue?) We'll be crafting the episodes to reflect the ongoing discussion on our website boards, so sign in and start talking. We can't have a conversation by ourselves. Please be kind, though; and remember that we've already heard every argument on both sides. In this forum, we're looking for authentic stories, honest communication, and – hopefully – a continuing dialog. We may even incorporate your experiences into future episodes; but no matter what, you have our promise that your feedback will
determine the final decisions for our characters.
Watch the episodes. Share your story. Join the conversation. Their choice is (really) up to you.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Provocative New Show on Abortion
On this anniversary of Roe vs. Wade a new web series has hit the internet. Here's the description on the show's website. This looks to be very interesting:
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About the River Plan
Planning by River Reach
The River Plan will be divided into manageable phases. The North Reach of the Willamette will be the first to receive detailed planning, followed by the Central and South Reaches (view map of reaches). This sequence will allow the River Plan to synchronize with projects and planning efforts that affect specific reaches such as Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup (North Reach), Central City planning (Central Reach), and the acquisition of Ross Island (South Reach). In addition, the phasing will make the project more manageable due to the large numbers of people who are likely to be interested and engaged in the process.
Project staff will engage interested public, property owners and organizations through different public involvement events and activities. Reach planning efforts will culminate with public hearings prior to final City Council actions.
The River Concept Provides Guidance
For more information about the what the River Plan will entail, check out the River Concept, a document that summarizes river-related planning policy and will act as guidance during the development of the River Plan. The River Concept also contains more detailed information about River Plan background and process. The River Concept was endorsed by City Council during the Spring of 2006 as a guide for the River Plan / North Reach. It will be updated as part of the Central and South reach phases of the River Plan.
Staff Contacts
Sallie Edmunds, Project Manager
Steve Kountz, Economic Planner
Roberta Jortner, Senior Environmental Planner
Mindy Brooks, Environmental Planner
Debbie Bischoff, River Planner


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Whats New
The Continental is an ideal place to eat out. Whether it's a romantic meal for two or a birthday celebration for you and your friends, our kitchen is sure to satisfy all tastes and appetites. All meals are prepared fresh to order, and the best ingredients are sourced locally from family firms.
Drinks, beer, wine, tea & coffee...
We pride ourselves on having the best drinks in Preston: we have up to six ever changing hand-pulled cask conditioned ales on at any one time, showcasing the best of local and national brewers, along with a wine list hand packed by the award winning wine merchants D.Byrnes of Clitheroe, a huge selection of quality bottled beers from around the world, superb soft drinks, and an exclusive Italian blend coffee.
Excellent food for the kids...
Our children's meals are cooked to the same high standard as our adult meals. Here at The Continental, we don't palm kids off with mechanically reclaimed chicken nuggets or fish fingers. Choose from the special kids menu, or order a half portion from the menu – ask our staff for details.
Changing seasons, changing menus
Our menu changes with each season – from hearty stews in the winter through to refreshing salads in the summer, we always make the most of what's being harvested and what foods are in season. Plus the specials board changes daily with short-season produce and what's been caught that morning dictating what's available.
At the bar, we stock seasonal beers – dark warming stouts in winter, and light summer ales in warmer climes - as well as mulled wine and liquor-laced coffees over the winter months.
Have a look in the 'We Love Produce' section to find out more about the produce, producers, and suppliers. And if you want to whet your appetite, download one of our easy to read menus and start imagining the flavours exploding on your taste buds.
Continental Vouchers - The perfect gift
...ask at the Continental Bar or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more details
Check out our selection of menus here:
Bookings and Parties
We love produce...
You will be pleased to know we have been awarded 5 out of 5 rating for Food Hygiene. See our certificate here.


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1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Honda Accord 4 Door Master Power Window Switch WOOD
This is a used OEM: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Honda Accord 4 Door Master Power Window Switch WOOD
Condition: May have some scuffs scratches and/or imperfections (See Pictures for Cosmetic Details)
You will receive the item seen in the photos!!!
Testing: Tested and functioning correctly
Please note it is up to the buyer to determine correct fitment of part. Please use eBay car fitment only as a general reference!
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions, I will be happy to answer.
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Your satisfaction is very important. Please contact me first if you have a problem. I will be happy to work with you!
Thank you for your interest!!


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Patricio Pron
At the age of 28, Pron learned how to ride a bicycle thrugh the snow in Germany, the country where the majority of his favourite childhood authors were born. He is the author of three volumes of short stories – Hombres Infames (1999), El vuelo magnifico de la noche (2001) and El Mundo sin las personas que lo afean y lo arrunian (2010) – and four novels – Formas de morir (1998), Nadadores muertos (2001), Una Puta Mierda (2007) and El comienzo de la primavera (2008). Pron holds a doctorate in Romance Philology from the Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany, and currently lives in Madrid, where he works as a translator and critic.


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Here's some bad news for opponents of the FCC Net Neutrality rules that will come into effect at the end of the month: Even if Congress passes a resolution of disapproval tomorrow that could overturn the rules, The White House has announced that President Obama will likely veto whatever is sent his way.
In a statement released yesterday, the White House boasted "Federal policy has consistently promoted an Internet that is open and facilitates innovation and investment, protects consumer choice, and enables free speech," adding that "[d]isapproval of [the FCC rules] would threaten those values and cast uncertainty over those innovative new businesses that are a critical part of the Nation's economic recovery."
(MORE: Net Neutrality Proponents Sued by Net Neutrality Proponents?)
The Senate is expected to vote on Texas Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's S.J. Res. 6, also known as "Disapproval of Federal Communications Commission Rule Regulating the Internet and Broadband Industry Practices," tomorrow. The resolution requires 51 votes to be sent to the White House, which would mean that nine Democrats would have to support it, but the White House statement made it clear that even that wouldn't be enough to get it past Obama: "If the president is presented with S.J. Res 6, which would not safeguard the free and open Internet, his senior advisers would recommend that he veto the resolution."
As it stands, the FCC's Net Neutrality rules will come into effect November 20th.
MORE: FCC Passes Ruling to Protect Net Neutrality
[via AdWeek]
Graeme McMillan is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @Graemem or on Facebook at Facebook/Graeme.McMillan. You can also continue the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.


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Masato Nakamura says he composed the remix of Sonic the Hedgehog's Green Hill Zone theme the way he did the original: By imagining it as a film. The difference is he only had still photographs when he wrote the song 20 years ago. Now for source material has the advantage of full motion video — and, of course, one of video gaming's most iconic pieces of music.
Wrapping up a series of vignettes on Sonic's 20th birthday, Sega takes a look at the substantial musical history of its flagship series. I'm not sure I gave the soundtrack in Sonic Generations enough credit; the remixes were very well done, although some of the tunes with vocals (notably City Escape's) had a sugar-pop way of boring into your skull.
But in any ranking of contributors to the much loved genre of video game music, Sonic and its artists would have to get a prominent mention. This video gives them a chance to take a bow, so give it a watch.


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by Brian DeCandia, sports information graduate assistant
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The Georgia College softball squad (22-18) bounced back from a five-game slide and swept the Young Harris College Mountain Lions (18-16) Tuesday afternoon, 6-3 and 16-2.
Game one started off quickly with the Bobcats striking for two in the first inning. The Mountain Lions would answer with two of their own in the second to knot it up. Frankie Walls (Dahlonega, Ga.) started the rally in the fourth singling two Bobcats home. A couple key mistakes allowed the 'Cats to score two more, making the score 6-2. Walls finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Freshman Erica Bell (Fayetteville, Ga.) started game one picking up the victory, throwing five strong innings and surrendering only one run. Bell is now 7-2 on the season. Whitney Okvist (Kennesaw, Ga.) finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
The second stanza was scoreless until the bottom of the second when a throwing error gave Young Harris the first run of the game. The Mountain Lions gave the favor right back with two errors in the third plating two Bobcat runs.
The 'Cats would add one more in the fourth when Okvist singled up the middle. GC added one in the fifth, three more in the sixth and then erupted for nine runs in the seventh aided by a Kelsea Martin (Covington, Ga.) two-RBI double to the gap in right.
Sabrina Chandler (Covington, Ga.) threw a complete game scattering eight hits and giving up one earned run to pick up her team-leading eighth win of the season. Okvist finished 6-for-6 with three runs, three RBI and three swipes. Martin finished 3-for-5 with four RBI.
Okvist stole four bases on the day, increasing her season total to 47, and her career number at 71. After today's action, the three stolen bases passes Leigh Jacobs (1995-98) for first place on the all-time steals list at GC. Her single-season effort is tied for third in Peach Belt Conference (PBC) history; the seven-year-old record is 56.
The Bobcats travel to Carson-Newman College for another non-conference doubleheader Wednesday, March 28 set to start at 1 p.m.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


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Answered By: Jennifer Harris Last Updated: Jun 17, 2019 Views: 693
Answered By: Jennifer Harris
Last Updated: Jun 17, 2019 Views: 693
You can access the Encyclopaedia Britannica Online (called Britannica Academic) by following these steps:
- Select A-Z Database List on the library homepage. under "Quick Links"
- Choose "B" from the alphabet
- Find Britannica Academic on the list of databases available there.
Check out the video below for more information.
About FAQs
About FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are a self-serve option for users to search and find answers to their questions.
Use the search box above to type your question to search for an answer or browse existing FAQs by group, topic, etc.


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Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth by Andrew Smith
Apollo 11 happened in my lifetime, but I'm much too young to remember it.
Andrew Smith remembers it: he was a lad of eight, and begins his brilliant book Moondust with his recollection of a warm summer day, riding his bike with a friend through their Northern California subdivision, arriving home in time to hear the last minutes of the descent, and sitting in his living room a few hours later to hear Neil Armstrong utter those famous words.
I was not quite six months old when the Eagle landed, so I remember nothing of it. My family was on a camping trip, and during the Moonwalk, the One Small Step, I was fast asleep in a big canvas tent. My parents, only vaguely aware that the world's attentions were so acutely focused on this event, stood half-interested along with a handful of other people around a small, black-and-white portable television owned by the folks in the next campsite over. The reception was awful—and of course the images from the Moon were grey and ghostly at best—so I think their experience of the event was rather underwhelming.
One of my earliest memories of any kind is of Apollo, although in researching its specifics now I find that my recollection may be entirely flawed. In my mind, as a not-yet-four-year-old I was awakened in what seemed like the middle of the night by my grandfather and hauled blearily down to the basement to watch as Cernan and Schmitt climbed aboard the Apollo 17 Lunar Module Challenger and the last men launched from the Moon. The tricolor debris of liftoff—the red-green-blue scans of the lunar rover camera being sequential rather than simultaneous—still sticks in my mind as one of the archetypal images of the entire program.
Except that in the time zone where I was, the lunar liftoff took place around dinnertime. Perhaps the late-night rousting I recall was of the mission-commencing Saturn V launch from Florida instead, which took place well after my bedtime. If that's the case, I have to admit to remembering it not at all.
At any rate I was young enough not to notice the hiatus, the huge gear-grinding downshift, when Apollo ended and the only things happening in American crewed spaceflight for more than eight years were a trio of long(ish)-duration Earth-orbital missions aboard a converted Saturn V third stage, and the brief effort in détente known as Apollo–Soyuz. My media input was mainly from books, and in those books—among them NASA's Apollo Expeditions to the Moon, Ruth Sonneborn's Question and Answer Book of Space, and of course Carl Sagan's masterpiece Cosmos—human spaceflight continued its merry ascent toward the stars, unfettered by political machinations and budget considerations.
Since then, along with biographies on Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Gene Cernan, Gene Kranz, Deke Slayton and others, I have read dozens of books on the Space Race, Apollo, the Moon landings. Some are sublime, like Andrew Chaikin's A Man on the Moon; some are fairly routine, cut-and-dried, and uninspired; some, like Tom Kelly's Moon Lander and Roger Bilstein's Stages to Saturn, are rife with technical detail. Some are just going through the motions, praying to get all their facts correct (and, often as not, failing).
But few, if any, pose a question both simple to ask and complicated to ponder: What did Apollo mean? And for that matter, what does it mean today, decades later?
Andrew Smith chooses to ask those questions. By chance he found himself in proximity to Charlie Duke and his wife as they learned of the death of Duke's fellow Moonwalker, Pete Conrad. Duke's shattered comment to Smith: "Now there's only nine of us."
This sets Smith on a journey to meet all the surviving Moonwalkers and get their impressions of their time on that celestial body. But not to answer the prosaic and frequently asked "What was it like to walk on the Moon?" He delves more into the question of "What was it like to return to Earth after having walked on the Moon?" He focuses on the aftermath of each mission, the paths (some clear-cut and successful, some desultory and haphazard) each astronaut took upon splashdown.
Smith's story of the Space Race and its aftermath is delightfully candid and uniquely personal, and is not only a fun read but also an important contribution to the history. I would even go so far as to say that, if after reading the best book on the Space Race bar none—Chaikin's A Man on the Moon—readers find themselves wanting more, they could do far worse than to turn to this book for further perspective.
Andrew Smith comes to some interesting conclusions about what it all "meant," but it does him no justice to attempt to condense them down to a few paragraphs. Suffice it to say that Moondust takes us on a personal voyage of discovery, clears away the veils of mythology surrounding Apollo, and brings the Moon home to all of us on Earth.
That said, one glaring point Smith makes in conclusion hit home to me.
He discusses the real reason that Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, an outsider (if not radical) idea, was chosen over the Earth Orbit Rendezvous favoured by NASA's top engineers: time. LOR stood a better chance of getting the job done before Kennedy's arbitrary deadline. But EOR's incremental approach was the better way:
Earth Orbit Rendezvous would have taken longer, but would have bequeathed a waypoint in space, prepaid for and pointed out toward the stars. It could have been scaled up or down and adapted to a range of purposes with relatively little bother. It would have involved developing technologies and skills that would endure, so that when the political imperatives that drove Kennedy had gone and the lunar landings ceased, an orbital base camp would have been left behind. The Sixties-end deadline had necessitated a built-in obsolescence that was the quintessence of its time.
For all the Space Race history I've read, I cannot recall having seen this idea expressed so flatly, so concisely, if at all:
Jack's Apollo program killed "manned" Deep-Space exploration, stone dead, for at least the next four decades and probably many more.
It's not a popular notion, that the man we think of as having sent us to the Moon ruined spaceflight for us. Unfortunately, it's true. For the past thirty years we've been launching the Shuttle back and forth to low Earth orbit—and as Smith suggests, the difference between that and a voyage to Deep Space is akin to the difference between climbing a hill and actually flying. The International Space Station, for all its size and arguable science potential, goes nowhere. While the Russians are still flying a 1960s spacecraft aboard a 1950s rocket (both substantially upgraded and modernized, of course), not one bit of our moonshot hardware carried over into the Shuttle era. Apollo really was disposable.
Most people don't realize the cold hard fact that today, in 2010, the human race lacks the technology to return to the moon. What we did forty years ago, we can no longer do. When I tell people that, they're almost always shocked. We've lived so long with that old saw—"We can put a man on the moon, so why can't we do x?"—that it doesn't occur to us that its premise is false. We can't put a man on the moon.
Why? Because JFK wanted to beat the Russians at something, and somebody said we could beat them to the Moon, and so we did. But we did so at the expense of a sustainable space program.
In 2010, the year A. C. Clarke used for our second crewed voyage to Jupiter, forty years after Alan Shepard played golf on the Moon, how sad it is to be twiddling our thumbs in low Earth orbit and heading into yet another gap in U.S. crewed spaceflight capability. Thanks for nothing, Jack.


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Selected Research Results by Date
Research spotlights of selected studies are shown below. For a full list of published NCCIH Research to-date, see PubMed.
Spotlights for 2011
Yoga may improve post-treatment fatigue in breast cancer survivors. (December 2011)
Soy protein supplements containing isoflavones do not significantly reduce the progression of atherosclerosis (build-up of plaque in the arteries) in postmenopausal women, according to a recent study published in the (November 2011)
Yoga and stretching work equally well for low-back pain, and both work better than a self-care book. (October 2011)
Study indicates that vitamin E supplements increase the incidence of prostate cancer in healthy men. (October 2011)
Higher doses of saw palmetto extract are no more effective than placebo at relieving urinary symptoms. (September 2011)
Practicing mindfulness meditation over an 8-week period reduces the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms in women, according to a study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Mi (September 2011)
Actual and simulated acupuncture produces similar results for polycystic ovary syndrome. (August 2011)
Study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil reduce inflammation and anxiety in healthy young adults. (July 2011)
Study Examines the Placebo Response in Patients With Asthma (July 2011)
Comparison of structural and relaxation massage shows that both reduce low-back pain and improve function compared with usual medical care. (July 2011)
Three papers address what the research says about the placebo effect in addition to its future role in health care. (June 2011)
Ancestry may affect how omega-6 fatty acids are processed and used by the body. (May 2011)
People who use complementary health approaches to promote health differ in health status, behaviors, and health care use from those who use them to treat an illness. (May 2011)
A diet high in monounsaturated fatty acids may be associated with less cognitive decline in older women. (May 2011)
Study suggests that practicing tai chi may improve quality of life, mood, and confidence in the ability to exercise in people with chronic heart failure. (April 2011)
Sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy may help children with peanut allergy. (March 2011)
This research was the first to explore the possible antihypertensive effects of ginkgo in a large, long-term, placebo-controlled clinical trial. (March 2011)
Cancer Survivors Are More Likely Than General Population to Use CAM, According to National Survey AnalysisCancer survivors are more likely than members of the general population to turn to complementary and alternative medicine. (March 2011)
Chromium supplement does not affect factors associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. (February 2011)
Mindfulness meditation may increase gray matter in the hippocampus and other brain regions associated with learning, memory, and emotion. (January 2011)
Compared with placebo, cranberry juice cocktail is no better at preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in college-aged women (January 2011)


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A Profile of Tax Judge Arthur L. Nims III
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Every surface is piled with paper. Briefs, draft opinions, government documents, schedules, and reference materials choke the shelves and cabinets, sit slacked on desks and tables. Many of the 46,000 cases filed with the United States Tax Court in 1981 passed through rooms like these. Yet, it is the calm that impresses you first. There is no disorder here, no hurriedness, no clamor. In the Washington, D.C. chambers of Judge Arthur L. Nims III, there is time to think. He wants, above all, to get it right.
"When I first came on the court, I said that I was going to let the chips fall where they may," he says. "I try to stick to that. I'd like to be remembered as having written respectable and sensitive opinions and having decided cases


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Quick Links
Iowa County, Iowa Clerk of Court
A court clerk - in British
English clerk to the court, or in American English clerk of the court - is an
officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a
court. Another duty is to swear in witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors.
Traditionally, the clerk also was the custodian of the court's seal, which is
used to authenticate copies of the court's orders, judgments and other records.
In common law jurisdictions, the existence of the office of a clerk is one of
the typical criteria distinguishing a court of record.
In some jurisdictions, the court clerk is the one who reads the jury's verdict
form to the court. In Virginia, the clerk of circuit court may officiate civil
In courts without a clerk, or if there is no specific officer otherwise
available, the judge may have authority to act as clerk of the court, as
sometimes in a short-staffed probate court.
In the United States federal court system, the Supreme Court and each District
Court, Court of Appeals, and Bankruptcy Court has its own Clerk, appointed by
the judges of the court. The Clerk is the custodian of the court's records and
also has responsibility for collecting fees and other deposits of money made
with the court. No judgment of a U.S. court is effective until it is signed by
the clerk and entered on the clerk's records. The court clerk is not to be
confused with a law clerk, as the former is essentially a secretary for the
court, while the latter is an attorney who assists the judge in making legal
determinations. And in the courts within the City of New York, the Court Clerk
is the highest ranking, non-judicial person in the courtroom. The Court Clerk is
the supervisor of the Court Officers in the Courtroom.
Clerk of Court for information on the following:
Address of office:
Clerk of Court
PO Box 266
Marengo, Iowa 52301


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tech & science
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Op-Ed: Is copyright more trouble than it's worth?
Alexander Baron
May 7, 2012 in
- After a rap artist is left out of pocket over a copyright claim, is it time to look again at a law that has become both unenforceable and a threat to our freedoms?
Rapper Tony Soloman who uses the stage name Dappa Dred, brought an action against a Bristol company that he claimed uploaded a video of one of his songs without his permission. He lost the case, and then lost an appeal at the Court of Appeal in London. As anyone who knows anything about civil litigation will tell you, that will have run up an expensive bill of costs.
The case was reported in the local press, but the Court of Appeal judgment goes into considerably more detail, and being a legal finding of fact, is to be given more weight than a mere press report -
Linda Carty supporters
take note! The 45 paragraph judgment can be found
On the other side of the world, a far more expensive copyright case ended likewise in defeat for the plaintiff when the
High Court of Australia ruled
that the ISP iiNet had not been a party to copyright infringement by its customers who had downloaded things they shouldn't have. The full judgment can be found
, but for us mortals, this
BBC summary report
should suffice.
Although Soloman v Bristol Film Studios Ltd is small beer in comparison, both these cases illustrate the futility of trying to police the Internet for copyright violations. There are though, people for whom the pursuit of the futile - and often the totally innocuous - is profitable indeed, and sinister for the rest of us. One example of this is the recent Dajaz1.com case which led to the US authorities
seizing a domain
for over a year, at the end of which the site was exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Let's be clear about this, there are times when the Internet is used for criminal activity, and that must not be permitted. This can include but is not limited to money laundering - not the ludicrous allegations made against leading
poker websites
by the FBI and DOJ, but stolen funds, fraud, etc, such as those exposed by
Dominic Littlewood
The existing criminal laws are more than sufficient to combat this sort of activity, what we do not need are new Draconian laws -
or anything else - foisted onto the American public, the British public, or anyone else on the specious grounds of
protecting our children
or protecting copyright.
In dismissing Tony Soloman's appeal, Lord Justice Lewison ruled very sensibly at paragraph 17 (citing another case) that: "The cost of the exercise will have been out of all proportion to what has been achieved. The game will not merely not have been worth the candle, it will not have been worth the wick".
For most of us most of the time, cost means money, but it can of course be determined in all manner of other ways, time for example. Wasted time can mean wasted money and much more, this is why people who waste police time can end up not just in court but in prison. While the police are investigating
crimes that never happened
, real crimes are going uninvestigated, and dangerous criminals are left to roam free to hurt or perhaps even kill innocent people.
Sometimes we may want to achieve something but give up on it because the cost is too high. If you want to become a marathon runner but suffer from arthritis or some other complaint, the cost of achieving your goal will be pain and very likely serious injury, so better take up something less demanding. Likewise, the cost of policing copyright is far too great for all of us. The fact is that
who uses the web downloads copyrighted or even pirated material; there is no way to avoid it. How can you possibly check that every video you play on YouTube or every picture you look at does not
to someone else? And what are you supposed to do if you do discover that you have been playing music you have
no right
to play?
The universality of the Internet and copyright infringed and pirated material means that if the authorities are to act against it, they can do so only extremely selectively. And selective prosecution is an abrogation of the rule of law. So what is the solution? The solution is to admit the truth that is staring us all in the face, namely that the title of this article is a rhetorical question.
While no doubt Tony Soloman feels genuinely aggrieved at Bristol Film Studios Ltd, there is equally no doubt that as a YouTube user he will at some point have been guilty of doing what he took umbrage at - him and a billion or two of the rest of us. A law that is unenforceable or at best enforceable only extremely selectively is no law at all, so all copyright and trademark laws should be scrapped, at least as far as the Internet is concerned. This does not mean the abolition of the concept of intellectual property, nor that people should not be recognised as the authors of their own, unique works, of course they should, but the rule should be that once it is on the web, it is fair game for anyone to use. Does this mean no one can make money from their work anymore? Most definitely not, but there is another way they can and should be paid.
The Internet is an enormous producer of wealth, but what it does not produce is money. With two exceptions, every dollar, every cent any of us earns, is paid, is given, wins, or even steals, comes from someone else. These two exceptions are governments and the banks. Governments can and do create their own money - usually they mint it or print it. The rest of the money in existence, around 97% of it, comes from the banks. But banks produce nothing, they offer a book-keeping service, and a storage service (security) and they do other things like insurance (including the
PPI rip off
), but they don't actually produce wealth. They don't grow corn, or can vegetables, or manufacture kitchen utensils.
Because banks don't create wealth but the Internet does, the power to create money should be taken away from the banks and given to the Internet. Exactly how this should be done is a problem for the tech guys, but clearly a real increase in wealth should be accompanied by a real increase in purchasing power. In the old days, when people used to buy CDs - and for those of us who have been on this Earth longer than most, vinyl - we would go into a record shop, make our purchases, and part of that money would go to the record company, part of that to the band or artist concerned, and so on. Nowadays, when you download something, what should happen is the Internet - YouTube, Google or whatever - should create this money that reflects the new wealth that has been created, and give part of it to the record company, the artist, the person who uploaded it, or the publisher - in the case of a newspaper that is read on-line by millions of people.
Copyright is dead! Get over it, and start paying the people who produce the wealth with
newly created, debt-free money
. The solution really is so simple. So why can't anyone else see it?
This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com
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GG's Wood Fired Pizza coming to Milford
Cooking the dream: Italian passion informs Milford eatery
MILFORD -- For a restaurant that hasn't opened yet, GG's Wood Fired Pizza is getting a lot of attention.
It might be the YouTube video of owner George Pastorok and his family building the Mugnaini 160 oven imported from Italy.
It could be the restaurant's Facebook page, which has already drawn more than 221 "likes'' and includes a poll on which craft beers ought to be on tap, or its Twitter account.
But it's probably Pastorok's reputation for good food at reasonable prices, earned over the years at several eateries he's owned, including Georgie's in Shelton and most recently G.P. Cheffields in Newtown.
That high-end steakhouse has been closed for nearly a decade, as Pastorok ran his Southbury insurance agency and spent time with his children. But foodies are looking forward to his latest venture, expected to open in early February.
"This guy really gets it when it comes to his industry,'' New Haven-based food blogger Nick Cretella said. "The Newtown spot was brilliant, and Georgie's had incredible house-made desserts, like ice box cake made from scratch.''
While planning his comeback, Pastorok said he considered and then rejected other concepts, including "a high-end burger joint, like a Shake Shack or Five Guys, with a small bar.''
But a pizzeria brings him full circle.
"I have come back to my roots. Long ago a passion for pizza started with one of my first jobs in 1977, at Papa Franks on Madison Avenue in Bridgeport under the tutelage of Bobby Salito,'' Pastorok said. "My brother Gregory and I have owned all types of restaurants, but pizza and Italian food is what makes us happiest.''
The idea of opening up in a fabled Milford location -- his spot at 591 Boston Post Road had been the Bar-B-Q Restaurant since the 1940s -- doesn't worry Pastorok. Nor does the competition among New Haven-style pizza places, including the Colony Grill, which is scheduled to open downtown on the Green later this year.
"We'll have a Mario Batali trattoria type of feel, with artisanal cheeses and local produce when it's available," Pastorok said. "And our oven is key. Our pizza will be similar to Sally's or Pepe's, but they use coal ovens. We'll use wood, which gets hotter and gives better heat.''
For more information, call 203-876-8000.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 203-330-6326, http://twitter.com/FrankJuliano


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The Washington Capitals were at Madison Square Garden last night for a 3-2 loss to the Rangers, and they'll play again on Wednesday evening. Head coach Bruce Boudreau would rather they didn't have to. He went on the The Kirk McEwen and Mike O'Meara Morning Show on D.C.'s "The Edge" this morning to tell them that the Garden was "horrible." The locker rooms are "horrible." The benches, Boudreau says, are "horrible." Everything is horrible!
We imagine this might be cause for an uproar, or at least for some spirited chants in the Garden come Wednesday, but Boudreau is just being honest. Madison Square Garden will get its much-needed face-lift before the 2011-2012 seasons begin — or, in optimistic New Yorker Barry Petchesky's words, "whenever the Knicks and Rangers are eliminated from the playoffs." Until that happens, we can agree that the old structure is (while historic and beloved and enjoyably outdated and all that) a pretty awful venue. Especially for visiting teams. But that doesn't make it "nothing."
Audio via 105.9 The Edge.


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Federal rules state clearly that wheelchairs may be taken apart during a flight in order to save room. But they also say they'll be put back together. Except when they're not. Then you're kinda screwed.
The Consumerist reports that one United Airlines passenger with a $20,000 power wheelchair had a powerfully rude surprise when he landed in Oklahoma City:
"When I arrived in Oklahoma City, I came out to nothing more than a seat and a set of wheels," the man tells KFOR-TV.
That's quite a lot missing! He was left without any means of moving, and beyond that degradation, had to pay up $1,200 to repair UA's stupidity. And according to the repair shop, this sort of botched job happens pretty frequently. At the very least, United Airlines apologized and offered to pay for the fix. [KFOR.com via Consumerist]


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Earlier today, Duke President Richard Brodhead apologized for his, and Duke's, failure to support the three falsely accused lacrosse players:
"Given the complexities of this case, getting the communication right would never have been easy," Brodhead said. "But the fact is that we did not get it right, causing the families to feel abandoned when they were most in need of support. This was a mistake. I take responsibility for it and I apologize for it."
"Duke needed to be clear that it demanded fair treatment for its students," he said. "I took that completely for granted. If anyone doubted it, then I should have been more explicit, especially as the evidence mounted that the prosecutor was not acting in accordance with the standards of his profession."
Brodhead also said the school could have done more to show that some members of Duke's faculty who were openly critical of the lacrosse team did not speak for the university as a whole.
Paul assessed Brodhead's performance on the issue here.


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jvw54m on Family Tree Circles
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Journals and Posts
Eljah Gould Massachusetts to Indiana
Elijah Gould was one of my great grandfathers on whom I have little information prior to his indenture in Indiana. Elijah was indentured to William Layton of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He was indentured at age four, on February, 15, 1840. I think he may have come from Massachusetts, and be the child of Henry Lawrence and Lydia (Howe) Gould. Two other Gould children were indentured in 1839 in Tippecanoe County to a Stafford and a Layton. Can anyone help? Jack
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BALTIMORE – The UMBC track and field teams travel to New York City one final time this winter, in search of the program's first-ever America East championship, this weekend at the Armory. The 2014 America East Indoor Track and Field Championships commence on Sunday afternoon with the men's heptathlon.
Last season, the women's squad recorded their best-ever finish at the indoor meet, placing second behind meet champion Albany. Retriever head coach David Bobb and his staff were honored with the Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. The men, meanwhile, finished third in Boston, trailing only Albany and Binghamton.
UMBC's men's team enters the weekend ranked No. 13 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and fresh off back-to-back record-breaking weekends of competition at the Armory. The women currently hold the No. 14 ranking in the poll and have had an equally successful winter season.
Senior Andrew Smith (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) won the 800m run last weekend at the Rider/Lafayette Winter Games and leads the conference in the event this season. Smith broke the school record earlier this year at the NYU Team Challenge with a time of 1:51.30 and then lowered it to 1:49.15 at the Penn State Nationals. The senior's top time not only leads the America East, but ranks tied for 24th in the country. Smith will compete in the 800m event, as well as the distance medley relay and the 4x800m relay.
Classmate Jake Albino (Hampton, N.Y./Minisink Valley) has also put together a stellar senior campaign as well, breaking the school mark in the 1,000m run (2:25.48) at the Armory Collegiate Invitational two weeks ago. Albino ranks fourth in the conference in the event and will join Smith on the two relay teams.
After a breakout cross country season in which he earned All-Conference and All-Region honors, sophomore Hassan Omar (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson) continued his stellar form this winter. Omar snapped the school record in both the 3,000m run (8:23.50) and 5,000m run (14:32.71) and travels to New York ranked fifth and second in the respective events.
Senior Cody Mezbish (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) and junior Sarah Daly (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) have been impressive for the women, each surpassing the school mark in the 1,000m this season and qualifying for the ECAC Championships. After Mezebish lowered the time to 2:56.58 at the Penn State Relays, both athletes trimmed it lower with Daly taking control of the lead (2:53.04) and Mezebish (2:53.23) right behind at the Armory Collegiate Invitational. Each will compete in the event this weekend, and then team up for the distance medley relay and 4x800 relay.
In the sprints, junior Mercedes Jackson (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) once again leads the conference after a successful indoor invitational season. The reigning Most Outstanding Female Track Performer, Jackson posted a top 60m time of 7.41 at the Penn State Nationals to pace the America East and tie for 32nd in the nation. In the 200m event, she leads with her time of 24.17 at the Armory Collegiate Invitational.
In the 400m dash, junior Kalane' Abbey (Laurel, Md./Laurel) heads into the weekend with the top entry time (56.92) in the event. Freshman Mercedes Tillman (Waldorf, Md./North Point), last week's America East Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete, holds the fifth-best entry in the 400m (58.03).
Senior Deborah Adelola (Lanham, Md./Bladensburg) and junior Paulette Fogle (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the 500m run, an event in which both will compete this weekend. In addition, both with run the 4x400 relay while Fogle will also run the 60m hurdle event.
School record holder Alisha Beeman (Bridgeport, Conn./Bunnell/Hartford) will compete in the high jump and the pentathlon at the America East meet. Beeman broke the school mark in the high jump by clearing 1.71m (5'7.25") at the Terrapin Invitational and ranks third in the conference.
Junior Thor Serafenas (Olney, Md./Good Counsel/Clemson) bested the field last weekend in the weight throw at the Rider/Lafayette Winter Games, while finishing third in the shot put. Serafenas recorded a season-best in the weight throw (18.47m; 60'7.25") to move up to third in the UMBC record book and second in the conference standings. His top shot put performance of 14.86m (48'9") at the Penn State Nationals ranks seventh.
Sophomore Nneoma Edokobi (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) also earned a victory last weekend, taking the top honor in the shot put, and was named the America East Female Field Performer of the Week on Tuesday. She makes the trip to New York sitting third in the shot put (12.91m; 42'4.25) and fifth in the weight throw (15.26m; 50'0.75").