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Before the 160 expected guests of honor could bite into their burrata arugula canapés and miso-marinated, pistachio-crusted sea bass fillets at the annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in the Beverly Hilton ballroom on Monday, a handful of nominated actors and filmmakers dropped by the press room to talk about their celebrated projects, awards season experiences, people they'd like to work with, and big night fashion plans. There were moments of gratitude, plenty of jokes and even, in the case of Amy Adams, accidental musical accompaniment and spontaneous dancing.
Read on to see the best of what was said behind the scenes:
Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress nominee, Silver Linings Playbook: "Last time was comfort. This year I'm like, 'Suck it up. Wear a corset.' I'm going to go for fashion this time. I saw that, but that's the problem with the Oscars. They're always at the end and you are exhausted from dressing up. Eating normally calms me down. I remember before the Oscars I was wearing that skintight dress and I ate a Philly cheese steak and fries and was like, 'This is definitely going to help.' Which it didn't because I had to double my Spanx."
"It's very calm at my house. Nobody in my family has fully absorbed it. I can talk about other things than myself, which is great. And then the night of the Oscars, everybody just gets wasted and has a blast."
Ben Affleck, director/producer of Best Picture nominee Argo: "The period of time that I've been able to spend talking about the movie and exploring the movie with journalists and audiences has been really satisfying because the script Chris wrote has all these interesting themes [and covers] a very broad spectrum of stuff. I've worked on movies where I've run out of things to say at the junket after 15 seconds."
[On the Best Director snub:] "There are nine amazing movies, any of which could and deserve to win. I don't get into worrying too much about who got what. We got seven nominations including Best Picture. I'm elated, truly genuinely thrilled by that. This is a rich, robust group of filmmakers and I'm just happy to be rubbing elbows with them. I just feel so incredibly honored to be nominated as a producer; to be here at the big party. You know, I've had many, many, many, many years watching from home."
Hugh Jackman, Best Actor nominee, Les Miserables: [Did you ever hesitate about taking on a role that had been done so many times on stage, on TV, in film?] "I was so stalkerish about getting this role. I literally hunted Tom down and auditioned. When I got the call that I got the part, that's when it hit me. It was one of those Be careful what you wish for things because of all of that history. Of course, I downloaded every film that have ever been made and then proceeded to watch none of them. I was part terrified and because I realized I had to make it my own. It is the Hamlet of roles. Then, I went into ignorance is bliss and did it with Tom. But was there pressure? Sure. And because we sang live, every day was like an opening and a closing in the theater all at once."
Jessica Chastain, Best Actress nominee, Zero Dark Thirty: "Most little girls dream about their wedding dresses but I always dreamed about my Oscar dress. "
"A strange thing happens this time of year. It starts to feel like it's a race. Acting is very different than playing tennis. You don't put two people in a room and we match it out. For me, I feel like I've already won. I never want to lose sight of what I feel right now being in this business and being nominated."
Bradley Cooper, Best Actor nominee, Silver Linings Playbook: [Is this role and awards attention a game-changer for you?] "I know I wasn't up here for The Hangover. So maybe. I'm enjoying every minute of this. It's easy for me because I like people. I'm sure the day of I'll be a caretaker calming my mother down. She still doesn't know what to wear. But it's gone so much farther than an awards season because of the response that it's had. Talk about a silver lining to this movie."
Denzel Washington, Best Actor nominee, Flight: [On pilots' reaction to Flight]: "I haven't seen any. They're never on the plane when I get on anymore. No, I haven't had really any. Nothing too negative or too positive."
"[When I won my first Oscar], many many years ago when I was just a wee lad, my daughter drew a picture of Oscar and it said something like, "You my Oscar anyway. Plus, I don't like Kevin Spacey.' I have it. I got it in my room. It's right next to the other ones. That's a very fond memory."
Anne Hathaway, Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominee, Les Miserables: [On choosing a gown for the ceremony] "I need to get on that don't I? It was the Super Bowl. I couldn't think about dresses with all that delicious fried food around?"
"I don't take anything for granted. I have been given extraordinary opportunities and I've fought for extraordinary opportunities. So I don't believe you are ever just there in the golden moment. I think you'll probably always have to remind people that you're there, that you have something to offer, maybe something beyond what they imagine for you."
Jacki Weaver, Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominee, Silver Linings Playbook: "No. I do think that I'm incredibly lucky and never dreamed that after a very contented jobbing actor career for 50 years that suddenly two years ago I'd be embraced so kindly and generously by the American film community. It's a measure of, without pissing in your pockets, how this kind country is. I'm amazed. I still can't believe it's happened to me. I'm 65 and that's lovely [to be honored by the AARP as well as by the Academy]. It's even more fun when schoolboys in the street recognize me."
Naomi Watts, Best Actress nominee, The Inpossible: "It is a great year for Australia. It really does become exciting when you see fellow actors achieving this kind of recognition. You are able to pinch each other and go, 'Look at this. This is really happening. Isn't it incredible?' Having just saw those gold statues and having to line up next to them, I thought, 'Wow, this is a flashback.' It was the first time that it hit home that it's actually happened."
Amy Adams, Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominee, The Master: "This [interview] interrupted my flirting with Christoph Waltz and Bradley Cooper. They're both pretty receptive and open so I say it's going to be a good lunch for me. [Suddenly, strains of Patti Smith overtake the sound system,] They literally just started playing 'Because the night belongs to lovers.' I think maybe this is the theme of my lunch. I'm very excited. I'm always saying, 'I want to try to have fun.' This year, I'm having fun. I don't know if I'm ever going to be back, God willing we'll see, but four times is awesome so I am actually experiencing and enjoying it."
Tim Burton, director/writer/ producer of Best Animated Feature Film, Frankenweenie: [On why his arm is in a sling] "I wish I had an interesting story. But no, I slipped and fell on the streets of London and have a huge metal plate. I go off at airports now, which makes flying extra fun. Part bionic man. Yeah [it's very painful] but I'm not going for the sympathy vote."
Christoph Waltz, Best Actor in a Supporting Role nominee, Django Unchained: [Did you suspect doing another Tarantino project would put you back to the awards limelight?] "If I start to think about nominations or awards before I start the work then that is literally putting the cart before the horse. But I owe Quentin more than I would like to admit."
Sally Field, Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominee, Lincoln: "Mary Todd Lincoln was a colorful personality and a highly emotional being. How did I tap into that? It is hard to say how you really become the character you want to become. I have had some opportunities in my life, not as many as I would like, to play really complicated characters and you don't tap into any one emotion. You try to live in this place, in these other people's shoes, that you create by learning their history and about the era, through the clothes and then the actual immediacy of that day. I just did my work."
Robert De Niro, Best Actor in a Supporting Role nominee, Silver Linings Playbook: [It's been 38 years since your first nomination and now that you 're a legend, how do you feel about your most recent nomination?] "It's still a big deal."
"David is terrific and I wanted to work with him for awhile. Other projects came up that were maybe happening but didn't. This one, as soon as he wanted to do it, I said, 'I'm in.' He did a rewrite and I didn't care because I knew whatever he did would be good based on what he's done, especially The Fighter. It was that simple. I like to work with young actors. I'll never volunteer it, but if they ask me for advice, I'm always very happy to give it. I like to do that."
Helen Hunt, Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominee, The Sessions: "I find that this movie makes for interesting conversations and not for all the obvious naked reasons. It seems to touch people who see it in a way that makes for interesting conversations. There's nobody like [the woman I play] other than daughter who is 8 and radiating that kind of positivity. I have never been around somebody with [such] pure enthusiasm. She is a shining light whether she is talking about sex, her book, or the cancer she survived."
Quvenzhane Wallis, Best Actress nominee, Beasts of the Southern Wild: "I'm happy and excited [to be the youngest best actress nominee in Academy history]. It's something that you never think will happen at your age."
Neil Meron, producer of the 85th Annual Academy Awards: "There is no oversized red button. Seth is Seth and we love him. We welcome his brand."
Craig Zadon, producer of the 85th Annual Academy Awards: "He's one of the few hosts that has been at every production meeting. He's been there every day. As he's writing it, we are part of the process. He's saying, 'Is this good? Is this funny? Not funny?' We aren't going to be surprised by anything. We're working as a team."
Read more:
Barbra Streisand to perform at Oscars


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Farmingdale State - 61, NYU-Poly - 41
Farmingdale, N.Y. - After trailing by one at halftime, Farmingdale State outscored NYU-Poly 40-19 in the second half to earn a 61-41 conference win this evening in Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams improved to 9-7 on the year and 6-1 in Skyline play after winning their fourth straight game.
Farmingdale State held an 18-5 lead with 7:39 remaining in the first half, until the Fighting Blue Jays (2-14, 0-6) used an 11-0 run that featured three straight 3's by Alyssa D'Apice (Carmel, N.Y.) to close within two. After a Charnae Jenkins (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) 3-pointer for the Rams, NYU-Poly closed the half with back-to-back 3's to take a 22-21 advantage into the break.
Tied 26-26 early in the second half, a 21-5 Farmingdale State run quickly put the Rams ahead 47-31 with 8:16 left to play. Farmingdale State held a double-digit lead the remainder of the way to earn the victory.
Junior guard Camille Romero (Queens, N.Y.) scored a game-high 18 points and added four assists, while senior forward Lushanta Savadel (Bellport, N.Y.) scored six points and had 14 rebounds for the Rams.
D'Apice led the way for the Fighting Blue Jays with 14 points and a game-high eight assists.
Farmingdale State next will host Old Westbury in a Skyline Conference game on Thursday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m.

subset: commoncrawl


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Never Forgive, Never Forget
By Kris Stewart
I speak only for myself. But I want it to be very clear – I never want my club, Wimbledon, to play the scum-sucking vermin we politely call "Franchise". Neither do I want any other club to play them. Never. They are not a legitimate football club and they cannot ever be. I have always hoped that they would crash and burn. Go out of business, properly. Have their record expunged. Die (the organisation that is – I am not referring to the people here).
And who knows – they may still. Hugely in debt and still a division lower than the league place they originally stole, they are by no means the least likely club to collapse and they certainly are the least likely to be rescued should it happen.
I believe that Wimbledon fans deserve a lot of the credit for their failures. Having poisoned their project through our fight in 2001/02, we hurt them badly in 02/03, killing off any possibility of Røkke, Gjelsten and their swivel-eyed puppet Koppel making their money back.
We got a lot of help, mind. Many fans of other clubs stayed home instead of going to away games against them – at Selhurst, at the hockey ground and at the Franchisedome. Some even came to see a Wimbledon game instead – that really was beautiful.
The Football Supporters' Federation wouldn't let the vermin's customers' association in. They found it hard arranging friendlies for a while, too. Possibly the most heart-warming moment was Spurs fans giving their club a hard time for a planned game. Spurs fans. We hate Spurs* and Spurs hate us.
Why did these people – no particular friends of Wimbledon FC – go out of their way to stick up for us and to hurt the Franchise? I'd say partly because it was just the right thing to do, and partly because we asked them to. Who is "we"? It was WISA. In May 2002 WISA had around 1,400 members. The specific decision to ask fans to boycott the Franchise was first taken at the historic WISA meeting on 30 May 2002, at Wimbledon Community Centre. Maybe you weren't there. Maybe you weren't a member. Maybe you hadn't even started following the Dons. But WISA was the representative body of Wimbledon fans at the time.
After we'd made that decision, I went on behalf of WISA to the annual meetings of football supporters' organisations and argued hard for them to join the boycott officially and help keep them as pariahs. Having debated it at length, they agreed.
Whatever happens from now on – whether they die as they should, or splutter on, or even do better than that – I think all those who took part in inflicting that damage on them should be immensely proud of their efforts.
Franchise and their customers got so upset with all this that in 2006 they agreed to hand back some trinkets which they had taken with them as they ran off with our league place. In return WISA agreed not to continue with its boycott calls and the FSF followed suit. WISA organised a ballot of Wimbledon fans and those who voted were overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the agreement.
So since the end of 2006, there has not been a formal call from any organisation for anyone to boycott games at their place. What has that meant? Well, more away fans have visited, that's for certain. But personally, I know a good number of people who have refused to go there, despite travelling to the vast majority of their clubs' away games. I also know a fair few people who have not had to worry about it as yet, but are absolutely clear that they never would go.
What about me? Guess what – I'm not going. First, I've simply no desire to. I'm not one for humiliation – and being forced to play them, at their place, is pretty much the ultimate in football humiliation for me.
And it's going to be horrible. I can't even stand watching them on the telly. Watching the Football League Show I have to fast forward through their game. But there, among them? How's it going to feel seeing some of them in Wimbledon shirts? Singing Wimbledon songs? Winkelman standing behind the dugout cheering them on? There's a whole set of hideous images flashing through my head. And I don't want them in front of my eyes.
Second, I'd much rather no-one went there. My ideal would be a completely empty away section. I think that would be the best way of showing that we still regard them as entirely illegitimate. Yes, I know it's not going to happen, and that makes me sad. But it doesn't make me change my mind.
And third, we asked people not to go. Back when there was no chance of our having to worry about going or not. Now it comes to our first time there, I think it would be a pretty poor show for me to go. I can't and won't do that.
As for everyone else – well, you make your own decisions in life and you live with the consequences. On this one, I don't think the consequences are huge whatever each person decides. A Sunday in or out of the shops, a little respect lost or gained, some inconsequential support given or missing, a few quid in or out of our coffers and theirs. I honestly think some who go will be surprised by how rotten it will be. But they'll live – we all will. And then Barnet. A real football match against a real football club. See you there?
*As it goes, I don't really hate Spurs, although I know I am supposed to.


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Millfield Holiday Courses
We offer a wide range of courses during the half-term, Easter and summer holidays, including junior courses for children aged 2-17, academy courses which offer children a higher level of coaching in particular sports, adult courses, and the Easter Revision course for students preparing for GCSE, AS Level and A2 Level exams.
Junior Courses
We have a range of junior courses for children aged 2-17, with a number of specific sports courses on offer, as well as something for those who want to try a mixture of different sports and activities.
Discounts of 10% are offered from total course fees if 2 or more courses per child, or courses for 2 or more siblings are booked at the same time. Please note that these discounts do not apply to daily rates.
Easter Revision
Each Easter, Millfield offer revision courses for students to prepare for examinations at GCSE, AS & A2 Level, with time divided between formal teaching and examination technique.
The course is open to both Millfield and external students, who can choose up to three subjects to study, each consisting of 11 hours.
Click here for our Terms & Conditions.


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In the first half of Season 3 of AMC's The Walking Dead, we witnessed the decline of our chief protagonist, Rick Grimes, into what appeared to be an ever more fleeting grasp on reality.
First it was his rage and his guilt both over his wife's relationship with his friend Shane and his eventual killing of Shane. Then, when Lori died during child birth, Rick slipped over the edge. He began to hear imaginary phone calls from the dead.
But then, for a moment, it appeared his ghosts had abandoned him, that he would pull through. The old Rick emerged from that dark place and came back into the world, ready to bash in some zombie skulls and protect his loved ones.
In the midseason premiere, we find ourselves only moments after where we left off (hanging from a cliff.) Newly reunited brothers, Daryl and Merle Dixon, have been pitted against one another in a fight to the death, hemmed in by walkers and a bloodthirsty crowd.
Rick and Maggie show up guns blazing and the four of them—including Merle—escape in the confusion, leaving a very angry and deranged Governor behind. Andrea is also left behind, though I can't quite ascertain what's keeping her in Woodbury now that she knows the Governor is a cold-blooded maniac.
After the escape the Dixon brothers part ways with the fast-dwindling group; Daryl won't come back to the prison if his brother isn't welcome, and Merle is the furthest thing from welcome. As if his charming personality weren't enough, his savage beating of Glenn and his eager willingness to aid the Governor in his sadism certainly was. Rick seems equally determined to rid himself of Michonne, a character so abysmal at even the most basic communication skills she may as well be from a foreign country with no grasp of the English language.
Safe and sound back at the prison, Rick and co. deliver the bad news: Oscar has been killed; Daryl has departed. The crew is as small as it's ever been. Everyone is downcast. Glenn is traumatized and has no idea how to handle the sexual assault against Maggie. A wedge has grown between them.
They're outgunned, outnumbered, and weary to the bone. Time for reinforcements, suggests Hershel.
The newcomers—Tyreese and his motley crew—are not necessarily trustworthy. While Tyreese and Sasha seem like good upstanding walker-killers, the other two–Ben and Allen—are already cooking up a coup. Little do they know, this makes them extremely expendable. As generic and unsympathetic as they are, I suspect they won't last long, though I hope that Tyreese and Sasha become show regulars.
Rick isn't fond of Hershel's advice and refuses Tyreese and company flat-out. Hershel begins to talk him into the idea when a vision appears: Lori, her face shrouded in shadows, in her wedding dress. She's staring ghoulishly down at the proceedings. Rick begins to mutter "no" over and over again.
Apparently the make-believe phone calls were not the full extent of Rick's mental breakdown. He begins shouting, pacing, waving a gun about. "What do you want from me?" he screams. "I can't help you! Get out!"
The newcomers quickly flee, while the old-timers look on in shock and horror. Hershel, who knew about the phone calls, is worried but helpless.
For my part, I think a healthy dose of sleep is in order for our ex-sheriff. I'm not sure if Rick has slept in days and his mental state could very well be crumbling due to his exhaustion and the overwhelming stress of survival, grief, and constant death.
The baby haunts him as well. It was only moments between his reunion with his youngest child and his vision. His guilt and sorrow haunts him, and the baby is a cruel reminder.
All told, I'm not sure this was the strongest episode for a midseason premiere, though the end was intense. It had a transitional feel to it with Daryl's departure and the lull in action. And so we are left not knowing where the wind is blowing.
Andrea is upset with the Governor but shows no signs of leaving; quite the contrary. Things happened in the episode, but not enough to get the ball rolling.


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Joy to Your World: How to Make Holidays Meaningful
Too much shopping and entertaining, and a never-ending to-do list, can turn December into super-stress season. But these simple strategies will keep your holidays merry and special.
I work so hard to make the holidays perfect, but I never feel like I'm doing enough, and then my tension spreads through the house. What are some ways I can keep that from happening?
There's just no way out. Like it or not, in most families Mom is the one who sets the tone. And the best way to avoid the stress contagion is by heading it off in the first place. "Holidays are for rest and recuperation, not for running around madly, packing in too many activities, and spending too much money," says Tom Hodgkinson, author of The Idle Parent: Why Laid-Back Parents Raise Happier and Healthier Kids (Jeremy Tarcher/Penguin). "Every few days, or at least once a week, take a couple of hours to do something you really enjoy." Escape to your room with a favorite novel, take a long walk, have coffee with a friend. You're not being selfish—you're investing in household peace.
Also be up front about how overwhelmed you are, says Annie Burnside, author of Soul to Soul Parenting (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing), who suggests you have everyone write down the two traditions he or she likes best. From there make a family to-do list, including assigned tasks for each person. "Post it in a central location," says Burnside, "and stick to it." Kids tend to be more cooperative—and cheerful—when they're part of the decision-making process. (And ordering in a pizza during chore time couldn't hurt, either.)
What's a good way to teach my kids there's more to the holidays than getting stuff?
Just like the times when you establish a curfew or give permission to borrow the car, you're the one who sets the parameters. Gifts are a privilege, not a right. So don't let peer pressure from other parents (or your own kids playing the guilt card) tell you different.
Of course you don't want to start an epidemic of disappointment, but not having every wish fulfilled isn't fatal. In fact, getting push-back on the gotta-have-its does children long-term good. "Research has found that attaching happiness to material goods can actually lead to feelings of insecurity," says Craig Kielburger, coauthor of The World Needs Your Kid (Greystone), who suggests volunteering together as a great way to give perspective.
If you have to curtail spending, adds Shelley Carson, PhD, author of Your Creative Brain (Jossey-Bass), explain that while there will be fewer items under the tree, you'll be having just as much fun and together time. Then make good on the promise, even if it's simply scheduling a movie followed by cookies and cocoa, or attending a free event (Google your town's name and "free Christmas events," or check your newspaper).
The holidays haven't been the same since my father passed away, right before Christmas. I need to honor his memory, yet keep things fun for the kids. Any suggestions?
This time of year can intensify the sense of what's missing, says Janet Taylor, MD, a psychiatrist and member of the Family Circle Health Advisory Board, especially if the holiday and the anniversary of an important loss coincide. "Grief can come in waves that are unexpected and draining," she explains. "Instead of blocking feelings, take a deep breath and allow yourself to experience the sadness. It will pass."
As a practical matter you might want to display photos of the person you miss, tell stories about him, light a candle, or make a donation in his name to charity. "Also ask your children how they'd like to remember," says Dr. Taylor. "Even though your rituals may be bittersweet, in the end they'll create important memories." And believe it or not, opening yourselves up to these poignant moments will also help deepen everyone's experience of what is joyful.
Can you believe it? My kids' birthdays are December 29 and 31. What should I do to make sure their days are special?
Some mothers in your situation prepare a nice dinner of favorite foods and a few gifts on the birthday, and plan something more labor-intensive—a party, sleepover, or outing with friends—six months later on the child's half birthday. First ask your kids what works for them and what doesn't. Maybe they don't mind birthday presents wrapped in Santa paper but would feel slighted receiving one big item for both days, even if you spend twice as much money.
Most important, on the actual day, put holiday hoopla aside when you're with your child, says Richard Bromfield, PhD, author of How to Unspoil Your Child Fast (Sourcebooks). "You want to be relaxed and fully attentive," he says. "You can be harried later."
My siblings, in-laws, and elderly parents always expect me to host our Christmas gathering. So if I want my kids to see family, I have to clean, cook, send invites, etc. Every year I think, Why me?
You're designated hostess because you've been doing such a terrific job, and the relatives have gotten used to letting you run the show, says Carson. The answer? Simplify. "Alert them ahead of time that you're scaling back to have more time for appreciating the festivities," she says. Rather than trying to please everyone, focus on what you personally would miss.
Then delegate: Ask each guest to bring a dish to share. If there's someone you're especially close with, see if he or she will come a day early to help clean. Have the kids e-mail, text, or phone the invites. Refuse to feel guilty about your decision to reduce your busyness, advises Carson.
Most of all, stop from time to time to savor the sights and sounds of the season. "We often knock ourselves out to make everything wonderful and end up robbing ourselves of enjoyment," she says. "But the celebration doesn't have to be perfect to be special." In other words, whatever you do will be beautiful.
Avoid Holiday Burnout
Give yourself the gift of managing the extra workload with more grace than grouchiness.
1. In addition to your to-do list, write a not-to-do list, suggests Ann Daly, PhD, author of Clarity: How to Accomplish What Matters Most (Wollemi Pine Press). Note those tasks that don't mean a lot—say, the neighbors' open house. (No need to explain. If pressed, tell them, "We've got something else on the calendar.") Also include basics: Don't overspend, overschedule, or do things solely out of obligation.
2. Watch for warning signs that you're in overdrive, says Carson. "If your heart rate increases, or you feel irritable or impatient, have trouble sleeping, or are indulging in stress eating," she says, "you've got to find ways to slow down." Meaning, delete things on your to-do list that aren't essential to what you truly value.
3. Stop every so often—try on the hour or each time you're alone—to go within and connect with your spirit, whether by meditation, prayer, or thinking about what's good in your life.
4. Be aware of anxious thoughts ("This is too much! I'll never get it all done!") and replace them with positive ones ("I can do this. I'm good at this."). Stress comes from the negative messages your mind churns out. You don't have to let yourself go there.
5. Make rest, good nutrition, and exercise priorities. Think of your energy level as a bank account you don't want to overdraw.
Feel-Good Holiday Traditions
"When dinner's done, it's 'dirty Santa' at our house. Everyone brings a wrapped grab-bag gift. We put them in a pile and take turns either choosing one, or taking away what someone else has already opened. Before long, we're all laughing hysterically. At the end, we swap for what we want, and everybody's happy."
"The last few days before Christmas I visit the stores, but not to shop. Instead, I go because I love the hustle and bustle and the music and energy. I sip a coffee, stroll at my pace, and savor the holiday spirit."
"Each night of Hanukkah we have a different theme. After we say the blessings and light the candles we might play board games, read new books out loud or, if it's the weekend, watch several DVDs. And one night instead of exchanging gifts we all go shopping for a charity like Toys for Tots or the local food bank."
"After the partying is done, I write myself an e-mail about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the season. Then, for next year, I have a heads up on which of my experiments could be repeated and which I should skip."
"Two days before the winter solstice—which will be on December 21 this year—we light a candle in honor of all who sacrificed in the past to make our lives better. The next night we light a second one for those who are currently giving their all. On the solstice day itself we light a third and pray that we may have the opportunity to be of service to others in the year to come."
Welcome Christmas
We asked Motherboard moms what would happen if the Grinch stole their holiday. And they refused to be intimidated.
"We'd go volunteer somewhere."
—Amy C.
"I would be fine, but I don't think anything would make my daughter feel better. She's at a very selfish teenage stage."
—Brooke W.
"Like the Whos down in Whoville, we'd sing praises because it would still be Christmas in our hearts. It'd be tough, but it might also be a great learning experience."
—Kelli W.
"I'd invite the Grinch to spend the day with us. Everybody needs love and a family."
—Lenoare M.
Originally published in the December 2010 issue of Family Circle magazine.


text:
Select a City
Galena, KS
Best Farmers' Markets around Galena, KS
Add an Organization
Allen County Farmers' Market
South West Corner of Iola Square
Iola, KS
Season: Summer Market Hours: May - August, 2019Thursdays, 4:30PM - 7:30PMLocation: The East side of the square Tuesdays, 1pm - 4:30pm Loc...
Read More »
Aurora Downtown Farmers Market
212 North College Avenue
Marionville, MO
Read More »
Aurora Local Winter Farmers Market
Church Street and Park Avenue
Aurora, MO
Season: Winter Market Hours: November, 2019 - April, 2020Wednesdays, 8am - 12pmSaturdays, 7am - 12pm Location: Church Street and Park Avenue
Read More »
Featured Homes For Sale in Galena!
Galena Top Searches
Car Dealers
Hotels and Lodging
Avoca Farmers Market
Corner of Rose & Old Wire Road
Avoca, AR
Mission To provide a quality environment open to the general public to purchase homegrown and homemade items provided by citizens of Avoca, Arkans...
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B2B Farmers Market
730 North Highway 71 B
Anderson, MO
Season: Summer Market Hours:May through OctoberTuesdays: 8 am to 1 pm Location: The square in PinevilleThursdays and Saturday: 8 am to 1 pm Locati...
Read More »
Bartlesville Farmers Market
222 SW Frank Phill. Boulevard
Bartlesville, OK
Mission: - To improve access to locally grown specialty crops & homemade crafts. - To promote the economic well being of area farme...
Read More »
Bella Vista Farmers Market
30 Sugar Creek Center
Bella Vista, AR
Season: Summer Market Hours:Mid-April - Mid-October, 2020Sundays, 9AM - 2PMLocation: Sugar Creek Shopping Center parking lot, 30 Sugar Creek Center
Read More »
Benton County Farmers Market
Dixieland Mall
Rogers, AR
Read More »
Bentonville Farmer's Market
100 Main Street
Bentonville, AR
Mission: The mission of DBI Farmers Market is to improve community access to fresh, locally produced food, support local farmers and businesses an...
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Berryville Farmers' Market
4059 County Road 516
Huntsville, AR
Read More »
C-Street City Market
321 East Commercial Street
Springfield, MO
Read More »
Carthage Farmers Market
North Side of the Historic Carthage Square
Carthage, MO
Season: Summer Market Hours: April 6 - November 30, 2019Saturday and Wednesday, 7AM - 12PM Location: North side of the Historic Carthage Sq...
Read More »
Cedar County Farmers Market
1317 South Highway 32
El Dorado Springs, MO
Season: Summer Market Hours: March 23 - October, 2019Saturdays, 8AM - 12PM Location: CCMH Medical mall
Read More »
Christian County Farmers Market
1530 West Jackson Street
Ozark, MO
Read More »
Claremore Farmers Market
200 S Lynn Riggs Blvd
Claremore, OK
Season: Summer Market Hours: May 2019 - October 2019Saturdays, 7 AM - 11 AM Location: Rogers County Court House, 200 S Lynn Riggs Blvd
Read More »
Coffeyville Farmers Market
401 Hargis Drive
Coffeyville, KS
The Coffeyville Farmers' Market follows the Kansas Department of Agriculture regulations for the sale of retail food. Their objective is to e...
Read More »
Collinsville Tri-Co Farmers Market
Fairgrounds Route 1
Collinsville, OK
Read More »
Dade County Farmers' Market
Route 3
Lockwood, MO
Read More »
Downtown Springdale Farmers Market
106 E Emma Ave
Springdale, AR
The Downtown Springdale Farmers Market is a traditional-style farmers market, providing the community with locally grown and prepared food, crafts,...
Read More »
Eastland Farmers Market
1831 East Saint Louis Street
Springfield, MO
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text:
Aside from some end-of-year tax selling and concerns regarding the fiscal cliff, shares of Apple took a brutal beating towards the end of 2012. The reason – there is a broad belief that the company no longer knows how to innovate. But it's not true. Instead, what has hurt Apple has been the complete opposite.
The company's 6-month refresh cycle and avalanche of products seems to have backfired – allowing rivals such as Google and Samsung to steal market share. Apple's "misdirection" with its disappointing map app didn't help the situation either. For this, CEO Tim Cook offered an apology.
Consequently, Apple now finds itself in an unfamiliar territory – having to prove itself. Aside from whether or not the company still deserves its status as a market darling, investors want to know what's next? Apple has the answer – it's just not saying.
However, for the company to truly move forward as a tech power, Apple should hang-up on the iPhone after one more iteration – presumably the iPhone 6. You might disagree. Granted, the phone is still selling well. However, aside from a different chip and larger screen, the change from the 4S to iPhone 5 was not that significant.
Also, what can Apple add to the iPhone 6 or "5S" that would be appreciably better than the current version? In other words, I don't think the company wants to go down this line – feeling pressured to excite the Street with each new iteration, especially since margins are beginning to decline. Besides, where will it lead – to the iPhone 10? And then what?
Instead, Apple needs to focus on its TV ambitions, which I've said should include the Facebook "like" button. The company should start focusing on ways to dominate the smarthome and the smartcar - perhaps making a bid for a company such as Sirius XM or Pandora. The smartphone market has become too saturated, especially with Research In Motion's resurgence and Amazon's expected entry into the market.
Also, for quite some time, the company has hinted on wearable technology. "It's time" for the iWatch or its iWear line of devices. This is an area in which Google has already shown interest. And for Apple, this will be the answer to that chronic "what's next" question. And the company will finally be able to put to rest that other annoying question – can it still innovate?


text:
Today, Grundig Business Systems (GBS) is a comprehensive-solution provider in the area of dictation and speech recognition. In addition to analogue and digital dictation devices, the company offers software, such as DigtaSoft, GBS's own dictation and speech processing software, and the DigtaSoft Voice speech recognition software, which is also available in an attractive package with a dictation device or dictation microphone. Other services provided by GBS include project management, and individual consultation for challenges such as the transition from analogue to digital dictation. You can also purchase our solutions from our competent specialist trade partners. They will be glad to advise you on the solution that best fits for you concerning document creation.
This mobile first class dictation device can be adjusted according to the user's individual way of working. Thanks to the position sensor it's also best suited for left-handed operation.
The push button microphone is available in a packaged solution with DigtaSoft Pro. It excels through its outstanding ergonomics and the trackpad, which has already proven itself in smartphones.
Super light weight stereo headphones. Ear pads in multiple colours included. Connects to PC's, notebooks and all audio devices with 3,5mm jack
Simply ingenious: This reasonably priced package includes a digital Digta 7 dictation device and a transcription workstation. It is especially suited for beginners and for those new to the digital experience.
This Premium package is designed for transcription stations in digital dictation networks. It includes the Digta Soundbox 830, the DigtaSoft One software, headphones and foot switch.
These headphones are ideally suited for secretaries without mussing the hair. The under-chin band is easy to put on and take off. They are connected with a Grundig connector.
Analogue: long-term availability
You want to continue your accustomed analogue dictation? The analogue dictation devices from the the Stenorette series and their accessories and replacement parts will be available for the foreseeable future. Read more ...
Our dealers
Are you looking for a specialist retailer who offers our dictation and speech recognition solutions in your area? In our retailer overview, you will find a retailing partner in your country. Read more ...
Whether you dictate on the go or at work, in the capacity of attorney, physician, administrative assistant, architect, or technical expert – a dictation device from GBS is suitable for each of these applications and, of course, for many more. This is because GBS develops the dictation device especially for professional use.
Each dictation device from GBS is "made in Germany" – at our factory in Bayreuth – and is therefore of premium quality. That is what our name stands for. Moreover, each dictation device from GBS is remarkable for its high-quality design and technical innovations.
GBS produces both digital and analogue dictation devices. A digital dictation device is especially efficient. It saves you time and money by allowing dictations to be sent quickly over the network or as e-mail attachments and to be effectively distributed, depending on volume, within a typing pool, for instance. Cassettes are no longer required. The dictation processes can be managed more efficiently with a dictation device by including additional information such as file or patient numbers or priority with dictations when they are sent.
The digital dictations are also compatible with speech recognition software and can be encrypted. You can find out about other advantages a dictation device can provide by reading the articles on dictation solutions on our web page.
Would you like to know which dictation device and which dictation software would work best for you? Or do you require a consultation with our project manager for an extensive project in your company or organisation? We would love to help. You can reach us on our hotline at +49 911 4758-4 or send an e-mail to email@example.com. We would be happy to answer any questions you might have about dictation devices, dictation software, speech recognition, and dictation accessories.
Since 1954, we have experienced the pleasure of selling a dictation device well over four million times. You too can profit from our 60 years of experience in the area of professional dictation devices and shape your work processes efficiently and cost-effectively with our dictation solutions. With a dictation device from GBS, you are optimally equipped. Today, GBS is one of the world's leading manufacturers of professional dictation devices and number one in the area of professional dictation in Germany.


text:
Hi all I decided to add staticHTML support in JavaScript. Hopefully this will be supported by the various vendors and should be much more secure than my version since you can have access to the DOM before it's rendered but for now it works via the Element prototype. There were a couple of problems I'd like to discuss, I couldn't find a way of allowing an element to be positioned or alter it's dimensions without affecting elements around it. For example if an evil user where to do document.getElementById('x').staticHTML='I'm overlapping something I shouldn't'; then just via the property there isn't any way I could figure to protect against it. Maybe you could have an staticHTML area which would solve the problem by restricting all modifications to this area. Also I guess styles are useless too since adding directly to the DOM won't allow styles to be rendered, I could add a staticCssText option which could solve the problem. The other problem I had is that any element which has a class, id or name must be modified to make it safe from affecting the rest of the page, you wouldn't want a evil user to assign or modify an existing css class for example. The only way round this I could see was to prefix the staticHTML with a staticHTML appid to prevent it from being able to modify outside of it's zone. Anyway I hope you support it :D Blog post here: http://www.thespanner.co.uk/2011/11/29/statichtml-property/ Demo here: http://www.businessinfo.co.uk/labs/staticHTML/staticHTML.html Cheers GarethReceived on Tuesday, 29 November 2011 09:33:51 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Friday, 17 January 2020 18:09:28 UTC


text:
EMS crews navigate interstate construction
Paramedics forced to find alternate routes
Interstate 540 traffic creeps to a stand still during many hours of the day.
As construction pushes on, an estimated 52,000 drivers will be stalled by lane closures.
Even first responders have to consider alternate routes on Interstate 540 during the construction.
"Are there other routes that you have found that still get you the same response time?" our reporter asked.
"There is, there is. We've made some alternatives routes especially responding to peak times during the day," said Aaron Howell, a paramedic for Fort Smith EMS.
For Fort Smith EMS, their priority is getting to a 911 scene quickly.
The year and a half long construction project has veteran paramedics plotting new routes to take.
Officials say response time hasn't changed, but their choice in roads have.
"If we're running in a construction zone they may not have a whole room to pull off on so -- pull off on the shoulder to get out of our way. So we're trying to divert ourselves around the traffic," said Howell.
First responders said their ambulances are staged throughout the city.
Like other drivers trying to avoid the construction, they depend on routes that run parallel and around Interstate 540.
"The construction, although a minor inconvenience right now, it's going to be a good thing for us and the community, for everybody involved." said Howell.


text:
MGrassman needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 46 designs submitted by 20 freelance designers.
Business Card, Logo and Letter Head
tagline here
Desired Color Scheme:
Anything but pinks
Accepted File Formats:
Adobe Products, vectore prefered
I have a new business that I need a business card, logo and letter head for. I don't want to say what the business is because I don't want the designer to be fixated on that. The design I have in mind is a fun/serious design if that makes any sense or exists. The only things I have that needs to be applied are four letters.
The D & S are primary letters while the WD just need be there.
For instance Delivery Service <small text>WD</small text>
NOTE: We are NOT a delivery service.
D and S are grouped and WD are grouped
Let me see what you can come up with.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
November victors take their oath of office
summit daily news
BRECKENRIDGE – When President Barack Obama is inaugurated to his second term in the Oval Office, the event will be marked by parties and parades.
Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier took her oath to less fanfare.
A few friends and fellow elected officials gathered at the old county courthouse in Breckenridge Tuesday morning to witness the swearing in of Stiegelmeier and fellow Commissioner Thomas Davidson.
"I am humbled and honored to be able to swear both of you in," District Judge Mark Thompson said before giving the oaths. "I think that public service, especially as a truly elected official, is something that is cherished and valued both in our community and our nation."
The new 5th Judicial District Attorney, Bruce Brown, was also sworn in Tuesday morning in an earlier ceremony at the Summit County Justice Center.
All three of the elected officials instated Tuesday began or continued their work the same day.
Stiegelmeier, a Democrat, retained her seat in the Nov. 6 election, beating out Republican challenger Kevin Mastin with 59 percent of the vote.
"I'm excited to move forward here in Summit County," Stiegelmeier told the Summit Daily after the election. "I'm in the middle of a lot of projects currently, and my goals are to continue in the direction of protecting the environment, open space, improve our recreational paths and my biggest passion of protecting our community's water sources."
Brown, who was a Clear Creek County defense attorney for more than 20 years before winning the top prosecutor's job, won the seat over Republican and assistant DA Scott Turner in November.
"My No. 1 priority is to make sure that victims' rights are respected and expanded," Brown told the Summit Daily after the election. "My primary emphasis within the office is to make sure that from the beginning of the case, victims are well-communicated with, to the end of the case, when they're heard."
Brown currently lives in Evergreen. He said he will likely be based out of Georgetown initially, although he sees traveling the district as a key component of the job. Brown said he may look for a second residence in Summit County at some point in the future.
He jumped in to work Tuesday with proceedings relating to a first-degree murder case out of Clear Creek County.
Brown is taking over from Mark Hurlbert, who was term limited after 10 years as the DA in District 5. He is moving on to the prosecutor's office in the 18th Judicial District.
Davidson ran unopposed for his second term as county commissioner in November.
Jessica Smith and Paige Blankenbuehler contributed to the reporting of this story.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


text:
Photo: Syd Kearney / Syd Kearney
We recently shared a list of Houston and Texas restaurants that, according to ratings website UrbanSpoon.com, offer the very best breakfasts in the Lone Star State.
Our readers had a few additions to the website's list of four Houston restaurants – Empire Cafe, Niko Niko's, Tiny Boxwood's Cafe and Black Walnut Cafe.
So, we decided to make our own list, which includes suggestions submitted by our readers. If you have another favorite, let us know in the comment section.
Reader suggestions not included in the slideshow are Balderas Tamale Factory (12139 Jones Rd.) and Buffalo Grille (4080 Bissonnet and 1301 S. Voss).


text:
(Adds MSF intervention)
FREETOWN, March 22 (Reuters) - An outbreak of haemorrhagic fever that has killed 29 people in Guinea may have spread across the border into neighbouring Sierra Leone, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) document and a senior Sierra Leone health official.
Guinean health officials have registered 49 cases of infection in three southeastern towns and the capital Conakry since the outbreak was first reported on Feb. 9.
While the exact type of the fever, which is characterised by bleeding, has yet to be identified, a senior official in Guinea said on Friday preliminary tests had narrowed down the possibilities to Ebola or Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever.
WHO officials, however, suspect Lassa Fever may be behind the outbreak, cases of which have now also been reported in a border region in Sierra Leone, according to minutes of a March 18 teleconference seen by Reuters.
Sierra Leone's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brima Kargbo said authorities were investigating the case of a 14-year-old boy who died in the town of Buedu in the eastern Kailahun District.
The boy had travelled to Guinea to attend the funeral of one of the outbreak's earlier victims.
Kargbo said a medical team had been sent to Buedu to test those who came into contact with the boy before his death.
International medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) announced on Saturday it was reinforcing its team in Guinea. It is also flying in 33 tonnes of medicines and equipment and is setting up isolation units in three towns.
"These structures are essential to prevent the spread of the disease, which is highly contagious," Dr. Esther Sterk, MSF's Tropical Medicine Adviser, said in a statement. "Specialised staff are providing care to patients showing signs of infection"
Ebola and Marburg are lethal diseases caused by similar viruses that are among the most virulent pathogens known to infect humans, the WHO says on its website.
Humans contract Lassa Fever, which is endemic in West Africa, from contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent faeces. The disease can then be transmitted from person to person. (Reporting by Umaru Fofana; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Gareth Jones)


text:
Holiday Shop
Build your summer wardrobe around romantic cotton dresses, eye-catching bikinis and flirty one-pieces from our women's Holiday Shop. From city break must-haves to island getaway essentials, discover supercharged, summer-ready brands including LoveShackFancy, Zimmermann and Missoni Mare. At the top of our list? Off-the-shoulder dresses and raffia bags for dinners on the Amalfi Coast, and printed kaftans for a week in Maldivian paradise.more
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Heidi Klein Snake Print Bikini Bottoms
Offering versatile pairing options, these Heidi Klein bikini bottoms boast a contemporary textured finish and twisted rope tie fastenings at the sides, enhanced by gold-tone embellishments. Rendered in an exotic snakeskin print, they can be easily worn open when lounging ......more
NEW SEASON SS20 Heidi Klein Venice Textured Bikini Bottoms
Turning to a timeless holiday classic, Heidi Klein's Venice bikini bottoms with tie-side detailing is a must-have when preparing for a getaway.Easily adjustable to ensure comfort, the design is accented by gold-tone embellishments, embodying the label's luxurious ethos. Pair with ......more
NEW SEASON SS20 Marysia Palm Springs Lace-Up Bikini Bottoms
Designed in LA, Marysia's printed Palm Springs bikini bottoms spotlight the label's signature scalloped edging – a favourite among fashion editors and celebrities. Offering fuller coverage for a sophisticated addition to holiday edits,try mixing and matching them with the brand's ......more
NEW SEASON SS20 Melissa Odabash Rome Piqué Bikini Bottoms
Effortlessly elegant, the Melissa Odabash Rome bikini bottoms offer timeless nautical style to your swimwear repertoire. Providing medium coverage that flatters the silhouette, the playful bow detailing at the sides serves as a delightfully feminine finish. Perfectly pair with the ......more


text:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With 25 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year, www.GoPSUsports.com will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Top performances from week five of the 2013 season included Sean Lee's 16 tackle effort vs. Denver and Navorro Bowman's 11 tackles against Houston.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 34, Houston 3
Bowman led all players with 11 tackles (nine solo), in a 49ers win.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona 22, Carolina 6
Brown helped the Cardinals gain 250 yards to total offense against the Panthers.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, New York Giants
Philadelphia 36, New York Giants 21
Connor was placed on the reserve/injured list Sept. 12.
Jack Crawford (2008-11), DE, Oakland Raiders
Oakland 27, San Diego 17
Crawford made one solo tackle in a win against the Chargers.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
New Orleans 26, Chicago 18
Gould made his lone field goal attempt (27 yards) and went 1-for-1 on extra points.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City 26, Tennessee 17
Hali had one sack against the Titans to account for his lone tackle in the win.
Jordan Hill (2009-12), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Indianapolis 34, Seattle 28
Hill made his first two career tackles against the Colts, both solo tackles.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12), LB, Minnesota Vikings
Hodges has appeared in one game and logged one tackle in 2013.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Denver 51, Dallas 48
Lee posted a game-high 16 tackles, 11 solo, for his second straight effort with 16 or more tackles, against Denver.
Michael Mauti (2008, 2010-12), LB, Minnesota Vikings
Mauti has appeared in two games and made two tackles in 2013. Matt McGloin (2010-12), QB, Oakland Raiders
Oakland 27, San Diego 17
McGloin dressed as the Raiders' backup quarterback for the second straight week.
Derek Moye (2008-11), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Moye has played in two games and logged one reception, a touchdown catch at Cincinnati, in 2013.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DE, Miami Dolphins
Baltimore 34, Miami 20
Odrick made six stops (five solo), tallied a pass deflection and had one quarterback knockdown against Baltimore.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OL, San Diego Chargers
Oakland 27, San Diego 17
Ohrnberger helped San Diego outgain Oakland, 427-299, in the loss.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
St. Louis 34, Jacksonville 20
Posluszny made seven tackles (six solo) against the Rams and was credited with three pass deflections.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay 22, Detroit 9
In 2013, Quarless has played in all four games and has made four catches for 28 yards.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Royster has appeared in one game for the Redskins in 2013.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore 34, Miami 20
Shipley has seen action is all five games this season.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets 30, Atlanta Falcons 28
Shuler is a member of the Falcons' practice squad.
Devon Still (2009-11), DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati 13, New England 6
Still made one tackle in a win over the Patriots.
Nate Stupar (2008-11), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 34, Houston 3
Stupar made one tackle against the Texans.
Andrew Szczerba (2008-09), TE, Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets 30, Atlanta Falcons 28
Szczerba is on the team's reserved/injured list.
Johnnie Troutman (2009-11), OG, San Diego Chargers
Oakland 27, San Diego 17
Troutman made his second straight start and helped San Diego outgain Oakland, 427-299, in the loss.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04), DE, Miami Dolphins
Baltimore 34, Miami 20
Wake did not play against the Ravens.
Stefan Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Oakland 27, San Diego 17
Wisniewski did not play vs. San Diego.


text: Hello to all of you. My name is Timothy Burris from Las Vegas, Nevada. I do not belong to a re-enactment group yet but I do perform at local faires (I am an entertainer). I am also part of ARMA Las Vegas, studying Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe. This site came to my attention as I became more and more taken by the Gallowglass warriors I kept coming across in my research. I come here in hopes to discover more in this field and find folks of a like mind. Thank you for letting me be a part!


text: We are the UK's fastest growing Electrical Wholesaler! Having only opened in December 2012, YESSS has grown to over 100 branches nationwide. Located in London, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and even the Channel Islands. Over the next five years that number aims to increase to 250 UK branches.Each branch has a helpful knowledgeable team with a combined average experience of over 50...Read More


text:
The state's second awards ceremony for the 10 regional councils will be held next...
The state's second awards ceremony for the 10 regional councils will be held next Wednesday in Albany.
CNBC host Maria Bartiromo will again be the host of the event, to be held at the Egg Theater near the Capitol.
The regional councils, created by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as his top jobs initiative last year, shared $785 million in grants and tax breaks last year through a competitive awards process. The 739 projects from last year are mostly past the contract phase, Cuomo announced in August.
The councils this year are vying for a pot of $762 million in state aid and tax breaks. Five awards of $25 million will be made to the top plans. The councils submitted their top projects for review by the state on Sept. 24, along with a one-year progress report.
Cuomo has been touring the state to visit the projects underway.
Four councils — in central New York, the North Country, Long Island and the Buffalo area — were the top winners last year, with each receiving more than $100 million.
The other six councils received pots of money for their regional projects. The Finger Lakes region, including Rochester, received $68.8 million and the Hudson Valley region got $67 million. The Southern Tier region got $49.4 million.
12.19.12 REDC Awards Invitation


text: The faculty and staff of California State University, Los Angeles are crucial in providing the educational foundation, support services and academic advisement to help students achieve their college degrees and move onto becoming contributing citizens. The university employs more than 2,100 faculty and staff members. Here are resources to help you navigate life as a member of the Cal State LA family.


text:
DGogan needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 57 designs submitted by 18 freelance designers.
Professional eye-catching logo
Vibrant Expressions
Empowering You To Create A Vibrant Life!
Desired Color Scheme:
vibrant energizing colors - no pastels please
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
I need a clean professional logo that denotes energy, empowerment, vitality, vibrant, inspiration, etc. Colorful and eyecatching.
I would like the company name "Vibrant Expressions" included and if possible the tag line "Empowering You To Create a Vibrant Life!".Â
Background info on my busienss: My energy coaching is designed to empower people with tools and resources they can use to create positive change. My goal is to eventually have my clients be independent of me and use me as a resource when needed, not rely on me to create change for them. I use many modalities - Reiki, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) - all of which can be taught and used by anyone at anytime and in any place. I also teach Energy Profiling (TM) and Carol Tuttle's Dressing Your Truth (TM) which are systems designed to discover your dominant energy type and dress in colors, fabrics, jewelry, etc. that support your natural energy vibration.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Alzheimer's Association launches interactive Caregiver Stress Check
According to the Alzheimer's Association 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report, more than 40 percent of the 10 million American unpaid caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high. Additionally, caregivers for someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia are more likely than non-caregivers to report that their health is fair or poor.
This November, during National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month, the Alzheimer's Association is helping to relieve the physical and emotional stress these caregivers experience with the introduction of a new resource – Caregiver Stress Check.
Caregiver Stress Check is a first-of-its-kind, interactive quiz that helps caregivers identify their symptoms of stress and provides them with a tailored list of helpful referrals and resources. Check out the quiz at www.alz.org/stresscheck. Stress check includes simple statements such as:
- Feeling like I have to do it all myself because no one else cares about my family members like I do and feeling that I should be doing more.
- Withdrawal from family, friends and activities that I used to enjoy.
- Worry about the person I care for being safe.
- Anxiety about money and health care expenses.
When caregivers answer "yes" to stress symptoms, they are lead to Alzheimer's Association resources designed to alleviate their specific issues. For example, if the caregiver worries about the safety of the person they care for, they might be directed to MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®, a national program to combat wandering.
"Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease poses special challenges and increasing levels of care that can be taxing on the caregiver's health," says Peter Reed, Ph.D., senior director of programs at the Alzheimer's Association. "Our new Caregiver Stress Check will help caregivers maintain their own health, which is crucial in caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease."
The Alzheimer's Association is also offering two new, best-in-class, programs for caregivers and people with dementia: 1) "Understanding Alzheimer's: An introductory guide" and 2) "Alzheimer's and Safety: A guide to planning and preparation." Aimed at increasing understanding, building skills and empowering people with dementia and those in their circle of care, these leading programs feature essential information on dementia basics, care, home and transportation safety delivered by individuals with dementia, family caregivers, physicians and care experts.
The programs will be offered in DVD format at www.alz.org.
The Alzheimer's Association continues to offer its other various programs and services that help people affected by Alzheimer's at every stage of the disease. In addition to the 77 Alzheimer's Association chapters nationwide, its toll-free helpline (800.272.3900) with translators for 140 languages and informative Web site (www.alz.org) are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Launched in November 2007, the Alzheimer's Association also has a suite of caregiving resources, Alzheimer's Association CareSource, that provide information to ease decision-making, build skills to care for loved ones and keep people living with the disease safe. Alzheimer's Association's CareSource tools include:
- CareFinder – A starting point for caregivers to get guidance and information on all types of dementia care and find out what kind will best fit their needs. CareFinder helps caregivers recognize good care, communicate effectively with providers and plan for care.
- Senior Housing Finder powered by SNAPforSeniors® – The first free, dementia-specific senior housing database.
- Lotsa Helping Hands – A free online calendar to help caregivers and friends/family manage requests and schedules.
- MedicAlert + Safe Return – A program that provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home.
If you have been touched by Alzheimer's or are a caregiver to someone with the disease, there is help. For more information and resources, visit www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
The Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: email@example.com


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On 23 January 2012, IUCN provided expert advice on environment, climate change and EU-OCT cooperation to the leaders of the EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The leaders gathered for their annual OCT Association (OCTA) Ministerial Conference in preparation for the 10th OCT-EU Forum, which will conclude today in Brussels.
The OCTA Ministerial Conference focused on the EU's revision of the 2011 Overseas Association Decision. During the programme, OCT leaders heard presentations from experts, including IUCN, on OCT relations, environment and trade. OCT leaders also shared their own perspectives on future relations with the EU.
The meeting concluded with the leaders agreeing to common positions for talks with the European Commission (EC) and the signing of a Political Declaration. The declaration call on the EU to, among other things, facilitate the participation of OCTs with meetings/seminars amongst OCTs, with the EC and with other relevant partners by informing them about the EU policies and strategies on biodiversity, environment, sustainable marine management, climate change, access to appropriate resources, and assistance in generating knowledge about the OCTs' unique biodiversity, the threats faced due to climate change as well as adaptation to these changes whilst being mindful of the long term objectives of the cooperation with the EC on environment and climate change.
Read the full press release by OCT leaders on the outcomes of the conference and the key points of the Political Declaration here.
For more information on IUCN's contribution to the conference, please contact Dominique Benzaken, IUCN EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories Programme Coordinator.


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Red Cross offers key lessons in crisis communications
The disaster response agency uses an array of traditional and new media channels to deliver news and other messages—and, when necessary, to correct erroneous or outdated information.
Editor's note: This story is taken from Ragan's new distance-learning portal, RaganTraining.com. The site contains more than 200 hours of case studies, video presentations, and interactive course. For membership information, please click here.
Every day, the American Red Cross faces crises big and small that the organization's public relations team responds to with a strategy that relies heavily on social media.
"People always ask me… You must be great at crisis communication because you handle so many disasters," Laura Howe, vice president for public relations for the American Red Cross, said at Ragan's Breakthrough Strategies for Corporate Communicators conference. "I always tell people that for us, a disaster is not a crisis situation. If we can't do PR around disasters, then we might as well not be in this business."
Crisis communication has changed dramatically in the era of social media, which Howe said is today's canary in the coal mine, once used to alert miners to dangerous conditions. When a crisis issue is "about to bubble," organizations will see it on social media first, mainly Twitter, she said.
"It is the first place we go to detect a crisis and also deal with a crisis."
This is excerpted from a Ragan Training video titled "Use social media to curtail a crisis from The Red Cross's Laura Howe."
To detect and respond to such issues, Howe said the Red Cross embraces a social engagement philosophy that emphasizes three things:
1. Empower social communities to execute the organization's mission to prepare for, prevent, and respond to emergencies by providing valuable user-focused news and tools;
2. Grow a network of passionate supporters by listening, engaging, and acting on public conversations to improve services, enhance reputation, and build trust;
3. Strive to make social engagement part of the operational DNA of the Red Cross. All employees and volunteers must know how to advocate for the organization.
Howe said the last point is the "single biggest thing."
"It has been scary for a lot of people, but has also been very, very empowering."
The Red Cross' emphasis on social engagement is so strong that the organization placed its Digital Operations Center in the middle of its Disaster Operations Center in Washington, D.C.
She said this new "social listening center," a gift to the Red Cross from Dell, is the "hub and heart of what we do."
"We can take information that we see from social media and use it to adjust our public messaging, use it to adjust our services and be responsive to the public whether we're in midst of disaster or operational crisis," Howe said. "This is a key part of our plan."
She said the digital center helps the Red Cross more effectively manage data from Twitter, Facebook, blogs, YouTube, and other sites so it can be used by decision makers as they respond to a crisis.
The center is the "physical visualization and manifestation of our social media program," she said.
Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall on the East Coast on Oct. 29, 2012, provided the ultimate test for Howe, her three full-time staffers and the trained volunteers recruited to work with the Digital Operations Center.
In the week before Sandy's landfall, the Red Cross was sharing information on social media informing residents how to prepare for the superstorm. It also saw more than 400,000 downloads in October of its hurricane app, which had been pushed through social media and traditional media, Howe said.
At the height of the storm, the center was processing 27,000 pieces of social data per hour through the command center. In November 2012, it touched 2.5 million pieces of social data mentioning the Red Cross or storm aid.
"We weren't responding to every single post and every single mention, but the ones that were the most urgent, and the ones that took priority for us, we were responding to directly," Howe said.
"We have got to be nimble enough to use that information to adjust our message on the fly, or change services or products" being delivered during a crisis, she said.
With only three full-time staffers, Howe said between 30 and 50 volunteers were deputized to help with the 24/7 effort at the digital center.
She said organizations have many employees who are using social media in their personal lives. During a community or reputational crisis, they should be enlisted to help advocate on behalf of their employer.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Howe said there were many lessons that her organization has acted upon:
- There is an enhanced training program in place to help employees and digital volunteers better interact with the public on social media.
- The organization reached out to its "spontaneous advocates" and recruited them to join the digital volunteer force.
- The Red Cross launched a Facebook group, Red Cross Social Heroes, and provided talking points, answers to frequently asked questions, and other information to advocates who respond to the public in their own voice.
Howe reminded PR professionals that they must prepare for the crush of questions and comments that follow a community or reputational crisis.
"It is amazing how fast things will bubble up on social media, how things will spread and then go viral, and how many people you will need to be responding on behalf of your organization," she said.
Organizations must forecast the questions that will come at them from traditional and social media and deliver answers that are respectful, direct, and accurate, not embellished or defensive, she said.
"We're thinking through, 'Where is the story going tomorrow?'" and working to provide staffers and volunteers the information they need to appropriately respond in today's instantaneous 24/7 news environment, she said.
"The power of these one-on-one interactions can be stunning, if you are willing to put yourself out there," she said.
The Red Cross also uses a blog to correct facts, debunk myths, and share stories, photos, infographics, and other information.
Howe said that three goals of the Red Cross communications department is to be proactive in telling its story, interactive with the public, and reactive in engaging in crises or defending its reputation.
(Image via)
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The UMBC men's lacrosse team opens its 45th season of intercollegiate lacrosse on Saturday, Feb. 18 when the Retrievers host Robert Morris University. This will be the first meeting between UMBC and RMU on the lacrosse field. The opening face-off takes place at 1:00 p.m. at UMBC Stadium. The game is available on V1370, beginning with the pregame show at 12:55 p.m., hosted by Gary Stein. All UMBC home lacrosse games are streamed with several cameras and audio on www.umbcretrievers.tv.
In 2012, head coach Don Zimmerman enters his 19th season at UMBC. Amongst active Division I coaches, he is ninth in total victories (208) and 14th in winning percentage (.615). Ed Stephenson, who spent six years (1995-2000) at UMBC, returns as associate head coach and joins former Retriever Andy Gallagher and Rocco Vicchio on the sidelines.
Twenty-five players and eight starters return from last year's squad. The Retrievers (6-7, 3-2 AEC) had a winning league record and earned a spot in the four-team America East Conference Championships for the eighth consecutive year.
SR A Rob Grimm JR A Scott Jones and JR D Ethan Murphy have been named captains for the 2012 Retrievers. Grimm is UMBC's active scoring leader with 89 points (43-46-89). He needs 11 points to become the 29th player in school history to hit the 100-point plateau.
UMBC is now in its 45th season of varsity men's lacrosse with a record of 333-275 (.548). They are 217-210 (.508) in their 31st year at the Division I level. The Retrievers are 34-12 (.739) at home in the last six seasons.
For the first time in school history, the Robert Morris University men's lacrosse program had former Colonials selected in a Major League Lacrosse (ML) draft as Trevor Moore and Patrick Smith were both chosen in the 2012 MLL Supplemental Draft held in December. Moore, who led the nation in goals per game in 2011, was picked in the 10th round by the Chesapeake Bayhawks, while Smith was taken in the 12th round by the Ohio Machine.
Senior Kiel Matisz and junior Jake Hayes both tallied hat tricks to help fi rst-year mentor Andrew McMinn earn a win in his collegiate head-coaching debut as the Robert Morris men's lacrosse team held off a late Bellarmine charge to claim a 9-8 victory in each squad's 2012 regular-season opener last Saturday afternoon.
Robert Morris earned its first postseason berth in school history in 2011 and also became the
first Division I program since 1997 to lead the nation in scoring offense in back-to-back seasons. The Colonials' victory over Bucknell was also its first over a nationally-ranked opponent in school history.
Senior midfielder Kyle Buchanan is the Colonials' leading returning scorer- he had 20 goals and 16 assists in 2012.
TOP DAWG: In 2009, Head Coach Don Zimmerman earned his third America East Coach of the Year honors in the four years. Zimmerman enters the 2012 season 9th in victories (208) and 14th in winning percentage (61.5%) amongst active Division I coaches. The win over Binghamton on April 10, 2010 was the 200th in the career of UMBC head coach Don Zimmerman. He is now 208-130 in his 26th year as a collegiate mentor. Zimmerman is the 10th active coach to record 200 victories. He coached his 250th game at UMBC vs. Hartford on May 4, 2012.
Zimmerman's Records
Career Record: 208-129 (.617) (26th season)
at UMBC: 135-114 (.542) (19th season)
TEAM CAPTAINS: The UMBC men's lacrosse team has selected senior attackman Rob Grimm (Black River, N.Y./Carthage), junior attackman Scott Jones (Port Coquitlam, B.C./Terry Fox) and junior long-stick midfielder Ethan Murphy (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca East) as its captains for the 2011-12 season.
"We are pleased with the selection of Rob, Scott and Ethan as this year's captains," head coach Don Zimmerman said. "They are outstanding individuals in their own right, and this trio will now have the opportunity to work together as leaders, representing the 2012 Retrievers on and off the playing field."
CONGRATS: Four returning players received their first conference accolades. Junior attackman Scott Jones and junior defender Sam McKelvey earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Sophomore Zach LInkous was named to the league's All-Rookie Team and sophomore Neill Lewnes earned a spot on the conference's All-Academic squad.
Sixty Retrievers have been honored by the America East Conference on all-league teams since 2004.
BEASTS OF AMERICA EAST: UMBC is now 33-9 in eight years of America East competition and 18-3 at UMBC Stadium.
WINNING THE TIGHT ONES: UMBC is now 23-12 in games decided by three goals or less since the beginning of the 2007 season. UMBC had won eight straight overtime decisions from 2007-09 until dropping a Feb. 20, 2010 triple overtime decision to Delaware. UMBC's previous overtime loss was an 11-10 setback at Penn early in the 2006 season. In one-goal decisions, UMBC has now won four in a row (dating back to a 6-5 loss to Princeton in 2009) and 15 of its last 19.
UMBC is now 15-5 in Don Zimmerman's 17 seasons in overtime and in his career, Coach Zimmerman is 17-7 in extra time.
HOME, SWEET HOME: After 14 consecutive winning seasons at UMBC Stadium, the Retrievers were 1-6 at home in 2010. However, UMBC bounced back to go 4-1 last year and is 34-12 (.739) at home since 2006. The Retrievers have currently won four in a row at UMBC Stadium.
FOR OPENERS: Prior to the loss to the Blue Hens last sesaon, UMBC had won its last seven home openers since an 11-4 loss to Navy in 2002. After the setback to Rutgers last week, Coach Zimmerman is now 11-7 in UMBC home openers.
THE HITS JUST KEEP COMING: UMBC's 45 wins over a four-year period (2006-09) is the most in the school's history, surpassing the 42 wins recorded from 1974-1977. For the first time in school history, UMBC won 10 or more games in four consecutive seasons.
Programs With Most Victories, 2006-09
1. Virginia 58
2. Duke 56
3. Cornell 50
4. Syracuse 47
DON'T LOOK BACK: UMBC is now in its 45th season of varsity men's lacrosse with a record of 333-275 (.548). The Retrievers played their 600th intercollegiate match on March 18, 2012 at Maryland. They are 217-210 (.508) in their 31st year at the Division I level, achieving win No. 200 vs. Ohio State on March 21, 2009. Before the win over Towson on April 1, 2008, the last time the program was last over the .500 mark at the Division I level was when at the end of its third season (1983) when the record was 19-18.
POWERFUL POWER PLAY: UMBC has been nationally ranked in man-up percentage in four of the past six years. In 2009, the Retrievers led the country in man-up situations and set a school record by converting on 51.7% (30 of 57) of its opportunities.
Year Man-Up Pct. Year-End National Rank
2009 .517 1st
2007 .464 5th
2006 .417 7th
2005 .444 2nd
2004 .379 10th
Junior attackman Rob Grimm is UMBC's active scoring leader with 89 points (43-46-89). He needs 11 points to become the 29th player in school history to hit the 100-point plateau. Grimm has points in 36 of 41 games played in his career.
Grimm's Five-Point Games
March 31, 2009 2g, 3a vs. Towson
Feb. 19, 2011 1g, 4a at Presbyterian
March 5, 2011 3g, 2a at North Carolina
April 6, 2011 3g, 2a vs. Towson
May 3, 2012 4g, 1a at Hartford
HAT TRICKS: Sophomore Scott Jones posted his second career three-goal game by tallying UMBC's first three of the contest at Maryland. He recorded four goals in the opener at Presbyterian, added five at Albany on April 16 and recorded his fourth of the campaign vs. Vermont. UMBC's had 11 hat tricks in 2011 - others have come from Dave Brown (4g at Presbyterian, 3g vs. Binghamton) Rob Grimm (UNC, Hartford), Scott Hopmann (Presbyterian), Joe Lustgarten (Hartford) and Jamie Kimbles (Albany).
WHAT BROWN CAN DO FOR YOU: Dave Brown posted a six-point game (1 goal, 5 assists) at Albany on April 16. The five assists in a game was tied for sixth in the nation last season and was UMBC's top-assist game since Drew Westervelt had six vs. Vermont on April 21, 2007.
TOUGH STANZA: In its seven losses in 2011, UMBC was outscored, 30-9, in the second quarter. UMBC had scored 13 goals in the second quarter in its first eight games before exploding for six in a 6:50 span of the second stanza vs. Binghamton on April 9.
TOUGHER STANZA: UMBC was outscored, 39-17, in the third quarter last season, including 17-6 in five America East games, plus the semifinal contest at Hartford.
GOOD STANZA: In UMBC's six wins, UMBC has outscored its foes, 19-9, in the fourth quarter. For the season, UMBC has won the fourth period, 36-24, and are a +6 (14-8) in 2011 league play.
REMEMBER THIS ONE?: The Retrievers trailed Quinnpiac, 5-4, after three quarters before rallying to win, 9-7. UMBC's last win when trailing after three quarters occurred in the 2008 America East title game vs. Albany when the Retrievers were behind 12-9 after 45 minutes.


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OCEAN CITY — City
Manager Dennis Dare says that if you receive benefits from the town of Ocean
City, you are going to need to fill out some forms and show some proof, if you
haven't done so already.
As the Mayor and Council
continues to debate how generous the benefits packages should be for newly
hired members of the town's rankings, Dare pointed to a "Health Insurance
Dependent Eligibility Audit" that is currently being conducted by Bolton
Partners in Baltimore to show that the town is actively trying to ensure that
everyone who is covered under the town's medical umbrella should be there.
"It is something that
we've done in the past, and it's kind of a routine housekeeping measure to make
sure that everyone that is on the books is eligible for coverage," said Dare.
"Sometimes a kid graduates from college and should be taken off the list and
isn't, or in other cases, a grandparent covers a grandchild, which shouldn't
happen either under our policy."
In recent weeks, the
council, most notably Councilmen Joe and Jim Hall, have been arguing and
debating the compensation packages (salaries and benefits) that should be
offered to new hires in the town of Ocean City when the 20-month hiring freeze
is lifted.
Both Jim and Joe Hall
argue that the current level of benefits and in some cases, salaries, are much
too generous in Ocean City, and argue that with rising health care premiums, if
nothing is done now, the bottom line is that the resort's bottom line will
"This is something that
is going to break the town if we don't get a handle on this now," said Jim Hall
during a recent council discussion at City Hall.
The town offers three
health coverage plans to its full-time employees, including the Mayor and City
Council, who some have argued are technically part-time workers.
Budget Manager Jennie
Knapp told The Dispatch last week that employees must contribute 10
percent towards their healthcare, which includes, dental, vision, health and
prescription coverage.
A "single" plan from the
town's provider CareFirst ranges in the $6,000 per year range, with "plus
one" (ie, an employee and spouse or
employee and child) is in the $15,000 a year range. For full family coverage, the
cost of the plan, prior to the employee's 10 percent contribution is upwards of
Dare said that he
expects the study to find some ineligible candidates for town health coverage
and noted that he believes the cost of the study will be covered by the initial
savings found in the current study, which he says should conclude in August.
"Remember, if there are
people that aren't supposed to be covered that are, it's going to be an ongoing
savings from year to year for us," said Dare. "Usually, we have an amnesty period
where we give employees the benefit of the doubt and they can remove the
ineligible person from their health plan.
But, if they don't, they could be penalized, meaning they might have to
back pay us for the time they had someone ineligible on their premium."
Dare said the study will
require employees to provide children's birth certificates as well as marriage
licenses to ensure that no employee is keeping an ex-spouse on the plan.
Dare points to the fact
that the city's workforce is aging, and in a decade, there will be a proverbial
changing of the guard in the town's hierarchy. He also noted that salaries
would decline through attrition when the 30-plus year veterans of the town
retire in future years.
"They have earned their
salaries through their dedication and some of them have reached the top end of
their pay grade, and when we backfill their positions, the next person will
naturally be paid less than someone who has been here 30 years," said Dare,
"but if we want to keep bringing good people to work for the town, we need to
stay competitive with what we are offering in a compensation package."
Last week, Human
Resources Director Wayne Evans and Dare presented the first part of a salary
study that showed that Ocean City's salaries were comparable with local,
regional and even state salaries for like jobs.
However, both Jim Hall
and Joe Hall were unsatisfied with the report, saying that they were looking
for "the cost" of the employee and not just what the employee makes per year.
Dare and Evans said that
the second part of the study, which will give an in-depth look on health
benefits, could come in future weeks or it may be contingent on the Bolton
Either way, Mayor Rick
Meehan points to the "sticker shock" that some in the local community have felt
when seeing the five- and six-figure salaries earned by Ocean City's top
ranking officials. He says that it is human nature to think someone gets paid
too much, but noted that times are much different than they were 20 years ago.
"The world has changed
and the cost of an education and the salaries that those high priced educations
are demanding are remarkable now, but we have to be fair and competitive, and I
think the first part of the study showed that we are," Meehan said. "If the
information is presented to you and it doesn't fit your argument, you shouldn't
bash the study. You should look at the argument that you are making. It's like
going into a public hearing with your mind already made up."


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Something remarkable happened Thursday in Estherville.
Over 1,400 Estherville Lincoln Central students were challenged to use their own unique genius to change the world.
It was all a part of the Choose2Matter program led by Angela Maiers, Iowa native, educator and speaker who offered a resounding program of inspiration and empowerment.
After presentations Thursday morning, students met in groups to discuss three questions:
n What matters most to you, and why?
n What breaks your heart about it?
n What are WE going to do about it?
After "heartbreak mapping" sessions by grade level, students discussed topics such as education, the environment/animal rights, health and wellness and social justice/human rights.
Students when worked on action plans on how to resolve problems, followed by a closing assembly.
The concept of empowerment is not new to education. Socrates did it (and was forced to drink hemlock for corrupting Athenian youth). Artists in the Renaissance did it and so did the poets of the Romantic era.
What's significant about empowering students in groups, though, is that they're able to share and build on each other's energy, creating something larger than themselves - a vision, if you will, that's far greater than anything they ever imagined before.
This was an important program, one that will no doubt influence a lot of ELC students for a very long time - some for the rest of their lives.
Empowerment means giving power to others, giving them the tools to change their lives and the lives of others - and just about always, for the better.
It's a way of thinking that's outside the box, above the milling crowd, if you will, offering a unique perspective.
Maybe we should all try thinking that way.
It just might help us solve the world's problems.


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You know how every now and then I like to upload tutorials based on really cool and odd animal species. Today is one of those days where I feel compelled to do so. Today, we will be learning "how to draw an armadillo", step by step. These strange looking creatures are nothing more than unusual. Their name Armadillo is actually Spanish for "little armored one". This species is a close relative to the anteater and sloth. Armadillos live in places like rain forests, grasslands, and even deserts. As far as drawing an armadillo, let's just say you should find this tutorial entertaining and informative. As you tackle this lesson I will be preparing more tuts for you all. Adios people and enjoy.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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LIFE magazine's coverage of the war in Vietnam was unique among American publications not only because the scope and quality of the photojournalism featured in its pages outpaced that of pretty much every other outlet, but because the evolution of the magazine's attitude toward the war — from early, tentative support to a tough-minded (albeit reluctant) skepticism — was played out in such a dramatic, public way as the years passed and the body count mounted.
[See all of LIFE.com's Vietnam War galleries.]
Here, on the 50th anniversary of the military coup that deposed (and led to the assassination of) South Vietnamese President Diem, LIFE.com takes a look back LIFE's war-related covers from the 1960s into the early '70s — magazine covers that help put into context the national dialog that grew to a sustained and sometimes frightening roar during those divisive years.
NOTE: This gallery is best viewed in "full screen" mode; see button at lower right of the gallery frame, above.


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Fishpond Cloudburst Gear Bag
Functional features aside, this has to be the sexiest gear bag to be found. This simply has to be seen in person to get a feel for all of the features such as zip-out waterproof rain cover, boat gunwale hooks and waterproof molded bottom. Features Carry-on sizing for valuable reels and gear Durable 1680 ballistic nylon fabric for rugged durability 10 External pockets 20 interior pockets/pouches Zip-out waterproof cover for 100% coverage Adjustable gunwale hooks integrated into back zippered pocket Padded interior divider system with Velcro� attachments New fishpond waterproof molded bottom Adjustable rod tube straps with Sticky Rubber to secure rod tubes Two side air mesh pockets Signature zip-down fly bench work area with replaceable foam Pliers/tool pocket with nylon cord and tarpaulin lanyard keepers Tippet spool accessory cord Molded rubber carry handle and adjustable padded shoulder strap fishpond molded rubber luggage tag Heavy duty zippers Dimensions 15 x 8 x 11 Free Shipping! Fishpond is the fly-fishing industry's newest and most innovative accessory products company. We're small, but our products are already making more than a few ripples. By rethinking product design from the ground-up, we've created an impressive line up of fly-fishing storage products and accessories that look great, and outperform anything else available on the market. We started with a few simple ideas: design and create a tippet dispenser, develop an innovative cutting tool or clipper, and reshape the fly storage category with the creation of a series of soft-sided cases and chest packs. Our simple ideas turned into very complex design obstacles and challenged some of the best industrial designers in the country, yet we've succeeded with our vision and created a line of revolutionary accessory products that will stand the test of time. Fishpond is all about design and function . We are the first to bring a functional tippet dispenser to the market-one that stores, straightens, cuts and dispenses tippet material directly from most commercially manufactured freshwater tippet spools. Look for our saltwater version in the coming months. Tired of plastic and aluminum fly boxes? We've also created an entirely new product category with our molded nylon and soft-sided fly cases. With ease-of-use in mind, brightly colored jacquard webbing on the spine serves as a hand strap to securely hold the case while on the water. This gives our cases their signature style and unparalleled function. To keep us on the cutting edge, we're redefining the accessory segment with revolutionary products like our patented, ergonomically designed Titanium Clippers with optional integrated retractor that make competitive tools based on the traditional nail clipper obsolete. Our research has told us that fly-fishing enthusiasts want to lighten their load. In response to this trend, fishpond has created two new chest/fanny packs that can complement or replace the traditional fishing vest. Each product has our signature zip-down "fly bench" with a replaceable foam fly page that serves as a convenient fly changing station and work area. At fishpond, we're committed to staying on the leading edge of fly-fishing product design, and we're already hard at work on the next generation of new products to enhance our position as an emerging leader with our dealer-partners and customers. Fishpond is connected to the past and it's timeless traditions, but its focus is on making designs for the fly-fishing enthusiast that will endure the future. We're committed to our dealer-partners and consumers at every level, and want to earn your trust and support by offering quality service, delivery and creativity.
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