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Friday, May 15, 2009
Peoria County Board of Review
As large property owners in Peoria County, we join with other local property
owners in objecting to the very substantial increases the current review
board has placed on area properties. Having been in the Peoria real estate
market for over 40 years, we see no sound justification for the huge
percentage of increases. As evidence of the size of increased valuations,
we have enclosed a schedule that reflects the percentage of increases placed
on several of our properties.
Who to hire and fire is your job, but far too many good citizens and
business owners who invest in this community are at odds with the valuation
placed upon their properties, and "some action" on your part is required to
rectify the current situation we are experiencing. Therefore, we ask that
you take this matter very seriously before we see further deterioration in
the local economy due to unjustified taxation of real estate.
David S. Joseph
This is typical of the dozens of phone calls, letters, emails, etc., not to mention the dozens of people who have appeared before the full board or the Tax/Economic Development Committee over the past year or more.
Last night the full board voted almost unanimously to retain Nancy Horton and Gary Shadid for another 3 years on the tax Board of Review. Committee Chairman Mayer lent his support for their retention, $40,000 a year, part time, as did County Board Chairman O'Neill and a statement from Bill Atkins of the States Attorney's Office, "if it is the arbitrary assignment of values, then we have had an arbitrary Board of Review for about 30 years as these attacks are nothing new".
In my studied opinion, this is hardly a correct statement as complaints show a compelling amount of discrepancies in purchase, sales and believed proven (by the protesters) actual values over the past two years.
The County Administrator was quoted in the JS on May 14, in an article mis- labeled "Board of Review releases proposed changes", corrected the next day in the JS, as the proposed changes came from our administrator working with the B of R., stating in the 5 page document sent to all county board member, that "only township assessors can apply values to individual properties, that each case is decided on its merit regarding equity and fair market value and that a township assessor may be able to correct an assessed value".
One county board member had their personal residence property tax halved by asking for a visit from their township assessor. The same township assessor's assistant told me that the township assessor couldn't help me and that I had to take up what I thought was an unfair assessment, directly to the B. of R.
The administrators letter also said that "questions may be directed to "Democrat" Dave Ryan, the Supervisor of Assessments for the county".
Whatever the problems are, the county must have a system that is fair to all property tax payers knowing that not all people will be satisfied with their assessment.
Note I said a fairer, more easily understood process and perhaps a change in the the way the state regulates the tax assessment of all properties.
I do not believe the nagging questions hovering over property values and property taxes, will go away without some considerable changes wherever the changes need to be made.
8 comments:
Steve J Weibring writes
the comments are mis directed, isn't the problem peoria does not know how to live in their budget, but waste tons of money on worthless things that don't work out because peoria always has to return to ripping off the taxpayer
wreckless spending eventually catches up duh 10 million deficient
why not talk about useless workers of peoria about firing incompentent people instead of taxing more
- Saturday, May 16, 2009 3:26:00 AM
Steve Weibring writes this steve
you know like wasting 640,000 of public money in phyicogical champaign to force the musuem through so the raise taxes to recover 640,000
- Saturday, May 16, 2009 3:32:00 AM
Mike Tucker writes so many of us do not have the millions and millions of dollars diana vespa makes, so take it personally we can't pay more taxes for a bunch of crap we can live without
- Saturday, May 16, 2009 3:34:00 AM
It's amazing. But I know several families, friends, acquaintances as well as friends of friends who are either moving to locals such as Morton or Pekin, or are considering moving out of state or are considering putting their homes up for sale in order to move out of Peoria for locals not yet known.
- Saturday, May 16, 2009 9:00:00 PM
Geno Meints
Mr Widmer I have a question.
If peoria has 10 million deficiet, are their bonds rating with insurance of aa3 (peoria airport) a real rating or an exgagerated.
Ten million seems a awfull big amount to geno
- Sunday, May 17, 2009 12:20:00 PM
- Merle Widmer said...
I can't answer your question about the bond rating for the city as I am only a citizen of the City of Peoria and not on the City Council but the the County Board. You should talk to your City Council representative.
The greater the debt and risk to finance the running of a city and the ability to meet a these debt payments on a timely basis, I believe are the major factors in determing lending risks and bond ratings.
When I sold my business in 1992, my company had a 3A1 D and B rating which was the highest rating for a small business of $10 million sales. As an elected county board official, I have dedicated myself to financial stability.
While the county has suffered in decreased revenues during the recession, we are still in a better financial position than almost and maybe all, public bodies in Peoria City and Peoria County.
I hope to continue to be a strong factor in keeping our positive financial position without putting more tax stress on an already, in my opinion, overtaxed community with a lot more to come from sources beyond my one voice and one vote, control
- Sunday, May 17, 2009 3:01:00 PM
Hundreds of homeowners flow into the Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review office each year. While the strong majority of property owners do not recieve any adjustment on their taxes, I think it is extremely unfair to point any fingers at Supervisor of Assessments Dave Ryan. This man works harder than any Department official, elected or appointed. He is the first one in the office each day and the last to leave. He is at the front counter helping citizens several times a day. Meanwhile, other County officials hide in their offices only until they are called out by County Board members and forced to return calls and/or resolve issues. Our elected officials are paid rediculous salaries each year to mingle in the halls with Courthouse employees and take cigarette breaks multiple times per hour. Not to mention I'm not sure any of them put in 40 hour work weeks. If change is what you seek, look no further in overhauling Department officials, with the exception of Mr. Ryan. There is no room in the budgets to grant more than 3.5% raise this year, yet our own County Administrator recieves a $10,000 a year raise out of fear by our County Board of losing him. The employees who pour out blood, sweat, and tears to keep this County running have an average salary around $35,000. It's about time to dump some of these $90,000 salaries which sit around and conduct personal business all day and give some dollars back to the overworked and underpaid employees of Peoria County Courthouse.
- Monday, May 25, 2009 8:51:00 PM
- Merle Widmer said...
Steve J. Weibring emails me that the comments on this site are not his comments and someone is using his name to make comments on my blog site and others.
I ask Steve to make a commemt on this site to correct statements that were made in his name.
To ananonymous, I have no doubt Dave Ryan is a hard worker.
- Monday, July 20, 2009 11:10:00 AM


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Neil Sang and Mathew Aitkenhead
The approaches discussed in relation to most scenario models relate to some form of simulation, mathematical model or representation in a formal modelling language. The range of computational or technological complexity involved is variable, but in most cases a very high degree of domain knowledge is also required with respect to the system under investigation.
Retaining the necessary skills on a wide range of problems is difficult, and indeed current scientific knowledge is not always sufficient to understand and represent a particular system. For large coupled systems, with a wide range of socio-economic, ecological and bio-physical systems interacting, this may not be feasible. For simpler systems, in specific cases, it may not be necessary. This chapter explores data mining as a pragmatic alternative or complementary approach. It also looks at the role of a spatial data infrastructure in lowering the cost of modelling work.

subset: commoncrawl


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Article: Beat The Bugs Helpful Links That May Help You Combat Annoying Computer Viruses
by Jason Blackston
If you're like most of us, you're sick and tired of dealing with annoying computer viruses
Instead of getting on a soap box, I'm going to list a few helpful links that you may find valuable:
Features an index of antivirus software articles and downloads.
Virus Bulletin at http://www.virusbtn.com/
Independent antivirus advice
The Computer Virus Help Web site, online since 1995, has provided answers to computer virusrelated questions for hundreds of thousands of people.
While it's an unfortunate situation, it's a situation that we all have to deal with. I hope this information helps you Have a great day
About The Author
Free Ebook: "Yahoo GroupsThe Free and Easy Way to promote your business and drive a boat load of traffic to your websites using Yahoo Groups" Your free copy is available at http://www.seeksky.com
This article was posted on March 04, 2004


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Halloween used to be my favourite holiday. It was my one chance to dress up like a beautiful and sparkly (insert over-clichéd childish dream); the one time out of the year I could beg—and eat—all the candy I wanted with no thought of negative consequences. Halloween was almost better than Christmas for me. I truly looked forward to it every year.
Then one year…all of that changed. It was a tradition in our extended family to do our separate trick-or-treating, then head over to the neighborhood Halloween party, and eventually meet up with all our cousins at my grandma's house down the street. My Grandpa would have prepared a pot of beans (why he chose beans I may never know, but man…were they ever good) for everyone to eat, and that was only if we had room leftover after hoarding Grandma's stash intended for the neighbor kids.
This time, though, as my sister and I approached the front door of Grandma's house, something seemed different. Where the door would normally be swung wide open, inviting all to enter, it was unwelcomingly closed. Usually we would be able to hear the raucous laughter of my uncles telling the latest jokes, or my granddad joining in the chaos with his booming, trademark voice—but this year, the lights were off in the house, and all was quiet. Even the jack-o-lanterns, who were glowing with the customary light of candles, seemed to droop and frown. All was not well at Grandma's house.
Nevertheless, we two girls approached the entry, foolishly—as two young girls are wont to be—assuming the best. Never considering foul play. Naïve along with the best of 'em, that's how we were.
Suddenly, as we took our last step to reach and turn the doorknob, we heard a heart-stopping wail.
The pitch was piercing, oscillating between two notes of an interval I never knew existed. It sent shivers through my spine, and I knew it was the last noise I would ever hear, for I would soon be dead—murdered by the boogeyman before I ever got to tell Daniel Wilsford of my true love for him, and that was that.
"Run, Adell!" I screamed, for—though I was the younger sister—I always worried for her presence of mind during frightful situations. If one of us should die, I was the best for the job. {I've always made a very good martyr, you see. It's my gift.}
We ran. Both she and I screamed blood-clotting screams of terror, our eyes squeezed shut, as if it would make the horror disappear (though running with our eyes closed did substantially hinder our progress of escaping immediate danger).
Tripping over our fairy princess shoelaces, we didn't make it far before we collapsed in the grass of Grandma's front yard, damp from our own sweat along with the early-evening dew that was just beginning to form. We panted our pathetic breaths, having skipped out of P.E. often enough to know we were--neither of us--cut out for such exertion. We were doomed.
The pause gave us time to breathe, and during the break we realized the noise of terror emitting from the portico had faded into that of…humour? Humour indeed. Looking back from whence we'd shortly escaped with our lives, we saw the lights had been turned on, the front door opened, and all our long-lost relatives laughing from the entry. Jubilantly. They'd gotten us—the snot-nosed little girls who were always reading books (in Adell's case) and beheading chickens (in my own).
A practical joke had been played, and we were the butts. I'm always the butt.
And who was the major culprit, you ask? Who was to blame for the wail of fright (and "fright" is putting it mildly)?
A battery-operated ghost hanging from the eaves of Grandma's front porch. Of course. She'd unearthed them from the bottom of a bin at Pick 'n Save™ the year before, at the after-Halloween markdown sale for what was no doubt "a steal." It had a sensor—a sensor!—which detected the movement of any innocent passerby, at which signal it would flatly freak people out. This technology was ahead of its time during the mid-90s, and I had never imagined anything so horrifying. I can hear the wails to this day—probably because they are still common decorations among my relatives—and they frighten me…to…this…day.
Strangely enough, however, I've never felt the Halloween fervor since then. I'll buy my own candy, thankyouverymuch.
Happy Halloween, from everyone (all two of us) here at Archives of Our Lives.
Labels: looking back, oh brother what next, this little girl, woe is me


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Brand new ultra-modern complex with a unique design, this center occupies 4 floors of this newly created 14 level development in the heart of Sydney's CBD. This space offers a clean, unadorned interior. Natural material such as wood, teak and linen is prominent. Furniture is very open and raised, allowing for an airy feeling. Corridors are lined with offices with glass partitions, allowing for natural light to bounce throughout the full interior. This workspace incorporates several large windows and outdoor terraces, and views overlooking some of Sydney's most historic landmarks.
George Street is strategically located opposite Sydney's Queen Victoria Building and near the corner of Market Street, one of the busiest corners in the Central Business District. The perfect location for your business. The center is ideally located near the commercial and retail centre of the CBD and within close proximity to QVB bus station, Town Hall train station and commercial car park at the QVB. Retail malls, restaurants, hotels, Darling Harbour and King Street Wharf are within a 5 minute walk.
By submitting your application and subscribing to our services, you agree that we may use your information and accept our conditions as set out in our Communication Terms


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Dedicated to helping our patients achieve the best possible outcomes and get back to the lives they love as quickly and safely as possible, our doctors and staff at Skagit Northwest Orthopedics utilize the SwiftPath Program, the safest and most comprehensive solutions program for outpatient and enhanced joint replacement surgery.
What's involved in SwiftPath?
SwiftPath integrates and coordinates patient education, minimally invasive procedures, modern pain management, and family involvement to improve rehabilitation, decrease the need for hospitalization, reduce postsurgical pain and risk of bleeding, and enhance postsurgical recovery.
Through JointCamps, SwiftPath's comprehensive workshops for patient engagement, patients are empowered to make informed care decisions and go into recovery with the knowledge and support they need to have the best possible outcome.
Patient Guides
All patients receive a patient guide detailing standardized protocols to use during the JointCamp presentation and throughout the care process. The patient guide helps patients decide if a hip or knee replacement is right for them, identify potential areas of risk to the health of their new joint, and learn about their role as a patient.
Patient-Reported Outcomes
SwiftPath also uses a cloud-based platform that allows the patient to document their experience, which their provider accesses to monitor progress. If progress is not as expected, the platform allows the provider to intervene more quickly to avoid further complications, and the reported experiences help future patients and advance outcome-based practices for providers.
Patient Testimonials
"Dr. Stacia Smith was excellent in performing my total right hip surgery. She explained the entire process from start to finish in terms that I could understand. She has a down to earth, direct way which instilled trust. I hurt so bad before surgery that I was amazed how well I felt after surgery. I was up and walking with crutches down the hall and stairs; released home the next day. The entire Swift Path team has been helpful and professional. They were there the entire time through follow-up and helping with suggestions. I was off pain medications within the first week. I did my physical therapy before surgery faithfully and have continued doing so after therapy. I am walking daily with my dog and wife and we are all so pleased with the results. Dr. Stacia Smith is a wonderful surgeon with such professional skills and I feel thankful to have had her as my surgeon."
"Go get a SwiftPath total knee replacement right now and never look back. I went home that day 6 weeks ago and I'm pretty darn recovered right now."


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|Logan, Ohio
|High School:
2017-18: Played all 21 rounds and had the lowest scoring average on the team (76.38) … earned All-OAC honors with a seventh-place finish at the OAC Championships (April 27-29) with a 72-78-78-76-304 … named OAC Golfer of the Week twice … won the Raiders Invitational (Oct. 15-16) after posting a final-round 69, the lowest single-round score on the team … finished tied for third at the Clarke University Fall Classic (Sept. 22-23) with an 81-75-156 … tied for third with a 77-73-150 at the Mars Hill Invitational (Feb. 26-27) … shot in the 70s 17 times and shot 75 or better seven times.
2016-17: Led the team with the lowest average score over the course of the season … averaged a 76.45 over 20 rounds played … shot a 70 at the Warrior Intercollegiate Invitational, which ties the sixth-lowest score in recorded program history … shot a 75 or lower in eight of 20 rounds … finished third on the team and tied for 28th overall at the OAC Championships (79-80-76) … won two of three dual matches played over spring break, both against Anslem College (3/3-4) … was named OAC Male Golfer of the Week on Sept. 7.
2015-16: Finished the year with All-OAC laurels for finishing sixth overall in the OAC Championships with a score of 295 (74-76-73-72) … second on the team with a 76.6 stroke average on the season … finished in first place in the OAC Fall Championships after engaging Otterbein's David Monaco in a three-hole playoff … placed 13th out of 67 participants in his first career match.
Personal: Majoring in business management ... parents are Nancy and Russ Holbrook… attended Logan High School and played golf under coaches Chuck Helser, Keith Myers, and Kirby Seeger… hobbies include fishing and snowboarding… has career aspirations to become the CEO of a company.


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3 bedroom 2 bath home in sagle 159 Mountain Ash
159 Mountain Ash Sagle Idaho 83860
Affordable home in the country! Three bedroom 2 bath single level home on almost a half acre. Features a large living room vaulted ceilings, plenty of cabinets in the kitchen, wood and tile floors and nice upgrades. Fenced yard with mature trees and backs to green belt. Covered deck and carport. In the country but close to town on a county maintained road, community water and no ccrs. $120000
So many listings how can you find the time to do a good job for us
You have so many listings how can you find the time to do a good job for us.
First and foremost, I make sure I have the time to give all my clients and their properties the attention they deserve because it is important to me.
As Benjamin Franklin said, "If you need something done, ask a busy person."
There is an Acrive Rain contest that asks us about some of the negative questions we receive and how we respond to them. ActiveRain Contest – Winning Over the Naysayers If you are an agent be sure to visit this contest and share with us some of your stories.
With the quick sales that we have been having I have been working on getting more listings to start of the buying season. This particular statement I have heard 3 times in the last week, where on earth is that coming from. Two of these decided to list with me and the third is still thinking about it. I currently have 21 listings and I normally like to keep between 40-60 to keep things running smoothly. So how do I find the time to do a good job for my clients.
- I have been doing this for 30 years and am well organized. I have streamlined my tasks so that I can handle a large amount of listings at one time.
- I have a fantastic support crew when I need it I get assistance to make sure nothing falls through the cracks I ask for it.
- I believe in strong communication and I employ programs to keep my clients in the loop every step of the way and every task attended to.
- I am highly energetic and I devote a good amount of that energy to getting my listings sold.
If I was too busy to do a good job I wouldn't be asking for your listing now.
The snowball effect.
I routinely have alot of listings because I am good at selling real estate and I go the extra mile for my clients. The more listings I have, the more advertising I do and the more signs I have on the street. The more signs I have on the street, the more calls I get from buyers. The more buyers I have the more people are exposed to all my listings. The perfect buyer is out there for every house and by getting your home seen by more people will bring that perfect buyer to your door.
Being a real estate agent is more than just a job and a paycheck to me. I love helping people sell their homes and I love helping people find their dream homes. I try to put myself in my clients shoes and treat them like I would want to be treated. I know I would want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person I hired is actually working and working for me. I want that person knowing who I am when I call, keeping my needs in the forefront of their mind, and working towards a successful sale. This is the same thing that each and everyone buying and selling a home needs and wants. My clients are not just numbers, each one is in the middle of one of the biggest life changes they will ever have in their life, and my job is to work hard and make it happen.
If your looking to sell your home in North Idaho give me a call. I would be happy to list and SELL your home!
Dreaming about owning property? Dream BIG! Ten Tips to Owning Property
Dreaming about owning property? Dream BIG!
Ten Tips to Owning Property
Why not? I've always been a believer in dreams. Having them, shooting forand making them come true.
Build foundations under them and dreams CAN come true.
Here are ten tips to BUILD A FOUNDATION to owning property.
1. Make your wishlist.
Go for it! Write down everything about that piece of property that would make you deliriously happy! Don't self-edit.
2.Find a good loan person.
Like any good advisor, this person can steer you in the right direction for your future investment. Make sure it's someone who not only understands numbers, but has great communication skills and can advise you on the necessary steps to get your money in alignment with your dream.
3. Find that right REALTOR® who believes in your dream.
This person needs to "get" you! It might happen right away, or take a bit of time with some ongoing dialogue, but ultimately you want to feel like they know exactly what you are aiming for (sometimes before you even do). With their expertise, they can whittle down that wishlist into what you absolutely can't live without and what you can compromise on.
4. Share that wishlist with your REALTOR®. Let him or her hone in on what's "wish"ful thinking and what's reality. Maybe shoot for a bit of both?
Create a clear vision together. More conversations that you have, the clearer your dream becomes to your REALTOR®. And sometimes it's not just what you need, but what you want. Those intangibles are just as important as making the monthly payment.
5. Focus on it like a mantra. Keep it uppermost in your mind.
Have a visionboard or you can write it down on a piece of paper and put it somewhere that is an hourly/daily reminder of what you are seeking. Write it in a manner that puts it in the present tense.
I am buying a cabin on a lake now!
6. Open up a "Christmas" account.
Remember having to save to buy presents at the end of the year? In college, money was always tight,so I created a Christmas account through my bank and religiously put in money throughout the year. Maybe put a percentage of every paycheck in there. You can even get a big jar and put ALL OF YOUR EXTRA CHANGE IN THERE DAILY. You will be surprised at how it adds up! It is like a Christmas present to yourself.
If you don't, no one else will.
8. Surround yourself with those who believe you CAN do it.
If you are reaching for a star and just can't touch it, there are those who care about you enough to give you a boost UP; that stepstool that gives you that extra heighth to reach that star!
9. Write down a date to aim for.
Even if it comes and goes, you have a target. It takes practice to hit the bullseye. Don't give up if you don't get there in the time alloted. Create a new date. Keep aiming!
10. Get creative in making it happen!
When your REALTOR® presents you with that right property, you might have to S-T-R-E-T-C-H to get it! If you really want it and it feels right, there are usually several ways to get it! It takes thinking outside of the box. Selling stocks, an extra vehicle, writing a contingency, moving money, doing a trade, asking for a private contract, gifting….there are myriads of ways to make that dream happen IF you keep the door of opportunity OPEN and tap into the other foundational aspects that you've put into place prior to this.
Now Get Out There and Dream BIG!
If you are looking for a cabin on a lake, let me help you fulfill your dream!
Rain Silverhawk 208-610-0011


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110 Buffalo StreetGilmer, TX 75644903.843.2552.Fax: 903.843.3508!
Yamboree solicitation – peddlers – vendors permit application
Posted in Yamboree Exhibit/Food Applications
The City of Gilmer adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate.
The tax rate will effectively be raised by 8% and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $31.06.


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Simply put, there is no room for hateful speech or racism. The justices of the United States Supreme Court, whether conservative or liberal, have consistently held that states can prohibit hateful and racist speech when it is meant to incite violence. The court has zero tolerance. Zero. Anti-Semitism in any form falls under these categories.
Anti-Semitism affects Jews directly; historically, it is the leading indicator of future oppression for all minorities.
If the hateful spewings of Linda Sarsour are tolerated, New Yorkers open the door to oppression of Jews, African Americans, the LGBTQ community and any other group that does not practice Sharia law. Linda Sarsour doesn't believe women who are Zionists should have rights. She "would rather take their vaginas away." Her reward for this hateful vitriol? An invitation to be the graduation speaker of the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy on June 1.
Thomas Lopez-Pierre, candidate for NYC Council in Harlem, also spews hate with fraudulent accusations against "greedy Jewish landlords" who, he says, are guilty of "ethnic cleansing" in his district. He screams these lies standing on the streets of New York City, asking voters to support his candidacy and his anti-Semitic, hateful views. What is his reward for this hateful vitriol? He is allowed to continue inciting hate against his opponent—who is Jewish.
In times like these, New Yorkers need a true leader, not a mayor who grants hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to groups that support hate, anti-Semitism and ignorance. De Blasio has remained silent on these issues. Why hasn't he told taxpayer-supported CUNY to rescind Sarsour's invitation? Why hasn't he demanded that Lopez-Pierre be prohibited from running for office? How can de Blasio call himself a Progressive liberal if he actively ignores Sarsour's attacks against the rights of Jewish New Yorkers and women?
New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney got it right when she said, "Couldn't CUNY do better?"
NYC Councilman David Greenfield added, "At a time when anti-Semitism in New York City is up over 200 percent, we should be using our taxpayer-funded institutions to unite our city, not further divide it."
Why haven't others stood up against this hate?
De Blasio's silence is indicative of a man with no backbone. Today he ignores anti-Semitism, hijacking our collective morality. If he becomes emboldened by "getting away with it" today, what might he do tomorrow?


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http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/issue/feed Advances in Social Work 2019-12-17T11:02:37-05:00 Margaret E. Adamek firstname.lastname@example.com Open Journal Systems
Advances in Social Work is a peer-reviewed journal committed to enhancing the linkage among social work practice, research, and education. Accordingly, the journal addresses current issues, challenges, and responses facing social work practice and education. The journal invites discussion and development of innovations in social work practice and their implications for social work research and education. Advances in Social Work seeks to publish empirical, conceptual, and theoretical articles that make substantial contributions to the field in all areas of social work including clinical practice, community organization, social administration, social policy, planning, and program evaluation.
 http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22908 Editorial 2019-12-17T11:02:32-05:00 Margaret E. Adamek email@example.com
Social work is a diverse, growing, and dynamic profession with new areas of practice emerging all of the time. In the Fall 2018 issue of Advances in Social Work we are pleased to present 14 manuscripts--11 empirical, 3 conceptual--written by 38 authors from 13 states across the U.S., representing the East Coast (CT, FL, MA, NY), the Midwest (KY, IL, IN, MN), the West (CA, ID, OR) and the South (LA, MS). Three papers address cutting-edge issues relevant to social work research, five papers present innovations related to teaching, and seven papers present practice-related advancements. A diverse array of topics are addressed including public access to research, social work in libraries, young minority fathers, social work supervision, virtual teaching, resilience of MSW students, perinatal depression, text-based crisis counseling, gun safety, civic engagement, depression education for high schoolers, SBIRT implementation, evidence-based practice, and self-care among social workers. We are privileged to offer the contribution of these scholars and practitioners to advancing the knowledge base of the profession.
 2019-01-04T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Margaret E. Adamek http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22916 Message from the Dean 2019-01-22T11:02:37-05:00 Tamara Sue Davis firstname.lastname@example.com
Message from the Dean
 2019-01-22T09:44:25-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Tamara Sue Davis http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22180 Behind the Wall 2019-12-17T11:02:35-05:00 Kimberly Pendell email@example.com
Despite implicit and explicit expectations that research inform their practice, social workers are unlikely to have access to published research articles. The traditional publishing model does not support public access (i.e., no publisher paywall barrier) to scholarly journals. Newer models of publishing allow free access to research including open access publishing and deposit of scholarship in institutional or disciplinary repositories. This study examined public access to articles in the top 25 social work journals. A random sample of article citations from a total of 1,587 was assessed, with the result that 52% of citations had no full-text access. Of the remaining 48% of citations with full-text access, it is questionable most will remain available long term due to possible copyright violations. Citations from the random sample show only minimal usage of institutional or disciplinary repositories as a means of sharing research. Establishing this baseline measure of access to research is an important first step in understanding the barriers for social workers in accessing research to inform practice. Recommendations for increasing access to research include publishing in open access journals and utilizing full text repositories.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Kimberly Pendell http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22321 From Nuisances to Neighbors 2019-12-17T11:02:33-05:00 Mary A. Provence firstname.lastname@example.com
Public libraries have found themselves, often reluctantly, on the frontline of homelessness. By virtue of being temperature-controlled public spaces with free internet access, libraries provide daytime shelter for thousands of patrons experiencing homelessness. Sometimes considered "problem patrons," persons experiencing homelessness are at times unfairly targeted by library policies. Violations create the potential for police involvement and arrest, and may contribute to the criminalization of homelessness. Simultaneously, a trend is beginning to emerge of libraries providing or co-locating social services for persons experiencing homelessness. As library services expand, schools of social work have the opportunity to lend both their research and practice expertise. Specifically, schools of social work have the opportunity to partner with public libraries to conduct localized needs assessments of persons experiencing homelessness. Needs assessments should include the direct surveying of patrons, including those experiencing homelessness, to make sure resulting recommendations for library programs and services will be inclusive of all patrons.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Mary A. Provence http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22293 Supporting Recruitment and Retention of Young African-American and Hispanic Fathers in Community-Based Parenting Interventions Research 2019-12-17T11:02:34-05:00 Cristina Mogro-Wilson email@example.com Crystal Hayes firstname.lastname@example.com Alysse Melville Loomis email@example.com Aubri Drake email@example.com Melanie Martin-Peele email@example.com Judith Fifield email@example.com
Few studies to date have provided strategies for maintaining low rates of attrition when conducting longitudinal, epidemiological, or community-based research with young, minority, urban fathers. This paper highlights lessons learned from a 5-year randomized controlled trial of a fatherhood intervention that designed and implemented state-of-the-art and culturally relevant recruitment and retention methods with 348 young fathers ages 15 to 25. Qualitative findings are drawn from interviews with fathers who had been enrolled in the fatherhood intervention (n=10). While traditional recruitment and retention methods, such as incentives, were employed in this study, non-traditional methods were used as well, such as intensive community outreach, staff relationship development, recruiting specialists, and flexible contact methods. These methods were found to be helpful to young fathers in the study. Future research should incorporate, and further study, such non-traditional methods for recruiting young, minority, urban fathers into studies of parenting programs, including randomized control trials, to improve services for this underserved population.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Cristina Mogro-Wilson, Crystal Hayes, Alysse Melville Loomis, Aubri Drake, Melanie Martin-Peele, Judith Fifield http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/21556 Introducing BSW Students to Social Work Supervision Prior to Field 2019-03-04T13:31:46-05:00 Amy Killen Fisher email@example.com Chris Simmons email@example.com Susan C. Allen email@example.com
Little empirical information exists about how social work students are prepared to utilize supervision in practice. This study describes an experiential exercise designed to introduce BSW students to social work supervision prior to their field experience. MSW students enrolled in a supervision practice course provided mentored supervision to 42 BSW students in an introductory skills course. The skills course involved a progressive role-play that spanned the whole semester. Mixed methods were used to investigate BSW student perceptions of the exercise. According to survey data, BSW students reported a strong working alliance with MSW students and high satisfaction with the supervision they received. Qualitative data revealed two overarching categories of students: 1) students who reported benefiting from the exercise, and 2) students who reported mixed benefits or no benefits. Students who understood the role of the supervisor were also more likely to reported that they benefited from the exercise. Students who were unclear about the role of the supervisor reported mixed or no benefits of the exercise. Recommendations for social work educators relate to the need for educators to provide information on the use of supervision for BSW students, the necessity for guiding student reflections as part of the supervision exercises, and considering the developmental levels of students when crafting educational interventions.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Amy Killen Fisher, Chris Simmons, Susan C. Allen http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/21619 Innovative Strategies for Building Community Among Faculty Who Teach in Virtual Environments 2019-12-17T11:02:36-05:00 Sara L. Schwartz email@example.com Eugenia L. Weiss firstname.lastname@example.com June L. Wiley firstname.lastname@example.com
A previous qualitative study (Schwartz, Wiley, & Kaplan, 2016) described the faculty experiences and reflections of delivering Master of Social Work (MSW) education via a virtual platform at the University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work during its initial years of operation. Thematic analysis revealed a need for community building amongst geographically diverse faculty. Given social work's emphasis on the person-in-environment perspective, it is imperative to consider the experiences of those individuals responsible for executing virtual technology-supported programs and delivering education via virtual platforms. The current paper describes innovative institutional and programmatic interventions implemented to promote community and collaboration among faculty who teach virtually. Creating strategic opportunities for virtual and ground-based faculty to connect informally and formally has the potential to foster a culture of inclusivity, connection, and a productive community of practice.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Sara L. Schwartz, Eugenia L. Weiss, June L. Wiley http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/21589 What Doesn't Kill You 2019-12-17T11:02:37-05:00 Jacky T. Thomas email@example.com Blake Beecher firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience in a sample (n=139) of Masters of Social Work (MSW) students. Perceived stress, religious faith, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness were also examined as correlates of resilience. Resilience scores for the MSW students were comparable to general population and college student norms, but ACEs and perceived stress scores were higher. Despite a broad literature supporting associations of high ACE scores with varied measures of physical and psychological problems, this study paradoxically showed a positive relationship between higher ACE scores and resilience. Regression analysis indicated a model including age, ACE scores, experiential avoidance, religious faith, and perceived stress explained 39.2% of the variance in resilience scores. Prior adverse childhood experiences and stronger religious faith are associated with increased resilience, while experiential avoidance and perceived stress are associated with lower resilience. This study provides further evidence that many students come to social work education with substantial trauma histories and experience considerable stress during their studies. Results suggest that social work educators should acknowledge risks associated with avoidant coping, and provide learning experiences aimed at developing students' capacities for increased awareness and acceptance of challenging experiences—their own and others.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Jacky T. Thomas, Blake Beecher http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/21640 Perinatal Depression Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Among Graduate Social Work Students 2019-12-17T11:02:35-05:00 Deepika Goyal email@example.com Meekyung Han firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of this study was to identify the proportion of Master of Social Work (MSW) students who received perinatal depression (PD) training as part of their coursework. Additionally, we sought to identify differences in PD knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and openness to further education between students who had received PD training compared to students without PD training. Using a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling, 177 largely female (91.0%), Hispanic (46%), and Caucasian (28.2%) MSW students from five public California universities electronically provided demographic data and completed the Depression in Women's Health Settings scale. Most MSW students reported health/mental health (38%) or children/youth/and families (47.5%) as their field of practice. Twenty-nine MSW students (16.4%) reported receiving PD training, 61% child abuse/neglect training, and 50% domestic violence training. Students with PD training were significantly more knowledgeable and reported having the skills to assess, screen, identify, and care for women with PD symptoms versus students without PD training. Given the well-documented association of PD with child abuse/neglect and domestic violence, early PD screening, identification, and referral information must be incorporated into MSW curricula and continuing education in order to promote maternal-infant well-being outcomes.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Deepika Goyal, Meekyung Han http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/21590 Reaching Young People Through Texting-Based Crisis Counseling 2019-12-17T11:02:36-05:00 Ande Nesmith email@example.com
Texting-based crisis intervention counseling reaches young people who suffer from mental health issues at high rates yet hesitate to seek help. As a new interface, it is neither well-researched nor well-understood. This study examined 49 randomly selected text counseling transcripts and key informant interviews with two counselors to identify unique characteristics of the text counseling process and learn texter reactions to the sessions. Texters presented problems that were similar to those reported in voice-based hotlines. Texters valued the privacy and flexibility of texting that permitted them to receive help immediately rather than delaying. Counselors reported that they must be brief and direct with questions and avoid assigning emphasis to words. The written format required that both parties must be explicit and clear to convey their messages accurately. Both texters and counselors suggested that the texting option might lead young people to seek help that they might otherwise avoid. Recommendations include specialized training on strategies to assess and connect with texters using only the written word and research to develop best practices for texting-based crisis intervention services.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Ande Nesmith http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/21620 Social Work Practice and Gun Safety in the United States 2019-12-17T11:02:36-05:00 Patricia Logan-Greene firstname.lastname@example.com Michelle Sperlich firstname.lastname@example.com Adair Finucane email@example.com
Public policy debate about guns continues in the United States, with many professional organizations taking strong stands in policy statements. Moreover, many clinical organizations have provided recommendations for practitioners to use with clients to encourage gun safety in the home, particularly for vulnerable populations such as families with young children and those at risk of suicide. Social workers are in an excellent position to encourage gun safety with some of the most at-risk populations; however, clinical guidelines and research on preventing gun violence has lagged in social work compared to other disciplines. In this article we examine the importance of gun safety for social work clients (with special attention to families with children, families experiencing violence, and individuals at risk of suicide), consider the recommendations made by other professional organizations, and provide some initial thoughts about how social workers might engage with the families they serve to reduce the incidence of gun violence.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Patricia Logan-Greene, Michelle Sperlich, Adair Finucane http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22414 Engaging MSW Students in Policy Practice 2019-12-17T11:02:33-05:00 Younghee Lim firstname.lastname@example.com Mi-Youn Yang firstname.lastname@example.com Elaine M. Maccio firstname.lastname@example.com Trey Bickham email@example.com
Social policy courses are a staple in social work curricula, particularly in graduate-level social work education. Indeed, policy practice is among the nine social work competencies stipulated by the Council on Social Work Education. The purpose of the present study is to measure the effectiveness of service-learning over traditional-learning methods in obtaining civic and course-learning outcomes. This study utilized a purposive sample of 89 graduate-level social work students enrolled in advanced social policy courses (30 in a service-learning section, and 59 in traditional sections). Employing a quasi-experimental design, this study found that service-learning is associated with better civic and course-learning outcomes. Service-learning may be utilized to enhance policy practice efficacy based on knowledge, skills, values, and competence.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Younghee Lim, Mi-Youn Yang, Elaine M. Maccio, Trey Bickham http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22305 Depression Education As Primary Prevention 2019-12-17T11:02:34-05:00 Michael Kelly firstname.lastname@example.com Heather Freed firstname.lastname@example.com Peggy Kubert email@example.com Sarah Greibler firstname.lastname@example.com
Major depression is a treatable and common mental health disorder for youth. Untreated depression is a major risk factor for youth who become suicidal and die by suicide. Recent focus in the school-based literature on creating universal mental health promotion programs have recognized the need for effective depression awareness education programs to assist youth in identifying symptoms of depression in themselves and their peers, and to encourage those youth to seek trusted adults for help. A quasi-experimental design (QED) was employed in two suburban Chicago high schools (n=652) to evaluate the intervention, Real Teenagers Talking About Adolescent Depression (RTTAAD), a video-based universal classroom discussion intervention created by clinical social workers, parents, and youth. The analysis showed that RTTAAD led to statistically significant changes in adolescent knowledge about depression and their stated willingness to seek help from trusted adults at 6-week follow-up compared to a control classroom condition. This study supports the notion that school social workers and other school mental health professionals need to allocate more time to primary prevention work to help build mental health awareness in their school communities and to help prevent depression and suicidal behavior.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Michael Kelly, Heather Freed, Peggy Kubert, Sarah Greibler http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22333 Student, Faculty, and Field Instructor Approaches to SBIRT Implementation 2019-12-17T11:02:33-05:00 Mohan Vinjamuri email@example.com Lydia P. Ogden email@example.com Jessica M. Kahn email@example.com
Informed by an empirically-based implementation model, this study examined how social work faculty, student, and fieldwork instructor approaches to using the evidence-based SBIRT protocol affected implementation and model fidelity. Data were obtained from two rounds of focus groups with three groups of stakeholders (faculty, students, and fieldwork instructors) about their experiences teaching, learning, using, and supervising SBIRT and were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive process. Analyses yielded three main categories of approaches: those that impeded implementation and model fidelity; those that supported implementation but were not congruent with model fidelity; and those that supported both implementation and model fidelity. Lack of consciousness about model fidelity was an issue across groups. Efforts to find a fit between the protocol, settings, and professional approaches to social work often led to implementation but questionable model fidelity. Repeated exposure to new material and opportunities to engage with it, having specific tools, and supporting learners' efforts to uphold social work values can promote faithful implementation.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Mohan Vinjamuri, Lydia P. Ogden, Jessica M. Kahn http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22075 Exploring How Practicing Social Workers Define Evidence-Based Practice 2019-12-17T11:02:35-05:00 Jill M. Chonody email@example.com Barbra Teater email@example.com
This research note presents findings from a study that sought to garner a better understanding of the way in which practicing social workers defined Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). As part of a larger quantitative study, 137 social work practitioners provided a definition for EBP through an online survey and indicated the extent to which they: consider themselves an evidence-based practitioner; believe practitioners should apply EBP in social work; and were prepared through their social work education to use EBP. Content analysis of the practitioners' definitions of EBP revealed that the majority of respondents described EBP as an intervention or a product versus a process. Regardless of the definition that was provided, descriptive statistics revealed practitioners reported on average that they identified somewhat as an evidence-based practitioner, believed that practitioners should apply EBP in practice moderately to always, and felt only moderately prepared by their social work education for EBP. The findings suggest an opportunity in social work education may exist to further reinforce the process of EBP to delineate it from the evidence-based interventions that may also be taught, especially in clinical programs. Dissemination may also need to occur through mandated continuing education hours, much like ethics has been added as a requirement in some states.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 Jill M. Chonody, Barbra Teater http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/22320 Examining Self-Care Among Individuals Employed in Social Work Capacities 2019-12-17T11:02:33-05:00 J. Jay Miller email@example.com Joann Lianekhammy firstname.lastname@example.com Erlene Grise-Owens email@example.com
Increasingly, the social work profession recognizes the need for more attention to self-care. Concomitantly, this growing awareness and ethical commitment is fostering a burgeoning self-care movement. However, despite recognition about the importance of self-care, there is a paucity of research that explicitly examines self-care practices among social workers. This cross-sectional study examined the self-care practices of individuals employed in social work capacities (n=1,011) in one southeastern state in the United States. Findings suggest that participants in the sample engaged in personal and professional self-care practices only moderately. Further, data suggest significant group differences in the practice of self-care, by relationship status, educational attainment, health status, and current financial situation, respectively. Overall, results indicate self-care as a potential area of improvement for participants in this study, in general, and perhaps for individuals employed in social work contexts, more generally.
 2019-01-02T00:00:00-05:00 Copyright (c) 2019 J. Jay Miller, Joann Lianekhammy, Erlene Grise-Owens


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Meet Po the Snake: He's Addicted to Cigarettes
With habitat loss and climate change threatening ecosystems across the world, animals have enough to worry about, but now it seems some are picking up on our unhealthier habits as well. Sure, we've seen alcoholic monkeys tipping back a few on St. Kitts, and that's bad enough--but they do have hands, after all. That can't be said for Po the snake, who's picked up a nasty habit of his own. Po can't start off his day without his morning cigarette--that is, according to his owner, who smokes a pack a day herself. Does this count as animal cruelty?Po's owner, Sho Lau of Taiwan, said the 3-year-old snake discovered the habit on his own with no coercion--perhaps thinking that it would make him seem 'cool'.
He is very tame and one day when I threw a cigarette butt away he went for it and seemed to enjoy having it in his mouth. One thing led to another and before long he was having one cigarette in the morning and another at night.
According to the report from Metro, Po is grumpy if he doesn't have the chance to light up at least a couple of times a day. Lau added that the snake "gets very agitated if I don't have [a cigarette] to spare."
If not animal cruelty, it's at least a pretty clear case of enabling--and we should hope that Po's owner doesn't have any other nasty addictions to pass on to the reptile. Because if there's one thing the world could do without, it would be junkie snakes.
Then again, there's the possibility that Sho Lau may be playing a bit of a prank on the media, and that Po may actually be a non-smoker. This should be our hope, since after all, everybody knows that yellow fangs are quite unflattering on a snake.
More on Rad Reptiles
Frog Bites Off More Than It Can Chew, Eats Entire Snake
New 'Super Snake' Python Hybrid May be on the Rise in Florida
Tentacles Help Snake See in the Dark (Video)


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About us
Mission & Vision
Live961.com was born out of a frustration with the polarization of news outlets in Lebanon, especially web-based ones. We aim to increase the awareness of readers and news seekers that every story has multiple interpretations. We believe that there is no such thing as ultimate truth; "truth" is what YOU believe is true. As such, we want to provide you with the maximum information to help you construct your own understanding of current events.
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(S01:E02) What is the point of making changes to your website if you have no real way to tell whether it is an improvement or not? Stop guessing. Start measuring.
Subscribe to this podcast using Apple Podcasts, Google Music, Spotify or RSS
In the last post of this series I focused on the importance of business objectives. However there is no point defining business objectives unless we track whether those objectives are being fulfilled. Too many of us act on gut instinct and fail to analyse whether we are actually achieving what we set out to do. When we do decide that some form of measurement is required, we often become caught up in the functionality of the tool we are using rather than what we a trying to measure.
Focus on goals not tools
Be honest. When you last opened Google Analytics did you know what you were looking for? Most of us don't. We might look at page views, unique visitors and dwell time and if the numbers are going up, we are happy. However, what do these figures really tell us? Are they actually that much help?
The number of page views or visitors are really only useful in the early days of your website, when you are trying to build an audience, and even then, it is more a reflection of your marketing skills than the effectiveness of your website. Unfortunately, most of us never move beyond these basic figures to examine the data that really tells us whether we are meeting our business objectives.
Part of the problem is that we let the tool dictate what we measure. We install Google Analytics because that 'tracks stuff' but don't really consider whether it is the right tool for the job, or what we need to know to measure the success of meeting our business objectives.When we do open the app we tend to look at the default information it offers at the top level and use that as our measure of success. Instead, we should be using it to track our real objectives.
Worse still, I often hear website owners say their business objective cannot be tracked. Often this is because they are limited in their thinking to the tools they currently have. It is certainly true that Google Analytics cannot track everything. However with a little lateral thinking and effort to find the right tools, anything can be tracked.
Everything is trackable. Well, almost
It is fair to say that some business objectives are easier to track than others. For example, if your objective is to increase sales by 30% over the next quarter, this is fairly easy to track through the reporting tools on your ecommerce platform. Equally, if you want to increase the number of people who signup to your newsletter it is relatively easy to build or buy a tool that would allow you to track those figures.
However, some objectives are not so easy to track. What if you are looking to improve how your brand is perceived online or increase levels of customer satisfaction? These are much harder to track. Although defining these objectives can still be used as a plumb line for decision making, they do lose their power if they cannot be tracked. So what am I saying? Am I suggesting you should give up attempting to track these kinds of business objectives? Not at all. In fact I believe that with a bit of lateral thinking and a willingness to compromise it is possible to track almost anything.
Let's say you wanted to track the leads generated through your website. Tracking enquiries submitted through a contact us form is easy. However, what about email? What about those that pick up the phone and call you? With a bit of thought even these can be tracked. What about creating an email address that is shown nowhere other than on the website? You can even have a unique telephone number that would allow you to track enquiries from the site. You don't even need to be that advanced. Sometimes it is enough to simply ask people whether they visited the website. It doesn't need to be rocket science.
Another example of these more challenging business objectives is perception. How do you measure whether the website is improving how people perceive your brand? Believe it or not, even something as nebulous as perception is possible to track.
To begin with, there are online web apps that allow you to track mentions of your brand and whether they have a positive or negative context. You could also run design testing to see what words users associate with your website. Both of these approaches would give you an indication of whether changes to your site are improving the way your brand is perceived.
Finally what about something like a museum? One of their aims might be to encourage more people to visit the museum. How can you tell whether new visitors came after seeing the website? One way would be to offer coupon codes, discounts or other offers that can be redeemed at the museum. If you give 20% off the entrance fee if they mention the website, this would allow you to easily track who had come through that route.
Of course, none of these methods are not perfect. They have some obvious holes that could compromise the results you receive. However, I would argue that some data is better than none. Better to track what you can rather than make changes with no way of telling whether they are an improvement or not. Ultimately it comes down to looking for the best tool available and being creative in the way you use it.
Finding the right tool for the job
I am amazed at just how many free tools are available to help track online activity but ultimately you need the ability to do just two things, collect data and display that data in some usable format. That doesn't always require a fancy web app. After all, even a simple spreadsheet can do that. So can pen and paper.
I have already mentioned stats tools, such as Google Analytics, and tools for tracking online brand perceptions. However, this is just the tip of a very big iceberg. There are tools such as Postrank Analytics which track engagement with your website through sites like Twitter, Facebook and Delicious. There are also tools like Feedburner, which track and manages subscriptions to email newsletters and RSS feeds. You also have the option to run polls and surveys on your website for tracking customer satisfaction.
There are even tools, such as Get Satisfaction and User Voice, which allow users to submit improvements they think could be made to your site or products. It is even possible to use usage-analysis services like Click Tales to build up a detailed picture of how users are interacting with your site. Finally, for those with bigger budgets there are numerous Customer Relationship Management systems (CRM) for recording all kinds of data about those users with whom you interact.
However, these kinds of data gathering and reporting tools are not the only weapons in your arsenal. You can also learn a lot about your site's effectiveness through user testing, focus groups and individual interviews. By carrying out these exercises regularly it is easy to build up a range of evidence of whether the changes you are making to the site are working.
Of course, we shouldn't just be measuring our successes. We also need to track where things are going wrong so they can be improved.
Tracking your failures
All websites have weaknesses and it is important that we know exactly what they are in order to do something about them. What is more, websites develop new weaknesses over time. As content is added, structure is changed, and designs are tweaked, we introduce problems into our sites that were not there before. We need a system in place that continually monitors for these failures so that they can be addressed quickly before causing too much damage.
Implementing such a system does not need to be onerous. It simply consists of three simple reviews that should take place on a monthly basis. These are:
- Monthly user testing – If you haven't read Steve Krug's latest book (Rocket Surgery Made Easy) then do so!
- Identifying dropout points – Use Google Analytics to look at where users are leaving your website and ask why they are leaving at that point.
- Analyse search queries – Examine what users are searching for both on referring engines and on the site itself. This gives an excellent insight into their needs.
Editors Note: This article is covered in considerably more depth in Paul's latest book 'Building websites for return on investment'. Buy two copies today… actually make it three ;)
What next?
Business objectives are almost pointless without the ability to track them. However, with a little creative thinking it is possible to track almost everything.
However remember not to be seduced by the tool itself and that tracking your failures are as important as tracking your successes.
With this in mind, what actions should you be taking?
Action 1: Find the right tool
Once you have a list of business objectives the next step is to work out what tool or technique will enable you to track them. For some examples to get you started make sure you read the suggested tracking techniques section.
Action 2: Install Google Analytics
If you are going to track dropout points and search queries you will need to have a web statistics package running. Although there are a lot of solutions out there I would recommend Google Analytics. It is free and there is a lot of help available on how to use it.
Action 3: Arrange monthly user testing
I cannot stress enough the benefits of ongoing usability testing. Arrange a day each month when you can test. Also, read Steve Krug's book Rocket Surgery Made Easy. It will be invaluable.


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Saturday, April 7, 2012
how do you spell...
The little man is very good at spelling. His memory is really amazing because once he's read a word and pronounced it right chances are he can spell it for you without difficulty. I make it a point to test his vocabulary by letting him ask what a certain word means, then make him read the word to tuck away for future use. The other day we were practicing spelling and he was really doing good spelling words like warning and parking without assistance. Until I asked how to spell banana. He tried several times but the poor thing could not do it. He refused my help either. He cried but I told him he will get it next time which he did the next day after we practiced on it. I thought it was funny how he labored over a simple word and I actually laughed when I told the husband about what happened. That was, when we were alone because I don't want my little boy to think I was making fun of him. Quite the opposite, in fact. I am proud of him. He is such a smart kid even if he does test my patience sometimes. I was told though that boys are a handful and he sure is.
Labels: learning, mental development, spelling
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MS Walk + Fun Run
Run: 5th June 2016 (Sunday) 8:50am
Walk: 5th June 2016 (Sunday) 10:25am
Adult: $40
Child: $20 (6-16 Years)
Enjoy a great day out with family and friends and support Australians living with multiple sclerosis by taking part in the MS Walk + Fun Run at Albert Park Lake on June 5th, 2016.
Choose to walk or run 5kms or 10kms. Both the walk and run start and finish at the beautiful Palms Lawn, Albert Park Lake with views of the Melbourne city skyline.
All walking courses across the three states are stroller and wheelchair friendly- and dogs on leashes are welcome!
After the walk or run, enjoy the festivities at the finish line, with plenty of entertainment, food and kids activities.
So Register now and come together so nobody faces MS alone at the MS Walk + Fun Run 2016 – http://www.mswalk.org.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=register.start&eventID=503
Your entry fee pays for the cost of staging the event – things like signage, traffic management and first aid.
All funds raised go directly to providing services and assistance to people with MS. Approximately 4 Australians are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis every working day – that equates to 1000 new diagnosis every year.
This year we're aiming to raise $900,000 for Australians living with multiple sclerosis!
Get up to date information by liking us on Facebook or following us on Instagram:
https://www.facebook.com/MSWalkFunRun/ | https://www.instagram.com/mswalkfunrun/
To find out more feel free to- visit: mswalk.org.au call: 1300 733 690 or e-mail: email@example.com


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Namaste. From its origins over 5,000 years ago, yoga has been used as a practice to gain enlightenment. And although there are now many forms of yoga, one quality still seems consistent: our need to connect with our hearts to something more than just our physical bodies.
In learning to practice the restraints (yamas) and observances (niyamas), postures, breath control, withdrawal of the senses, focus, meditation and integration, we begin to discover a life of vibrant fullness in ourselves and our surroundings. Receiving the benefits of yoga requires a sincere commitment to a daily practice of opening your heart for whatever comes up in the present moment. You become the artist of your life, creating an expression of beauty. -Monica Paredes
"Do not fight the dark, just turn on your light. Let go and breathe into the goodness that you are." -Swami Kripalu
© 2010 Heart Practice Yoga. All rights reserved.


text: Dr. David Sack discusses the increased use of marijuana and its legalization across the country in "Stoned Age: The Real Risks of Getting High" on TeenVogue.com. In the article, David Sack, M.D., CEO of Promises Treatment Centers, explains that there is a link between teens who smoke pot and an increased likelihood of developing schizophrenia. In addition, Dr. Sack says that marijuana can cause panic attacks and racing heartbeats, leading some people to believe they're having a heart attack. Read the full article here.


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justice requires as much toleration of the absurd as aegis for the powerless
— westy (@westyreflector) March 1, 2016
February 29, 2016 at 10:39PM
via IFTTT
justice requires as much toleration of the absurd as aegis for the powerless
— westy (@westyreflector) March 1, 2016
February 29, 2016 at 10:39PM
via IFTTT
Truth over time becomes elusive – and relative – so lawyers ply their trade in the fuzziness of memory. Justice relies on absolute truth, and pursuit of it is mere human invention – absurd and Sisyphean as any other attempt to stanch the entropy of the universe.
Yesterday, after four hours of being probed, prodded, picked apart and piecemealed by opposing counsels, I walked out of my attorney's office thinking of Kurt Vonnegut's observation that "only humankind is running out of time."
I set out walking, just to find a friend,
Make a human connection in a world of pretend,
To share faith in the future, in the face of decay,
'Cos when you can't escape the night, every dawn is the end of days.
The walls get high,
The darkness amplifies,
(And) there goes the sky.
You can understand but it doesn't mean you feel.
The hardest things to show are the easiest to conceal.
Actions can destroy more than words can heal.
God save us all when all the truths are revealed.
The walls get high.
The darkness amplifies.
(And) there goes the sky.
Posted in sounds, sunrise highway, tracks
Tagged icantbreathenojoke, justice, peace, pop, rock, sunrise highway (album), there goes the sky
So this is awesome. Producer and musician Lee Rosevere asked if he could "bash and crash" over Drifting Moon / Spinning Earth, so I stripped the original drum and percussion tracks and sent him a pre-master studio file. From 3000 miles away, he came back with the glorious result above.
From his SoundCloud description:
Westy Reflector recently posted this song of his:
I really liked it, but wondered what it would sound like with [different] drums. Graciously he sent me the bed tracks and this is the result.
Lee Rosevere
Happy Puppy Records
Free Music Archive
Posted in aired|reviewed|remixed, particle theory, sounds, tracks
Tagged creative commons, drifting moon / spinning earth, equal rights, justice, Lee Rosevere, nyc, particle theory, peace


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Moab Day 4: Sovereign Trail
Singletrack is hard to find in Moab. This place is big. And so are most of the vehicles that people use to enjoy the terrain. Consequently, most of the trails, with the exception of Slickrock, are at least two-track (wide enough for an ATV).
We geared-up and headed north out of town on route 191. 20 miles seemed like a long slog on the pavement, but good lord, it's better than loading-up all of the bikes on a truck to get there.
But the things that stand out about Sovereign are the goat-path switchback ascents and descents. These sections hug the terrain and sometimes require the rider to dismount to navigate the 180. And steep! At one point we are no more than 500 feet from our destination as the crow flies, yet it takes half a mile to get there. It's easy to imagine a cowboy, low in the saddle, picking his way down at sunset on his sure-footed horse.
There are sections that we don't get to ride today, mainly due to the midday heat. So, unlike the cowboy would have been able to do, we actually ride into town and have ice cream in our gear.
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February 2016


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Following the VW emissions scandal that broke in 2015, MEPs have been told EU authorities did not act on reports US authorities were fining vehicle manufacturers for using emissions cheat devices as far back as 1998.
At the first hearing of the European Parliament's emissions test scandal inquiry, the European Commission also admitted the legal framework in place was not sufficient for catching illegal devices or prosecuting the perpetrators.
The hearing comes amidst yet more news of motoring manufacturer malfeasance, with today's revelations Mitsubishi falsified fuel economy data for more than 600,000 vehicles sold in Japan - tyre pressure figures were falsified by employees to flatter mileage rates.
Seb Dance MEP, Socialists and Democrats Group spokesperson on the emissions committee, said:
"It's incredible that authorities knew about these devices as far back as 1998. It has taken 17 years and one monumental scandal for any action to be taken, or even alarm bells to start ringing.
"The Commission knew the legal framework in place was insufficient to root out these cheat devices and prosecute the perpetrators., but for too long, consumers were kept in the dark, and policy makers who have to rely on the facts to make policy fit for purpose were misled.
"It is crucial this inquiry gets to the bottom of this scandal, recovers trust in the car industry, generates effective European action across the board, and ensures we get to grips with the air pollution crisis that takes 40,000 British lives every year."
Notes to Editors
1. The Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS committee) is the European Parliament's special inquiry committee that will look into the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
2. The inquiry committee heard evidence from Ms Delilah Al-Khudhairy, director of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC); Mr Alois Krasenbrink, head of the Sustainable Transport Unit of the JRC; and Mr Vicente Franco, Senior Researcher from the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT).
3. The next evidence hearing will take place on the 28 and will hear evidence from Mr Dirk Bosteels, executive director of the Association of Emission Control by Catalyst (AECC); and Mr Udo Lambrecht from the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg (IFEU), the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.
4. The inquiry will publish its final report and recommendations after the completion of its mandate, provisionally scheduled by the end of February 2017. However, the committee's mandate can be extended by a further three or six months
Complete this form to receive regular newsletter updates from Seb to hear how he is representing London in the European Parliament.


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AcrySof® IQ PanOptix IOL
The AcrySof® IQ PanOptix ® and the AcrySof® IQ PanOptix Toric lenses are high technology trifocal lenses, which were approved for commercial use in Europe and more recently in Mexico. These technologies are not available in USA.
CODET Vision Institute, performed the first implant of one of the most innovative technologies regarding intraocular lens implants: the intraocular toric trifocal AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® lens, which besides allowing patients to see at different distances, it also corrects one of the most common refractive errors which is astigmatism.
This technology, besides the high biocompatible patented material AcrySof™ proven in more than 100 million implants in the world, also has the unique ENLIGHTEN (Enhanced LIGHT Energy) technology that optimizes the amount of light that gets to the retina, which results in better quality images in different lights conditions in the environment.
The AcrySof® IQ PanOptix ® Lens, in contrast with other trifocal lenses, has 3 added power that allow vision to be more natural in the different ranges of visual distance. The AcrySof® IQ PanOptix ® Lens is designed so that the IOL adapts in a more natural way in the patient.
It is important for a cataract surgery specialist to evaluate what kind of intraocular lens is the best for every specific case for each patient. At CODET Vision Institute, we have the best doctors and the most advanced and forthcoming implant technologies in intraocular lenses for a Vision Without Borders. Even before these technologies are available in USA we have them here for you . If you are interested in knowing if AcrySof® IQ PanOptix ® or AcrySof® IQ PanOptix Toric technology is for you, please feel free to contact us.


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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is a common pulmonary disease
The term chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder refers to a number of diseases that affect the lungs, blocking airflow and making breathing difficult. The two main conditions included in the term COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Most people who are diagnosed with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
COPD is a progressive disease, one that gets worse over time. Lung damage can't be reversed, but treatment and therapy can improve symptoms and minimize further damage.
In patients who have COPD, the lungs work much less efficiently than in people with healthy lungs. In people with COPD, airflow is reduced because of one or more of the following conditions in the airways and lungs:
- The elasticity of the airways and air sacs is lost
- The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed
- Mucus thickens the walls of the airways, and they become inflamed
- More mucus than usual is produced and the airways become clogged
Causes of COPD
The most common cause of COPD is cigarette smoking over a long period. Other types of tobacco smoke, including pipes and cigars, can also contribute to COPD, particularly if the smoke is inhaled. COPD is most common among people who are over the age of 60.
Other factors, including genetics, likely play a role in the development of COPD as well. Some people who have asthma may also develop COPD, but that is uncommon.
Symptoms of COPD
The main symptoms of COPD include:
- A chronic (long-lasting) cough
- A cough that produces mucus
- Shortness of breath that is worse when you exercise
As the disease worsens, shortness of breath may be caused even by simple, everyday activities such as getting dressed or preparing a meal. In addition, as the disease progresses, flare-ups will occur more often and it gets harder to exercise and even just breathing takes more energy.
Treatments for COPD
Before you are treated for COPD, you will need a thorough and careful evaluation by a physician. Treatments for COPD can reduce or alleviate symptoms, make it easier to exercise and reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups, or exacerbations.
If you are a smoker, the most important thing you can do to improve your symptoms is to quit smoking. Avoiding second-hand smoke and other air pollutants is also important. The coughing or wheezing symptoms can be treated with medications.
Medications that may be used in the treatment of COPD include:
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the airways
- Beta2-agonists, which are bronchodilators to open airways
- Anticholinergics, which are also bronchodilators, can reduce mucus production
- PDE4 inhibitors to reduce COPD flare-ups
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a treatment program that is designed to meet each patient's individual needs. Plans may include learning strategies for conserving energy and better breathing, and nutrition counseling, along with COPD management techniques that can increase your quality of life.
Patients who have low oxygen levels in their blood may be given supplemental oxygen.


text:
|This page contains a list of all the comics included in JLA/Avengers Vol 1: (2003-2003).
If you have found something that is not seen on this page, please add it to this list.
(This template will categorize articles that include it into Category:Comic Lists.)
|Images from JLA/Avengers Vol 1
Back to title selection : Comics J : JLA/Avengers Vol 1
See Also:
|Part I: A Journey into Mystery
|Part II: A Contest of Champions
|Part III: Strange Adventures
|Part IV: The Brave and the Bold
External Links
- JLA/Avengers at Wikipedia
- Access
- DC Universe
- Avengers/JLA Vol 1 at the DC Database Wikia
- Justice League of America at the DC Database Wikia
- Full list of comics from this series that are in the database.
Back to title selection : Comics J : JLA/Avengers Vol 1
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Volunteer Clearances links and forms
Volunteers play a vital role in
supporting the staff, students, and programs of the Dallastown Area
School District. We are very thankful that you have expressed an
interest in volunteering in our district.
The following documents must be on file with the District prior to the first day of volunteer service:
Volunteer Information Sheet - Please complete and submit with appropriate documentation.
PA Child Abuse History (ACT 151) -Child Abuse clearance website.
PA State Police Criminal Check (ACT 34) - State police clearance website.
FBI CLEARANCE WEBSITE Enter service code 1KG6XN
Affidavit & Agreement - Needed if a quick start date for volunteering is necessary.
In addition to completing the proper clearances, you will also need to review the information below regarding Mandated Reporting and sign the Acknowledgement form.
Mandated Reporter Information - Review all of the frequently asked questions at the bottom of the page.
Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement - Sign and submit after reviewing mandated reporter information.
Once all of the above has been completed, submit to the building secretary for approval.
Thank you for your interest in serving as volunteer with the Dallastown Area School District. These new volunteer clearance requirements further support the Dallastown Area School District commitment to providing a safe, secure learning environment for students.


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'A Most Wanted Man,' by John le Carré
A Most Wanted Man
By John le Carré
Scribner; 322 pages; $28
What does it say about intelligence gathering that a spy novelist can grasp our new world order faster than the world's most powerful nation? It's a question that will come to mind while reading John le Carré's astounding, nearly perfect new novel, "A Most Wanted Man."
For nearly four decades, le Carré was the reader's man on the inside of the Cold War. From "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" to "The Russia House," he took a conflict so large and unwieldy it needed industrial metaphors and made it human and thrilling and absurd.
Just seven years into the so-called war on terror, le Carré has now done the same for our new age, with a heavy focus on the absurd. "A Most Wanted Man" is a bold and angry tale about the colossal mistakes and human rights violations that nations - especially the United States - are making by prosecuting a complex conflict with blunt instruments.
Set in Hamburg, the launching point for several 9/11 hijackers, "A Most Wanted Man" involves, among other things, the plight of an illegal Chechen emigrant, money laundering by mobsters and terrorists, squabbling state intelligence agencies, and the U.S. policy of extraordinary rendition - kidnapping suspects and taking them to foreign countries for interrogation and torture.
This combination would be a mere mishmash of ticker tape if le Carré weren't such a natural storyteller. Like Graham Greene before him, le Carré expertly hoards information, manipulating the reader into the same frenzy of curiosity that drives his characters.
All eyes in this book are on Issa Karpov, a Chechen orphan who shows up in Hamburg on the back of a truck, dirty and damaged, after having escaped a Turkish prison. Shortly after his arrival, Issa begs his way into the home of a family of Turkish Muslims.
They are the first of several benefactors who come to his aid. A German lawyer named Annabel Richter takes up Issa's asylum case pro bono, hoping she can assuage her guilt over a client she failed.
Guilt also weighs on the mind of 60-year-old Tommy Brue, the scion of a crumbling British bank that, in the waning days of the Soviet empire, took on accounts from Russian mobsters and looters.
When Issa claims, through Annabel, that he is the bastard heir to one such account - his mother was Chechen, his father Russian - Tommy senses a chance to put things right.
Le Carré has always written well about compromised men, but he takes a small misstep here. Tommy has spent his life protecting a false legacy - and his motivation for helping Issa, who has been tortured, needs little explanation. But Tommy's growing infatuation with Annabel arises from nowhere and remains, until the end of the story, entirely unbelievable.
It's a small flaw in an otherwise beautifully paced, awesomely crafted tale. As le Carré weaves Tommy, Issa and Annabel into an improbable alliance, he cuts over to the equally improbable allegiance between German spies, police and British spooks who are tracking the three's actions from an increasingly close distance.
While Tommy and Annabel believe the best about Issa, the espiocracy, as le Carré calls this matrix of law enforcement, assumes the worst. Issa's criminal record from Russia claims he has committed violent acts with Islamists. There can be no other reason for his coming to Hamburg than to wreak more mayhem.
Issa is caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between two sides that feel equally right - and not for the first time. "Issa's problem - if it's his problem," Tommy muses, "is to do with untidy history. ... It's about some messy loose ends that our fathers left lying about, and which marks us, in some undefined way, jointly culpable."
One could say the same - and le Carré certainly is doing so - about the Cold War. After fighting to a standstill, the United States and the East left the battlefield littered with proxies, with a violent and toxic legacy as their heritage.
This desperately readable novel poses a question that will be essential in the days and years to come: What kind of world is it if we don't allow the descendants of this epic conflict the chance to reject this inheritance, and choose peace instead? --


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"ITwerx helps us cut costs and more importantly retain clients by quickly pin pointing and fixing system problems, which enables our clients to continue trading. I trust ITwerx with the most important element of my business... keeping my network online so my customers can trade seamlessly."
Jay Adriaanse
Heritage Financial


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A newly sober writer whose career has stalled strikes up an affair with a doctor-turned-writer hailed for a wartime memoir. Her sister, a masseuse dating an aging rock star, is drawn to a new religious zeal-and to an older, politically engaged rabbi.
Official Site: www.untogetherfilm.com
Director: Emma Forrest
Writer: Emma Forrest
Cast: Jamie Dornan, Lola Kirke, Ben Mendelsohn, Jennifer Grey and Alice Eve
Sorry there are no upcoming showtimes for Untogether


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Sunday, January 19, 2014
Top 10 Images Of Paint Creativity With Double Meaning
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Get Top 10 Images Of Paint Creativity With Double Meaning.
Enjoy your Day with Funny Images, Paint creativity.
For More Fun, Masti and Creativity - Visit http://www.funnyjokesfunny.com/
About : Amy Flair
Amy flair is a Fun loving Girl from San jose, USA and the Author of Funny Jokes Funny, I love sharing funny pictures, funny jokes, funny SMS, dirty pics or anything that makes you laugh all day all time. You can follow me on Twitter & Like my page on Facebook
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Senior Economist, Mike Jakeman, discusses the economic implications of the Chancellor's Spring Statement.
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Customer asked if I do Restorations. Original doors sat out in the garage for years. Here is a Before & After picture. What do you think?
Category Archives: Finish Work
China Hutch
This was a project I worked on with my sister Monica at Craftynest. She was working on a makeover project for her place; I helped her make some of the changes. This is one of the projects I built for her. Read the rest of this entry »
Four Plex Interior Flip
This is the second posting for this project. I wanted to show some of the interior pictures of what needed to be fix/changed out. The units on this four plex are 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom units, so there was quit a bit of tile work that was done.
The squatters damaged areas of drywall, ripped out appliances, broke tile, and Read the rest of this entry »
Tile & Custom Mantle
I completely changed the look of this fireplace. The original fireplace with the red brick, didn't match the Read the rest of this entry »
Bathroom Remodel
This was an interesting remodel. The home was built out of cinder blocks, and a concrete slab floor. I had to work with the inspectors Read the rest of this entry »
House Flip
This is a house I helped to flip.
The Living Room, Dining Room, and Hallway had carpeting covering the original hardwood flooring. Carpeting was Read the rest of this entry »
Custom Mantle
This was part of the House Flip I posted about.
I removed the old wood paneling, mantle, and shelving. It looked terrible, and outdated, and didn't utilize the space very well. It also Read the rest of this entry »