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"We've always made it clear that we will do everything in our power to ensure the freedom & safe return of our daughters" and all captives of Boko Haram, Buhari said on his Twitter account.
Minutes later, the 74-year-old president startled Africa's most populous nation with the news of his departure. Buhari, who has missed three straight weekly Cabinet meetings, spent a month and a half in London on medical leave earlier this year and said he'd never been as sick in his life. The exact nature of his illness remained unclear.
"There is no cause for worry" about this latest medical leave, a statement from his office said, adding that the length of Buhari's stay in London will be determined by his doctors.
Photos released by the government showed the rail-thin president standing and addressing the Chibok schoolgirls at his official residence Sunday evening, a day after their release.
"The president was delighted to receive them and he promised that all that is needed to be done to reintegrate them into the society will be done," adviser Femi Adesina said. "He promised that the presidency will personally supervise their rehabilitation."
The young women have been handed over to government officials who will supervise their re-entry into society, Adesina said. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which helped negotiate the girls' release along with the Swiss government, said they would be reunited with their families soon.
Five Boko Haram commanders were released in exchange for the girls' freedom, a Nigerian government official said Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters on the matter. Neither Nigeria's government nor Boko Haram, which has links to the Islamic State group, gave details about the exchange.
Parents of the schoolgirls were waiting for a government list of names of those who had been freed.
Some parents of the kidnapped girls gathered in the capital, Abuja, to celebrate the release, while others expressed anxiety over the fate of the 113 girls who remain missing after the mass abduction from a Chibok boarding school in 2014.
The Rev. Enoch Mark, whose two daughters have been among the missing, was still awaiting word if they were among those freed. He emphasized that he considered all 82 of the girls to be his daughters "because most of them worship in my church."
Some parents did not live long enough to see their daughters released, underscoring the tragedy of the three-year saga. And the recovery process is expected to be a long one for the girls, many of whom endured sexual assault during their captivity.
"They will face a long and difficult process to rebuild their lives after the indescribable horror and trauma they have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram," said Pernille Ironside, acting representative of UNICEF Nigeria.
Boko Haram seized a total of 276 girls in the 2014 abduction. Girls who escaped early on said some of their classmates had died from illness. Others did not want to come home because they'd been radicalized by their captors, they said.
Human rights advocates also fear some of the girls have been used by Boko Haram to carry out suicide bombings.
Last year, a first group of 21 Chibok girls was freed in October, and they have been in government care for medical attention, trauma counseling and rehabilitation. Human rights groups have criticized the decision to keep the girls in custody in Abuja, nearly 900 kilometers (560 miles) from Chibok.
It was not immediately clear whether the newly freed girls would join them.
They should be quickly released to their families and not be subjected to lengthy government detention, Amnesty International's Nigeria office said, adding that the girls don't deserve to be put through a "publicity stunt" and deserve privacy.
Though Boko Haram has abducted thousands of people during its eight-year insurgency that has spilled across Nigeria's borders, the Chibok mass kidnapping horrified the world and brought the extremist group international attention.
The failure of Nigeria's former government to act quickly to free the girls sparked a global Bring Back Our Girls movement; U.S. first lady Michelle Obama posted a photo with its logo on social media.
The Bring Back Our Girls campaign said Sunday it was happy that Nigeria's government had committed to rescuing the 113 remaining schoolgirls, and it urged the president to "earnestly pursue" the release of everyone held by Boko Haram.
Buhari late last year announced Boko Haram had been "crushed," but the group continues to carry out attacks in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries. Its insurgency has killed more than 20,000 people and driven 2.6 million from their homes, with millions facing starvation.


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We've just lived through the season of predictions in our industry, when every observer and practitioner forecast what they believed will become the year's key storylines and trends. Will this be the year that Facebook PPC becomes a prominent advertising outlet? Will Google get serious about its keyword-less auction experiment? Is this finally the year of mobile search, with smartphone adoption expected to continue at a breakneck pace?
These questions represent just a cross-section of the conversations that are occurring across the search industry. And as those questions are being pondered, the reality is that the answers are inconsequential. The debate is healthy; search is alive and well.
So as I contemplated what I wanted to accomplish professionally this year, I resolved not to chase trends or seek answers to questions like the ones posed above. Rather, for me, this year is about embracing a much more significant challenge: I'm seeking to reinvent best-practices for B2B search.
Legacy B2B Search
The differences between B2B and B2C search engine marketing have already been documented. B2B search typically has to take into consideration a lengthier purchase consideration process, which can extend several months to even a year or more. As a result, B2B search tends to be far less transactional in nature, requiring successful programs to focus on a series of "micro-conversion" events that operate as nurture mechanisms to the eventual sale.
But perhaps the most under-appreciated facet to B2B marketing is that, typically, purchase decisions are made by several stakeholders within the organization. The entire process involves a multi-disciplinary team, each weighing the pros and cons of possible solutions. And each stakeholder in this process brings his/her agenda, perspective, and bias to those discussions.
What this means for B2B search marketers is that our programs must engage and influence the entire multi-disciplinary team. No single channel or message will get the job done. We have to shape the perceptions of a broader "community of customer."
Neo-B2B Search
Allow me then to propose a new paradigm for B2B search. Let's call it "Neo-B2B" search.
In order to live up to search's full potential, Neo-B2B programs must be constructed to directly address the needs of that diverse decision-making team. This means that the specific keywords and text ad creative not only have to appreciate the distinctions between an early- and late-stage mindset, but must also consider the unique vocabulary used by various functional roles in the organization. Search is unique in its ability to help discern that vocabulary. Neo-B2B search programs capitalize on that.
Neo-B2B search also understands that its intended audience is comprised of human beings, and those human beings are no different than you or me. They often behave online in very consumer-ish ways, act impulsively and out of emotion. They can even be irrational at times. Think of them as consumers with neckties.
And, perhaps most significantly, those business consumers are now "working" in ways they never have before. With the advent of advanced mobile technologies and a global business environment, "work" now transcends time and space; it's more a state of mind than it is a physical location. Business consumers are now searching from myriad geographic locations and across multiple platforms and devices, seeking answers and solutions when and where they find themselves in an "at-work" state of mind and in need of information.
Neo-B2B search understands these new dynamics, and operates fluidly to meet the needs of prospects searching in unique ways.
The Role of Analytics
This deeper, richer insight isn't possible without smart analytics in place. Analytics can shed light on a host of critical data points: search queries, technology platforms, mobile devices, time of day/day of week highlights. There is also a plethora of new engagement and measurement tools available to enable a smarter investment in SEM, depending on the specific needs of the marketer.
The Holy Grail in all of this is having insight into the search behavior patterns demonstrated by specific organizational roles, by company size. Imagine being able to filter the metrics noted above by visitors from organizations whose annualized revenues exceed $100 million, and again by C-Suite executives within those organizations.
Cutting-edge technologies now enable that level of insight. Neo-B2B SEMs will take full advantage and develop a new best-practice standard.

subset: commoncrawl


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BERLIN- Worcester Prep's men's and women's basketball teams return to action tonight after a long holiday layoff with a pair of games against Greenwood Mennonite on the road.
Each Mallard basketball team enjoyed a successful first half of the season with the boys jumping out to an 8-2 record and the girls finishing with a very respectable 5-5 mark. However, neither team has played a meaningful game since December 19 and both will likely face rust and conditioning issues as they prepare to tackle the second half beginning tonight.
The Worcester boys showed flashes of brilliance in the first half of the season, making the outlook bright for the second half. Among the highlights in the first half of the season were a 43-36 win over old rival Salisbury School in early December and52-35 win over Salisbury Christian on December 18.
The Mallards will face an always-tough Greenwood Mennonite team on the road tonight to start the second half before a rematch with Salisbury School, also on the road, next Tuesday. Worcester does not play at home again until next Friday when it hosts Gunston Day.
While the Worcester boys have jumped out to a fast start, the Mallard girls had a see-saw first half as indicated by their 5-5 record. At times, the team has struggled to score while at others, has been able to use its up tempo defense to create turnovers and easy scoring opportunities.
Evidence of their up-and-down start to the season includes a 35-32 win over Greenwood Mennonite on December 11 followed by a 42-35 loss to Salisbury School on December 14. Like the boys team, the Mallards start the second half of the season with a pair of road games against Greenwood Mennonite tonight and Salisbury School next Tuesday.


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- Commercial Lines
Commercial Lines
Experience and Service Behind
Commercial Lines Solutions
Small businesses face many of the same risks that larger, more resourceful companies have. Insuring the evolving risks businesses face requires experience, vigilance and a commitment to quality. Think AAIS.
AAIS commercial lines programs provide forms, manual rules, and rating information that are the foundation for competitive products in the standard commercial P&C market, or niche specialty markets. Our programs are managed by property/casualty specialists with extensive experience in commercial product lines.
AAIS is the source of unique enhancements in commercial lines, including endorsements for equipment breakdown, employee benefits and employment practices liability, optional "voluntary property damage", and built-in inland marine coverages. AAIS commercial lines programs also include a full range of endorsements, rating information, policyholder notices, and information needed to comply with the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.
Who Needs AAIS Commercial Lines Solutions?
Whether you are ready to upgrade an existing commercial lines program, or expand your offerings into new segments or markets, AAIS provides carriers with a comprehensive collection of commercial advisory products and services.
AAIS programs include up-to-date coverages and rating information. Our Commercial Lines experts hold CPCU designations and work with our dedicated compliance team to ensure AAIS programs are current and compliant with evolving laws and regulations.
AAIS also serves as a Statistical Agent to relieve carriers from the burden of reporting data so that they can focus on their core business operations.
Find out more about AAIS's comprehensive Commercial Lines Solutions:
The Experienced and Dedicated AAIS Commercial Lines Advisory Team
Stephanie Vasey Product Manager, Commercial Lines & Inland Marine |


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Foxy's Blackberry Beatdown!
Channeling her inner Naomi, rapper Foxy Brown has been arrested for smacking her neighbor upside the head with her Blackberry.
The 27-year-old, whose real name is Inga Marchand, turned herself in to NYPD yesterday afternoon to be booked on felony assault, menacing, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. She was arraigned and released on $5,000 bail.
Cops say the "Ill Na Na" rapper, who is currently on probation, smacked her 25-year-old neighbor on July 30 with her Blackberry during an argument. According to police, the victim nearly lost some teeth, and her lip and eye swelled up. Nasty! A police report was filed and Foxy agreed to turn herself in.
She's due back in court on September 26th.


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What you can do
he problem is so vast and the urgency so great that advice which suggests you turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or switch off lights and standbys when they are not needed or go vegetarian for one day a week seems, well, ridiculous. Global warming is probably the greatest threat our species has ever faced. The sheer scale of the processes under way in the atmosphere and the oceans makes it hard not to view anything an individual does to reduce emissions as being too little too late. Not true. The astonishing fact is that each of us can have an immediate impact on the production of greenhouse gases, and if enough of us act together in these minor ways, the cumulative effect will be dramatic. That's because so much of the way we live our lives is wasteful and, to put it bluntly, thoughtless. It takes nothing to switch off a lamp, unplug the phone charger, take a shorter shower, cook without pre-heating the oven, skip the pre-wash part of the dishwasher cycle, or, often, walk or bike instead of drive. And they all save money, which is one of the rather striking things about reducing your carbon footprint—the standard way of measuring the CO2 emissions each person is responsible for.
Some of the suggestions that follow may involve a little more effort—recycling, ditching plastic bags, and fixing leaky faucets and toilets; others require you to spend money—insulating your home, installing solar panels, or buying a fuel-efficient car. Even with these, however, there is almost always an eventual payback in terms of reduced bills.
The overwhelming and heartening point about the ideas here is that, if adopted by large numbers of people, they will have an immeasurable effect. When it comes down to it, the continued rise in carbon emissions is a matter of individual conscience: each of us can and should do something, however small. In 5 or 10 years' time that thought, together with everything written here, should be second nature to us. Ladies and gentlemen, this little booklet is the future—a more ingenious, more satisfying, and less wasteful future. Welcome to it. —HENRY PORTER
Reporting for V.F.'s Green Guide by DAISY PRINCE and EMILY BUTSELAAR
1. LIGHTBULBS MATTER Switch from traditional incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (C.F.L.). If every American household replaced one regular lightbulb with a C.F.L., the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road. A 30-watt C.F.L. produces about as much light as an ordinary 100-watt bulb. Although the initial price is higher, C.F.L.'s can last 12 times as long. C.F.L.'s are available at most home-improvement stores and at bulbs.com.
2. DITCH PLASTIC BAGS Californians Against Waste (cawrecycles.org), a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, estimates that Americans use 84 billion plastic bags annually, a considerable contribution to the 500 billion to one trillion used worldwide. Made from polyethylene, plastic bags are not biodegradable and are making their way into our oceans and waterways. According to recent studies, the oceans are full of tiny fragments of plastic that are beginning to work their way up the food chain. Invest in stronger, re-usable bags, and avoid plastic bags whenever possible.
3. RINSE NO MORE According to Consumer Reports, pre-rinsing dishes does not necessarily improve a dishwasher's ability to clean them. By skipping the wash before the wash, you can save up to 20 gallons of water per dishload. At one load a day, that's 7,300 gallons over the course of the year. Not to mention that you're saving time, dishwashing soap, and the energy used to heat the additional water.
4. FORGET PRE-HEATING Ignore cookbooks! It is usually unnecessary to pre-heat your oven before cooking, except when baking bread or pastries. Just turn on the oven at the same time you put the dish in. During cooking, rather than opening the oven door to check on your food, just look at it through the oven window. Why? Opening the oven door results in a significant loss of energy.
5. A GLASS ACT Recycle glass (think beer bottles, jars, juice containers) either through curbside programs or at community drop-off centers. Glass takes more than one million years to decompose; Americans generate almost 13 million tons of glass waste a year. Glass produced from recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20 percent and related water pollution by 50 percent. Go to earth911.org for local recycling information.
6. BANKING ON THE ENVIRONMENT Want to have a more energy-efficient home or office? Save green by being green. Purchase appliances and electronics with the Energy Star certification. Begun in 1992 by the E.P.A. to rate energy-efficient computers, the Energy Star program today includes more than 40 product categories, and it also rates homes and workplaces for energy efficiency. Energy Star estimates that, with its help, Americans saved enough energy in 2004 to power 24 million homes, amounting to savings of $10 billion. To learn more about Energy Star, visit energystar.gov.
7. HANG UP YOUR DRYER It goes without saying—clothes dryers are huge energy gluttons. Hints to reduce energy use: Clean the lint filter after each load (improves air circulation). Use the cool-down cycle (allows clothes to finish drying from the residual heat inside). Better yet, abandon your dryer and buy some drying racks, if you don't have a clothesline. Generally, clothes dry overnight.
8. GET A GOLD LAUNDRY STAR An Energy Star–qualified washing machine uses 50 percent less energy and could reduce your utility bills by $110 annually. Standard machines use about 40 gallons of water per wash; most Energy Star machines use only 18 to 25 gallons, thus also saving water. Whenever possible, wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents (designed to remove soils at low temperatures). And do your laundry only when you have a full load. If you must do a small load, adjust the water level accordingly.
9. GREEN PAINT Most paint is made from petrochemicals, and its manufacturing process can create 10 times its own weight in toxic waste. It also releases volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.'s) that threaten public health. (V.O.C.'s are solvents that rapidly evaporate, allowing paint to dry quickly.) They cause photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, leading to ground-level smog that can cause eye and skin irritation, lung and breathing problems, headaches, nausea, and nervous-system and kidney damage. The best alternative? Natural paints. Manufactured using plant oils, natural paints pose far fewer health risks, are breathable, and in some cases are 100 percent biodegradable. Remember: Never throw your paint away. Check out Earth 911's "Paint Wise" section for re-use programs in your community; earth911.org.
10. BUILD GREEN Before embarking on any home remodeling, make sure your architect has green credentials. Although there is no national organization of green architects in the U.S., that doesn't mean you can't get an architect who will build along sustainable lines. Ask where he or she sources materials, and request that energy-saving devices, such as solar paneling, be installed. Visit directory.greenbuilder.com or environmentalhomecenter.com for more green-building information.
11. GET A GREEN ROOF A green roof is more than simply a roof with plants growing on it. It functions like a "breathing wall," consuming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and emitting oxygen. Green roofs generally use low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants. Vegetation is planted or laid down as pre-vegetated mats on a thin layer of soil. More intensive green-roof systems may contain trees and larger plants, but these require deeper soil and are more expensive. One of the biggest benefits of a green roof is water management: it can absorb more than 50 percent of rainwater, thereby reducing runoff, a major source of pollution in our waterways. Plus, it can help reduce air-conditioning costs during the hot summer months. The vegetation looks after itself through the seasons and creates a habitat for insects, which, in turn, provide food for birds. Green roofs can also last more than twice as long as conventional rooftops. They look better too. For more information, visit greenroofs.com.
12. PLAY IT COOL Avoid placing your air conditioner next to a TV, lamp, or other electrical appliance that generates heat. A heat source will confuse the unit's thermostat, causing it to misread how hot the room is and make the air conditioner run longer than it should. You can also program an air conditioner to start running 30 minutes before you arrive home (as with heating). There is no need to cool a home if no one is in it.
13. FOOD MILES MATTER Food is traveling farther than ever. Once upon a time people ate seasonally—artichokes in the winter, cherries in June. Now you can buy most fruits and vegetables practically year-round. The average American meal contains ingredients produced in at least five other countries. The transportation of food and agricultural products constitutes more than 20 percent of total commodity transport within the U.S. To help reduce CO2 emissions (released from trucks, airplanes, and cargo ships), it's best to buy food that's in season, organic, and grown locally. Go to ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets to find the farmers' market nearest you.
14. GO VEGETARIAN ONE DAY A WEEK To produce one pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water—that's 40 times more water than is used to produce a pound of potatoes. Before buying beef, think about the immense cost of energy used to raise cattle and to transport meat to your supermarket shelf. Besides all this, cows consume enormous amounts of antibiotics and are a prodigious source of methane, which is the number-two greenhouse gas; livestock are responsible for almost 20 percent of the methane in the atmosphere.
15. BUY EGGS IN CARDBOARD CARTONS Cardboard egg cartons are normally made from recycled paper, which biodegrades relatively quickly, and are also again recyclable—Styrofoam or plastic cartons take a much longer time to biodegrade and their manufacture produces harmful by-products.
16. DRINK SHADE-GROWN COFFEE Shade-grown coffee is for the birds, literally. According to coffeeresearch.org, about 150 species of birds live on shade-grown-coffee farms, while only 20 to 50 inhabit full-sun farms. With increased demand for cheap coffee, many Latin American growers have moved toward full-sun plantations, clearing the habitat of numerous native birds and increasing the use of pesticides and fertilizers. By drinking shade-grown coffee, you can help bird habitats and reduce the need for farming chemicals. Shade-grown coffee beans can be purchased at many grocery stores. Starbucks offers shade-grown coffee as well.
17. SAVE WATER INDOORS A typical American household uses 350 gallons of water each day. About half that—175 gallons—is used indoors (toilets consume about 30 percent of the indoor total). Unnecessary water usage comes in the form of leaks. Fixing leaky faucets and toilets is a quick and easy way to conserve water. A steady faucet drip can waste 20 gallons of water a day. Leaky toilets are even worse, wasting upward of 100 gallons a day. Since toilet leaks are generally silent, check for them regularly by removing the tank cover and adding food coloring. If the toilet is leaking (and 20 percent of them usually are), color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
18. TAKE SHOWERS, NOT BATHS The average American household consumes about 60 gallons of water a day from showers and baths. To reduce this number, take quick showers and install a low-flow showerhead that uses fewer than 2.5 gallons of water per minute, as compared to about 5 gallons with an older showerhead. Baths are relaxing, but it can take 50 gallons of water to fill a tub.
19. STOP THE WATER By leaving the water running while you brush your teeth, you can waste 150 gallons of water per month—that's 1,800 gallons a year! Turning the water off while you brush can save several gallons of water per minute. Also pay attention to this water-saving principle while shaving or washing your face.
20. INSULATE YOUR HOUSE Good insulation is one of the best ways to reduce your heating bills and cut your CO2 emissions. Heating and cooling make up 50 to 70 percent of energy use in the average American home. Also, replace old windows and be sure to seal holes and cracks in your house with weather stripping or caulk. A well-insulated house can prevent hundreds of pounds of CO2 emissions per year and can cut your heating and cooling bills by up to 20 percent. For more information, visit eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/insulation.h
21. TURN YOUR THERMOSTAT DOWN ONE DEGREE If you turn your thermostat down by one degree, your heating costs will decrease by about 3 percent. Turn it down five more degrees for four hours a day and reduce your heating bills by almost 6 percent. If you're going to be away for the weekend or out in the evening, turn your thermostat down. It's not true that reducing the temperature means it will take more heat to bring it back up to a warm level (unless you have a heat pump in your home). Also, turn the heat down if you are throwing a party—every guest will be the equivalent of a 100-watt heater.
22. DON'T BE A BUTT TOSSER About 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide each year—making them the most-littered item. The myth that cigarette filters are biodegradable is just that, a myth. Although the filters do eventually decompose, they release harmful chemicals that enter the earth's land and water during the decaying process. There is nothing earth-friendly about the breakdown. If you must smoke, carry a 35-mm. film canister to store your used butts in until you can properly discard them.
23. DON'T JUST DUMP Envelopes come in huge quantities for free every day. If you are careful when opening letters, you can use the envelopes again by simply putting a label over the original address. This saves money and trees, while reducing waste. Try to re-use jars and plastic containers—for example, when taking your lunch to work. (Doing so prevents waste, and making your food at home is less expensive than the alternative.) Ask your office manager to buy re-usable mesh coffee filters instead of bleached paper ones, which may contain dioxins. They are tree-free and should save your company money.
24. AVOID DISPOSABLE GOODS Institute a mug policy in your office. Americans throw away some 25 billion polystyrene cups every year, most of which end up in landfills. Refill your water bottles once or twice, and make your coffee in a ceramic mug. If you bring in cutlery from home, you will also cut down on those pesky plastic forks, knives, and spoons.
25. GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN In 1826, J. C. Loudon wrote in An Encyclopaedia of Gardening, "For all things produced in a garden, whether salads or fruits, a poor man that has one of his own will eat better than a rich man that has none." To start a vegetable garden costs nothing but a few packs of seeds and rudimentary garden implements, and it saves enormous amounts of money, to say nothing of the food miles and the packaging that go into supplying you with fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, a vegetable garden is only productive for part of the year, but it is amazing how long that growing season lasts and how much you can produce from one small patch.
26. BUY RECYCLED PRODUCTS There has to be a market for products made with recycled goods. Support this movement by purchasing recycled goods—you will save virgin materials, conserve energy, and reduce landfill waste. Recycled paper products include toilet paper (which is no longer scratchy, like it used to be), copy paper, paper towels, and tissues. Look for garbage bags and bin liners labeled "recycled plastic," and buy recycled toner cartridges for your fax machines and printers.
27. PLANE BETTER Air travel is currently responsible for 3.5 percent of the global-warming gases from all human activity and is growing fast. Cargo transport by air is increasing by about 7 percent annually and passenger air travel is up in the last few years by between 4 and 7 percent. The impact of air travel is enormous; a round-trip between New York and Los Angeles emits one ton of CO2 per passenger. (To determine CO2 emissions for your next flight, go to co2.org.) Try to limit the number of flights you take. If you're traveling within a country, why not take a train? (Air travel releases at least three times more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than rail travel does.) If you're planning a business trip, consider whether a video linkup or a conference call will suffice.
28. CARBON OFFSETTING Air traffic is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse-gas emissions, so when you do fly, consult a carbon-offsetting organization such as Climate Care to "carbon-offset" your journey. Climate Care determines your flight's emissions and the cost to offset the CO2. For example, to offset that round-trip flight between New York and Los Angeles, you would pay about $10 to Climate Care, which invests in forestry and energy-efficiency projects. For more information, visit climatecare.org.
29. SWITCH TO GREEN POWER The leading cause of industrial air pollution is electricity production. According to the American Lung Association, more than 50,000 Americans die each year from air-pollution-related causes. If available, get your electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind, sun, water, and biomass, all of which generate electricity with fewer environmental impacts. With utility companies in 35 states offering green-power pricing plans, around half of all electricity consumers could buy green, yet only half a million do. Does green power cost more? Yes, but barely. For example, New York's Con Edison charges an additional one-half cent per kilowatt-hour for its green-power products. To see if your energy provider offers green-power options, visit eere.energy.gov/greenpower.
30. STANDBY NO LONGER Electricity "leaks" are no laughing matter. Televisions, video and DVD players, cable boxes, and other electronic equipment found in nearly every American home are wasting huge amounts of energy. When these devices are left on standby (the equivalent of "sleep" mode for computers) they use about 40 percent of their full running power. Every year, the energy wasted in this way is the equivalent of the annual output of 26 power plants. To avoid the drain of these "energy vampires," plug them into a power strip and turn it off when they are not in use.
31. TURN OFF YOUR CHARGERS Most cell-phone chargers continue to draw electricity even when the phone isn't plugged into it. If your cell-phone charger averages five watts per hour and is plugged in all the time, that means a total of more than 40 kilowatt-hours every year, or about 93 pounds of CO2. The same problem applies to your other electronic equipment—your laptop, iPod, digital camera, and BlackBerry. Unplug all your chargers when they are not in use.
32. RECYCLE YOUR BATTERIES Although the number of electrical gadgets that use disposable batteries is on the decline, each person in the U.S. discards eight batteries per year. Overall, Americans purchase nearly three billion batteries annually, and about 179,000 tons of those end up in the garbage. Batteries have a high concentration of metals, which if not disposed of properly can seep into the ground when the casing erodes. Avoid disposable batteries by using your outlets whenever possible. If you can't do without batteries, use rechargeable and recycled ones. You should also have your batteries collected and recycled. Go to rebat.com for a list of companies that participate in battery reclamation.
33. TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER WHEN YOU LEAVE AT NIGHT While computers do require a power surge when you first turn them on, they don't need enormous amounts of electricity to function for lengthy periods. Also, you can set your computer on "sleep" mode, which uses about three watts per hour, if you are going to be away from your desk for more than 15 minutes.
34. GET INVOLVED Recycling at home doesn't get you off the hook at work. If your office doesn't recycle, or recycles only paper, find out why. If you work in a small office, call your local authority to discover what recycling equipment and services are available. These may include storage containers and compacters as well as collection. If you work in a larger office, ask your building-services coordinator why there are no recycling facilities and whom you would need to speak to about starting a recycling program for paper, glass, metal, and plastic. For more information, visit earth911.org.
35. PRINT DOUBLE-SIDED American businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year, 175 pounds per office worker. For a quick and easy way to halve this, set your printer's default option to print double-sided (duplex printing). This has the added advantage of halving the paper pile on your desk. To further cut your paper wastage, make sure you always use "print preview" mode to check that there are no overhanging lines and that you print only the pages you need. Other ways to cut down on paper before you get to the printing stage include using single or 1.5 spacing instead of double spacing, and reducing your page margins.
36. CONSERVE WATER IN YOUR GARDEN Attach a barrel to your downspout that will collect rain from your roof's eaves. Your plants will thank you: rainwater is better for your garden, as the chlorine in tap water can inhibit plant growth. You can also save six gallons every minute of watering simply by attaching a trigger nozzle to your hose so that you use water only when it's needed. In addition, if you grow your grass a little longer, it will stay greener and require less water than a closely mowed lawn.
37. CREATE A LIVING FENCE When replacing yard fences, instead of building a wooden fence, opt for a living fence. A living fence is a hedge or row of trees, which can be groomed to maintain appearance. Not only is a living fence less expensive than a traditional fence, it also never needs to be painted. This saves you money and time and keeps harmful chemicals out of the environment. Try to use native flora and to avoid hedges comprised of only one species.
38. RECYCLE YOUR NEWSPAPER There are 63 million newspapers printed each day in the U.S.; 44 million, or about 69 percent, of these will be thrown away. Recycling just the Sunday papers would save more than half a million trees every week.
39. PLANT A TREE It's the simplest thing in the world to gather acorns, chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, and sycamore seeds in the autumn, plant them immediately, and forget them until the following spring. The success rate for acorns is not as high as for the other three, but in a good year about 40 percent germinate into oak trees. There's little that will stop the others from growing into healthy trees within the first year. Start saplings in Styrofoam coffee cups, which can be split with a knife so that the roots aren't disturbed when you plant them outdoors. Keep the saplings for four or five years, then plant them in your own garden, offer them to friends, or return them to nature. It may seem like a very small contribution, but if 5 percent of the U.S. population were to germinate one tree in one year, there would be almost 15 million extra trees absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. For more information, visit arborday.org.
40. AVOID PESTICIDES Use natural methods of pest control. Form a log pile—dead wood provides a habitat for many kinds of wildlife, such as snakes and ground beetles. Both are natural predators for snails and slugs. If you create a small pond to encourage frogs and toads, they will help mop up the rest of your slug life. In the short term you can get rid of slugs using beer traps (slugs are attracted to yeast). To get rid of whiteflies, buy Encarsia formosa, small parasitic wasps that eat whiteflies. Grow flowers such as marigolds to attract ladybugs, hoverflies, and lacewings, all of which protect against aphids.
41. BAT BOXES Want to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard? Then invest in a bat box. One bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes a night. You will also be making a contribution to our country's temperate biodiversity: bat populations in America and around the world are declining, especially in urban areas, where they have few roosting spaces. Ideally, group two or three boxes together, place them as high as possible, and face them so the sun directly heats them for six to seven hours each day. If you are making a bat box yourself, use untreated and unpainted wood. It is essential that bats not be disturbed, so make certain your bat boxes cannot be reached by any local cats. For more information, visit batconservation.org/content/Bathouseimpo
42. WALK OR BIKE Always consider alternatives to driving, especially for journeys under two miles. It's better for the environment to walk, cycle, or even take the bus than to hop in your car. Currently, only 2 percent of employed adults walk to work in the U.S. Walking adds to life expectancy, is safe, helps with mental and physical health, and, best of all, is completely free. Cycling is another way to get around and has recently become more popular, what with more bike paths and cool new gadgets like L.E.D. lights for riding in the dark. New kinds of folding bikes have been specially developed for the commuter. Surprisingly, recent studies have shown that bicyclists in cities are less exposed to air pollution than people in cars and taxis.
43. BUY A HYBRID Hybrid cars, which run on a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor, are all the rage these days. They get up to 50 miles per gallon, while a typical S.U.V. might travel around 15 m.p.g. Hybrids can offer substantial savings, and you may qualify for a one-time tax credit of up to $3,400. For information on U.S hybrid-car incentives, go to hybridcars.com/tax-deductions-credits.ht
44. BIOFUELS 101, PART 1 Have you heard of biofuels? Biodiesel and bioethanol are alternative fuels derived from crops such as sugarcane, oilseed rape, and used cooking oil, which are generally blended with diesel fuel or gasoline. Biofuels are available in a range of different blends—for example, 30 percent biofuel and 70 percent gas or diesel. Biodiesel is generally appropriate for any diesel vehicle designed to run on low-sulphur diesel. Biodiesel blends are becoming more widely available in the U.S. Check biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/distributo
45. BIOFUELS 101, PART 2 Bioethanol is an alcohol-based fuel. A 5 percent blend of bioethanol can be included in ordinary gas and used by any car in the U.S. that runs on unleaded gas. You may already be using bioethanol-blended gas, as the 5 percent version is now being sold in the U.S. through unmarked unleaded-gas pumps. Saab and Ford both have a flex-fuel model available, which can run on bioethanol-based fuel or on straight gasoline. If you drive an older model, you can still use biofuel if you are willing to have your car converted to flex-fuel.
46. DISCOVER YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT If you think you're already pretty green, determine your carbon footprint: a measurement of how your lifestyle choices affect carbon emissions. Your footprint will take into account your habits, the food you eat, your gas and electricity usage, your car and air mileage. Your score will be compared to the average figures for your county. These online tests aim to help you estimate your own carbon emissions and calculate how much of the planet's resources are required to sustain your lifestyle. They may motivate you to make changes, helping you set simple goals to reduce your negative impact on the planet. To learn about your carbon footprint, go to carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html.
47. GET AN ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER Surrender your gas lawn mower. Gasoline lawn mowers are among the dirtiest of modern machines. A study funded by the Swedish E.P.A. found that using a four-horsepower lawn mower for an hour causes the same amount of pollution as driving a car 93 miles. The trouble with gas lawn mowers is that they not only emit a disproportionate amount of CO2, they are also responsible for releasing carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into the air. Retire the noisy monster and buy an electric or manual model. Better still, reduce the number of times you mow per season and let some of your lawn grow wild, which has added benefits for bugs, butterflies, and birds. For more information, visit greengrasscutters.com.
48. GREEN GRILLING If you have a charcoal barbecue grill, make sure your charcoal comes from a sustainable source. Enormous areas of tropical rainforest are destroyed every year to produce the 900,000 tons of charcoal burned annually in the U.S. Chimney starters are the most environmentally friendly solution to lighting charcoal. They use only a couple of pieces of newspaper, meaning you can avoid the gas-flavored meat that accompanies barbecues started with lighter fluid or fire starters. If you are replacing your grill, remember that using a gas, rather than charcoal, grill is the most environmentally friendly way to barbecue. It avoids forest destruction and doesn't add to local air pollution.
49. RE-GIFT GIFT WRAP Help cut down on the consumption of paper and plastic by re-using wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and gift bags. These items should be good for at least one more wrapping. If you are feeling creative, use old calendars, pages from magazines, or even newspaper to wrap gifts.
50. A GREEN ENDING Green funerals don't just mean a woodland burial. Very few people actually know about the green alternatives to steel or hardwood coffins. Many private funeral homes present green alternatives to traditional coffins, including wicker caskets and shrouds. Currently, 89 percent of coffins sold are made of chipboard that is manufactured using formaldehyde. When chipboard coffins are cremated, they can release toxic gases. If buried, they disrupt local ecosystems; as the chipboard decays, the formaldehyde and glue leach into the soil and groundwater. Finally, most people opting for a green good-bye will choose a meadow or woodland burial, with only a memorial tree marking the grave. For more information, visit fullcirclecare.org/endoflife/funeral.htm.


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Jaguar XFR/XKR Test Drive
Redlining A Jaguar On A Wet Racetrack
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." In the abstract, that Friedrich Nietzsche saying almost sounds romantic. But in the context of real life experience, it's more than just a cliche. Racing Jaguars on an unexpected wet track definitely falls into this second category.
To try the stunt I traveled with R Performance Academy, Jaguar's driving school, to Monticello Motor Park, 90 minutes northwest of New York. I'd never driven on that track, a challenging road course full of elevation changes and twisting turns, nor had I driven the cars: Jaguar's two-door XKR and four-door XFR.
Formally introduced in 2009, the machines come from a long line of X-types dating back to the mid-20th century. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the classic XKE (also known as the "e" type), considered by auto purists as the most beautiful of all Jags. The XKR and XFR are the automaker's attempt at offering a practical luxury sports car with some real road gravitas at a decent price (the cars start at $97,500 and $82,000, respectively).
Both are powered by a 5.0-liter, 510 hp supercharged V8 engine. In manual mode, paddle shifters on the steering wheel (like an F1 car — upshift on right/downshift on left) bring you through six gears without a clutch. Four-wheel 15-inch disc brakes stop you faster than you can accelerate, which is pretty quick; the XKR goes from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds, the XFR in 4.7 seconds. As with most advanced sports cars today, a traction control system (computer software that corrects driver errors) is included.
With production XFR and XKR models, top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph via a governor, but the cars are capable of more. In a special prototype test in 2008, Jaguar took an XFR to the Bonneville Salt Flats and, sans governor with weight reductions, ran the thing at 225 mph. You and I are not able to do this, but it does show how powerful the engine is. Heck, that's quicker than the much pricier Lamborghini Aventador.
The day of my scheduled Monticello event dawned overcast, and the weather just got worse. A dense fog turned to heavy rain by the time I arrived at the track. It was so bad that, at one point, I thought they would cancel, even though you can race on a wet road course up to a point.
R Academy's team of instructors is an impressive group. Ours included Roberto Guerrero, a Formula 1 veteran with five top-five finishes at the Indianapolis 500; sprint car racer Adam Andretti, a nephew of Mario; and Davy Jones, who placed second in the 1996 Indy 500.
First, we congregated in a dry classroom, as is the usual start for events like this. Racing is all about physics, we quickly learn, whether on a dry track or in the rain. Only brake in a straight line otherwise you upset the balance of the car. Slow enough before a corner, then accelerate out — much faster than barreling in too quickly, then having to scrub speed in the turn. Use the entire track to maximize turning radius and hold momentum. And look far out to where you want to go, not where you don't.
This sounds like common sense until you encounter a problem at high speed and have to do it all at once, as may be the case on a track — or the highway. And rain, well, it only exacerbates the challenges.
After class, we paired into groups and headed to the parking lot. Instructors wanted us to feel the power of 510 hp in close quarters. A series of autocross, figure-eight and small ovals defined by orange cones became our miniature tracks. While we all made mistakes and knocked over cones, the cars handled surprisingly well on the drenched pavement using the traction control systems.
Lest we become too confident, the instructors occasionally turned off the TCS, and quickly we realized we were so not Lewis Hamilton. When Andretti secretly switched mine off on the figure-eight, I spun wildly. Better to do this in a parking lot, though, than on-track where soft cones are replaced by a heavy steel guardrail. We quickly learned that in the rain, everything must be smooth and done at three-quarters speed.
Following lunch it was decided that, despite the continuing downpour, we would head to the main track. But because of puddles, some four inches deep, we only would use the 1.6-mile south course (the entire track is 4.1 miles). With 12 separate corners, some more than 90 degrees, the smaller venue would be challenging enough.
Concept Cars
Luxury Cars
Drag Racing


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Filed Under > Research/Publications
Assessing Assessments — and Assessment Use
Experts from around the world gathered at TC in March to debate whether standardized tests are used in fair and valid ways
Experts from around the world gathered at TC in March to debate whether standardized tests are used in fair and valid ways
By Patricia Lamiell
Cheating on U.S. standardized tests appears to be on the rise, even as the testing industry introduces tighter security measures each year and the penalties for cheaters grow ever more severe.
So, what to do?
To Eva L. Baker, an assessment expert at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, the answer is simple: publish the questions -- and the answers – in advance. Goodbye to safeguards that don't work, Baker says – and hello to collaboration and peer learning among students.
Baker was among 28 invited presenters and stakeholders in late March at "Educational Assessment, Accountability and Equity: Conversations on Validity Around the World," a conference co-sponsored by the Assessment and Evaluation Research Initiative (AERI) at Teachers College and the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Proposed and co-organized by Madhabi Chatterji, Associate Professor of Measurement-Evaluation and Education, and Director of AERI, the conference drew over 250 assessment experts, researchers and educators from around the world, including representatives of the prestigious International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), the World Bank, and UNESCO.
Standardized assessments are being used to evaluate and compare students, teachers, principals, schools and entire nations, with far-reaching fiscal and policy consequences. Yet the validity of test scores "frequently and repeatedly breaks down," Chatterji told the assembly, because of a "widening gap" between assessment professionals who work in the rarified world of test development and psychometrics research, on the one hand, and non-technical end- users such as policy-makers, educators, the public and the media. "The validity of assessment information depends not only on how tests are designed and formally validated," Chatterji said, but on how the results are "eventually put to use in everyday practice, policy, research, or other – sometimes politically charged – contexts."
For example, to be eligible for federal "Race to the Top" funding, state education departments must use students' test scores as a basis for evaluating teachers for salary increases, promotion and, potentially, firing. And because the federal No Child Left Behind law requires "adequate yearly progress" toward a goal of 100 percent proficiency in math and reading based on student test scores, the fate of an entire school could be on the line, as well. Whether or not test scores can be defensibly used for such actions, Chatterji says, depends on a series of technical actions taken during test development, as well as on0 the evidence that is collected to show what kinds of test uses are valid. Considerations about what tests can and cannot do are rare when there is a societal push for ever more test-based accountability.
With stakes so high, even a test that accurately measures the performance area it was designed to measure may not be fair, said Michael T. Kane, Samuel J. Messick Chair in Test Validity at ETS. For example, a test may fail to take into account socioeconomic factors that can affect performance. Or it may measure something that, while accurate, is beside the point.
Aaron Pallas, TC Professor of Sociology and Education, said he is "concerned" that, at least in the United States, the goal and monitoring of continuous program improvement "could become an end in itself, rather than a means to an end." Documenting the collection and use of data "could easily overshadow the importance of figuring out the right learning objectives," Pallas said.
The conference also focused on the issue of how the test scores of U.S. students stack up in global comparative tests such as the Programme of International Assessment (PISA), which is periodically administered to 15 year-olds around the world, and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS), which is given to fourth- and eighth-graders. In March, a task force led by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein released a report saying that the mediocre performance of American children on international tests represents nothing less than a national security threat. But Michael Feuer, Dean of George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development and former analyst at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, said that while American performance on international assessments has been disappointing, it "is not exactly as embarrassing or quite as ugly as one would sense from reading the popular press." American educators and the testing industry need to figure out whether the nation's core values are embedded in the international testing programs, Feuer said – in which case, the poor U.S. showing is of greater cause for concern – or whether TIMMS and PISA should be used to stimulate a discussion about "what we value in education. Framing the discussion in the latter way "makes a big difference for the ways in which the results are reported and the ways in which they seep into the policy discourse," Feuer said.
Baker said the testing community has come under increasing pressure to codify and measure human capacities and knowledge. The revision 1999 revision of "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, which she helped lead, spells out responsibilities of both test-makers and test users to ensure valid and appropriate test use. Baker said test designers have been "swamped" by directives to develop assessments that have advanced the agenda shared by the George W. Bush and Obama administrations to hold teachers and schools accountable for the success of their students, and to help colleges and universities screen applicants by predicting their future progress. She criticized assessments that measure memorization skills instead of more valuable "adaptive problem-solving" abilities.
The transformation of standardized tests and assessments from measurement tools to policy tools has also corrupted the validity of the tests themselves and created widespread mistrust of test results, even among professionals, said Kevin Welner, Professor of Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
"If the core meaning of results of tests is to evaluate the teachers' job, then test preparation becomes the teacher's job," said Welner, who has corresponded with President Obama on this topic.
Case in point, according to Leo Casey, Vice President for Academic High Schools at the United Federation of Teachers in New York City: recent New York City test scores were "wildly inflated" and had such wide margins of error (35 points for math and 53 points for English Language Arts) that they were statistically useless. Casey characterized these results as essentially ammunition for the City's school restructuring plan. "The quality of the data isn't important," Casey said. "What is important is that they can be used to close schools and fire teachers."
Yet despite such unresolved issues, said Nicholas Lemann, Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism and author of a history of the college entrance examination, Scholastic Aptitude Test (now called the Scholastic Assessment Test), "It is frustrating to see public debate so completely unconcerned with what people in this room would mean by validity." Lemann added that "the press can't tell the difference between good and bad [test] numbers."
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to stop using standardized tests altogether, said former New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner. Properly constructed, these tests can shine valuable light on areas where students are doing well and areas where they are not, Steiner said. Still, the United States would do well to follow the example of Finland, whose top-performing educational system succeeds because "there is a deeper trust" of both teachers and students. Finnish teachers are given autonomy to plan curricula and to teach, Steiner said; children are given the time and freedom to explore on their own; and the public does not rely on tests as the only validation of the results.
Supported by the National Science Foundation and other sponsors, AERI will continue, to promote meaningful use of assessment and evaluation information around the world. Policy briefs will be generated from the conference's proceedings, and the presented papers will be edited by Chatterji and assembled in a special volume and a dedicated journal issue.
"I was impressed with the integrity with which people on both sides dealt with the issue of test use and misuse," Chatterji said. "There was a lot of soul-searching going on about validity."
Published Tuesday, May. 15, 2012


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Suzani uchtakhta adras.
Fabric: genuine white handmade cotton adras.
From genuine silky fiber.
Material and fiber are given the colour of natural dyes.
It should be washed by hand.
It has been made with an awl for 3 months.
Size: 215×140.
The size of this design can be altered. It can be usef for decorating your house or instead of souvenir. It gives a great flavour to your home.
Suzani – is a decorative cotton or silk fabric of rectangular shape, embroidered with various patterns. The finished woven product has approximate dimensions from 3x2 m to 5x4 m and is called a panel. Central Asian decorative embroidery on the panel was done with the help of smooth surface, mostly with silk and cotton threads on cotton fabric, velvet or silk fabric. Suzani fabric is included in the Ikat fabric series as it, along with other kinds of oriental fabrics, has a special place in the eastern culture of embroidery and sewing. We will be happy to introduce you original suzani, which you can present as a gift or decorate your home with it.
Suzani fabrics
Embroidered panel named suzani fabric is so beautiful so that it is impossible to take our eyes off it. Each handmade embroidery is original and good in its own way. The pattern in suzani looks mostly as a closed composition with a wide border and a central field in which there is either one large drawing or several small but symmetrically arranged ornaments. In each local city, oriental embroidery has its own characteristics, for example, the colors and patterns of Bukhara's products differ from Samarkand or Nuroto, and the uniqueness of suzani is precisely in the variety of patterns and their combinations.
Uzbek suzani is a mighty branch on the tree of folk art. In the art of Uzbek embroidery, the main role is played by color. Most of the works affect viewers by developing details on large, completely embroidered ornamental figures. In each individual work you can count up to fifteen tones, which makes it possible to create a wealth of color combinations, while preserving the unity of the overall color.
Embroidered upholstery fabric
Decorating clothes and homes with hand embroidery has centuries-old traditions. The East itself is many-sided, as embroideries created by skilled craftsmen. Suzani is widely used as upholstery for furniture or wall decoration of the interior in the form of draperies, hoodies and curtains.
And also in our online store you will find Vintage suzani fabric, the threads of which are painted by hand and they represent one of the first styles of embroidery suzani. Suzani, except for its decorative significance, served as amulets. It was believed that suzani served as the beginning of a happy family life, and therefore special attention was paid to the ornament of embroidered products.
Turkish suzani is also known for its uniqueness, which is based on the traditional oriental suzani. Being in Turkey you can find shops with suzani embroidered panels, pillows and carpets of several kinds. This kind of suzani not much differs from uzbek ones, perhaps only by patterns and a variety of threads. Turkish suzani can be seen in the cafe and in the open sale on the streets of the city. In our online-shop you can buy Turkish suzani without living your home.
Introducing our stunning range of Suzani embroidery, hand-made in the traditions passed down through generations of Uzbek and Tajikistan artistry.
The beautiful silk thread fabrics are embroidered onto a heavy cotton background to create intricate and colourful patterned items that will add a touch of central Asian charm to your home.
Each one offering a sense of delicacy while robust enough to provide long-lasting appeal for your home.
By purchasing a piece of Suzani embroidery you are sampling traditional Uzbek culture and craft, each piece laced with a sense of history within its delightful design. Suzani embroidery was traditionally presented as gifts to mark a new-born baby or as a dowry in Central Asian family culture. And it is this sense of care which permeates through each strand of these delightful hand-made textiles.


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David Braun Park is located at the southern-most end of Upper Bay Road, adjacent to Lake Nassau. This park is a popular site for fishing on Lake Nassau and Clear Creek.
18900 Upper Bay RoadNassau Bay, TX
Nassau Bay residents can reserve the tennis courts, basketball court, and pavilion by contacting City Hall at 281.333.4211.
The City's premiere park offers a walking trail, a pavilion, a playground, baseball fields, and a lake boardwalk for relaxation. Come out and enjoy yourself!