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A Report by the People For the American Way Foundation
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Arizona's Private Tuition Tax Credit
- ASU Study Offers Clues to Law's Real Beneficiaries
- An Absence of Accountability
- Arizona's Tax Credit for Public-School Extracurricular Activities
- Subsidies for Trips to Catalina Island
- Conclusion
- Endnotes
Over the past 11 months, the school voucher movement has suffered one major political setback after another. Last November, Michigan and California became the latest states in which voters decisively defeated voucher initiatives. This spring, the Wisconsin Legislature refused to support a proposal to significantly expand the Milwaukee voucher plan—the nation's longest-running, publicly funded voucher program. In Congress, vouchers fared no better as both the administration's voucher proposals and various voucher amendments were rejected.
In the face of these defeats and a new national poll showing record-high support for public schools,1 voucher proponents are seriously rethinking their strategy. Many of them are now embracing and endorsing a different tactic: tax credits for private school tuition.
Andy LeFevre, who directs the education task force for the ultra-conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, has praised tuition tax credits as a viable policy alternative. Tuition tax credits, LeFevre said, "are looked at in a little more favorable light in states than vouchers … the end goal is the same as a voucher; it's just a different way to come about it."2 For years, a group of pro-voucher legislators in Arizona tried, without success, to pass a state law that used vouchers to divert public tax dollars to private schools. Then, in 1997, the state enacted a tuition tax credit law—prompting the bill's author, Trent Franks, to ask: "Why do we need vouchers at this point?"3 The pro-voucher Cato Institute has added its voice to this chorus, recently lauding the Arizona tax credit law as a model for improving public education in the United States.4 Yet, nothing could be further from the truth.
The available evidence shows that the Arizona law is a model for seriously undermining public education, particularly the public schools that serve poor children. Over a three-year period, the Arizona scheme has cost more than $55 million, money that has gone largely to subsidize education for middle- and upper-income families, both in private and public schools. By contrast, low-income families who pay fewer taxes do not benefit from the tax credit. In fact, the tax credit depletes state funds, making less money available for needed improvements in public schools that serve low-income and disadvantaged students.5 In addition, while the public and policymakers are calling for much more accountability of public schools, there is virtually no accountability—and evidence suggesting financial abuse—for Arizona's tax credit scheme.
The 1997 Arizona law provides a dollar-for-dollar, state income-tax credit up to specified amounts for two types of expenditures—one for donations made to private scholarship organizations, and one for donations to support extracurricular activities of public schools. Most other states do not have tuition tax credit laws, although efforts to promote them are under way across the country. As People For the American Way Foundation's (PFAWF) research demonstrates, both aspects of the Arizona tax credit law divert significant resources away from programs that could otherwise support and strengthen public education for poor and disadvantaged students.
Arizona's Private Tuition Tax Credit
The first type of tax credit available under the Arizona law allows taxpayers to claim a credit against state income taxes for contributions up to $500 ($625 if filing jointly) to eligible "School Tuition Organizations" (STO).6 These STOs, in turn, provide scholarships to students, paying for all or part of their tuition at religious and other private schools. The legislation stipulates that taxpayers claiming this credit cannot earmark their donations to benefit their own dependents. It also states that STOs are to spend at least 90 percent of their revenue on scholarships, and to provide scholarships to students in more than one school.7
To help enact the law, tax credit supporters argued that it would expand educational opportunities for those who could not otherwise afford private school.8 However, the law does not require STOs to provide any scholarships to students based on financial need or previous inability to attend a private school. Furthermore, although parents are precluded from designating their own dependents as beneficiaries of their "donation," they are able to designate other specific individuals. As a result, as the Arizona Republic reported, some parents are writing $500 checks for their friends' children, who, in turn, are reciprocating. Under this loophole, 96 percent of the more than $361,000 donated to the Arizona Scholarship Fund—the seventh-largest STO in 1999—was earmarked for students who were already enrolled in private schools.9 Trent Franks, a former state legislator who conceived of Arizona's tax credit approach, openly admits that this is how many parents are using the law.10
Other evidence confirms that the tax credit program primarily benefits those who can already afford to send their children to religious and other private schools. As of the year 2000, at least 25 of the 35 STOs that reported data provided tuition payments primarily to religious schools, usually specific schools that reflect the religious views or affiliations of these STOs.11 A telephone survey conducted by PFAWF recently found that many STOs give priority to students already enrolled in religious schools that reflect the organization's religious mission or goals. In the survey, 19 of the 21 STOs responding indicated that their practice was to serve students already enrolled in private or religious schools; public school students are considered for scholarships only if money is left over after these existing private school students have been provided for.12 As a result, those who gain from this tax law provision are generally those who have already had their children in private schools.
ASU Study Offers Clues to Law's Real Beneficiaries
A study by Glen Wilson of Arizona State University concluded that scholarship amounts primarily averaged below $500. Since low-income students would generally need larger scholarships to pay the high costs of private school tuition, this study strongly suggests that the Arizona tax credit functions more as a middle- and upper-class subsidy than it does as a vehicle for increasing access for low-income students. For example, in 1998, 85.3 percent of all scholarships granted averaged below $500, 8.6 percent averaged between $500 and $1,000, and less than 7 percent averaged above $1,000.13
Precise information on who benefits from the program is difficult to find. For example, even if a low-income student were able to obtain an STO scholarship sufficient to cover the cost of private school tuition, other factors—such as transportation to and from campus, application fees, and admission tests—could hamper the student's ability to attend private or religious schools. The precise role these or other obstacles could play is unknown because the state collects very little information from STOs and also because private schools are largely unregulated by state officials. Yet, for a news story last year, the Arizona Republic interviewed a spokeswoman for Arizona's governor who readily admitted, in the newspaper's words, that "it is mostly middle-income families whose kids already are in private schools who are taking advantage of the program, not the poor kids supporters claimed it would help."14
An Absence of Accountability
There are few regulations governing the operation of STOs, and even these rules can be circumvented. For example, the law stipulates that scholarship organizations may not designate all their scholarship money to one particular school. Yet, the Chabad Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish Synagogue Scholarship Fund provides scholarships only for students attending the Phoenix Preparatory High School. Fund officials argue that since boys and girls are taught separately in the orthodox Jewish tradition, scholarships are actually benefiting two different institutions, despite the fact that students of both sexes are housed in the same building.15
Even while the Arizona tax credit diverts millions of state tax dollars to private and religious schools, state officials demand little accountability from STOs. STOs don't have to provide any information on the quality of the education provided through state-subsidized dollars and don't have to be certified by the Arizona Department of Revenue or have their records audited.16 PFAWF research has also found that STOs provide the state with donation information—such as the name, address and social security number of the donor, donation amount, scholarship amount and length, student beneficiary, and school beneficiary—only when the donor chooses to make it available. STOs are not required to follow up with donors to obtain this missing information.17
This may explain why more parents have claimed tax credits on contributions made to scholarship organizations than these organizations report. For example, in its report on 1998 tax credits, the Arizona Department of Revenue could verify only 53.8 percent—a bare majority—of the 6,400-plus tax-credit claims against STO-provided donor lists.18 And, while the Department of Revenue acknowledges this growing problem, the laxity in reporting requirements has yet to be rectified. In other words, there is no specific oversight authority or any enhanced ability of state officials to investigate suspected tax fraud.19 Last year, the Department's chief economist warned that she saw "lots of possibilities for abuse."20
In the meantime, opponents of the tuition tax credit scheme have rightfully raised serious concerns about the loss of tax dollars for Arizona public schools. Since 1998, more than
$33 million in taxpayer dollars has been diverted from the state treasury to fund religious and private schools under this program, even while some of Arizona's urban public schools have been unable to fund important kindergarten enrichment and after-school tutoring programs for students.21
Arizona's Tax Credit for Public-School Extracurricular Activities
The second type of tax credit allows Arizona taxpayers to claim a smaller credit of up to $200 ($250 if filing jointly) for expenses toward extracurricular activities at public schools. Parents can claim the credit for contributions made toward their children's expenses such as band uniforms, equipment or uniforms for varsity athletics, field trips, math and tutoring programs and scientific laboratory materials.22 Credits can be claimed by any eligible taxpayer—the provision could enable public schools to receive donations from non-parents as well.
Tax credit proponents argue that this provision of the law helps public schools by enabling them to offer extracurricular activities that they otherwise would not be able to afford.23 However, an examination of this aspect of the Arizona law demonstrates that, in practice, the neediest public schools receive only a minimal benefit. An analysis by the Arizona Republic reveals that public schools with the greatest needs receive the least from tax credit donations. For example, Nadaburg Elementary—a public school in one of the state's wealthier districts—was able to collect as much as $333 per student through tax credits. In contrast, Glendale Elementary, located in a predominantly poor area, was able to collect only $4 per student during this same period. The analysis did find a few exceptions where schools in low-income areas benefited from donations made by nearby retirement communities, but the overall finding was clear: public schools in wealthier communities have benefited disproportionately.24
Similarly, the study conducted by Arizona State University's Glen Wilson found that in 1998, among a sample of 929 public schools, the schools in the poorest areas and with the lowest test scores received the least money from tax credit donations. The study reported that public schools in the poorest communities received fewer than 4,100 donations amounting to approximately $2,900 per school. Conversely, public schools in the wealthiest areas of the state received more than 29,000 donations averaging approximately $13,000 per school.25 By allowing taxpayers to direct where their dollars go, the Arizona tax credit law actually exacerbates existing gaps in the quality of programs between low-income schools and schools that serve wealthier communities.
In fact, most of the tax credits are used by middle- and upper-class families as a subsidy for their own children's extracurricular expenses—expenses they would have incurred anyway.26 Since the tax credit is a delayed reimbursement, only families who earn enough to owe state taxes, and who can afford the up-front expenses, can utilize the credit. In other words, there is no way for poorer families to take advantage. As a result, there is little expansion of opportunities for low-income students to participate in extracurricular activities, since these activities rely heavily on a family's ability to pay.27
Both overall statistics and individual examples support this conclusion. According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, in 1998 more than 75 percent of tax credit claimants had an income surpassing $50,000, including more than 50 percent with incomes above $75,000.28 In contrast, less than a quarter of the claims were made by taxpayers earning between $20,000-$50,000. And a mere 2 percent of tax-credit claims were made by families earning $20,000 or less.29
Subsidies for Trips to Catalina Island
School officials report that wealthier Arizona parents have used the tax credit to help send their children on band field trips to Vancouver and New York, or to send other students to cheerleading camp. Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Graham Keegan used the tax credit to recoup $200 of the $300 she paid for her son's trip to Catalina Island, off the coast of southern California—but less fortunate students stayed at home.30 Meanwhile, the state's ability to bolster educational programs at public schools is clearly undermined due to the loss of millions through the tax credit. In 1998, the state lost $8.9 million just through extracurricular-activity tax credits. This figure soared to $14.7 million in 1999.31
While supporters argued that the law would provide a fresh stream of money for public schools, very little of the money credited as "donations" for public schools actually represents new funding. In practice, parents are obtaining receipts from school officials for expenses that they have traditionally paid each year (e.g., purchasing a band instrument or athletic equipment). Relatively few taxpayers are writing open-ended checks that public schools are free to use for new programs that enhance students' academic or cultural experiences.
For example, Scottsdale's Desert Canyon Middle School collected $150,242 in "donations" in one year, but 98 percent of that amount paid for pre-existing school activities that parents had traditionally funded.32 Similarly, Paradise Unified Valley School District received $770,000 in tax credit donations in 1999, but only $183,000 truly represented new money to the schools. The remaining $587,000 was claimed as credits by parents for their children's extracurricular activities, which included the district's annual trip to Catalina Island Marine Institute where students study oceanography and scuba diving.33
The schools are basically reduced to issuing receipts so parents can claim their credit—and must spend inordinate amounts of resources to do so. According to Paradise Valley's assistant superintendent for business services, James DiCello, of the $183,000 received by the district, more than half was spent on overtime for secretaries—who stayed late to write receipts for parents claiming the credit—and for other related costs.34
Problems associated with the extracurricular activity tax credit also can be seen in the lax reporting mechanisms that are in place. With schools having little incentive to report accurate data to state officials, the Department of Revenue has found serious discrepancies between the donations reported by schools and taxpayer contributions. The Department of Revenue was only able to verify about 61% of the reported data.35 Due to the complexity in collecting data from various parties, the Department of Revenue decided to rely on just one set of data for the future—donations made toward the extracurricular activities at public schools.36
Arizona taxpayer dollars going to public schools or private STOs under the tax credit law are not, in fact, "donations" as supporters generally call them. While a state can earmark funds based on the needs of a public school and its students, Arizona's tuition tax credit interferes with this ability—effectively reallocating funds in a patently inequitable manner that hinders school improvement and reinforces economic divisions.37 In essence, by diverting public money to private tuition organizations which then allocate funds, the tax credit functions as a de facto voucher system with very little accountability. This may explain why one newspaper noted that the architect of the tax credit law and his allies consider the private tuition tax credit provision to be "the next best thing to vouchers."38 Using state tax dollars in this manner serves to exacerbate, rather than ameliorate, inequities in educational resources. Similarly, the tax credit for public school extracurricular expenses serves largely to benefit middle-class and wealthy parents by subsidizing their children's extracurricular activities, while offering little benefit to low-income families.
Proponents are touting the Arizona tax credit law as a model for expanding educational opportunities. Indeed, the state's tax credit scheme does serve as a model—for what other states should avoid.
|Arizona's Tuition Tax Credit Numbers at a Glance
|Private School Tax Credits (STOs)
|Extra-curricular Activity Tax Credits
|Total Tax Credits
|$1.8 million
(15 STOs)
|$8.9 million
|$10.7 million
|$13.7 million
(31 STOs)
|$14.7 million
|$28.4 million
|$17.5 million
(35 STOs)
|Data not available
|More than
$17.5 million39
|$33 million
|More than
$23.6 million40
|More than
$56.5 million41
SOURCE: Private School Tuition Organization Tax Credits Reported by School Tuition Organization, Calendar Year 1998 through 2000, Arizona Department of Revenue; Public School Extracurricular Activity Credit Reported by Schools and Taxpayers, 1998 and 1999, Arizona Department of Revenue. (Note: Some totals are listed as "more than" a specific amount because the state has not yet released data on extracurricular activity tax credits for the year 2000.)
- Lowell C. Rose and Alec M. Gallup, "The 33d Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools," September 2001. (For the first time in the poll's history, a majority of respondents gave their local public schools a grade of A or B.)
- Christine Hall, "State Legislators Endorse School Tax Credits," CNSNews.com, August 3, 2001.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse; Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000, p. A-1.
- Carrie Lips, "Arizona School-Choice Plan Provides Model," USA Today, August 22, 2001.
- Data based on donations made to private STOs from 1998-2000 and donations made to public schools from 1998 to 1999 only; data for public school donations made in 2000 is not currently available; Arizona Department of Revenue. Available figures on the cost of the Arizona tax credit program are provided in the chart at the end of this report.
- School Tuition Organizations are defined as charitable organizations exempt from federal income tax as specified in the 501 (C)(3) of the IRS code; organizations allocate at least 90% of annual revenue toward educational scholarships or tuition grants to students, allowing them to attend any qualified school they are admitted to. A.R.S. § 43-1089 [4]
- Glen Y. Wilson, "Effects on Funding Equity of the Arizona Tax Credit Law," Education Policy Analysis Archives, August 1, 2000.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse: Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000.
- ibid.
- Private School Tuition Organization Tax Credits as Reported by School Tuition Organizations, 1998-2000, Arizona Department of Revenue.
- Survey data collected from telephone interviews with officials at STOs, September 7 and 10, 2001.
- Glen Y. Wilson, "Effects on Funding Equity of the Arizona Tax Credit Law," Education Policy Analysis Archives, August 1, 2000.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse: Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000.
- ibid.
- School Tax Credit Information, Arizona Department of Revenue publication, access date September 2001.
- ibid.
- "Arizona's Individual Income Tax Credit for Schools, Report of 1998 Credits," Arizona Department of Revenue, Office of Economic Research and Analysis, October 2000.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse: Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000.
- ibid.
- Arizona Department of Revenue, School Tax Credit Information; Arizona Department of Revenue, STO data from 1998 and 1999.
- House Bill 2064, January 18, 2001.
- "Abuse of School Tax Credit Must Stop," Arizona Republic, April 17, 2000.
- Lori Baker, "Schools Get a Break: Tax Credit Spurs Donations," Arizona Republic, April 12, 2000.
- Glen Y. Wilson, "Effects on Funding Equity of the Arizona Tax Credit Law," Education Policy Analysis Archives, August 1, 2000, pp. 3-5.
- "Abuse of School Tax Credit Must Stop," Arizona Republic, April 17, 2000.
- ibid.
- Data based on federal adjusted gross income; "Arizona's Individual Income Tax Credits For Schools: Final Report of 1998 Credits," Arizona Department of Revenue, Office of Economic Research and Analysis, October 2000, pp.6-7; Glen Y. Wilson, "Effects on Funding Equity of the Arizona Tax Credit Law," Education Policy Analysis Archives, August 1, 2000.
- Glen Y. Wilson, "Effects on Funding Equity of the Arizona Tax Credit Law," Education Policy Analysis Archives, August 1, 2000.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse: Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000.
- Refers to donations made to public and charter schools; Public School Extra Curricular Activity Receipts as Reported by Schools and Taxpayers, Arizona Department of Revenue, 1998 and 1999; data for 2000 is not available at present.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse: Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000.
- ibid.
- ibid.
- Arizona Department of Revenue, School Tax Credit Information.
- As reported to PFAWF researchers during a phone interview, September 6, 2001.
- Glen Y. Wilson, "Effects on Funding Equity of the Arizona Tax Credit Law," Education Policy Analysis Archives, August 1, 2000, p. 2.
- Karina Bland, "School Tax Credits Wide Open to Abuse: Millions Are Diverted From Needy Students," Arizona Republic, April 9, 2000.
- Based on donations made to private STOs in 2000; data for public school donations for 2000 not currently available; Donations to Private Tuition Organizations and Scholarships Granted, As Reported by Private STO to the Arizona Department of Revenue, data for 1998-2000.
- Based on public school donations from 1998 and 1999 only, data for 2000 currently not available; Public School Extracurricular Activity Receipts, As Reported by Schools, Arizona Department of Revenue, 1998 and 1999 data.
- Total figures based on donations made to STOs from 1998 to 2000 and donations made to public schools from 1998 to 1999 only; Public School Extracurricular Activity Receipts, As Reported by Schools, Arizona Department of Revenue, 1998 and 1999 data; Donations to Private Tuition Organizations and Scholarships Granted, As Reported by Private STO to the Arizona Department of Revenue, data for 1998-2000.
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Dalhausser, Rosenthal Win All-American Semi
B.J. Hoeptner Evans, Manager, Communications, Phone: (719) 228-6800, E-Mail: email@example.com
USAV Facebook - @USA_Volleyball - @USAV Beach
LONG BEACH, Calif. (July 26, 2013) – A full day of beach volleyball came down to a battle between the top two U.S. men's teams on Friday, with Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal defeating Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, 21-16, 21-19 in the semifinals of the FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam.
Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Rosenthal (Redondo Beach, Fla.), seeded No. 4, will play in Saturday's gold medal match against Spain's No. 14 Pablo Herrera Allepuz and Adrián Gavira Collado at 2:30 p.m. PT. Gibb (Bountiful, Utah) and Patterson (Van Nuys, Calif.), seeded No. 1, will play in the bronze medal match against Italy's No. 6 Nicolai Paolo and Daniele Lupo at 11 a.m. Both matches are scheduled to be shown live on the Universal Sports Network.
Dalhausser and Rosenthal scored the final point of their victory on a Dalhausser ace to the back of the court that neither Gibb nor Patterson tried to return. Dalhausser said he was ready for the match to end after a day of competition that started at 8:15 a.m. and included three matches.
"That last serve for me was like, 'I'm going for it all.'" Dalhausser said. "Either I'm going to make an ace or I'm going to hit it out. Luckily I got an ace."
The ace was one of three for Dalhausser in the match. He also finished (unofficially) with four blocks. Rosenthal totaled 23 kills and 15 digs. Gibb had 10 kills and three blocks while Patterson finished with 16 attacks and 11 digs.
The match was the second time this season that Rosenthal has played against Gibb, who was his partner for seven years before the team split at the end of 2012. Dalhausser and Rosenthal also won the first meeting at the FIVB World Championships in Poland.
"It happens in volleyball all the time," Rosenthal said of playing his former partner. "We've got to go into it like it's another match that we've got to win. They're having a great season and we're having a pretty good season too. It's great for both of us."
Dalhausser and Rosenthal advanced to the semifinals with a third-round 22-20, 14-21, 15-9 win in 53 minutes over Brazil's No. 5 Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego. Gibb and Patterson had an easier time, defeating No. 18 Iver Andreas Horrem and Geir Eithun of Norway, 21-13, 21-17 in 36 minutes.
Dalhausser and Rosenthal opened the day with a 21-13, 21-15 win in 38 minutes in the second round over Canada's No. 12 Ben Saxton and Chaim Schalk. Gibb and Patterson beat Germany's No. 13 seeded Markus Böckermann and Mischa Urbatzka in the first round, 21-12, 21-15 in 34 minutes.
Alison and Emanuel knocked Todd Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Ryan Doherty (Toms River, N.J.) from the tournament in the second round with a 21-9, 21-15 victory in 31 minutes.
Day, Ross Get Their Best FIVB Finish in Long Beach
In the women's bracket on Friday, Emily Day (Torrance, Calif.) and Summer Ross (Carlsbad, Calif.) gave themselves opportunities to win in both the semifinals and bronze medal match, but could not convert and finished fourth. It was their best finish in an FIVB beach volleyball event.
Day and Ross, seeded No. 15, fell to Brazil's No. 2 Taiana Lima and Talita Da Rocha Antunes in the semifinals, 22-24, 22-20, 16-14. In the bronze medal match, Germany's No. 7 Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler defeated Day and Ross, 21-18, 25-23.
Lima and Talita went on to win the gold medal, defeating their compatriots Maria Clara Salgado Rufino and Carolina Solberg Salgado, 20-22, 21-15, 15-13 in the final.
Asked what positives she could take away from the two losses, Day said, "Knowing that we deserve to be here and that our hard work has paid off and that we're battling the best in the world.
"Everyone's great out here. Everyone's been playing forever. It can go either way sometimes. We need to work hard and get better."
Ross agreed that experience will bring improvement.
"I think I need to keep working hard and keep getting better," Ross said. "A couple times today I felt like I couldn't side out and that shouldn't happen."
Day and Ross won the first set of their semifinal against Lima and Talita, 24-22 and reached match point in the second set at 20-18. But Brazil came back with four straight points to win the set 22-20, and then took the tiebreaker 16-14.
A few hours later in the bronze medal match, Holtwick and Semmler took a relatively easy 21-18 victory in the first set. Day and Ross seemed more energized in the second set and led 18-15 before Germany used a 4-1 run to tie the score at 19-19. Ross got a kill off the block to give the U.S. set point and a chance to take the match to a tiebreaker. But Semmler scored on two straight kills to give Germany match point. The U.S. fought that off and Germany reach match point again at 23-22 ad 24-23 before winning on a U.S. hitting error.
World Series Cup
Action in the World Series Cup, a tournament that features top U.S. beach volleyball teams against top international teams, begins on Saturday.
The U.S. team of April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Jennifer Kessy (San Clemente, Calif.) will play compatriots Kerri Walsh Jennings (Saratoga, Calif.) and Whitney Pavlik (Laguna Beach, Calif.) in the second women's semifinal at 1 p.m. PT.
The winner will play the winner of the first women's semifinal (10 a.m.) between Germany's Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler and also Brazil's Taiana Lima and Talita Da Rocha Antunes.
The women's gold medal match is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The men's semifinals in the World Series Cup are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PT on Sunday, with Latvia's Alesandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins taking on Brazil's Pedro Salgado and Bruno Schmidt in the international semifinal.
The U.S. semifinal will feature Rosenthal and Dalhausser against Gibb and Patterson. The men's final is scheduled to be played at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For a World Series of Beach Volleyball TV schedule, click here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
About the Author: Katie Dowd serves as New Media Director at the U.S. Department of State.
Today, I am so excited to announce the arrival of a new State Department project called Opinion Space. Opinion Space is an innovative, interactive online tool we are launching in partnership with the University of California at Berkeley Center for New Media. Accessible to anyone around the world, Opinion Space solicits fresh perspectives on U.S. foreign policy and incorporates users' input into a creative visual display, based on the wisdom of crowds, to identify insightful ideas. You can find Opinion Space at www.state.gov/opinionspace.
During her recent speech on Internet Freedom, Secretary Clinton said, "[T]he Internet is a network that magnifies the power and potential of all others. And that's why we believe it's critical that its users are assured certain basic freedoms. Freedom of expression...is no longer defined solely by whether citizens can go into the town square and criticize their government without fear of retribution. Blogs, emails, social networks, and text messages have opened up new forums for exchanging ideas...."
With Opinion Space, we are experimenting to open a new forum to exchange ideas and share opinions, to bring together people around the world to discuss some of the critical issues facing us today, and to encourage the development of communities that can listen to one another, agree to disagree and hopefully learn from one another.
So, how does Opinion Space work? Well, to get started you provide your opinion to several questions based on a range of foreign policy issues. Based on your responses, your point of view is plotted on a global opinion map. Your position, marked by a yellow circle, is based on similarity of opinion: those who agree on basic issues are neighbors, those who are far apart have agreed to disagree. You can instantly see where you stand in relation to other participants on the map. Then, by reviewing comments from others, you help the community highlight the most insightful ideas.
A participatory culture thrives on the sharing of opinions among people over networks. We hope you will engage in this experiment with us, learn with us, and let us know what you think. We will keep you up to date as the experiment unfolds , and what we are learning.
Each month, we will introduce new discussion questions to foster community participation. Everyone in the community will have differing ideas and opinions, and you will see that even those nearest to you might agree on some basic foreign policy issues but might disagree on a response to the discussion question. This month, we ask: If you met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, what issue would you tell her about, why is it important to you, and what specific suggestions do you have for addressing it?
Let us know your thoughts by joining the discussion on www.state.gov/opinionspace and tell your friends on Twitter using #opinionspace.
Armstrong in the United Kingdom writes:
What a high tech tool this is!! 3D specs required? Actually, have yet to figure out how it works but it does look interesting. Need to find a space in my timetable.
Enjoy your trip to Moscow.
Masood in California writes:
Excellent idea! It will provide valuable insight as to what people are thinking are the world.
Sam in California writes:
Dear Madam Secreatary,
Thank you for your courage to stand up for America's interest despite the expected pressure from the strong Israeli lobby (AIPAC) that were successfully able to virtually control Congress for years even on issues that will jeopardize our country's interest and image abroad.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
3 16 10
How in the world is the United States going to tell Israel what to do or Palestine? It's very simple even a child can understand that two groups of people do NOT like each other and living next to one other only brings chaos and fighting. It's just like in school, when you have two parties fighting, in order to break it up safely, is removing one Party from the area. You can't have your cake and eat it too... Bottom line is Palestine or Israel will one day have to pack up and move on out. You spend billions of dollars and then you tell these Nations what to do, how to act...but they will both fight to survive for freedom. All the envoy's and smart people on earth, wont convince either side from giving up the tensions, the land, war, and the path of destruction between each other. The only true solution to this problem, is removing one group safely to a new location. Then you have Freedom and Peace between these two Nations. Palestinians do not want to move out? It was written in our King James bible that the land where Israel presides belongs to them, instead of giving Palestine millions of dollars, why not just give them the money and tell them to pack up and move on out. Your hearts are in the right place, but your noggin isn't working. There will be only room for growth with ONE Nation in that spot. Keep on your current path and see if it works? Doubtful, insults to Vice President Biden, it's not the USA, it's the Holy Land of Israel. Hopefully, someone will start using there noggin... A two state solution won't work, hasn't worked, and will NEVER work between these Nations. The true insult is trying to put a square plug in a round hole. "It just won't work."
The State Department and President Barack Obama's plan to send envoys to countries is ridiculous. The Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton should be representing our Nation. I remember when Hillary was questioned about what her Husband would of done, well Mr. Clinton had his 8 years in office. The problem the State Department is having, too many Chiefs trying to stir the pot. You need ONE Voice for Leadership. People around the world DO NOT WANT groups of people telling them how they should behave, or what to do, then you have MIXED SIGNALS. We wouldn't be having this ridiculous situation with Vice President Biden because he shouldn't be answering the Call in relations to State Department Issues. If Hillary Clinton is Leading the State Department then LEAD. If by having all the other Chiefs get involved only disrupts the ONE Voice coming from the United States. Sorry to put this so boldly. I'm sure the people hired to do the envoy's can be apart of something bigger to help out but in a different light. Leadership is about one Voice, ONE Command, ONE Person willing to STAND-UP and take action. The United States Needs President Barack Obama to Lead the Country, but also Needs Mrs. Hillary Clinton to be the single Voice of Leadership representing our United States State Department issues with President Obama's message and policies. There's a saying, "Too many chiefs and not enough indians" you guys are trying to hard to solve the simple problems. Keep it simple and everything will work out. Just like in Mexico. I heard on CNN news Mrs. Townsend's comments, she doesn't hold back and uses her noggin. She would be excellent to help out with the State Department issues. Not in the capacity of envoy, but someone who can contribute and help with using Smart Intelligence to the State Department, using Hillary' favorite saying, "SMART POWER"
You can disagree on what President George W. Bush did, but you can't disagree with logic. You use things that work in life. Keep it simple. Palastine could of been moved out, and built a brand new country with the amount of money given to them, and they could of lived peace. Instead, people keep trying to put Isreal and Palestinians together. It's almost like trying to push cain and able together in the very beginning of life. One worked hard the other expected something for nothing. Think about it. In the end How will God Judge your acts, your decisions, your motives, if they lead to turmoil? Peace is about finding solutions to problems. It's impossible to feed the world hunger, but its NOT impossible to teach the world how to fish and Hunt for food or use farming to help people. That's what the garden of eden was all about, teaching adam and eve how to cultivate the land to make crops.
Godbless and think!!!
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
3 16 10
What I would suggest or recommend to the State Department and President of the United States is the following regarding Palestine.
Use the envoy leaders to setup an evacuation of all the Palestine People and move them to Greenland. Of course, contact the country of Greenland first to establish a communication and explain the situation and problems that exist between Israel and Palestine. See if Greenland would be supportive on a new homestead and Government for the Palestinian people. One country in the world nobody ever hears anything about, it's GREENLAND. It might be a Godsend to move the Palestinian people out safely, build a new city and Government on Greenland soil. This move would bring peace, stability and security for the world.
Raul in California writes:
there are a lot of pro-Hillary websites and clubs on your honor:"all things Hillary","Hillary villagers","secretary clinton blog","the world of Hillary Clinton","Madame Secretary","the legendary Hillary Clinton","Team Hillary Clinton","Still4hill","Community life Hillary",etc,etc,etc.Tell us how can we help you succeed in the job you have right now.We are here for you ever!
Sergio B. in Chile writes:
Thanks for the opportunity.
Miryam W. in Nebraska writes:
Do you not know what the Word says about Israel? Genesis 12:3 "I will bless those who bless you and him who curses you I will curse. The covenantal land of Israel covers a lot of territory that you could even imagine: Joshua 1:4- "From the desert (gaza) and this Lebanon until the great river Euphrates , to the Great Sea (Mediterrain) toward the setting of the Sun will be your boundaries. Pretty much all of Lebanon, parts of Syria, all of Jordan, Gaza, the West Bank, etc. With the Holy City of the God of the Bible Jerusalem as the capital...
Everytime one of the Presidents cursed Israel by forcing them to give away land for Peace, a natural disaster, or financial disaster happened to this nation. The First President Bush, with his peace pac, the biggest recored Nor'easter hit Cape Code and flatten his house and other mass damage. President Clinton and his peace pac brought record tornadic action to Arkansas and the second President Bush there was a massive Tropical storm that sat over Houston, when we pushed them out of Gaza one week later Katrina hit with full force, and then when we pushed them out of the West Bank Rita hit. And there are other things that have happened shortly after we have cursed Israel. Great Britian lost their empire when they cursed them back in the 30's with the doctirne to keep them out of the land. these are but a few...
Sit up and take heed. The God of the Bible does not like you messing with Israel. They are His people!!!!!
Maya P. in New Jersey writes:
@ Mrs. Hillary Clinton,
Regarding your official letter to Israel, please explain how anyone can be offended by building houses. How can building houses offend our great country that, from the day of its inception, constantly fought for the right to build, and built throughout its history, thus becoming so great? Whichever country tried to build houses for its citizens, I would be offended by anyone forbidding them to build. Why do you believe that the United States should not have been offended by the "contribution of Muslims to the United States" of the events of 9/11, when nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, and many others are still "quietly" losing theirs as a consequence of that treacherous attack? Why not be offended by the dancing on rooftops in the town of Paterson and free food in all Muslim restaurants on 9/11? Why not be offended by the digging of countless tunnels for transporting deadly cargo into the Gaza strip? Why not be offended by the endless bombardment of civilians in Sderot and Ashdod? Why not be offended by losing billions of dollars received by Yasser Arafat, paid for with the blood of Palestinian and Jewish victims, and (partially) inherited by his wife Suha? Or does the passionate kiss from the First Lady legalize all of that? Please explain to me how the United States ended up in such a shameful situation.
Sincerely, Maya P.
Marjon in California writes:
Congratulations on finally showing some signs that the U.S. is willing to hold Israel's feet to the fire. As a one-time resident in Israel (and Jewish), I saw first hand the arrogant contempt in which Israelis held the U.S., while knowing that they had an ally who would always, in the end, come to their support. I also saw that it was an open secret in Israel that peace is seen as a more dangerous unknown than the current status. Peace would bring on an internal war. The current status is a known quantity, and with the firm support of the U.S., there is no reason to move towards peace. Both sides, Palestinians and Israelis, want peace on only their own terms; a negotiated peace is politically risky for both sides, and one side or the other will always inject something to derail progress. The recent settlement issue during VP Biden's visit is no coincidence. Settlements are not primary for Israel's security, but have become a symbol for their willingness to move towards peace. They don't exactly have a 'partner for peace' in the Palestinian leadership, but their stance on the settlements, which are more symbolic than a primary issue for Israel's security, is further indication that Israel, like the Palestinians, does not really want peace, except on terms that no Palestinian leader could accept. However, the continued unrest represents a security risk for the U.S. in the Middle East. It is time for Israel to see signs that U.S. support is not guaranteed.
Inigo in Montana writes:
Anyone can see from the posts below that the what used to be Canaan but became Israel then became Palestine and is now Israel again "situation" is intractable and beyond anyone's power to solve.
My suggestion is build a wall around the whole area, stop shipping anything in or out and let the parties settle their differences the old fashioned way. Either that or nuke the sight from orbit.
It's the only way to be sure...
Arthur T. in California writes:
Please, can we stop pushing genetically engineered poison foods on the world? Thanks
Anne Kathryn in Brazil writes:
Congratulations, this will be a wonderful tool to bring people into the international relations arena. Hope good ideas are posted to help world leaders understand and cope with problems that cause conflicts around the world. My suggestion is that this forum be shared with university teachers in Latin America, so they help students find ways to prosper the region. I thank the organizers for this great opportunity.
Anne Kathryn,
International Relations graduate, UNESA Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Michael R. in California writes:
I believe you mean University of California at Berkeley.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
3 19 10
World leaders can demand the lands be frozen but apparently nobody seems to listen, that the simple solution to the existing problem is the Palestines. Is real is it's own state and defends it's own freedom. Who are we to demand anything from Israel? Your barking up the wrong tree... You had the solution right in front of you and still want to punish Israel. In the United States our current situation of treading trillions of dollars, deficits rising, and somebody wants to play God. There is but only ONE GOD and call it a vision, call it a voice, remove the Palestinians from that area and move to a new location. Biblical, these two have been at it for years. Giving money to both sides haven't worked. Selling weapons to both sides haven't worked, and telling both sides what to do hasn't worked. If your two Nation solution worked, it would have worked by NOW!!!
The first Commandment in the BIBLE says, God moved the Jews out of the land of slavery from Egypt into the Promise Land. This is Gods word, NOT Man or Woman's word. Defying God will only bring tragedy upon our Nation. As Congress continues to bleed our Nation into huge deficits, people have forgotten how to read or understand the basic understanding of God. Breaking the 1st Commandment of the Bible.
It has been written, God will protect his people. Chose the wrong the side, and our own National Security, our own Country will face magnitudes of Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Floods, Disasters beyond repair, is it really worth getting into political fights, or finding TRUE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM?
It's time someone start becoming more humbled, less proud, and showing a Diplomatic approach to Freedom by moving the Palestinians out of the area and making peace.
If its President Barack Obama to punish Israel, he will lose bad. God's might and power is greater than any US President or Prime Minister, read your bibles, God is the highest King, and he will rule. Presidents serve for 4 or 8 years, God has been presiding since earth was created.
Eric in New Mexico
@ Katie Dowd,
Jeeze, and Dipnote wasn't enough like public opinion so we're all invited to a "group think" study group - to see who thinks like us..(chuckle).
Thanks for the "head's up", I'll check it out. Could be fun and enlightening, as I get older and more set in my ways I've come to appreciate Dipnote's non real-time posting format.
Simply because I can self edit my first initial reaction to some of the comments...(chuckle), saving the moderator some grief no doubt.
If there's one really good example of why foreign policy cannot and should never be done by public opinion survey, I would cite CNN's "chat line" comments on the evening of Sept. 11th 2001.
My inspiration for all the things I've ever said about foreign affairs on this blog came partially as a result of viewing the CNN chat line comments for several hours Sept. 11th, fully a third of which spoke of nuking Afghanistan. Mob mentality, on-line.
This is my answer to them.
"Isotope Road""In my granddad's day, some of his fellow scientists at Los Alamos had a "pool" going before the Trinity test as to how large the resulting explosion (in kilotons of TNT) would be. Anyone care to guess how many "Los Alamos's" there are today on the planet? How much Gross National Product is invested? To create weapons that cannot be used, and remain civilized. Some 300 billion a year for the last 50 yrs. on defense in this country alone, this is not for me to judge, as I haven't all the facts. I think it unfortunate, however, that it was deemed necessary, and I stress here the biggest "what if?" is what we might have accomplished as the Human species had we chosen to live in peace, instead of fear after WW2. We have lived so long with the reality of imminent destruction that we've become numb to it in ways that are as dysfunctional as the "Simpsons".
One cannot simultaneously plan for the American dream, and prepare for Armageddon.
Anyone who has witnessed the birth of one's child can tell you that yes indeed you create your own reality, the question is what do we wish to create for ourselves as reality on this planet, now and for our children's, and their children's future? Not just in this country, but the world as a whole, as an international vision.
Inherently, change is viewed with suspicion, as a threat to culture and ways of tradition and ethical belief systems. As it applies to developing countries in this nuclear age, the post-cold war aftermath presents a vast paradox that present no easy solutions, and has culminated in the reality of the war on terrorism as it exists today."
What has been interesting to me is having watched the US government adopt not just a similar mindset, but carve out a plan of action to deal with the dicototomy percieved above.
Not that I said anything new back then, but just maybne it was the way it was put that got folks thinking about how to go about confidence building in the world at large that folks appreciated and found useful in that very long letter, only the opening salvo against the status quo is reprinted here.
So does opinion drive policy, or simply help define the parameters of its success?
( ...continued musings from the prior ramblings found here);
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Donald,
Your remarks are strangly reminicint of Ayattollah Khameni's recent declaration that protesters of the state were guilty of "Warring against God."
Something you might want to think about before you bring God into it again.
Since God isn't much concerned with man's petty land disputes at this point apparently, it's up to mankind to get a grip on them.
Re; "PUNISHING ISRAEL WOULD BE LIKE PUNISHING GOD"
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
@ Eric in New Mexico
I believe will have to wait and see approach. To think that God doesn't care about his Holy Land? Wasn't even President Barack Obama went to the West Wall with a prayer? You can count on one thing, God does care about his land. He also cares about his people. He will protect his people. If you have a bible Eric look it up.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Donald,
I wouldn't presume to know whether God cares or not, but if he/she were to make an apperance to settle a petty land dispute among humans, I'd think that would be news.
If it were up to me, I'd revoke the lease if they we're not abiding by the terms of it put down in the good book.
Being Buddhist helps being non-attached to certain aspects of the conflict in Israel/Palestine on a personal level in that given their own devices, they'll find a reason to fight about something, the more trivial the better I've concluded.
A casual observer would think your expectation a bit odd, being that for all intents and apperances it seems God left a long time ago and never looked back, while the people still try to find him in the middle of the hell they made for themselves.
Now is that succinct perspective enough to help folks get a grip?
Indeed a cause for wonder, let's wait and see.


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Any good Web framework needs a solid persistence strategy. In this second installment of his Mastering Grails series, Scott Davis introduces the Grails Object Relational Mapping (GORM) API. See how easy it is to create relationships between tables, e... read more
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Is there any truth to this?
if thats the case is it worth ordering all these different starters from different regions throughout the world if at the end of the day they are going to turn in to the same thing?
RIght now i am using a sourdough starter from KA that ive been using for bread baking, im using it for pizza tooI am contemplating ordering the italian starter kit from sourdo.com but ive heard that after a few weeks, the sourdough starter will take on the characteristics of the bacteria and yeasts in your home enviornment and be the same reguardlessis there any truth to this?if thats the case is it worth ordering all these different starters from different regions throughout the world if at the end of the day they are going to turn in to the same thing?
From a pizza-making perspective, those differences in microflora may have a limited corresponding variation in crust flavour (the products of bacterial and yeast fermentation in sourdough are pretty similar regardless of species albeit in varying ratios).
I must disagree with this. The differences in flavor can be stark.CL
Differences in crust flavour or raw starter?
I was referring to the crust flavor. I generally use the Ischia culture, but from time-to-time I use the SF culture (both from sourdo.com). Everyone in the family can tell a difference. I think if you rushed things you could make pies with both that tasted similar, but they would both be similarly bland.
I'm with Craig and Chau on this one. I now have 7 different captured and purchased cultures in my stable (long story). In addition to flavor differences that are very temperature sensitive, there are also large variations in leavening power.
However you may notice different fermentation times/activity especially with respect to temperature
However, the yeasties and lactos contained in the flour which you are replenishing your starter with, will have a huge affect on the starter. In fact, you could end up, eventually, with a starter that has none of the original organisms. Unlikely, but it is possible. Temperature has a huge affect on which organisms will win out in the end.
No, I've seen no evidence that you are correct in this assertion. You are ignoring the fact that the flora in the flour are dormant and weak while the flora in the culture are health and active. By the time the flora in the flour do anything, that in the culture will have doubled many times. If your culture is healthy, contaminants in the flour are unlikely to have any effect at all. This has been proved true over and over and over here.CL
Exactly how could one ascertain that without sophisticated laboratory analysis? You must understand that once the starter is fed, those dormant organisms will eventually awaken. The environment is ideal for awakening the wild wheat yeasts(no need to wait for several days for the starter to acidify). Many myths exist about starter cultures. Those myths continue to flourish in the midst of the techniques of producing viable starters.
I'm with Craig and Chau on this one. I now have 7 different captured and purchased cultures in my stable (long story). In addition to flavor differences that are very temperature sensitive, there are also large variations in leavening power. To the OP: you will find both of the Italian starters make delicious pizzas and breads and will retain their uniqueness. In my experience, wild cultures you capture in your kitchen are all a matter chance. Even if you capture one that leavens and flavors satisfactorily, its members may not reproduce fast enough in the conditions in the culture to fend off more prolific contaminants. In time, a stronger population may dominate. OTOH, the starters I have purchased from sourdo.com have been in use in some cases for hundreds of years. They thrive in the particular conditions in which I store and use them in my kitchen. When properly cared for, it is highly unlikely that local contaminants could ever be more than tiny fraction of the population. The biggest concern in this case wold be cross-contamination among my sourdough cultures.
Okay fair enough. In the 2 years that I have been frequenting this board daily, I do not recall anyone posting that all their starters have developed the same flavors.
There is hardly a such thing as a "captured culture" Your so called 'captured wild culture' comes from the flour itself. Not the air. You never captured anything. This "wild yeast" was already present within the flour. Another poster has tried to make this point.It is in for this reason, at least in part, that if you want to change the way a starter tastes just change what you feed it and how much it gets fed. Give me any starter, no matter how stable you think it is, and I can ruin it with voluminous bags of generic flour over the course of a few weeks. It's actually not that difficult.
Chau, fwiw you might find Brian Spangler's experiences/observations interesting in this thread:http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,11634.msg123514.html#msg123514
I do not argue with observations. I simply explain them. The fact of the matter is that you have people out there claiming *both* scenarios have happened to them depending on the particular person. I do not ignore the opposite experience simply because it has not been mine.Okay fair enough. In the 2 years that I have been frequenting this board daily, I do not recall anyone posting that all their starters have developed the same flavors. But I do realize there are other forums besides this that I don't frequent. I should also note that I am not at all strict in my regimen to keep my starters unique and separate. I feed them at the same time, side by side, often times using the same stir but rinsing and wiping the stir inbetween and have still manage to keep separate starters. One of my starters when active is sweet as if it has sugar in it, while another is fairly acidic without sweetness. I also have several others that are mildly acidic with distinct flavor profiles. And they all seemingly differ slightly in leavening power as well. My experience is has been that I can change a starter by changing what I feed it and how much I feed it.How has the starter changed? Would you say it is a completely different starter? A totally different flavor profile? And does it stay different or would it revert back if you were to feed it it's normal flour again? So the starter is like a whole new starter than from what you started with simply by feeding it a different brand or type of flour? Do you think the difference in flavor is mainly due to the different flour used or are you convinced that new yeast from the new flour has taken hold?Chau
Again, I can't see inactive or dormant yeast taking off especially when there is a bazillion active yeast cells feeding and proliferating at a fast pace.


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ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 12, 2009) – U.S. outside hitter Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) has joined Sisley Treviso of Italy's Serie A1 men's volleyball league.
Salmon played in his first match with the team on March 8 as a substitute in its 2-3 (25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 7-15) loss to Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari. He played in the fourth set but did not score.
Salmon started the season with Ziraat Ankara in the Turkish league, but had to leave due to physical problems. During the 2007-08 season he played for Andreoli Latina in Italy.
"The team and the company are very organized," Salmon said in a release on Sisley Treviso's web site. "Treviso is a beautiful city. It's a small and friendly place with great history and great culture."
With two weekends left in the regular season, Treviso is in seventh place (11-13) in the Serie A1 league.
The Turkish team Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediye, which features U.S. outside hitter Scott Touzinsky (St. Louis, Mo.) and middle blocker Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.), is in third place in the Turkish league following a 3-0 (25-26, 25-15, 25-15) defeat of host Kastamonu Bozkurt on March 8.
Millar scored 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. Touzinsky scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks.
The team will face Polis Akademisi in its next match on March 15.
Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) and his Russian team Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, which is in seventh place in the Russian Super League, upset league-leading Fakel Novy Urengoi, including U.S. setter Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) and outside hitter Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.), 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 15-12). The defeat ended Fakel's five-match winning streak.
Priddy scored 16 points on 13 kills, two blocks and one ace. Rooney had 15 points on 15 kills. Hansen had one point on one block.
View photos of the match at www.fakelvolley.ru/photo3_20082009/15_ph.htm.
Lokomotiv Belogorie, which includes U.S. libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.), has moved into fourth place in the Super League following a 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20) defeat of U.S. opposite Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) on March 7.
Gardner scored 10 points on nine kills and one block for Ufa, which is in sixth place in the league.
Zenit Kazan, featuring U.S. setter Lloy Ball (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu) sits in fifth place in the Russian league and fell to Gazprom-Ugra Surgut, 1-3 (29-27, 18-25, 20-25, 21-25) on March 7. Stanley led all scorers with 23 points on 21 kills, one block and one ace. Ball had two points on two kills.
The final matches of the Super League regular season will be played on March 14. Going into the final weekend, Stanley is fifth among all scorers in the Super League with 352 points on 259 kills, 34 blocks and 59 aces. His 59 aces lead the league. Priddy is 15th among all scorers (259 points) and Gardner is 20th (241 points).
U.S. middle blocker Tom Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) scored 9.5 points on eight kills, 0.5 blocks and one ace as his Greek league team Olympiacos defeated AO Kifisias 3-2 (25-19, 25-21, 17-25, 22-25, 15-12) on March 7.
With two weeks left in the regular season, Olympiacos is in second place in the Greek league.
Matt Denmark (Edmond, Okla.) scored 4.5 points for AO Finikas Sirou as it beat AONS Milon, 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-18, 25-22). Denmark had two kills, 1.5 blocks and one ace in the match. Sirou is in seventh place in the league with a 10-10 record.
PAOK, which includes U.S. players Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.), Theo Brunner (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.), fell to league-leading Panathinaikos, 1-3 (25-22, 15-25, 27-29. 19-25) on March 7.
Patak led PAOK with 18 points on 15 kills, one block and two aces. Lotman had 16.5 points on 15 kills and 1.5 blocks. Brunner scored six points on five kills and one block.
Nils Nielsen (Fallbrook, Calif.) scored nine points on nine kills as MGS Apollon Kalamarias defeated EA Patron Lux, 3-2 (27-25, 15-25, 16-25, 38-36, 15-13) on March 7. Kalamarias is in 10th place in the league.
ACH Volley, which includes U.S. middle blockers Delano Thomas (Sacramento, Calif.) and Phil Eatherton (Glencoe, Mo.), finished the regular season in first place with a 16-0 record. The team will face the aon hotVolleys in the first round of the playoffs on March 12.
U.S. setter Jonathan Winder (Irvine, Calif.) scored three points on three blocks as his French league team Tourcoing fell to league-leading Paris Volley, 0-3 (25-27, 14-25, 17-25) on March 8. Tourcoing is in fourth place in the French league.
World League
Tickets are now on sale to see the U.S. Men's National Team play Netherlands in FIVB World League matches on July 17-18 (7 p.m. both nights) at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan.
Adult tickets are $25 for a reserved seat and $15 for general admission for one night. For both nights, it is $40 for a reserved seat and $25 for general admission. Discounts on general admission tickets for military service members and senior citizens are available.
The U.S. Men won their first World League title in 2008 and also won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Netherlands is returning to World League after a five-year absence. The last time it played in 2003, it finished 10th. It won World League in 1996, the same year it won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Updated Transfers List
Here's an updated list of U.S. men's volleyball transfers to foreign clubs:
Anderson, Fletcher (Okelljunga Volleybollklubb/Sweden)
Anderson, Matthew (Hyundai Capital Skywalkers/South Korea)
Ball, Lloy (Zenit Kazan/Russia)
Bates, Hudson (Adjuntas/Puerto Rico)
Beckwith, Paul (VCA HYPO Niederosterrich/Austria)
Billings, Brook (Fenerbahce/Turkey)
Brunner, Theodore (A.S. PAOK/Greece)
Budinger, Duncan (Landstede Zwolle/Netherlands)
Burik, Mark (Vingakers VK/Sweden)
Burrow, Ryan (Volejbalovy Oddil Pribram/Czech Republic)
Ching, Tony (Kastamonu Bozkurt/Turkey)
Daze, Jon (Marienlyst/Denmark)
Denmark, Matthew (Mets de Guaynabo/Puerto Rico)
Denmark, Matthew (A.C. Finike Syros/Greece)
Diehl, Michael (Anorthosis/Cyprus)
Durbin, Patrick (Adjuntas Gigantes/Puerto Rico)
Durbin, Patrick (Al-Ahli Club – Dubai/United Arab Emirates)
Dusharme, Mark (Loimaa Hurrikaani/Finland)
Eatherton, Phillip (ACH Volley/Slovenia)
Egan, David (Vingakers VK/Sweden)
Evans, Brian (HYPO VBK Klagenfurt/Austria)
Falknor, Timothy (Laon Volleyball Club/France)
Gardner, Gabriel (VC Ural, Ufa/Russia)
Green, Jason (Odbojkaski Klub Rovinj/Croatia)
Hansen, Kevin (Fakel New Urengoy/Russia)
Hildebrand, Tyler (Naranjito/Puerto Rico)
Hildebrand, Tyler (Maccabi Arazim Raanana/Israel)
Hoff, Thomas (Olympiacos S.C./Greece)
Holmes, Russell (Naranjito/Puerto Rico)
Holmes, Russell (Hypo Tirol/Austria)
Hove, Jordan (Boldklubben Marienlyst/Denmark)
Jablonsky, Jayson (Zinella Volley Bologna/Italy)
Kellum, Daniel (Loimaa Hurrikaani/Finland)
Ker, Tony (Al-Jahra Sporting Club/Kuwait)
Klosterman, Steve (Lares Patriotas/Puerto Rico)
Kowalski, Bartlomiej (Volleyball Club Everbeur/Belgium)
Kozlarek, Christopher (VBK Worther-See-Lowen Klagenfurt/Austria)
Kraushaar, Kristopher (Lares Patriotas/Puerto Rico)
Lambourne, Richard (Belgorod/Russia)
Lee, David (Trenkwalder Modena/Italy)
Lotman, Paul (Plataneros de Corozal/Puerto Rico)
Lotman, Paul (A.S. PAOK/Greece)
Luhning, Anthony (VBC Munchenbuchsee/Switzerland)
Macias, Carlos (Leones de Ponce Voleibol/Puerto Rico)
Macias, Carlos (Omonoia/Cyprus)
Mathews, Daniel (Al Ain Sports & Cultural Club/United Arab Emirates)
May, Timothy (Lares Patriotas/Puerto Rico)
McColloch, Kevin (VC Euphony Asse-Lennik/Belgium)
McKienzie, David (Corozal Plataneros/Puerto Rico)
McKienzie, David (Dynamo Krasnodar/Russia)
McKinney, Matt (Gigantes de Carolina/Puerto Rico)
Meerstein, Nathan (Club Voleibol St. Pere I Sant Pav de Tarragona/Spain)
Millar, Ryan (Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediye/Turkey)
Munoz, Paul (Los Nuevos Gigantes de Carolina/Puerto Rico)
Munoz, Paul (Benfica/Portugal)
Newcomb, Bryan (CDB Voley Guada/Spain)
Newcomb, Bryan (Sport Club Cesis/Latvia)
Nielsen, Nils (M.G.S. Apollon Kalamarias/Greece)
Olree, Pieter (Al Jazira Sports & Cultural Club/United Arab Emirates)
Ondelj, Aleksandar (TV Buhl/Germany)
Owens, Ryan (Tampereen Isku Volley/Finland)
Patak, Evan (AON Hot Volley Vienna [left club 1/8/09]/Austria)
Patak, Evan (PAOK Thessaloniki/Greece)
Polster, James (Mets de Guaynabo/Puerto Rico)
Polster, James (Dynamo Krasnodar [left club 12/08]/Russia)
Porter, Dominick (Volleyball Club Dresden/Germany)
Priddy, William (Lokomotiv Novosibirsk/Russia)
Proper, Matthew (Ankara Sosyal Guvenlik Kusumu/Turkey)
Ptaschinski, Nicholas (Okelljunga Volleybollklubb/Sweden)
Rooney, Sean (Fakel New Urengoy/Russia)
Salmon, Riley (Ziraatbank S.C. – Ankara [left club 1/09]/Turkey)
Salmon, Riley (Treviso/Italy)
Schkud, Jacob (VBK Worther-See-Lowen Klagenfurt/Austria)
Schlesinger, Adam (VBK Worther-See-Lowen Klagenfurt/Austria)
Scott, Damien (Lares Patriotas/Puerto Rico)
Scott, Damien (Al-Kuwait SC/Kuwait)
Scott, Jonathan (V.C. Sneek/Netherlands)
Seiffert, Christopher (SGK Voleybol Ihtisas – Ankara/Turkey)
Smith, David (TVB Volleyball GmbH/Germany)
Soler, Jeffrey (Los Nuevos Gigantes de Carolina/Puerto Rico)
Soler, Jeffrey (TSV Giesen/Hildesheim/Germany)
Stafford, Ryan (Patriotas de Lares/Puerto Rico)
Stafford, Ryan (TV1861 Rottenburg/Germany)
Stanley, Clayton (Zenit Kazan/Russia)
Suxho, Donald (Al Jazira Sports & Cultural Club/United Arab Emirates)
Tamas, Christopher (Isku-Volley/Finland)
Tarr, Robert (Guaynabo Mets/Puerto Rico)
Tarr, Robert (Al Shabab Sports Club/United Arab Emirates)
Thomas, Delano (ACH Volley/Slovenia)
Toppel, Curt (Gigantes de Carolina/Puerto Rico)
Toppel, Curt (Al-Arabi Sports Club/Qatar)
Touzinsky, Scott (Istanbul Belediyesi/Turkey)
Ullrich, Brock (Lares Patriotas/Puerto Rico)
Ullrich, Brock (Okelljunga Volleybollklubb/Sweden)
Vincent, Eric (Volleyball Club OK Marichol/Slovenia)
Walker, Lance (Polis Akademis ve Koleji Spor Kulubu/Turkey)
Webber, James Matthew (GFCO Ajaccio Volleyball/France)
Winder, Jonathan (Tourcoing/France)
Wooldridge, Eric (TVD Partizan - OK SIP Sempeter/Slovenia)
Zimmerman, Austin (VBC Biel-Bienne/Switzerland)


text:
School board moves ahead with tech plan
The Webster City Community Schools will move ahead with a technology plan that would put individual mobile devices in the hands of staff and students in the coming year. Monday night The school board approved the plan which calls for purchasing 98 iPads for the staff and developing a plan to lease about 1,790 such devices for each student in the district pre-K through high school.
"I think we're finally ready to take some action," said Superintendent Mike Sherwood. The technologycommittee researched the costs and benefitst of both laptops and tablet devices. Sherwood provided the board with a cost analysis of purchasing laptops versus the tablets. He said the laptops could cost from $1,600 to $2,000 per device, where as the tablets would total just shy of $700 with cases and software.
Sherwood said the roll-out plan would initially provide training and orientation on the tablets and then a later roll-out would be held for students.
"We have a professional development day on Feb. 25 and we're looking at having a tech fair," he said. "We'll have training and sessions, bringing in people to work with the staff. Then we'll set up the support structure and training structure district wide."
He said he expected that the roll-out of the student devices would in held in the next academic year, depending upon financing.
"I would hope we could look at a roll-out by mid-year," he said.
The plan also calls for pre-k through first grade to receive mini iPads, with the full-size units going to grades 2 and above. Sherwood said MAP testing was not yet available for the iPad, but had heard the tests may be available for the tablets in the coming year.
Sherwood said the devices would also allow the district to download textbooks.
Technology Director Mark Murphy said the 32GB tablets should be sufficient to download the textbooks as well as complete tasks requested by the instructors.
With the approval for the initial 98 iPads, it was estimated that delivery of the units with cases and software would be in about two to three weeks.
Early retirements
Two longtime Webster City instructors submitted their intention to retire at the end of the current school year.
Julie Tharp, first grade teacher at Pleasant View, announced that she will retire after 27 years with the district. Middle school Associate Principal Duane Harding also submitted his retirement letter. Both also submitted their resignations, effective at the end of the current contract year.
A resignation was also accepted from Seth McGrane, who resigned his duties as head varsity baseball coach.
Kindergarten teacher Lisa Doering was granted a leave of absense for the remainder of the 2012-2013 academic year.
Board members Juli Jaycox and Beth Van Diest will represent the Webster City board in an informal joint meeting with Stratford and Northeast Hamilton board members. The meeting will be Wednesday.
Initial proposal
The Webster City Educational Services Association submitted its initial bargaining proposal for the 2013-2014 contract year. Association officials proposed a 9.45 percent salary increase, but said insurance costs were still unknown at this time.


text:
Debates of Dec. 5th, 2007
House of Commons Hansard #31 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was loans.
- Question Period
- International Volunteer Day
- Claude Le Sauteur
- Firefighters
- Norval Morrisseau
- George Knox
- Ken Gorman
- Bill C-411
- Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Norval Morrisseau
- Status of Women
- Asbestos
- Exhibition Transportation Services Program
- International Volunteer Day
- Liberal Women's Caucus
- Bloc Québécois
- Status of Women
- Manufacturing and Forestry Industries
- Official Languages
- Immigrant Women
- Housing
- Manufacturing Sector
- Older Workers
- Ethics
- Health
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Justice
- Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Health
- Foreign Affairs
- Lobbyists
- Airbus
- Poverty
- Status of Women
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Points of Order
- Government Response to Petitions
- Committees of the House
- Old Age Security Act
- National Blood Donor Week Act
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Questions Passed as Orders for Returns
- Starred Question
- Motions for Papers
- Ways and Means
- Canada Elections Act
- Aboriginal Affairs
2:05 p.m.
The Speaker Peter Milliken
It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Sackville—Eastern Shore.
[Members sang the national anthem]
International Volunteer Day
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Ron Cannan Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to pay tribute to International Volunteer Day, which takes place each year on December 5. International Volunteer Day is officially recognized by the United Nations as a day on which volunteers around the world are recognized and celebrated for their dedication.
Canadians make an enormous contribution of time to make life better in our communities. Almost 12 million Canadians volunteer with charities or organizations and contribute close to 2 billion volunteer hours.
However, there is always room for more. In terms of the whole Canadian population, 11% of Canadians contribute 77% of all volunteer hours. This means that 1.3 million volunteers provide 1.5 billion hours, an average of 1,000 hours each.
Volunteer Canada encourages Canadians to join in and be the positive change in their communities.
To all the volunteers and volunteer organizations across the country, and especially those in my riding of Kelowna--Lake Country, I express my thanks for making the effort and taking the time to make life better for all of us.
International Volunteer Day
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
David McGuinty Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, today is indeed International Volunteer Day and, in particular, I want to draw attention to those Canadians who are serving overseas as volunteers.
At any time, over 3,300 Canadians are volunteering internationally, working to fight poverty, increasing access to water and sanitation, teaching classes, providing health care, working to strengthen democracy and improve governance, and helping accelerate small business development.
Since the creation of Canada's aid program more than 35 years ago, more than 75,000 Canadians have volunteered overseas.
Canada is fortunate to have volunteer organizations with the expertise to make sure our volunteers have a lasting impact. These agencies are attracting international attention for their innovation and ability to work together effectively.
All Canadians can and must be proud of the contributions of Canadian volunteers overseas. I ask all members of the House to join me in saluting the 75,000 Canadians who have served overseas to build a better world.
Claude Le Sauteur
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Michel Guimond Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a great Quebecker, artist Claude Le Sauteur, an impressive landscape painter who passed away on November 29, at the age of 81.
Welcomed and inspired by Charlevoix for more than 30 years, Claude Le Sauteur left a mark on his time with his talent. He has charmed us with his works, of course, but also as a committed, genuine, daring, hard-working, generous and touching man.
Made a member of the Order of Canada in 2000, knight of the National Order of Quebec the same year, and a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1989, Le Sauteur received the Alphonse-Desjardins medal in 1984 and the Quebec Lieutenant Governor medal in 1950.
Claude Le Sauteur's world-famous luminous landscapes and lively, colourful figures enable us to share the imagination of this artist whom we have loved so much and will continue to love forever.
Thank you, Claude Le Sauteur!
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Bill Blaikie Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, recently I had the honour to attend the Winnipeg Fire Fighters Annual Charity Ball.
I would like to congratulate Mr. Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, Local 867, on a successful evening and extend my thanks and the gratitude of my constituents for the work that firefighters and paramedics do every day.
When others are rushing out away from danger, they are rushing in to protect, to rescue and sometimes to die in the line of duty.
Tragically, this was the case for two Winnipeg firefighters this last year, so the event was also an opportunity to honour and thank the families of Captain Harold Lessard and Captain Tom Nichols.
I would also like to commend Mr. Martin Johnson, a constituent of mine, for his leadership over the years in regard to the Fire Fighters Burn Fund. It has been an honour to work with and for such people.
Norval Morrisseau
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Jim Abbott Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that we learned of the death of the great Anishinabe painter, Norval Morrisseau.
Known as Copper Thunderbird, Mr. Morrisseau was the first artist to depict the rich legends and history of the Ojibwa, and he was an inspiration to several generations of aboriginal artists.
Appointed to the Order of Canada in 1978 in recognition of his distinctive body of work, Mr. Morrisseau is the only first nations artist to have a major solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.
The government joins with people around the world in extending deepest sympathy to the friends and family of Norval Morrisseau.
George Knox
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Alan Tonks York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the sad duty to report to the House the passing of George Knox.
A squadron flight lieutenant during World War II, George's spirit of selflessness followed him home. He served on many boards and was a tireless volunteer, a steward at Greenborough Community Church, founding president of York Community Services, and the deserving recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal for Senior Citizen of the Year.
There is a long list of those who loved him and those who, like myself, had the honour of calling him a dear friend.
The list of those who benefited from his charitable works is endless.
George lived an incredible life. He served his country and then his community and was forever striving to benefit his fellow man. While some strove for recognition or accolades, George was content to lead a life of quiet heroism.
George was a wonderful, caring, kind, capable and courageous man. Our community will miss him, as will I.
I would like to call on my hon. colleagues in this House to applaud the life and legacy of a D-Day veteran, a community champion and a truly great Canadian, George Arthur Knox.
Ken Gorman
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Andrew Scheer Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise today to pay tribute to one of the finest teachers I have ever known.
Mr. Ken Gorman taught at Immaculata High School here in Ottawa for the past 26 years, having retired just recently in the spring to pursue his own interests, including songwriting and literature.
Few teachers were able to make the English language come to life like Mr. Gorman could. Hundreds of former Immaculata students are able to rhyme off Shakespeare's verses thanks to his efforts to instill in us a love of the Bard's works.
I will always remember playing name that tune, the candle of inspiration, the wall of fame and all his other techniques to connect with students and to make learning fun.
Sadly, Mr. Gorman was not able to enjoy his well-deserved retirement. Last week, at the all too young age of 56, Mr. Gorman succumbed to cancer.
To his wife Anne and his children Michelle, Marie and Sean, I would like to pass along my deepest condolences. On behalf of the class of 1998, I would like to say to his family that we will keep them in our prayers, and from Henry IV, act 5, scene 4, we say, "Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!"
Bill C-411
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Diane Bourgeois Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will be a critical day for businesses. Indeed, this will be the second hour of debate on Bill C-411, which I introduced in this House, on March 2.
This legislation is very important, because it provides, at last, anti-dumping measures that are in compliance with those recognized internationally, and that will allow businesses to protect themselves against the flood of subsidized imports, particularly from so-called "emerging" economies.
All the parties will have the opportunity to support businesses by voting in favour of a better imports control system. The Bloc Québécois feels that it is urgent to put in place means to help our businesses, which must deal with a strong dollar and face unfair trade practices.
Tomorrow, we will see which federalist parties defend, like the Bloc Québécois, jobs in Quebec.
Agriculture and Agri-Food
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Dean Del Mastro Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, today the Liberals issued yet another empty press release on agriculture It is not a surprise coming from a Liberal leader who has admitted that he is "not an expert on agriculture".
Instead of more empty talk, our government is putting farmers first and we are taking real action. In less than two years, we have negotiated agreements with the provincial and territorial governments to create AgriInvest, AgriStability and AgriRecovery, which replace the failed Liberal CAIS program.
We have taken a strong and balanced approach to international negotiations by standing up for supply management and pushing for increased market access for Canadian exports.
We are also taking real action for both our environment and our farm families by providing strong support for the biofuel industry.
Canadian farmers are maximizing tremendous opportunities in agriculture, but our government understands and recognizes that some sectors are struggling. That is why we are working with industry leaders and provincial governments to deliver real help to livestock producers and to build long term solutions.
While the opposition talks, this government will continue to take real action for Canadian farm families across the country.
Norval Morrisseau
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Mauril Bélanger Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition, I too wish to pay tribute today to an extraordinary Canadian artist, Norval Morrisseau, who died yesterday at the age of 75.
Mr. Morrisseau, a self-taught artist who signed most of his work with his Ojibwa name, Copper Thunderbird, received the Order of Canada in 1978 and is holder of the eagle feather, which is the highest honour awarded by the Assembly of First Nations.
He invented a style used by generations of aboriginal artists and called the pictographic style.
In 1966, Norval, along with fellow native artist Carl Ray, created a large mural for the native people of Canada pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal.
Last year, the National Gallery of Canada organized a retrospective of his work, the first time the gallery dedicated a solo exposition to a native artist.
I would like to congratulate the National Gallery of Canada on that.
Mr. Morrisseau has been called the "Picasso of the North" by many. It is a well-deserved title. We thank him for his legacy.
Status of Women
Statements By Members
December 5th, 2007 / 2:10 p.m.
Nina Grewal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are not fooled by the empty Liberal rhetoric. For more than a dozen years, that party failed to address the pressing issues facing women. Its time in office represented lost years for the advancement of women as successive Liberal governments undermined women's safety and opportunity for economic advancement.
Whether it is the fight against violent crime, protection of the environment or elimination of poverty, the Liberals did not get it done.
On that side of the House, things have not improved. Under the current Liberal leader, high profile female MPs are leaving politics. Others are demoted in favour of men. Prominent female candidates have been pushed aside and the Liberals continue to hold annual "no women allowed" parties.
Actions speak louder than words. Liberals make promises but they never deliver. Canadian women are not buying what Liberals are selling.
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Pat Martin Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, asbestos is the greatest industrial killer the world has ever know and yet Canada remains one of the largest producers of asbestos in the world, dumping 220,000 tonnes per year into developing nations.
Most developed nations have banned asbestos in all of its forms: the entire European Union, Japan, Australia and many other countries.
On October 4, the United States Senate unanimously passed bill 742, the ban asbestos in America bill.
However, Canada continues to allow asbestos to be used in construction materials, textile products and even, unbelievably, children's toys, and it spends millions of dollars subsidizing the asbestos industry and blocking international efforts to curb its use.
Canada should ban asbestos in all its forms, institute a just transition program for workers who may be displaced, end all government subsidies of asbestos in both Canada and abroad, and stop blocking international health and safety conventions designed to protect workers from asbestos, like the Rotterdam convention.
Exhibition Transportation Services Program
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Ken Boshcoff Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Mr. Speaker, galleries and museums across the country are outraged at the cancellation of the exhibition transportation services program by the Minister of Canadian Heritage .
The exhibition transportation services program allows museums and galleries access to art and exhibits that would otherwise be too expensive to ship.
The Thunder Bay Museum, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and the Fort Frances Museum are concerned with the dramatically increased shipping costs that they will face when this service expires in April.
There is also very real concern that shipping services to remote areas, such as northwestern Ontario, will be unavailable without this government-run program, leaving our museums and galleries without any travelling exhibits to draw patrons.
Arts and heritage programming is too vital to our communities to be put in such jeopardy. The Minister of Heritage must immediately renew the exhibition transportation services program.
International Volunteer Day
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Caroline St-Hilaire Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, today is International Volunteer Day, and I am very proud to salute the extraordinary work that volunteers from Quebec do all over the world. On the ground, each one is a ray of hope for hundreds of people. Their caring and know-how enable them to make a solid contribution to improving the daily lives of the most vulnerable. They are the very incarnation of peace, social justice and democracy, values that Quebeckers hold dear.
I want to highlight the work of Claudette and Jean-Guy Bourbonnais, two volunteers in my riding, who share their expertise in organizational development and management with Oxfam-Québec partners in the Congo.
I would like to thank all people who, like them, are helping people in need both at home and abroad. As Christmas draws near, their dedication is an inestimable source of comfort.


text:
Punching and Other Holemaking |
| The FABRICATOR
July 8, 2010
| By Michael Stock
Fabricators looking to streamline bending should weigh all the options, from standalone press brakes to robotized brake cells and automated panel benders.
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January 17, 2017
Tim Heston
Manufacturing's image is not just about how plants look, but also about what plant employees do.
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text:
Cats are curious creatures which makes them prone to getting injured, therefore, owners should know how to deal with injuries such as an open wounds.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, an open wound is defined as a break in the skin, whereas a closed wound is considered a contusion or a bruise. If an owner sees their cat bleeding, he or she should first try to control and stop it by applying direct pressure to the site. VCA recommends using a dry gauze and a layer of bandage material or a fresh cloth as these fabrics are more absorbent and can protect the wound. VCA reports that owners should never clean a wound with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol as these can be damaging to a cat's delicate tissues. If possible an owner should try to lift the wound over the level of the cat's heart to decrease bleeding. This is only effective if the wound is located on a limb or the tail and should not be attempted if the cat reacts in pain when the wound is touched.
All open wounds should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Some open wounds require surgical cleaning or even stitches and some will be left open to heal on their own. In this situation, owners will need to be instructed in diligent cleaning to keep the wound free from infection so it can heal properly.


text:
Sunday, December 13, 2009 by: Barbi Trejo
Tags: mini-trampoline, lymph, health news
The Echo® Elemonics™ Hydrogen Infusion Machine filters, infuses and elementally balances your drinking water. You'll enjoy all the benefits of hydrogen therapy in each great-tasting, perfectly-filtered cup. No acid/alkaline alterations to your water!
Get a free Elemonics Ultra Fine filter (infused with Elemonics minerals) with code 'BonusCartridge'. Offer valid for the month of January while supplies last.
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