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5th Annual Women in Insurance Leadership Forum
Attendees arrive early to start the day.
Keynote speaker, Leigh Ann Pusey, CEO, American Insurance Association discusses regulatory issues that have impacted the industry over the past two years.
Left to right: Tracy Hendrick, Progressive Insurance, and Mary Schmoeger, American Family Insurance.
"Keeping Up with the Changing Distribution Network" presenters Marie Carr, PwC, Belen Tokarski, CNA, and Carol Murphy, Aon Risk Solutions (left to right).
Left to right: Swiss Re's Krystin Adamson, Emily Eaton and Kim Conboy.
Attendees listen to Liz Owens discuss Allstate's success in driving innovation.
Jennifer Diamond, Allstate, shares her thoughts with her group.
Left to right: Josie Storrs, Travelers, Beth Mercier, Travelers, Noreen Randazzo, The Hartford, catch up during a quick break.
During the "Business and IT Collaboration Taking Insurers to the Next Level" session, attendees wait their turns to submit ideas for improving business and IT governance models.
Leslie Cassale, Swiss Re, and Maria Santagati, Varicent.
Natalia Sharangovich, The Warranty Group, prepares to write down her group's idea.
Attendees listen to one group's idea on establishing best practices when creating an environment around true collaboration.
Left to right: Presenters Jacquline Morales, AXA Equitable, Karen Furtado, Strategy Meets Action, and Mojgan Lefebvre, Liberty Mutual Global Specialty, recap their session.
Left to right: Swiss Re's Beth Kaplan, Claire Martindale, Megan Miller take a quick break between sessions.
Monica Haluczak, Zurich Insurance, keeps the discussion going during a break.
Presenter Nancy Bleeke, President, Sales Pro Insider, discusses the "customs" that help or hinder communications and coaching.
Left to right: Progressive Insurance's Mira Milenkovic and Rachel Hanson.
Attendees end the day with a smile.


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Topic: has_one vs. has_many
I have two tables costs and vendor_items. costs has a field vendoritemid that relates to the itemid field in vendor_items. vendor_items also has a desc field. I would like to refer to the desc field like this:
First I tried this in the costs model:
has_one :vendor_item, :foreign_key => vendoritemid
but that didn't work because the relation is not through the vendor_items' primary key (id). I then tried this:
has_many :vendor_item, :finder_sql => 'select * from vendor_items where itemid = \"#{vendoritemid}\"'
This worked but because it returned an array (even though there is only one vendor_item row per cost row) I had to reference it like this:
which worked ok. But this seems kind of clunky.
Is there some way to do a has_one where you can use a different set of fields for the association than the "normally" associated fields i.e. costs.vendor_item_id and vendor_items.id?

subset: commoncrawl


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Not sure whether to merge this with one of the other threads, but here are my day after thoughts:
- Gameball to Chud. Kudos for having the team ready and engaged during a week where they could have easily quit.
- On Hoyer -- I didn't know what to expect. Part of me thought he'd be a game manager type -- can't win ya a game, but certainly won't lose ya one either. Part of me thought potential train wreck disaster -- 2nd career start, poor OL play, new guys playing new roles, etc. He was neither. If '13 is an evaluation year, here's my one game evaluation: Arm strength seem satisfactory. I didn't see much problem with him making any of the throws. Liked that he threw the ball with touch (I'm looking at you Brandon). What I really liked was his mobility in the pocket (again, Brandon). He stepped up when he needed to, avoided pass rusher and kept his eyes downfield. Really encouraging. The only major negative I saw was that his field vision can be poor sometimes -- he failed to locate defenders, which caused two of the INTs. Honestly, and I hate to do this, he reminded me of Holcomb. An above average back-up that can provide the team with a spark for a week or two while the starter is out. Think Frank Reich. Can he be more? Not sure yet, luckily, we'll have the rest of the season to evaluate him.
- On Gordon -- wow, what an impressive first game. I sure hope this kid can keep his nose clean and those trade rumors were false. The offense looks completely different with him in there. He's a rare talent and the best WR we've had since the return by far. Still needs polish -- looks lost sometimes and his field awareness can be better (drag two feet on the sideline Josh).
- Cameron continues to develop. Nice to see.
- Mingo again flashed his speed and athleticism. I can't wait for him to get a better feel for the game and scheme. Looks very raw right now.
- Sheard had a nice first half before the injury. Kruger, Taylor, Bryant, DQ, Skine (best game as a Brown), and Haden played well. Hats off to the entire D for containing AP.
- I scratched my head that Horton couldn't come up with something to stop Ponder from gashing us up the middle. LB spy?
Overall -- great effort on the road after a tumultuous week. This team is not the Jags -- we have talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball.


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Here's how RW members rated this race (311 votes).
Date of review: September 14, 2014
In short: Excellent race - good pre-marathon runIn full: Jelly baby's being handed out were welcome. Great valueDate of review: April 5, 2013
In short: Friendly, no frills race ideal for marathon build-upIn full: Very friendly, low-key run in a nice part of Surrey. Coffee and flapjack for a £1 donation to Arthritis Research afterwards sums up the approach of the organisers.Date of review: April 5, 2013
In short: A friendly low-key pre-marathon training runIn full: Excellent value, including a medal which considering the entry fee was unexpected. Course well laid out, so easy to follow. Mildly undulating, which some may have found challenging. Being able to decide at mile 15 whether to finish or do the extra loop is an added bonus. Plus being 21 miles, when most marathon training runs/races are 20 miles means only having to run an extra 5.2 miles, not 6.2 miles! The start was very fast, but after a few miles it evened out. Marshals - you all deserve a medal. Not only did you stand in that awful weather, you gave loads of encouragement. A special mention to the youngsters giving out water and the two girls handing out jelly babies - a lovely touch and most welcome. Plenty of (free) parking, easy to drive away from. Thank you everyone involved. Date of review: March 25, 2013
In short: Good old fashioned, no frills event along a stunning rural course. In full: Great organisation: plenty of free nearby parking, numbers sent out in advance, well signed. Use of the leisure centre meant no portaloos and provided a warm place to stretchMarshals: the best! You are absolute heroes! I didn't realise how cold it was until I stopped running. Your support was incredible, especially in ridiculously cold conditions.Course: stunning scenery, good quality road surface, plenty of undulations but nothing too tough if you usually train on hills. Although the hill on mile 20 took it out of some runners.Even better if: the start was wider- the first mile is very slow due to congestion. Complimentary food at the end- I was starving! Date of review: March 25, 2013
In short: Great value marathon training raceIn full: Very well organised, good facilities and a bargain. The course is gently undulating, and traffic is controlled very well. Will be back at some point, even if I'm not in marathon training.Thanks to organisers and marshals for their efforts yesterday, and for not cancelling which seems to be the vogue these days if it looks a little cold...Date of review: March 25, 2013
In short: Thank you to the organisers for giving up their time in freezing conditionsIn full: The big facts are that this is a much cheaper entry than many other 20-mile events and is organised and marshalled by the devotion of volunteers. Yesterday, these people were heroes; my car said it was -1, it was snowing at times and there was a horrible icy wind in parts. These people stood there for several hours to support us runners and all were positive with kind words to cheers us on. Thank you.In addition, it is a nice country course with variation, has the feel of a club event and is the perfect event if you are preparing for a spring marathon.Date of review: March 25, 2013
In short: Perfect last long run before a Spring marathon.In full: I love this race, maybe as it's the last 21 miler I do before a marathon. It signals the end and the start of taper. But I really enjoy the course, rural, quiet undulating roads. easy to break up mentally as well, with the extra loop.This year was by far the coldest. So, I've entered a review, to say a huge thank you to the marshals that stood for hours in that bitter weather. It was really appreciated, so thank you! I'll be back, a tenner for 21 miles....brilliant value! Really liked the new finish in the field :-)Date of review: March 25, 2013
In short: Excellent facilities, good value, well organised, great cakes!In full: First time at this event. Would recommend it for many reasons: well organised, good scenic, rural route, superb pre and post-race facilities, great marshalling and fab cakes.The route: definitely NOT fast as plenty of grandients up and down. However, it is on mainly quiet country lanes and fairly traffic free. However, one section does pass along a busy road that leads back into Cranleigh. This can be slightly uncomfortable when being passed by fast moving traffic and quite close! Also, section through Cranleigh is a biit of an obstacle course and could be awkward with big groups running through. The 6 miles loop though is very pleasant and more rural. Well signed and Marshalled course throughout. Fab facilities at the Leisure Centre for a welcome hot shower after. Needed it this year(2013) as it was bitterly cold with snow flurries. Nice selection of cakes and nice to have post-race massage available. Plenty of shops and cafes in Cranleigh and only a few mins walk from the Leisure centre.Only minor points: perhaps just have one, clear announcement at the beginning at the start line. I didn't see a need for 2 separate announcements by 2 different people as they were almost identical in their content! A bit confusing and only useful for the few people on the startline in front of the announcer. Perhaps a countdown aswell and would be nice to have category prizes as well as finisher's memento. In summary: a great road run, well marshalled with great facilities and cakes. Superb value for the entry fee.Thanks to all the Marshalls, helpers and organisers, particularly for standing out in the awful weather this year(2013). A credit to you all.Date of review: March 25, 2013
In short: Great pre-marathon training event along undulating rural lanes in very pleasant countryside. I have run it several times, but never in anywhere near such freezing conditions!Date of review: March 25, 2013
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United States a sick society
To the editor:
When are we going to face the fact that the United States is a sick society?
If our society was healthy, we wouldn't have these recurring mass shootings, thousands of other gun deaths, other types of murders, and gangs roaming around our cities killing each other.
We wouldn't have hundreds of thousands of homeless, nor millions either unemployed or slaving away at an inadequate minimum wage, and companies shipping our jobs overseas.
We wouldn't have so much violence portrayed in movies, television, sports and video games.
We wouldn't have our military stationed in hundreds of bases around the world to intimidate other countries to conform to our expectations; nor a country, saturated with handguns and assault rifles.
The problem is not the rank and file of the membership of the National Rifle Association, but of the gun manufacturers and their toadies who run the NRA. Consider the recent inane remarks of an official of the NRA.
If our country was healthy, we would have a nurturing society where we consider everyone part of our extended family. We would follow the golden rule and be our brother's keeper if necessary.
We would follow the better teachings of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, humanism, and many of the other religions and philosophies.
We would attempt to be inclusive instead of divisive.
In sum, we would be human beings instead of self-centered greedy brutes.
It's very disconcerting that the United States, one of the most religious of the western nations, is the most violent with the highest proportion of its citizenry incarcerated. Why?
In the past there has been a lot of talk and hand-wringing, but progressive legislation was continuously opposed by vested economic interests.
Now is the time for constructive action.
Bakersfield, Calif.


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Series: Christmas Carols
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Debates of March 30th, 2009
House of Commons Hansard #36 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was regions.
- Question Period
- Income Tax Act
- Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
- Marine Liability Act
- Visa Requirement
- Alison Youngman
- French at the 2010 Winter Games
- Manitoba Flood Preparations
- Women of Excellence Awards
- Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation
- Top Cadet Musician
- Joannie Rochette
- Dalits
- Carson Marcoux
- Marcel Aubut
- Carmelita Sideco
- Automotive Industry
- Jutra Awards
- Jutra and Juno Awards
- Automotive Industry
- Goods and Services Tax
- Automotive Industry
- National Defence
- Employment Insurance
- Taxation
- Employment Insurance
- Foreign Affairs
- Automotive Industry
- Taxation
- Foreign Affairs
- Public Safety
- Human Rights
- The Environment
- Food Safety
- National Defence
- Poverty
- Agriculture
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- International Trade
- Public Safety
- Points of Order
- International Monetary Fund
- Nuclear Energy Treaty
- Government Response to Petitions
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Terminator Seeds Ban Act
- Nowruz Day
- Business of the House
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Marine Liability Act
- Energy Efficiency Act
- Committees of the House
- Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
- Committees of the House
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Oral Questions
3 p.m.
Todd Russell Labrador, NL
Mr. Speaker, under the Mulroney Conservatives, places like Goose Bay lost their local CBC television stations. This year we see dramatic cutbacks to the CBC in Labrador and in regions across Canada. Labrador has taken a 40% cut.
Just like 19 years ago, a Conservative government has failed to support the public broadcaster and recognize the important work of CBC in rural and northern communities and it has failed to support regions that need this mirror to themselves and to other Canadians.
Why is the Conservative government letting the CBC die from a thousand cuts?
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Oral Questions
3 p.m.
Dean Del Mastro Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member has elected to go back in time, so let us do that. Let us take a walk back through time.
Let us go back to 1993 and the Liberal red book where the Liberals promised they would make no cuts to the CBC and that they would commit to stable funding. Now let us look at what they did over the next four years: $414 million in cuts made by the Liberal Party to the CBC and 4,000 jobs lost.
Remarkably, it was during a similar period of time that they were running the sponsorship program. Almost the same amount of money that was cut from the CBC they took for themselves, a remarkable strategy.
International Trade
Oral Questions
3 p.m.
Johanne Deschamps Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Trade has completely ignored the strictest recommendations found in the report on the national roundtables on corporate social responsibility in the extractive sector, namely, the establishment of mandatory standards and an ombudsman office to deal with complaints against offending firms.
How can the minister believe that he will be taken seriously when he has announced that he will introduce very strict measures but that their implementation will be voluntary?
International Trade
Oral Questions
3 p.m.
Stockwell Day Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Mr. Speaker, we take this matter seriously. That is why I announced concrete measures for companies in the foreign extractive sector last week. We have created the office of extractive sector corporate social responsibility counsellor. We will support a centre of excellence as well as provide assistance to countries deciding on the future of their mining sector.
Public Safety
Oral Questions
3 p.m.
Bill Siksay Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Safety Board has reported on the pipeline accident that occurred in Burnaby in July 2007. A construction project severed a pipeline releasing hundreds of cubic metres of crude oil over homes and into Burrard Inlet. The TSB found that the key causes of this accident were that 52-year-old pipeline location maps were inaccurate and that project communications were inadequate.
How will public safety be ensured? Will a new survey of the pipeline location in Burnaby be required and then updated regularly?
Public Safety
Oral Questions
3 p.m.
Ottawa West—Nepean
John Baird Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I know all members of the House were very concerned with the rupture of the pipeline. I had the opportunity to tour with the member the devastation that was caused to a small part of Burnaby and into Burrard Inlet. We will take a look at everything in the TSB's report to ensure we can act in the public interest, whether that involves any number of departments within our government.
Oral Questions
Points of Order
Oral Questions
March 30th, 2009 / 3:05 p.m.
Libby Davies Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, we have been noticing a new trend from the Conservatives and that is when they do not have the answer to a question that is put to them in the House they launch into a personal attack.
Today, in question period, the Minister of Industry, in reply to a question from the leader of the NDP, the member for Toronto—Danforth, stated that the member had somehow in the past called for the banning of cars in Toronto. This is not true. The member for Toronto—Danforth has never advocated that position. Moreover, that minister has, on previous occasions, raised the same issue and brought forward information in the House that was completely not true.
I would ask the Minister of Industry to acknowledge that this was not based on any information but that it was a personal attack. I would ask him to withdraw his comment and apologize to the member for Toronto—Danforth for bringing forward completely erroneous information.
Oral Questions
Points of Order
Oral Questions
3:05 p.m.
The Speaker Peter Milliken
I have no doubt that the hon. member for Vancouver East is raising a point of debate. Sometimes it does happen that members misrepresent the statements of other hon. members in this House. Today would not have been the first time that happened. It does sometimes happen.
Sometimes it is genuine misquoting because somebody has printed something that is inaccurate and the member who is stating the other member's position is relying on this document which is inaccurate. There are all kinds of explanations that could be tendered.
I am sure the Minister of Industry will look at the statement the hon. member for Vancouver East has raised but in my view it is a matter of debate rather than a point of order.
As hon. members are aware, the Speaker does not really adjudicate on whether statements are accurate or not. We try to ensure statements are parliamentary and arguments about facts are not normally unparliamentary unless the language that is used is personally offensive to the other hon. member. I am not sure anything I heard today on that point was offensive. There may have been some other comments but I will not go into those now.
We will see if hear from the Minister of Industry but otherwise I think this is a matter of debate.
International Monetary Fund
Routine Proceedings
3:05 p.m.
Calgary East
Deepak Obhrai Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2) I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled, the "Proposed Amendment of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund to Enhance Voice and Participation in the International Monetary Fund", and the "Proposed Amendment of the Articles of the Agreement of the International Monetary Fund to Expand the Investment Authority of the International Monetary Fund". An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaties.
Nuclear Energy Treaty
Routine Proceedings
3:05 p.m.
Calgary East
Deepak Obhrai Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2) I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled, the "Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy", done at Amman on February 17, 2009. An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
Government Response to Petitions
Routine Proceedings
3:05 p.m.
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre
Tom Lukiwski Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36.8 I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition.
Interparliamentary Delegations
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
James Bezan Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation of the Canadian section of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, FIPA, respecting its participation to the congress towards a gender sensitive legislative agenda for development in the Americas held in Bogota, Colombia from November 19 to 22, 2008, and to the 18th meeting of the executive committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas held in Miami, United States of America from December 17 to 19, 2008.
Terminator Seeds Ban Act
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Alex Atamanenko British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-353, An Act to prohibit the release, sale, importation and use of seeds incorporating or altered by variety-genetic use restriction technologies (V-GURTs), also called "terminator technologies", and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.
Mr. Speaker, this private member's bill is an act to prohibit the release, sale, importation and use of seeds incorporating what we call "terminator technology". It is designed to protect the rights of Canadian farmers to save seeds by banning the release, sale, importation, and use of this variety-genetic use restriction technology.
It is time to make a commitment to our farmers and the international community that terminator seeds will not be allowed to take root in Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Nowruz Day
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Bryon Wilfert Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That, in the opinion of the House, each year, the vernal equinox (first day of spring) shall be designated as "Nowruz Day".
Nowruz Day
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
The Speaker Peter Milliken
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?


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We will not be beat on prices
We strive to carry the best quality products at the best prices in town!
Arizona Blinds, Shutters & Drapery has been leading the window treatments industry in Arizona for nearly 19 years! We offer a wide variety of window covering options to fit your style, budget and individual shading needs. You won't find a better team of experienced designers, installers and manufacturers than you will at Arizona Blinds, Shutters and Drapery. We are committed to delivering quality service on each and every project before, during and after the sale. We start the relationship by offering free in-home or office consultations with one of our experienced designers, who will work with you to pick out the perfect window treatments for your space. Our professional installers will then come to fully install your new window coverings, ensuring professional, thorough and clean installations. Give us a call to see why no one in Arizona sells or installs more window treatments than we do!
We strive to carry the best quality products at the best prices in town!
Low quality products aren't good for our customers, so we don't carry them.
Being on time is important to us, we want you to know that you can count on our team.


text:
Cost Savings through Marketing Automation
February 22, 2010
Representatives from Creative Print Technologies and Colgate-Palmolive discussed how automation technology can reduce both costs and time-to-market for print production.
Members Only Content
This content is available to ANA Members only. Please login below or create an account.
You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


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New BST rule?
Started by Schuppert3, May 26 2011 11:24 PM
5 replies to this topic
Posted 26 May 2011 - 11:24 PM
I might be the only one that gets really annoyed by this but i think there should be a new rule where you can not offer a cash offer without having the cash in your paypal. I find it quite aggravating when i get a offer and then they tell me the next post of well i wont have it till next month.
Just a suggestion.
Just a suggestion.
Posted 26 May 2011 - 11:26 PM
I don't think it needs to be a rule, but you as a seller definitely need to set a deadline for when they need to have the money. If its too long of a time period, then move on.
Posted 26 May 2011 - 11:28 PM
I usually say first come first serve but im just saying its quite annoying when they say for example how about $400 and then you think you got a buyer then the next post they say oh well its gonna have to wait a month or when i get payed ect.
I don't think it needs to be a rule, but you as a seller definitely need to set a deadline for when they need to have the money. If its too long of a time period, then move on.
Posted 27 May 2011 - 07:11 AM
Welcome to BST. Many will waste your time. Show me the money is rule number one for the seller.
Posted 27 May 2011 - 10:29 AM
BST forums sites are like an online flea market with some rules. To many rules or cost to do business will leave a bad taste in the seller's or buyer's mouths, the experience will dimish over time and flea market will close up . As a seller residing in your "booth" you control your sales within reason and how you approach your "salespersonship" is what make's your selling experience good or bad. As they "walk" by....you decide who's a buyer and who's not.
Posted 28 May 2011 - 12:53 PM
Alright thanks
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0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


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It's common sense
To the Journal editor:
Throughout my life experiences of dealing with illness and seniors, I have a thought about the aging process. It's something we all experience from the day we are born.
We enter the world, dependent upon others to care and nurture us in all our needs. Our hearts, minds and souls are open to all forms of energy and positive input. We are called "sponges" as we soak up as much all we can, our brains and personalities expand to become the people we are meant to be. Touching, tasting, hearing, seeing, all of our senses so excited, each of us with our unique fingerprint to improve our world.
We age and regress back to dependent upon others for our care and nurturing. Have you ever watched an older person laugh and giggle? Have you ever wondered, "My goodness what are they seeing or hearing?" Have you ever noticed how children and animals respond to the older folks? Is it because we are to be at our most innocent and open to the energy of the next place? Are we to be at our most accepting to be accepted?
Jesus said, "And the children shall come to me." What better place to be than our childlike self. I said this to a priest friend of mine and he thought it was pretty profound thinking on my part. I think it makes simple sense.
Elizabeth Lizotte


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If your flight school could shake up your training routine by offering you a chance to join other pilots on an organized fly-out, would you go? Most of us would love it. Getting out of the pattern, going places? Getting a taste of what it will be like when we can be pilots in command and go where we want? Where do we sign up?
Many flight schools try to organize these types of events—but they're not easy to pull off. There's the weather, availability of airplanes, flight instructors, and a host of other details to consider above and beyond the normal flight scheduling routine. So if your flight school offers you the chance to join a fly-out—whether it's to the next airport for a pancake breakfast, or to Niagara Falls—don't wait. Reserve an airplane, get a CFI if you need one, and go. I guarantee you'll learn a lot and have a great time.
In 2002, as a low-time private pilot, I flew from Maryland to Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and back during a four-day fly-out organized by Frederick Flight Center. There were several student pilots in our group, and everybody gained a great deal of confidence (see "Destination: Experience," March 2003 Flight Training).
When you read this I'll be on my way to Florida with a group of airplanes and pilots out of Virginia. The 12 aircraft are leaving this wretched Mid-Atlantic winter behind, temporarily. But we're not staying in Florida. We're headed to the Bahamas, accompanied by Bob Hepp, owner of Aviation Adventures. (Aviation Adventures' Conor Dancy is our 2013 Flight Instructor of the Year, and the school itself has won recognition for high-quality training at its Manassas, Leesburg, and Winchester locations. Some of the airplanes going on this fly-out are on the flight line at Aviation Adventures.)
This will be Aviation Adventures' third fly-out to the Bahamas. The school also organizes trips to Oshkosh, Wis., for EAA AirVenture, and most recently shepherded a group on a frigid December morning to tour the Hudson River corridor in New York.
A student pilot can't fly solo outside the United States, of course. He or she can fly accompanied by a certificated pilot who is qualified to act as PIC. But crossing the border in a small airplane is a great adventure and a personal goal for many pilots. And if you have any qualms about Customs procedures, the paperwork, the navigation, and/or the safety equipment needed, a group fly-out is a great way to give it a try. (If you want to get going on the research, see AOPA's Bahamas resources page. We've got info for Alaska, Canada, and Mexico, too.)
I'll share some of these considerations on the Flight Training blog as we travel, and you'll see a complete write-up in a future issue of Flight Training magazine. In the meantime, you folks where it's cold, try to stay warm, and I'll do the same.—Jill W. Tallman
Are you interested in learning to fly? Sign up for a free student trial membership in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and receive six issues of Flight Training magazine plus lots of training tools and resouces for student pilots. Click here for more information.


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Mrs. Flinger: A work in progress
UPDATE TO Mrs. Flinger October 16, 2015
Because the Universe has a wicked sense of humor, after this delcaration, my blog threw up all over my last upgrade.
So I'm starting over using Craft. Turning 40 and kid entering Jr High next year, sometimes it's just time for a change. These archives will still exist in the way the last child goes off to college and their room is the same for 20 years, but it's just time to move forward.
On being humbled May 31, 2011
A letter came in the mail today. I was reminded about a generation so much greater than ours. While we are sending emails, incapable of being bothered by the post-office, my Great Aunt Marcy sent my son a card for his 4th birthday. It's not just a card this time, it's a reminder. When she lost her husband of 50 years I couldn't be bothered to send a single thing while she, in return, never once forgets a birthday of her great, great grandnephew. I couldn't bear to open the card and see only, "Love Aunt Marcy" instead of adding "and Uncle Charles" to the second row.
I stood at the back door and cried.
Earlier today I was reminded that while I have "friends" on facebook I don't know what they're up to. People are having babies, graduating, changing jobs. All while I sit and stare at a computer screen 8 hours a day and wrangle children in my "spare" time. There is a book deal! There is traveling! There are speaking proposals to be done! And yet, my kitchen sits neglected, my friends grow entire human beings and my children await another year of life and summer and fall.
My Uncle Charles died while I was in the middle of a travel spree earlier this year. His life was a good one, he was a strong man, although handicapped by a motor cycle accident many years before I was born (the least reason of which I refuse to let Mr. Flinger purchase one of those death traps). I knew him as 100% amazing, strong and intelligent, always a proud father and grandfather, uncle and husband. He was old forever, since I was ten perhaps, endlessly aging at an impossibly slow rate. He would live forever, I thought, because they do: Your family. They live forever and you forget how short and unforgiving life truly is. Thirty years is nothing to someone in their fifties. They've conquered teen-age years, early adult, middle age. They are forever etched in their families mind as equally old: always the same, un-aging until the day they suddenly die reminding you of reality.
So it was that I did not make my Uncle Charle's funeral. Traveling from Dallas, to return to Austin for SXSW, there was little time between. San Antonio felt a decade away, a rent-a-car, two young children unable to see their own mom. My Aunt had her family, her nieces and nephews, my aunts and uncles, her daughters and sons. She was loved and my Great Uncle Charles was rejoiced and I, from afar, joined them. Until this moment I did not think twice. My family needed me home. My work needed me present. My children wanted their own mother.
Still, only two months later, a card arrived reminding me that I will never be your Aunt Marcy. I will not ever fill the shoes of my Grandmother. I will not walk in the ways of those so much more wise, those who love beyond the now, those who see beyond the years. There is reason to live close to those who age before you: to live near extended family. To understand the wisdom of years and wrinkles that we can only imagine. At mid-thirty my age feels heavy. I feel the burden of time. Speaking to those whose lives span eternal decades remind me: a card, though simple, scribbled with ink, and stuck with a "forever" stamp, is more than just a card. It is an entire mindset of love and forgiveness: One I hope to live up to one day.
My son is four today. I'm officially 48 months postpartum. See also: WTF and HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? May 20, 2011
#Life#The Flinger Family#Baby O
Baby O,
Last night as you were falling asleep, you could barely keep your eyes open (much like your mother after 9pm on two glasses of wine) and you asked for your story. "You want to know about the day you were born?"
Your eyes lit up and you stuck your tongue out in that way you do when you get excited and I think you're sort of proving evolution isn't just a theory.
"It was a sunny day a lot like today was," you don't get the irony in my voice but I chuckle. "I took your sister to soccer and then to get a hair cut." I look at your scraggly hair and feel terrible that you've had two real hair cuts in your life. "Grandma and Grandpa came up to visit and we all went out to dinner. While we were at dinner, it was becoming apparent you weren't going to wait the last four weeks before coming out to play with us. That night we went to the hospital and you were born early."
"The doctors helped you learn how to breathe and eat and you got strong and grew. We got to go home a little while later."
Your breathing got heavier and your eyes closed. I stroked your hair as you fell asleep next to me like you do nearly every night. As I got up to leave, you turned to me to do your goodbye routine. You always wave, blow a kiss, and say I love you in sign language. You'll remind me, loudly, if I ever forget the routine before I leave you. I wave, blow a kiss and show the I love you back as I close the door to your bedroom and your third year. Kiddo: Here's to four.
Noise May 17, 2011
#Life#The Flinger Family#Working Mom
My Grandfather was an electrician in a mill. He often explained his lack of hearing from years of being around loud machines. "GRANDPA! TURN DOWN THE TEE VEE!" He would wave a hand in our direction, mutter something completely incomprehensible and turn the volume on the TV up.
Last weekend a friend of mine spoke of reducing the noise in his life. As a single man who enjoys many activities outside the computer, I thought it was a strange, though admirable, statement. So often the level of noise in my life is beyond was I can tolerate. Children whining and needing immediate attention pulling on my arm, Co-Workers on IM, twitter, facebook, email, friends asking about this weekend. It's not that the noise is bad, each in of itself, it's that together there isn't a single conversation occurring in full. The noise fractures my relationships in to compartments. Not a single person gets my full attention.
Having the opportunity to be with people in real life, to sit across a table with community members from work, to enjoy watching the children throw rocks in the water with a friend, to sit together as a family each night at dinner, helps. It helps bring the level of noise to something manageable. But during each of these interactions there is almost always a phone, a computer, a noise-producer. I'm pondering the long term effect on our relationships and if one day I'll be waving my arm in the general direction of those I love muttering things they don't understand.
The Future of Web and Visions of Equality May 16, 2011
For years I've been a minority in our field. In graduate school I was one of two females. The program pushed Java but I studied PHP and my co-female-student studied XML. Why is that? Why would the two women select another language than the standard object oriented fare served to the students? Is it possible there is a feminine friendly language that helps retain women in computer science?
This is the future of our field. The is the future of the web. Bringing technology, the joy of development, the art of mobile application development: these are the true places women can excel and find balance in a male dominated field.
WebVisions 2011 is about "exploring the future of the web" and I can see no better reason to join those who are passionate about the future of a field we're growing from the ground up. After ten years of developing sites and recently joining the dev team at EllisLab, Inc., the chance to attend WebVisions is a dream come true. That and because Aaron Gufstason is begging me.
On Motherhood May 14, 2011
Six Mothers' Days.
Two children.
Thirty-five years of life.
Nine years of marriage.
856 diapers.
52 throw up accidents.
4,329,784 whiny complaints.
89 wet sheets. 610 school lunches.
423 sleepless nights.
One homemade card.
But maybe I can be your sunshine? May 06, 2011
He watches the truck with a camper pass us on the road. "I wanna go camping again. Are we EVER going to go camping again?" My three year old is a drama queen sometimes. I laugh. "Yes, we'll go camping, I promise. We'll go when it gets sunny again."
"It's NEVER going to be sunny again!" He whines. He also loves to whine.
"Oh, it will," I assure him, "Probably July 5th." The classic NorthWest joke doesn't mean anything to him.
"Hey, I'm wearing yellow! Maybe I can be your sunshine?" he beams a little.
He starts to point out all the yellow. There's a yellow sign! And a yellow truck! And yellow flowers!
Suddenly there is so much yellow that he declares it is a sunny day even as I turn on the windshield wipers.
Sometimes he seems to know exactly what I need; even before I do.
Evaluation May 03, 2011
"She is very bright. Intelligent and creative; loving and kind. She seems to be a natural in math and science but her artistic abilities and imagination give her a great balance. She's very social. She is unaware of the politics of other girls in her grade. She is a tender soul who can not sit still.
She has trouble focusing and might need some work in this area. She is often tired in the afternoon. She seems young for her age.
Overall she is a joy to work with. While she is a bit bouncy and can have difficult finishing a task before starting another, making her very inefficient, she's got a lot of potential and you should be proud of her."
As it turns out? She really is my kid.
Even if she doesn't look it.
On being S.A.D. May 02, 2011
The heat kicks back on and I know it won't warm me. The walk to the car will be wet and cold. I wear a layer of my body like an extra coat of energy, just waiting, hoping to be used. I drink another cup of coffee and turn the heat as high as I can while I drive. I will struggle with children, putting coats and hoods and boots on and splashing back to the car again. The effort nearly crushes me.
It is May. The realization nearly takes my breath away.
It is May.
Seattle just finished the coldest April on record. Even after two amazingly sunny days this weekend, we return to the usual rain and high of 55 degrees.
You can watch for signs of failures, you can talk about becoming better at your job, or at parenting, or about being healthier phsyically. But one day you might notice that you can't crawl out of bed and you don't want to get dressed. Suddenly your bones have been cold for months and the brightest lights in the house can't make you "snap out of it." While this isn't true for everyone, I know it's harder for some of us than others.
The things we pay attention to, always asking if it is affecting our work or our kids or our families, might not be the thing that takes us down in the end. Four months of weepy, moody, lethargic days eventually pay their price.
Work, Family, Life. Right now, in this cold dreary day, the effort nearly crushes me.
Chicks, Bunny Ears and Sugar. (This is not about the playboy mansion.) Apr 27, 2011
Like last year, the year before that, and the year prior to that and so on, it rained on Easter here.
I did manage to click some pretty terrible photos with my iPhone for you.
You're welcome.
Behold! The creepiest bunny in the history of all bunnies!
As we prepared to set out the goods for the children the night before Easter, we discovered some mice pellets in our pantry. Let me rephrase that, WE FOUND OUT WE HAVE MICE IN OUR PANTRY. As in EATING OUR FOOD.
Easter mice: Trumps creepy bunny.
Instead of leaving the candy and goodies on the table for the children, we decided (in a quick act of awesome by yours truly) to write a little riddle and have the children hunt for their Easter Basket Innards. Brilliant, right? (nod yes.)
I wrote the following, clever, did I mention awesom, riddle:
"If you were hot
And looked like gold
You might hide
In someplace cold."
Oh, how clever I am. CLEVER I SAY. So we hid the stuff in the fridge. That's all "making lemons from mice pellets" or something. I was oh so proud of myself.
I even signed it "From T.E. Bunny."
T.E. Get it? T(he) E(aster) Bunny?
Clever, dangit!
I tell you, though, the apple does not fall from the overly-prideful tree. The minute my 6 year old read the note she runs to the fridge, opens it up and exclaims:
Actually, I don't remember what she said but I think it was pretty condescending coming from a 6 year old who failed to even notice the awesome cleverness of her clever clever mother. Or Bunny. Whatever.
In tradition, we hunted for eggs in the rain.
The secret is to run REALLY REALLY FAST and the rain can't catch you.
My children are masters at this.
(See from 2009)
In another tradition, there was the mandatory egg shot with the siblings.
See circa 1985:
And now: Circa 2008.
All together now? Ahhhhh.
May your week continue to be filled with chocolate and sun.
And then invite me over.
Sticky Notes Apr 18, 2011
#Life#The Flinger Family#Working Mom
I have these sticky notes. They line my computer background, they clutter my virtual desktop, the travel in my portable office. They are text files I keep open to remind myself of my goals, todo lists, small notes. I have one that I keep open nearly all day, every day. It is titled, "People I want to emulate."
On this text file I keep a very short list of people I admire and dare to imitate. It's like my own version of the, "What Would Jesus Do" bracelet.
What would Amanda say to this quest I'm on?
Would Scott Berkun forget to submit a speaking proposal?
I bet Emily Lewis would take the time to code this correctly, without shortcuts.
I'm sure Jenn wouldn't let her Unicorn be snuffed by a little late-spring hail.
These are the people that keep me in check. They may or may not even know how often I think about their strength, their wisdom, their spirit. They are leaders by example and in ASCHII all day to someone striving to find her own space, to be her own person, one that someone else might list on a sticky note one day. Perhaps one day I'll have someone who will want to be like me.
Maybe even my daughter.


text: In pursuit of repairing unhealthy hearts, scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles are searching for a biological fix for irregular heartbeats. Their research, published in the January issue of Nature Biotechnology, shows that when the Tbx18 gene is inserted into ordinary heart cells, it transforms them into pacemaker cells, which creates the electrical activity needed to make the heart pump blood. Currently, doctors prescribe medications or insert electronic pacemakers when things go awry. But this research suggests a biological remedy may not be too far away. Researchers hope to conduct clinical trials on humans within the next two to three years, an inspiring development that makes our hearts skip a beat.


text:
Whether you are searching for a classic All-American name, or looking for something a little outside of the box for your child we have you covered. Our list of American names will inspire you to find the perfect fit for your family's newest addition
141 results found for "American baby names starting with g"
And you'll see personalized content just for you whenever you click the My Feed .
SheKnows is making some changes!


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Owens wary of strident gun control efforts
As gun control talks continue in Washington, the North Country's representative in the House thinks Congress should tread carefully on a matter that has far-reaching constitutional implications.
U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, said this week that Congress needs to start the gun control debate by focusing on areas of common interest, like expanded background checks for gun buyers. He said some of the other issues being discussed on the national level, like tighter restrictions on assault weapons, are "far more volatile" and it makes sense to move forward on an incremental basis.
Owens spoke to the Enterprise at length Tuesday about his thoughts on gun control. The following interview has been edited for length.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise: The Senate and the president are pushing pretty hard for action on gun control. What about the House? Will the Republican leadership bring this issue to the floor?
Bill Owens: There hasn't been a lot of conversation about activity in the House. What (House Speaker John) Boehner has indicated is if the Senate passes something, essentially he'll take a look at it and decide whether or not he's going to put it up on the floor. I would suspect that if it does come over with an assault (weapon) ban, magazine ban and a number of other elements, that it may well get broken down into separate votes.
ADE: You've indicated that because this is a constitutional issue, Congress needs to be careful about how it proceeds. Can you elaborate?
Owens: When people talk about a large number of issues, they'll say, "Well, we should take action on a particular issue." But there aren't many issues that have as clear-cut a position under the Constitution as the Second Amendment, much like the First Amendment. If you were looking at issues related to the news media because people might be unhappy with what is portrayed in the news, that is a very tricky area because it has constitutional protection, as do weapons have a constitutional protection. I think those two areas are ones that I think require people to move a bit slowly in the process. It's one of the reasons why I think the background check issue is a little bit easier because it doesn't deal directly with the weapons or the ammunition.
ADE: Can you talk about your beliefs regarding gun ownership? Did you grow up around firearms?
Owens: No, I didn't. And I don't own a gun currently. I have very strong feelings about both the First and Second Amendment. I think they're very, very critical to our way of life, I think particularly in our district. We have literally tens of thousands – maybe hundreds of thousands – of folks who are gun owners, who use them for recreation, use them for hunting. We have people who are gun collectors. And we really hear of very few crimes that are committed with weapons in the district. It is truly a newsworthy event when that happens.
ADE: Many of the voices in this debate acknowledge that no laws can put an end to gun violence. But in your view what steps need to be taken to try to prevent it?
Owens: I think that stronger enforcement against gun crimes is certainly a good step. The vast majority of crimes committed with weapons are handguns, so we need to be more diligent about gun running. We need to be more diligent about prosecuting gun crimes. Those are things that we need to focus on that may have some impact. Again, I don't think that those things, in and of themselves, will eliminate gun violence. I don't think you can really accomplish that, unfortunately.
ADE: You've made it clear that you strongly support expanded background checks. What are some of the measures that you absolutely won't support?
Owens: I don't believe that we should move towards an assault weapons ban or the large (ammunition) clip ban. That is not something, at this point, that I see as accomplishing the goal. And the goal here, in my mind, is to prevent another Sandy Hook, prevent another Aurora. I think we have to be taking actions that are moving in that direction.
ADE: What's your reasoning for that? Why don't those bans accomplish that goal?
Owens: Because the vast majority – and I think it's something over 90 percent – of the crimes that are committed, are committed with handguns. That, to me, says you need to be focusing on that arena if you're really interested in stopping gun crime. … The vast majority of folks in our area use those weapons for target practice and, if you will, recreation. So why would you inhibit their ability to do that? And I think that because there are so many of these weapons out there, you may well be putting yourself in a position where, if you ban them, you really can't enforce it, and it becomes just another piece of legislation that doesn't accomplish a goal.
ADE: When we spoke about gun control in Lake Placid, you said you wouldn't have voted for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's gun control bill. What aspects of that law do you disagree with?
Owens: I had some concern over the mental health piece and how that will be implemented. One of the areas that people have talked about, who are professionals in the area, is how do you make that determination? That's somewhat like putting someone on the no-fly list. I think there's some danger associated with that. You don't want to have false positives – somebody who's put on a list inappropriately who then has a very great deal of difficulty extricating their name from it.
ADE: In the debate about the Second Amendment, you hear a lot of people arguing about its wording and its historical context. How do you interpret its language?
Owens: The courts have interpreted the Second Amendment. … From my background as a lawyer, I come at it from that perspective. I have not given it, from a philosophic standpoint, that much thought.
Contact Chris Morris at 518-891-2600 ext. 25 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Student Life – Spring 2013
Enjoy highlights of life on campus – from playing sports to performing in plays to canoeing on the Shenandoah River – by clicking on the photos below to see the many activities captured by our team of student photographers.
All photos are property of Eastern Mennonite University. Any use without proper consent is prohibited. Please contact EMU Marketing and Communications for further details.


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A few days ago, I was an emotional mess. I was touched
at by the compassion and heart-wrenching stories I was reading. I'm the better for reading them. These are the shared stories about Alzheimer's experiences from our radio and online audiences. But, then I'm faced with the question: What do we do with this repository of knowledge, with all these magnificent life stories?
Our first step was to create an interface that provides more context — in this case a dynamic map showcasing these acts of remembering. For this "mash-up" we used Google maps, Flickr images, an internally developed application (thanks Dickens!), and our Web site. We gain a greater sense of these authors and their relation to others geographically, including pull quotes and images and age and religious affiliation. And then you can delve deeper by reading each individual essay and viewing larger images.


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It has been a long, long time since I've been this convinced that any Cleveland team should take a certain course of action as what the Browns should and could do with the 2011 draft.
With who could and should be available (let's keep this to players you'd like to see at each spot but also players that have at least a good chance of being available as well), the Browns have a great opportunity to turn a weakness into a near-strength, speaking of the defensive line.
So who are the top 3-6 players you'd like at each spot? I'm adding tiers.
First round:
1. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, CLE
2. Robert Quinn, DE, UNC
3. A.J. Green, WR, UGA
4. Julio Jones, WR, ALA
5. Nick Fairley, DT, AUB (assuming Dareus is taken in the top-3 picks, so he isn't listed here).
If you want to run a 4-3, a pro bowl caliber DE is a must. One of those two will surely be there and probably both the way everyone is (idiotically) reacting to Bowers' possible knee issues. Fairley is fifth because of his attitude the last couple of weeks. Late to meetings that could mean a ton more money depending on the pick? Not great.
Second round:
1. Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
2. Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
3. Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
4. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
5. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
6. Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
Those two DTs have arguments for first round talent, especially Paea.
Third round:
1. A WR. In order of preference: Smith (Maryland), Cobb (Kentucky), Hankerson (Miami), Baldwin (PITT), Young (Boise), Jernigan (Troy) and Little (UNC)
2. Marcus Cannon, OG, TCU
3. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
4. Shane Vereen, RB, California
5. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
There are so many WRs thought to be above a certain talent level, I'd like to see the Browns go defensive line with the first two picks and then land whatever WR falls to them in the third. Quite frankly I think you're satisfying both BPA and PON by doing that. Not to say the Browns should go into this as close minded as that sounds, but by what could and should be available that looks like a great plan of action.


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The americas pictures
Keywords: photos, pictures, america's best adventures, trips, adventure, travel, national geographic, hiking, climbing, paddling, diving, skiing
Description: See photos of America's best adventure trips, as selected by National Geographic.
Encircling the largest alpine lake in North America, the 165-mile (266-kilometer) Tahoe Rim Trail just may be the singletrack with the greatest view in the United States. More than 80 miles (129 kilometers) of the trail are open to mountain bikes. In fact, the riding here is so sublime that the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) named the 21.8-mile (35-kilometer) section between Tahoe Meadows and Spooner Summit as one of its Epics, an honor bestowed on trails that epitomize the best that mountain biking has to offer. Read the whole article here.
The huge upside of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, nexus of an environmental battle lost a generation ago, is the emergence of its progeny, Lake Powell, as a supreme freshwater kayaking destination. The lake's green-water tentacles extend from the main 185-mile (300-kilometer) watercourse into 96 side canyons, where kayakers can paddle free of tides, waves, currents, and motorboats. A reverential hush inevitably descends upon a group of kayakers when they proceed into slots of Navajo sandstone towering 500 feet (150 meters) overhead that constrict to barely the length of a paddle. Read the whole article here.
Located about halfway between Reno and Salt Lake City off a lonely stretch of Interstate 80, Ruby Mountains Heli-Experience offers an Alaska-size day of powder shots in the Lower 48. Only in the isolated Ruby Mountains, you won't have to share any of it with other backcountry skiers or snowboarders. Read the whole article here.
If any place has the power to inspire awe, it's the Zion Narrows, southern Utah's premier hike in Zion National Park. For 16 miles (26 kilometers), the canyon winds voluptuously through the crimson sandstone, in some spots stretching 2,000 feet (610 meters) high and narrowing to 20 feet (6 meters). Read the whole article here.
Little known fact: Florida's best diving isn't in its saltwater. It's hidden in the northwestern corner of the state, which is riddled with freshwater springs that flow through mazes of limestone passageways. Few people ever witness the strange sights of these underwater chambers—fossils, sunlight beaming in from holes in the cave ceilings, and even ancient mastodon tusks—because the only way to see it all is by donning a mask and flippers. Read the whole article here.
Learning how to jump out of an airplane wearing something that looks like a superhero costume—and then, well, fly like one—sounds like the most impossible, extreme thing a person could try. Really, it's not. Modern wingsuits, which consist of extra fabric under the arms and between the legs to provide enough lift for flight, are popular and allow parachutists to enjoy freefall longer. Read the whole article here.
The last great underappreciated epic river in the Lower 48, the Owyhee weaves through Idaho's southwestern sage steppes, cutting deep canyons into cliffs of volcanic rhyolite. Surrounded by an ocean of three million acres (1.2 million hectares) of sagebrush desert, the Owyhee, as locals call the whole region, is rich with songbirds and sage grouse leks, ancient archaeological sites, and ruined homesteads. Read the whole article here.
Most of the time, when humans mess with nature, they lose. But at the Wedge, a monstrously big and powerful break off Newport Beach, California, they hit the jackpot—for bodysurfers, that is. There, an Army Corps of Engineers jetty relays big swells, forming slow-moving, pyramid-shaped waves that, during South Pacific storm cycles, can top 30 feet (9 meters). They're too steep for surfers but perfect for the ultimate man-versus-nature contest: bodysurfing. Read the whole article here.
It's thrilling to see big browns with no fence or barrier between you and them. At the Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations Bear Camp, you can quietly watch a dozen or more brown bears from a spruce-fringed meadow that lies between Mount Iliamna in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve and Cook Inlet. Or try out the camp's viewing platform elevated 15 feet (4.5 meters) above the grassy plain, where hungry brown bears congregate in late spring and summer to fatten up on the supple shoots. Read the whole article here.
According to Montana author Norman Maclean, the only pure way to catch a trout is on a dry fly. After all, in the first lines of his A River Runs Through It. one of MacLean's characters says that "all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman." And there is no more religious experience for a dry fly angler than catching big trout on the spring creeks of Montana's Paradise Valley. These slow, rich, clear waters require great art with a fly rod, but they also pay out the greatest reward—big, fat rainbow and brown trout. Read the whole article here.
The ice of Hyalite Canyon, just south of Bozeman, has gained fame as the proving ground of legendary Himalaya climbers Conrad Anker and Alex Lowe, as well as a spot for the locals to just get out and swing their picks. Filled with countless waterfalls in the summer, Hyalite sets up with a smorgasbord of ice climbs in the winter. Routes range from popular, consistent classics to ephemeral wisps of ice that have only have been climbed one season. Read the whole article here.
Colorado's 10th Mountain Division Huts are the fruits of one man's crazy idea: Fritz Benedict, a 10th Mountain Division soldier who fought in World War II and an Aspen architect, dreamed of setting up a system of winter huts to rival the Alps' Haute Route. The results arguably outdid the Europeans at their own game. Read the whole article here.
It's the climber's equivalent of Mecca: Every winter, between November and March, thousands of climbers from across the world make the pilgrimage to Hueco Tanks, an 860-acre (348-hectare) bouldering area outside El Paso, Texas, with more than 2,000 problems—and counting. It's renowned for its dry, sunny weather, bombproof igneous rock, and fantastical rock formations that make for endlessly challenging climbing. Read the whole article here.
It's a mighty high claim to call one backpacking trip in our archetypal national park the best, but it's hard to top this traverse of the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. Factor in a hot soak or two with a hike beside burbling hot springs, steaming fumaroles, streaming waterfalls, a grand finale at the park's signature attraction and you've got plenty to back up the boast. Read the whole article here.
Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, the country's largest national park, operates on an entirely different scale than the Lower 48. Let's just review the numbers: Six times the size of Yellowstone, it's home to the country's largest collection of glaciers and peaks over 16,000 feet (4,879 meters), including nine of the 16 tallest mountains. Read the whole story here.


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Fire safety means being ready to act
By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF
Published May 25, 2007
What would you do if fire broke out in your home?
Panic? Call 911? Try to put it out yourself?
It's one of those terrible scenarios we all worry about, but often in the abstract.
Tasks such as planning escape routes and checking smoke detector batteries may not be a priority in our busy lives.
But they should be.
Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related death, according to a recent report from the Home Safety Council, the only national nonprofit organization devoted solely to preventing home-related injuries.
"Keeping smoke alarms working and having a well-rehearsed fire escape plan are the most important steps to prepare for a fire emergency at home, " said Meri-K Appy, president of the Washington D.C.-based Home Safety Council. "You may have less than three minutes to escape if a fire occurs, so early warning from smoke alarms is critical and every family member must know the quickest escape routes."
June is Home Safety Month, and officials hope people will review the council's safety measures that help reduce the chance of fire in homes.
The Home Safety Council, which has partnered with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue on fire safety issues, recently completed a survey of Tampa residents and found that 76 percent of respondents did not know that smoke alarms needed to be tested once a month.
The survey also found that 92 percent of Tampa adults have not conducted a home fire drill.
Fire drills are essential for everyone, especially homes with children or older adults.
"When we first moved to our own home, the master bedroom was downstairs and our son's room was upstairs. He was 4 at the time, " says Victoria Yeakley, public education coordinator for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.
The family immediately made a fire-escape plan, teaching their son to go out on the roof and wait "because smoke and fire go straight up, " Yeakley explains.
Special products on the market make it easier to keep families safe, including smoke alarm devices for the hearing-impaired that flash lights and shake the bed.
Regular, battery-operated smoke alarms are available to homeowners at all Hillsborough County fire stations.
Elizabeth Bettendorf can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Fast Facts:
Keep Your Family Safe
-Create a fire escape plan. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice; hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
-Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Put them inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly. Change batteries once a year.
-Put out small pan fires by sliding a lid over the flames.
-Teach family members to "stop, drop and roll."
-Consider fire sprinkler systems for new or remodeled homes.
-Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
-Don't leave candles burning unattended. Trim the wicks to one-fourth inch.
-Don't leave the dryer running when you leave the house or go to sleep. Lint can find its way into the duct and cause a fire.
-If there is a fire, once you get out, stay out.
Sources: Home Safety Council and Victoria Yeakley of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue
Preventing fires
when cooking...
-Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
-Keep things that can burn, such as dish towels, paper or plastic bags and curtains at least 3 feet away from the range top.
-Before cooking, roll up sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can touch a hot burner and catch on fire.
-Never leave barbecue grills unattended while in use.
-Keep grills at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
When heating...
-Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
-Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from things that can burn, such as curtains or stacks of newspaper. Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
-Have a service person inspect chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces once a year. Have them cleaned when necessary.
-Keep things that can burn away from your fireplace and keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace.
When smoking...
-Use fire-safe cigarettes and smoke outside.
-Use large, deep ashtrays on sturdy surfaces, like a table.
-Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before dumping them in the trash.
When using candles...
-Never leave burning candles unattended. Do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms.
-Always use stable candle holders made of material that won't catch fire, such as metal or glass.
-Blow out candles when adults leave the room.
When using gasoline and other dangerous products...
-Store gasoline in a garage or shed in a container approved for gasoline storage.
-Never bring or use gasoline indoors, and use it as a motor fuel only.
-Close the lid on all dangerous products and put them away after using them.
-Store them away from the home in a safe place with a lock.
-Don't plug in too many appliances at once.
Source: Home Safety Council


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PERB ruling reignites DeMaio's credibility problem
A new twist in the saga of the 2012 election cycle came down yesterday when California's Public Employment Relations Board came down in favor of a complaint by San Diego's Municipal Employees Union, saying that Mayor Sanders ran afoul of state labor laws in his work to compose and promote Carl DeMaio's pension intiative. The issue will go to court and could knock the CPR measure off the June ballot.
The prospect of the initiative not being on the ballot presents several big problems for DeMaio. For one, this would be twice in a row that he fumbled high-profile ballot measures (his outsourcing initiative failed to gather enough signatures in 2010). For another, turnout driven by the pension measure is important to boost DeMaio's mayoral numbers in a close and crowded field. But even more broadly, it once again raises questions of basic credibility.
Those are questions that have dogged DeMaio for years, because while his drive and personal ambition have never been in doubt, his actual product hasn't always been able to keep up with the rhetoric:
DeMaio's 2004 Citizens Budget Project was initially met on the right with considerable fanfare. But the numbers were steadily discredited, and backers like the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, San Diego County Taxpayers Association, and Mayor Dick Murphy withdrew support citing "wrong information...and inaccurate budget totals" that challenged DeMaio's credibility.
Also in 2004, the state's California Performance Review, modeled on a DeMaio proposal, relied on faulty math and ended up wildly overstating potential savings. The entire effort was dropped by the Governor, who then distanced himself from DeMaio.
In 2009, DeMaio released a pension proposal citing inaccurate data, and even his current Roadmap to Recovery is centered on dramatically outdated finances that overstate the city's pension obligation by more than half.
And that's just a slice of the historical perspective. DeMaio is also no stranger to mixing personal projects and public responsibilities, at the center of yesterday's PERB decision. He's funded the reports and proposals used by his campaign through his council office using taxpayer money, and in just his first year in office sent 45 times as much mail to constituents as the rest of the council combined. As election season has geared up, the line between campaign events and council events has been getting even more blurry.
Yet DeMaio was particularly confident in late January's city council hearing to finalize placement of his initiative on the June ballot. Then, he called the PERB complaint "patently laughable." But this week's decision by PERB to grant MEA's request suggests that, at the least, it wasn't laughable.
Instead of taking a premature victory lap, maybe the problem could have been avoided if DeMaio, Councilman Faulconer, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, and Mayor Sanders had managed to resist the urge to combine their campaign work with city obligations. After all, the Mayor all but admitted what he was doing to CityBeat and in his 2011 state of the city address:
"Councilman Kevin Faulconer, the city attorney and I will soon bring to voters an initiative to enact a 401(k)-style plan that is similar to the private sector's and reflects the reality of our times."
That's your right. If you think you have a case, you have ways to adjudicate and remedy your issues."


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Topic: Simple highlight question
I'm trying to do a simple highlight visual effect, as I try to learn AJAX. I just want to click a link titled 'highlight' and see if I'm doing things properly to highlight the selected tag. When the 'highlight' link is clicked, I want to highlight the 'grand_total' div tag value. Below is the code I have:
# in list.rhtml
<%= link_to_remote 'highlight', :url => { :action =>'create' } %>

Grand Total: <%= number_to_currency($grand_total) %>
I created a 'create.rjs' file in the views folder. In that file I have:
# in create.rjs
page[:grand_total].visual_effect :highlight
If you have any suggestions or notice any problems, please let me know. Also, my computer defaults '.rjs' files to a RealSystem Skin type, which is a media player. Is this a problem? Thanks for any help.


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"Where will you be when the lights go out?"
Girl Scouts are invited by ARC Energy Consulting and Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm to join hundreds of millions of people across the globe in switching off the lights for one hour - Earth Hour! Here's the event poster -- it looks great!
By taking part in this event, Girl Scouts will earn the GSUSA's 100th Anniversary Forever Green Patch. The Celebration lasts from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. we will all turn out the lights!
We are looking for troops to facilitate and provide the activities. If you would like your troop to lead a game, a craft, or hand out Forever Green stickers, please call (334)272-9164 ext 2205 or email Amy Farrar at email@example.com We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic girls who don't mind teaching and leading younger kids in activities.
This is a great opportunity to earn the100th Anniversary Forever Green Patch. Girls will learn responsibility of their environment as well as all of the different ways they can help the planet!


text:
- Award Amount
- Up to $1,000
- Eligibility Criteria
Available to full-time undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.7; Student must be the immediate family member (spouse, child, legal dependent, stepchild, or grandchild) of a Wright State University graduate who is a current annual gold level member of the Wright State University Alumni Association and at least in their third consecutive year of gold level membership or a paid-in-full life gold member at the time of application.
- Renewable?
- Yes; must reapply annually
- Deadline Date
- January 3 (prior to the start of the academic year)
- How to Apply
1. Apply for Undergraduate Admission.
2. Complete the Wright State University Online Scholarship Application by January 3 (prior to the start of the academic year).
- Essay Requirements/ Expectations
In the general Essay section of the online scholarship application, be sure to include your commitment to community service and outline how you lived out that commitment in your own experiences (3,500 character maximum). If copied and pasted from MS Word, please do not use formatting like indentations or bullets.
- Application
- Additional Information
For membership information, visit WSU Alumni Association or call (937) 775-2620.