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Graduate Studies
Counseling 2011-2012
Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements |Profile
Chairperson: Rebecca Newgent
Graduate Committee Chairperson:Carrie Alexander-Albritton
Office: WIU-Quad Cities
Telephone: (309) 762-1876 Fax: (309) 762-6989
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: wiu.edu/counselored/
Location of Program Offering: Quad Cities only
Graduate Faculty
- William P. McFarland, Ed.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Rebecca Newgent, Ph.D., The University of Akron
Associate Professors
- Holly J. Nikels, Ph.D., University of South Dakota
- Leslie W. O'Ryan, Ed.D., University of South Dakota
Associate Graduate Faculty
Assistant Professor
- Carrie Alexander-Allbriton, Ph.D., Idaho State University
- Shawn Parmanand, Ph.D., Idaho State University
Adjunct Faculty
- Eldon Partridge, M.S.Ed., University of Illinois
Program Description
The Department of Counselor Education offers a Master of Science in Education in Counseling at the WIU-QC campus. The department offers a unique blend of courses designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary to become a competent counseling professional. Acceptable academic performance and experiential mastery are both required for successful completion of the program. Students may select either of two options: Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling.The Clinical Mental Health Counseling option prepares students for work as clinical mental health counselors in a variety of clinical settings, which includes: mental health centers, rehabilitation hospitals, recovery centers, private practice, university counseling centers, and employee assistance programs. The School Counseling option prepares students for work as elementary and/or secondary school counselors in public and private schools. The school counselor option within the Department of Counselor Education is the only program at Western Illinois University that prepares students for school counselor licensure.
The counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The School Counseling option is also accredited by both the Illinois and Iowa Educational Examiner Board.
Admission Requirements
A Departmental Selection Committee must recommend applicants for admission to the graduate program in the Department of Counselor Education. The Selection Committee requires references, transcripts, a screening interview, GRE scores, and an essay. Applicants must submit official GRE general test scores (no more than five years old). Applicants seeking school counseling licensure for Illinois or Iowa should contact the Chairperson of the Department of Counselor Education for those requirements. Consideration for screening interviews will not take place until all required documents are received and approved by the deadline.
Fingerprint-based Illinois State Police and FBI criminal background investigations are required of admitted students. Students may be prohibited from completing field work if background investigations reveal certain criminal offenses, arrests, and/or convictions. It is important to be aware that some schools/agencies may have additional background investigations prior to acceptance at their field site. Please email the Department of Counselor Education at email@example.com for additional information.
Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree (undergraduate course work) in any field from a regionally accredited university.
Applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (includes all undergraduate work attempted at all institutions), or 3.25 for the last two years (60 semester hours) of undergraduate work, or a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (includes all graduate work attempted at all institutions) and a completed master's degree from a regionally accredited university.
Applicants failing to meet the minimum undergraduate requirements may be considered for probationary admission with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75-2.99. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA between 2.6-2.74 may request consideration for probationary admission – an additional portfolio must be submitted by the applicant at the time of application. The additional material included in the portfolio is intended to assist the Selection and Retention Committee's evaluation of the applicant's potential success as a graduate student in the Department of Counselor Education. All applicants admitted as probationary students must petition for full admission after completing nine graduate hours from any of the following courses: CN 540, CN 541, CN 545, CN 551, CN 554, or EIS 500.
Applicants not meeting the above requirements may request individual consideration based upon exceptional circumstances. Applicants must contact the Chairperson of the Department of Counselor Education for further information.
Students will be required to complete a disclosure status (indicating whether or not a student's criminal background status has changed) during the semester prior to enrollment in techniques, practicum, and internship. All students must register for the CPCE examination while enrolled in practicum. The CPCE will be given during the student's internship semester and a passing score is required to advance to degree completion.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Education in Counseling degree has two options. Students may pursue a School Counseling option which requires a minimum of 52 semester hours or may select a Clinical Mental Health Counseling option which requires a minimum of 60 s.h. Students should consult with their adviser regarding proper sequencing of courses and specialization in either option.
The Department of Counselor Education limits the number of allowable semester hours of "C" grades or lower to 6 semester hours.
School Counseling Option
A grade of A or B is required for the following courses: CN 500, CN 547, CN 548, CN 581, CN 593, and CN 597.
I. Required Core Courses: 41 s.h.
EIS 500 Methods of Research (3)
CN 500 Introduction to Counseling Skills and Practice (3)
CN 519 Crisis and Trauma Counseling (3)
CN 540 Marriage, Family, and Relationship Counseling (3)
CN 541 Lifestyles and Career Development (3)
CN 542 Assessment Techniques in Counseling (3)
CN 545 Counseling Theories and Applications (3)
CN 547 Techniques of Counseling (3)
CN 552 Counseling/Helping in a Multicultural Society (3)
CN 554 Counseling Across the Lifespan (3)
CN 581 Group Counseling: Theories and Procedures (3)
CN 593 Practicum: Counseling (3)
CN 597 Internship (5)
II. Required Directed Electives: 11 s.h.
CN 544 Counseling Techniques for Children and Adolescents (3)
CN 546 Developing and Managing Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (2)
CN 548 Legal and Ethical Issues for Professionals in School Counseling (1)
CN 556 Developmental Counseling (3)
CN 602 Principles of Mental Health Diagnosis and Pathology for Practitioners in School Settings (1)
Elective (1)
TOTAL PROGRAM: 52 s.h.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Option
A grade of A or B is required for the following courses: CN 500, CN 521, CN 547, CN 549, CN 581, CN 593, CN 597, and CN 600.
I. Required Core Courses: 41 s.h.
EIS 500 Methods of Research (3)
CN 500 Introduction to Counseling Skills and Practice (3)
CN 519 Crisis and Trauma Counseling (3)
CN 540 Marriage, Family, and Relationship Counseling (3)
CN 541 Lifestyles and Career Development (3)
CN 542 Assessment Techniques in Counseling (3)
CN 545 Counseling Theories and Applications (3)
CN 547 Techniques of Counseling (3)
CN 552 Counseling/Helping in a Multicultural Society (3)
CN 554 Counseling Across the Lifespan (3)
CN 581 Group Counseling: Theories and Procedures (3)
CN 593 Practicum: Counseling (3)
CN 597 Internship (5)
II. Required Directed Electives: 19 s.h.
CN 520 Foundations and Professional Orientation to Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CN 521 Standards of Care and Management in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CN 522 Psychopharmacology in Counseling (1)
CN 549 Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CN 551 Counseling for Addictions (3)
CN 600 Diagnosis and Psychopathology (3)
TOTAL PROGRAM: 60 s.h.
Course Descriptions
433G Special Problems in Counseling. (1, repeatable for different titles) Designed to provide a group of students an opportunity for further professional growth and to apply problem-solving approaches in dealing with specific educational problems. Graded S/U.
500 Introduction to Counseling Skills and Practice. (3, repeatable to 6) Introduction to the psychological, sociological and educational reasons for and aspects of the helping relationship. This course combines theoretical knowledge of counseling with supervised practice in helping skills. Various counseling strategies will be presented through lecture, discussion, and audio/video presentations. The students will develop facilitative skills useful for human services professions. Grade of A or B required. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Counseling and permission of the Department Chairperson. Prerequistie/corequisite: CN 545.
519 Crisis and Trauma Counseling. (3) This course is designed to acquaint students with the special models, theories, and techniques of crisis intervention. Special attention is given to grief and trauma. Topics include prevention and intervention. Crisis management resources are explored in relation to grief, post traumatic stress, suicide, domestic violence and child abuse. Ethical, legal, and social issues related to crisis intervention will also be addressed. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Counseling.
520 Foundations and Professional Orientation to Clinical Mental Health Counseling. (3) Introduction to the profession of clinical mental health counseling: history, accreditation, licensure, credentialing, professional organizations, advocacy, counseling philosophy, and use of technology. Topics include roles, functions, professional identity, and scope of practice/standards of care unique to the field of clinical mental health counseling with specific attention given to the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and professional competencies. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Counseling.
521 Standards of Care and Management in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. (3) Current trends in the counseling literature/research and strategies for counseling specific to clinical mental health are explored. Designed to provide an understanding of the range of mental health service delivery such as inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment, and aftercare/and the clinical mental health counseling services network. Particular attention is given to managed care, HIPAA, public policy, needs assessment, consultation, and prevention. A grade of A or B is required. Prerequisites: CN 520 and graduate standing in Counseling.
522 Psychopharmacology in Counseling. (1) Students will demonstrate knowledge of commonly prescribed Psychotropic medications including antipsychotic, antidepressant, anti-anxiety and sedative/hypnotic agents. Students will understand and have a basic knowledge of creating psychological evaluations using the mental status exam and psychosocial history when developing treatment plans. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Counseling. Prerequisite or corequisite: CN 600 or CN 602.
533 Current Issues in Counseling. (1–3, repeatable) Designed to provide counselor education students and mental health practitioners an opportunity for further professional growth and in-depth exploration of special topics. Graded S/U.
540 Marriage, Family, and Relationship Counseling. (3) An introduction to basic concepts of family counseling and their application in school and agency settings.
541 Lifestyles and Career Development. (3) Assisting clientele in various settings with life's decisions; emphasis on development with respect to life roles; theories, procedures, materials, and informational resources related to lifestyle and career development counseling.
542 Assessment Techniques in Counseling. (3) Principles of measurement and assessment. The use of various assessment instruments, achievement, aptitude, intelligence, interests, and personality. Supervision in administering, scoring, and interpreting of individual evaluation methods.
543 Counseling Issues in Sexuality. (3) Course explores various dimensions of human sexuality including factual information, current research, sexual dysfunction, and treatment strategies for counseling. Students will explore their own sexual attitudes, feelings, and values in order to promote sensitive, helpful, and accurate responses as professional counselors.
544 Counseling Techniques for Children and Adolescents. (3) Counseling theories, skills, and materials appropriate for working with children and adolescents are explored. Children's developmental stages, tasks, and needs relative to clinical practice are given specific attention. Play therapy techniques, adventure based counseling skills, and consultation information is included. Prerequisites: CN 500 and graduate standing in Counseling .
545 Counseling Theories and Applications. (3) This course will survey the major concepts, practices, and applications of contemporary therapeutic systems in counseling. Students will gain an overview of the divergent contemporary approaches to counseling.
546 Developing and Managing Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. (2) Procedures for planning, organizing, and evaluating a school counseling program. Principles of administration, staffing, and budgeting for the school counseling program will be studied. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Counseling or permission of the instructor.
547 Techniques of Counseling. (3, repeatable to 6) The development and mastery of basic counseling skills through a combination of didactic and experiential approaches. Video and audio tapes, role playing, simulation, and practice in procedures will be utilized. Graded A or B required for majors. Prerequisites: CN 500 with a grade of A or B; CN 545; CN 581 as a prerequisite or corequisite. Majors only.
548 Legal and Ethical Issues for Professionals in School Counseling. (1) A study of the complex problems of law and ethics as they influence the field of school counseling and the school counselor's role. Grade of A or B required for majors.
549 Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. (3) This course provides an exploration of the legal, professional, and ethical dilemmas faced by professional counselors. Unique issues of professional identity will also be addressed. Familiarity with and application of the current American Counseling Association Code of Ethics as well as relevant state of Illinois and Iowa, and federal civil and criminal law will be demonstrated by students. Grade of A or B required for majors.
551 Counseling for Addictions. (3) Principles and practices of addiction prevention and counseling with special application to the functions of counselors.
552 Counseling/Helping in a Multicultural Society. (3) Didactic and experiential course to expand personal and professional relationship competencies in working with people in our contemporary pluralistic society. This course cannot be audited.
554 Counseling Across the Lifespan. (3) This course will address counseling theory in relation to issues pertinent to human development from a counseling and prevention perspective. It will focus on contemporary counseling approaches in addressing stages of human development, from normal and abnormal populations across the lifespan, stages of human development within a contextual and cultural perspective, and issues pertinent to human development.
556 Developmental Counseling. (3) A comprehensive developmental school counseling model will be presented. The model will be applicable for school counselors in public or private school settings, K-12. Prerequisites: CN 546 prerequisite or co-requisite, or approval of instructor. Majors only.
581 Group Counseling Theories and Procedures. (3) Didactic and experiential learning in group theory and practice. This course involves experience as a group participant to develop self‑awareness, acceptance, and effective interpersonal skills. Grade of A or B required. Prerequisite or co-requisite: CN 500 and CN 545, lab fee required. Majors only.
593 Practicum: Counseling. (3, repeatable to 6) Supervised experience in counseling. Prerequisites: A GPA of 3.0 or higher in all counseling coursework; CN 554; a grade of A or B in CN 581 and CN 547; additionally, for the clinical mental health option a grade of A or B in CN 521, CN 549 and CN 600; additionally, for the school option a grade of A or B in CN 548.
597 Internship. (5, repeatable to 10) The student will be assigned to work under careful supervision at an approved internship site. The purpose of this 600 hour internship is to gain practical experience in applying the knowledge gained in didactic courses to his/her field of specialization. Graded A or B. Required to retake if grade of C or below. Prerequisite: A grade of A or B in CN 593.
599 Independent Study. (1–4, repeatable) An investigation of problems related to the student's major area. Ordinarily a substantial written and/or oral report will be required. Students will arrange the topic, procedures, and methods of reporting with the instructor. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Counseling and permission of the instructor.
600 Diagnosis and Psychopathology. (3) Course explores various aspects of clinical mental health counseling related to diagnosis and psychopathology. Diagnosis and knowledge of abnormal and maladaptive behavior are presented. Students will learn how to make a multiaxial assessment and develop appropriate treatment planning including attention to prescribed psychotropic drugs. Grade of A or B required. Prerequisites: CN 500 and CN 545. Majors only.
601 Thesis. (3) Master's thesis in counseling. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chairperson.
602 Principles of Mental Health Diagnosis and Pathology for Practitioners in School Settings. (1) Evidence suggests an increase in mental pathologies among elementary and secondary school students. This one-hour course provides an overview of child and adolescent pathologies and diagnostic procedures and criteria. The course is designed to help school counselors and other school professionals identify mental disorders among students in order to assist them with their academic development and school adjustment. This course will provide an introduction to the general principles of diagnosis and assessment. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Counseling.
Table of Contents
- General Information
- Campus and Facilities
- University Services
- Special Programs
- Admission
- Academic Guidelines
- Graduate School Policies
- Costs and Financial Assistance
- Programs of Study
- Integrated Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
- Other Departments Offering Courses for Graduate Credit
- Index


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Redefining Europe's 'money market funds': the name has applied to a broader range of short-term funds than in the U.S., but EU regulators aim to cast a tighter framework with more transparency.
When Lehman Brothers fell in September 2008, the Reserve Primary Fund's exposure to the bank led the money market fund to write off $785 million in Lehman debt--and consequently to "break the buck," as its net asset value (NAV) fell below the crucial $1 per share to 97 cents. A brief run on U.S. money market funds followed, and many other funds had to be supported by their sponsors.
In order to make money market funds more robust, the Securities and Exchange Commission has made a number of changes to Rule 2a-7 since 2008, including reducing the maximum weighted average maturity (WAM) from 90 days to 60 days and introducing a weighted average life (WAL) restriction of 120 days, as well as minimum liquidity requirements.
The European money fund industry has been working on similar changes, but it has also faced a more fundamental issue. Historically in Europe, there has not been any definition of what constitutes a money market fund. In fact, there is no pan-European regulator of money market funds. Money market funds in Europe fall under European Union legislation, Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), which applies to investment funds in general terms but does not specifically mention money market funds.
In the absence of a regulator, the money fund industry founded a London-based trade group. the Institutional Money Market Funds Association (IMMFA), in 2000. Its members, triple-A-rated European money funds, are required to comply with a Code of Practice broadly based on Rule 2a-7. However, aside from IMMFA funds, since there's no clear definition of what constitutes a money market fund, a wide range of different types of funds have been available under this heading.
"The European money market fund landscape is split between a wide range of products, from stable and secure short-term money market funds up to relatively high-risk enhanced funds, which are more difficult to understand and which have longer tenors--and also potentially much higher yields," says Jarno Timmerman, chief dealer for AkzoNobel, a Dutch paints and coatings company with $19.8 billion in 2010 revenue. "That all makes it less transparent when you are asking, 'What kind of fund did I really invest in?'"
At the height of the financial crisis, contradictory patterns emerged as investors scrambled to make sure that their funds were in the safest possible place. In late 2008, no investment could definitively be identified as safe. For many investors, including AkzoNobel, the diversification offered by money market funds was attractive at a time when the spotlight was firmly on bank counterparty risk. Timmerman says the events of 2008 only underlined the benefits of money market funds. "If you have certain funds invested in these money market funds, and you see a risk position in those funds and you would like to redeem fully, what then is your alternative?" he asks. "You will still need to do bilateral investments with banks and you have full counterparty risk on these, whereas if you stay with the money market funds, the risk is diversified."
As investors flocked to park their funds in the safe haven that money market funds represented, the funds' assets under management grew. IMMFA funds had 408 billion euros in assets under management at the end of 2008, compared with 336 billion euros in August 2007.
For others, however, the crisis emphasized the shortcomings of money market funds rather than their benefits. Virgin Media, a U.K.-based entertainment and communications company with $5.2 billion in 2010 revenue, used money market funds prior to the financial crisis. However, as James Marshall, assistant treasurer for operations, explains, "We had always been concerned that the reporting for what is a relatively complicated product was quite vague compared to standard bank deposits. We therefore made the decision to stop using these because the information we were getting was insufficient for our needs."
Virgin Media was not the only company to withdraw from money market funds, and the 2008 crisis pointed out one of the major drawbacks of the lack of a regulatory definition. Given the wide range of funds included in the category, there was concern in the market that if one of the riskier products encountered problems, investors in the more conservative products might view all money market funds as similarly risky and withdraw funds accordingly.
In 2009, this concern was underlined in a report prepared for the European Commission by a panel led by Jacques de Larosiere, former governor of the Banque de France, that identified the need for "a common EU definition of money market funds, and a stricter codification of the assets in which they can invest in order to limit exposure to credit, market and liquidity risks."
This call was taken up by the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR), which in 2010 put out guidelines for defining European money market funds. The guidelines, which take effect July 1 for new funds and Dec. 31 for existing funds, for the first time place restrictions on the type of fund that can be described as a money market fund. (Meanwhile, the CESR has been superseded by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).)
The definition takes a two-tier approach, in contrast to U.S. regulations. The reason is clear: While the U.S. definition was introduced in 1983, much earlier in the development of the money market fund industry, the European definition is being overlaid onto an existing and diverse array of money market funds. "It's a difficult task to come up with a definition to cover everything from kitemark AAA-rated products all the way through to domestic continental European funds, which are variable NAV, extended duration and able to invest in a slightly broader mix of assets," says Marcus Littler, director of institutional liquidity sales at BNY Mellon. "Short of making everyone toe the line and bringing in one overarching definition, CESR has had to split it out." (A kitemark is a U.K. symbol showing a product meets certain standards.)
The CESR definition identifies two distinct types of funds: short-term money market funds and money market funds. The more conservative of the two categories, the short-term money market fund, has a maximum WAM of 60 days and a maximum WAL of 120 days, in line with 2a-7 and IMMFA's Code of Practice. In contrast, a money market fund has a maximum WAM of six months and a maximum WAL of 12 months. For both categories, the guidelines specify--among other things--specific disclosure to highlight the difference between money market funds and bank deposits.
The introduction of a definition has been broadly welcomed by the industry as removing much of the ambiguity that had previously existed. "The real benefit is that certain essentially short-duration bond funds, which were describing themselves as money market funds, are now not allowed to do so," says IMMFA chairman Travis Barker. "The second thing that's good is that the definition establishes certain minimum standards."
However, as Barker points out, the definitions are not without their shortcomings: "The definition does remain quite high level. So there's all sorts of detail which in our opinion is missing from the definition, which would be needed for a truly robust definition," he says. "For example, in relation to liquidity requirements--in other words, requiring a fund to hold a certain proportion of assets in cash overnight or maturing within a week, to ensure that there's lots of liquidity in the fund--that's not specified in the CESR/ESMA definition."
Barker also points out that the guidelines' naming conventions are not as clear as they could have been. "The overall category is called a money market fund, and there are two subcategories: short-term money market fund and money market fund," he says. "The first problem is that if you give a subcategory the same name as the overall category, that's a recipe for confusion. The second issue is that these subcategories are essentially the wrong way round. What CESR is calling a short-term money market fund is the standard variety of money market funds globally."
Rather than bringing harmonization, the new definitions therefore introduce some degree of conflict with global standards: A money market fund under 2a-7--or indeed under IMMFA's Code of Practice--would be classified as a short-term money market fund under CESR. By the same token, CESR's money market fund subcategory includes some enhanced funds that would not be classified as money market funds under 2a-7 or by IMMFA.
Despite the shortcomings of the CESR definition, introducing some basic parameters does go some way toward meeting the original objectives of preventing riskier funds from being classified as money market funds and providing more clarity for investors. "With harmonization of terms across the industry, making the product more regulated, there's more comfort to be had as a treasurer if you know that they are all playing by the same rules," comments Marshall.
Indeed, after halting its use of money market funds during the crisis, Virgin Media has since revisited the topic, although this has more to do with improvements on the reporting side than any regulatory developments. "We're now back in the saddle, and we do use money market funds again," Marshall says. "There has been a major shake-up in terms of the amount of material we get on a monthly basis, and the reporting is much better now. I like the flexibility that money market funds offer us, and the 13:30 [GMT] cut-off time is useful. We also get a slightly better yield using these compared to time deposits."
The changes taking place in the oversight of European money market funds are not limited to the quest for a definition. IMMFA has updated its Code of Practice and is set to make a further raft of changes in June. In addition to the changes it made to match Rule 2a-7 in 2010, including the introduction of liquidity requirements, IMMFA is set to reconsider how the code is enforced. "One of the challenges we have by relying on an industry code, rather than legal regulation, is the question of how investors in the product can be sure that the code is being applied," says Barker. "After all, IMMFA isn't a regulator. We are proposing to create a mechanism so that investors can be confident that there is proper third-party oversight."
Looking forward, there is a sense that more regulation is coming for the European money fund industry, as in the United States. "I daresay the European regulators are contemplating shifting their attention from the banking sector to the shadow banking sector," says BNY Mellon's Littler. "The industry is now anticipating a period of oversight, with attention focusing on the character of these products and on whether they could be classified in the same way as other banking operations."
While the CESR definitions clearly go some way toward addressing the issues the industry is facing, the expectation is that this is only the latest chapter in the story. "What CESR has done is very helpful: it definitely represents progress--but it doesn't represent the final word on the matter," says Barker. "It's hard to be sure of the time frame, but I think there will be further developments here."
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|Brace, Rebecca
|Treasury & Risk
|May 1, 2011
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subset: commoncrawl


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With a Redhead reported from Devonian Harbour Park earlier in the week I naturally decided to head over there, and to nearby Stanley Park, on the first rain free day of the week; Thursday (see here for an excellent photo of this individual). Redhead are locally uncommon around Vancouver and this species would be a new addition to my Stanley Park patch list. Despite my best efforts I could not relocate the bird. I went back on Friday and was equally unlucky. To my knowledge the bird hasn't been seen since Tuesday (February 5th). Lesson learned: a decent bird is well worth getting a little wet for!
Despite dipping on the Redhead I still had two days of good birding in the park. On Thursday I had some nice views of the three Greater White-fronted Geese that have been hanging around the rose garden this winter. The last time I saw these birds one of them appeared to have a bit of an injured right wing. Assuming these are the same individuals, then it looks as though that bird is back to full health as all three geese seemed to be doing well.
On Friday I took Ravine Trail from Beaver Lake to the seawall. This trail is a short walk following Beaver Creek to the seawall at the creek's mouth. There was just a small group of Barrow's Goldeneye diving off shore but looking towards the Lion's Gate Bridge I spotted three North American River Otters. Two of them were swimming away from me but one stayed close enough for some record shots. It's always nice seeing otters, especially so close to the harbour and all the industrial activity associated with it.


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Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM
Adelphi UniversityOffice of University AdmissionsNexus Building, 1st Floor1 South AveGarden City, NY 11530United States
Register today for a campus tour at Adelphi!
*If you've registered for an upcoming information session, please note a campus tour is already included.
An Adelphi student ambassador will lead you on a walking tour of our scenic campus and answer your questions about student life. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to see where our students live, learn and spend recreational time. Tours typically last approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Registration is no longer available because the registration deadline has passed.


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Carter legacy hovers over grandson
Five days after Jason Carter jumped into the Georgia governor's race, his grandfather, former President Jimmy Carter, delivered a speech urging a ban on the death penalty. Within hours, the newly minted candidate felt compelled to issue a retort: while he loves his grandfather, he told a reporter, "I believe in the death penalty for heinous crimes, and that won't change when I'm governor."
The episode spoke to the benefit and potential burden of the Carter surname for the upstart Democratic state senator, who is waging a long-shot bid to unseat first-term Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. Practically everyone in the Peach State knows the Carter name, and in state Democratic circles the ex-president remains a revered figure more than three decades after he left the White House.
Story Continued Below
But despite growing Hispanic- and African-American populations in Georgia — demographic trends that have rekindled Democratic hopes of a political revival there — the state is still solid GOP terrain. And for many conservatives "Carter" is shorthand for failed liberalism and weak leadership.
( PHOTOS: Jimmy Carter in Haiti)
Deal's campaign has already made clear it intends to hang the "liberal" anchor on the grandson's neck, saying that the potential matchup could be, in part, a "referendum on President Carter's administration."
Carter, a 38-year-old Duke- and University of Georgia-educated lawyer with an attractive young family, is a respected voice in the state Senate, and he has inspired a groundswell of enthusiasm in the state's Democratic political class and in Washington. He's pitching himself as a centrist Democrat who will work to reform education and state ethics laws. Highly ranked by the NRA, Carter stressed his pro-gun bona fides during a phone interview last week, at one point describing the gun with which he taught his child to shoot.
Some polls show he could put the governor's seat in play as Deal also fends off primary challenges. Carter announced his candidacy earlier this month, a move that comes as Democrats are already energized about their 2014 prospects with Michelle Nunn — daughter of Georgia legend Sam Nunn, a former senator — seeking a Senate seat.
In the interview, Jason Carter said he deeply respects his grandfather but emphasized that he's his own man.
( Also on POLITICO: Jason Carter: Georgians think ACA 'a mess')
"He says a lot of things," the younger Carter said of his grandfather with a laugh, predicting that "we're going to have a lot of differences in public." He added, in a more serious tone, "It's important for folks to know, I'm Jason Carter, I have my beliefs. He's Jimmy Carter, he has his."
Jimmy Carter left office in 1980 with a 34 percent approval rating, tying President George W. Bush's final presidential number. As with most presidents, his standing has improved since then, clocking in at 56 percent nationally as of April, according to Gallup. His favorability numbers have come down since the 1990s amid an active and at times controversial post-presidency. But a recent internal poll showed that in Georgia, the former president had roughly 60 percent favorability, and his wife Rosalynn Carter came in at close to 70 percent, according to a senior national Democrat who saw those numbers.
Two areas where the Carter surname will undoubtedly be a big help are with name ID and fundraising, factors Republicans acknowledge as well. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said that Jimmy Carter's relationships could help the younger Carter — who has represented a heavily Democratic Atlanta-area state Senate district since 2010 — introduce himself to the rest of the state.
( Also on POLITICO: 10 things to know about Jason Carter)
"His task now is to get out throughout Georgia and meet the people," said Johnson, who called Jason Carter a "shining star" in the statehouse.
Former Democratic Rep. Buddy Darden, who represented Georgia in Congress for six terms, said he expected the younger Carter would have to break with his grandfather from time to time on the policy front, but that overall having a "famous grandfather has its advantages."
"He will have to build some effort to separate himself, his own opinions from those of President Carter," Darden said. "At the same time, as time passes I think history is going to treat, is already treating, Jimmy Carter here in Georgia quite kindly."


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Kathleen is always running late. From the moment she realizes that she has slept through the alarm again, to the moment she collapses into bed at night, she is in a constant struggle with time. "Where's the blouse that goes with this suit?" "There's no milk for cereal. Where did I put my keys?" On the way to work she thinks, "Whew! I just made the bus. Oh, God, poor Steve he needs my report for his project and I haven't finished it yet. I hope the supervisor doesn't find out." At work, she's ill-prepared for a meeting. A million distractions prevent her from finishing the report. It's time to pick up her daughter at day care. She's relieved that the fund raising committee isn't meeting this week, but annoyed she'll miss out on another evening with her family because she has to work. After finishing the report at midnight, Kathleen has just enough energy to look around her house (in dire need of cleaning) and wonder "Where does the time go?"
Kathleen suffers from time stress, which undermines the quality of her life and her sense of well-being. For most of us, the modern-day world seems to be spinning faster and faster. Computers, faxes, pagers, car phones and automated tellers, far from saving time, seem to add pressure. According to a Harris survey, in 1990, the average American had 37% less leisure time than in 1973. "Leisure" time is crammed full of activities, commitments, and responsibilities. Even our children feel the pressure of a chock-full day: school, music lessons, soccer practice, and homework.
For many of us, the frantic pace is self-inflicted; we are too busy because we choose to be so. Being busy may be a sign of importance or self-worth. Some people are "rushaholics," depending on hectic activity to get going in much the same way others need nicotine or caffeine. Rushing triggers the release of stress hormones which stimulate neurochemicals such as adrenaline to keep the body on perpetual alert. When we try to relax, uncomfortable feelings and emotions surface, so we get busy again and stuff the feelings back down.
Health Effects
Time pressure can have powerful effects on the body. Our brain regards clocks, deadlines, and interrupted schedules as a threat, and calls up the "fight or flight" stress response. The incessant struggle to do more and more in less and less time also makes us more likely to respond with toxic anger to anyone or anything slowing us down. We feel we're not accomplishing what we should and self esteem plummets. We feel exhausted and overwhelmed all the time, denying ourselves the satisfaction of a job well done. Personal relationships suffer. We don't have time for the real conversations and intimacy that help buffer stress and increase our resistance to disease. Because of the added tension and worry about getting things done, we may lose sleep. We slip into bad habits, eating too much or too little or relying on junk food. We avoid exercise, light up a cigarette or turn to alcohol, caffeine, or pills to rev up or calm down.
It may take a serious illness before we realize that time is our most precious asset. Fortunately, there are less drastic ways.
It's not just the Gandhis of the world who can escape time pressure. Even in our speeded-up culture, we can all think of someone who is relatively unbothered and unhurried, someone who faces similar demands as we do but is more productive, unhassled, somehow in sync with the flow of time. With a little practice, you too can enjoy the healthful benefits of learning to "go with the flow."


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Producer Licensing Online Services
Apply for an Insurance License Online - FLASH Go to the Fast Licensing Application Service is Here (FLASH) for both resident and nonresident applicants to apply for an insurance license online. This link takes the viewer to the procedures of how to file an application online. If you already know how to use the online application service, you may select the following link to go directly to the FLASH online application.
Online Examination Scheduling PSI Services, LLC, a California-based company providing state-based regulatory licensure services, handles the scheduling of examinations for individuals licensed by the California Department of Insurance's (CDI) Producer Licensing Bureau. Applicants can schedule and reschedule their examinations online using this service.
Online Renewal Service This Web page provides both resident and nonresident licensees with instructions on how to renew their license online by answering the same questions that are stated on the paper renewal application and prompts the agent to submit credit card (American Express, VISA, or MasterCard) or debit card (with the VISA or MasterCard logo) payment for the appropriate amount of the renewal. There is no additional fee for using this service. Credit/debit card transactions are encrypted and no one but the licensee and his or her credit/debit card company will have access to the credit/debit card number. The renewed license(s) can be printed at Print or Download Your License after the renewal has been filed and all other requirements have been met and recorded on your licensing record.
CDI's Online Renewal Service is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who want to renew their licenses after the license expiration date has passed. Additionally, the Online Renewal Service is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who previously used the online renewal service as an on-time renewal but were not able to renew their license because not all of the requirements to renew were met prior to the license expiration date. The Online Renewal Service allows these licensees, once their requirements has been met, to complete the renewal of their license by paying the 50 percent late penalty fee.
The Online Renewal Service for late renewals is not available to bail agents, who by law must reapply as a new applicant if their license is not renewed prior to the expiration date
Print or Download Your License The California Department of Insurance (CDI) provides a Print or Download your License online service that will guide licensees, step-by-step, through the license printing and downloading process.
Change your Address Online Change your contact information directly online through CDI's address change system. This CDI web page allows California resident and non-resident licensees to change their contact information, such as e-mail address, phone number and FAX number, as well as change their mailing, business, and resident address information. Providing us with an e-mail address will ensure prompt notification of any changes that may affect your license. The contact information is updated immediately in the Producer Licensing Bureau's (PLB) database. There is no fee to change contact information.
Only authorized individuals with a valid business need may access the Online Address Change service. Section 502 of the California Penal Code imposes severe criminal and civil penalties for any unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure of sensitive or confidential information. Unauthorized access, inspection, use or disclosure of information with this online service may subject violators to state and/or federal criminal, civil, and/or administrative actions. Access or use of this online service by any person, authorized or unauthorized, constitutes consent to these terms.
Business Entity Endorsement and Termination Online Service This page provides real-time entry of an endorsement or termination. Additionally, this service validates the agent information to ensure that the agent is eligible to be endorsed to the business entity license before sending the information electronically to the CDI.
Business Entity Online Application Service
This online application is designed to simplify and expedite the process of filing a new Name Approval Request and a new Business Entity Online Application. The first step is for you to electronically submit your Name Approval/Reservation request. The second step is for you to electronically submit your Business Entity Online Application request. This online application service is available for resident or non-resident applicants.
Print Your Certificate of License Status Online This page allows resident individual licensees to request and print a certificate of license status online.
Education Providers Online Programs The California Department of Insurance (CDI) offers Education Providers two online programs for both submitting provider rosters and class presentation schedules. By accessing a secure Web site, a provider can enter a provider roster or a class presentation schedule, this saves time for both the provider and the agent. Once the provider roster, class presentation schedule, or text data roster updates are submitted to the CDI, the information will be available to viewers within 24 hours on our Web site. Continuing education providers may also submit continuing education course applications, continuing education course renewals, and continuing education course completions through Vertafore's Compliance Express. There is fee to use Vertafore's Compliance Express service. Providers using this service will be billed monthly by Vertafore.
Bail Report for County Clerk Offices Online Services
This online system allows county clerk offices the ability to print an updated list of all active bail licensees. Pursuant to Section 1815 of the California Insurance Code, the Commissioner of the State of California, does hereby certify that the person(s) named in the report are holders of the licenses designated and are active as of the date of report.


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Homeowners in Chardonnay Estates and White Point Village upset over the noise, lights, and environmental issues from living next to the Mid-Bay Bridge Connector will share their concerns Thursday with the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority.
BLUEWATER BAY �Homeowners in Chardonnay Estates and White Point Village upset over the noise, lights, and environmental issues from living next to the Mid-Bay Bridge Connector will share their concerns Thursday with the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority.
A portion of the road connects the north end of the Mid-Bay Bridge to State Road 20 to allow motorists to bypass White Point Road. However, some residents in Chardonnay and White Point Village now live only 150 feet from the connector, said Darlane Landsberger, the homeowner association manager for the two developments.
�Chardonnay Estates is located right in the line of fire, so to speak,� Landsberger said.
Since the connector�s construction in May 2011, Chardonnay Estates resident John Ormsbee has noticed a significant increase in noise. From 5 to 7 a.m. each morning he hears cars speeding on the road and on the bridge. The noise subsides during the day, he said, but only because drivers aren�t speeding as much.
Ormsbee used to live near the Long Island Expressway in New York, and said the only way nearby residents got any peace was when a sound wall was built.
�That�s the only solution to this,� he said.
Edward Chapman moved to his home in White Point Village only a few hundred feet from the road about three months ago. The noise is terrible, especially when a semi-trailer�s engine breaks down, he said.
�I wouldn�t even move here now,� Chapman said. �It was really nice here before. I�m sure the resale value has dropped just because of the interchange.�
Under the direction of the association�s board of directors, Landsberger sent the Bridge Authority requests to start resolving noise and drainage issues residents blame on the connector road.
The authority has begun installing temporary irrigation improvements and replanting shrubbery on the perimeters of the developments, Landsberger said.
Copies of past noise studies and current state Department of Transportation provisions for noise abatement on roads also were requested.
The Mid-Bay Bridge Authority released the names of eleven homeowners that were supposed to receive a letter asking them to comment on noise, Landsberger said. None of them said they received a letter, but Landsberger noted that they may have thought the letter was junk mail and threw it away.
Thursday�s meeting was also among the demands.
Jim Vest, the Bridge Authority�s executive director, said no noise abatement structures were built along with the connector because the original design criteria didn�t warrant them.
The complaints reached the authority last fall.
�I�m not saying there�s not noise there, but there are certain criteria established by the state or federal government to warrant sound walls,� Vest said. �The noise level predictions didn�t warrant that.�
The Bridge Authority will discuss potential measures to ease the problems at Thursday�s meeting, Vest said. Another noise study is in the works and the results will determine what will be done next.
�Basically, it boils down to one thing,� Landsberger said. �The residents have grown intolerant of the noise issues from the roadway.�
WANT TO ATTEND? The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Niceville City Hall at 208 N. Partin Drive.


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Animal Protection > Actions - Index > Brazil
Cattle, Not Soy, Drives Amazon Deforestation - Report
friendly, larger print version
Cattle, Not Soy, Drives Amazon Deforestation - Report
Date: 15-Apr-09
Country: BRAZIL
Author: Raymond Colitt
full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN14438957
Virgin Amazon jungle is burned to clear land for cattle pasture, on a private ranch near the Jarina Indian reserve October 1, 2006.
BRASILIA - Cattle ranchers are far bigger culprits in Amazon deforestation than soy farmers, a study showed on Tuesday, as the environmental record of Brazil's commodity exporters comes under increasing international scrutiny.
The study, produced jointly by environmental groups and the soy industry, showed that only 12 of 630 sample areas deforested since July 2006 -- or 0.88 percent of 157,896 hectares (390,000 acres) -- were planted with soy.
By comparison, nearly 200 were converted into pasture land for cattle. The rest of the deforested areas had not yet been put to use.
"The big villain of Amazon destruction is cattle ranching," said Paulo Adario, Amazon campaign coordinator with Greenpeace, one of the groups that sponsored the report.
Each year country-sized chunks of the world's largest rain forest are devastated, although the rate has fallen sharply from a few years ago and preliminary data shows it fell further in the past 10 months.
In addition to loggers, ranchers and peasants, large-scale farmers are often blamed for contributing to the devastation as Brazil's agricultural frontier has expanded due to strong foreign demand for the country's commodities in recent years.
Brazil is the world's biggest beef exporter and the second-largest exporter of soy, much of which is bought by China.
Adario said the size of deforested plots had been falling consistently in recent years. That suggests that soy farmers, who require large areas to be efficient, were no longer involved directly in clearing forest.
Brazil's soy industry, with exports of $18 billion last year, agreed in July 2006 not to trade soy from deforested areas.
That accord helped prevent farmers from clearing large, new areas, the authors of the report said.
"Soy is no longer a big threat to the Amazon," said Carlo Lovatelli, head of the soy industry association Abiove.
Foreign farm competitors in the United States and Europe often criticize Brazilian exports, such as sugar and beef, for contributing to deforestation.
Lovatelli acknowledged the accord did not cover about 10 percent of Brazil's soy output and that mechanisms to control its implementation were still inadequate.
Asked what would happen to a farmer who planted soy illegally on deforested land, Lovatelli said, "He'll sell to a Chinese trader on the spot market."
Some environmental economists say the expansion of soy has been to blame for deforestation by displacing cattle ranchers deeper into the Amazon in search of cheaper land.
Still, Environment Minister Carlos Minc said the accord was a good first step.
"It's a model for other sectors to follow," said Minc, adding he was eyeing a similar accord with the beef industry.
Brazil's government, which last year abandoned years of opposition to deforestation targets, aims to reduce deforestation in the 12 months through July to about 9,500 square km (3,667 square miles) from 11,900 square km (4,595 square miles) the year before.
(Editing by Peter Cooney)
Kellie L. Heckman, PhD
Animal Welfare Research Associate
ph. (757) 213-8734
email. [email protected]
PETA-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
You can help animals today, support PETA.
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Send questions or comments about this web site to Ann Berlin, [email protected]


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Please login first to complete purchase/ quotation request, view custom order reports, or create favorites list.
Don't have an account with us yet? Please set up an account to place order or obtain customer services.
This is the scrambled beta-Amyloid peptide amino acids 25 to 35. Pairing this peptide with the native b-Amyloid 25 to 35 amino acids peptide has been used to recognize its structure and functions.


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Varieties of dramatic structure: a study of theory and practice
University Press of America, Incorporated, 1990 - Literary Criticism - 143 pages
The purpose of this book is to take a fresh look at play structure from the Greeks to the present. The author approaches this task by comparing theories with plays instead of merely studying plays in the light of influential theories. In so doing, the reader discovers a variety of dramatic structures, unique forms which resist conceptual pigeonholing. The text proposes that theory rarely squares with practice, that play structures are much more various than theorists have led us to believe. Plays considered include those of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Shakespeare, Dryden, Racine, Isben, Chekhov, Brecht, and Ionesco. Theorists discussed include Aristotle, Hegel, the Cambridge Anthropologists, Gustav Freytag, A.C. Bradley, and Francis Fergusson. The text is broken into: Structure of Greek Tragedy; Structure in Shakespearean Tragedy; Varieties of Structure in Modern Drama.
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Aeschylus Aeschylus's Agamemnon Alving analysis Antigone Antony and Cleopatra appears argues Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's audience avenge Beckerman begins Bradley Brecht catastrophe Chekhov Chekhov's plays Chekhovian chorus classical climax Creon critics death diptych Doll's House drama dramatic structure dramatist dramaturgy Dryden Electra Elizabethan epic theater episode Eumenides Euripides Euripides's falling action Fergusson Freytag Freytagian Ghosts Greek plays Greek tragedy Hamlet Helmer hero's Hippolytus Iago Ibsen Ibsenian structure Ionesco King Lear Kitto logical lyrical Macbeth Mack Magarshack Medea ment Mother Courage Moulton neo-classical Nina Nora occurs Oedipus Oedipus at Coloneus Oresteia Orestes Othello pattern Phaedra Philoctetes play structure playwright plot Poetics prologue Prometheus protagonist pyramid remains ritual says scene Scribean Sea Gull Shakespeare's plays Shakespearean Tragedy single single-action Sophocles Sophocles's play stage struc technique Thebes thematic theme theory tion title character tragic hero tragic structure Treplev trilogy Troian Women ture turning point unity Waldock well-made play York


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Do You Need Your Cedar Shake Roof Cleaned in Asharoken NY?
We specialize in soft-washing cedar shake roofing and siding.
Cedar shakes make a beautiful roofing material for any Asharoken home. The only issue with a cedar roof is that it's a natural product (which is not a bad thing) it just means that you need to give it a higher level of care and maintenance than you would a normal shingled roof.
If you have trees that overhang your home or you have many trees in close proximity to your home than organic debris such as leaves, twigs, pollens and more are landing all over your roof and in turn, contributing to the moss, algae and other grime growing on the roof.
CedarRoofCleaningLI.Com is a cedar roof cleaning company based on Long Island. We specialize in the cleaning of cedar shake roofing and cedar shake siding. Using specially formulated (on-site) solutions that are safe for kids, pets and your landscaping and our soft-washing equipment we are able to make your cedar roof look like new again.
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DO NOT USE: Do not use any of the following products on your cedar roof. Sealants, waterproofers or any type of plasticizer. You also want to avoid any products contain unfortified linseed oil, diesel fuel or recycled crankcase oil. Many of these solutions (still used by some) will actually "seal" the surface of your cedar and prevent the material from breathing which is essential to it's operation and longevity. We DO NOT Use ANY Of These On Your Roof!
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Huss Park Attractions
The Birthplace of excellent Amusement Rides
Huss Park Attractions GmbH, based in Bremen, Germany, is an internationally renowned market leader in the design, development, manufacture and sale of amusement rides for theme and amusement parks.
HUSS® has a customer base spread throughout the world which includes a wide range of venues and organisations. In addition to outdoor and indoor amusement and theme parks, these include tourist attractions and resorts as well as park designers and developers.
Representative offices in China, Korea, India and United Kingdom guarantee the best customer service and first class support.


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By Ryan Ngala
[New York] Let The Games Begin!!!, Today was a gorgeous and sunny day when the Harlem Children's Zone hosted the Summer Games located at 216 Fort Washington Avenue and West 168th street, this event took place on Friday July the twenty sixth of twentieth thirteen.
Some HCZ staff and students arrived on a school bus, while others walked; all of them went upstairs to the third floor to be seated as the HCZ Summer Games were about to start at 10:00am and ending at 4:00pm on the dot. Many of the main events were shown on a large projector screen including the fifty-five meter dash, the shot put, the two-hundred meter dash, the 4×200 meter relay, and the long jump.
The 55 meter dash was for eleven – fifteen year olds who ran so fast at the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory; the crowd gave the runners a round of applause. The shot put contest was for the CSO site group and 19 year olds who Threw the heavy ball and had to spin themselves around in circles just to see how to throw it so far and so high. When The shot put athletes were finished it was on to the next event, which was the 200 meter dash for 13 – 15 year old students; and they were running so fast around the track which was splendid indeed. Next it was the long jump for the 11 – 14 and 16 – 18 year old students who ran and jumped as far as possible in the sand. The audience watched it all, and all the while many refreshments were served to each HCZ site, including Learn To Earn, Truce Media, Truce Fitness, Employment and Technology Center, College Success Office, A Cut Above and Promise Academy One.
After all that, the HCZ students and staff from each site group stood for the national anthem, then on to the next event which was the 55 meter dash for the fastest staff member, both men and women.Each runner had to race at his or her own pace to see who could reach the finish line, Each and every last runner had a turn to compete.
Finally comes the best events of the Games: the 11-12, 13-15, & 16-18 year olds competed in the 4×200 meter relay; four students from each site group ran in this event at his or her own pace, From what I saw, the students who won the 4×200 meter relay ran the fastest of all. Just to see who reached the finish line, the winners who earned the Bronze, Gold and Silver medal, were from A Cut Above, Truce Fitness and Promise Academy One.
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The brightest minds in politics, technology, academia and economics are among those in Aspen this week for the annual Ideas Festival.
As always, it's an eclectic lineup of speakers. This year's roster ranges from Republican Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to Evan Williams, a co-founder of Twitter. There will also be two Supreme Court justices on hand — Justice Stephen Breyer and former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
The festival lasts through July 3. Many of this year's discussions will consider the decade since the Sept. 11 attacks and now the nation has changed.


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It was an arrest that prompted late night calls and general disbelief among some of Kinston�s top officials.
It was an arrest that prompted late night calls and general disbelief among some of Kinston�s top officials.
A State Bureau of Investigation inquiry led to the arrest of former Kinston City Councilman Will Barker Thursday night on third-degree child exploitation charges. Such charges allege Barker was in possession of �material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity.�
Lenoir County Jail officials confirmed Friday Barker was in custody on a $300,000 bond late Friday.
Kinston Department of Public Safety spokesman Woody Spencer referred all comments to City Manager Tony Sears, who said neither he nor KDPS Director Bill Johnson were aware of the SBI investigation before Thursday�s arrest.
Sears said he first learned of the arrest between 12:45 and 1 a.m. Friday morning.
�Director Johnson had given me a call to let me know someone in this department had done it � he was processed through the City of Kinston,� Sears told The Free Press Friday night. �Obviously, when our people became aware of it, they alerted the director, and he alerted me.�
Sears also released this official statement: �We are very surprised to learn of the situation today. Mr. Barker served the City of Kinston well during his tenure, and our thoughts go out to Mr. Barker and his family.�
Barker, a Kinston native and graduate of East Carolina University, is the co-owner of the Sitterson & Barker accounting firm of Kinston.
He was appointed to the Kinston City Council in early 2007 to fill the seat of former Councilman Van Braxton, who was elected to the state Legislature in 2006.
He was elected to the same council seat in the fall of 2007, and served a full four-year term � he was mayor pro tem for the second half of his term on the council. He decided not to seek re-election in 2011.
Barker, who is married and a father of two, said during his last council meeting in December 2011 he was looking forward to �going back to being a dad and a husband.� He also urged residents to get involved in public service.
�Step up and make decisions,� he said at his final meeting. �It�s easy to armchair quarterback; be part of the solution.�
Barker also served on the Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority board, and is a sitting member of the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency Board of Commissioners.
He was elected last month by his fellow NCEMPA commissioners to serve as a member of the ElectriCities Board of Directors.
ElectriCities oversees the operations of NCEMPA and its sister public power agency in the western part of the state.
He also provided auditing services to the Lenoir County Board of Education, and discussed at length his views on Kinston�s city budget and how city spending could be more efficient.
�When it came to the budget, in the City Council I relied on Will Barker more than anyone else because of his knowledge, his expertise,� said longtime Councilman Joe Tyson, the current mayor pro tem.
Tyson declined to comment on Thursday�s charges against Barker.
�I want everyone to understand that Mr. Barker has dedicated his time, effort, energy to ensure that citizens of Kinston have a decent quality of life,� Tyson said.
Officials with the SBI and the North Carolina Department of Justice didn�t return calls to The Free Press.
Free Press Managing Editor Bryan C. Hanks and staff writer Jon Dawsoncontributed to this report. Wes Wolfecan be reached at 252-559-1075 or at email@example.com. David Andersoncan be reached at 252-559-1077 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Between 2010 and 2050, smoking could be responsible for 40 million excess deaths from tuberculosis (TB), according to research published on bmj.com today.
The study, led Dr Sanjay Basu from the University of California, used a mathematical model to determine the effect of smoking on future tuberculosis rates. The research finds that because smoking increases the risk of contracting TB, there will be 18 million more cases worldwide between 2010 and 2050.
Once smokers develop the disease, they are more likely to die from it, meaning that smoking can single-handedly undermine the Millennium Development Goal to reduce TB mortality by half between 1990 and 2015, say the authors. They add, however, that "aggressive tobacco control could avert millions of deaths from tuberculosis
It is established, say the authors, that smoking tobacco is a TB risk factor. They add that nearly one fifth of the world's population smokes and that most cigarettes are smoked in countries with high TB prevalence and where the tobacco industry has expanded its market. Given this, the authors wanted to predict how much impact smoking will have on future TB rates.
The research team developed a mathematical model to investigate the issue. Similar models have previously been used for HIV, TB detection systems and drug resistance, but not smoking.
In their analysis, the authors found that smoking may have a substantial impact on future TB rates because a moderate increase in individual risk translates into a large population-level risk because so many people smoke.
The results show that from 2010 to 2050 worldwide smoking could lead to 40 million excess TB deaths (from 61 to 101 million). They also conclude that if current smoking trends continue, the number of excess TB cases could rise from 256 to 274 million - 18 million new cases in total.
Furthermore, the authors found that the number of people with current TB infections may be falsely reduced by smoking. This is because smoking can kill so many people with TB that the number of people living with TB is reduced by smoking, even though smoking also causes a rise in new cases.
According to Basu's model the African, Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asian regions would experience the greatest increase in new TB cases attributable to smoking.
The authors argue that "aggressively lowering the prevalence of tobacco smoking could reduce smoking attributable deaths from tuberculosis by 27 million by 2050".


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Fans First emails
Fans First emails are our way of thanking our artists' biggest Spotify fans with unique or exclusive offers. Previous treats have included:
- Access to presale tickets for upcoming concerts.
- Access to exclusive merch items not available anywhere else.
- Invites to special artist events.
If you've received one of these emails, congratulations!
How do I get one of these emails?
Emails are sent to listeners who our data show are the artist's top fans.
Tip: Log into your account page's notification settings to make sure you've opted in to Spotify News and Offers emails. You can also make sure we have your correct email address.
Do I need Premium to be eligible?
Nope! These offers are open to everyone with a Spotify account.
Need help?
We don't handle purchasing for presale ticket offers, so it's best to contact the companies responsible. The email you received about the offer should include a link to the correct ticketing company. They can help with:
- Code issues.
- Shipping/Delivery questions.
- Cancellation/refunds.
Can I buy this item somewhere else?
No, this item is available for a limited time through the link in the email you received.
Who can I contact for help?
We don't handle the purchasing for our merch offers, so it's best to contact the merchandizers responsible. Click the purchase link in the email to be taken to their website. They can help with:
- Shipping estimates.
- Items that arrived damaged.
- Returns/cancellations.
How much does this cost?
Nothing! It's the artist's way of thanking you for being one of their top fans.
Can I have a few to give to my friends?
Sorry, since we only have a limited number of items to giveaway, we have to limit to one per invite.
I can't see the landing page!
If you received an email with details about the giveaway, make sure you enter the same email address that you received the invitation to in order to view the landing page and claim your free item.
I got an email about the giveaway, but it says it's closed.
Sorry, we have a limited number of items to giveaway and our giveaways are always first-come, first-served.
Who can I contact for help?
Reply to your invitation email or use the button to contact the host on the landing page.
Does this cost anything?
No, Fans First events are free! It's the artist's way of thanking you for being one of their top fans. Please note, unless indicated, transportation to/from the event is not included.
I RSVP'd but I'm going to be late. Will I be guaranteed entry?
While we try to accommodate everyone, we cannot guarantee entry for latecomers. This goes for guests too. Make sure you arrive together and aim to be early!
I RSVP'd, but now I can't come. What should I do?
Since our events are so exclusive, please let us know if you don't plan to attend so we can offer your place to someone on the waitlist.
My guest is under the age limit. Can they come anyway?
Unfortunately there is no wiggle room when it comes to age limits. You and your guest must be of age. If no ages are listed on the event page and invitation email, the event is all ages.
I can't see the landing page!
If you received an emailed invite, please use the email address to which you received the invitation to view the landing page and RSVP. If you didn't receive an invite, unfortunately we can't accommodate you this time around.
Can I pick up my ticket in advance? Do I need to bring anything with me on the day?
Please follow the arrival/entry instructions on your confirmation email. In some cases your name (and, if applicable, the name of your guest) has been added to the guest list, so there isn't an actual physical ticket.
Who can I contact for help?
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Three local students get Gates full-ride scholarships
Three seniors at Lake Roosevelt High School have been selected as Gates Millennium Scholars, the district announced recently.
Selected were Kendall Piccolo, Johnny Medina-McCraigie and Charli Knight.
That makes a total of 13 Gates Scholars selected from LRHS since the program began in 1999.
The three new "scholars" willl receive at least four years free tuition and fees at their universities of choice, with the possibility of continuing through a doctorate degree.
School counselor Sue Hayes stated that the trio were outstanding students and had carefully planned out their futures.
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of choice.
"We provide GMS with personal and professional development through our leadership programs along with academic support throughout their college career," material from the Gates program stated.
The GMS program is more than a scholarship, but an opportunity for students to change their lives, it was further stated.
The 1,000 scholarships annually are given to outstanding minority students with significant financial needs.
Including the three from LRHS, 13 were selected from Washington state this year.
The school board was advised that all three recipients had selected the universities that they will attend.
Kendall Piccolo will attend Dartmouth where he will study engineering. Medina-McCraigie is visiting colleges but is leaning toward the University of Hawaii where she will study computer science and film. Her goal is to create visual history for the Colville Tribes. And Charli Knight will attend the University of Washington where she will be in a pre-law and social work program.
Piccolo carries a 3.8 grade point average and has participated in basketball, baseball and cross country as an athlete, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is also a member of the Native American Club and has taken the most advanced classes available during his LRHS time, and attended the College Horizons summer program.
Each described a lengthy application process that includes the writing of eight essays. "You have to realize what you want," said Medina-McCraigie, who has a 3.9 grade point average, played basketball, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a three-year science student and currently is taking physics and is in the leadership class.
Knight has a 3.7 gpa, has participated in cross country and track, and has been active in the Upward Bound summer program. As a senior project, Knight organized a community fund-raiser walk that last weekend raised money for a domestic violence shelter in Omak
"These are highly talented and successful students," Hayes told the board last week.


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The appeal of a modern, on the rise indie band like Jukebox the Ghost is simple: They write catchy songs. On top of that, they're dynamic, skilled musicians. The band's records are carefully structured, yet wildly diverse affairs. And the live show? Energetic, crowd-pleasing, cathartic.
The Philly trio's new album, produced by Peter Katis (Interpol, The National) and set for release this fall on Yep Roc, highlights all of these elements over 11 tracks, each one leaving its own unique sonic footprint. But constructing and arranging the songs to their full potential took years of preparation, both on the road and in all of the basements, houses, hotel rooms and studios where the songs were born.


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Unigine Heaven Benchmark
Version and / or Patch Used: 2
Developer Homepage: http://www.unigine.com
Product Homepage: http://unigine.com/press-releases/091022-heaven_benchmark//
New benchmark grants the power to unleash the DirectX 11 potential in the gift wrapping of impressively towering graphics capabilities. It reveals the enchanting magic of floating islands with a tiny village hidden in the cloudy skies. With the interactive mode emerging experience of exploring the intricate world is ensured within reach. Through its advanced renderer, Unigine is one of the first to set precedence in showcasing the art assets with tessellation, bringing compelling visual finesse, utilizing the technology to the full extend and exhibiting the possibilities of enriching 3D gaming.
A little bump in both our presets put the GTX 570 GLH right on the heels of the much more expensive GTX 580.
PRICING: You can find products similar to this one for sale below.
United States: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon's website.
United Kingdom: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon UK's website.
Canada: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon Canada's website.
- Page 1 [Introduction, Card and Specifications]
- Page 2 [Test System Setup and 3DMark Vantage]
- Page 3 [Unigine Heaven Benchmark]
- Page 4 [Benchmarks - Resident Evil 5]
- Page 5 [Benchmarks - Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.]
- Page 6 [Benchmarks - Mafia II]
- Page 7 [Benchmarks - Lost Planet 2]
- Page 8 [Benchmarks - Aliens vs. Predator]
- Page 9 [Benchmarks - Final Fantasy XIV]
- Page 10 [Benchmarks - Street Fighter IV]
- Page 11 [Benchmarks - Far Cry 2]
- Page 12 [Benchmarks - Batman Arkham Asylum]
- Page 13 [Benchmarks - High Quality AA and AF]
- Page 14 [Benchmarks - PhysX Tests]
- Page 15 [Temperature Test]
- Page 16 [Sound Test]
- Page 17 [Power Consumption Tests]
- Page 18 [Total Performance Rating (TPR)]
- Page 19 [Total Value Rating (TVR)]
- Page 20 [Final Thoughts]
- We at TweakTown openly invite the companies who provide us with review samples / who are mentioned or discussed to express their opinion of our content. If any company representative wishes to respond, we will publish the response here.


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University of Denver
School of Art & Art History
The University of Denver has offered instruction in art and art history since 1880.
The School of Art & Art History teaches the technical processes of art, methods of analyzing and criticizing visual culture and the diverse histories of art. We educate students to think critically and conceptually, to express themselves creatively, to articulate their ideas clearly, and to make significant contributions to the society in which they live. Our faculty demonstrates and promotes these qualities through their creative activity, scholarship, and public service.
DU's School of Art & Art History is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
In addition to majors and minors, there are many opportunities for other DU students and members of the community to participate in our classes. We encourage study abroad at our partner schools. Annual travel classes, the Vicki Myhren Gallery, Gallery 023, and our partnership with the Denver Art Museum create unique opportunities for practical art experiences and for classes taught by curators and conservators at DU.


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Aereo Adds First Cable Channel: Bloomberg TV
Online-television startup Aereo has begun paying for traditional TV content, reaching a deal to add Bloomberg TV to its program lineup.
Aereo, backed by media mogul Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, launched a Web TV service earlier this year that streams broadcast TV signals of New York stations to New York residents for a monthly fee. But the launch created an uproar within the television world, as Aereo didn't get prior approval of the broadcasters and isn't paying for the right to carry their signals. As a result, the major broadcast networks sued Aereo in federal court in New York, alleging copyright infringement. The case hasn't been resolved.


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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals' defense suffered a big blow Monday when defensive tackle Darnell Dockett tore his ACL.
Dockett was carted off the field during Monday's practice with a right knee injury and an MRI revealed the severity. He will need season-ending surgery.
The 33-year-old Dockett has been a starter since Arizona selected him in the third round of the 2004 draft. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Dockett has recorded 459 tackles and 40 1/2 sacks in 158 games.
Dockett has only missed a total of two games over the past 10 seasons.
Dockett's injury means Frostee Rucker will likely move into the starting lineup.


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If your job involves making phone calls in noisy environments, the Jabra PRO 9465 headset is for you. An extended boom arm and wideband sound ensures exceptional audio quality. Dual earpieces and a noise-cancelling microphone help reduce background noise.
A smart setup wizard provides a simple, step-by-step guide to connecting your phones and choosing your personal preferences. Colorful icons and an intuitive menu system make this device genuinely user friendly, both for set up and call handling.
Check out these productivity-boosting benefits
Multiuse connectivity — allows users to easily switch between calls on desk, cell, and softphones.
User-friendly touch screen base — with SmartSetup Wizard makes configuration and call handing a breeze. This 2.4" touch-sensitive screen in clear Q-VGA resolution shows active phone device, lets you browse mobile phone call history, and redial.
Up to 450-foot wireless range — around the office via reliable, long-range DECT 6.0 technology.
Unbeatable sound — a Noise-cancelling microphone with advanced Digital Signal Processing practically eliminates all background noise while wideband audio delivers crystal-clear sound.
Up to 11 hours talk time — in narrowband sound mode and up to 8 hours of talk time in wideband sound mode will take you through your whole day without interruption!
Headband wearing style — with ultra-soft memory foam ear cushion ensures all-day comfort.
Voice recording &mdash from your desk phone lets you save your conversations on a PC. (PC recording application required).
Touch sensor controls — for volume and mute. Plus a multifunction button for remote answering/ending of calls, voice activated dialing, call rejection, redial function, and switching between held calls.
SafeTone technologies — Protects users' hearing by cutting off sound spikes and sudden loud noises (PeakStop™ protection) and securing safe average sound levels throughout the day (IntelliTone™).
Secure conversation — with encryption between headset and connected device.
Also Consider...


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'Dark money' surges ahead of key primaries
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation's largest business organization, accounts for nearly $12.2 million of campaign spending.
WASHINGTON — Campaign spending by groups that don't have to disclose their donors has ballooned to nearly five times the rate of the last election cycle — already topping $23 million this week, new figures provided to USA TODAY show.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation's largest business organization, accounts for nearly $12.2 million — or more than half the money that these groups reported spending to influence congressional races in the 2014 election cycle, according to the tally by the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan group that tracks political spending.
The "big money groups are moving faster with an even bigger purse, particularly in the Senate where the stakes are higher," said Sheila Krumholz, the center's executive director. The tally examined spending reported to the Federal Election Commission through Monday and compared it to the same point in previous election cycles.
The political parties and their allies are waging an intense battle for the Senate, where Republicans need a net gain of six seats to win the majority in November and drive the agenda on Capitol Hill.
Chamber of Commerce officials did not immediately respond to interview requests Tuesday but have made no secret of their all-out push to help establishment candidates in key primaries, including next week's contests in Georgia and Kentucky. The business group has spent more than $1 million in Kentucky alone to defend Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who faces Tea Party-aligned Matt Bevin in the May 20 GOP primary and Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the fall.
Some new groups also have emerged to influence Senate contests.
Oklahomans for a Conservative Future has pumped nearly $650,000 into television and online ads and mailings to promote Republican Senate candidate T.W. Shannon ahead of June's Republican special primary election.
The group was incorporated by two Oklahoma-based lobbyists, Chad Alexander and Stephanie Milligan, and construction company executive Xavier Neira.
Alexander, a former state GOP chairman, said it offers "an avenue for Oklahoma interests' to get involved in the race. He said the organization is operating as a non-profit, rather than a political action committee that discloses funders, because it intends to remain active on conservative issues long after the election. (Online records show the organization initially registered as a for-profit corporation. Alexander said that was the result of a clerical error in the Oklahoma secretary of State's office.)
Shannon, the state's former House speaker, faces Rep. James Lankford, in the GOP primary to replace Sen. Tom Coburn, who is retiring from Congress. The winner of the June 24 primary is expected to prevail in the general election in November, given the state's large Republican electorate.
Shannon's campaign spokesman Kenneth Bricker declined to comment about the group's activity. "We don't coordinate with them," he said.
Patriot Majority USA, an outside political group aligned with Democrats, has been the second most active organization among "dark money" groups reporting to the FEC, spending nearly $3.3 million — much of it to help protect vulnerable Democratic senators in southern states that backed Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential contest.
This week, it announced plans to spend more than $700,000 to help defend five House Democrats.
In all, conservative groups now have a more than 2-to-1 edge in dark money spending reported to the FEC six months before the general election, the center's figures show. The tally, however, examines only election-related spending reported to federal regulators and likely will account for a small fraction of all spending to shape the midterms.
A welter of other outside groups don't report their political activity to federal regulators because their advertising does not explicitly call for the election or defeat of candidates.
Among them: Americans for Prosperity, affiliated with billionaire industrialists Charles Koch and David Koch. It already has spent about $35 million to tie vulnerable Senate Democrats to President Obama's health-care law. A budget projection recently obtained by Politico shows the group hopes to spend more than $125 million this year,
Follow @fschouten on Twitter.


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DescriptionTalenti uses fresh whole organic Tahitian vanilla beans imported from Papua New Guinea. The vanilla beans are hand split and the seeds are scraped out and then added to the gelato resulting in a classic clean and fresh vanilla flavor. Talenti gelato is 100% natural, made with fresh, hormone-free milk and only pure cane sugar. Talenti is made with only the finest natural and raw ingredients, carefully sourced locally and from around the world. More rich, creamy, dense and delicious than ice cream, Talenti Gelato also contains 30% less fat than most brands. (from Talenti)Claims
- Vegetarian
- Gluten Free
- All Natural
- Hormone Free
- Nutrition
- Contains Milk
Milk, Sugar, Cream, Dextrose, Vanilla, Lemon, Guar Gum.
Made In A Facility That Uses Soy, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk And Eggs.
Talenti Gelato, Tahitian Vanilla Bean
16fl oz
Buy More & Save!
Any Delicious Talenti Gelato
2 for $7.00All Varieties - click here


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This question already has an answer here:
- How to completely disable swap? 6 answers
I am interested in obtaining (or building myself) a version of the Linux kernel that has absolutely no virtual memory and none of its attendant overhead. No swap file, no nothing.
What are my options?


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Effortless Power
Naked Street
Powerful Versatility
Lean and Mean
Stealthy Supermoto
Zero Motorcycles sells exclusively through authorized dealers.
For purchase information, please select "ADD TO QUOTE" above or contact a Zero Motorcycles dealer.
The Zero Smartphone Mount was developed by RAM® Mounts and uses their X-Grip® technology to securely hold most mobile phones and iPod touch-sized devices in place. Designed for convenience, X-Grip® allows you to very quickly mount or remove your phone with your gloves on. The minimalist design holds the phone in place using rubber-padded metal arms. The mount includes a 2.4" ball-end extension arm for mounting your mobile device in any orientation and an easy-to-install handlebar mount.
The mount works with the Apple iPhone 3G, 4, 4S, 5, iPod Touch, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Google Nexus 4. In addition, the mount is compatible with most other smart phones that meet the following dimension requirements: minimum width = 1.875"; maximum width = 3.25" and maximum depth = 0.875". Please verify the dimensions with any case that is used. We strongly recommend mounting in a horizontal orientation behind a windscreen. Note that this mount does not shield your phone from water or other elements.


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When you're tackling a major home improvement project, one tool in particular can help you get the job done for less hassle and potentially at a lower cost: a good
When you're tackling a major home improvement project, one tool in particular can help you get the job done for less hassle and potentially at a lower cost: a good credit score.
'The better credit you have, the better offers you're going to get, and the less you will pay overall for borrowing,' says Paul Golden, spokesman for the National Endowment for Financial Education. Specifically, a good score can unlock richer credit card rewards, higher limits and lower interest rates " all of which can smooth out your cash flow and save you money.
Here's how a spiffy credit score can help you improve your fixer-upper.Richer credit card rewards
With good credit, you can qualify for a credit card that gives you cash back, points or miles in the form of sign-up bonuses or ongoing rewards. That can chip away at some of your major home improvement expenses.
'Basically every single line item we try to put on a credit card when we can,' says Sherry Petersik of Richmond, Virginia, who co-founded the home renovation blog Young House Love with her husband, John. '[Those items] add up to way more cash-back rewards than an ordinary month of going to Target and getting groceries.'
Petersik and her husband are fixing up two historical houses by the beach. That means making some major purchases " for example, paying for a new roof, new siding, new walls, new electrical and plumbing. While earning rewards, the couple also avoid paying interest and late fees by paying those credit card bills in full and on time every month. By doing the same, you won't just minimize costs; you'll also build a positive payment history and keep your score healthy.Higher credit limits
It's easier to qualify for higher limits on credit cards when your score is shipshape. These high limits are helpful 'because if I want to pay a contractor a large fee and get cash back, I want it to be within my limit,' Petersik says. Such charges can be in the thousands, she adds.
As a rule of thumb, aim to use less than 30% of your available credit on each credit card at all times. Your credit utilization ratio " or the percentage of available credit you use on revolving accounts " affects your credit scores. If your limit is relatively low but you have good credit and a steady income, consider requesting a credit limit increase.Lower interest rates
When you don't have enough cash on hand to cover home improvement projects in full, you may want to borrow money at a low interest rate " say, through a home equity line of credit, 203(k) refinance loan or a 0% APR credit card. With good credit, you'll have more options.
When credit expert Barry Paperno and his wife were remodeling their bathroom and kitchen in Asheville, North Carolina, the contractor they wanted to hire was booked solid for months. Then, unexpectedly, he was available on short notice.
'At the last minute, he says, 'Hey, I have a cancellation. Do you guys want to get started on it tomorrow?'' says Paperno, who blogs at Speaking of Credit. At the time, they didn't have enough cash on hand to cover the entire project, he notes. But they were able to leverage their good credit to borrow money at low interest rates, including taking out a HELOC. With good credit, it's easier to handle the unexpected, Paperno says.
'Things come up when you're renovating, and you've got to anticipate that,' says Paperno, noting that estimates can change when new information comes to light �" for example, if the contractor finds dry rot. 'They've got the wall already torn out, so you're going to tell them to stop?'Before working on your house, do this
If you're considering a home remodeling project, 'the first thing you need to do is check your credit and know what your credit score is,' says Golden, of NEFE. You can access both your credit report and credit score online for free. Next, collect estimates for how much your project might cost, he recommends. With that information, you'll be more prepared to tackle that project " or, if need be, fix up your credit before fixing up your house.
More From NerdWalletTSA-Approved Ways to Cut the Airport Screening Line How Your Credit Card Can Help You Save on Summer Travel Could You Get By On the Average Retirement Income?
Claire Tsosie is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. Twitter: @ideclaire7.
The article Remodeling Your Home? Good Credit Offers a Strong Foundation originally appeared on NerdWallet.


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The revised DATA Act could make it more difficult to track spending across agencies.
The White House would like to roll back some transparency requirements in House-passed legislation that would standardize how the government records and publishes spending information, according to documents obtained by Federal News Radio.
The proposed changes to the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act include removing a requirement that agencies publish spending information using common data standards so watchdogs, businesses and others could easily track spending across agencies. Instead the White House version would require agencies to use open data practices so that information is public but may be less likely to be consistent.
The White House version also would require agencies to report information quarterly rather than monthly and would put the White House's Office of Management and Budget in charge of implementing the new law rather than the Treasury Department.
OMB gave agencies a copy of the revised bill and asked them to report back with comments the same day, Federal News Radio reported.
The DATA Act passed the House nearly unanimously in November. The Senate version of the law, sponsored by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., was passed out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in November and is awaiting a hearing by the full Senate.
The Data Transparency Coalition, a strong DATA Act proponent, called the White House version a step backward and said it would not support that version if it was substituted for the version currently awaiting action in the Senate.
"Unfortunately, OMB's proposed revisions would nullify the bill's main purpose to standardize and publish government data, contrary to the clear consensus that has brought together both parties, both chambers, and advocacy groups across the political spectrum," the Coalition said in a statement. "We cannot support the DATA Act if it becomes a dead letter. We hope that President Obama will clarify that he supports real reform that meets the principles expressed in his own Open Data Policy."


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White Papers and Application Notes
Design and Characterization of a Novel High-g AccelerometerS. Heß, R. Külls, and S. Nau
Fraunhofer Ernst-Mach-Institut
Efringen-Kirchen, Germany
The Fraunhofer Ernst-Mach-Institute (EMI) developed a novel, high-g accelerometer, which is an undamped MEMS device, containing self-supporting piezoresistive elements. The main requirements for such a sensor are high sensitivity, high resonant frequency and a solid mechanical design. Due to the fact, that pure analytic analyses cannot cover all multi-physical aspects of such a complex device the numerical tool COMSOL, in which the coupling of different domains is already implemented, is used.
During the development of the accelerometer COMSOL has been employed in two different ways. First, it was used to determine the electro-mechanical and thermal properties of the piezoresistive elements on wafer-level. Secondly it has been applied to optimize single sensor devices in detail.


text: I have all my found caches on 2 PQ's that run on Sunday or Monday. This is so I can keep them up to date in GSAK. It works well if someone is caching with me at one I've done before. That way I know when I found it. This weekend after doing a bunch of caches I ran it as usual. For some reason it showed it loading, but never updated them in GSAK. I tried it several times on both computers with the same results each time. Has anyone experienced this. I do the same PQ's nd haven't modified them at all. I have no clue. HELP!!