text:
The National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People announced Sunday that Donald Sterling will not receive an honor amid controversy over a recording said to be of the Clippers team owner making racist remarks.
The Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP had been scheduled to give Sterling the group's lifetime achievement award at its May 15 banquet.
"He is not receiving a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP," Lorraine Miller, NAACP interim vice president, told NBC's "Meet the Press."
Also, on Twitter, the NAACP announced Sterling "will not be receiving a lifetime achievement award from the LA Branch of the NAACP."
At the banquet, the NAACP chapter also planned to give its first "person of the year" awards to L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Rev. Al Sharpton, according to the organization's website.
Garcetti's spokesman had said Saturday that the mayor was going to talk to the NAACP about the honor.
"In light of recent events, we will be discussing this event with the Los Angeles NAACP," Garcetti spokesman Yusef Robb had said.
The comments that TMZ attributed to Sterling prompted ire among civil rights activists.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, and a coalition of civil rights leaders demanded that Sterling apologize for "blatantly racist remarks he reportedly made about African Americans. "Sterling's racist digs at African Americans is no surprise."
Hutchinson added: "Black players have made his fortune with the Clippers and for him to disparage African Americans is beyond reprehensible. It demands a public apology, a Clipper fan protest and NBA official censure."
The Clippers have released a statement saying that the team does not know if the man recorded is Sterling but that the comments do not reflect Sterling's "views, beliefs or feelings."
Garcetti said through a spokesman Saturday that he condemns the "statements and sentiments" attributed to Sterling. L.A. City Councilman Bernard C. Parks, who represents a portion of South Los Angeles, went further, saying the council should take a formal position denouncing the remarks and demanding action from the NBA.
Sterling is known for his various charity events that have benefited organizations that help the needy, including nonprofits serving the local Latino and African American communities.
But there have also been accusations against him. He has strongly denied he is biased toward anyone and has pointed to his charitable work.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury rejected NBA great Elgin Baylor's wrongful-termination lawsuit against the Clippers. Baylor claimed he was harassed and subjected to age discrimination leading to his 2008 departure after 22 years as a Clippers executive.
When Baylor filed the suit in February 2009, he alleged that a racist culture existed at the Clippers. Baylor called it a "plantation mentality" in a deposition and alleged that Sterling rejected a coaching candidate, Jim Brewer, because he was black. But Baylor in 2011 dropped the race allegations from his suit.
Sterling and his wife, Rochelle, agreed to pay a record settlement of more than $2.7 million regarding allegations that they discriminated against African Americans, Latinos and families with children at scores of apartment buildings they own in and around Los Angeles.
The settlement was the largest ever obtained by the Justice Department in a housing discrimination case involving apartment rentals, officials said. Under the agreement, the Sterlings' insurers would pay $2.625 million to a fund for people who were allegedly harmed by their discriminatory practices, officials said. Sterling's attorney at the time said his client denied any wrongdoing and didn't discriminate.


text:
Tue, 03 Jun 2008
The latest issue of IUCN's magazine World Conservation looks at the effects of globalization on the environment—both good and bad. From fisheries to food production, tourism to technology, what can the environmental community do to ensure globalization follows a more sustainable path? We hear academic, NGO, UN and industry perspectives on a range of topical issues including invasive species, wildlife trade, emerging markets for ecosystem services, strengthening global environmental governance and balancing tourism growth with biodiversity conservation.
Work area:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hello from a week that is picking up speed like a boulder rolling down a hill! I am eyeballs deep in STUFF, not to mention completely unable to shampoo my hair comfortably thanks to a couple of beastly workouts already this week, so I only have time for some bullets. But I am overflowing with things to say though so there was no way I couldn't post, so you'll have to forgive this mess of jumbled thoughts with absolutely no rhyme or reason.
*Through a mix of mistakes on my part and internet shadiness I purchased a FAKE CLARISONIC from Amazon of all places. WHAT? No one is more pissed than I am, let me tell you. I have jumped through about 900 hoops and it looks like I will get some of my money back but I am waiting for the whole situation to resolve itself before I blog about it. It's coming though because I have A LOT to say. In the meantime though, if you are not buying DIRECTLY FROM CLARISONIC: Caveat Emptor. It's not worth the $15 you are saving. Trust me. It's a $100 face brush: pay the extra cash to ensure yours is legit.
*I think my friends at CrossFit Estes Park kicked off their Whole 30 yesterday – HOORAY! Good luck to all of you. I think of you every time single time I do burpees in a wod at my gym (and lately that's like EVERYDAY.) When I'm huffing and puffing and hating every inch of that movement, I say to myself "At least I'm not a mile above sea level!" haha Just kidding. Sort of. You guys are rockstars, best of luck on the Whole 30!
*The other day A'Dell talked me into making a super exciting impulse purchase online (well, really she didn't have to twist my arm that hard, but still.) Anyway, it's a STEAM MOP! I had planned to buy a Shark at Costco because it was on coupon, but she told me all sorts of horror stories (that aligned with many of the reviews I had read online) and so I ended up going with this one. (Which was cheaper that the discount one at Costco anyway) And I'm over the moon about it. Now she has convinced me I want dryer balls! Next thing you know I'm going to be impulse buying Metamucil and inviting my knitting circle over for dinner at 3pm. My 20 year old self is horrified. Thank god I'm now 34 and DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS ABOUT MY SMALL BORING STEAM MOPPED LIFE!!!
*So I've been forced to take my own advice lately. Man, isn't that a pisser. Mostly in relation to not focusing on where you think you *should* be fitness-wise, and man is that such a tough pill to swallow. Recently our CrossFit box posted its 2012 wrap up video and it reminded me that I am significantly less fit than I was a year ago. (Speaking of, I wrote this on my facebook wall the other day, but it's worth repeating – if your gym experience is not full of laughs and good times — IT CAN BE!) Anyway, I mean, it's not dire, but the truth is you DO get out what you put in, and I put more cookies in my mouth than workouts towards the end of the year, and them's the facts. And those facts have consequences which mean I can no longer snatch a 100lb bar over my head with ease. Lame. Just knowing that I have to WORK to get back to a place I was a year ago is frustrating. But also? It's life. Things meander and it's not always a straight line from A to B so I'm just humbling myself, starting back at square one and busting my ass. I know I'll get back there, but in the meantime: GRUMBLEGRUMBLEGRUMBLE.
ARCFit 2012 – Large from American River CrossFit on Vimeo.
*Garrett and I went to the library after the gym the other night like we do just about every week (See above re: I don't care what anyone thinks about my library and steam mop filled life! :)) and I had a stack of books to donate so I gave them to him and asked him if he would pass them on to the librarian. Only as I passed them did I realize it was a stack containing 50 Shades of Grey and other such sundry romance type novels. I wish I could have seen the librarians face.
*Speaking of the library, I picked up the Carly Rae Jepson cd at the library, and I understand that 2012 killed everyone's love for Call Me Maybe (well, not mine, because my love was fierce) but you guys it is SUCH A GOOD CHEESY POP CD. Like, literally every song. Even the duet she does with that guy who is clearly just a Postal Service rip-off. Pop Goldmine, I tell you! And if you need some of that in your life I highly recommend it without shame.
*I want to give you two non-recipe Whole 30 recipes that I've enjoyed over the last week. Recipe one involves a banana. I was jonesing for a little something fun this weekend because this bottle of wine was staring at me menacingly and I need a delineation between the workweek and the weekend. So I took a banana, sliced it and fried it in a pan in some ghee. Then I sprinkled cinnamon on it. Then I threw its caramelized goodness into a bowl, plopped a scoop of sunbutter on it, and sprinkled on some coconut flakes that had been dry toasted, salted and sprinkled with cinnamon. IT WAS THE BOMB.
*Recipe two I made on Sunday when I was doing food prep because I was hungry but didn't want to cook stuff to eat right then. I threw a bag of pre-chopped trader joe's kale on a pan, tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder and brewer's yeast and baked at 400 for 20 minutes. In the meantime I browned up some crumbled chorizo in a pan. when the kale was done I had put too much on the pan for all of it to get crispy so I tossed the still soggy kale in the pan with my chorizo and mixed it together. Then I threw it all in a bowl and topped it with my crispy kale. Then I died and went to heaven. I will do this again, just on purpose this time.
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW! I think that's everything! What's new with you???


text:
Building a Cordwood House
When Bob and Bonnie Tweedie decided to add on to their farm home near Laura, Saskatchewan, they wanted a mode of construction that would be durable and lasting, one that would blend with the landscape, use materials at hand, and most importantly, be something they could do themselves. They found it all in stackwall construction.
by Darlene Polachic
Stackwall construction (also known as cordwood masonry) is a method where solid walls are built from logs cut in six-inch lengths and set into concrete with the cut ends exposed. The method is not new. It was used widely in the late 1800s in eastern parts of North America where stackwall barns and houses can still be seen today.
Most stackwall buildings of the bygone era had a single six- to eight-inch thick wall. Bob Tweedie didn't like the insulation prospects of a single wall structure in prairie winter conditions, so he designed his addition to have six-inch inner and outer walls with eight inches of insulation between. Other builders who have used the stackwall method have covered the inside surface of a single wall with tarpaper, plumbed a two-by-four frame three-and-a-half inches from the stackwall and filled the space in between with horizontally laid R12 batts. The resulting insulation value is somewhere between R30 and R35.
One of the reasons the Tweedies chose the stackwall method was because it allowed them to use a quantity of old electric power line poles they had stockpiled in the yard. The poles were acquired from the provincial power company at no cost when it replaced its 70-year-old poles with new.
The poles were cedar, Bob explains, and the wood was well seasoned and cured. Of course, the bottom six feet of each pole had to be discarded because it was treated with chemicals against rot. But the rest was exactly what we needed.
Another Saskatchewan stackwall builder used rounds of fire-killed, debarked jackpine for his custom-built country home.
Traditionally, stackwall construction uses the whole round of log, which results in a polka-dot sort of design. Bob doesn't like that because, he says, in every round you'll find a pie-shaped crack that has to be filled either with mortar or some type of fibre-gum material. Another problem with whole rounds is that if the wood isn't completely dry or aged when mortared in, the logs will eventually shrink and loosen in the concrete, leaving unattractive gaps.
To eliminate these potential problems, Bob split his wood before laying it into the concrete and placed the pieces with no more than one to one-and-a-half inches of mortar between. Another reason he likes the split wood is that builders can be as artistic as they want with the positioning of the wood blocks.
Bob began his stackwall project by building a pole-shed frame the size of the proposed addition, sinking the poles four feet into a concrete footing, and adding a rough floor and a roof. Twenty-inch wide (the total thickness of both walls plus insulation) box frames for windows and doors were put into position and anchored with wood braces, as were all the corners. Then, once the cedar poles had been sawed into six-inch lengths with a chainsaw, and split, Bob was ready to construct the outer stackwood walls.
Mortar a mix of masonry cement, Portland cement, masonry sand and water was prepared by the wheelbarrowful, each barrow being good for about one-and-a-half hours of work.
Though the addition comprised three 16 by 16-foot double walls, only ten cedar poles were required. It took Bob and Bonnie about two-and-a-half days to complete each wall.
Bob experimented a little while building the outer walls. I tried adding sawdust to the concrete mix, he says. Some claim it keeps the concrete from cracking, but I haven't noticed any difference other than in texture.
Bonnie says they learned a lot about working with the mortar by trial and error. For instance, we found the best way to deal with cement oozing out between the logs was to smooth it with your hand (wearing rubber gloves, of course). Once construction was finished, any mortar material that had gotten onto the logs rubbed off easily with a wire brush.
When the outside walls were done, Bob went inside and pounded six-inch spikes into the wood pieces, staggering them over the entire inner wall. On the spikes, he hung sheets of rockwool insulation, pressing the batts onto the nails, then pulling them back slightly. He was pleased at how snugly the insulation material attached.
The next step was to cover the insulation with standard vapour barrier material and put the electric wiring into place. Bob notched out spaces in the logs for all the electrical socket boxes and made allowance for the electric baseboard heaters that would eventually be installed. During construction, when he came to a socket box location, he mortared it in and continued on with the wall.
Once all the walls were complete and the concrete dry, Bob and Bonnie cleaned and polished the inner surfaces with an electric cup grinder equipped with a wire brush fixed on an angle. Then they sealed the walls with a spray varnish to give them a satiny patina.
The Tweedies were so happy with the results that they added a second addition a few years later, exactly like the first.
Stackwall rooms are very easy to heat, Bob says. The R-value is tremendous. One reason is because the insulation is continuous with no seams or spaces, whereas in regular two-by-four construction you have a strip of wood, insulation, a strip of wood, and so on.
To give an idea of how heat efficient stackwall construction is, he goes on, the year we were doing the family room addition, by Christmas all we had up were the outside walls, insulation and vapour barrier, and a plywood floor. Even so, one electric heater was enough to make the room cozy and warm enough to have the whole family in for Christmas dinner.
Other characteristics the Tweedies like are the fact that the stackwall rooms are quiet and soundproof. Sound seems to be absorbed, Bonnie says. And we find the natural colour and texture of the logs very relaxing. As well, she adds, the walls are very photogenic and always come out looking good in photographs. She thinks it's because light doesn't bounce off the wood and cause glare.
Books written on the subject of stackwall construction point out that structures built this way provide a healthier environment and more constant climate than others. It has to do with something called the ambient moisture of wood. Wood, it seems, has a moisture capacity of about 20 percent. When there is excess moisture in a room, wood absorbs it and releases it back into the room gradually as the atmosphere dries. Bob says the ambient moisture factor probably explains why after a shower you never see moisture on the walls of the stackwall room located next to the bathroom.
There are drawbacks to stackwall construction. Bob says it's a very labour intensive way of building. You have to have a good back, he comments wryly. On the other hand, you don't have to be a professional carpenter to build this way.
There are two books on the subject of stackwall/cordwood masonry construction that Bob Tweedie consulted frequently and recommends for prospective stackwall builders. They are:
Stackwall Construction-Double Wall Technique by Cliff Shockey, published by Heurto Publishing Company, Vanscoy, Saskatchewan Canada S0L 3J0
Cordwood Masonry Houses by Robert L. Roy, published by Sterling Publishing Company, New York, New York USA
Darlene Polachic is a Saskatchewan-based freelance writer who is interested in good health and nutrition.
Now, a dessert for your eyes, an amazingly beautiful, spiritual Medeival home in Wales. This would be easy to build. Cost this fellow 3thousand pounds, is that like 5k? HUGE, well fitted, and very pleasant on the eyes. Ya have a feeling if local codes would allow this?
And an AMERICAN CORDWOOD HOUSE that is stunning.
* * * * * * * * * *


text:
Top Menu
- Play
- Activities
- Events
- Rules
- Store
- News and Media
- About
Don't Just Kick the Ball, Be the Ball!
This league is currently looking for volunteer board members to make this season a great one! If you'd like to take charge, have a say, and become more involved in your kickball experience, contact your league representative and sign up today. No matter what your talent is, we have a space for you!
CLUBWAKA encourages everyone to drink responsibly and ensure you have a safe ride home.
Price per Player
Good Through
|Dec 30
Registration will close early if league capacity is reached.


text:
Download this story in Microsoft Word here.
NEW YORK—The Jewish community in New York gathered for a memorial service at the Consulate of France Tuesday afternoon. The well-attended service was organized by Rabbis Joseph Potasnik and Avi Weiss. Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Senior Rabbi of the Park Avenue Synagogue, offered the comfort of psalm and prayer. The warm sun belied the shutter felt deep in the souls of all who listened as Cantor Paul Zim intoned the "El Male Rachamim," plaintively calling for the souls of the victims to be gathered to Gan Eden.
In a private conversation with Annette Herszkowicz, the aunt of Eva Sandler, widow of the assassinated Rabbi Jonathan Sandler and mother of Gavriel and Aryeh, she spoke of the joy and happiness the Sandlers were enjoying as they began a life of academic and outreach activities in the Jewish community of South Western France. "They have killed innocents. Wonderful young people who had no time to enjoy life and happiness," she said, as tears ran along her cheeks.
"They were so happy." Herszkowicz, who had "exchanged blessings" with her sister during a Sunday night telephone call, said she now had no words to say, no way to comfort her sister or her niece. She has not spoken with them since the tragedy occurred.
Jonathan and Eva Sandler had returned to their native France from their home in Jerusalem only seven months earlier. He would teach Torah to the Jewish community of South Western France and do kiruv—outreach—in the community. At 30, he was already well known as a columnist in Kountrass, a Lithuanian Haredi monthly newspaper distributed in France and Israel. He did outreach work as a volunteer forShoresh, bringing Judaism to secular Jews.
Eva, a mother of three small children, could be close to her mother. Of Sephardic heritage, she was raised in Paris. Jonathan was of Ashkenazi background. He had studied in Toulouse before making aliyah. Several members of his family had survived Auschwitz, said Herszkowicz.
"They were overjoyed about life, their children, and one another. Jonathan was scholarly, dedicated to enhancing Torah knowledge. They were reveling in their growing family, pleased with the birth of a little girl, following her two big brothers," said their disconsolate aunt.
The massacre at the entrance to the Ozar HaTorah Jewish school in Toulouse, France, brought death to four members of Annette Herszkowicz's family. Miriam Monsonego, the 8-year-old executed by bullet to the head, was a cousin. Jonathan Sandler had come to France to teach at the school her father directed.
In Israel, MK Danny Danon, Chair of the Knesset Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee, called for an urgent debate stressing that "the attack on the Jewish school in France is a red warning light for the whole of world Jewry. The countries of the world must unite against such attacks against the Jewish People, and take action to destroy the seeds of anti-Semitic terrorism being planted around the world. We shall not permit the pogroms of the early 20th century to be repeated in Europe."
In New York, Consul General Philippe Lalliot spoke privately with JointMedia News Service. Calling Monday "a difficult moment for all, but a day of solidarity," the Consul said, "the entire national community of France is devastated by the tragedy. There is a profound sense of unity."
Consul General Lalliot continued, saying, "We have to educate people and make sure that all children learn from history" He stated with determination, "This will not happen. Never Again. Never again."
In a conversation with the Consul General and Dr. Paul de Vries, President of the New York Divinity School and member of the Board of the National Association of Evangelicals, both the diplomat and the clergyman spoke of their identification with the tragic events as parents. "The Consul General termed it a "horror that is beyond words. A democracy must remain vigilant," he continued. "We must stand for the rights of all people." Lalliot commended the spontaneous gathering in support of the Toulouse community when 200,000 gathered in Paris Monday night. "France is a democracy, governed by the rule of law, not hatred and killing. We must stand for our principals." The Consul was adamant about the need to create awareness from a child's earliest years. "We must teach courage, we must teach respect. We must recognize the core value of every member of humanity."
The words of New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler reflect the thoughts of many in the American community.
"I am," he said, "absolutely horrified by the senseless and cowardly act of violence at the Ozar Hatorah school in Toulouse, France. That Jews continue to be targets of hate and violence by lunatics and feeble-minded anti-Semites is despicable. And that a madman would single out children is unspeakably depraved and tragic."


text:
It's that time again
Published on 9 Dec 2005 at 6:36 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under Top 10s.
Our member-critics have not just made these lists, but checked them thrice. Now we can rate them on naughty and nice. (Not really — "Readers Choose Top 10 Critics of the Year"? Nah.)


text:
Browse: Home / El Paso
El Paso
Jumping from the moon
By jcoyne on August 25, 2012
The rental car's tires melted outside of Houston. Bats swarmed under a bridge and over treelines in Austin. A Texan prison guard warned of imminent danger in New Orleans. Hundreds of new border patrol vehicles sit collecting dust in parking lots along the highway while 1991 Chevys rush across interstate ten with hunched over Mexicans […]
Posted in Thoughts | Tagged Alamo, Arizona, Austin, Deming, El Paso, Houston, Interstate-10, Louisiana, Moon, Neil Armstrong, New Mexico, New Orleans, Texas | 1 Response


text:
LeTourneau University is hosting the Alaska String Band in concert on Friday, Nov. 9, at 10:50 a.m., at the S.E. Belcher, Jr. Chapel and Performance Center on the university's main campus, 2100 S. Mobberly Avenue in Longview. The public is invited.
Alaska String Band is a concert group comprised of members of a single family performing with guitar, twin violin-fiddles, bass, mandolin, ukulele, percussion and vocals. Their repertoire consists of a lively collection of bluegrass, old time, gospel, swing, blues, Celtic and original music. Many of the songs they play are requested favorites with featured beautiful waltzes, airs and haunting melodies graced with vocal blends. Audiences delight in the youthful exuberance of this family. They exhibit extraordinary musicianship, technical skill and interpretative ability. Energetic dancing and attractive costumes designed to reflect the spirit of Alaskan artistic lifestyle, culture and traditions lend excitement and dramatic flare to their shows.
Categories: (none)


text: Designed by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, the Art Garden lies on the western slope of the Museum's campus. It is divided into wide, crescent-shaped sections arching upward and supported by high walls made of rough fieldstone. As in a Japanese Zen garden, the ground is covered in gravel, and paths lined with local plants and trees connect the different sections. A multitude of materials were incorporated into the garden's design: stones of different kinds and sizes, exposed concrete, and water. Walls enclose smaller spaces and rectilinear terraces of the garden, echoing the shapes of the Museum's buildings. The collection displayed in the garden includes works by the great sculptors of the late nineteenth century (Auguste Rodin, Emile-Antoine Bourdelle, and Aristide Maillol) and renowned artists of the twentieth century (such as Pablo Picasso, Alexander Archipenko, Jacques Lipchitz, Henry Moore, David Smith, Sol LeWitt, Donald Judd, Claes Oldenburg, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, and James Turrell). Menashe Kadishman, Igael Tumarkin, Ezra Orion, and Benni Efrat are some of the prominent Israeli artists represented. The Art Garden is greatly loved by the Museum's visitors. While providing an opportunity for the quiet contemplation of natural and artistic beauty, it has also been the venue of successful cultural events of all kinds. Counted among the finest sculpture gardens of the twentieth century, this is one of Noguchi's masterpieces, a synthesis of different cultures—those of the Far East, the Near East, and the West—against the backdrop of Jerusalem's dramatic landscape. Judith Spitzer Former Curator and Managing Editor of Art Wing Publications


text:
Francis and Mary (Seiler) Jirak of Tampa will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Saturday. Everyone is invited to festivities in their honor, including a polka dance starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Senior Center. The couple requests no gifts.
They married on Oct. 28, 1972, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colwich. They moved to rural Tampa after their wedding. After living in town for a few years, they moved to their current residence outside of town so Francis could fulfill his dream of owning his own farm.
Francis retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 35 years and now focuses on raising crops and livestock. Mary keeps busy as a farm wife and is the head of the PSR program at Holy Family Parish in Tampa. During summer and fall they also sell produce on the corner of Main and Second streets in Marion.
The couple has five children: James Jirak of Kensington, Albert Jirak of Colwich, and John Jirak, Kristine Jirak, and Maria Gear of Wichita. They also have 15 grandchildren.


text:
3-04-2010, 19:51
vR*No Mercy
TF2 Guide to Communication
Like any cooperative game, the key to success in competitive Team Fortress 2 is team coordination, and the cornerstone to maintaining that coordination throughout a game is good communication. While this might sound bleeding obvious, and for several players good communication comes quite naturally, the downfall of too many teams at all division levels stems back to basic breakdowns in communication that can be easily improved upon once identified.
In this article will endeavour to address some of the real basics in team-based communication for new and troubled players, skills which would be quite applicable to many games beyond TF2, as well as some class and role specific tips that may help out the more adept but lazy caller. For many players however the failure in communication comes from a lack of discipline rather than understanding and no guide, only concentration and diligent team mates will aid them.
Why listen to me?
I have been playing competitive TF2 in the Australian scene for over 2 years, half of which was at a division 1 level. In that time I've been in 7 clans and been core for every class and positional role except demo man. I have been a captain and lead-caller as often as not, and team members in the past have explicitly complemented me and sought advice on how to improve individual and team communication/calling.
During my stint in clan Intensity, we went through a phase whereby we identified communication as the root cause of our failures, having overzealous and ill-informed scouts, a silent apprehensive combo, and a few players who simply struggled to talk and fight. I have since seen very similar issues in many clans I have slutted in (especially at a division 2-3 level). We collected vent recordings and explicitly practiced and discussed our communication methods, which proved very beneficial.
A lot of what I say regarding specific roles in communication for classes is modelled off the players I have been with, and needs to be critically considered and adapted rather than blindly followed for any individual team. The personalities of your team members and many other unique clan factors will affect how you structure your team more so than what I recommend.
Tools of the Trade
You're going to need a microphone, though a $20 headset will often do. It's pretty tough to communicate properly without a voice. Once you team has mics you're going to need a place to use them, as TF2s' in game chat system leaves a lot to be desired. Ventrilo and Mumble (alternatively Teamspeak) are currently most commonly used and a server for these can be rented quite cheaply from various ISP and other hosts. Ozfortress rents cheap mumble servers specifically for Australasian clans, though there are other cheap or free options if you look around, and ask the right people nicely. Bother to take some time once the clan is setup to have everyone at an equivalent volume and acceptable sound quality.
Aside from verbal communication, it is possible (but not necessary) to use in game text chat, in the form of team directed binds, to provide some simple but sparing information. The only such binds I use personally are a medic ubering script and fake uber script as below, however I know of players going as far as item collection and respawn scripts and even enemy location binds.
bind mouse2 "+attack2; say_team UBERING;"
bind b "voicemenu 1 7; say_team FAKE_UBER;"
Communication 101
In general terms any information you have that would be of some benefit to your teammates but you realise they probably do not or could not know needs to be communicated. This includes overall team game plans, such as whether the team's core (meaning the combo plus demo) are holding, pushing or dropped from specific map ground. It also includes any individual's own actions that deviate from the default play. Sometimes it is as simple as letting an ally know you are supporting him. Also wrapped up in the basics of comms is relaying information about the enemy's status; their position, class or rollout changes or any key threats that should be focussed.
Just as important as providing the team information is listening, absorbing, acting upon and in some cases confirming other teammates calls. Communication is a 2-way street. In my past clans it was just as often a lack of listening and not a lack of speaking that caused a comms breakdown.
For structure I will attempt to break down the various communication roles in the team, with the typical 6v6 classes or people that should be filling that role. These roles in reality for more organised teams will be dynamic and every player would contribute as appropriate, simply based on what he knows. For a team trying to find some communication structure however, it may provide a good model to work from.
The Decision Maker / Lead Caller:
Primary Soldier / Team Captain / The Best Speaker
Simply put it is the lead caller's job to decide what course of action the team, as a whole should be undertaking. This mainly boils down to whether the team, spear headed by the core, should be holding, pushing or dropping from their current location. It also entails specifically in pushes some brief details about the plan of attack, whether it be a quick basic description, eg "demo leads in top left, meet up with us bottom", or a label for a rehearsed manoeuvre, eg "lets go valley rollout this time."
Many members of the team can make calls similar to that of the lead caller's, but where any normal player makes a suggestion, eg "we can take courtyard", the lead caller's word is decisive. Consequently whenever other players make such suggestions it is the caller's responsibility to quickly confirm or countermand these calls so that team members are totally clear on what is happening.
As a role in the team with great responsibility, it is imperative that the lead caller is both actively speaking throughout the match, most likely more-so than anyone else, and also has a capable head for making decisions on the teams best course of action. They should not however be a lone dictator, ignoring ally suggestions and new information that would affect the current course of action.
The Reconnaissance:
Scouts / Roaming Soldier / Everyone
As the caller has the responsibility of making team-affecting decisions, it is imperative he does so well informed as to the enemies' movement. It is his teammates' job then to ensure his scope of knowledge is not limited to his own field of vision. Thus any key information about enemy behaviour, spotted especially by players not near to the combo, should be said; as clear un-opinionated information. eg "2 scouts left", "medic low (hp)", "combo pushing corner".
While relayed data should be short and sweet, often such calls can be accompanied with simple strategic calls/suggestions, such requesting help from the roaming allies, or focus fire on vulnerable targets. These sorts of mini calls can make or break any single encounter however it is important that calls for focus fire can and are followed by those who are reasonably able to (and not followed by those who know they shouldn't for other reasons) and as such need to be used often but not excessively or overriding each other. Focus firing everyone is not a clever tactic. Also always keep in mind the objective on TF2 is not always to get kills, but to cap points. A dead player is just one less threat for 15 seconds, or a lack of stickies on a point, or a 50% uber advantage, all things done to make it easier to cap out. (This point is too often lost on players who chase meaningless kills and throw away their own life too often).
The Status Updater / The Glue
If reconnaissance is about opponent status, this is related to basic information about your own team. This includes frequently saying your combo location, uber percent (and tracked presumed advantage), and when both teams use uber. I call this role the teams 'glue' because its key objective is to indirectly keep everyone together in-sync. By regularly announcing the location of the combo, roaming players can make quick assessment as to whether their relative covering position is correct or if they are becoming isolated, and also where to go for a quick buff.
Syncing information with the caller to produce exact timing for roamers to attack simultaneously from other angles is also imperative. If the caller said, "let's push" the supporter will then soon after say "we're into left courtyard now" or "scouts enter now".
Medics generally have the most time and space to chat, as they don't need to aim and more so observe, but they should have the worst positioning to see the battle unfold. Thus a medic must be quite active in what he says relaying this basic info, but rarely is a medic a good lead caller as his enemy information will be mostly second hand. As a medic specifically, at the back of the team, you are also in the unique position of being able to quickly assess teammate group positioning and health, and should take initiative to call fall backs if many allies or if you are critically low hp. If your caller overrides this then accept it, and abuse them after the game if you were right.
A good Medic tip: Having a panic word, whether it be "help" or "pineapples" is a good way to clarify to your primary soldier and scouts whether your "scout on me" call is really worth them risk turning to save you and not superstar rocket jumping onto their combo.
Aside: Uber Tracking
Tracking ubers is not rocket surgery. It takes 40 seconds minimum to grind an uber (30 for kritzkrieg). Generally speaking all you need to estimate the enemy uber status well enough is to use your own uber's status as a relative benchmark. Recall when they popped their last uber compared to yours, or note your percent when their medic respawns (press tab alot!). Factor in any notable times you werent healing or noone was grinding, and just assume your opponenets arnt making similar errors, as caution favours the ignorant. More importantly (especially on defense of A/D maps where teams often forget to do this) be diligent in reminding your soldiers to self damage or 'grind' when no combat is occuring to ensure you get that uber up in minimum time.
The Team Player
Everyone / non caller
Just because you're not someone of responsibility like the caller doesn't mean you do nothing. Say what is important, do what you're told, give info on if what you are doing is working and you want support, but generally spend more time listening and making reactive decisions then wandering aimlessly or undermining the caller. To repeat myself from before; you need to say if you are doing anything unexpected; things such as back capping, flanking, leaving for ammo, hiding in Jew-spots, chasing the fleeing medic etc.
Think about what information you know that would help your allies in a fight. Upon death say the hp of the enemy that killed you if he's still duelling. If it's a sniper, or a sentry or any other hidden or dangerous flanking player, use the zoom kill shot to relay their exact location or direction of movement. As a soli give your medic warning before you jump away, or let your scout partner know you are leaving him for health in a mid range 2v2 duel. There is nothing worse than abandoning a teammate and not giving him ample warning.
Steps Towards Improving Comms
Something is better than nothing
The worst of uncoordinated teams are those with a deadly silent Vent. Get into the habit of saying the basic things outlined above, both what they are doing and what you are doing. Say "ok" occasionally to plans, even if just to verify you are still in the channel. If you're silent, teammates wont think you're mysterious, they'll think you've timed out or are a retard. Many players have an issue multitasking talking and fighting. With the rare exception of complex solo duels or 1v2's this is an unacceptable deficiency and something you need to practice, more so than your godly middies or meat shots.
The More that is said, the less that is heard
So your team is over the hurdle of saying nothing but now Vent is a clutter of noise that isn't achieving anything. Learn to listen. Make decisions based on information you receive as well as provide. Do not repeat things already said by teammates and avoid repeating yourself for emphasis unless is it truly paramount. Instead use varying urgency in your voice as you prioritize the value of the calls you make and use priority to judge whether what you are thinking really needs to be said. Everything you want to say is not as important as you may think it is. For low priority calls, eg "that you getting low on ammo", wait for a moment of calm dead-air in the vent channel, whereas only for the critical calls, eg an enemy popped Kritzkrieg, should you shout over the top of people. Say things concisely in as few words as reasonable.
Making Comms Cleaner
Sometimes comms are really good but other times they turn to total crap? Often all its takes is one foul-up and some ill thought out words to break everyone's focus and motivation and the slippery slope begins. While for many it is impossible to avoid raging, make an effort to minimize it and when you cant, extended rants or abuse at teammates are intolerable. Be aware that many players instead of rants will go completely silent when they rage. It is unacceptable for the lead caller to fall into this trap, but otherwise is often better than the alternative.
Avoid any sort of strategic analysis or justification during the game, just do what is said and bring it up later. The thought and word clutter will distract both you and your allies and may cause someone to autopilot walk into a trap. On a similar note, if you're dead and a remaining ally is deep in focus and aware of his situation, backseat instructing will only distract and irritate them. Once again, if you're repeating things teammate's say a lot, it means you arn't properly listening.
It's not what you say but how you say it
When you press your talk key, rarely say more than about five words at a time. You don't have to be creative with your semantics; the same phrase structures will be easier to interpret. Be disciplined in how you speak; when that sniper kills you say his location, don't bemoan your ill fortune. As a team it is also important you collectively know the names of the different locations on any given map. Spend some time going over this in practice and where possible avoid using lefts, rights and other relative terms (eg 'in front' or 'behind' without any player or landmark reference). Intuitive names will be much easier to remember, eg calling the big rock at gpit B "Rock", not "Region 12a".
Knowing what you don't know is as important as what you do know:
- Is the left courtyard or dropdown possibly uncovered, as you are still dead / getting back?
- Are their scouts' locations unknown?
- Do you know if they have an uber fully charged yet?
- Did a util player just respawn, known for switching to sniper/spy on last attacks?
- Is the demoman missing/slow on rollouts, possibly coming from valley?
Often this sort of information can be just as useful in deciding whether the push or drop back, considering unseen threats and avoiding a trap. Once you know what your role in the team is, get into the habit of alerting players when something on your end is troubling, even if it's just a gut feeling.
Supportive Calling / The Understander
So you are in a developing team and probably not the lead caller, however from previous experience or capability you are doing your own role well enough, both in Ventrilo and in game, and know some of your teammates, perhaps the caller, are making tactical mistakes. The issue becomes to what extent should you assert authority to tighten up your team's play, at the risk of creating a conflict in the loosely defined hierarchy of who to listen to in times of disagreement, or treading on people's toes and sensibility. I see this as an undesirable and all too common a situation.
In the main, players will not mind brief and occasional cross calls telling them exactly what to do differently. They also realise this sort of coordination is what brings victory. If you want to be considerate, use impassive terminology eg "our secondary soldier needs to be covering the high/right door." No player likes continuous berating criticism but if they regularly can't take any advice or just wont listen, I would seriously consider talking to your captain about chatting with them in a better setting, or finding a less prima-donna replacement.
When you feel clan members are starting to wane in the consistency of their calls, use non-condescending questions to reengage them. Eg "What's the plan captain?" (use names) "What is our uber advantage?" Generic quick compliments can also help motivate a team without sounding patronizing. Remember that in a team game, even if losing the match is not really your individual fault, everyone loses together and you should make an effort to pull it together rather than laude over the problem like you're immune and helpless. Try saying, "let's keep up good clean comms."
Typical Bad Phrases:
- "OMG, how did he live that?!" (Shut up and say his hp/location)
- "They have a sniper?" / "Sentry got me." (Where???)
- "Watch out" / "Spy behind you!" (Better than no warning but the lack of context will panic and confuse everyone else)
- "Medic/Demo/etc down" (referring to an ally not and enemy. For allies I would instead recommend a clearly different syntax such as "Our medic is dead" or "We have no medic.")
- "God im so good that this game!" (I dont care how great your aim is smartass, steve)
- "F*ck, why didn't you uber me?" (advise, dont abuse. try "please tab me next time we push if possible medic.")
Typical Good Phrases:
- (When told what to do or receive important relevant info) "Ok."
- (When things are getting messy) "What's the plan?"
- "It's 3v3 vs a medic demo scout" (says the dead helping teammate towards the mop up end of a close rollout.)
- (While attacking last and losing a scout duel) "Left side scout has about 40 hp."
- "I'm in position" (when your teams knows what this means, eg preset holding spots, or just told to go somewhere.)
- "I'm down/dead."
- "Focus that demoman on front right."
- (As medic) "Wait up, everybody is low hp."
- (when flanking) "I'm behind them and they do/don't know it"
- (on rollout) "I'll go right, look for me jumping aggressive into them to push across."
For an insight into how a particular top tier TF2 team runs their vent channel, check out this link to Jaeger's blog, with 7 different full vent recording and attached demos. Keep in mind that the more aware and in sync a good team is, the less many basic things need to be called, so if your comms are quieter than theirs, odds are you're doing it wrong. Also I felt personally that Carnage says some unnecessary stuff (though keep in mind he leads the team somewhat from scout) and their medic is too quiet. All in all though it is an excellent recourse just for hearing the sorts of things that a clued team is thinking about and relaying, and how they say it.
I am open to further suggestions for issues to discuss in this guide, including criticisms, further typcial phrases and unresolved player problems/question, as well as other unrelated requests for future potential guides.
|Thread Tools


text:
University of South Florida Textbooks > Experiencing Architecture
Experiencing Architecture 2th edition
Publisher:MIT Press
Renting Options
Own it? Sell it back
Students react to on-campus sexual battery
Vacant seats bring SG special summer election
The era of President Currall kicks off
The same mistake cannot be made twice with the Epstein case
OPINION: The legacy of the 2019 Women's World Cup
Publisher:MIT Press
Own it? Sell it back
Employers can list job opportunities for studentsPost a Job
Housing Providers can list available housingPost Housing
Post your own housing listing on Uloop and have students reach out to you!


text:
Partners have been encouraged to launch and announce their partnerships
and initiatives in the field of disaster risk reduction at the
WCDR to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action.
In particular, the thematic
sessions and the Public
Forum at the
WCDR provided important opportunities with various actors to share
their views and activities each other to collaborate further for
their concrete initiatives and partnerships.
Please see the list of launched/announced initiatives
and partnerships in the context of the WCDR.
Please inform the ISDR secretariat (firstname.lastname@example.com) of your planed/on-going
initiatives and partnerships to update this list.
On going partnerships are also encouraged to register the CSD
Partnership database. Please see the section below.
Partnerships in the context of WCDR can be described as specific
commitments and initiatives by a number of institutions at different
levels to contribute to, and reinforce the implementation of
the disaster risk reduction goals and targets, building on existing
or new partnerships in the field of disaster risk reduction.
(See A/CONF.206/PC(II)/9) The ISDR Secretariat will encourage
existing and potential new partnerships working in disaster management,
vulnerability and other related areas to register their initiatives
with the CSD, utilize the CSD partnerships database to share
information and participate in the CSD partnership activities.
Partners who wish to launch a specific and new partnership in
the field of disaster risk reduction are encouraged to inform
the ISDR Secretariat, when they register such initiatives with
the CSD Secretariat. The ISDR Secretariat will, in turn, closely
coordinate with the CSD Secretariat in promotion, dissemination,
support and follow-up of new partnerships working in these areas.
Registration in the CSD Partnership
In order to facilitate the work of the ISDR Secretariat in fulfilling
its role as mentioned above, it is requested that partners wishing
to register the CSD Partnership ensure the following at the time
of registration:
Please contact the ISDR Secretariat: firstname.lastname@example.com, should
you have any questions.
Please see the registered partnerships in the CSD
database under the Disaster Management and Vulnerability
Annex I
Criteria and guidelines for partnerships in the context of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (extracted from decisions
at the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
(a) Partnerships are voluntary initiatives undertaken by governments
and relevant stakeholders, e.g. major groups and institutional
(b) Partnerships should contribute to the implementation of
Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda
21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and should not
divert from commitments contained in those agreements;
(c) Partnerships are not intended to substitute commitments
made by Governments but to supplement the implementation of Agenda
21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21
and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
(d) Partnerships should have concrete value addition to the
implementation process and should be new - that is not merely
reflect existing arrangements;
(e) Partnerships should bear in mind the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainable development in their
design and implementation;
(f) Partnerships should be based on predictable and sustained
resources for their implementation, include mobilising new resources
and, where relevant, result in transfer of technology to, and
capacity building in, developing countries;
(g) It is desirable that partnerships have a sectoral and geographical
(h) Partnerships should be designed and implemented in a transparent
and accountable manner. In this regard, they should exchange
relevant information with Governments and other relevant stakeholders;
(i) Partnerships should be publicly announced with the intention
of sharing the specific contribution that they make to the implementation
of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of
Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
(j) Partnerships should be consistent with national laws, national
strategies for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme
for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation, as well as the priorities of countries
where their implementation takes place;
(k) The leading partner of a partnership initiative should inform
the national focal point for sustainable development of the involved
country/countries about the initiation and progress of the partnership,
and all partners should bear in mind the guidance provided by
Governments; and
(l) The involvement of international institutions and United
Nations funds, programmes and agencies in partnerships should
conform to the inter-governmentally agreed mandates and should
not lead to the diversion to partnerships of resources otherwise
allocated for their mandated programmes.
(a) Registration of partnerships should be voluntary and be
based on written reporting to the Commission, taking into account
the provisions above. Reporting by partnerships should focus
on their contribution to the implementation of goals, objectives
and targets of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation
of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
(b) Partnerships should submit a regular report, preferably
at least on a biennial basis;
(c) The Secretariat is requested to make information available
on partnerships, including their reports, through a database
accessible to all interested parties, including through the Commission
website and other means;
(d) The Secretariat is requested to produce a summary report
containing synthesized information on partnerships for consideration
by the Commission in accordance with its programme and organization
of work, noting the particular relevance of such reports in the
review year;
(e) The Commission, during the review year, should discuss the
contribution of partnerships towards supporting implementation
of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of
Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation with a
view to sharing lessons learned and best practice, to identifying
and addressing problems, gaps and constraints, and providing
further guidance, including on reporting, during the policy year
as necessary.
Annex II Sample Form


text:
Everlasting light
Remnant glow of ancient stars offers glimpse of universe's past
On the next clear night, go outside and look up. If you're away from city lights, you may be amazed by the darkness of the sky between the stars. But what looks like inky black isn't really so. Even the darkest of night skies still contains the light of all the stars that ever shone.


text:
Shadows Leather Poolstick Case
"This case has high density foam rubber to pad against impact contusions. Each case has layers of insulation to provide some protection against environmental changes.
Each case is lined with a non-abrasive and non-moisture absorbing material to protect the finish from scratches and to help keep the cue dry.
No cue parts will be allowed to touch each other at any point. Your cue will as protected as the design you choose allows for."


text:
Here is some information to help orient you to your first Repair Café. For a sense of the scope of volunteer roles, check out the Volunteer Descriptions Pamphlet. In addition, it's important that you're familiar with our House Rules and Safety Procedures.
The Event:
Events generally last for four hours and change location every month. You might want to visit a Repair Café the first time simply to observe, without feeling obliged to get to work.
We ask volunteers to try to arrive a half hour early – extra hands are helpful in setting up and Fixers like time to set up their work space. First timers receive a name tag at the reception desk.
As a volunteer fixer, you will be paired up with a visitor seeking help in your area of expertise. Bring any tools you like to work with. Many fixers share tools and Repair Café Toronto provides some gear (e.g. . general supplies such as tapes, glues, light bulbs and some sewing notions are available). You are here to enjoy yourself and may decline an assignment for any reason.
There is a variety of roles for general event volunteers, such as greeting new arrivals or helping with the visitor exit survey. It is equally as important that you enjoy the event as much as help out, so please do what you feel comfortable with.
An apprentice fixer can work together with a more experienced fixer, or move around to observe a variety of repairs.
Before the Event:
You will receive two emails before each event from our volunteer coordinator.
The first will ask if you plan to attend. This information helps us to set up the event site. There is no obligation to come to every event so feel free to come as it suits you.
The second email will give more information about the upcoming event and reminders about what the volunteers need to know, details such as travel directions, parking, tools and supplies, refreshments and lunch.
The Role of the Fixer:
A key goal of the Repair Café is to help people learn how to repair things. When a visitor comes to your table, check to see if s/he prefers to work on the item themselves with your guidance, jointly, or observe while you do the repair for them. If you are doing the fix on their behalf, be sure to explain the diagnosis and repair steps. Try to encourage your visitor to sit with you throughout the repair process. Of course you should feel free to collaborate with other fixers.
Repair Parts and Referral to Professional Service:
As part of Repair Café's House Rules, neither Repair Café Toronto nor the Fixer is responsible for providing new replacement parts. If we don't have the parts, you can suggest to the visitor what to look for (and possibly return with to complete the repair).
Repair Café Toronto has put together a List of Repair Shops in Toronto. Feel free to refer visitors to this resource for suggestions of specialized repair service locations
Items for Repair:
Each visitor will be helped with one item per turn. For a second item, the visitor needs to go back to Registration and line up in the queue again
Feel free to bring an item of your own for repair. You will need to register this item in the queue.
There are often volunteers (sometimes media representatives) taking photos and videos at Repair Cafés, creating material for promotion and a record of events. If you don't want to be included in camera shots, just inform the volunteer coordinator or photographers.


text:
Hey Everyone,
Just letting everyone know at some point this week the forum will be placed offline for maintenance while we migrate to a new server. The domain will be pointed to the new server and there could be a 1-2 day downtime for propagation.
See you soon on the other side!


text:
© 2001-2019 Viking Range, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
= Owner's Exclusive Content
Step 3: Select colors, finishes, and other options
The TruPower Plus™ front burner on select Custom Series rangetops lets you cook like a pro with 18,500 BTUs of professional power.
Keep spills in one place with the raised edges of our exclusive one-piece tooled porcelainized cooking surface. Raised edges around perimeter seal top to completely contain spills. Porcelanized for easy cleaning, durability and long lasting finish.
The VariSimmer™ Setting on ALL burners provides gentle, even simmering at precisely low cooking temperatures.
The exclusive SureSpark™ Ignition System ensures automatic ignition/re-ignition should the burners extinguish any time while cooking.
Cook like a pro with up to 18,500 BTUs and infinite settings of easy-to-clean high performance sealed burners. Combination of unique patented burner and surface design provides cleanability plus superior performance at any temperature setting.


text:
Daniel Diamonds will be moving into its new building on Castle Court in North Evergreen in January.
The 12,000-square-foot building will house the jewelry and gift store in about 3,000 square feet, with other tenants renting the rest of the three-story structure, according to Karen Alkayam, who owns Daniel Diamonds with her husband, Danny.
"A huge array of businesses has been contacting us (about renting space)," Karen said. Those businesses, she said, are a mixture of current Evergreen businesses and some interested in opening here.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Canyon Courier, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
|ZIP Code:


text:
Ground Investigation Engineer
- Recruiter
- Penguin Recruitment
- Location
- Bristol
- Salary
- £22000 - £28000 per annum
- Posted
- 30 Nov 2018
- Closes
- 28 Dec 2018
- Ref
- Contact
- Neil Ellerton
- Specialism
- Geotechnical
- Function
- Engineer
- Job Type
- Permanent
Ground Investigation Engineer - Bristol - £Negotiable
Are you an experienced Ground Investigation Engineer looking for an exciting opportunity to join a large and established Consultancy?
Our client have an excellent opportunity for a Ground Investigation Engineer to join the team in their Ashford offices. The role has become available due to expansion and continued success and comes with an immediate start! The successful Ground Investigation Engineer will be predominantly site based, acting as task lead and site agent, technically and practically directing site investigation works, logging trial pits, boreholes and undertaking in-situ testing onsite - writing up logs and reports when back in the office. You will also be required to assist the local PM with financial reporting.
The role is varied and as a result you must have relevant experience and skills to draw upon such as:-
- Degree Qualified in a relevant Geoscience subject, BSc. Is essential, MSc is preferred
- CSCS card
- PTS certification for work on Rail sites
- Demonstrable / in-depth relevant field experience in ground investigation
- Excellent soil and rock logging skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- High level IT skills for the production of logs and insitu testing data
- Some post graduate geotechnical training and experience (preferred)
- Strong project management and organisational skills
- Full & clean UK driving license
If you have the essential qualifications and experience then please contact Neil Ellerton of Penguin Recruitment on 01792 365 100. Alternatively you can send through a copy of your CV to neil.ellerton@penguinrecruitment .co.uk


text: There is no substitute for experience. For over 100 years, Tuttle Printing & Engraving has specialized in serving the stationery and printing needs of professional offices. With our Tuttle Online Print Shop, you can create designs online and conveniently place orders when it fits into your schedule. Today's technological advances combined with a deeply rooted knowledge of printing make Tuttle the right partner for your printing and office needs. We are more than just ink on paper.


text:
Police search for suspects in assault at Parkdale
On Sunday, March 6, at 5 p.m., Beaumont police officers were sent to investigate a reported assault at Parkdale Mall near the food court.
When officers arrived, they discovered a 20-year-old white male from Orange had been assaulted and robbed. He said that he and his brother were leaving the food court area and walking to his his truck in the parking lot. They were approached by two white males, one of which attacked the victim. The suspect then said he had a gun and took the victim's wallet and money. The second suspect said he had a gun also but neither suspect displayed a weapon.
A witness to the incident told officers he saw the attack and that the victim was struck about ten times. The victim refused EMS at the scene and said he would drive himself to the hospital. He suffered a 2" laceration to his forehead and his nose was swollen and bleeding.
The suspects are described as follows:
#1: 20 years old 6' short red hair, light complected pink shirt and blue jeans.#2: 20 years old 5'11" short brown hair ,white long sleeved shirt and blue jeansIf you have information on this or any other felony crime, please call Beaumont Crime Stoppers at (409) 833-TIPS, go to www.BeaumontCrimeStoppers.com or text BMT plus your message to CRIMES (274637). All tips are anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.


text:
Local offices closed on Good Friday
All Henderson County local government offices and agencies and the Henderson County Courthouse will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday. These offices will resume normal operating hours on Monday.
The following agencies have amended holiday schedules:
• On Thursday, all branches of the Henderson County Public Library will close at 5 p.m. They will remain closed on Friday, and will reopen for normal business hours on Saturday.
• The transfer station and convenience center will be closed Friday and reopen for normal business hours on Saturday.
Kilwin's to donate profit
In celebration of the 14th anniversary of Kilwin's chocolate and ice cream shop in downtown Hendersonville, shop owner Jen Butcher will donate a portion of their anniversary day sales to the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County. Kilwin's is located at 506 N. Main St., Hendersonville. For more information, call 828-698-9794.
News conference on immigration reform set
A news conference to discuss the economic impact immigration reform will have on the agricultural and business community in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hendersonville City Hall, 145 5th Ave. E., Hendersonville.
Vigil will mark massacre anniversary
"Remember Newtown" will mark with a silent vigil the 16th-month observance of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. on December 14, 2012. The vigil will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Courthouse, 1 Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville. Photos of the 26 victims will be provided and displayed as the names of the victims are read by participants. Banners and posters will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring homemade posters. For more information, call 828-693-9804.
The Mills River Agricultural Advisory Committee's regular meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday has been canceled.
The Camera Club of Hendersonville will meet from 6:30–9 p.m. Tuesday in the Chamber of Commerce building, 204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville. Special guest will be professional photographer Les Saucier, who will critique the club's forum images, including those in the special April category, "Shooting in the Rain." Visitors welcome. Info: www.cameraclubofhendersonville.com.
The Transylvania Farmers Market will open for the first day of the season from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, 190 E. Main St., Brevard. The market's opening day will also be an Earth Day celebration, with live music by Crooked Pine and fun activities for the family. For more information, visit TransylvaniaFarmersMarket.com.
Community Briefs: April 17
Local offices closed on Good Friday


text:
Find the perfect hotel in Raceland using our hotel guide provided below. Find cheap and discounted hotel/motel rates in or nearby Raceland, LA for your corporate or personal leisure travel. We provide the best Raceland, Louisiana hotel and motel rooms. Browse the Raceland area hotels to find the perfect lodging! Please use the provided map of the Raceland hotels.
The Raceland center point is about 8 miles east of Laurel Valley Village Store and 10 miles northeast of Terrebonne General Medical.
How should we direct your call?
Below are reviews of the city of Raceland, LA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Golf was good.


text:
NBA Capsules
MIAMI (AP) LeBron James scored 32 points and added eight assists, Chris Bosh scored 20 points and the Miami Heat held on to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 101-97 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Dwyane Wade scored 15 points and had a steal in the final seconds to help seal the win for Miami.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 22 points for Charlotte, which got 18 points and 13 rebounds from Al Jefferson, who played through a left plantar fascia strain and shot 9 for 23 from the floor. Kemba Walker added 16 and Gerald Henderson scored 15 for the Bobcats.
Game 3 is Saturday night in Charlotte.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Monta Ellis scored 21 points and the Dallas Mavericks rolled past San Antonio, snapping a 10-game skid against the Spurs and evening their first-round series at a game apiece.
Shawn Marion scored 20 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 16, Devin Harris had 18 and Jose Calderon 12 for Dallas, which never trailed after the opening minutes of the second quarter.
Manu Ginobili had 27 points, Tony Parker added 12 and Tim Duncan 11 for the Spurs.
Dallas didn't relent in Game 2 after blowing a 10-point lead in the final eight minutes of the series opener. San Antonio's ineptness had as much to do with tying the series, however. The Spurs averaged 14.4 turnovers during the regular season, but had 15 with 3 minutes left in the first half. They finished with 22 turnovers, which resulted in 33 points for the Mavericks.
HOUSTON (AP) – LaMarcus Aldridge scored 43 points and Damian Lillard made six free throws down the stretch to give the Portland Trail Blazers a victory over the Houston Rockets and a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
James Harden knocked down a 3-pointer with about 30 seconds left to get the Rockets within three. Lillard made two free throws before Harden fouled out about 10 seconds later. Mo Williams and Lillard both made a pair of free throws after that to secure the win.
Aldridge became the first player with consecutive 40-point games in the playoffs since LeBron James did it in May of 2009 after scoring a career-high and franchise playoff-record 46 in an overtime win in Game 1.
Dwight Howard scored 25 points in the first half, but managed just seven in the second half for Houston.


text:
Thursday, April 29, 2010
bento lunch for a 2nd grade boy
Clearly, it's time to move to Plan B for the post titles! I think I'd name this one Barney.
Packed in a Sassy box my son has:
On the left - carrots, deli pickles (got a bit smushed on the way home), cheddar cheese puzzle pieces cut with The Lunch Punch puzzle set.
On the right - strawberry cereal bar (cut in half), a couple animal crackers, a homemade granola bar (wrapped in wax paper as it's a bit crumbly), raspberries.
Only 2 days left for Autism Awareness Month!
My spectacular spokesperson friend Amy shares:
"For many people, Rain Man is the image of autism. However, only 10% of autistic individuals have savant skills & half of all savants are not autistic. Kim Peek, the savant who inspired the character of Raymond Babbitt, was actually not autistic, but instead is suspected to have had a genetic condition known as FG Syndrome. This is Autism Awareness Month and this is me making you aware!"
This message reminds me of one of my favorite Flair buttons on Facebook. :)
Supplies used to make this lunch:
7 comments:
- Jenn @ BentoForKidlet said... [Reply to comment]
Barney looks delicious :D and I love that flair button!
- April 29, 2010 at 1:24 PM
- The Planet Pink said... [Reply to comment]
Wow, you fit alot in those Sassy boxes! I packed one for Princess #1 yesterday for lunch and today she asked me to not use it because yesterday she finished her lunch first and was still hungry. Oops! Gotta get better at squeezing more food in I guess!
- April 29, 2010 at 2:04 PM
- Emily said... [Reply to comment]
Love your blog! I'm adding a link to yours on mine =)
- April 29, 2010 at 9:57 PM
- Jamie Cooks It Up! said... [Reply to comment]
I just wanted to thank you for all of the fun comments you have made on my blog. I'm so glad the Parmesan Chicken worked out well for you!
You have a fun site here...I'm happy to know about it. My kids would roll over with amazement at the site of these lunches. We are in a real Peanut Butter and Jam rut. Looks like fun!
Have a great night!
- April 29, 2010 at 10:20 PM
- Sandra said... [Reply to comment]
You've inspired me. My daughter is loving her new improved lunches. At least they look prettier and more fun. I've been making sure to add more color and food choices. Mixing it up instead of the same old thing everyday.
- April 29, 2010 at 10:41 PM
- Nicole Feliciano said... [Reply to comment]
Makes me want to go back to 2nd grade! Love it.
- April 30, 2010 at 12:45 PM
- Danielle said... [Reply to comment]
Really cute! I am very new to Bento...as in bought a couple boxes, not yet filled them. My kids are just starting school...my 7 year old son has autism. He has in home IBI therapy 5 days a week now...he is going to be starting 1 half day of grade one soon, and 1 full day a week of grade 2 next year... I am a bit nervous about packing him a cold lunch... as his sensory issues are severe, he is so picky! Do you have the same issues?
My 4 year old NT daughter starts JK in Sept too,but thankfully will eat most anything
I found your blog today, and love it!
- April 30, 2010 at 6:50 PM


text:
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Among the stocks that could see active trade in Friday's session are Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Weyerhaeuser Co. and Beazer Homes USA Inc.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. JPM, +1.09% and Wells Fargo & Co. WFC, +2.03% stand out from the pack among the handful of companies scheduled to report quarterly results Friday. KMG Chemicals Inc. US:KMG, DiamondRock Hospitality Co. DRH, +1.20% and Webster Financial Corp. WBS, +1.23% also are on deck.
Capping off a brisk week for initial public offerings, Workday Inc. WDAY, -2.50% priced at $28 each an offering of nearly 22.8 million shares of Class A common stock. Trading in the shares of the Pleasanton, Calif.-based software-as-a-services company is scheduled to start Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. Read more about Workday's IPO.
Late Thursday, AMD AMD, +1.15% warned that "weaker-than-expected demand across all product lines" would yield a revenue shortfall for the third quarter. Specifically, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based chip manufacturer now forecasts a revenue drop of about 10% from the second quarter, far steeper than what management had previously projected. In addition, gross margin is now pegged at about 31%, narrower than the previously forecast 44%, largely as a result of the company's decision to write down to the tune of about $100 million certain products facing lower demand. AMD, which cited a "challenging macroeconomic environment," said it will report formally report quarterly results after the close Oct. 18.
Weyerhaeuser's board approved a 13% increase in the quarterly dividend on common stock, to 17 cents a share. It's payable Nov. 30 to stockholders of record as of Nov. 9, according to Weyerhaeuser WY, +0.10%. "Although we remain cautious about the pace of recovery in the U.S. and global economies, recent trends give us greater confidence that housing fundamentals are improving," said Dan Fulton, president and chief executive of the Federal Way, Wash.-based forest products company. "Weyerhaeuser is well positioned to capture the full benefit of the market recovery as it unfolds, and to create increased value for our shareholders."
A 1-for-5 reverse split in the common stock of Beazer Homes USA BZH, +5.40% takes effect Friday on the NYSE, the Atlanta-based company said. Stockholders approved the reverse split at a special meeting Thursday, a move reducing the outstanding number of Beazer Homes shares to about 24.6 million. Moreover, the number of authorized shares will be reduced from 180 million to 100 million, but the company said its board would recommend this number be reduced further, to 63 million, at the company's 2013 annual meeting. The further reduction is the offshoot of "discussion with several institutional stockholders," Beazer Homes said. It's the second reverse stock split of note to take effect this week: Tenet Healthcare Corp. THC, +3.29% implemented a 1-for-4 split, also on the NYSE, on Thursday.
Thursday earnings recap
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. JBHT, +1.66% reported third-quarter net earnings of $78.2 million, or 65 cents a share, up from $68.7 million, or 57 cents, earned during the same period in 2011. Quarterly revenue reached nearly $1.3 billion, up from the prior year's $1.17 billion, as J.B. Hunt's operating margin widened to 10.3% from 10.1%. The Lowell, Ark.-based company said it operated 9% fewer trucks in the September quarter, reflecting "customer conversion of highway traffic to intermodal." Intermodal accounted for the bulk of J.B. Hunt's operating income in the latest quarter. Read more on J.B. Hunt's results.


text:
Any Size Available!
As Low as $7.99/Sq. Ft.!
Turn your picture memories into canvas works of art. Create photo to canvas art—an easy process that turns your beautiful photos into gallery-like art. Whether you're giving a gift or decorating your own walls, your pictures will be professionally printed onto archival quality canvas
1 to 49 SQFT - $9.99 per SQFT
50 to 99 SQFT - $8.99 per SQFT
100 or more SQFT - $7.99 per SQFT
Sample of Calculation: Width 2.33 Ft. x Length 4.98 Ft. = 11.6034 SQFT = 12 SQFT (Round), Price 9.99/SQFT, 12 SQFT x $9.99 = $119.88
Please enter the size below by foot
Please Choose:
We can design for you!
maximum characters allowed


text:
Need more clicks and conversions in the next quarter of 2015? How about killer ideas and content to differentiate your brand and help push your next marketing effort to the next level?
As Dallas Digital Copywriter, I've worked with some of the biggest brands of the Fortune 500. Names like: Dell, HP, Microsoft, Visa, Motorola, Mercedes-Benz, MetLife, Seagate, Cardinal Health, and more. I've made these guys look good–and I can do the same for you.
Whether you're a small business that is just starting out with SEO/SEM, a funded startup, digital agency or a big player that is attempting to create or mitigate disruption in your industry, I offer fast, affordable, and memorable approaches that can help make you stand out.
My services include:
– Brand copywriting
– SEO/SEM copywriting
– Content strategy
– Creative strategy
– Email marketing
– Mobile messaging
– Social media copywriting
– Online marketing
– Press releases
– Blogging/ghostwriting
– Corporate brochures
– Case studies
– White papers
Whether you're in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Arlington or anywhere else–I can help you solve many of your marketing problems.
Questions? Click here for more information.


text:
About Combine PDFs 5.4
Source code Version History Download CombinePDFs Online Store
Changes in version 5.4:
- Requires MacOS 10.10 or newer.
- Upgraded to Xojo 2019r1 for dark mode support.
- Notarized.
In the year 2003, in the German newsgroup someone looked for an application to combine several PDF files easily. So this application was created.
Over the years the software got a lot of attention. Version 5.0 should address the most common feature requests from our survey in 2009 to make this the best Combine PDF version ever.
Drop some PDF or picture files on the application or the main window. Reorder or remove pages as you want. Enter some meta information like the Title and save the new PDF. Analysing and processing the PDFs may take a while...
About the PDF boxes: Every page has a different sizes depending on what area was defined to create it, how large it is used for content or where it is suggested to be cropped. Most users can live with default values here.
Since 2011 our application is availble in the App Store.
- Add PDF pages or image files with add button, menu command or Drag & Drop
- Add title page
- Add empty pages
- Add interleaved pages from two PDF files
- Duplicate pages
- Merge selected or all pages to a new PDF file
- Split selected or all pages to new PDF files
- Reorder pages with mouse
- Delete pages
- Sort pages by name
- Sort pages for book printing
- Drag and Drop files from Finder directly into the pages list on the position you like to insert them.
- Add text overlays like page numbers
- See a preview of each page
- Rotate pages
- Add metadata
- Apply filters like compress pictures, gray tone and others.
- Create your own filters
- Open newly created PDF files in preview or Adobe Reader
- Includes an english manual (See Help Menu)
- Save and load the setup
- Protect your PDF with a password
Download Combine PDFs
Older Versions: 5.2.9, 5.2.7, 5.1.2, 5.1, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0
Mac OS X 10.7 or newer.
Version 4.x fails on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, but version 5.x works fine.
Order license
|Single User License
|20 €
|(for one user)
|Family License
|69 €
|(for up to 5 users)
|Company License
|199 €
|(for up to 20 users)
Visit the Online Store.
License keys are delivered per email within a few minutes. VAT only applies to users from the European Union.
If you have problems with Share-It, you can contact us for paying with invoice and wired bank transfer or by Paypal: Euro and US Dollar. Please use the right amount and add 19% VAT if you are from Germany.
French by Stephane Pinel.
Italian by Federico Magonio.
German and English by Christian Schmitz
Only for Mac OS X?
Users request this nice application to become available for Windows. But this is not possible as Microsoft does not include such nice PDF libraries with their operating systems.
You can try the application A-PDF Merger for Windows.
This application uses the PDF libraries of the Mac OS X version you have. Depending on which version you have some bugs may show. PDF files may miss parts of the content or may not be searchable.
This can only be fixed by reporting the bugs to Apple so they can fix their CoreGraphics PDF handling.
Please test all PDF files you create whether they look okay to you.
Also be aware that PDF data with CMYK colors may not look perfect.
Version 5.2.5 has a preference to enable DynaPDF as an alternative PDF engine. This one does not support all features, but sometimes works better with annotations.
Just arranged a new PDF with pages from another PDF and some picture files in Combine PDFs 4.0:
MBS Xojo Plugins


text:
Simply the best theme to keep your readers engaged! Featuring beautiful unique header backgrounds, smart page navigation to reduce your website's bounce rate, great looking, modern, responsive, Redxun is the perfect choice for your blogging purposes! If you need extra features, the premium version is also available. Redxun is smart & beautiful - choose it & you'll love it!
No themes found. Try a different search.


text:
In an effort to update the Bridge Group Design Guidelines to reflect the latest AASHTO LRFD Specifications, updated sections are published as they become available. In the meantime, older sections of the guidelines remain available and are denoted with an asterisk (*).
Bridge Practice Guidelines (LFD)
Preface Section 1: General* Section 2: General Design and Location Features* Section 3: Load and Load Factors* Section 4: Structural Analysis and Design Methods* Section 5: Concrete Structures Section 6: Steel Structures Section 9: Decks and Deck Systems Section 10: Foundations Section 11: Retaining Walls and Sound Barrier Walls* Section 13: Railings Section 14: Joints and Bearings Section 15: Traffic Structures* Section 16: Bridge Construction*
A1.1: Single-Span Cast-in-Place Post-Tensioned Concrete Box Girder Bridge A1.2: Two-Span Cast-in-Place Post-Tensioned Concrete Box Girder Bridge A1.3: Three-Span Precast Prestressed Box Beam Bridge A1.4: Two-Span Precast Prestressed I-Girder Bridge A2.1: Full Height Abutment on Spread Footing A2.2: Two-Column Pier on Drilled Shafts A2.3: Hammerhead Pier on Spread Footing
Arizona Department of Transportation
Contact Us
Copyright © Arizona Department of Transportation – All rights reserved.


text:
Three-D printing technology is a game changer in the arts and crafts world.
"It really takes the lid off of what's possible," says Andrej Suskavcevic, president and CEO of the Craft and Hobby Association, in Elmwood Park, N.J.
Three-D printing technology is a game changer in the arts and crafts world.
"It really takes the lid off of what's possible," says Andrej Suskavcevic, president and CEO of the Craft and Hobby Association, in Elmwood Park, N.J. "It seems to me it'll provide a really good bridge between technology and hands-on crafting."
Randy Sarafan, technology editor at Instructables, a website for sharing do-it-yourself projects, calls 3-D printing "mind-blowing. And the technology is adapting, changing and growing so fast."
Already, desktop 3-D printers can make doodads, such as plastic rings, figurines and small gears and parts. Sarafan prints his own robotic parts. A colleague printed a record that plays music. There are umpteen projects for printing cellphone covers. You can find advanced DIY projects at Thingiverse, a digital design-sharing website, and at Instructables.
"In a way, this reverses the industrial revolution and takes it back to people building things in their own workshops," says Ken Denmead, editorial director at Make magazine, which devoted its winter 2013 issue to 3-D printing.
At-home, desktop 3-D printers don't print high-quality pieces, say the artists who play around with them — not yet. Until they do, there also are companies willing to print your 3-D artwork or objects for you.
Joshua Harker is a sculptor whose most fantastical design ideas were locked in his imagination until 3-D printing became accessible.
"I've been drawing literally forever," says Harker, 43, of Chicago. "I wanted to develop the drawings I was doing three-dimensionally, and there was absolutely no way to do it."
With 3-D printing, he says, "there are all these possibilities to get my head around. There's a lot of room to explore, and it's still exciting for me."
Three-D printer machines build up layers of extruded material — mostly plastics but also ceramics, metals, even a wood filament — one thin layer at a time using CAD (computer-aided design) software. Larger, commercial machines actually have been around since the mid-1980s.
Tabletop machines, which print primarily in plastics, have dropped in price in recent years. They cost a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Some notable desktop brands are Makerbot, Deezmaker and Cubify.
Newcomers enter the scene rapidly, says Denmead. One is Printrbot, whose Printrbot Jr. is the smallest and — at $400 — least expensive 3-D printer on the market, according to Make. The magazine's reviews of more than a dozen 3-D printers are available at Makezine.com, as are tips on using CAD modeling software.
Or skip the machine and focus on the CAD software, modeling and tweaking your art or object for printing by one of the many 3-D printing services, such as Shapeways and Ponoko. A lot of the software, such as ReplicatorG, is free online.
This is the route many artists take.
"It's a low-overhead way to run a business," says Colleen Jordan of Atlanta, who makes 3-D-printed jewelry that she sells online at the Etsy.com store Wearable Planter, and through Fab.com.
Jordan, 25, who has a degree in industrial design, designs a 3-D model in software such as SolidWorks or Rhino, then uploads the file to a printing service, often Shapeways. She warns that modeling software takes time and patience to learn, but otherwise the process is simple. She receives her finished pieces from the printer in a few weeks.
Jordan couldn't create her jewelry by traditional means, which involve tens of thousands of dollars to create molds and other manufacturing startup costs.
"I spent $25,000 on printing last year," she says. "If I were to put that into just making molds, I'd only have 30 products before shipping."
Instead, she prints her jewelry — diminutive planters that can hold tiny plant sprigs — only as needed.
Other artists echoed the cost savings of 3-D printing on demand, and say the medium will create opportunities for young designers and inventors.
Jessica Rosenkrantz, co-founder and co-designer at Nervous System in Somerville, Mass., prints art, jewelry and housewares in sterling silver, stainless steel and nylon plastic at Shapeways.
"It's the most affordable way to do it other than printing it yourself," says Rosenkrantz, 30, noting that a desktop printer couldn't manage her products' intricate designs.
Desktop 3-D printers are good for messing around with and printing prototypes, says Jordan.
"It's more of a toy than a tool. It's a cool toy," says Jordan about her Makerbot 3-D printer. "It's kind of cool to have around."
Denmead sees 3-D printers changing the way artists create, hobbyists build and homeowners tinker.
"We're not going to need to send away for spare or replacement parts anymore," says Denmead. "We're going to be able to download a file from a company and fix the piece at home."
Sarafan likewise predicts that users won't need to understand 3-D design software to play in the medium, and they'll be able to use apps to print from phones.
"It's stuff like that that is going to revolutionize the way people think of this technology," says Sarafan.


text:
If early indications hold up, a storyline is beginning to develop out of Texas. It's a narrative that is damning to our schools and one with serious national consequences.
If early indications hold up, a storyline is beginning to develop out of Texas. It�s a narrative that is damning to our schools and one with serious national consequences.
Texas once led the nation in setting high standards and measuring schools. But if the state�s Legislature has its way, Texas will lead the charge against standards and tests. In fact, lawmakers will slam into reverse the work that has gone on for three decades to improve public education.
Other states should pay attention � and worry. This phenomenon is heading your way.
During President Barack Obama�s first term, nearly all states signed up for new, demanding national educational standards in math and English known as Common Core. Once those demands start taking effect, and states begin related testing, students likely will show serious deficits. The temptation will be to cave in on the higher standards, just like what is occurring in Texas.
It�s painful to write about the state�s backsliding because, for so long, we have drawn national praise for developing serious standards. These benchmarks show whether a student is on a track that prepares him or her for college or a good technical career. In fact, it wasn�t even necessary for Texas to join the Common Core movement, because the state�s own standards were strong.
Now the state is about to retreat from those standards � unless the business executives, higher-education leaders and minority groups who recently have started speaking out can persuade enough legislators to resist the retreat.
School superintendents started complaining last year about Texas� benchmarks after the state�s new STAAR tests revealed students were often far from meeting them. Their complaints got legislators� attention.
This week, Texas lawmakers are about to do something no previous Legislature has done since Texas started elevating academic rigor and holding schools accountable for their work back in the mid-1980s.
Ross Perot launched that work. And it continued through the governorships of Democrats Mark White and Ann Richards and Republicans George W. Bush and Rick Perry.
But that leadership could end. The Texas House will consider legislation that would make it easier for high-school students to graduate without the skills they need for college or a middle-class job.
Legislation would do so in at least two ways. First, the bills would reduce the number of end-of-course exams that high school students must pass from 15 to five.
Some reductions are fine. But five is a major reduction.
Those five exams would test just ninth-grade courses in English, history, science and math. Only English would be tested beyond ninth grade � and that only in 10th grade. No longer would Texas test students in the more challenging courses that teach them the problem-solving skills the economy demands and rewards.
Their bills also would take the three high-school-degree plans the state now offers, two of which are college-oriented, and replace them with essentially one plan. It would be slightly more demanding than the least rigorous current degree.
These details are peculiar to Texas, but the storyline about the rebellion against higher standards and accountability is not. The Indiana Legislature, for example, is considering whether to step back from some Common Core standards.
States such as Arizona, Colorado and Alabama are doing the same. And the web is filled with stories about teachers angry about the demands.
Common Core is not the only example of where pushback exists on standards and testing. The Obama administration has allowed numerous states to get out from underneath No Child Left Behind�s demands.
That landmark law, of course, has its roots in Texas. As president, Bush applied concepts largely developed in Texas that involved states testing their students annually, using the results to assess their schools and making sure parents got the information. He and the law�s bipartisan backers wanted to make sure no children were left behind, especially in minority neighborhoods.
Now Texas could lead another trend. Except this one would be away from equipping students for the world that awaits them.
William McKenzie writes for The Dallas Morning News.


text:
What Vitter got for blocking McCarthy
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter declared victory this week in his battle with the Environmental Protection Agency, and in return removed a major obstacle for Gina McCarthy's quest to head the agency.
What did he get in return?
Story Continued Below
Quite a lot. Vitter didn't score across-the-board wins on all his requests for changes in the agency's behavior, but he negotiated smaller wins that could have long-term implications for how it manages lawsuits, releases data and gauges the economic impact of regulations.
EPA's concessions won't strike at the heart of its efforts to tackle climate change — something that wasn't on the table in the months of wrangling with the senator. An administration official said Wednesday that not much has changed materially from an offer the agency made to Vitter two months ago, when he acquiesced to a party-line vote in the Environment and Public Works Committee that moved McCarthy's nomination to the Senate floor.
( Also on POLITICO: Vitter: No filibuster on McCarthy)
Vitter, the panel's top Republican, had orchestrated a GOP boycott in May of Democrats' first attempt to vote McCarthy's nomination out of committee. Then he made shifting demands from the agency before announcing Tuesday that he won't support a filibuster against her confirmation.
All the while, he ran a voracious campaign pushing EPA to be more "transparent." He pressed five requests that he has called vital to providing the public with clarity on the agency's actions, though he expanded some of those items and quietly dropped others.
Now, he probably needs McCarthy to clear the confirmation process if he expects to see his efforts bear fruit.
One of his wins is a longtime goal of some GOP lawmakers and industries: getting access to the data that underly two major epidemiological studies backing up several major EPA air rules.
The agency has long resisted such calls, saying the raw data Vitter wants isn't all in one place: It was compiled over many years from numerous scientists and private institutions, which often own the information.
But repeated prodding by Vitter has done the trick — mostly. The agency has contacted researchers to get the raw data behind those studies, using the leverage of an amendment that requires all federally funded research data to be available to the public. EPA still must deal with difficult privacy issues related to medical information attached to the data, but it's confident it can manage the task, acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe told Vitter in a letter Tuesday.
The senator also wants changes in how EPA does its economic modeling to determine the costs of major rules. There, he got some of what he wanted.
Vitter originally asked the agency to begin use of a particular type of modeling to address "whole-economy employment impacts of regulations." But EPA balked, saying the model is not peer-reviewed and that that type of modeling generally overlooks or ignores environmental benefits.


text:
06 Sep '17
When businesses run into cash flow difficulties, delaying payments to suppliers can become a problem. Keeping on top of your debtors is a vital part of keeping your business afloat. Make sure you keep on top of your debtors, and your cashflow by implementing a debt collection policy. An example of a typical debt collection […]
19 Dec '16
Most people will know that certain costs can be expensed against your sole-trading revenue or income to reduce taxable profits and ultimately reduce your tax liability and help you save tax. Here is a helpful guide to allowable business expenses that HMRC will normally allow. The Inspector of Taxes (HMRC) will allow revenue expenditure as […]
Accountancy services
tailored to suit your needs
01733 699033
Search result for phrase: taxable-income
- LeeP Financial, Unit 3F Forward House, Aston Business Park, Shrewsbury Avenue, PE2 7EY Peterborough, United Kingdom
- email@example.com
- 01733 699033
- 12May
Do I have to declare my income to the tax man?
- Posted in
- Expenses,
- Self Assessment,
- Tax
- 05Feb
How to split property income tax efficiently
- Posted in
- Landlords,
- Self Assessment,
- Tax
- 04Feb
We have a new intro video!
- Posted in
- Accountants
Click title for full Google reviews
aidan harrison
14:59 05 Jul 18
An extremely professional service, which is very helpful giving a fresh approach to all financial needs. They are very responsive and will help you understand all matters with ease. Highly recommended to all businesses and sole traders.
L A W Moore
15:51 08 Jun 18
Super service in plain English, making it easy to understand without all the usual accounting gobbledegook that you can get from other financial companies. I will always use Leep for all my accounting queries in the future. Very helpful team. Great stuff!
Caropal Group Website
11:15 02 Jul 18
Excellent service and excellent Accountants. I am very happy to be a client and have no hesitation in recommending them.
Michael Dixon
13:31 23 Jan 18
Polly and her team show a high degree of professionalism and bespoke advice based on the interactions we have had with them since forming a limited company several months ago. We have found them to be very personable and approachable both in person and via email and phone. Their proactive phone calls and emails really help us to stay focused and they are always willing to help and answer questions. We would both highly recommend the Leep team to anyone who is looking for sound financial/accounts advice.
Simon Hargreaves
14:52 20 Mar 18
LeeP Financial are like the Charlie's Angels of accountancy; smart, sassy and they always solve the mystery – luckily for me, that's the mystery of my financial arrangements. As a small freelance business, LeeP gave me their full attention and took a weight off my mind. Highly recommended.