text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Why are employers in China so awful? Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Why are employers in China so awful? Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Next Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> China (Job-related Posts Only) View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message Banner41Joined: 04 Jan 2011Posts: 656Location: Shanghai Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:48 am Post subject: ecubyrd wrote: I don't buy that taking a 1 month CELTA course makes one any more qualified to teach English in any country than someone that is a certified teacher in their home country in a random subject area. Most schools would take a native speaking licensed teacher any day over someone that just has a CELTA/Trinity. From the official website: "CELTA is an initial qualification for people with little or no previous teaching experience and is one of the most widely taken qualifications of its kind." It is just a basic certification/qualification for people that have no teaching license (mostly) or experience, or for qualified teachers that just simply can't figure out how to teach ESL on their own IMHO. I agree. People take TEFL cert courses on a whim most times and feel qualified to teach. HS drop out? It's ok, I have a TEFL cert from XYZ....I'm good to go! I think a 3/4 year degree coupled with a cert. is at least more in the ballpark. Shows more commitment to education then sitting in a classroom on Saturdays for a month or two or even worse, in front of a computer. That had been the standard coupled with two years of experience. Too bad they don't always enforce their own standards. Back to top wonderingjoesmithJoined: 19 Aug 2012Posts: 910Location: Guangzhou Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:40 am Post subject: Denim-Maniac wrote: wonderingjoesmith wrote: Denim-Maniac wrote: Qualified in TEFL means CELTA or Trinity to me. Qualified to teach history to American high-schoolers does not make one qualified to teach English IMHO. So, what do the Chinese high-schoolers learn in general that the American teacher could not handle? Ive picked American history in my example as I have first hand experience with said teacher. It could equally be a British Economics teacher though, so please dont be sensitive on subject or nationality. Be qualified to teach history (for example) means one can probably do a good job to teach History, but it doesnt mean they are fully qualified to teach English as a foreign language. I am qualified to teach English so when I go home for good, does that mean I am qualified to be a driving instructor. After all, I can also drive? No ... I need to take specific training, but my previous experience may make the transition to learning something new easier. Here are two examples to illustrate why I say so. The first is something very simple I use as part of a lesson that illustrates intrusion. Its from a standard EFL textbook so Im not claiming I invented it. /tuːwənθriːjənfɔː/ I am not sure people who have not undergone standardised EFL training would a) understand what intrusion is and b) be able to read IPA and teach it. You wouldnt encounter it otherwise. Of course ... students understand this very easily so its useful for them. A second example is that many students struggle between use of second and third conditional. Both of these structures are excellent for engaging oral classes, but can a teacher of math with no formal EFL instruction recognise the different structures and confidently explain form and function to struggling students? I just believe being qualified to teach one thing does not automatically qualify you to teach another. The history teacher I mentioned I have experience with was a wonderful guy, very popular, but would happily admit he had no idea about many parts of EFL instruction, had to avoid teaching or answering some things and as a result, couldnt always give students what they needed. And these two examples I listed are just two of many simple everyday 'learning English' things that are students encounter all the time. Being qualified to teach these students how to correct or reduce their mistakes in these things is what we need to be trained to do ... and so I feel that CELTA/Trinity training is the first entry level step in qualification for ALL teachers of EFL. This isn't about sensitivity or nationality but wisdom. A true high school teacher learns how to teach in school which s/he graduates from and then throughout real classroom experiences in the high school. How can that equal to a marketing, bank or hotel manager, or some engineer who's got a few months of training in "EFL"? Correct me if I am wrong but unless one takes some kind of a quick CELTA extension course s/he will NOT be qualified to teach young learners. And, 16-17 year high school kids are the YL category, aren't they? Many schools on mainland China practice rote memorization and students in high schools are to acquire daily 30-50 new English words (randomly chosen) and phrases or grammatical structures that have little to do with their new vocab. The average young learners' active vocabulary, from my brief experience, is at just about 300 words while their passive vocab doesn't go far over a thousand. Their monthly routine of a thousand new words never works but the local academic drones drill their kids to oblivion for the system/employers that direct them to do so. Teaching second or third conditional tense in a Chinese high school set-up and with EFL, or English as First Language, certification after a successful accomplishment of the CELTA may not be as helpful as knowing what the kids actually have to go through during their learning process. I am talking about the basic psychology which is most likely taught to the history, economics, maths etc teachers in the US or UK. They are fundamentally prepared for the educational concept which doesn't seem to be parallel with the Chinese one at all. The CELTA may come handy if it prepares not to confront the poor local educational systems that insist on teaching English their own ways. High school students in China are learning English just like they are learning Chinese. They don't learn to use the languages but to pass their unpractical tests which indicate how successful they are. High scores of students allow teachers to keep their jobs and make schools/employers proud of what they have accomplished. If I were a real teacher, I would lose my job. Regards, Joe Back to top the lowlanderJoined: 10 Oct 2010Posts: 171Location: The Oort Cloud Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 6:10 am Post subject: NoBillyNo......is that what people shout before you post? Anyway Billy, do you understand the distinction between England (English) and Britain (British) ? I don't mean to be pedantic, but conflating those two identities causes a lot of offence in certain parts of the British Isles, as the Guardian newspaper recently pointed out. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/06/david-cameron-uk-devolution-citizenship As for the EU, it has enacted extensive provisions to protect workers rights, and those shouting loudest about the UK leaving the EU are certain sections of the Tory party who represent those business interests who would like to roll these provisions back. http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/employment_rights_and_work_organisation/index_en.htm Given that the minimum UK wage is fixed and legally imposed upon legitimate employers, the most an influx of migrant workers from other parts of the EU can do is hold it in place. They cannot drive it down. What is an "unqualified worker" ? If you're trying to suggest that a labourer from Latvia can suddenly become a lecturer in London, then I think you need to go back to the drawing board with that idea. But that is the sort of thing that really happens in the jolly old world of Chinese EFL! As for China's minimum wage, this can be under 1000 RMB per month, depending upon province, and is often more honoured in the breach, than in observance. Low wages and long hours have caused a great deal of unrest in the areas you mention, and this has manifested itself in protests, violence and suicides. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_in_People's_Republic_of_China Back to top NoBillyNOJoined: 11 Jun 2012Posts: 1762 Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:19 am Post subject: Quote: If you're trying to suggest that a labourer from Latvia can suddenly become a lecturer in London, then I think you need to go back to the drawing board with that idea. But that is the sort of thing that really happens in the jolly old world of Chinese EFL! Never suggested that. Back to top the lowlanderJoined: 10 Oct 2010Posts: 171Location: The Oort Cloud Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:21 am Post subject: If not, then what do you mean by "unqualified worker"? Back to top wonderingjoesmithJoined: 19 Aug 2012Posts: 910Location: Guangzhou Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:05 am Post subject: "unqualified worker" vs unqualified employer who knowingly breaks laws Javelin of Radiance wrote: Denim-Maniac wrote: Nah, I think kudos to Chinesearmy - All bosses are awful! Truest words said in the entire thread! I also agree. the lowlander wrote: Chinesearmy, you said, Quote: actually all bosses are awful. in the west and in china. marx said so. you are just a cog in the wheel. All bosses the world over may be awful at heart, but at least in EU countries we have legislation that offers a certain amount of protection to the workforce. Minimum wages being one example. While that legislation may protect domestic workers it means squat to many foreign workers in the US, Canada, etc. Wage theft, physical and mental abuse, with-holding of health care, and failing to inform foreign workers of their employment rights are the most common complaints. And since they're foreigners who often have limited English, and they don't vote, little gets done to help them. Do not get caught by polarizing posts that take readers to other countries where the main role of judicial system is to protect people. No minimum wage, long working hours that are often for free, and little choice in a sense of legal complaints against employers seems to be much more common in China than in the US. My Chinese coworkers have worked last weekend and are working this weekend too. The employer blatantly claims the teachers have to work for January 1st and 2nd holidays both weekends. Of course, they could leave the jobs and find other schools to work for, but would other places be better in the country? Back to top doogsvilleJoined: 17 Nov 2011Posts: 924Location: China Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:30 am Post subject: I often read posts containing the notion that if there were more regulation in the Chinese TEFL market, with CELTA/Trinity being the recommended entry level qualification. Unsurprisingly it's usually, if not always, those who are so qualified who are suggesting it. I have two problems with that idea though. The first is that I'm not so sure it would in fact 'change' the market, certainly not for the better. What I think is more likely to happen is that the subsequent shortage of suitably qualified teachers would simply cause the majority of schools to close. We are well aware that most of the people running English schools in this country are business people whose only interest is the bottom line. At the moment they tap in to this unregulated market and make a lot of money. I think that if the government made it too difficult for them then they would simply choose another business model. Would those licensed, regulated schools left behind then cherry pick the best students, and charge them more money? Yes, they likely would. Would they then pass a percentage of this money on to the foreign teachers with the necessary qualifications to teach? No, I don't think they would. I think they would collude and connive with one another, openly or not, to continue to offer the same pay and conditions they always have, whether their teachers are CELTA/Trinity certified or not. I think there are enough people willing to come to China for the lifestyle and experience they can have on the existing salaries to make sure that the few schools left after regulation would survive as they always have, and if there was more money to be made it would be going into the pockets of the Chinese, not the foreigners. Then there is the point, previously made, that while CELTA/Trinity certification may give one a more substantial ability to teach English, it does not a good teacher make. I would also point out that my own experience, and the experience of the majority of people who post here and on other sites, is that what we are asked to teach here, and what is possible to teach here, is not going to be improved by the knowledge gained on a CELTA/Trinity course anyway. These boards contain many posts advising people who are career EFL teachers to go to other countries to get the experience, knowledge and kudos that they need to advance their careers. the accepted next step for a teacher here in China is to get a post as director of education, or whatever fancy title the language mills are giving out these days, and to become some Chinese business persons lap dog. It ain't pretty, but it's reality. I was a teacher for twelve years before I came here, though not of English. I cannot imagine why any qualified English teacher from the UK would give up their career to come and teach here. I don't teach the way I would in the UK, because the education system and culture of learning here is so totally different. I do use a lot of the skills I built up over those twelve years back in the UK though. I didn't get any of those skills from a course, I got them from years and years of trying and failing, analysing and succeeding, planning and worrying and slowly but definitely improving. Both my colleagues and students here often tell me they think I am a good teacher. I believe I am. I am still working on ways of improving as an English teacher however, and slowly trying to change the culture of learning here from within. I don't have a CELTA/Trinity qualification, in fact I have a TEFL certificate I got from completing an on-line course. For my first few months of teaching here I was not very good as an English teacher. However my experience of teaching allowed me to be aware of that and to fix it quite quickly. I like what I do, and I am proud of what I do, and will continue to do it for the foreseeable future. My students, at least the ones who meet me half way, are improving. I get that there are a lot of unqualified teachers out there, and there are a lot of really, really bad teachers out there. They are not always the same thing, and I think we need to be careful to make the distinction. I've worked with some truly awful teachers, at least two of whom were CELTA certified. I would not have allowed them to teach my children. I agree that the EFL market needs to improve here to properly meet the needs of the people who are paying for it, but I don't think that bringing in certification will make that much difference until the whole culture of learning and system of educating and examining people is changed. Just my opinion though. Back to top Denim-ManiacJoined: 31 Jan 2012Posts: 1238 Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:17 pm Post subject: Several good points raised and its hard to reply to them all. I did say this is just my opinion and accept its not likely to be shared universally. As someone else has mentioned, the pro-CELTA types tend to be the CELTA-holders and yes, Im one of those. What I hope I have done in my posts is illustrate quite clearly that I do recognise it is only an entry-level qualification (I have said that in this thread), but as it is job specific I believe its quite important. As an academic achievement, home country certification to teach in state schools is naturally a much higher and more demanding qualification ... BUT IT ISNT SPECIFIC TO ESL / EFL so although holder of said qualification arent likely to have many skills, knowledge of EFL (and methodology) may not be included. The learning methods employed in the Chinese education system are roundly knocked by most FTs and the common opinion would be that it rarely prepares students for any real level of communicative competence. So how can there be any negative reaction to an entry level qualification that seeks to introduce more effective EFL methods to the trainee teacher? Although I dont teach young learners in China, I am aware of the education system they work under. I can assure you that they will learn 2nd and 3rd conditional, but not in any communicative manner ... thats where we come in! In my limited experience, and this is only limited by my own experience, those FT's who hold higher level qualifications often feel they trump lower level job specific qualification and are rarely interested in learning EFL methodologies or skills as they feel they dont need them. Id challenge that 100%. In every job we have to accept the need to learn new skills, which are often job specific. I wrote two very simple examples of common teaching issues in this thread. One features an IPA transcription of natural speech. This is a very common tool used in TEFL, and familiar to all your language learners. Can all of you read it? Can you understand what it is illustrating? I would guess that a large % of readers here might not. Many will suggest that its not their job and they dont need to do stuff like that. Some others may say they dont think its useful ... but it is a genuine and rather common part of EFL and for teachers to have worked in the field for several years and not even bothered to try and learn such things is poor IMO. (CELTA just introduced such things, a good / dedicated professional type would try to continue to build on this knowledge throughout their teaching 'career') In 2010 I worked with the Chinese education department at my employers and tried to start a workshop to introduce the use of IPA to our FT department. It was never suggested that it was mandatory or that it must be used in class, but it was introduced as something that might assist our students and help us to become better teachers. The outrage this caused amongst the FT staff was incredible, with I must confess ... a few US certified teachers saying they never needed to learn this to teach American kids so didnt see why they needed to learn it here. That attitude, which I have also witnessed in summer school employment in the UK, has shaped my attitude I guess. I started a Delta in 2012 and posted queries about it on here ... the response tended to be poor, uninterested and ill-informed. So again, that kinda sinks the idea that many people know their stuff because of their experience or other qualifications. Back to top L00kingforworkJoined: 15 Jun 2012Posts: 25 Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:56 pm Post subject: Many certified subject teacher feel that there's little difference between teaching a subject and teaching EFL. What they don't seem to understand is that teaching a subject (e.g. English) is vastly different from teaching English as a second/foreign language. My English teachers in high school never explicitly taught me how to read critically or write proper essays. Students in regular English programs are somehow expected to know how to do these things. And what about listening to lectures and taking proper notes? Universities in North America have noticed a significant deterioration of reading and writing skills in their freshmen (native English speakers!), many of whom need to take a 'booster' or remedial English course in their first year. If our students back home are having difficulties reading and writing effectively, what about Chinese students, especially those who want to study abroad? Who needs qualifications for teaching EFL, right... Back to top Denim-ManiacJoined: 31 Jan 2012Posts: 1238 Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 5:26 pm Post subject: Im NOT saying its the holy grail, and that CELTA grads are automatically wonderful teachers (most arent!) ... but people who take such courses (regardless of other experience or qualifications) do show that they are interested in learning TEFL specific techniques / language awareness and grammar etc etc. Im never impressed by people who teach English (often for many years) yet show no interest in learning things like grammar / pronunciation / IPA / SLA theory etc etc. This applies equally to CELTA graduates (some of whom promptly ignore all their training and never build on the skills learnt) and people holding other qualifications (including qualified subject teachers). Back to top the lowlanderJoined: 10 Oct 2010Posts: 171Location: The Oort Cloud Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject: When I read these boards I get the distinct impression that certain contributors lack a proper high school education, never mind relevant degrees and recognised EFL teaching qualifications. I'm sorry, but if you can't string a coherent sentence together and you didn't go to university, then you have no right to label yourself as an English teacher. As for graduates with non-relevant degrees, and teachers who are certified in subjects other than EFL, I'm sorry again, but in my book you don't cut the mustard either. I don't attempt to teach physics. I don't attempt to teach history. I don't attempt to teach anything outside of my own field. Why? Because I'm not qualified to do so, even if I might know something about various other subjects. That being the case, why should astronomy graduates and certified home economics teachers (et al) feel qualified to work in my field of expertise when they have no background and no training? Unfortunately, the EFL sector is currently full of "chancers" and strict regulation is sorely needed to weed them out. Logic dictates that this can only help properly qualified teachers at the expense of those who should be seeking employment or business opportunities elsewhere. Bring it on. Back to top Denim-ManiacJoined: 31 Jan 2012Posts: 1238 Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:26 am Post subject: I know we have discussed this before ecubyrd and are opposing forces in the everlasting CELTA or not battle Im always one of the people speaking in favour of CELTA / Trinity. Equally Im always suspicious of those with only home country qualified teacher status who arent especially in favour of ESL specific training. I posted an example earlier of something that I feel I have to do as part of my job in teaching English. Im forever looking for additional support and mentoring for like-minded colleagues, but rarely find it TBH. Ive already mentioned the environments I work in, but the teachers I work with range from no qualifications at all / CELTA / Trinity qualified / Home country certified. Because Ive been teaching since around 2006, I feel I manage my class well enough, and have learnt structure, rapport building etc etc ... All things I am sure state school teachers are great at. But I still want support and mentoring with specific language issues, language functions and some of the finer points of EFL instruction. I dont believe state school teachers can help me there ... Here is the example of something I do, copied and pasted into this post The first is something very simple I use as part of a lesson that illustrates intrusion. /tuːwənθriːjənfɔː/ When I sit around with my CELTA qualified buddies we can discuss teaching points like this ... when I sit around with my state teaching buddies they dont tend to understand or recognise the topic (and often dont want to). If you do, Id love the chance to work alongside you as Im sure I could learn more and improve, which is what Im all about. For sure your qualifications are higher than mine in an academic sense ... but if we do the same job and you dont 'get' the stuff I do .... those qualifications wouldnt count for a lot in my book and Id prefer to work with the CELTA guy who might be able to brainstorm with me. Back to top Javelin of RadianceJoined: 01 Jul 2009Posts: 1187Location: The West Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:47 am Post subject: the lowlander wrote: Javelin, I specifically mentioned EU legislation, which protects all workers, domestic and foreign. Anyway, I find it interesting that you claim all sorts of truly horrific things happen to foreign workers "in the USA and Canada etc" and yet you adamantly refuse to believe that such things happen to foreign teachers in China. Lowlander, it's not that I don't think bad things happen to foreign workers in China, I know they do, and I've been skilled enough, or lucky enough, to have avoided it. But most of the things that happen to foreigners here in China aren't life threatening, and in some cases are at least partly the fault of the foreign teacher who came here with their eyes closed. Much of the moaning on this board is fairly easy to see through and those who write about the evils of the chinese employer rarely come back to clarify the glaring holes in their stories. Now take the life of many foreign workers in the US or Canada where legislation exists to protect those workers. The laws are routinely ignored and workers have their pay with-held, they're kept in shabby accommodation, they get sick and don't get treatment, and they can be fired without cause. These workers usually end up too fearful to fight back because they typically come from poor countries, and they need the money for their family back home, and the employers exploit that fear as much as they can. so the workers put up with it. Until a few years ago I never even knew this happened until I came across a story in the local paper uncovering the exploitation of central americans working the fields right outside my hometown. the EU may have similar laws to protect workers but if they're upheld as badly as they are in North America then they're next to useless. (I'm not so familiar with the EU but their laws can't be too dissimilar to those across the pond). yeah, shit happens to foreigners in China. but pretty easy for us to either resolve it, or change jobs, or at least get out of the country. Not so easy for the foreigners who muck away in the fields in our countries doing the jobs none of our countrymen want. It should be different all around, but it isn't. But lowlander my friend, don't try and tell me employers in our countries who hire foreigners are any better than Chinese employers who hire foreigners because by and large they're not (of course if you're white and from another developed country then you're A-OK). They do share an equally great love for more money though, anyway they can get it. Sorry I'm on holiday these days and don't want to ruin it by posting more on the topic. wonderingjoesmith, say again? You came across as unreadable. Back to top the lowlanderJoined: 10 Oct 2010Posts: 171Location: The Oort Cloud Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:49 pm Post subject: I was wondering what WonderingJoeSmith was wondering about too! Back to top the lowlanderJoined: 10 Oct 2010Posts: 171Location: The Oort Cloud Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 5:06 pm Post subject: Javelin of Radiance, I've no wish to fall out with you, but you appear to have a very dogmatic anti-Western/pro-Chinese mindset. Just as a matter of interest, are you Chinese? Pardon me for saying so, but you make huge, sweeping, anti-Western statements, without any evidence to support them, and to be honest you sound very anti-Western in many of your postings. Perhaps you're not Chinese, and you are one of those Westerners who didn't make it back home for various reasons, and so now you're prepared to overlook the failings of your host country (China) because you feel gratitude due to the fact they gave you a second chance. I mean no offence but, when you make claims like, "Much of the (anti Chinese) moaning on this board is fairly easy to see through and those who write about the evils of the chinese employer rarely come back to clarify the glaring holes in their stories". Followed by "Now take the life of many foreign workers in the US or Canada where legislation exists to protect those workers. The laws are routinely ignored and workers have their pay with-held, they're kept in shabby accommodation, they get sick and don't get treatment, and they can be fired without cause". It's pretty clear here that you're not posting from a balanced perspective, and it's also clear that you have NO evidence whatsoever to support your claims that employment laws are ROUTINELY ignored in the US and Canada. If what you say is true, post the links. I'm sorry, but for me your post(s) simply exhibit the unsupported anti-Western/pro-Chinese bias that you clearly hold and promote for whatever reason, but without any evidence. Treble Kool Aids all round anyone? Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> China (Job-related Posts Only) All times are GMTGoto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Next Page 6 of 10 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. 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I don't know what the young ladies are advertising.
The caption accompanying the photo follows.
Bikini girls stroll along Chengdu Streetchinadaily.com.cn -
Women wear swimsuits with "Sports Models" written on red sashes in a promotion campaign on Chouzhou street in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Sept, 27, 2010, drawing attention from many passersby. [Photo/chaoxs.com]

subset: commoncrawl


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The view from White Nothe - a chalk cliff situated to the east of Weymouth Bay in Dorset, within the Jurassic Coast. To the south west it is possible to see the Isle of Portland.
The view east shows the rugged coast towards Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.
These waters will be used for the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic Games.


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Beetroot Beta vulgaris
We are big fans of this delicious vegetable. Rich, red and deeply nourishing it is renowned for helping raise your energy.
Beetroot is packed with iron, calcium, vitamins A and C and is very nutritious.
We juice our organic beetroots and then dry the juice at a low temperature to create a scarlet essence that is guaranteed to brighten your day. It's an essential ingredient in our nutritionally energising Vitalise.


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'Suspicious' package turns out to be donation for Seminole County church
Here's how suspicious we've become in the post- 9/11 world.
A cardboard box left at a church near Lake Mary caused the closure of Markham Woods Road while a bomb squad X-rayed it and then blew it up.
The note on the 40-pound bundle said, simply, "For Pastor Nick." In the old days, someone would have taken it inside and opened it.
But a church member who found the package on the doorstep about 11 a.m. today thought the corrugated box secured with duct tape might be dangerous.
He drove it from Master's Touch International Church, 555 Markham Woods Road, to a nearby fire station to have it checked out.
The Seminole County Sheriff's Office bomb squad couldn't figure out what was inside even after the box was X-rayed.
So, deputies blew it up.
"It didn't look normal," sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Cannaday said. "That's all we knew."
The result: More than $2,500 in paper money was turned into confetti. Four hundred ninety-eight rolled silver dollars remained intact, Cannaday said. The church won't be out any money, though, because the U.S. Treasury will replaced damaged paper money, she said.
The bills were estimated to be worth $2,500 to $2,700. The silver dollars may be worth more than $1 apiece, depending on their year minted and condition.
The ordeal was over about 1 p.m., and the road was reopened.
Although no one was hurt or ever in danger, the Sheriff's Office advises anyone who finds a suspicious package to call law enforcement.
"Don't attempt to move it," Cannaday said.
Category: Church Security


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Anne Brummer, trustee and founder of Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue and CEO of Dr Brian May's Save Me Trust receives a national award for Services to Wildlife. Congratulations to our CEO, Anne Brummer who has won the prestigious Animal Hero Award 2018 for services to wildlife. Dr Brian May said: I can't give you a full impression of what Anne Brummer does in a few moments. All I can say is that she has benefitted wildlife in this country for a few years now" Anne and Brian's dynamic partnership began with the release of foxes and Badgers on the grounds of Brian's estate - that has now become a forever home for wildlife. The chance discovery of a hedgehog trapped in wire fencing has led to radical changes in the life of Anne Brummer and the thousands of wild animals she now helps heal and get back to the wild every year.
Anne was recognised for their "incredible work" at an event staged by Surrey County Council Chairman Sally Marks. The event in Dorking saw volunteers given a certificate and a specially commissioned chairman's medal that was struck at Pobjoy Mint. Among those receiving awards included Charles Connell, who delivers meals on wheels three days a week, Edward Hickman a war veteran who walked to raise funds for charity after losing all his toes in battle, and Penny Shoubridge, who has been involved with the Scouts, Brownies and Cubs for more than 30 years in Charlwood. Mrs Marks said: "It was great to be able to thank so many wonderful volunteers for their incredible work in their communities. I was moved to hear so many examples of selfless dedication and amazed to learn just how long some of the volunteers had been serving.
Queen guitarist and animal campaigner Dr Brian May has picked up the Observer Ethical Campaigner of the year award for the highly successful Team Badger and Save Me campaigns run this year to protect the badger from the unethical, unscientific and flawed badger cull. The Observer is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, part of the Guardian Media Group. The Observer Ethical Awards were founded nine years ago to celebrate individuals, teams and companies fighting for environmental and social justice in the UK. They have been dubbed the 'green oscars'. Previous winners include Joanna Lumley, David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, James Lovelock and Malala Yousafzai.
The Campaigner of the year category recognises the public-facing campaigner who has made the biggest difference to Observer readers and put ethical issues on the global agenda.
Animal heroes from around the UK to receive Awards. Monday, October 17, 2011 London. WILDLIFE RESCUE AWARD: ANNE BRUMMER. Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue is run by Anne Brummer (45) from Camberley in Surrey. Her work with wildlife started 25 years ago with the care of a hedgehog. In subsequent years she has dedicated more and more time to rescuing animals and in 1998 set up her rescue centre, which is supported by Queen's Brian May. Last year it cared for more than 1,600 animals and is dedicated to helping injured and orphaned wild animals and birds, nurturing them back to health then releasing them back into the wild.
Surrey Life Community Heroes 2016 - who really makes a difference to life in your town or village? 07:35 24 February 2016 Celebrating the inspiring people who are really making a difference in Surrey's town and village communities, here we bring you the annual Surrey Life Community Heroes lists: the charity volunteers, lifesavers and other proactive people - all recommended via surreylife.co.uk - who you feel make an impression on the quality of life in Surrey


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NEW YORK, May 25 (UPI) -- Two-time Tony Award-winner Katie Finneran is to play Miss Hannigan in the upcoming Broadway revival of "Annie," the show's producers said Friday.
Finneran won her Tonys for her work in "Promises, Promises" and "Noises Off."
"Miss Hannigan is one of the great musical comedy roles and I cannot wait to play her, in all of her deliciously evil glory. I played Hannigan in my parents' living room when I was 8 years old and the chance to play her in this new Broadway production is a dream come true," Finneran said in a statement issued to Playbill.com.
The show is to begin previews Oct. 3 and will open Nov. 8 at the Palace Theatre.
"Annie" features music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan. It is based on the newspaper character "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray. The new stage production is directed by three-time Tony Award-winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler.
Producers said 11-year-old Lilla Crawford will play the title role.


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Locality: Martinsville City
511 East Church Street
Martinsville, VA 24112
Built in the early 1930s, this renovated fully furnished log cabin offers central air and heat, hi-speed wi-fi and cable television, a large main room, bedroom, eat-in kitchen and enclosed back porch with laundry room. Fishel Cabin is located in the historical district of Uptown Martinsville, within walking distance of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts Museum, Family YMCA, Blue Ridge Regional Library, parks and walking trails, local shopping and restaurants. Rental Rate $65/day Monday-Thursday and $75/day Friday-Sunday. Rates will be higher during holidays and race weeks at the Martinsville Speedway. State and local taxes of 7.3% will be added to the rental rate. Corporate rates are available for long term stays. Available for temporary lodging for up to five persons, parties/receptions, or for temporary display and sale of goods and services.
Lynn's cell phone: (276) 252-6068
Pritchett Home Phone: (276) 638-6068
Ashby's cell phone: (276) 252-1254
Fax: (276) 632-6518
Pet Friendly
Wheel Chair Access


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Keep Raisin' That Green Lantern!Comments
In a further refinement of the power attributed to the BULLY PULPIT, we are informed by Ben smith that the president's ability to send emails to his supporters is not merely a powerful tool, it is his most powerful tool. Surely, John Boehner is quaking in his boots about the prospect that a weapon of this power might be unleashed. And if Bill Clinton's masterful job getting major health care legislation passed proves anything, it's that going public is far, far better than meaningless "congressional negotiations."


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Today, I expanded the explanation for this and further emphasized the need to NOT rely on the deadlines seen in Moodle.
As always, I strongly suggest checking my MOODLE HELP pages when you become confused about anything experienced in Moodle.
Here's the updated entry at lionden.com/moodle-test-not-available.htm
The test asks for a password, what's that about?
The end date of the test has not passed, but I cannot enter the test.
After a test ends, a student may request that their one-time Free Parking pass be used to re-open the test. When any student is allowed to use their Free Parking pass, the test date is extended to the end of classes for that semester and only those students who have been granted their Free Parking will be given a unique password that allows them to re-enter the test.
If you encounter a test that seems to be open (because of its date) but asks for a password, that means that it is open only to those students who have redeemed their Free Parking pass and have received their unique password. That test will remain closed to all other students.
The official online test dates are found in your printed syllabus. They are also available at:
- A&P 1 online test dates
- A&P 2 online test dates
- Also check for changes in the NEWS FORUM section of the course home page in Moodle
- These changes are also sent to your SCC CougarMail inbox.
Do NOT rely on the end dates appearing in Moodle quizzes, as they may reflect extensions for those who have redeemed their Free Parking pass.
Broken SCC links for Moodle help
Because SCC keeps changing the URL of it's own MOODLE HELP pages without informating faculty who use these links, I've removed most of the links to SCC's Moodle help. However, I have updated the main link to SCC Moodle help and you can access the the most current links there.
I have also updated all links to the SCC Help Desk.
Read More!


text: SSG offers a complete line of riding gloves for designed specifically for riders. From hunter/jumper to eventing and dressage—and barn chores are covered, too—there's a glove to suit every taste and purpose. Dover is pleased to offer the SSG line of gloves featuring soft leathers and innovative synthetics with both classic and trendy styles.


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Introduction to Flags
Soccer, boy scouts, McDonald's, racing, advertising, sailing, pirates, countries, football, astronauts, explorers, armies, Greenpeace, gays and lesbians, states, the weather, provinces, political parties, etc. What do all of these things have in common? Flags.
Flags are everywhere. They are mainly associated with geographical regions, countries and nations, but if you look around you will find them as symbols of many other walks of life.
A flag is basically a piece of material that is flown from a mast or pole, but once you start adding coloring, designs and emblems to that piece of cloth you have a work of art.
The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 BC, when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags - some were even made out of wood or metal. Flags were originally used for the purpose of identification or to signal to others. Although flags are still used for many of those reasons today, flags have also come to be used for much more.
Flags have also been important symbols on land as well as on sea. Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to harbors, often to let them know they had an infectious or diseased crew aboard. Flags are still used today to let sailors know what weather conditions await at sea. The military also made use of flags to rally its troops. In military times, capturing an enemy's flag was considered an honorable seizure.
Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world's countries, the use of national flags didn't become commonplace until the 18th century. National flags are now used to identify each country and their symbolism.
When Mount Everest and the moon were conquered, and when new found lands were discovered, explorers would raise flags as signs of their being the first to tread these uncharted lands. Flags have also been used historically, many with negative consequences. For example, ancient pirates used flags decorated with the feared skull and crossbones emblem, and the Nazis used a flag decorated with a swastika.
Today, flags are still used to signify crucial events. For example, if you are offside in a soccer game, the linesman raises his flag, or when an auto race begins a flag is traditionally waved to start the race.
In fact, the numerous uses for flags and their examination have become so popular that the practice of 'vexillology', which means the academic study of flags, has been developed.
If you are interested in flags of any type there is a wealth of information available on the internet or at your local library or book shop.


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Foot and Ankle Disorders in Children
Steven J. DeValentine
Churchill Livingstone, 1992 - Medical - 681 pages
This text, aimed at students and practicing chiropodists, describes the conservative and surgical management of foot disorders in children. Special emphasis is placed on paediatric examination, diagnostic imaging, trauma management, congenital deformities, and foot/ankle trauma.
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General Examination of the Infant and Child
Neurologic Examination of the Infant and Child
23 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
abnormal adolescent adult anatomic angle ankle anteroposterior arthrodesis Bone Joint Surg calcaneal calcaneus cast child Clin Orthop clinical clubfoot congenital contracture correction degrees digits disease displacement distal tibial dorsal dorsiflexion epiphysis equinovarus equinus etiology evaluation extensor feet femoral fibula flatfoot flexor foot forefoot fracture gait hallux valgus heel hindfoot incision infant infection injury involved juvenile Kirschner wire lateral lesion ligament lower extremity medial metaphyseal metatarsal metatarsophalangeal joint metatarsus adductus muscle navicular normal occur orthosis osseous ossification osteomyelitis osteotomy patients Pediatr Orthop pediatric percent pes valgus deformity phalanx physeal physis plantar Podiatr Med Assoc polydactyly position posterior postoperative procedure pronation proximal radiographs rearfoot reduction reported resection rotation Salter-Harris sesamoid skeletal skin soft tissue release spastic STJA subtalar joint supination surgery surgical syndactyly Tachdjian talar head talocalcaneal talonavicular talus tarsal coalition tion transverse trauma treatment usually valgus deformity varus vertical talus wedge weight-bearing wound


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By Army Sgt. Tamika Dillard
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
FORT RILEY, Kan., Sept. 24, 2013 – Army Capt. William "Billy" Simpson learned from an early age to never give up on his dreams. With that always on his mind, his dream to become a soldier and a world-class wrestler is now a reality.
Simpson worked toward this his whole life.
"My dad was a wrestling coach," Simpson, a native of Belleview, Tenn., said. "He made sure my brothers and I could wrestle by the time we could walk. Every time we would play a game or a sport around the house, it always turned into a wrestling match."
As Simpson got older, his love for wrestling grew -- to the point he begged his father to let him compete.
"When my brother reached the age where he could wrestle, my father became his coach," he said. "I would be there for every match, just screaming and yelling for him. Afterwards I would ask my dad how much longer I had until I could wrestle."
Finally the day came when Simpson took part in his first competition.
"I was in the sixth grade when I had my first match," he said. "I went into the match more experienced and so I had much success. The thrill, excitement and full body exhaustion from my first match set the stage for me … from that point on, I knew I wanted to do this as long as I could."
Simpson continued to wrestle through junior high and high school with the goal of one day becoming an elite freestyle wrestler, but he had an even bigger dream in mind: becoming a soldier.
"When my big brother said he was joining the military, I was excited," he said. "On top of that, he received a wrestling scholarship from West Point. After witnessing this, I knew what my plans were going to be."
Simpson was accepted into the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at West Point in 2004 on a wrestling scholarship. After finishing West Point Prep in 2005 he went on to graduate from West Point in 2009.
Simpson competed in more than 80 matches during his time at the military academy, but one match sticks out.
"My most unforgettable fight was during my sophomore year at West Point, he said. "I entered into the New York State Tournament as an unranked competitor but I made it to the finals where I was to wrestle the No. 10 ranked wrestler in the country."
Simpson described the final minutes of the match, in which he was considered a major underdog.
"I knew I was going to have to give it my all, plus more, to beat this guy," he said. "At about 30 seconds left in the match, I realized we were tied but I was on top of him. I decided to risk the competition by letting him up in the hopes of bringing him back down before the clock ran out."
The match went down to the wire.
"We were going back and forth until we went out of bounds with eight seconds left on the clock," Simpson said. "When we came back in the circle, I took him down at the last second and won the match."
Simpson was named the outstanding wrestler of that tournament, but more success was ahead.
Upon graduating from West Point as a field artillery officer in 2009, Simpson received orders for the 1st Bn., 7th F.A. Regt., 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div. He deployed November 2010 for a yearlong mission to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn.
A year after returning from deployment, Simpson decided he was ready to start wrestling again.
"I was a little bit hesitant at first but I spoke with my battery commander in October 2012 about competing again," Simpson said. "I expressed to him how I have been dreaming for an opportunity like this. Before I could blink he turned to me and asked me if I felt I had a chance at winning it and I quickly replied, 'Yes, I do.'"
With the support of his battery commander, Capt. Ritchie Rhodes Jr., and his battalion commander, Lt. Col. John Mountford, Simpson applied and was accepted to the 2013 All-Army Freestyle Wrestling Team. He eventually walked away as the 2013 All-Army Freestyle Wrestling Champion.
After competing and winning the All-Army title, Simpson asked his chain of command if he could apply to join the World Class Athlete Program.
"Capt. Simpson came to me and mentioned that he wanted to take his wrestling career to the next level," Rhodes said. "He told me he wanted to pursue the WCAP program and so we filled out a list of pros and cons to fully evaluate the opportunity."
The solution did not immediately present itself.
"When we compiled the list and it came out 50/50 split, the only two questions I had left for Simpson to answer were quite simple: 'Would you regret passing on this opportunity when you get older' and 'Would you tell your grandkids?'"
The answer to both questions? Yes.
Immediately after receiving notification of his acceptance into the program, Simpson received permanent orders to the WCAP unit at Fort Carson, Colo., until 2016. Through Army funding, he will receive the best-possible coaching, access to training venues, and state-of-the-art sports medicine. He will also participate in top national and international competitions including the Olympic Games and national governing body amateur championships.
Simpson said the opportunity would not have been possible without the support of his chain of command. For their support, he will continue to represent "First Lightning" by wearing the battalion T-shirts as much as he can.
"There is no greater opportunity than to be able to do what I love," Simpson said. "The Army has given me the opportunity to remain a soldier all while training to be a professional wrestler and hopefully represent them in the Olympics."


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Phoenix Park Hotel
The Irish-American owner has sprinkled Irish charms throughout this nearly 90-year-old property (with an adjacent pub) in Capitol Hill.
Phoenix Park Hotel
520 N. Capitol St., NW
Washington DC, United States 20001
800/824-5419 or 202/638-6900
- Phoenix Park Hotel website
About this Hotel
Price From $109
'Hood Capitol Hill, which has a lock on the landmarks, letting visitors easily connect the dots between the Capitol, Union Station, and the National Mall's monuments and Smithsonian museums. The area hums with activity during the day, when government workers are busy bees and tourists madly try to squeeze it all in before closing time. However, the area quiets down in the evening, once folks have loosened their ties and the laces on their walking shoes.
The Vibe The hotel's owner, a proud Irish-American, brings a touch of his ancestral land to these shores, creating a country-estate aesthetic in an urban space. Irish charms are sprinkled throughout the nearly 90-year-old property: The hotel's moniker honors the eponymous park in Dublin; toiletries are made by Galánta, a Celtic company; and the in-room Irish breakfast tea comes courtesy of Bewley's, the country's leading coffee and tea company. The artwork further enhances this fantasy trip to the Emerald Isle, with paintings of castles and foxhunts, and a glass case that displays gleaming Waterford crystal.
Rooms The 149 rooms are as jubilant as a cloudless day in County Clare, due in part to the color wheel of gold, burgundy, and green. Some of the fabric and wall patterns might be dizzying, but tuck yourself into the snow-white quilt and the vertigo will subside. In addition, the hotel prides itself on its unexpected "surprises and delights," some of which guests can find by the bed (a step stool) and in the closet (an umbrella and a robe made in you-know-what country).
Plus The attached restaurant and pub, the Dubliner, brings in crowds with its Irish brews, traditional plates (fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage), and live Irish music every night. For a quieter meal, order room service from the same menu. Later, work it off in the 24-hour fitness center.
Minus When the hotel books up, guests may end up in one of the less desirable rooms that measure a tight 235 square feet.
Free Wi-Fi? Yes.
Credit Cards Accepted: AmEx, Discover, MC, Visa.
Details During summer sales, the rate can drop to $89 a night. Rooms typically run from $109 to $119, with suites in the $200 and up range.


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Tennant Company has earned Gold level certification from the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) for their new Nobles Explorer and Tennant E-Series line of commercial carpet extractors. In addition, the EH5 Extractor, when used with Orbio Multi-Surface Cleaning Solution, received Platinum honors. Tennant's all new Q12 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner received Silver CRI Certification for carpet extractors, which underscores its value and effectiveness for use on hard and soft surfaces.
Tennant Company
Posted On January 1, 2014
Also in Products
Sponsored in Products


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EVENT DATE: Jun 29, 2013
TUSK's 14th Safaricom Marathon and Half Marathon will take place at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, 140 miles north of Nairobi, on Saturday 29th June 2013. Organised by Tusk Trust and supported by Safaricom, this fundraising event will host 1,000 runners from 20 different countries. The Safaricom Marathon is regarded as one of the ten toughest marathons in the world. However, participants of all abilities take part, from recreational runners, walkers and amateurs, to professionals like former world record holder, Paul Tergat.
The event is run through some of Africa's most beautiful scenery. Mount Kenya lies to the south and there are breath-taking views north towards Samburu and Mount Lololokwe. The heavily protected 65,000 acre wildlife sanctuary is home to over 100 rhino, herds of elephant and vast numbers of plains game including zebra, giraffe, buffalo and much more.
The impact of the event has been huge and the benefits tangible. Since its inception, the event has raised over $2.5 million for projects across Kenya. Tusk Trust has been a conservation partner to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy since its creation twenty years ago, and has always shared a common goal to use wildlife conservation as a catalyst to alleviate poverty, reduce conflict, and improve education and livelihoods in rural areas rich in biodiversity.


text: Katie was hanging out with her boyfriend in the kitchen of her step moms house. Her boyfriend kept grabbing her juicy round ass and she kept telling him to stop because her step mom was upstairs in her bedroom. Her boyfriend persuaded her to let him fuck and he drilled her pussy from behind. While they were fucking, her step mom, Kendra, walked into the kitchen and caught them. She made Katies boyfriend sit down and began playing with his cock while Katie was watching. She began sucking his cock and playing with his balls. Then, her step mom grabbed Katie and began undressing her while kissing her. Katies step mom had Katie lick her pussy and ass in front of her boyfriend. Kendra got her pussy pounded while she munched on Katies pussy. They took turns getting their pussies pounded and he glazed his man juice all over Katies mouth.


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Whether it's a matter of returning home or getting healthy, the Crew need an infusion of inspired play if they retain any hope of winning an unprecedented third straight Supporters' Shield.
Columbus were a dealt a blow on Saturday when Real Salt Lake used a convincing 2-0 victory in Rio Tinto Stadium to jump over the Crew (11-5-4, 37 points) into second in the overall standings with 39 points. That puts RSL behind only Los Angeles – a 1-0 winner over New York – by four.
Not that winning the Supporters' Shield equals glory. Just ask the Crew after getting knocked out of the first round the 2009 playoffs by upstart Salt Lake to ignite an already impassioned rivalry.
The Crew like to think of themselves as the true champions last year over 30 games, but RSL have the rings and the swagger that go with winning the MLS Cup.
That lead RSL (11-4-6) coach Jason Kreis this past week to post some quotes by Crew goalkeeper after the Crew's 1-0 win at home on April 24 that he felt slighted the Cup champions, in which Hesmer claimed Columbus still believed they were the better team despite RSL's title last November. Hesmer found the tactic to be silly.
"The quotes weren't made in disrespect to them," he said after the match Saturday. "Honestly, I was firing back at you guys in the media. After we won that game everybody was, 'You beat the champions, how does it feel?'
"I pointed out that we won the Supporters' Shield and they were a sub-.500 team that got hot at the end," he added, "We still believed we were the best team and was no disrespect in any way."
RSL may soon dispossess the Crew of something else – the win Saturday was their 21st in a row without a defeat at home in the regular season (14-0-7), moving them within one of the league mark set in Columbus last season.
Meanwhile, the Crew ended a three-game trip with two disturbing defeats sandwiched with a win at struggling expansion side Philadelphia and are 3-3-4 in away matches.
Spurred by Kreis and his players' comments to the media about Hesmer, the Salt Lake fans were delighted by the goals and razzed the 'keeper all game.
"It was what I expected," Hesmer said. "It was rowdy. I would say it was overly disrespectful. It surprised me that the stadium or security would let the fans chant what they did, but it is what it is. It makes for passionate fans. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe not."
The Crew were without starting midfielders Eddie Gaven (concussion) and Robbie Rogers (knee), defenders Gino Padula and Andy Iro and defensive midfielder Brian Carroll contracted a stomach virus Friday and was left in Columbus.
"You could go all the way down the line with the injuries we had, but there's no excuse," Hesmer said. "They beat us. They were the better team tonight."


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Brighter Futures is the name of Kantar's charity fundraising initiative in association with UNICEF, which grew out of the partnership Kantar TNS founded with UNICEF in 2004.
How the project began
The Kantar TNS partnership with UNICEF began in response to the Tsunami in South East Asia in 2004.
A one-off donation triggered a desire for a more sustained programme that reflected Kantar TNS's broad geographic reach. At this time, the Kantar TNS project aimed to build and supply pre-schools in Cambodia and create Children's Corners to support young children in Malawi.
In 2008, the UNICEF partnership was extended to become Kantar-wide under a new name, Brighter Futures. The name of the project reflected its ambition to create brighter futures for some of the world's most disadvantaged children.
Kantar's current Brighter Futures programme, building on the foundations Kantar TNS laid, has been running since 2010 and has raised over $1.5 million US dollars to help disadvantaged children in Malawi, Bolivia and Bangladesh.
MALAWI - Creating Children's Corners & Community-Based Childcare Centres
Our Brighter Futures project in Malawi aims to help some of the 600,000 children in Malawi who have lost one or both parents to AIDS by creating Children's Corners and Community-Based Childcare Centres (CBCCs). These provide support, education, nutrition and protection, as well as access to other services for pre-school infants and young children.
BANGLADESH - Tackling Child Labour and Exploitation of Children
In Bangladesh 13% of children aged 5-14 are forced to work, often in hazardous conditions, to support their families. Our Brighter Futures project in Bangladesh aims to bring about much needed social change, providing life skills and opportunities, as well as addressing legislative reform for these children. The project aims to re-integrate 6,000 working children into education and provide support for 2,500 families.
BOLIVIA - Protecting Children from Violence and Abuse
Currently 2.2 million children and adolescents in Bolivia are victims of violence and many more become embroiled in juvenile crime, gang warfare and drug abuse. Our Brighter Futures programme in Bolivia aims to protect young people against exploitation by working with the Government to reform child protection laws. In addition, the project aims to create nine special victim units to manage cases of child abuse and help victims, or witnesses, of crime.
Brighter Futures Fundraising and Charity Champions
A great deal of fundraising for Brighter Futures takes place at the OpCo and country level and local fundraising by a dedicated team of Charity Champions plus others has always been an important part of the project.
However, there are also a number of Kantar-wide global fundraising initiatives, including the Post-It Party and the Team Kantar Challenge.
The Post-It Party
The Post-It Party is a global Kantar competition during which offices make creations out of Post-It Notes. The finished creations are truly inspirational.
View the results of the 2013 Post-it Party.
The Team Kantar Challenge
The Team Kantar Challenge (TKC) has been running since 2010. The idea behind the initiative is to challenge a number of employees to complete a particular task, while also raising funds for UNICEF.
In 2010, Kantar group employees climbed Kilimanjaro, while the following year in 2011 another group completed a cycling challenge from the Andes to the Amazon. In 2012, we sent employees up the Himalayas and across the Sahara, while in 2013 they walked The Great Wall of China.
In 2014, 30 Kantar group employees attempted to climb to the top of the High Atlas Mountain in Morocco. Between them they managed to raise over $115,000 for UNICEF which is more than any other Team Kantar Challenge to date. All five TKC's have so far raised nearly $400,000 for UNICEF.
View a presentation of the 2014 Team Kantar Challenge trek to Morocco.
Brighter Futures Field Trips
One important aspect of the Brighter Futures programme is seeing the projects in action. UNICEF arranges field trips for the most committed fundraisers, so they can see how their donations are being used. The field trips are often described by staff as life changing, bringing home to them both the harsh realities and the huge differences that our donations make to children's lives.
Watch the video of the 2013 Kantar field trip to Malawi.
The 10-year Anniversary of the Kantar TNS and UNICEF Partnership
2014 marks 10 years of the relationship between Kantar TNS and UNICEF. Since the Kantar TNS project started in 2004, the UNICEF partnership has received over $2.4 million dollars from Kantar group employees and its companies - of which over $1,000,000 has come from Kantar TNS alone.
More information about Brighter Futures
If you would like more information about Kantar's Brighter Futures project or you would like to become one of its Charity Champions please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Brighter Futures Donations
You can give a donation to Kantar's Bright Futures programme at www.kantarbrighterfutures.com.


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I am going to take the post one step further and accuse some (in the minority) elite/east-coast Republicans of unknowingly sabotaging the party and any near-future hopes of regaining control of congress or the White house.
Expect President Obama and the DNC to raise $2 billion dollars over the next four years. Expect the Obama/DNC email distribution list to reach 20 million (from the current 13 million) and their online donors list to grow from the 3 million current supporters.
Many conservatives believe that the 2010 mid-term elections will be a repeat of 1994, but do not hold your breath. In the eyes of the voting public, the words, 'Republican', 'corruption' and 'DC' are virtually indistinguishable. We are just as ill thought of as we were in 2006 and might still be just as negatively perceived in 2010, when there are even more vulnerable Republican seats up for re-election then there were in 2008.
Answer: Sarah Palin.
Let us put aside the 2012 campaign for a moment and review why Sarah Palin is critical to saving the Republican party from further electoral losses.
Currently, Governor Sarah Palin is the only Republican politician who is in high demand on the talk show circuit, has galliardising support, is directly or indirectly responsible for developing massive email distribution lists, growing the online presence of conservative chat rooms, networking site and blogs and has the ability to fund-raise at the level of President Bush. Since the Nov. 4th election, most of the new conservative blogs and sites have been created on behalf of Sarah Palin or created by administrators supportive of Palin and/or her conservative positions. The online growth (blogs, youtube, conservative social networking) is Palin motivated and Palin targeted.
The online Palin movement is the only conservative network to adopt identical technology and networking platforms as the successful Obama Presidential campaign. The Palin movement will be the critical factor in saving many Senators and House members in 2010, which is why liberals want Palin to become insignificant and shun from the national stage. See a transcript from a recent Limbaugh show for further explanation.
Still do not believe me about Palin, then read this from Politico.
- Palin was the most popular Lycos search from the week she joined the ticket continuously through last Sunday,
- The Alaska governor now ranks fourth, just one spot below Obama, on the weekly Lycos 50 list.
- In September, the Anchorage Daily News reported a 928 percent spike in traffic, according to Nielsen Online.
- Her mid-October "Saturday Night Live" appearance drove the show's highest rating in 14 years, and her Oct. 2 debate with Joe Biden was the most watched vice presidential debate ever — drawing more viewers than any of the three presidential debates between McCain and Obama.
- She ranked as the No. 2 top news search at Ask.com this week and No. 2 (after Obama) among newsmakers on the AOL 2008 year-end hottest searches list, and she occupied two slots on Politico's list of the site's 10 most searched terms.
- Palin also ranked fourth among Yahoo searches
she sat for an interview with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News and delivered the show's largest audience of the year.
- According to the Project for Excellence in Journalism, Palin was the second-leading newsmaker for the week of Nov. 10-16, trailing only Obama and ranking ahead of President Bush, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and McCain in the number of stories about her.
Some web sites and GOP activists/politicians have provided some excellent suggestions to improve the Republican party, election strategy and online and grassroots conservative activism, but without growing membership lists, fundraising dollars and motivated activists, the ideas will not materialize into success. Like her or not, Sarah Palin is the only net-positive national representative we have at the moment.


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University of Hawaii Spring 2006 Commencement ExercisesUniversity of Hawaiʻi
Arlene Abiang, (808) 956-5637
External Affairs & University Relations
The University of Hawaiʻi system announces its Spring 2006 commencement schedule:
Friday, May 12
UH Mānoa School of Travel Industry Management
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Sunset Conference Center, George Hall, UH Mānoa
Speakers: Walter Jamieson, dean of the School of Travel Industry Management, and Paul Yokota, president of TIM International
Student Speaker: Jacqueline Jensen
Candidates: 65
UH Center — Maui
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: H.P. Baldwin High School Auditorium
Speaker: The Honorable Richard Bissen, Circuit Court Judge, Second Circuit of Hawaiʻi
Candidates: 54
Honolulu Community College
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Waikīkī Shell
Speaker: TBD
Student Speaker: Harry Quemado, Associate in Applied Science candidate, Pearl Harbor Apprentice Program
Candidates: 515
Kapiʻolani Community College
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: The Great Lawn, Kapiʻolani Community College
Speaker: Ed Borza, Kapiʻolani CC respiratory care alumnus
Student Speaker: TBD
Candidates: 725
Leeward Community College
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Tuthill Courtyard, Leeward Community College
Speaker: Rob and Charlene Swisher, NothStar
Student Speaker: Aaron Gorospe, Associate in Arts candidate, and Jason Post, Associate in Science candidate
Candidates: 573
Kauaʻi Community College
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Location: Performing Arts Center, Kauaʻi Community College
Speaker: Keith Olsen, president, Pogologo Productions Corporation (a music production company)
Student Speakers: Elizabeth Kane and Lisa McDown, liberal arts graduates
Candidates: 150
UH Mānoa College of Education Commencement Convocation
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Ballroom, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Winona Oato, Kailua High School teacher and 2005 State Teacher of the Year
Candidates: 408 (268 BEd candidates; 140 MEd and PhD candidates)
Hawaiʻi Community College
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium
Speaker: Harold Fujii, associate professor of automotive technology, Hawaiʻi CC
Student Speakers: Albert Cortes, Jedediah Kay, and Antoinette Wilson
Candidates: 410
Saturday, May 13
UH Hilo
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium
Speaker: Dee Jay Mailer, CEO, Kamehameha Schools
Student Speaker: James B. Cox, candidate for a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry
Candidates: 467
UH Mānoa School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Kennedy Theatre, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Neil Smatresk, UH Mānoa Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Student Speaker: Summer Pereira, candidate for a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Candidates: 58 (42 BS in Nursing candidates; 16 BS in Dental Hygiene candidates)
UH West Oʻahu
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Tuthill Courtyard, Leeward Community College
Speaker: Dan Boylan, professor of history, UH West Oʻahu
Student Speaker: Ann Devereaux, candidate for Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with a concentration in Justice Administration
Candidates: 121
Windward Community College
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Palikū Theatre, Windward Community College
Student Speakers: Keoholani Myers and John Laimana
Candidates: 133
UH Mānoa College of Engineering
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Orvis Auditorium, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Michael Matsumoto, president and CEO, SSFM International
Student Speakers: TBDL
Candidates: 70
UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Convocation Ceremony
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Kennedy Theatre, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Damon Sakai, MD, associate professor of medicine, UH Mānoa
Student Speaker: Nellie Sgambelluri, MD candidate and class president
Candidates: 62
UH Center — West Hawaiʻi
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Outrigger Keauhou Resort
Speaker: Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, Kumu Hula of Halau o Kekuhi, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa)
Student Speaker: Natasha Fernandez
Candidates: 80 (Hawaiʻi CC, UH Mānoa and UH West Oʻahu)
Sunday, May 14
UH Mānoa — Baccalaureate Degrees
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Stan Sheriff Center
Speaker: James Horton, Benjamin Banneker Professor of American Studies and History at George Washington University and Director of the Afro-American Communities Project of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution, and Visiting Professor of American Studies at UH Mānoa
Student Speaker: Jadie Goo, candidate for Bachelor of Science in Travel Industry Management
Candidates: 1,374
UH Mānoa — Advanced Degrees
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Stan Sheriff Center
Speaker: James Horton, Benjamin Banneker Professor of American Studies and History at George Washington University and Director of the Afro-American Communities Project of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution, and Visiting Professor of American Studies at UH Mānoa
Candidates: 962
Maui Community College
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Castle Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Speaker: Suzette Robinson, distinguished alumnus of MCC and MCC interim assistant dean of instruction and interim director of continuing education and training
Student Speaker: Clinton Burdick, valedictorian and liberal arts graduate
Candidates: 370 (243 associate degree candidates; 127 certificate of achievement candidates)
Monday, May 15
UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Andrews Amphitheater, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Kathleen Sullivan, Stanley Morrison Professor of Law and Former Dean, Stanford University School of Law
Student Speaker: Iokona Baker
Candidates: 100
UH Mānoa School of Architecture Commencement Ceremony
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Architecture Auditorium, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Carol S. Sakata, Arch.D., FAIA, executive vice president of CDS International
Student Speaker: Jack Smith, FAIA, valedictorian
Candidates: 15 (1 B.Arch. candidate; 14 Arch.D. candidates)
UH Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Orvis Auditorium, UH Mānoa
Speaker: Major General Benjamin R. Mixon, Commander, 25th Infantry Division and United States Army, Hawaiʻi
Candidates: 14


text:
From: Arizona Theatre Company [mailto:email@example.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 2:51 PM
Subject: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom offers a gripping tale of the human experience
Arizona Theatre Company
Pulitzer and Tony-winning August Wilson's magnificent work takes the ATC stage
It's 1927 and Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues, strides into a rundown Chicago recording studio to join a battling quartet of musicians. The great playwright August Wilson places this formidable artist at the center of a captivating drama of flamboyant personalities, professional jealousy, and shattered dreams. Directed by Lou Bellamy, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM plays in Tucson at the Temple of Music and Art from October 16 through November 6. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from November 11 through November 28. The Tucson media sponsors for the 2010-2011 season are KGUN9, MIX-FM and Tucson Lifestyle. Arizona Theatre Company's season sponsors are I. Michael and Beth Kasser.
A powerful look at the price of fame and the costs of discrimination, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM is the play that launched August Wilson into the center of the American theatre.The first of Wilson's plays to reach Broadway, it began his monumental series of ten plays examining the African-American experience in each decade of the twentieth century.The play is a gripping drama from the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright, who gives us a look at a time when even the most legendary singer of her day had to fight for every scrap of respect she could get. MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM stars a ten-member ensemble of actors with a long list of credits in Wilson's work and features the renowned actor and recording artist Jevetta Steele as Ma Rainey. This play contains mature themes and language.
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM is a co-production with Penumbra Theatre Company. After the run at ATC, it will play a special engagement at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis from February 11 through March 6, 2011.
"August Wilson's ten play cycle is one of the greatest achievements in the history of the American theatre," said ATC Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein, "We have previously produced Wilson's FENCES, SEVEN GUITARS and JITNEY, but have been waiting for years until we could assemble the best possible team of artists to take on MA RAINEY, a particularly rich stew of powerful drama, poetic writing, grand themes and rich characters that requires a special hand at the helm. ATC audiences were bowled over by Lou Bellamy's award-winning productions of JITNEY and A RAISIN IN THE SUN, so I am pleased beyond measure that our friend is returning to direct for us again. Lou has a very unique and special way with Wilson's plays that exposes their deep, shattering power."
Lou Bellamy (Director) returns to Arizona Theatre Company where he directed A Raisin in the Sun and Jitney. He is the founder and artistic director of Penumbra Theatre Company. Under his leadership, Penumbra has produced 23 world premieres, including August Wilson's first professional production, and is proud to have produced more of Mr. Wilson's plays than any theatre in the world. Mr. Bellamy is an Obie Award-winning director, an accomplished actor and sought-after scholar. Recent directing credits include Penumbra's production of Gem of the Ocean presented at the Guthrie Theater, Fences and The Piano Lesson at Penumbra Theatre Company, Two Trains Running at the Signature Theatre in New York, Jitney at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and the staged reading of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Kennedy Center.
Jevetta Steele (Ma Rainey) appeared on Broadway in The Gospel at Colonus and has performed in the national/international tours of The Gospel at Colonus, Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story, Bagdad Café-The Musical, The Sounds of Blackness and The Night Before Christmas. In the Minneapolis area, she has performed with Guthrie Theater, Mixed Blood Theatre and Penumbra Theatre Company, among others. Her film credits include Corrina, Corrina; Hoop Dreams; Born to be Wild; Graffiti Bridge and Bagdad Café (for which she received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Song for "Calling You"). She is a frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion and has four gold records to her credit. She can be heard on her solo CDs, Here It Is and My Heart, as well as the original cast recording of Two Queens, One Castle.
The cast of MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM also features returning ATC actors James Craven (Cutler), who appeared in ATC's Jitney. He was seen on Broadway in Gospel at Colonus. He is a long-time Penumbra Theatre Company member, appearing in over 35 shows. He has several film credits, including the soon-to-be-released Convincer with Greg Kinnear and Inheritance with Keith David. Abdul Salaam El Razzac (Toledo) also appeared in Jitney at ATC. He has performed with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Penumbra Theatre Company, Mark Taper Forum, Guthrie Theater andSouth Coast Repertory, among others. His many television and film credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation, Frasier, The Division, 8 Mile, Malcolm X, Glory, Pretty Woman and Conversations With God. James T. Alfred (Levee) returns to Arizona Theatre Company where he appeared in Jitney and To Kill a Mockingbird. His regional credits include The Public Theater, Court Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Kansas City Repertory Theater, Round House Theatre and Penumbra Theatre Company. Film and television credits include The Line (Pilot), Son of America, Prison Break and One Week, among others.
The cast also includes Lerea Carter (Dussie Mae), who has worked with Penumbra Theatre Company over the past three years and made her professional acting debut in 2007 with the role of Grace in their production of The Piano Lesson. William John Hall, Jr. (Slow Drag) appeared most recently in Fences, a co-production of Seattle Repertory Theatre and Syracuse Stage. He has worked internationally in China and Russia and Vancouver, British Columbia. His many regional stops range from Portland, Maine (Portland Stage Company) to Gainesville, Florida (Hippodrome), with most shows in Seattle, Washington. His film credits include Driving Miss Daisy and Trouble in Mind. Phil Kilbourne (Irvin) has appeared with Penumbra Theatre Company, The Jungle Theatre, Park Square Theatre, Frank Theatre and New Century Theatre. He directed the Complete Sonnets Festival 2010 in Minneapolis this past May, and is the Resident Director for Theatre at Work. Michael Tezla (Sturdyvant) has appeared in New York at Circle in the Square. His regional credits include work at Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Court Theatre and Park Square Theatre. His film credits include A Serious Man, Holiday Beach, The Quietest Sound and World and Time Enough. Ahanti Young (Sylvester) is an actor, percussionist, and spoken word artist. He has been seen in several Penumbra productions, including The Day The Bronx Died, Geneva Cottrell - Waiting for the Dog to Die, Jitney, Black Eagles, Darker Face of The Earth, Two Trains Running, Zoo Man and the Sign and, most recently, REDSHIRTS. Brendan Guy Murphy (Policeman) is familiar to Tucson theatre audiences through his performances with The Rogue Theatre, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Invisible Theatre and perennially with the LaughingStock Comedy Company, among others. He is the recipient of the 2008 Buffalo Exchange Arts Award.
The creative team for MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM includes Vicki Smith (Set Design), who returns to ATC where she has designed 18 shows, including The Kite Runner, A Raisin in the Sun, and Jitney. She has also designed at many regional theatres across the country. Ms. Smith won a DramaLogue Award for Cyrano, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for Execution of Justice and The Kite Runner, and Denver Drama Critics Circle Awards for I'm Not Rappaport and Pierre, which was selected for the Prague Quadrennial Design Exposition 2007. Matthew J. LeFebvre (Costume Designer) returns to ATC where he designed costumes for A Raisin in the Sun and Jitney. His Off-Broadway credits include Two Trains Running and Bach at Leipzig. Mr. LeFebvre has designed costumes for twenty productions at Guthrie Theater, as well as several Penumbra Theatre Company shows. Other regional credits includeMilwaukee Repertory Theater, Trinity Repertory Company, The Cleveland Play House and Geffen Playhouse. Don Darnutzer (Lighting Designer) has been working at ATC since 1981. His most recent designs include Touch the Names; Love, Janis; and I Am My Own Wife. He designed the lighting for Broadway's production of It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues and Off-Broadway's Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Almost Heaven and The Immigrant. He has worked for American Conservatory Theater, Guthrie Theater, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Cleveland Play House, Seattle Repertory Theatre and BB King's Blues Club, among many others. Brian Jerome Peterson (Resident Sound Designer) celebrates his 25th season at ATC, where he has designed 62 productions. His designs have been heard in many theatres includingBerkeley Repertory Theatre,Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, Actors Theatre of Louisville and San Jose Repertory Theatre. Sanford Moore (Musical Director) has worked at Penumbra Theatre Company on Black Pearls Sings, Black Nativity, Whipping Man, Piano Lesson, Gem of the Ocean, Ain't Misbehavin', Get Ready, Blue and Diana Was. His other regional credits include Guthrie Theater, Dallas Theatre Center, Horizon Theater, Mixed Blood Theater and Illusion Theater.Brent Gibbs (Fight Director) returns to ATC where he was Fight Director for To Kill a Mockingbird and Twelfth Night. He serves as the Head of the Acting/Musical Theatre faculty at the University of Arizona where he teaches Acting and Stage Combat. This year he will direct Dracula and As You Like It at the Arizona Repertory Theatre, where he serves as Artistic Director. Bruno Ingramis the Stage Manager.
Arizona Theatre Company offers accessibility services for patrons with disabilities for select performances. Audio Description provides patrons with vision loss a running audio description of the movement and activities onstage through an infrared broadcast system. An audio-described performance is offered on November 4 at 2:00 PM. Interested patrons may request a tactile tour one hour prior to curtain. American Sign Language interpretation is presented by professional, theatrically-trained ASL-interpreters for people who have deafness or hearing impairment. An ASL-interpreted performance is offered on November 4 at 7:30 PM. Open-captioning allows patrons to read the play's dialogue on an LED screen as the play progresses. Open-captioned performances are offered on October 21 at 7:30 PM and November 4 at 2:00 PM. For open-captioned or ASL-interpreted performances, patrons should request seats best suited to ASL interpretation or captioning when purchasing tickets. Large print and Braille playbills and infrared listening amplificationdevices are also available at every ATC performance with reservation. TTY access for the box office is available in Tucson at (520) 884-9723 or via Arizona Relay at (800) 367-8939 (TTY/ASCII).
Tickets start at $30, depending on date and section choice and are available at www.arizonatheatre.org or by calling the box office at (520) 622-2823. Discounts are available for students, seniors and active military on specific performance days. Half-price rush tickets are available for balcony seating for all performances one hour prior to curtain at the ATC box office (subject to availability). Ten Dollar Tuesday for MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM is October 19. Balcony seats for this preview performance are available for a suggested $10 donation. (Tickets must be purchased at the ATC Box Office starting at 11:00 AM on October 19. Seating is 'first-come, first served' and is not guaranteed. Cash only, please. Two tickets per person maximum.) For discounts on groups of eight or more, call (520) 622-2823.
TucsonStage.com - home of Chuck Graham's "Let the Show Begin"
Visit the website for TTA Listserv subscription information


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National Feb 10, 2011
Koetzle joins PIA Management Services
GLENMONT, N.Y.–Glenville resident and town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle has joined PIA Management Services Inc., as vice president, a newly created position at the umbrella corporation that manages the Glenmont, N.Y.-based Professional Insurance Agents associations of New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Koetzle will report directly to Kenneth Bessette, president and CEO, a 27-year veteran of the organization.
"Chris proven leadership abilities and understanding of the needs of entrepreneurial businesses will benefit our members as we set the path for development and success of their association in the years ahead," said Bessette. "I am confident that his considerable abilities and talents will immediately show him to be a valuable part of our management team and he will help take us solidly into the future."
Prior to PIA, Koetzle served as vice president at Support Services Alliance Inc., a subsidiary of Rochester, N.Y.-based Excellus, which offers insurance and other affiliate discounts and advocacy for small business members throughout New York state. Over the seven years he was there, he built a successful government relations program and oversaw membership and corporate communications for the organization. Before joining SSA, Koetzle was the media coordinator for the New York state Assembly, Minority Conference.
Active in his community, he is a member of the Sons of Italy, Glenville Rotary, and a member of the Schenectady County Heritage Foundation. He coaches youth softball and soccer and is a member of the Capital District Public Relations Society and the American Marketing Association. He served for two years as councilman for the town of Glenville and intends to continue as town supervisor, as he is currently serving the second year of his four-year term.
Koetzle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from St. John Fisher College in 1991 and received his Master of Arts in American history from the State University of New York at Brockport in 2000. He resides in Glenville, N.Y., with his wife and three children.
PIA Management Services Inc. is the umbrella corporation that manages the Glenmont, N.Y.-based Professional Insurance Agents associations, representing independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees in New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. PIANY, PIANJ, PIACT and PIANH is a partnership of four state trade associations representing independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout their respective states.


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2020 Rocket Mortgage WITB Photos | PGA Tour WITB Photos and Specs | Best Fairway Wood: Members Choice | Pro Golf Top 5 Achievers? | GPS vs Rangefinder in 2020 | Tour Photo Galleries
GIVEAWAY: Vokey SM8 60* Wedge- ENTER HERE.
MEMBERS CHOICE POLLS OPEN: Best Grips, Best Golf Bags, Best Golf Shoes, Best Pushcart, Best Rangefinders, Best Umbrellas, Best Rain Gear, Best Gloves, Best Launch Monitor, Best Golf Mat, Best Golf Mat (putting), Best Travel Bags, Best Custom Headcovers, Best Golf Polo, Best Golf Pants, Best Golf AppsBest Hat Style, Best Training Aid - Full Swing, Best Training Aid - Short Game / Putting, Best Training Aid - Fitness, Best Bespoke Accessory Company


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Personal Technology
MacBook Laptop Lacks A Few Features But Has Lots to Like, Low Price
As part of its switch to Intel processors, Apple Computer has overhauled its line of Macintosh laptops this year. It has retired its venerable PowerBook and iBook brands and replaced them with just three main laptop models.
On the high end are two versions of the MacBook Pro, which replaces the PowerBook. And for more price-conscious consumers, Apple has just added the MacBook, to replace the iBook.
I reviewed the MacBook Pro earlier this year, and lately I've been testing the new MacBook, a handsome machine that packs a very good screen and keyboard into a fairly thin enclosure and is surprisingly inexpensive.
There's a lot to like about the MacBook. It's a very good choice for anyone considering a Mac and operating on a tight budget. Like the other Intel-based Macs, it can even run Windows alongside Apple's own Mac OS X operating system. But it is missing some key features that are standard on Windows-based laptops, and it is heavy compared with its closest Windows competitor.
The first thing you notice about the MacBook is its sharp, vivid 13.3-inch screen, which is larger than the 12.1-inch displays in the latest rash of relatively small Windows laptops. The MacBook screen is glossy, which makes for sharper contrast. Such screens can be subject to annoying reflections, but I didn't find that to be a problem.
Another striking feature is the keyboard, which uses widely spaced keys that have flat tops, instead of the usual curved surfaces. It looks great, but I worried it would make typing clumsier. Again, that wasn't a problem.
The MacBook also has a built-in camera, a built-in slot-loading DVD drive, and Intel's new Core Duo processor, which packs the equivalent of two chips into one. There are three basic configurations, ranging from $1,099 to $1,499, and you can configure each to your specifications. Two of the configurations come in a white case. The top version is black and costs $150 more than a comparably equipped white model.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the MacBook is its price. Despite Apple's reputation for charging more, the MacBook is actually less expensive than its closest major Windows competitor. That would be the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ240, which also has a 13.3-inch screen with the same resolution, includes a built-in camera, and is available with the same processor and the same memory and hard-disk capacity as the MacBook.
When configured to match the major specs of the base model of the MacBook, the Sony costs $1,629, over 60% more than the MacBook's $1,099 base price. But the MacBook is much heavier than the Sony. It weighs 5.2 pounds, 37% more than the Sony's 3.8 pounds.
In my tests, the MacBook proved to be very snappy. Internet performance over my Wi-Fi network was excellent. Microsoft Office ran very well, as did the Firefox Web browser, Adobe Reader and everything else I tested.
On my tough battery test, where I turn off all power-saving features and keep the hard disk spinning and the screen at maximum brightness, the MacBook lasted three hours and 47 minutes. That suggests you could get nearly five hours with power-saving on and a more normal usage pattern. A high-end model of the much costlier Sony, which I tested in April, lasted only three hours and two minutes.
And like all Macs, the MacBook is vastly superior to Windows machines in terms of bundled software and security. Apple's operating system is better designed, more stable and more modern than Windows XP. Its built-in iLife suite of multimedia software can't be matched on Windows. And it has — so far — been attacked by only two viruses, compared with the more than 100,000 viruses and spyware programs that plague Windows. Those qualities are worth hundreds of dollars, in my view.
Like all Mac laptops, the MacBook lacks a right-click button, even though Apple's own software displays right-click menus. To emulate a right click, Mac users typically must hold down the Control key while clicking the sole button. But the MacBook has a new way to do this that's simpler: Place two fingers on the touch pad and click with a third. It works well. The MacBook also has Apple's very cool scrolling feature, which allows you to scroll any screen by moving two fingers over the touch pad. It's better than any Windows laptop scrolling feature I've seen.
But the MacBook lacks two important hardware features that are nearly ubiquitous on Windows laptops. It has no slots for the flash memory cards used in digital cameras, smart phones and other devices. And it lacks a card slot for the adapters that can provide laptops with many add-on features, including flash memory sockets and cellphone data modems.
The lack of the card slot is particularly nettlesome. Among Apple laptops, only the costlier MacBook Pro has one. Every computer maker seeks to differentiate its low-priced and high-priced products. But withholding a near-universal industry-standard feature from a consumer machine is a bad way to do this. Even Dell's $499 laptop has a card slot. So if you buy a MacBook, you'll need to connect your camera with a cable, and to do without some add-on features that require a card slot.
Despite these drawbacks, the MacBook is a solid machine at a great price.
- Email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Estate 14kt Sapphire & Diamond 3-Stone Ring 0.90ct center
A gorgeous Estate 3-stone diamond and sapphire ring! This stunning piece is made of 14kt white gold and adorns 3 "Past, Present and Future" stones set along the top. In the center is a gorgeous deep blue sapphire, while two sparkling diamonds rest at either side. The center sapphire has a total weight of approximately 0.90ct. The two side diamonds have a total weight of 0.81ctw (approximately 0.40ct each), with color in the H-I range and SI1-SI2 range clarity. Each stone is prong set, with four prongs in the outer corners to create a square-shaped appearance. The shank is stamped "14K". The ring comes with an appraisal by an independent and accredited GIA certified Gemologist. A lovely and feminine piece, this sparkling ring looks incredible when worn and would make a stunning engagement ring!
Measurements: The ring has a finger size 6.25 but could easily be re-sized. The row of stones rests approximately 1/4" above the finger when worn.
Condition: The overall condition of the ring is excellent. Besides normal surface wear, there is no apparent damage to the gold setting and all three stones are intact.