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Chicago-Kent Scholarship Opportunities Deadline: Monday, October 8!
The following Chicago-Kent scholarships are currently available through the Office of Admissions. Application instructions for each award are listed below. Applications are due in the Office of Admissions no later than Monday, October 8, 2001.
Application Process:
You must submit a separate application for each scholarship for which you are applying. Letters of application should be addressed to Nicole Speck, Director of Admissions, and returned to the Office of Admissions on the 2nd floor in Suite 230. Questions about the available awards should be addressed to Nicole Speck, Director of Admissions.
Important Information for 2001-2002 Chicago-Kent Scholarship Recipients
If you have been awarded a Chicago-Kent scholarship for the 2001-2002 academic year, please refer to the Scholarship Policies from the current Student Handbook for important information concerning your award. Please direct any questions about your scholarship to the Office of Admissions, Suite 230.
External Scholarships
Throughout the year, the Office of Admissions receives notices of scholarships that are offered through external organizations. Information about the scholarship awards that are currently available is listed below. Award notices are listed by the date on which they were posted. For a complete list of the scholarships that were posted in the Record last year, click here.
You may also find
information on other outside scholarship awards on the Internet. Both
FastWeb and SuperCollege offer free searchable databases with more than
400,000 scholarship awards for which you may apply. You can visit
FastWeb at http://www.fastweb.com
and SuperCollege at http://www.supercollege.com.
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Paul McCartney is giving away one of his beloved neck ties for a good cause. The former Beatle is one of several big names who have donated autographed ties and other clothing pieces to an online charity auction that kicked off Monday (Nov. 19) at eBay.co.uk.
The auction, dubbed the Celebrity Loosen Up Auction, will benefit the Cahonas Scotland organization, which strives to raise awareness about cancers that affect men. Bidding will run through this Sunday (Nov. 25).
As for McCartney's contribution, the musician donated a beige tie that he signed and decked out with a red heart and a yellow flower. Trippy! Other big celebs offering items to the auction include Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Queen guitarist Brian May, Brad Pitt, Jay Leno and Mark Wahlberg and Katy Perry. For more on the auction, head to eBay's U.K. site.

subset: commoncrawl


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Basketball lines can be used in an ingenious way to extract the sign up bonus or any other bonus from a sports betting account. If you look at any of the sportsbooks online you will see that many of them have an entire promotions page by which they offer enticements for a variety of different things. Sign up bonuses are the most popular but there are also refer a friend bonuses amongst others. These bonuses have wagering requirements that are attached to them but I won't go into those here because they do vary greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook.
Go and take a look at ScoresAndOdds.com to see the sister sportsbook, Sports.com and you will find everything that you will ever need to know there with regards to the basics which really apply to all sportsbooks in general.
Well, what is this clever procedure in which to take advantage of the sign up bonus I hear you ask. Well, the procedure that I have in mind is by what is commonly known in the industry a s matched betting. Matched betting is where you place a bet on the basketball lines for instance and lay the bet off at a betting exchange. Now, in my opinion the best betting exchange is Betfair.com but as many of you who will be reading this will live in the US you be banned from playing there due to the unfortunate gambling laws that we have in place, There is an alternative though, and having played there a few times myself I am happy to say that it is a very good alternative into which you can match out your basketball lines.
I now that it all probably seems very confusing but a betting exchange acts very much like a sportsbook but in that you are the offer the odds and act as the sportsbook. What I mean by saying that is that you can offer a price on selection to lose, if this still hasn't connected with you then please don't worry, it took me an awful long time to get my head around it but when you do it will definitely be one of those moments when you hit your head in anger knowing that it is all so very easy
What you actually do when matched betting the basketball lines, is to simply place a bet on your basketball selection and then go over to Matchbook.com and lay the very same selection for the same amount of money. What the lay bet initially does is cancel out the back bet at the sportsbook so you are left actually losing no money but also winning no money. Actually, I tell a lie, you will lose a small amount due to the commission charges at the exchanges but you are only looking at around a dollar.
So, I hear you ask, what is the point of that, My answer would be, what about the bonus? Yes, we keep on going through the same process until the wagering requirements have been met, losing a small amount in each transaction but ending up with a large part of the bonus. Typically, between 60% - 70% of the bonus will be kept in tact and don't forget that this is more or less guaranteed.
You could alternatively decide to place the whole bonus on one selection without laying it off and get lucky and come away with a big win but I know which process it is that I would prefer. When you take into account the fact that there are also reload bonuses and refer a friend bonuses you can see that this could be a nice little earner over a long term basis. Then count up all of the other sportsbooks and you can see why, that in the UK, this matched betting is an increasingly popular way of making money.
One thing that you must be aware of though, and I didn't realise this until I was looking at the ScoresAndOdds.com website is that you don't want to be accused of bonus abuse. This is simply where you only ever visit a sportsbook to play the bonuses. You should always visit and play at the sportsbooks at other times as well. This will keep them happy and you will be safe in the knowledge that you are not breaking any rules.
It is also usually the case that only one person from a household;d can take advantage of a sign up bonus from a sportsbook. My brother learnt this the hard way when he saw that I had an account with a certain sportsbook and thought he would open one as well. He went to claim the bonus which he duly received but the problem arose when he tried to withdraw a week or so later having met the wagering requirement. Everytime he went to make a withdrawal it was refused and it wasn't until the customer services said that only one bonus was allowed per household, when we finally realised what had happened. I could have kicked myself as I am meant to be an online gambling expert, so please make sure that you don't fall into the same trap if you try for one of the many promotions that are available.
Why not start with ScoresAndOdds.com where you can try the process out by match betting the basketball lines at Scores.com


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You mean you missed the announcement?
And you just followed that link and still couldn't find it? It's under "utilities", no, it's not that kind of utility, but still, that's where it is.
What is added is built-in functions for contains() and score(), and also shipping a text search server which runs on a separate, non-z/OS server. For more details, see the announcements!
One prerequisite for this is to have a WLM application environment set up to run a java user-defined function. The early customers I've been working with have had the most stumbling with this part of it. So, this is something you can set up even if you are not quite to DB2 9 for z/OS yet. I'll post some more on the setup steps for that.
So, what kind of data are you going to search, and what kinds of searches are you going to do?


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What do you really know about the conditions of your children's school? Many are vaguely aware that there is a problem in the US of A. I believe that the schools in this country need "drastic reform" as Natalie put it. If we do not live for our children's future, what do we live for?
The great majority's children are educated in public schools. It is a fundamental beginning of changing the country for the better. Create an environment where children's minds can flourish, and you change the country for the better for them and their children.
For a taste of what the government says about how the US schools are doing take a look at:
In it there is a figure: figure 1-1 that in my interpretation, it appears that more kids are attending school than in the earlier years of the graph. But it says nothing about the quality or content of what is being taught.
In figure 2, it shows the average scores for reading and math. Compared to 1990, it looks like a significant increase in the average math score, but if you compare it to 2000, it is not that much of an increase. It says nothing of where we stand compared to other countries.
Figure 19-1 shows the percentage of graduating students per state. I think these numbers are caused directly by the attitude in the US that education is not important as all that. There are 10 states where LESS than 70% graduate. 10 states! What portion of the US citizenry is that? What other reasons cause such appalling numbers? 24 states have between 70% and 79%, that's LESS than 80%
I don't have any answers. I am just alarmed at the poor condition of the education of the US citizenry. It is not fair to the kids that do not make it. It is not fair to the kids that do make it. It could be much better, but I think someone here has answers or can send us to support someone else who is already working on this.
Cane Kostovski
Views: 162
I work for my city's after school program which is housed in the public school buildings and I have substituted for several schools. I do not know how it is nationwide, but in my city the teachers are working their asses off to teach their students.
The problem is that society has allowed and accepted for politicians and elected board members to enforce sometimes arbitrary laws and regulations that are not in the best interests of our youth.
It all starts at home and unfortunately there is no license requirement for parenthood and some parents simply are not invested enough in their child's learning.
But at the root of the problem, as I see it, is an underfunded, overworked education system- there is too little resources for too many students. If Americans really wanted a first rate education system then they must pay for it. We need an entire culture shift where teachers are valued more than television actors and are taken seriously by parents and not frivolous threaten because the reality of their child's "un-specialness" was not rewarded.
Age-based learning may need to be replaced with mental-age and even gender based classes if the research continues to show that boys and girls develop and learn differently.
Lastly, it can and does happen where a single child holds up the entire class but does not warrant dismissal or even a suspension from school. If we really want a system where each child reaches their potential then we need smaller classes based on learning and behavioral ages.
Hello Matt,
I have heard from many people that throwing money at this problem is the leading answer designed to solve the problem. I tend to agree, but like the health system, is there a fundamental problem with education? Do we really understand that the ancient method of learning in the world is the correct method? I put to you that if we initially spend our money on research designed to find the best method of teaching the multitudes, we will find things that will surprise us. Do we really know what the best method is?
Science is about change. Change is hard as humans go. But it follows that if we learn that there is a better way, won't we tend to use that better way?
We can spend days and days discussing how the system is currently broken, but what can we take away from that? What do we really know about how the children absorb information? In the past, and I would argue currently, the job of the school teacher is to not only teach, but baby sit also, at least in the early years. There once was the one room school where all the grades were grouped together. Then as the number of students grew, they started to separate the grades, then as the number of students grew even more, they started to have separate classes within each grade until the money ran out.
The Catholics have what they call the "age of reason" which students reach at the age of 7. This leads me to the question which can be formed like this: At what age can children start to be taught to think for themselves? Countries in Europe and Asia have experimented with starting children earlier in school, and making the curriculum more challenging. Maybe they know something we don't.
Maybe the question is wrong? Maybe it should be like this: At what age can each child start to be taught how to think for themselves? When we get that answer then the question becomes: What is the best way to teach each child basic thinking skills?
We can only start at the beginning, and the beginning for us is at the end of a long journey that brought us to today's education system. What can we learn from the past? What can we learn from the children themselves? Are charter schools experiments at better learning? Should we have a way to determine which school or schools have a better way? And most importantly: Is the better way more expensive?
Unfortunately I think fixing the education system in the US would require a complete overhaul starting with making curriculum more nationalized to make sure that every student in the US is getting a relatively equal education. I think there needs to be a balance of federal requirements and freedom for the teacher to cover those requirements in a way that works for both them and their students.
The second thing we'd need is a overhaul of how we pay for education. Clearly having a majority of funds coming from local property taxes isn't cutting it for a great many schools.
The third thing we need is to make sure that teachers are properly supported in the classroom (reasonable student to teacher ratios, and real ways to deal with those children who need alternative teaching methods). Most teachers are good teachers and most teachers work their asses off but it's really hard to be a good teacher when the expectations on you are insane. 45 third graders to 1 teacher like what frequently happens in my community is a horrible ratio, the younger the kids the lower the child to teacher ration should be.
The fourth thing we need to do is invest in having our teachers attend continuing education courses. That way teachers can learn new strategies and keep up with the science in regards to learning and education.
In my career as a high school teacher, over the years the requirements placed on teachers became increasingly unrealistic as less and less support was given. Literally we were expected by policy and law to educate each and every individual according to his or her special needs, all 35 or 40 at the same time, like individual tutoring. With a student population including the mentally retarded and diagnosed schizophrenics. We were expected to protect students from each other, but not supposed to touch them. The principle motivation, as far I could tell from policies, was the board of education needing to avoid parent's lawsuits, so their lawyers decided what teacher responsibilities were.
I was in a system for the last decade where students stayed together all day, from ninth grade to graduation, so they formed strong social structures. This made students impervious to any adult authority, as we would see them only a few minutes at a time, but they could never escape each other. Organized cheating was the least outcome. Education values had no chance against teenage priorities in this setting. The harder I worked, the less they worked. I took early retirement in part because the stress of working so hard to teach was pushing me to the verge of a nervous breakdown.
I just found this website: choicemedia.tv The self proclaimed source for news about education reform. I found it by going to the link to this Wall Street Journal Report. I noticed that the source of the report is choicemedia.tv itself so I do not know how credible it is.
Google alerts showed me this article: Forbes dot com article
It is an interview of NewSchools CEO Ted Mitchell. I like what he says, but I need to investigate his ventures a bit more.
I like the NewSchools Venture Fund's Mission Statement which can be found here: http://www.newschools.org/team
The more I read about NewSchools Venture Fund, the more I like it. But what seems lacking in my opinion is the absense of scientific research. They seem to let the schools they invest in to come up with the answers that will reform education in the USA.
All this reading has led me to formulate this opinion: It is the place of the government to fund the research of how children absorb information for the purpose of improving the education system. And it takes plenty of public opinion to influence public funding.
© 2018 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


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Julia Roberts' ex-boyfriend Jason Patric is fighting for custody of the son he had hoped to keep a secret.
The Speed 2 star donated sperm so his ex-girlfriend Danielle Schreiber could have a baby three years ago (09), but now he wants to be a proper dad.
News of Patric's biological son, Gus, didn't make headlines until now because Schreiber agreed not to tell anyone who the father of her child was.
The couple briefly reconciled last year (11), and it appears the actor took a liking to his son - because now he has split from his ex again, he wants to be a part of the child's life and he filed legal documents in a family court earlier this year (12) asking a judge to award him joint custody.
Although by law he's little more than a sperm donor, and therefore has no custody rights, Patric has been awarded visitation, while his ex was granted temporary sole legal and physical custody of Gus.
According to TMZ.com the boy's mother has taken issue with the order because she doesn't believe her ex should have any legal rights to custody or visitation.
The case is ongoing.


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Reviewed By Nick T (Merion Station, PA) Reviewed for a 1932 Ford Model B —2/11/2015 6:53 AM
I already knew the quality was what I wanted since I have a Covercraft cover on my other car that I'm very happy with. During the process of ordering the cover for my '32 hiboy roadster I was made aware that it was designed for a full fender model. It would be nice if it could have been altered to fit my fenderless roadster since it's a little loose as is, but it is still functional and great quality so I'm sticking with it.


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Perfect for media PCs
Unfortunately I replaced my media PC with a PS3 years ago. Otherwise I'd be jumping to get one of these.
Tech gadgets company Brando is making moves with the Wireless Flying Keymouse II that it announced today. Wireless Flying Keymouse II This handheld device, which looks much like a designer TV remote control, features 65 keys and an integrated laser pointer. In use as a mouse, movements in the air position the cursor which …
Unfortunately I replaced my media PC with a PS3 years ago. Otherwise I'd be jumping to get one of these.
Given the tendancy for TVs to turn into all in 1 devices now... I think this objects time has passed...
But it does lookcool though.
This is the result of freakish UI device incest.
Power button next to the tab key, really handy!
It looks like the bastard son of a Rii Mini and a Gyration, only harder to use.
Why not just make it rectangular with standard rectangular buttons?
Design for design's sake again...
Because your hand isn't rectangular and your fingers don't move in straight lines. More design for ergonomics' sake I'd say...
am thinking this could be quite good for some games though (would love to try it with Eve Online)
Reminds me of my Logitec MXAir.... only much uglier and half the price. My MXAir is pretty much dedicated to my HTPC too, was the obvious use for it since using it as a desk mouse is an exercise in pure frustration!
...the Freaking Eye of Sauron there... pretty disturbing design.
So is it actually any good?
If marketing can't think of a better name than "Flying Keymouse" they're not going to have much of a talent for sales generally.
A few years from now this will be appearing on this quaint "Whatever happened to...?" lists tech journo websites put up during slow news periods.


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Has anyone read Thomas Friedman's book Hot, Flat, and Crowded? If so, please write and tell me what you think.
I just finished the first chapter and am already inspired. Friedman lays out the case of why America needs to move beyond 9/11 fear and lethargy, and toward nation-building right here in the United States. We need to move beyond a Code Red mindset toward a Code Green one where America is "united and propelled by a common purpose, not a common enemy."
That common purpose is reinventing America as the world's "greenest country." This, Friedman writes, "is not a selfless act of charity or naïve moral indulgence. It is now a core national security and economic interest."
"Why we need a green revolution—and how it can renew America" is the book's subtitle. I'm looking forward to reading more over the next few nights to see how biofuels, wind and solar energy, and more will figure in to creating a stronger, more economically stable America.
Economic Stimulus Bill
In the past few days, I've been talking with some small wind energy equipment manufacturers who look forward to passage of the economic stimulus bill. While the Senate is still debating the bill, the small wind industry people believe provisions to keep the wind energy industry growing and creating jobs will survive. The small wind energy market already is growing by 25% annually. If federal subsidies are uncapped, the small wind industry could grow by as much as 50% annually, one small wind expert says.
While some might wonder why I'm writing about wind energy in this biofuels blog, it is an important part of the renewable energy solution to our national security and economic concerns. It is part of a "silver buckshot" approach in which biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and more will help renew America.
The economic stimulus bill would improve tax incentives for farmers and other rural landowners interested in installing small wind turbines. It would also provide for a three-year extension of the production tax credit and includes several provisions to promote transmission for renewable energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
The bill, which passed the House and is now being debated by the Senate, proposes $18.5 billion be appropriated for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Not less than $800 million is to be appropriated for biomass and $400 million is to be appropriated for geothermal technologies. To view the other proposals related to renewable energy, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:3:./temp/~c111E5VMzu:e121224:
Regardless of the outcome of the stimulus bill, renewable energy has momentum--spurred on by investors, researchers and producers who see promise in new technologies.
Do you think that America can reinvent itself as the world's greenest country or that it can at least unify behind a Code Green strategy? Can renewable energy become a cornerstone of the American economy? I think it's possible. Please send your thoughts.
I have completed the Freidman book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, and except for his negative bias about US ethanol I completely agree with his points, very enlightening. Too many people somehow have the impression that US ethanol has too many subsidies. I typically ask, "what subsidies?" and no one answers. Yes all new industries that create jobs are incentivized with tax credits. Yes there is a blending tax credit, and yes there are tariffs to help establish infra structure and encourage the massive amount of production needed, but unlike the "bail-outs", there is an ending outcome which is Freidman's point, about furthering the "green" revolution, and reducing dependance on foreign oil. The public opinion seems to be that corn for ethanol is NOT the answer. Never thought it was, just a part of the puzzle to engage the enterprising American ingenuity to develop better solutions and focus on something like corn which is completely renewable!
Terry Howell
Urbana, Ohio


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Car Review
2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: First Drive
When Hyundai introduced the Veloster for 2012, we'll be honest: we expected a little more in the way of velocity. No question, the Veloster had style to spare, but speed? If that's what you were looking for, this Hyundai couldn't help you.
Well, consider help officially on the way, because the 2013 Veloster Turbo is about to hit dealerships nationwide. Packing a fancy twin-scroll turbocharger under its expressive hood, the new Veloster Turbo looks set to shake up the hot-hatch segment for years to come.
What's neat about twin-scroll turbochargers is that they start to generate meaningful power at very low engine speeds, all but eliminating the turbo lag that used to plague turbocharged cars. We know Hyundai is capable of implementing this technology, which it has already employed to great effect in the Sonata 2.0T. The Veloster Turbo starts with a smaller 1.6-liter engine, but its twin-scroll turbo cranks up the output to a robust 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, on regular 87 octane, no less. True to twin-scroll form, all that torque is available from just 1,750 rpm, theoretically leaving hardly any room for lag before acceleration begins with gusto. And somehow, Hyundai has still managed to squeeze out up to 38 highway mpg.
We wanted to see what all this technical stuff translates to in real-world driving, so we headed to San Diego County for the official Veloster Turbo media launch. Folks, we cannot overstate how much the turbocharged engine transforms this car. In the base Veloster, at least one downshift is required to make meaningful forward progress, and the magic number is often two. Even then, you're not exactly blowing anyone's doors off. But in the Turbo? Just leave it in sixth on the highway, whether you have the standard manual transmission or the optional automatic with manual mode. A little squeeze of the throttle is all you need to pass slow-lane dawdlers, and if you squeeze some more, the Veloster pulls toward triple digits (and suspended licenses) like a high-speed train. In sixth gear. It's astonishing. We used to associate such behavior with high-end V8s and V12s, but now you can get the same king-of-the-road character in a $22,000 sport compact with a Hyundai badge on the nose.
Oh, pardon us: the 2013 Veloster Turbo starts at $21,950, and that buys more than just a massively improved engine. Hyundai also throws in unique 18-inch alloy wheels, a quicker steering ratio, a Turbo-specific body kit, LED headlight and taillight accents, heated front sport seats with leather trim and driver's-side lumbar adjustment, keyless entry with push-button start and electroluminescent gauges. That's in addition to the regular Veloster's already impressive collection of standard equipment, including a seven-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker stereo with iPod/USB/Bluetooth connectivity and even Pandora integration for iPhone. Go ahead, try to find another hot hatch with this kind of kit for under 22 large. We like the Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI a lot, but enough to fork over thousands more? The Veloster Turbo would force us to think long and hard about that one.
This is where we should remind ourselves that the 2013 Veloster Turbo's formula leaves room for improvement. Let's start with the throttle response: it's unacceptably slow with the manual transmission. Matching revs on downshifts is pure guesswork. This car needs a Mini-style Sport button, stat. We also take issue with the twin exhaust cannons that are center mounted in the rear fascia. If you look inside, the actual exhaust pipes turn out to be a fraction of the cannons' size, which explains why there's basically no exhaust note whatsoever. Real cannons make noise, and we hope the Veloster Turbo's will get real before too long.
But hey, let's be real: right out of the gate, the 2013 Veloster Turbo gives you world-class turbocharged power, inimitable style, a stacked equipment roster and, oh yeah, athletic handling and room for four adults in a pinch, all for an astoundingly affordable price. That's a tough package to top. With velocity now firmly on its side, Hyundai's sport compact has become a seriously formidable foe.


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Linked by David Adams on Mon 21st Mar 2011 20:21 UTC, submitted by Pawel Wolniewicz
If you use a photo editor to crop or convert your images, or to improve brightness, color balance and contrast, then you probably don't need a professional image processing suite. There are tons of web-based graphic editors that are available for free. However, if you are looking for self-hosted, open source solutions, you should definitely go in a different direction. Here's a list of four open source, self hosted online graphic editors.


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New Rotary Engine From Austro
Diamond Aircraft's Austro Engines has bench tested a new dual FADEC-controlled rotary aircraft engine, the AE80R, that aims to match a weight of 60 pounds with a power output of 80 hp. The engine has been in development for more than two years and builds on Austro's experience with the AE50R 55-hp rotary engine but has differences in its internal design that incorporates a "no loss lubrication system." The new engine is targeting the LSA and ultralight aircraft markets, and may also see use in unmanned aircraft. Austro Christian Dries, chairman and owner of Diamond Aircraft, which owns Austro, says the new engine "has no vibration" and is a good fit for weight-sensitive small aircraft.
According to Diamond, the dual FADEC system will keep fuel consumption at its lowest possible limits and the engine oil system will result in extremely low oil consumption, maximizing its efficiency. Austro Engine last summer pursued airframe manufacturers other than Diamond, seeking potential matches for its diesel engines, which it sees as a growing segment in European aircraft markets. The company already offers diesel and rotary style engines. Austro's recent production of AE50-series rotary engines has been close to 125 engines per year.


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Sun Devils face Badgers to kick off brutal stretch
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State's high-octane offense was in high gear against Sacramento State, churning out yards and points in bunches.
Quarterback Taylor Kelly looked like a better version of last season's breakout star, winging touchdown passes and extending plays with his legs. The defense was superb, producing the first shutout in Todd Graham's eight years as a college head coach.
The opening 55-0 victory was, in other words, exactly what the Sun Devils were supposed to do against an FCS opponent.
Now comes the real test.
Starting with Saturday night's game against No. 20 Wisconsin, Arizona State's road gets a whole lot tougher.
"It's a great opportunity and great exposure for our program," Graham said during his weekly news conference on Monday. "It's a great opportunity to take our program to the next level and that's what our focus is. I'm excited about it."
Coming off an 8-5 season that included a blowout bowl victory, Arizona State entered its second season under Graham with some lofty expectations.
Last week's opener against Sac State couldn't have gone much better.
The Sun Devils scored on their first five possessions, raced out to a 42-0 halftime lead and coasted to the finish.
Arizona State escaped without any major injuries and was able to build confidence while getting playing time for players across the depth chart.
Now the gauntlet begins.
After facing Wisconsin, the Sun Devils will play No. 5 Stanford on the road, Southern California at home and No. 21 Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas, on Oct 5.
Graham is a firm believer that for his team to be the best it has to beat the best, and the Sun Devils will be getting a healthy dose of stiff competition over the next month.
"We don't look at it as a negative," offensive lineman Jamil Douglas said. "We see it as a challenge."
The first step in this test-yourself process begins in the desert Saturday night, in front of what's expected to be a sold-out and blacked-out — all dressed in black — crowd on national TV.
These teams met in 2010 in Madison, a 20-19 win by the Badgers decided by a blocked extra point.
The rematch could be just as tight.
Wisconsin (2-0) started this season in dominating fashion, beating Massachusetts 45-0 and Tennessee Tech 48-0 to open with consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1958. The Badgers have not allowed a touchdown in 11 straight quarters, dating to the 2013 Rose Bowl against Stanford, and lead the nation in total defense at 162.5 yards per game.
Wisconsin's running back trio of Corey Clement, Melvin Gordon and James White have rushed for over 100 yards in each of this season's game and have done it three times in their past four games.
Arizona State had one of the nation's best offenses in its first season running Graham's go-go-go scheme and kept rolling against Sac State, piling up 523 yards despite sitting most of its starters in the second half.
Kelly established himself as one of the nation's most versatile quarterbacks and had a superb opener throwing for 300 yards while tying his own school record with five touchdown passes in the first half.
The Sun Devils have one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the country, led by All-American Will Sutton, and squashed the Hornets in the opener after their opening drive. Arizona State allowed 167 yards in that game, putting it second in the nation behind Wisconsin.
The numbers for both are a bit skewed, though, because of the opponents they faced.
Wisconsin's opening opponent, UMass, is in its second year as an FCS program and went 1-11 a year ago and was missing two of its key offensive players.
An FCS school, Tennessee Tech has never been afraid of playing against bigger programs, facing an FBS school in 17 straight seasons. The Golden Eagles haven't had much luck, though, going 0-28 all-time against the FBS, including a 63-14 loss to Oregon last season.
The Badgers had no problem overwhelming both teams.
Sac State was one of two FCS programs — with two-time defending champion North Dakota State — to knock off FBS schools each of the previous two seasons, but opened 2013 with a shutout loss to San Jose State. The Hornets were no match for Arizona State's size and speed, and the game was pretty much over by early in the second quarter.
The level of competition goes up in a hurry this week for both the Badgers and Sun Devils.
"We're going to face adversity during the season one way or another and it's how we respond," Graham said.
The Sun Devils figure to face plenty on Saturday night and over the next few weeks.


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- "On the west coast, you're not only judged by your car, but also by your expensive exercise gear. A bicycle that costs $10,000? Why not? Delude yourself in tight shorts and tap shoes while yelling at pedestrians for getting in your way."
- ―GTA V Website
- "Southern San Andreas practically invented the art of turning ordinary transportation options into ways to maim yourself while showing off. Bicycle Motocross or BMX is a great way to make the urban landscape your playground. Just don't be surprised when people post video of you faceplanting off a flight of stairs."
- ―GTA V Website
Bicycles are pedal-driven two-wheeled vehicles that appear in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto V. Bunny hops can be performed on a bicycle. The player can fall off a bicycle if the player collides with enough force.
GTA San Andreas introduced the pedal bicycle to the Grand Theft Auto series. The player can increase Carl Johnson's cycling skill through long rides on bicycles or on the stationary bike at the Gyms. The higher the skill, the less chance Carl will fall off the bicycle, the higher he can bunny-hop, and the more responsive the bicycle is. When pedaling on a bike, when you perform a wheelie, you can reach a higher top speed. Bicycles are known to be completely indestructible. RPGs, grenades, molotovs, and vehicular explosions do not harm the bike in any way. Although, if any of these happen while the player is riding a bicycle, he will die.
In GTA San Andreas, because of a glitch, any bike will catch fire and explode if it somehow ends up resting upside down. This is a very difficult task to achieve, however, because the bike will almost never stay standing upside down for more than a few seconds.
In GTA V, bicycles make a return with realistic aspects and there are more bicycles than previous Grand Theft Auto games. Therefore, they are no longer considered invincible and can be destroyed by colliding with a vehicle at high speeds, or being blown up by explosives.
GTA San Andreas
GTA Vice City Stories
- In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto V, pedestrians can be seen riding bicycles. In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, however, only the protagonist will ride a bicycle.
- Bicycles cannot be resprayed at Pay 'n' Spray in Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. If the player rides a bicycle into a Pay 'n' Spray, they will receive an "I don't do toys!" message. However, in GTA Vice City Stories, the player can go to the pay n' spray normally and the message will still say "new engine and paintjob".
- In GTA Online, bicycles cannot be insured, therefore if a player's bicycle is destroyed, it can not be recovered. In addition, the Mechanic does not deliver bikes nor recover them for the player.
- In GTA V, if the player activates the invincibility cheat, and rides near enough to an explosion to cause the wheels to fly off, the player can remain on the bike and continue to ride it as it skids around. However, it will possess extremely unresponsive handling, and will be very slow.
- Unlike Motorcycles, bicycles do not feature a radio. Even in GTA Online, where the player can buy headphones, they are still unable to listen to music.
See Also
- Category:Bikes - List of motorcycles and bicycles
- Motorcycles


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HEATH SPRINGS – No show. No pay.
That's the new expectation in Heath Springs as a new ordinance comes on the books regarding meeting attendance.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, Town Council unanimously approved final reading of an ordinance that withholds a councilman or councilwoman's pay if he or she misses a regular monthly meeting.
All five council members attended Tuesday's meeting.
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Electronic Resources for GBC
GBC students have access to over 75 databases. Some databases, such as Academic Search Premier, Issues and Controversies, NewBank, ProQuest Central, and SIRS are multi-disciplinary. Most of the databases focus on a single discipline, such as Business Source Elite, Nursing Reference Center, ProQuest Education Journals or ProQuest Military. See Databases by Title for a complete list.
|Over 25,000 eBooks are available for GBC students, Oxford University Press and Gale Virtual Reference collections offer many topical encyclopedias. The Gale ASCD collection is an important resource for education students. Ebsco and (formerly NetLibrary)ebrary are by far the largest collections, and offers eBooks on a multitude of subjects.
|The library offers various electronic items for students and faculty to check out. Available technologies include iPads, Laptops, and several types of recording devices.


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Gallery: Female Politicians In Fashion Forward Looks
In a new book entitled Power Dressing: First Ladies, Women Politicians & Fashion, author Robb Young investigates the relationship between female politicians and fashion (which you probably deduced). Anyway, he asked a bunch of fashion types (like Simon Doonan and Nicola Formichetti) to style women in some unexpected looks (like Hillary Clinton in Rick Owens!) and got the looks illustrated. Check out some of our favorites from the set in the gallery.
See the rest at Vogue UK!


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Workshop addresses issues of national identity and security within the world's youngest country.
Through its Conflict Transformation Initiative and in seeking to mitigate violent conflict and insecurity, and supporting peace for the people of South Sudan, ACCORD hosted a Dialogue Forum in Malakal, Upper Nile State of South Sudan from the 11-13 April 2012. The forum brought together thirty eight participants representing government, civil society, youth organisations, women groups, traditional leaders, academia and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) personnel. The forum was tailored to engage participants at grassroots level, while allowing for the dissemination of critical peace-building skills to the different levels (regional, sub-national and national).
In 2011, South Sudan received its independence from Sudan. While a seminal moment, it is important to note that independence has not solved all the issues that led to the prolonged civil war. Numerous internal schisms remain, and violent conflict – particularly in the Greater Upper Nile Region – has been on the rise. With this as a background, ACCORD brought together peace actors from the three states that represent Greater Upper Nile: Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile, to share experiences in dealing with conflict. Participants for the forum engaged in a number of exercises that were structured to include elements of early warning and conflict management, as well as strengthening existing peace architectures. Through these exercises, the participants reflected on instability and insecurity issues that continue to haunt the region, and the need for a sustainable conflict management plan.
A key output of the forum is a report that includes recommendations on the way forward for the Peace Commission of South Sudan. This forum was generously supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
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Two issues were recently raised in the Carrollton City Council, and both are disturbing.
First a councilman and councilwoman both argued for weakening enforcement of laws which mandate that citizens clean up their yards, and don't park unlicensed junk cars on their property. While both council members are fine people, they are just wrong on this issue.
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9:00 pm
Equitrekking "Carolinas" Host Darley Newman and local guides explore some of the more than 100 miles of Appalachian trails surrounding the Biltmore Estate, much as guests of George Vanderbilt would have during the Gilded Age. Darley meets resident horses at The Biltmore Equestrian Center and learns why natural horsemanship is a powerful method of understanding horses. Next, Darley heads downtown to discover the thriving arts scene in Asheville, before taking a lesson in rock climbing at Chimney Rock Park. D
9:30 pm
Jacques Pepin: More Fast Food My Way "Brussel Sprout Love" If left on a desert island, Jacques thinks he'd be quite happy if only there were some chickens! For Jacques, the prize part of the chicken is the thigh and he thinks you'll agree when you try Crusty Chicken Thighs with Mushroom Sauce served with a tasty Fricasse of Brussels Sprouts and Bacon. An inspired use of instant potato flakes to thicken a soup shows up in the fast cooking Seafood Chowder topped with fresh crabmeat. To end on a relaxing note, Jacques arranges a presentation of Stilton with Apple and Nuts to accompany a delicious glass of vintage or aged Tawny Port. D
10:00 pm
America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated "Here's The Beef" Test cook Bridget Lancaster show host Christopher Kimball how to make perfect Chili at home. Then, Doc investigates homemade ground meat versus storebought in a head-to-head tasting of hamburgers, and test cook Julia Collin Davison shows Chris how to create the ultimate Juicy Pub-Style Burgers. And finally, equipment expert Adam Ried reviews meat grinders in the Equipment Corner. D
10:30 pm
Mexico -- One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless "Tijuana Taco Crawl" People are passionate about their tacos in Tijuana. Ask any local and they'll tell you their favorite - complete with mouthwatering details. Three local Tijuana foodies take Rick on a taco "crawl" starting with arrachera (skirt steak) tacos at El Yaqui. D
11:00 pm
Caprial and John's Kitchen: Cooking for Family and Friends "Chocolate Alchemy" Caprial visits one of the only organic chocolate producers in the country and comes home with chocolate-infused ideas for connoisseurs. Smokey Black Bean Soup with Chocolate; Chocolate Truffle Tart with Chocolate Nib Crust. D
11:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Tuscany's Dolce Vita" Rick explores the small towns and rural countryside of Tuscany. He hunts for truffles in an oak forest, nibbles through an artichoke festival, shares a farmhouse feast, climbs the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and rides in a classic convertible through the cypress groves of Mona Lisa's backyard.G


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Energy performance is emerging as a key benchmark in how commercial real estate buildings are judged — and priced — in today's market. In fact, a growing number of institutional investors and corporate clients are not only urging, but also requiring, that green design be included in the commercial real estate properties they buy or lease.
Although "green" is a loosely used term to define all things environmentally friendly, the commercial real estate industry is increasingly turning to standards such as the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program and the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification to define the level of sustainable practices and products that have been put in place.
The strategy at Malvern, Pa.-based Liberty Property Trust is to build only LEED-certified office buildings and follow LEED guidelines wherever possible in its industrial construction. "That is based on a sense that to not do so is to build an obsolete project — at least over the long term," says John Gattuso, senior vice president and regional director for Liberty's urban group. The $6 billion office real estate investment trust currently has 42 LEED-registered or certified properties.
According to an exclusive green building survey conducted by National Real Estate Investor and its sister publications, 51% of corporate respondents and 60% of developer respondents across all commercial property types indicate that they own, manage or lease at least some green properties.
In addition, 88% of corporate and developer respondents expect to own, manage or lease some green properties five years from now [Fig. 1].
That volume has increased even in the past year. When asked the same question in the 2007 survey, 84% of corporate users and 77% of developers said they expect to own, manage or lease at least some green properties over the same period.
While commercial real estate developers continue to raise the bar on green design to meet tenant demand and maximize property values, owners of existing buildings are bracing for a trickle-down effect. Some industry experts believe that buildings that are not energy efficient will be adversely affected when it comes to rents and sale prices.
Industry data reflects that surge in green building activity. In the past year, the number of LEED-certified buildings jumped nearly 40%, from 878 to 1,212 as of August 2008, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
That volume includes some 133 million sq. ft. of new construction and major renovation on commercial and institutional properties. Another 8,088 buildings totaling 1.3 billion sq. ft. are currently in the process of obtaining LEED certification.
Indeed, familiarity with LEED increased substantially among all survey respondents over the past year [Fig. 2].
"We consider our sustainable facility program to be part of our overall corporate business strategy," says Kevin Dollhopf, vice president of worldwide real estate at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Hanesbrand Inc.
The apparel company's goal is to reduce its carbon footprint and conserve natural resources throughout its 27 million sq. ft. global real estate portfolio. Following LEED and Energy Star criteria are a key part of the program.
In order to gain greater insight into the activity and benefits of sustainable building efforts, NREI conducted its second annual Green Building Survey that drew responses from 164 developers of commercial real estate, 51 corporate users and 170 government officials.
Green investment pays off
Without question, the most compelling driver for green building in the U.S. is energy efficiency. "Energy costs are much higher than they were even two years ago, so you can create a strong financial motivation for green building practices," says Eric Bowles, vice president of Atlanta-based CoreNet Global, a professional association for corporate real estate executives serving leading multinational companies.
Over the past year, heating oil prices have jumped 39%, natural gas has risen about 9%, and commercial electricity costs have increased 3.7%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Companies are finding that the cost of green development is achievable, and green buildings are proving to be cheaper to operate.
An overwhelming majority of respondents — 92% of corporate users and 83% of developers — believe lower energy costs is the biggest benefit associated with green design. Corporate respondents also cite the ability to have a low impact on the environment (77%), ability to differentiate in marketing (49%), and ease of resale (31%) as other benefits [Fig. 3].
Developers also value the ability to differentiate in marketing (74%), the low impact on the environment (71%), ease of resale (42%), and ease of leasing space (40%) [Fig. 4]. Nearly one-third of developers also cite higher rents and higher return on investment as benefits of green design.
Developers are hoping that green building will have a direct and immediate impact on the bottom line. Being at the forefront of green building also may help owners command premium pricing and property values. Although the fledgling industry needs more time to create any substantive data to support that claim, owners are generating positive results on an anecdotal basis.
A case in point is Liberty's new Comcast Center, which opened in downtown Philadelphia in June. The 58-story office tower recently sold for well above market value — $400 per sq. ft. Previously, the highest sale price in that market was $225 per sq. ft. Although the LEED status can't claim all of the credit, it was a contributing factor in the building's ability to attract top dollar, says Gattuso of Liberty.
One question that the commercial real estate industry is grappling with is whether tenants will be willing to pay more to lease green space.
Corporate respondents say they would be willing to pay an average of 4% more for LEED-certified buildings [Fig. 5], while developers say they can charge an average of 3% higher rents for green properties [Fig. 6].
United Properties anticipates that achieving gold-level LEED status for the core and shell of its new 8200 Tower at Normandale Lake Office Park in Bloomington, Minn. will help to boost revenues. The 275,000 sq. ft., Class-A office tower is expected to have operating expenses of between $10 and $11 per sq. ft. — a reduction ranging from 70 cents to $1 per sq. ft. thanks to LEED requirements such as energy-efficient lighting. The building is slated to open in January 2009.
The owner, TIAA-CREF, hopes to capture at least part of those savings through higher rents since most tenants compare space based on the total cost per square foot, says William Katter, senior vice president of investments and development at Minneapolis-based United Properties. "We also believe that the gold certification was a necessary requirement in order for the property to maintain a position as a market leader," he says.
The larger impact for property owners is that a green designation could be a key factor in attracting tenants. "Given two buildings and similar locations and similar rental rates, most of the large companies are going to opt with the green building," Bowles says. If this trend continues, developers whose buildings are not green might find it hard to attract tenants without offering a discount.
Cap and trade bill looms
A simmering cap and trade bill is likely to spark more interest in green building. Federal climate control legislation is aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. Specifically, it places a cap on how much greenhouse gases a U.S. business would be allowed to emit.
The legislation would allow businesses to trade or buy carbon credits, if they should exceed their limit. Because energy prices are likely to rise, new and existing tenants may well push landlords to improve their current building's energy performance.
The legislation failed to pass in 2008, but is expected to resurface at the federal level again in 2009. "Both presidential candidates right now are advocating a cap and trade system," Bowles says. Most respondents — 88% of corporate users and 70% of developers — are aware of the federal cap and trade legislation. Conversely, 12% of corporate users and 30% of developers say they are not at all familiar with the legislation [Fig. 7].
Corporate respondents are more likely (44%) to believe that the legislation will pass during the next administration, regardless of who is elected. Developers remain skeptical, with only 17% expecting the legislation to be approved [Fig. 8].
"It could have a huge impact on all of us depending on what legislation comes down," says J Glasgow, a senior vice president and a member of the sustainable leadership group at Colliers Turley Martin Tucker in St. Louis.
Commercial and industrial facilities account for half of all energy consumption in the U.S. at a cost of more than $200 billion per year, more than any other sector of the economy. These facilities also are responsible for nearly half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, according to the EPA.
Rehabs gain traction
Corporations and developers also are stepping up efforts to introduce sustainable concepts, technologies and practices into existing properties. One-third of corporate respondents say they have previously retrofitted properties to make them more energy efficient, while another 29% are in the process of renovating and 41% also are considering such renovation work at this time.
On the developer side, 29% of respondents say they have previously retrofitted properties to make them more energy efficient, while another 29% are in the process of such rehabs. Nearly half (46%) say they are considering retrofitting properties to make them more energy efficient [Fig. 9].
"If I can look at a project and realize savings and improve net operating income, it's a no brainer," says Jim Hill, senior asset manager with Great Neck, N.Y.-based Sterling American Property Inc. The real estate investment firm has invested more than $4.5 billion in commercial and apartment properties in 43 states.
Sterling is promoting sustainability throughout its 9.1 million sq. ft. portfolio. Efforts range from renovating properties to following best practices in green building maintenance and operations.
The company is in the midst of a $7.6 million rehab of its 200 West Adams in Chicago, a 700,000 sq. ft. office building. After acquiring the property in December 2007, Sterling initiated extensive upgrades throughout the 20-year-old office building in tenant spaces and common areas such as lobbies, corridors and restrooms. "We reviewed everything from a sustainable perspective," Hill says.
Sustainable practices included items such as multiple energy reduction projects, water reduction techniques, sustainable construction materials, improved building automation systems, and even an interior storage for bikes to assist with alternative transportation efforts by tenants. The property has since qualified for Energy Star certification, and Sterling is pursuing a silver LEED EB, which is a certification for existing buildings.
Nearly half of respondents who are considering retrofitting properties will most likely seek either Energy Star or LEED certification. Among corporate respondents, 54% say they would pursue either Energy Star or LEED EB, while 58% of developers say they would pursue Energy Star and 49% say they would pursue LEED EB.
The commercial real estate industry will see the launch of its first all-green REIT in mid-November. Green Realty Trust plans to raise $1.5 billion from investors in its common stock offering. The REIT's strategy is to acquire existing buildings across a range of property types, including hotels, office buildings and shopping centers, and then add value by rehabbing the properties.
Adopting green brands
Although LEED and Energy Star brands are becoming more widely accepted standards, there is still some confusion in the industry as to what constitutes a green building.
Among respondents who have some green properties in their portfolios, 45% of corporate users and 29% of developers are unsure of the designation. Nearly one out of four respondents — 24% for corporate users and 20% developers — say space is LEED-rated, while 20% of corporate users and 24% of developers say at least part of their space is rated Energy Star.
Yet obtaining either Energy Star or LEED branding is becoming more important for corporate owners and real estate investors. "It is not enough to simply have sustainability built into your construction and design," Bowles says. "To really realize the monetary benefits, there is a lot of value in going with a branded concept."
While LEED and Energy Star offer standards for measuring energy efficiency, LEED offers a more comprehensive approach. A majority of respondents believe that LEED is an effective standard for energy savings and environmentally friendly buildings. More than half of developers (57%) and nearly two-thirds of corporate users (64%) believe LEED is an effective standard for energy savings [Fig. 10].
Among those corporate respondents who are familiar with LEED, 45% say a LEED designation is important or extremely important to the site-selection process.
"It is probably the best formalized program that looks at the operation and design of a building that we have found," says Dollhopf of Hanesbrand. It is a standard that is accepted both in the U.S. and around the world. "The certification per se is not the end goal, but it provides the framework for us to look at a facility program to implement our goals of reducing our carbon footprint and to produce overall energy savings," he adds.
As part of its sustainable facilities program, Hanesbrand is pursuing LEED certification for all of its new construction projects and prefers to lease space in LEED-certified buildings. In addition, while it may not be feasible to obtain certification for every existing building, the company's goal is to implement LEED practices wherever possible throughout its portfolio. Hanesbrand currently owns some 18 million sq. ft. and leases another 9 million sq. ft. of space in 22 countries.
Lending perks remain scarce
Favorable financing and insurance rates for green properties remain elusive for most corporations and developers. Respondents typically haven't tried to find favorable financing for green properties, or have found that financing for green is no different than financing for traditional properties.
Just 20% of corporate users and 25% of developers say they have found favorable financing [Fig. 11]. The question of finding favorable insurance terms for green developments drew a similar response. The majority of respondents say that they either have not looked, or that terms are no different than for non-green properties.
For the most part, green lending programs for commercial real estate properties remain a largely niche market. For example, Miami-based Union Credit Bank was the first community bank in the U.S. to sign the U.N. Environment Program Finance Initiative in March 2007. The initiative is a global partnership of some 160 financial institutions that are working to better understand the effects of environmental and social considerations on financial performance.
"That showed we were serious about what we wanted to do in this area," says Fernando Capablanca, president and CEO of Union Credit Bank, which has $150 million in assets. It also provided an opportunity for the 7-year-old bank to distinguish itself from the roughly 270 other community banks operating in Florida.
Union Credit Bank offers a handful of green lending programs for consumers and businesses, including a new green construction financing program that grants green projects a reduction of 25 to 50 basis points on mortgage rates. "We are trying to give people some advantage from the financial side because we know it might be a little more expensive on the front end," Capablanca says. Union Credit Bank currently has just three small green construction loans in the pipeline for the fledgling program.
"Sustainable development is clearly gaining traction in the industry," says John Daniels, an executive in the commercial real estate banking product delivery division at Bank of America. Yet Daniels contends that it is a common misperception that special lending programs that target green building projects exist.
"While there may be some small programs, there is no special interest rate or collateral advance for a green project in the industry," Daniels says. "We bring value to our clients and the industry by having knowledgeable client teams that can quickly and realistically assess project risk through the lens of sustainable development."
Some industry observers contend that creating green lending programs is a missed opportunity for banks. "The big banks are increasingly aware of it, but they haven't been able to latch onto the opportunities," Bowles says. Both Citi and Bank of America have announced major commitments to green lending, but the question with some of these programs is whether they go beyond the business-as-usual model to offer real financial incentives. "I think these programs are taking time to evolve, and are being inhibited by current problems in the financial markets," Bowles says.
Digging for incentives
Federal, state and local governments offer a variety of initiatives, ranging from tax rebates to fast-track permitting. Such incentives can be a huge benefit for green projects. "You have to look at all of those things when you're figuring out your project because you can leave a lot of money on the table if you don't," Glasgow says.
In fact, more than 70% of corporate and developer respondents say that government incentives have at least some impact on decisions to purchase, lease or develop green properties, while 25% of developers and 29% of corporate respondents indicate government incentives play no role in the decision-making process.
Developers are taking advantage of various incentives to help cover green building costs, which respondents believe add an average of 6% to total building costs. In addition to government programs, a number of utility companies offer energy rebates. For example, United Properties was able to take advantage of energy rebates from local power companies to save more than $100,000 on the approximately $45 million construction cost of the 8200 Tower in Bloomington, Minn.
Overall, 93% of respondents say they have noticed at least some increase in green building initiatives from federal, state or local governments [Fig. 12]. Yet nearly two-thirds of respondents say they have not taken advantage of any government incentive programs.
Those respondents that have made use of government incentives are most likely to have used tax breaks (24% corporate and 21% developer), streamlined permitting (10% corporate and 13% developer), and shared costs of infrastructure development (10% corporate and 9% developer).
The challenge for many cities across the U.S. is not only to implement sustainable building practices into their own facilities, but also to encourage the private sector to follow suit. For example, the U.S. Conference of Mayors created a Sustainable Development Task Force in the 1990s to foster education on green building, as well as share best practices on specific projects and programs that have been successful.
"We have been working in all of our departments to get green building projects going, and now we're taking it out to businesses and residents too," says Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, co-chair of the sustainable development task force.
Rising energy costs and pressure from elected officials are driving the growing number of government initiatives for green building. Among the 170 government respondents to the survey, 69% say energy costs were the main influence, followed by elected officials (63%), and residents (54%) [Fig. 13].
One of Santa Barbara's main incentives for green building is offering a fast-track permit and approval process, which can shave weeks off of a project. The city also has three of its own LEED projects under construction including a fire station, airport terminal and public works building.
"Each one of our staff members has an orientation in green building, whether they work for the parks department or the library," Blum says. "We think that's very important for government to be educated on green building and lead by example."
Growing momentum
The green building movement has a strong foothold in the corporate and commercial real estate arena, and it is continuing to gain momentum. Developer respondents (72%) say green design is important or extremely important compared with 51% a year ago. Meanwhile, 63% of corporate respondents say green design is important or extremely important compared with 46% in last year's green building survey.
The industry is in the early stages of adopting green design into new and existing space, but the intent to grow the green space is there. Corporate and developer respondents indicate that they currently have an average of 6% and 14% of their portfolios respectively dedicated to green properties. By 2013, corporate respondents anticipate 17% of their portfolios will be green compared with developers who predict that an average of 28% of their portfolios will be green five years from now.
Certainly, there is a growing list of corporations that are not only implementing green building into their real estate portfolios, but also adopting a broader strategic commitment to sustainability.
One reason for that increase is that companies are recognizing that there is a payoff. "It does make good business sense," Glasgow says. "Being sustainable is a good business model, which is why companies are embracing it."
Survey Methodology
Penton Research e-mailed invitations on Aug. 11 to participate in an online survey to a total of 24,943 subscribers of National Real Estate Investor, Lodging Hospitality, Retail Traffic and American City & County magazines selected on an nth name basis. Each group received a survey with questions that were specific to their business. A link to the survey was also included in the National Real Estate Investor e-newsletter sent Aug. 20 and Aug. 26.
The survey yielded 385 total responses. Here is the breakdown:
- Government officials (170)
- Commercial real estate developers (164)
- Corporate users of real estate (51)
For more information on survey results and analysis, contact NREI Managing Editor Sibley Fleming at [email protected].
National Real Estate Investor
6151 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA?30339


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- Lotus news
'More to come' from Lotus - Raikkonen
- Race:
- United States Grand Prix
- Drivers:
- Kimi Räikkönen
- Teams:
- Lotus F1
Kimi Raikkonen thinks there is more to come from Lotus following his maiden win with the team in Abu Dhabi last weekend.
Raikkonen praised Lotus' rate of development and its decision to re-sign him for the 2013 season as well as promising more going forward.
"It's a pretty good to show that everyone's made the right choice," Raikkonen said. "We've shown all season how good we can be, and in Abu Dhabi we showed we can win. There is more to come. I promise.
"We had a period where new developments for the car weren't working exactly as we wanted straight away and when you have to test new parts during practice sessions, it's very difficult to make progress. We continued with the exhaust developments we made during practice in Korea and India and the pace was promising all weekend in Abu Dhabi.
"I think we had a good idea that we could be competitive if we could just get qualifying right, which has been the big issue all season long. This time though, we got it right."
Although Lotus is expecting a "sterner test" for its E20 car at the US Grand Prix next weekend, Raikkonen is looking forward to competing on the Austin circuit.
"I don't know anything about Austin just the name Circuit of the Americas," Raikkonen said. "I have always liked to go to new places as it adds a bit of additional excitement. I'm particularly looking forward to this one. I like the American atmosphere, it's a relaxed environment; they know how to have fun and most of all, they love racing.
"Last year I tried NASCAR. I did two races on the Charlotte oval and I really liked it. After seeing the excitement of the American NASCAR fans I hope Formula 1 gets people as eager to enjoy our racing in Texas, too."


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Skip to comments.Jahi McMath: Mom and lawyer say only remaining option for brain-dead girl is a....
Posted on 12/30/2013 8:55:21 AM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Jahi McMath: Mom and lawyer say only remaining option for brain-dead girl is a New York care facility
OAKLAND -- A Los Angeles-area long-term care facility that had been willing to accept Jahi McMath has withdrawn its offer, leaving a New York hospital as the only apparent option for the brain-dead girl as a 5 p.m. Monday deadline to remove her from a ventilator approaches, her mother and attorney said Sunday.
"I just found out that the facility my daughter was supposed to be going to has backed out," Jahi's mother, Nailah Winkfield, wrote on the family's fundraising website early Sunday. "My family and I are still striving to find a location that will accept her in her current condition."
That leaves an unnamed New York hospital "as our last, last hope," Jahi's lawyer, Christopher Dolan, said. The facility is run by an "organization that believes in life," Dolan told The Associated Press.
But in a statement issued Sunday, a spokeswoman for Children's Hospital Oakland said its doctors said no one from any other medical organization has been in contact with it to discuss a transfer of the 13-year-old.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
prolife ping!!
I'm sure the hospital will keep her hooked up for as long as the family can pay cash for her.
What insurance do they have? Does it matter?
Looks some henbane money is doin' some politickin'
Why on earth can't they take the child home and be put on a ventilator? I am sure this can be done. It seems to me they'd be more than willing to care for her at home.
They should score her an obama-phone so she can call home after 7 and on weekends.
Have they tried the Jefferson Institute?
She's not in a coma. She's dead. Her parents are in denial.
I believe she would also need a feeding tube or she would starve to death and the surgeons at the hospital are refusing to put one in this is part of the reason the nursing homes can't take her.
I am also guessing the hospital and MD's are refusing referrals to home health that would be needed in order to teach the family how to care for her.
This is such a sad story. I hope the family has their own spiritual counsel.
So this is not a case like Terri Shaivo?
No. Schiavo wasn't declared "brain dead" but rather in a "persistent vegetative state." There's a big difference.
This girl is dead. Her brain is decomposing.
It's not that easy to provide such care at home. I expect the girl would still need round the clock professional nursing and that's not cheaper or any more practical than a nursing home or hospital. Plus all the equipment — the family might not have enough room for all the paraphernalia.
If she were dead, the ventilator would be useless and she'd be decomposing.
I don't think that is accurate. I believe that many people who die in Hospitals could be kept alive on ventilators indefinitely. As long as they are "breathing" and their blood circulates, their bodies will not decompose.
And disallow the possibility of a miracle?
It would be a miracle if a dead person NOT on a ventilator were to come back to life; would you say that such dead bodies shouldn't be buried because burial would "disallow the possibility of a miracle"?
Well, by that logic, turn off the ventilator, because maybe a miracle will occur and she will keep breathing. There is no brain activity at all. Usually the reason they keep the body breathing even after the brain is dead is that if the family wants to donate the organs, if they are not oxygenated, they are not able to be donated.
Let her soul go in peace, if it is still with her body.
It is a horrible thing to lose a child, but keeping her on a machine is only prolonging what should come naturally. Her parents are in denial, which I understand and sympathize with, but when all natural body functions cease give them the time to say goodbye with it but then allow her to go.
At any other time in human history this child would have been gone, only in the last eye blink of our being have we been able to sustain a body past its time like this.
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Britney Spears: 'Scream and Shout' Preview - Watch Now!
Britney Spears pushes a shopping cart while exiting a Target on Sunday (November 25) in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
The 30-year-old singer was joined by her sister Jaime Lynn and sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Britney Spears
Earlier in the week, Britney was spotted stopping at a pet store while spending some time with Sean Preston and Jayden James in Thousand Oaks.
Check out the newly released clip below of Britney's new single "Scream and Shout" with Will.i.am.
Britney Spears- 'Scream and Shout' Sneak Peek
30+ pictures inside of Britney Spears shopping at Target…


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The man who built Southern Methodist into a national power before moving on to coach FC Dallas in 2008 says that even as the American soccer landscape changes and matures, there will always be an MLS draft.
"It'll always be an event," Schellas Hyndman told Sporting News this week. "The draft is part of American sports culture. Our fans tune into it. They want to know who we drafted. It's part of the culture in professional sports."
He's right. It's exciting to see collegiate stars in every sport react when their names are called and then take the stage to meet their new employers. It makes for engaging TV. But the fact that this year's MLS SuperDraft, which took place Thursday in Indianapolis, was the first in 11 years not to be nationally televised could be a sign.
At some point, the MLS draft will be more of a cultural relic than a key roster-stocking mechanism because young men called to the stage may not represent the top young talent available. Through the league's homegrown player initiative, launched in 2007 and now gaining traction, MLS clubs can secure the rights to teenagers they develop in their own academies.
Those programs, thanks to their prestige and the access they afford to pro coaches and players, are starting to attract an increasing number of promising young athletes. This year, Top Drawer Soccer projects that as many as six first-round-caliber selections are off the board because they're already tied to the MLS clubs that helped develop them. That's nearly one-third of the round's 19 picks.
DRAFT RESULTS: Who'd your team get?
The L.A. Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes (a junior at CSU Bakersfield) and Columbus Crew's Wil Trapp (a sophomore at Akron) likely would have come out this year and been chosen in the top five. Instead, they've already signed with their hometown clubs.
"When we started the academy and homegrown system, we assumed at some point we were going to get to where it was producing many of the best players," said Tim Bezbatchenko, MLS director of player relations and competition. Bezbatchenko works on signing many of the league's homegrown and Generation Adidas players (those who leave college early and enter the draft).
"This is the first year where we've seen some of the best and brightest talent come through our homegrown system," he said. "Would I say we're there yet? Absolutely not. We have to improve our academies in a lot of areas, making sure they're more professional environments and that we're developing players that are consistent with the first team."
Bezbatchenko, who played collegiately at the University of Richmond, added, "Previously, (the homegrown signings) weren't the guys that everyone was clamoring for out of college. This year, Gyasi is already for LA. Wil Trapp – these guys are legitimate Generation Adidas players and now they're coming in directly to the team that produced and developed them. This is one of our biggest stories."
No team has been more aggressive on the homegrown front than FC Dallas. Hyndman's club won the U.S. Soccer Development Academy's Under-18 championship in 2012 and has signed nine homegrown players to senior contracts.
The most recent, University of Maryland defender London Woodberry, likely would've been a first round pick on Wednesday.
"The academy is working," Hyndman said. "Whether you bring them straight into the team and they don't go to college or they go to college and they leave after a couple of years, or even play all four years and graduate, they're still the property of that professional team. What you're seeing now, it's working. This is probably the first year that many teams are getting homegrown players that they're choosing to put on their senior (professional) roster."
Hyndman also said that even if a homegrown player does decide to attend college, knowing that he'll be available down the road is an asset for a club looking to plan ahead. It may be easier to make decisions impacting the senior squad when it's known well ahead of time what young reinforcements are coming from the collegiate ranks.
"There will be more and more predictability in what your roster is going to look like down the road because you already know who you have the rights to and if they're good enough," Hyndman said. "One college season, two or three college seasons, they go away from home, mature, get physically stronger. Now you can plan."
Ideally, that player already has been coached by Dallas staff and played alongside the club's professionals. They'll understand the team's philosophy and approach and in that sense will be well ahead of those coming in cold after being selected on draft day.
In future years, the MLS draft may be less "super," but it still will serve a purpose.
Obviously there are significant swaths of the country where players don't have access to an MLS clubs' youth academy. (Although some have affiliates in other regions, there are measures in place to limit the number of homegrown signings from beyond a club's home territory). Other players will have been overlooked by the local MLS club or chosen not to take the homegrown route. There are late bloomers.
Hyndman suggested that college coaches looking to compensate for the loss of top players leaving school early in increasing numbers may start recruiting more talent from abroad. They would be eligible for the draft, as will young foreign players signed by MLS straight from their home countries.
Bezbatchenko added that some MLS clubs, like Dallas, will be spend more time and money on their academies than others. For some, the draft may remain the best place to stockpile the players, mostly American, who still make up a good percentage of MLS rosters. He estimated that two-thirds of the current MLS player pool came through the college system.
So there will always be a draft. But starting this year, it's going to look increasingly different going forward – at least at the top.
"We all see the value of it, we've invested millions of dollars in it and we're starting to see the benefits of it," Hyndman said of the homegrown initiative. There still are kinks to be worked out, he said, citing how clubs make use of any regional affiliates or how they adhere to the guidelines that make players eligible for homegrown status. But its impact on Thursday's proceedings in Indy is clear.
"It's becoming now such a big part of what we do. It's really starting to help your draft," he said. "London Woodberry, he played four years at Maryland. He's a very gifted player. He would be a first-round pick."


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Further Java Practical Class
Table of Contents
In order to gain a star in the mark sheet you must complete this exercise. Completing the exercise does not gain you any credit in the examination. In this exercise you will extend your implementation of the Java chat server from Workbook 5 to allow chat session data to be shared or federated between two or more Java chat servers. Sharing of chat session data between servers may be desireable in order to improve scalability or as a basis for supporting more advanced features such as permitting clients to send local as well as global messages (something you're welcome to explore, but is not necessary for this tick).
Copy your implementation for Ticklet 5 into
uk.ac.cam.crsid.fjava.tick5star. You should modify your implementation of
ChatServer so that it creates two
ServerSocket objects, one which clients connect to in precisely the same way as they did in Workbook 5, and one which other Java chat servers can connect to in order to share serialised copies of all the
Message objects which are passed through their own instance of
MultiQueue. As a result, your program must accept two port numbers on the command line, the first represents the client port and the second represents the federation port which is used by other servers. In order to specify how a set of servers should be connected together when your server starts, it should accept a list of zero or more other servers which it should connect to as arguments on the command line. Consequently if the user provides less than two arguments, your program should terminate after printing:
Usage: ChatServer <dbpath> <client> <fed> [fedsrv1:port fedsrv2:port ...]
If any of the requested federated servers are not available, your server implementation should ignore the federation request from the user and print
Warning: Cannot connect to 'fedserverX:port'. Ignoring.
If the format of the host or port number is wrong, your implementation should ignore the entry and print a warning; for example if the user enters
example.com:twenty, your program should output
Warning: cannot interpret 'example.com:twenty' as 'fedsrv:port'. Ignoring.
You may change the implementation of your server as you see fit to support this new functionality, but you must not change your implementation of the Java chat client. In other words, your implementation should continue to work with the code you wrote for Ticklet 2.
Once you believe you have completed this exercise, you should generate two jar files to support testing. One, called
chatclient.jar, should contain the code for Ticklet 2 with the manifest file specifying the main class
uk.ac.cam.crsid.fjava.tick2.ChatClient. The other, called,
chatserver.jar should contain your new implementation of the Java chat server and specify the main class as
Open up two terminal windows and execute the following commands, one in each terminal window:
java -jar chatserver.jar /home/crsid/db1 1234 5678 java -jar chatserver.jar /home/crsid/db2 2222 1111 localhost:5678
Then start up a further two terminal windows and execute the following commands, one in each terminal:
java -jar chatclient.jar localhost 1234 java -jar chatclient.jar localhost 2222
Your new implementation of the Java chat server should mean that the two clients you started above can talk with one another as if they were connected to the same Java chat server.
You might find it helpful to construct a class called
FederatedHandler which operates in a similar way to
ClientHandler but can be used to handle both incoming requests for federation from remote servers, as well as make federation requests to other servers.
Beware of message loops: if two servers A and B are connected, a message written by a client to server A should be copied to server B, but this same message should not be repeatedly sent between servers A and B! (You may keep a cache of all messages seen in the last two minutes in order to ignore or reject duplicates. You will need to think carefully about how to construct this cache so that you can detect duplicate messages which might have come from different sources;
java.util.LinkedHashMap might be of some use. If you use this approach, you must reject all messages which are more than two minutes old!)
You may find it helpful to test your server in collaboration with another student. If you do so you should disable the invocation of any method in any new code sent over the socket which contains the
@Execute annotation in your implementation of the Java chat client so that you are not vulnerable to remote code execution exploits.
Please put the source code and byte code of the package
uk.ac.cam.crsid.tick5star and (your possibly modified version of)
uk.ac.cam.cl.fjava.messages into a jar file called
crsid-tick5star.jar. Please email the jar file to
email@example.com. You should receive a response via email within an hour. If you do not, please send an email to


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Saints officials hit two free agency goals Wednesday, returning one offensive player to the fold and filling a glaring need in the secondary.
Around mid-day, the team re-signed veteran wide receiver Devery Henderson and a few hours later signed Bills cornerback Jabari Greer.
Each agreed to four-year deals.
Henderson is the third high-profile player to re-sign with the Saints since the start of free agency on Friday, joining middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and right tackle Jon Stinchcomb.
General Manager Mickey Loomis and Coach Sean Payton are continuing their push to upgrade the secondary with free agents from outside the organization, most notably safeties Darren Sharper (Minnesota) and Gerald Sensabaugh (Jacksonville), both of whom visited earlier this week.
Fullback Heath Evans (New England) concluded his two-day visit with Saints officials Wednesday.
"There are two phases to this free agency," Payton said. "This initial phase is quieter than it has been in past years. The second phase is where all of a sudden some of your better bargains can become available. It'd be hard to say that once we sign a defensive player or two we're going to be done, because you don't know what becomes available a month from now.
"But I'm excited that we were able to keep the guys that we've signed right now. Vilma was critical for us with how he played last year, after giving us stability at the mike linebacker position, and getting Stinchcomb and Devery was important. So I'm excited about us being able to protect those three players internally. Now we'll try to get a few more pieces that we've identified, most likely on defense. That's kind of where we're at in the process."
Greer's contract reportedly is worth approximately $23 million (an average of $5.75 annually), according to The National Football Post. Those numbers suggest Greer, 5 feet 11, 180 pounds, likely will be a favorite to win a starting job.
He comes to the Saints after starting 23 games the past two seasons as an undrafted free agent with the Bills. He has four career interceptions, including two last season, that he returned for touchdowns. He missed the final six games in 2008 with a knee injury.
"I've been traveling non-stop since Friday," said Greer, who also visited Detroit, Tampa Bay and Cleveland. "Everything has worked out wonderfully. I am elated and excited about this opportunity.
"After talking to the players (specifically defensive backs Mike McKenzie, Tracy Porter, Roman Harper) and getting their point of views on the team, the coaching staff and the executives upstairs, they had nothing but great things to say. They really believe in this program."
Greer, 27, said he is familiar with the type of defense new Saints coordinator Gregg Williams plans to install in New Orleans. Greer spent his first three seasons at Buffalo working under defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who has a long history coaching with Williams.
"Coach Williams has a (defensive) system that I am familiar with," Greer said. "It's a lot of the same terminology and schemes that I feel comfortable with. I know he's a coach that expects a lot out of his players. Having that challenge is exciting to me."
The Saints' newest signings have one thing in common: each is extremely fast. Greer, 27, was a standout hurdler at Tennessee, winning the 2003 NCAA Indoor 60-meters championship.
Henderson, who enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2008, already is one of the fastest players on the team.
Last season, Henderson averaged career highs in yards per catch (24.8) and yards after the catch (8.5).
"Devery is a guy who has gotten better and better each year," Payton said. "He's progressed and has been a big part of what we do offensively. His speed and his yards per completion are things we don't take for granted. He runs exceptionally well, especially after the catch. We're not talking about just big completions, but he's a guy who can catch a shorter throw and advance it."
Payton said the team's decision to give Henderson a long-term deal shows the confidence they have in him.
"A year ago, to Devery's credit and to Mickey's credit, we just signed a one-year contract just to further see where both sides were," Payton said. "So when he became free this year, there were other teams interested in him. There's a comfort level he has in what we're doing and having a quarterback here in Drew Brees and having the system intact, he felt really good about it."
Henderson said he is relieved to have the business aspect behind him so he can concentrate on trying to fulfill his potential with the team that selected him in the second round of the 2004 draft.
"It was important for me to be back here," said Henderson, who had interest from Minnesota, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and San Francisco. "It's the only (NFL) team I've ever known. It's good to know that I'm still wanted here. They wanted me back, and it was important to them to have me back.
"I think I can do a whole lot more than I've shown. I want to show everyone around here that I can do it."
Specific details of Henderson's contract are not known. However, Payton said no roster moves or restructuring of players' contracts had to be done to accommodate the latest signings under the $27 million salary cap.
In other free agent developments, Payton denied reports that the Saints are interested in running back Rudi Johnson and no visit has been scheduled for cornerback Shawn Springs, who visited Philadelphia Tuesday and Wednesday.


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Over 35? What You Need to Know
Julia Cruz Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center correspondent
As she cradles her two-month-old daughter Josephine, new mom Cibeline Sariano marvels at the tiny life she helped to create. At 38, Sariano waited to have children, instead focusing on her career as a fashion designer. When she and her husband decided it was time to start their family last year, they knew Sariano's age would make having a baby a challenge.
"It took a little time to conceive, and even when we did, I wouldn't allow myself to get too excited because I knew the risks," recalls Sariano.
Despite Challenges, Number of Older Moms on the Rise
Fertility peaks for most women in their 20s and begins a gradual decline in the late 20s. But at age 35, that decline picks up speed. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine , there is about a 20 percent chance of a 30-year-old woman becoming pregnant in any given month. For a 40-year-old, that number drops to just 5 percent.
Despite those statistics, and thanks to assisted reproductive technologies like In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), the birth rate among women 40 to 44 years old is up six percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
"I have so many patients who are over 35, over 40 and even a handful in their 50s," says Dr. Karen O'Brien, a high-risk pregnancy specialist in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
As a mother of three, Dr. O'Brien understands the struggles and risks of pregnancy over 35 well. She gave birth to her youngest child at age 36.
"I was nervous with my last, so I really sympathize with my older patients' concerns," she says.
Lowering Risks for Older Moms
After age 35, the chances for complications with a pregnancy significantly increase for both baby and mother. Expectant older moms are more at risk for miscarriage, preeclampsia (the development of high blood pressure and protein in the urine), gestational diabetes, ectopic pregnancy (where the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes), Cesarean section, and even death.
"The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is lower than in many other countries where access to health care is limited, but for American women over 35, it's still twice that of younger women," notes Dr. O'Brien.
Older moms-to-be are also more prone to multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.), and Cesarean sections, a procedure that, while common, still puts both mother and child at risk.
"It's really important that older women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant do whatever they can to optimize their general health," recommends Dr. O'Brien. "If you're overweight, you should try to achieve a normal body mass index prior to pregnancy. Avoid smoking or cut back, and avoid recreational drugs or alcohol."
For Cibeline Sariano, that meant losing weight.
"I was told that because my BMI was high," recalls Sariano. "So I went to a nutritionist and it helped. I lost 10 pounds and felt better."
Close Monitoring Reduces Risks for Babies
But even if an expectant older mom is perfectly healthy, the risks to her unborn child remain. Chief among those risks is aneuploidy, or an abnormal number of chromosomes, the cause of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.
"The risks rise in relation to the age of the mother's eggs," Dr. O'Brien notes.
And the numbers are daunting. For a 20-year-old pregnant woman, the chance of having a baby with Down syndrome is 1 in 1,211 at 16 weeks. At age 35, that rises to 1 in 265; by age 40, it's 1 in 60 at 16 weeks.
"The older you are, the more likely it is to have a fetus with a chromosomal abnormality. That's the bad news," says Dr. Steven Ralston, Director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at BIDMC. "The good news is the vast majority of babies are still normal and, for women who want information about the genetic health of their pregnancies, there are many tests we can do to both screen for and diagnose those chromosomal abnormalities."
Some expectant mothers choose tests such as amniotic fluid testing (amniocentesis) or sampling of the placental tissue (Chorionic villus sampling). But those are tests that are associated with a small risk of miscarriage. Now, newer tests with no risk of miscarriage are available to check for potential chromosome irregularities. For example, Cell Free DNA testing is a simple blood test that looks at the fetal genetic material circulating in an expectant mother's bloodstream.
"Cell Free DNA testing has a very high detection rate and no risk to the fetus," notes Dr. O'Brien.
Other tests can screen for genetic diseases even before a baby is conceived. Women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) can have pre-implantation genetic diagnosis before the developing embryo is implanted in the uterus.
"Modern medicine has given us the tools to give outstanding care to older mothers, and with proper monitoring, most women over 35 have completely normal pregnancies," says Dr. Ralston.
The bottom line is that challenges exist for older women who want to have babies, but those challenges are not insurmountable.
"Couples shouldn't be so concerned about the risks that they don't complete their family," suggests Dr. O'Brien. "The vast majority of patients over 35 have very good outcomes, they just need a little closer attention paid to them."
New mom Cibeline Sariano says her daughter Josephine is living proof of that.
"I don't regret waiting," she says. "We've had a healthy happy baby and we're thrilled it all worked out."