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School of the Osage officials continue to savor voter-approval of a $22 million bond issue April 2 for renovation of the Heritage Building to include the Mills Elementary School and administration offices.
School of the Osage officials continue to savor voter-approval of a $22 million bond issue April 2 for renovation of the Heritage Building to include the Mills Elementary School and administration offices.
But the district is quickly moving forward with the next phase of the project, which is to meet with the architects and construction management people to work out final details.
The bond issue was approved with a 63.9 percent majority, far more than the 57.25 super majority needed for approval. The final vote was 1,079 in favor and 690 opposed.
The margin of victory in Miller County was 67.3 percent (585 to 394) and was 59.3 percent in Camden County (487 to 289). The vote was tied 7-7 in Morgan County.
"We are very appreciative for the community's support," Superintendent Brent Depeé said shortly after the victory. "We'd really like to thank all of our supporters."
The design was substantially complete before the election, and Depeé said should be finalized by early May.
"The architect and construction manager will be working diligently to get the bid documents out by late spring," the superintendent said. "The board of education will begin accepting bids and awarding contracts this summer."
Depeé said school officials decided to use a construction manager so local companies could have an opportunity to compete for the work. The project will be broken into about 18 bidding packages.
"Had we gone with a general contractor, most of our local people could not have competed because they would not have the (insurance) bonding capacity to cover a $22 million project," Depeé said.
A completion date of July/August next year is anticipated.
The issue, the plan
The bond issue addresses pre-k to second grade overcrowding at the Mills Elementary School, security improvements to existing schools and updating of the high school science labs.
The district's bond levy will increase from $2.72 per $100 of assessed valuation to $2.849, a 12.9-cent increase. The Osage levy will still be among the lowest in the state, and less than area school districts.
The rates in nearby communities are Camdenton $2.87, Eldon $3.54 and Iberia $3.65.
The project calls for a 24-classroom elementary school addition to the Heritage Building, as well as renovations and improvements to the existing Heritage Building and campus. The elementary school addition will increase the number and size of classrooms and provide technology needed for current teaching methods. Construction plans include elevator and ADA access, and energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling. The Heritage campus will benefit with improved parent and bus drop-off and pickup, increased and improved parking and improved security and safety measures.
After carefully considering several site and costs options, the board of education, with input from the Facilities Planning Steering Committee, chose to retain and improve the Heritage campus, thus saving nearly $6 million over the cost of constructing a new similarly sized building and elementary school campus. This will not require the relocation of elementary grade students during construction, and it uses an existing campus. School officials say renovating the Heritage Building will provide Osage students with a link to the past and an understanding of the rich and full history of the School of the Osage School District.
The bond issue will also fund necessary security improvements to existing schools to help ensure safe and secure facilities. High School science labs will be will be updated to encourage and enhance student performance in an academic area that has grown within the district.
The district currently has about 450 pre-k through second grade students. The proposed addition and renovations would increase capacity to about 750 students.


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Totally gorgeous, blonde and oozing sex appeal - Finnish Jenny has proved an instant hit with members since making her debut on the site earlier this month.
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subset: commoncrawl


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You are here
Master Class with Lynn Emanuel
Date and Time:
May 19, 2013 - 12:00PM to 4:00PM
Event Location:
Conference Room
Application Deadline EXTENDED To Friday, April 26
Lynn Emanuel is Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh. Her books of poetry include Noose and Hook (2010), Then, Suddenly— (1999), and The Dig (1992), which was a winner of the National Poetry Series. Her awards include two Pushcart Prizes and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.
Event Sponsored By:
Poets House
Event Type:
Workshops, Master Classes and Residencies
Related Event:


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Knowledge can be tricky. With it comes the pressure and responsibility to act. Some people may find it easier not to know.
Knowledge can be tricky. With it comes the pressure and responsibility to act. Some people may find it easier not to know. Last week I mentioned a product that seemed to have my children's best interest in mind. I trusted that it was a healthy product. I learned that it's important to do some research and that the impressions offered by a product or company could be misleading. In sharing this kind of information, the intention is not to scare or cause worry, but to encourage you to be an informed consumer.
One more product for which I would like to share some basic information is High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). It is found in many products; and again, in some surprising places ~ everywhere from sugary foods like soda and cookies to tomato sauce and salad dressings. HFCS can be found in baked chips, bread, jelly, chocolate milk, ketchup, pizza sauce, cereal, barbeque sauce and more. There is much debate and ongoing research about the harm or lack of harm of this product.
According to a Prevention article at nbcnews.com, HFCS was developed in the 1960s and has been used extensively in consumer products since the late 1970s. "That's when an increase in the price of sugar helped make less expensive corn sweeteners more attractive to manufacturers," said Helen H. Jensen, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University. Soon after the use of HFCS began, obesity became a problem throughout the United States. Dr. Mark Hyman states that we are consuming HFCS and sugar in massive quantities never before experienced in human history. (Huffington Post)
In 1700, the average person consumed about four pounds of sugar per year.
In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year.
In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year.
In 2009, more than 50 percent Americans consume a half pound of sugar per day, which is 180 pounds of sugar per year (wholevegan.com).
Imagine about 36, five pound bags of sugar lined up on a counter. Now imagine one person eating all that sugar in a year. This is about the same as consuming a quarter to a half pound of sugar each day or drinking four 12-ounce cans of soda a day. (ezinearticles.com)
Excess sugar consumption depresses our body's immunity. HFCS is called a "super sugar" because it is sweeter than regular cane sugar. The processing is different, therefore the purity and the ability of our body to absorb the final product are in question. Dr. Hyman reports that even when used in moderation, HFCS is a major cause of heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia, liver failure, tooth decay and more.
Please be aware of what you consume. Make healthy choices.
"We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are." ~ Adelle Davis


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Internet Flight Tracking System
To launch VNY WebTrak click here:
VNY WebTrak Flight-Tracking and Noise Information
Welcome to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) VNY Internet Flight Tracking System using Brüel & Kjær's WebTrak. WebTrak is a system that allows you to watch the movement of flights and air traffic patterns within the San Fernando Valley, and the western and northern portions of the greater Los Angeles area. This flight tracking system includes specific information about flights from VNY and Burbank Airport (BUR), as well as information on air traffic transiting through the region. Information shown includes the aircraft's type, altitude, origin/destination airports, and flight identification.
Real time and historical flight and aircraft radar data originate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s National Offload Program (NOP). The NOP radar flight track data is downloaded and processed by LAWA's Airport Noise and Operations Management System (ANOMS).
Real time data is viewed in the Live Mode and is delayed up to 60 minutes for aviation security reasons and for preliminary system processing. Historical data is viewed in the Replay Mode and is the fully processed data available up to 90 days in the past. For more information, please refer to the Help section of the WebTrak website. Noise data from the numerous permanent noise monitoring terminals (NMTs) located in the vicinity of VNY are available in both the Live and Replay Modes.
If you are a first time user of this system, please take a few minutes to read the "Start Here," "Legend," and "Help" tabs in the upper left corner of the WebTrak site. These should assist you in understanding the full capabilities of and how to use WebTrak.
Flight Information
Aircraft icons are not to scale and will change in size at different zoom levels. Flight and aircraft radar data originate from the FAA's National Offload Program.
Airline and aircraft type information is encoded in 3 or 4 characters. For the FAA Aircraft Registry, and the list of airline, aircraft type, and airport origin/destination abbreviations, click here
decode page.
Noise Comment Information
To submit a noise concern on WebTrak, click on the "Comment" tab located in the upper left corner of WebTrak, then click the "Comment Form" button. You do not have to identify a flight to submit a comment; however, the Comment tab will allow you to research the flight track data to find an aircraft operation that may have raised your concern. If you do find it, WebTrak allows you to submit a comment for that specific operation and fills in the information automatically. Finally, to request a written response from LAWA you must provide your complete name, address, city, state and zip code.
Noise Readings on WebTrak
Noise readings shown on WebTrak at the numerous noise monitors in the vicinity of VNY are real time noise levels represented by the A-weighted sound pressure level reading. A-weighted decibels, abbreviated dBA, are an expression of the relative loudness of sounds in air as perceived by the human ear. These noise levels represent the actual real time sound level at that location at that moment in time, and may be the result of an aircraft flying over or near the noise monitor. These noise levels may also be attributed to community-based noise, such as vehicle traffic, lawnmowers, etc. or just the ambient noise at that location. When using the Replay Mode in WebTrak, the noise events that correlate to an aircraft operation are shown with a square icon.
The real time noise readings shown on WebTrak at the noise monitors should not to be confused with the annual CNEL, or Community Noise Equivalent Level. The annual CNEL is a noise metric used to describe the average sound level during a 24-hour period, averaged over the course of a year, and does not represent the sound level heard at any particular time. In computing CNEL, the total noise energy for each aircraft noise event is counted, with extra weighting added for aircraft noise events occurring between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.(3 times), and 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (10 times). This weighting is done to account for increased annoyance during noise sensitive hours when ambient noise levels are generally lower, and people are more likely to be at home and/or trying to sleep.
Computer Requirements
WebTrak is best viewed using a high-speed broadband Internet connection. A dial-up connection may also be used but loading the application and data will be much slower resulting in longer waiting periods, and it will not be possible to use high levels of acceleration when replaying flights.
WebTrak requires that Flash 9, or higher, be installed on your computer. Flash should automatically update to the correct version. If you have difficulties with Flash then you should refer to the
Adobe product page for Flash 9. Your computer should meet the following minimum specifications:
Internet Explorer 6+ or Firefox 2+ are recommended for Windows users, and Safari on the Mac. Other browsers may work but they have not been tested.
Reliability of Radar Information
The intended use of this Web site is to display the general location and flow of air traffic in the greater Los Angeles region. WebTrak information is not intended for navigational purposes or airline schedule information. While ANOMS processes a large quantity of radar data with a very high level of accuracy, in a small number of cases, flight plan and noise data may not be correlated correctly. You may also notice aircraft icons sometimes "dropping off" and/or suddenly doing unusual things. This is especially true in the area immediately around VNY, but could also occur away from the airport as well. These "ghost" aircraft are due to radar and aircraft transponder reflections from the ground and high rise buildings around the airport, and possibly from terrain and meteorological conditions farther away from VNY.
Liability Statement
This web page and the flight tracking information is a public resource of general information. The use of this site is for illustrative purposes only. The City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports makes no warranty, representation of guarantee as to the content, sequence, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of any of the database information provided herein. The user of this site should not rely on the data provided herein for any reason. The City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports explicitly disclaims any warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The City of Los Angeles and the Department of Airports shall assume no liability for:
To launch VNY WebTrak click here:


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BCHS rallies to beat Taft 51-46
The Taft High girls basketball team closed out the regular season with a tough loss Friday evening after the Bakersfield Christian Eagles came back to defeat the Lady Wildcats 51-46.
Bakersfield Christian had the early momentum after jumping out to a 5-2 advantage. The Lady Wildcats roared back with seven unanswered points thanks in part to Caitlyn Emberson's layup to put Taft up by four.
The Lady Eagles narrowed the deficit to one before taking over the lead 38 seconds into the second quarter.
Taft and Bakersfield Christian would trade baskets before the Lady Eagles strung together four straight points to lead 16-13. After Taft cut the deficit to one, Bakersfield Christian regained a three-point advantage with 2:37 to go. Following the basket, Bakersfield Christian would score only one more field goal the rest of the half. In the meantime, Taft bounced back with a 6-2 run to lead 21-20 at the halftime break.
Starting with Kennedy Kunce's layup, the Lady Wildcats threatened to pull away with seven straight points. After Bakersfield Christian trimed the lead four, Taft took off again to lead by eight. Bakersfield Christian fought back in the final 2:22 to narrow the deficit to 34-32.
Taft held the lead early in the fourth quarter until the Lady Eagles scored on a putback and a free throw to overtake the lead. Halle Neher tied up the game with a free throw but Bakersfield Christian outscored Taft 13-8 the rest of the way to win the game.
To read the full story, pick up Tuesday's Driller.


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"The idea is to support the community and also share with San Diego people our Polish culture," said Father Jerzy Frydrych. "Our Polish food is excellent, as well as the folk dances and performances, the music and the atmosphere of friendly Polish people living away from their home country."
Guests can enjoy performances by Polish folk dancers and musical entertainment by a variety of live bands and street musicians. As always, the mission will also host a mini-bazaar filled with traditional Polish souvenirs, jewelry, ornaments, apparel and art that will be on sale at the event.
For those who come hungry, traditional fare like authentic pierogi, kielbasa or golabki will be available alongside a swig of Polish beer like Zywiec, Okocim or Warka.
For visitors who hope to spend time in prayer or meditation, church leaders will also hold several guided tours with veneration of the relics, as well as Holy Mass during the festival.
"Some people are coming from far away, so people will have an opportunity to see the church," said Frydrych. "It's nice to find out sometimes when people recall their roots. Sometimes they bring their very old Polish mother or grandmother to share the atmosphere … Just come join us and have a good time."
The weekend festival will take place on Friday, Oct. 12 from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 14 from noon to 6 p.m.
Admission to the event is $3 for those 16 years or older. While Friday evening is only open to those 21 years and older, the remainder of the festival is open to all ages. For more information, visit www.polishmission.org/festival.


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Adrenocortical carcinoma is cancer of the adrenal cortex. The adrenal glands are 2 glands located above each kidney. The glands produce important hormones. These hormones regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and many other vital functions, including response to stress and infection. The adrenal cortex is the outside layer of the 2 adrenal glands.
Cancers of the adrenal cortex are rare. The majority of these tumors produce excess hormones. The excess hormones can change hormonal balance.
Risk Factors
There are few known risk factors for cancers of the adrenal cortex. A genetic defect may cause adrenocortical cancer in some children, but the majority of cases are nonhereditary.
Approximately 40% of people with adrenocortical carcinoma do not secrete any hormone. These people do not have any specific symptoms. Adrenocortical carcinoma is discovered as part of a physical examination for abdominal pain.
Other tumors are hormonally active. Excess hormones may produce symptoms such as:
- Pain in the abdomen, side, and/or back
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unintended weight loss
You will be asked about your symptoms. A medical and family history will be collected. A physical exam will be done.
Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
Images may be needed of your bodily structures. These can be made with:
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- PET/CT scan
- Adrenal angiography and/or venography
- X-ray
After cancer of the adrenal cortex is confirmed, you will be referred to a cancer specialist.
Additional testing will be done to determine what stage the cancer has reached. The stage of a tumor is determined by its size and how far it has spread from its point of origin.
Treatment depends on the stage of the tumor and your overall health. Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you.
The following methods are used to treat cancer of the adrenal cortex:
Adrenalectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the adrenal tumor is the first treatment approach for most cases. Surrounding tissues or lymph nodes that contain cancer cells may also need to be removed.
Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
Chemo- or radiation therapy tend to be less effective in treating this type of cancer. They are most often used if the cancer has spread. Chemotherapy may also be used if there is a high chance the cancer will come back.
Other Therapies
- Mitotane is the drug most often used for this type of cancer, especially for hormonally active tumors. It blocks hormone production by the adrenal gland. It also destroys adrenal cancer cells. This drug does have serious side effects. It is sometimes given in combination with other drugs.
- Other hormone-blocking drugs may be given to control the symptoms of excess hormones.
- Research of new drug and radiation therapies are under way. This includes gene and immunotherapy.
If treatment is successful, you will still need to be screened for reoccurrence of the cancer on a periodic basis.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Mohei Abouzied, MD
- Review Date: 05/2016 -
- Update Date: 05/27/2014 -


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Beaumont/Port Arthur
Lamar University's Department of Theatre and Dance breathes new life into one of William Shakespeare's most popular tragedies "Macbeth," opening Feb. 28. The fast-paced thriller of witches, prophesy, murderous ambition and warfare will run in the University Theatre through March 3.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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University of Florida cheerleaders have been grounded.
UF officials told cheerleaders on Nov. 16 they could no longer perform acrobatic stunts and tumble during games. The decision came days after an Orlando Magic cheerleader was injured during a performance at a basketball game.
The Gainesville Sun reports university officials said they took a proactive stance "to protect the cheerleaders" instead of waiting for a tragedy to occur.
Cheerleaders disappointed that they couldn't tumble at their last home game of the season took their protest to social media, tweeting under the hashtag (hash)Unground UFCheer.
Athletic association spokesman Steve McClain told The Sun that the danger associated with acrobatic stunts is "simply not worth the risk to the cheerleaders or to the University of Florida."


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Brewed by Robin Hood Brewing Co
Imperial Stout12.0% ABV45 IBU
Brewed with malt and dark candy syrup. Notes of rich bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, and stonefruit.
Promote your beer to thirsty patrons looking for it.Learn More
Heads up! Robin Hood Black Barrel Bourbon Stout may not be available near you. Follow this beer to get notified when it's available nearby, try searching in a different area, or discover some similar beer.
Russian Imperial Stout10.8% ABV65 IBU
Stone Brewing Escondido, CA
Available at very few places nearby
Brewed in the authentic historical style of an Imperial Russian Stout, this beer is massive. Intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate, this brew goes where few can - and fewer dare try.
Irish Stout4.2% ABV40 IBU
St. James Gate (Guinness)Dublin, Ireland
Available at a few places nearby
Is made from water, barley, roast malt extract, hops, and brewer's yeast. An old and firm favourite.
Imperial Stout8.6% ABV20 IBU
Southern Tier Brewing CompanyLakewood, NY
Available at very few places nearby
Dark and mysterious, the Black Water series is serious about high gravity beer. Reanimate your senses with Warlock's huge roasted malt character, moderate carbonation and spicy pumpkin pie aroma.


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Entry posted by RichManSCTV ·
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Entry posted by RichManSCTV ·
280 Views
Thank You for the Continued Support!
Simtropolis relies mainly on member donations to continue operating. Without your support, we just would not be able to be entering our 15th year online! You've really help make this a great community.
But we still need your support to stay online. If you're able to, please consider a donation to help us stay up and running, so that we can help keep bringing SimCity players together to share our creations.
Expand your city with the best from the Simtropolis Echange.
Make a donation and get one or all three discs today!
By way of a "Thank You" gift, we'd like to send you our STEX Collector's DVD. It's some of the best buildings, lots, maps and mods collected for you over the years. Check out the STEX Collections for more info.
Each donation helps keep Simtropolis online, open and free!
Thank you for reading and enjoy the site!


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More than two years after La Plata County went to trial against a rifle scope manufacturer over the soil and groundwater contamination beneath the jail in Bodo Industrial Park, the county has released a plan to clean up the site.
The plan reflects cleanup actions ordered in the 2011 federal court decision that laid out how site remediation costs would be divided between the county and Brown Group Retail Inc., which manufactured Redfield rifle scopes.
But state and county environmental officials already doubt the plan will be completely effective.
Basically, the judge reduced the scope of remediation in a manner that we feel does not address the source area contamination, and he has also eliminated monitoring or addressing of off-site contamination, which were two major issues we are concerned about, said Colleen Brisnehan, an environmental protection specialist with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The countys 16-page plan is open to public comment until March 30. However, the county cannot alter the plan in response to comments because the remedial actions were laid out in a court order, said Todd Weaver, deputy county attorney.
Our hands are kind of tied here, Weaver said.
Digging into contamination mystery
The countys remedial plan is the product of a long and costly legal process between the county and Brown Group, which operated a Redfield rifle-scope manufacturing plant on the property from the mid-1970s until 1982.
The county bought the property from Brown Group in 1983 and remodeled it for use as the detention center, which opened in 1985.
La Plata County first became aware of possible contamination underneath the jail in 2003. It ordered multiple tests of the site that confirmed that chemical solvents used to clean the rifle scopes had leached into soil and groundwater on the property. The chemicals can cause a range of harmful health effects, including dizziness, lung irritation and damage to the nervous system, liver and lungs, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Two of the chemicals, trichloroethylene and 1,4-Dioxane, probably cause cancer according to the Environmental Protection Agency and International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The tests showed that levels of solvents in both the soil and groundwater exceeded Colorado state standards.
The countys tests also found that chemicals had filtered into the air inside the jail, but the levels were not high enough to present a risk to human health.
In 2010, the county developed a plan to address the contamination through a combination of excavation, soil vapor extraction and soil injections to break down the chemicals.
Taking to the courts
Two years earlier, in 2008, the county sued Brown Group in U.S. District Court in Denver to recover the costs of past and future testing, monitoring and cleanup work.
In March 2011, U.S. Senior Judge Lewis Babcock issued an order that laid out specific remediation actions that were allowed for reimbursement by the county. The court order, which included only the cleanup actions both parties could agree on, stripped away several components of La Plata Countys original plan, reducing the injection wells required, eliminated soil excavation and soil vapor extraction and struck indoor air monitoring requirements. Babcock ordered Brown Group to pay for 75 percent of the proposed remedial actions which will total about $830,000. He also ordered Brown Group to reimburse the county almost $700,000 in past costs related to the site.
Both the county and the state health department say they have doubts about the modified cleanup plan because it requires injection wells to be drilled only downslope, or east of, the source of contamination instead of above it to the west of the jail. The government officials disagreed with Brown Groups assessment of groundwater flows, saying the court-ordered plan could even lead to a recontamination of treated soil and groundwater.
... It should be noted that the Department would not approve of this Revised Proposed Plan if it were submitted at any other contaminated property, Brisnehan wrote in her comments on the plan, released in January.
Calls for comment made to Brown Group company representatives and its legal council were not returned Friday.
If groundwater monitoring shows the first round of injection wells arent effective, the court order left the door open for the county to be reimbursed for additional remedial work, Brisnehan said.
The county estimated that performing another round of cleanups could cost much more than if it would have followed the $2 million plan it created in 2010. At their most expensive, the county said remedial actions could total $6 million.
Though it was not mandated by the judge, the county will continue to test the indoor air quality of the jail, Weaver said.


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HOPE, Maine (AP) — Maine has its moose, lobsters and puffins. Add elephants to the list.
Two retired circus elephants, 41-year-old Opal and 43-year-old Rosie, have been transplanted to a newly built elephant rehabilitation center in an unlikely spot, the countryside of Maine.
Jim Laurita worked with Opal and Rosie decades ago when he was an elephant handler for a traveling circus. A veterinarian, Laurita now treats the Asian elephants for ailments and works to make their retirement comfortable in what could be described as an old folk's home for elephants. He gives tours to school groups and has made it his mission to spread the word about the need to protect elephants from extinction.
"These guys are the Grand Canyon of animals, and they're worth preserving," Laurita said on a recent day inside the barn he built for the animals.
Elephants are the world's largest land animals. Slightly smaller than their African counterparts, Asian elephants are endangered, with fewer than 50,000 living in the wild and 16,000 more in captivity, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Laurita, 54, and his brother, Tom, worked for Carson & Barnes Circus in the late 1970s and early '80s, traveling across the Midwest. Laurita handled elephants, his brother was a ringmaster and they had a juggling act together.
Laurita went on to become a veterinarian and worked with elephants during stints at the Bronx Zoo and at Wildlife Safari in Oregon before settling down with his wife in Hope, a town of about 1,500 people outside the picturesque coastal town of Camden.
A few years ago, Laurita and his brother had the dream to bring Opal and Rosie to Maine from an elephant facility in Oklahoma. They formed a nonprofit, raised about $100,000 from individuals and small businesses and built an elephant center in a state known for lighthouses and long winters — but certainly not elephants.
Since the elephants' arrival in late October, Laurita has been treating Rosie for nerve damage to her shoulder with therapeutic ultrasound, ointment and exercise. He uses foot baths with water jets to treat her as well as Opal's leg and foot problems. In time, he plans to use laser treatments, acupuncture and hydrotherapy with an underwater treadmill system.
He says the first three weeks the animals were at his center have been the "best three weeks of their lives."
Laurita's plans came under fire even before ground was broken for the barn. An animal rights group, In Defense of Animals, called Laurita's center unsafe and inhumane, said it would "masquerade as an elephant 'sanctuary'" and deemed Maine's climate inappropriate for elephants.
The California-based group even got comedian Lily Tomlin to write a letter to Maine Gov. Paul LePage opposing Laurita's plans.
Laurita shrugs it off. Asian elephants in their native range live in places where it snows and several zoos in cold climates have Asian elephants, he said. Like people, some elephants like the snow while others don't, he added.
He maintained that there is no better place Rosie and Opal could be right now.
"Show me any other elephants getting this kind of care," Laurita said. "I challenge you to find that."
The animals, 14,800 pounds between them, live in a 3,120-square-foot barn with a 28-foot-high ceiling at its peak and the smell of hay in the air. On this day, they eat hay and throw it onto their backs with their long trunks, rub against each other and rock back and forth on the sand-covered floor that is heated with an underground radiant heating system.
Outside the barn, the animals have a little more than an acre to roam in a paddock protected by two electrified fences where they can wander among a few trees, lay in a large pile of sand or roll in a mud hole they've begun making. Shortly after arriving, the pair uprooted and knocked down an apple tree for fun, then trumpeted loudly with pride.
Every day, they each eat 3½ bales of hay, 10 pounds of Purina elephant chow and another 10 pounds of fruit and vegetables, Laurita said. They have a liking for carrots, apples, broccoli and cantaloupes but haven't taken to mushrooms, asparagus or sprouts.
For now, there are no plans to bring more elephants here. The focus instead is on raising additional funds for a planned educational center, a viewing deck, the underwater treadmill and day-to-day operating costs.
Laurita wants his elephants to be in full view of as many people as possible. School groups have been visiting regularly to hear Laurita talk about the need to protect the animals, which are under threat from habitat loss and poachers who go after their ivory.
High school senior Greg Stevens, 17, had never seen an elephant before visiting Laurita's place with other students from a school in Belfast.
"It's pretty cool they're helping them out here," he said. "I didn't even know they could live here."
Online: www.hopeelephants.org


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Pa. slots revenue rises for 6th straight year
Slot machine revenue has continued its history of increasing every year since slots began operating in Pennsylvania in 2006, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
The PGCB said slots revenue for the 2012 calendar was $2.47 million, 2.7 percent higher than the 2011 total. The average combined number of slot machines operating daily was 26,476 in December 2012 compared with 26,418 in December 2011. Pennsylvania taxes slot machines at 55 percent.
"While competition for gaming dollars from bordering states will continue to escalate, the revenue results from legalized casino gaming in Pennsylvania continue to be strong," said PGCB Chairman William H. Ryan Jr. "In addition, a healthy casino industry has resulted in the employment of more than 16,000 persons, stability in the Commonwealth's horse racing industry, funds for major economic development and community-based projects, and property tax relief for all Pennsylvania homeowners."
Pennsylvania's 11 casinos all offer both slot machine and table game gambling.


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We are certified packaging experts and only The UPS Store® has the Pack & Ship Guarantee.
The UPS Store in ALLENTOWN has many of the business services and products that your small business needs. Whether that be printing, office supplies or high quality shipping, we are here to help your business thrive. So stop by or call us today.
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This portable canopy clamps to any rectangular wooden table and provides up to 75' sq. of shade. The unit's adjustable bracket clamps latch onto picnic tables, the three-piece frame sets up in seconds, and the canopy simply slides over the frame. The canopy tilts 20� in either direction, adjusts up to 9' high, and locks into place at the desired position. Made from a durable polyester fabric, the canopy filters the sun's UV rays and provides reliable shelter from rain. The powder coated steel frame, high impact injection molded connectors, and rip-stop canopy ensure years of reliable use. The entire unit folds to fit into the included duffel bag. Minor assembly. Fits tables 4' to 10' wide. Open: 58" H x 90" W x 120" L. (27 lbs.)
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The Clamp On Picnic Table Canopy comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. Items that we sell are guaranteed for their normal life under standard non-commercial use.
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What was available to only a few has finally reached the fingertips of the waiting public – Facebook's new graph search feature is now available for use from anyone and everyone.
What was available to only a few has finally reached the fingertips of the waiting public – Facebook's new graph search feature is now available for use from anyone and everyone.
When Facebook tweaks the design or application of its social media pages the company usually rolls out those changes subtly. That was basically the same case here – with no ads being run to promote the new feature and no big press release about graph search going public. Users were simply given the option to download the new application.
Graph search is Facebook's next big step in fixing the financial problems they've been having since the company went public late last year, and it's actually a pretty cool feature.
There was some anxiety about the privacy features initially regarding graph search, since you can find just about anyone with a click of a button. Simply search "people who live in St. James Minnesota" and you'll find thousands of people who have listed St. James as their current city.
You can click on their profile from there and look at anything that's public, or choose to narrow your search.
That definitely does cross some boundaries, but as usual, Facebook users have the ability to decide what is public information and what isn't on their profile.
What might be a burden for some is actually a blessing for others, especially with this mass search function. If you are looking for photos of St. James, or stories about St. James, or just people who like St. James, you can search for that.
I searched my hometown, Glenwood, Minn., and found a photo album filled with pictures of the city from the 1920s and earlier. It was a pretty neat find.
The graph search function also acts as the new 'Google' by allowing its users to do definitive web searches powered by Bing. Articles that pop up on the home page now may flag your attention and ask if you'd like to do a web search on the subject of the article. This is a great feature for people interested in researching a story further, or students looking to gain some information from multiple news sources.
Usually Facebook faces a lot of backlash when they release a new feature or change their design a bit – ironically people usually complain about these changes through a 'status' update. However, I don't foresee too many people complaining about the graph search feature. Its positive uses far out-weigh the cons. And, for those people who are determined to be unsearchable, Facebook still offers some of the strictest privacy settings on the web.


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Rocky Long Range - Square Toe Western Boot
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Rocky Long Range - Square Toe Western Boot
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Even before you pull on this pair of Rocky Long Range Western boots, you will be able to feel just how amazingly comfortable the Long Range leather is. Although, once you have them on for the first time, you will be astonished at how their extreme level of comfort prevents you from having to break them in; they'll feel like you have owned them for years. By blending the trail brown color on the foot with the rich-looking caramel hue on the shaft, these 11" pull-on boots are able to look incredibly masculine and they'll look good with everything in your closet. An Expansion Fit Seam allows you to glide your heel down into these boots and take them out with ease.
The Dri-Lex Eco® linings make a huge difference when it comes to controlling moisture; you'll also be pleased with how lightweight they are and how the softness of the material prevents the interior from chafing your legs. For additional comfort and to offer you valuable odor resistance, Rocky added a Long Range footbed down into the interior; it's removable, so once it begins to show signs of wear and tear, you can always recycle it and add in another insole.
Being constructed with a triple-stitched upper and having double rows of welt stitching certainly make this Western have outstanding durability. Although, to enhance the footwear's durableness and overall strength even further, Rocky assembled this Long Range boot with Goodyear welt construction. Another benefit of building the square-toe boots this way is that you can take them to a shoe repairman and have the outsole completely replaced once it has worn down.
A Stabili-Shank has been built into these men's boots; it provides comforting arch support that makes it easy to stand/walk for long periods of time as well as ensuring that you have complete lateral stability. The Long Range outsole has a 1.5mm lug depth, it's incredibly shallow so you are able to walk across mud-covered areas or those that are covered in dust with complete ease and it provides you with the most excellent durability, flexibility, stability and comfort imaginable.
Men always need one reliable pair of boots that they can wear to look good and trust that they will be comfortable regardless of how long they are on their feet. Give these Rocky Long Range Square Toe Western Boots (#8075) a try, they might just become your favorite pair.
- Double row welt stitch
- Dri-Lex® Eco lining with moisture management
- Long Range heel
- Expansion Fit Seam for easy on and off
- Long Range X outsole system of ten peak performance components
- Triple stitched construction
- Long Range removable dual-density footbed is recyclable & odor resistant
- Long Range square toe
- Stabili-Shank™ provides edge-to-edge lateral stability and total arch support
- 11 Inches in height
- Goodyear® welt construction


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Description:2 x HPE 450GB 3.5-inch (LFF) Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 6Gb/s 15K
Enterprise (ENT) Hot-Plug Hard Drivein G8 G9 (Gen8 Gen9) SmartDrive Carrier (SC) (as pictured)Genuine HPE serial number and firmware
Part Number(s)
Option Part# 652615-S21
Spare Part# 653951-001
Assembly Part# 516810-002
Assembly Part# 533871-002
Model# EF0450FARMV
Model# EF0450FATFE
Overview:Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) provides a superior storage solution. With some storage requirements escalating and others becoming more complex factors such as flexibility performance increased reliability greater density security scalability and accessibility are more critical than ever. Today's organizations consist of different kinds of environments. Enterprise data centers must be online 24 x 7 fulfill requests from numerous users simultaneously and allow for constant growth and expansion while in operation. Other customer environments require high capacity storage and high data availability for low I/O environments. HP's portfolio of SAS drives meets all these demands.


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Through an analysis of data sets on four parameters - sea ice totals, sea surface temperatures, near surface temperatures and surface type - students must decide whether the Arctic is experiencing climate change and predict any potential effects on... (View More) the rest of the planet. The activity in this lesson involves card sorting, a technique in which index cards, each containing content or diagrams, are grouped according to unifying concepts. The cards in this lesson contain graphs that students have downloaded, summaries they have written, and questions they have derived from the lesson. The graphs used in this activity show satellite data sets for a location above the Arctic Circle. Students will analyze and group the cards and will then write a conclusion in which they explain the connection between the four parameters, and relate them back to climate change. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary, and a list of related AP Environmental Science topics. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students


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Magic and Pasta: Poschiavo + Gioie di Fattoria
"Life is a combination of magic and pasta."
– Federico Fellini
A couple of years ago, I traveled to Bologna to visit a cousin. Based a little ways outside the main city, the family home was situated amidst a gently rolling landscape populated with apricot trees and vineyards. While I was there, I thought to myself that if I ever left the United States for retirement, it might just be to Italy. The weather was wonderful – hot enough to make you want to swim but not hot enough to be unbearable and the food was out of this world! There were a number of firsts on that trip, including my first taste of limoncello. However, one of my most memorable food experiences was tasting fresh tortellini made by a lady just down the road.
Legend has it that tortellini was designed to look like Venus' navel. A lot of the pastas that I have seen here in the States – you would think she had the biggest bellybutton known to man. When I saw the tortellini in Bologna, however, I could understand where this legend had come from – small, delicate and perfectly formed, these tortellini definitely looked like they could be modeled after a bellybutton. Appearance aside, however, it was the taste that was truly memorable – tender and flavorsome, these little nuggets of deliciousness were simply served with a dash of cream.
Here at the shop, we can special order fresh pasta for folks but I know this is not always a viable option since we need at least a day's notice. Sometimes it's just handy to have a good dried pasta in the larder for spontaneous pasta-making.
As well, fresh pasta (pasta fresco) and dried pasta (pasta secca) are really two different beasts. Traditionally, fresh pasta is made with wheat flour, egg and sometimes a bit of water or wine. Pasta secca, on the other hand, is made simply with durum semolina and water.
Since working at Formaggio Kitchen, I have become a devotee of Poschiavo pasta. This pasta comes to us from Grigioni canton in Switzerland where it is made by the Fisler family. The Fislers have run Molino e Pastificio Poschiavo since 1900 and use very high quality, hard durum wheat. In fact, Poschiavo pasta looks almost like whole wheat pasta – it is light brown in color with flecks of wheat.
I generally get Poschiavo's spaghetti – unless I am having capellini or angel hair pasta, I tend to like my tubular pastas on the thicker side which this spaghetti is. When cooked, Poschiavo has a nice mouthfeel – offering good resistance, it's never mushy. This spaghetti is possibly the most flavorful dried pasta I have ever tasted – it's savory with a slight nuttiness.
As I sit here typing, Eric, our beer buyer and grillmaster, just passed by and we began chatting pasta. He is another of the many Poschiavo devotees here at the shop, lauding the fact that it is "forgiving and easy to work with" and that it "soaks up the sauce" really well, even while retaining its firm texture. Whereas I generally get the spaghetti, Eric tells me that his Poschiavo of choice is their ternetta which he likes because he makes a lot of pasta Alfredo and finds the flat shape particularly conducive to maximizing the conveyance of sauce to the mouth.
A recent challenger to Poschiavo in my larder is a brand new pasta we have just started bringing in: Gioie di Fattoria. Just a moment ago, fellow colleague, Erin, sat down next to me here in the office and, as I did with Eric a short while before, began chatting pasta. With enthusiasm, she relayed to me that she recently took home Gioie di Fattoria's ceppe pasta. As a hot winter meal, she prepared it with a mixture of simple crushed tomatoes and some of Julie's housemade sweet Italian sausage. When I asked about cheese, she added with a grin that the dish was topped with "a lot" of our Parmigiano Reggiano. Thing is – the pasta didn't need any accoutrements – Erin confided, "it was so good, we were eating it out of the pot!"
Gioie di Fattoria pasta is made by Giulio Amadio and is organically produced in the town of Controguerra in the Teramo province of Northern Abruzzo (just below Le Marche). Giulio grows a lot of different products – from beans, to wheat – and he turns his wheat into pasta. He uses an ancient and traditional wheat variety called Saragolla which is an ancestor of modern durum wheat cereals. It was introduced to the Abruzzo region by people who emigrated from Egypt in 400AD. The Persian word 'zarg' for 'sun' became 'sarg' meaning 'yellow.' The ending '-golla' comes from the word 'golyo,' meaning 'stone' or 'seed.' I am told that Saragolla has many of the characteristics of Kamut wheat, including a higher content of proteins and minerals.
Giulio also grows a particular type of farro called Livesa Rossa which he turns into flour and pasta. Our Cambridge wine buyer, Gemma, met Giulio when visiting a vineyard across the way from his farm and she swears this is the best farro pasta she's ever had. Tim, monger, buyer and webmaster here at the shop, recently took home the farro spaghetti and served it with a simple ragu made with tomato sauce, carrots and browned beef. Topping it all off? Shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano. When I asked how he found the pasta, Tim remarked to me that it held together really well – unlike other farro pastas he has had – and that the flavor was deliciously hearty and nutty.
At this time of year, a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano is pretty standard in my fridge – pasta being one of my favorite hot winter meals. Quick and tasty (particularly with good basic ingredients) it is a cinch to put together. Branching out from the basics, I am keen to try a couple of recipes from Mario Batali's Molto Italiano cookbook – his spaghetti with caramelized onions, anchovies and toasted bread crumbs or his baked pasta with ricotta and ham. As always seems to be the case: too many recipes, too little time. Maybe when I retire to Italy, I will have time to make them all. Meantime, I will mine the amazing dried pastas we are importing to the shop!


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Do devices really have a sweet spot?
Opinions vary greatly regarding the state of the economy. Many American households are still in a "hunker-down" mode, trying to save a few dollars wherever they can.
A family might still take a vacation, but it's somewhere closer to home so that it amounts to either a day trip or is no more than an overnight excursion.
To save a little bit on a household's transportation budget line item, trips to the grocery store are being consolidated so that single-item excursions are eliminated.
As utility bills creep higher, people are doing what they can to conserve a little here and there. In the Henley household, this has meant closing the heat vent to an unused bedroom. The back door is regularly dead-bolted so that the winter jet stream of cold air isn't continuously invading. A light in rooms where nobody is present is shut off as is the television when the only one seemingly watching it is a stuffed animal. Anyone washing their hands or doing dishes is vigilant about making sure the faucet is turned off completely.
If not working properly, potentially one of the big money wasters in a home is the toilet. If allowed to continue running, one could find a very expensive water bill arriving at the end of the month.
There have been times when the inner seal of our upstairs toilet has worn, allowing water to continue flowing long after the tank should have filled. A new rubber "flapper" typically takes care of the issue.
Recently I've noticed after the toilet's tank has filled there has been a sound of water continuing to run. It hasn't bothered me too much because (A) unlike when the rubber seal needs replacing, the amount of water still running is very slight; (B) unlike when the rubber seal needs replacing, this slight flow of water will stop within a minute or so.
I know, I know. A real handy man would break out his low-riding jeans and tools, and tear into the apparatus and keep tweaking until the problem is solved. Unfortunately, I'm not the handiest of men, so I've chosen to not touch something that's still functioning pretty close to normally.
Recently, however, as I exited the bathroom with water still trickling in the toilet bowl, I found myself being scolded by my teen-age daughter, Anna.
After explaining my philosophy regarding trying to fix something that isn't fully broken, Anna offered me some insight.
"Let me show you what I do to get it to quit running," she said.
She then raised a foot and slightly tapped the gray toilet bowl. Amazingly, as if on cue, the water ceased its trickle.
There are devices whose behavior would suggest they have a "sweet spot." It's a "magical" area that through time and trial someone has determined they can touch, punch or rub to get an item to start or stop.
I cite as an example the 1985 movie "Back to the Future." Remember near the end of the film when Marty McFly is having trouble starting the DeLorean at the appointed moment necessary to ensure he will catch the lightning bolt that is needed to power his trip back to the future? In frustration, McFly hits his head on the steering wheel and the car starts. He found its "sweet spot."
While my illustration is simply Hollywood fantasy, Anna's success got me believing there might be some fact to this fiction. But later in the day, as I stood repeatedly bumping my trickling toilet without positive results, I felt a bit foolish and "flush-tered." Did I simply lack the touch, or was it time to sour on the whole "sweet spot" notion?


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Cannon MountainFebruary 06. 2016 12:10AM
Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia, NH 03580
Ph: 603-823-8800
Cannon's 80-passenger aerial tramway quickly ascends 2,022' over a horizontal distance of more than a mile whisking you above the timberline to the 4,200-foot summit for spectacular views of the White Mountains, into Maine, Vermont and even Canada.
Walking trails leave from the summit station to an observation tower with panoramic views of the valleys and mountains, cafeterias and the New England Ski Museum.
Franconia Notch State Park
Website: www.cannonmt.com
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Voters will have choices to make with six candidates running for three seats on Durango City Council. The race will be decided in a mail-in election with ballots due April 2.
The six candidates made a deadline for the ballot by returning petitions with 25 signatures by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
They are incumbent and former mayor Christina Rinderle, former La Plata Electric Association finance controller Keith Brant, former Durango School District 9-R board member Floyd Patterson, architect Dean Brookie, Ska Brewery Co. server and artist Kristen Smith and technology journalist Jordan Golson.
Current Mayor Doug Lyon is term-limited from running again and Councilor Paul Broderick is not seeking reelection.
Ballots will be mailed March 15. Voters will be asked to vote for three of the six candidates. Election results will be known on the final night of election, April 2.
The top three vote-getters will be sworn into four-year terms during the regular April 16 council meeting. They will join incumbents Sweetie Marbury and Dick White.
Campaign season is well under way with Rinderle distributing green-and-brown campaign signs and Brookie making his candidacy known with a short announcement on Tuesday before 40 supporters at the Durango Transit Center, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building that Brookie designed.
Brookie described himself as a moderate willing to listen to all sides.
Supporter Laura Godfrey, who said she worked on the campaigns for councilors Marbury and White, said candidates win races to the council by walking the neighborhoods and knocking on doors.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce, the Durango Area Association of Realtors and La Plata Forum are organizing a candidates forum with a buffet lunch at 11:30 a.m. March 12, at the DoubleTree Hotel.
Tickets are $15 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 247-0312.


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Klout has been one of my go to punchlines for some time now. For example – in May I wrote a post titled "My Detailed Thoughts On Klout" that contained a single word in the post itself: "Why?"
The problem I had with Klout was that it was just another meaningless social game to play. People were wrecking their heads trying to game it and get their score up higher.
To keep his [Klout] score up, Lee tweets up to 45 times a day—an average of one every 32 minutes. "People like food porn," he notes, "so I try to post a lot of pictures of things I eat." Lee once took a vacation during which he had no access to the Internet. This made him uncomfortable. "I was worried that brands couldn't get in touch with me. It's easy for them to forget about you. And I knew my Klout score would go down if I stopped tweeting for too long."
That's just pathetic. And then having companies focus their marketing attention on these people. Lee got an Audi A8 for a few days. More:
Matt Thomson, Klout's VP of platform, says that a number of major companies—airlines, big-box retailers, hospitality brands—are discussing how best to use Klout scores. Soon, he predicts, people with formidable Klout will board planes earlier, get free access to VIP airport lounges, stay in better hotel rooms, and receive deep discounts from retail stores and flash-sale outlets. "We say to brands that these are the people they should pay attention to most," Thomson says. "How they want to do it is up to them."
So my "Why?" post was just that – this wasn't something I had a big problem with, it just seemed kind of stupid.
Not long after that Chi-Hua Chien from Kleiner Perkins contacted me and convinced me to give the company another look. Yes, the current product was a bit cheesy he admitted. But that was all going to change in the very near future, he said. MG Siegler and I soon sat down with CEO Joe Fernandez at the companies offices in San Francisco, saw the product vision and met some of the people who work at the company.
And Chi-Hua was right. I've changed my mind. So much so that CrunchFund has now invested in Klout, and we're big believers in what they're doing.
They've relaunched the product and a lot of the tricks that people used to game the system are gone. And better, Justin Bieber is no longer considered the most influential person in the world on Klout.
Klout will have a constant, ongoing battle in fighting gaming. But that's ok. Google is in a constant fight defending the integrity of PageRank, too. And yet we find it interesting. Klout is very much like a PageRank for people and things. And it can be much more useful than just helping companies hand out perks.
First, there's a lot of data being collected and processed by Klout. A staggering amount of data about people and things from a wide variety of social services. No one else is doing this. The end Klout scores are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, on what this company can eventually do with all that data.
Second, Klout's head is in the right place. Here's a snippet from an email exchange I had with Fernandez not long after my "Why?" post:
In the end, my goal is to build a product that goes beyond the gimmicks and drives real value for everyone. I believe that every person who creates content online has influence to some group of people and on some topic. Everyone also wants to feel listened to and interesting and I think we can do this in a way that empowers people to become better, more effective, online citizens.
That's what I really like about the company's goals. It isn't to get people like Lee to spend all day tweeting to try to drive his score up. It's to showcase what's interesting about people, and help them "feel listened to."
Klout's goals are sort of the opposite of what I first presumed. They're encouraging constructive online behavior, and they're gathering and processing tons and tons of data along the way.
That's why I like Klout so much. And why CrunchFund recently invested.


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dubsnap wrote:Wasting Money
woot offs
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Huskers Head to Arizona for Westrook Invite
The Nebraska women's golf team continues its spring season by competing in the Westbrook Invitational Feb. 24-25 in Peoria, Ariz.
The Huskers will play three rounds over two days on the par-72, 6,269-yard layout of the Vistas Course at the Westbrook Village Golf Club in a tournament hosted by Wisconsin. Nebraska's five-player lineup will take on a talented 13-team field in Arizona that includes Arkansas, Colorado State, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, Washington, Washington State and the Badgers.
The tournament will tee off on Monday, Feb. 24, with 36 holes beginning at 9:30 a.m. (CT), before playing Tuesday's final round at 9:30 a.m.
Katelyn Wright leads the Husker lineup. The junior from Incline Village, Nev., produced a pair of top-five finishes and four top-20 showings during the fall. She opened the spring by leading the Huskers with a tie for 59th in a loaded field to open the spring in Puerto Rico. Wright leads NU with a 75.67 stroke average.
Fellow junior Steffi Neisen finished second among the Huskers in Puerto Rico, closing the tournament with a season-best 74 in the final round. Neisen ranks third among the Huskers with a 78.78 stroke average.
Freshman Cassie Deeg added three top-20 showings for the Huskers during the fall and ranks second on the team with a 77.17 stroke average. Redshirt freshmen Morgan Smejkal (Columbus, Neb.) and Jackie O'Doherty (Lincoln, Neb.) have been regulars in the NU lineup all season, while redshirt freshman Cassidy Stelzmiller will join the Huskers as an individual in Arizona.
Live scoring for the tournament will be available at GolfStat.com.
Westbrook Spring Invitational
Location: Peoria, Ariz.
Host: Wisconsin
Course: Westbrook Village Golf Club (Vistas Course)
Par - 72, 6,269 Yards
Start Times - All Times Central
Sunday, Feb. 24 - 9:30 a.m. (36 holes)
Monday, Feb. 25 - 9:30 a.m. (18 holes)
Nebraska Lineup
1. Katelyn Wright
2. Cassie Deeg
3. Steffi Neisen
4. Morgan Smejkal
5. Jackie O'Doherty
Individual: Cassidy Stelzmiller
Westbrook Invitational Field (13 Teams)
Arkansas, Colorado State, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin
Live Scoring: www.golfstat.com
Huskers Open Spring at Lady Puerto Rico Classic
Steffi Neisen and Katelyn Wright led Nebraska to its best round of the tournament on the final day of the Lady Puerto Rico Classic on Feb. 12.
Neisen, a junior from New Prague, Minn., posted Nebraska's best individual round of the tournament with a two-over-par 74 on the 6,191-yard layout of the River Course at the Rio Mar Beach Resort. Wright, a junior from Incline Village, Nev., added a final round 75 to help the Huskers shoot a 310. The Huskers closed the tournament in 15th place (326-326-310-962) in a loaded tournament field that featured 11 of the top-36 teams in the nation.
Wright tied for 59th at 235 as Nebraska's top individual finisher in the 84-player field. Neisen finished second among the Huskers and tied for 70th overall at 240.
True freshman Cassie Deeg managed a final-round 80 to finish 76th overall at 244 in Nebraska's opening tournament of the spring. Redshirt freshman Jackie O'Doherty (80-84-82-246) tied for 76th, while fellow redshirt freshman Morgan Smejkal finished 82nd at 257.
No. 6 Alabama won the tournament by 13 strokes (871) ahead of SEC rival and No. 12 Arkansas (884). No. 20 Texas Tech finished third at 885.
Arkansas' Emily Tubert (213) held off Alabama's Stephanie Meadows (214) and Texas Tech's Kimberly Kaufman (214) to claim medalist honors.
Former Husker Sheils Earns Cactus Tour Win
Madeleine Sheils captured a tournament title in her first event as a professional golfer, winning the season-opening event at Club West on the Cactus Tour on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
The native of Boise, Idaho, fired three straight even-par rounds of 72 on the 6,077-yard layout at Club West to finish the 54-hole event at 216.
Sheils entered the final round in third place at 144, two shots back of Caitlin McCleary and one stroke behind Sadena Parks in a 23-player field. Sheils closed the tournament with a one-stroke victory over Parks, who managed a two-over 74 in the final round to take runner-up honors.
Sheils graduated from Nebraska in December of 2012, after competing as one of the top Huskers on the course for four seasons from 2009 through 2012. Prior to graduation she earned a spot in the final stage of qualifying at LPGA Q-School. She bypassed the final stage to graduate, but did secure her Symetra Tour card.
Wright Named Big Ten Golfer of the Week
After producing the best tournament performance of her career, Nebraska's Katelyn Wright captured her first Big Ten Golfer-of-the-Week award on Oct. 11.
The junior from Incline Village, Nev., carded a career-best 217 over three rounds on her way to a career-best tie for third at the Price's "Give 'Em Five" Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M., Oct. 8-10.
Wright opened the tournament by matching her career best with a 71 on the par-72, 6,319-yard layout of the New Mexico State Golf Course on Oct. 8. She added a second-round 74 on Oct. 9, before closing the tournament with an even-par 72 in the final round to finish at one-over-par for 54 holes. Her tie for third in a 76-player field marked her first career top-five finish.
Wright, who is in her third year in the Nebraska lineup, has shot 79 or better in 16 of her 18 rounds this season.
Neisen, Wright Expected to Lead Huskers in 2012-13
The Nebraska women's golf team is one of the youngest in the Big Ten and the nation in 2012-13. Returning starters Steffi Neisen and Katelyn Wright lead a nine-player Husker roster that is without any seniors. The remainder of the roster consists of seven freshmen, including four true freshmen and a trio of redshirts.
"This year looks to be a rebuilding year on paper, with only two returning starters and no other players with collegiate experience," Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said. "But the potential is there for us to become a pretty good team. Steffi and Katelyn will need to provide strong leadership on and off the golf course to help our young team grow and develop."
Neisen has plenty of experience to draw upon as she assumes the role of a leader. The junior from New Prague, Minn., was in the NU lineup for 65 consecutive rounds in her first two seasons. She completed her sophomore season with Nebraska's No. 2 stroke average (76.67) in 2011-12. Her year included a school-record round of 66 at the Mountain View Collegiate on March 23. She notched three top-10 tournament finishes on the year, including a tie for second at the Alamo Invitational, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, when she fired a career-best 214 over three rounds. She closed her second year in Nebraska's starting lineup by tying for 25th at the 2012 Big Ten Championships.
A standout in the classroom and in the community, Neisen was honored as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient, while also earning academic All-Big Ten honors. She also captured NGCA Scholastic All-America recognition for the second time.
Wright was also in the starting lineup throughout the 2011-12 campaign. The junior from Incline Village, Nev., competed in all 33 rounds for the Huskers and continued to shave strokes off her game as the season progressed. She started slow and battled some health issues in the fall, but came on strong in the spring.
"I'm really excited to see what Katelyn will do this year. She has the ability to not only be our most improved player, but also one of the most improved in the Big Ten," Krapfl said. "When you take a multi-sport athlete like Katie was, it takes a couple of years to catch up with those players who only played golf. But when that athlete breaks out, great things can happen. With Katie's work ethic, she has put in the time it takes and is ready to break out."
Redshirt Freshmen Making Impact in Second Seasons
Second-year Huskers Jackie O'Doherty, Morgan Smejkal and Cassidy Stelzmiller all redshirted in their first seasons in Nebraska's program in 2011-12.
O'Doherty and Smejkal competed in Nebraska's top five at each of the Huskers' fall tournaments, while Stelzmiller played as an individual outside NU's lineups three times this season.
O'Doherty, a two-time Nebraska Class A state champion at Lincoln East High School, was a three-time Class A all-state pick in golf. She was also a member of the 2011 Four State Team and the 2010 Nebraska Junior Golf All-Star Team. She was also a competitive swimmer and posted better than a 4.0 GPA at Lincoln East.
"Jackie is a a great student with a wonderful personality and a good work ethic. She has good length, a solid golf swing and possesses a strong competitive side," Krapfl said. "She is coming off a hand injury that had her sidelined much of the summer, but it may be a blessing in disguise because she was forced to only work on her short game. It is going to be a battle between the freshmen to see who emerges into a prominent role in the lineup, but I would not be surprised if Jackie captures one of those spots."
Smejkal, a Columbus, Neb., native, was a two-time Class A all-state selection and produced a pair of top-five finishes at the state tournament. She was also a member of the Nebraska Junior Golf All-Star Team in 2009 and 2010, and she was a member of the 2010 and 2011 Nebraska Four State Team. She was also an outstanding basketball player who set Columbus High's three-point record.
"Morgan was recruited as an athlete with potential to develop into a college-level golfer, and she has embraced that goal," Krapfl said. "We have had quite a few hard-working athletes in my tenure, and Morgan's work ethic is right up there with the best. You've got to love a kid who gives it her all in everything she does. Not only that, she has also embraced what being a great teammate is all about. Morgan has good length, is meticulous in her thought process and hates to lose. As soon as she can get away from thinking too much and just play, she could develop into one heck of a player."
Stelzmiller was a highly regarded recruit from Placerville, Calif., who had success as a junior player competing in several major events, including the Women's Trans.
"We headed into last season thinking Cassidy could help us right away, and even though I think she could have, I'm glad she elected to take the year off and develop her game. It is exciting to think of how far she can progress in the next four years," Krapfl said. "She has excellent length and a great touch on the greens. With a year of maturity, we are hoping for big things from Cassidy."
Deeg Leads Four True Freshmen on NU Roster
The final ingredients to Nebraska's 2012-13 team come from four true freshmen, including two international players. The freshmen will all be given an opportunity to compete for positions in the lineup.
Cassie Deeg has made an immediate impact. The Hugo, Minn., native owns three top-20 finishes, including a 10th-place showing at the Missouri State/Payne Stewart Memorial, Oct. 15-16.
Deeg captured the 2011 Minnesota state title while helping Stillwater Area High School to runner-up team finishes in both 2011 and 2012. She added a third-place individual Class 3A finish in 2012, and was also the Minnesota Women's Match Play runner-up.
Another true freshman with an excellent chance to contribute early is Hannah Luebke. One of the top young golfers in Germany, Luebke became the first European player to sign with the Huskers since Catha Fogelberg (Sweden) in 1997-98. A native of Stuttgart, Luebke is the second German to join the Huskers in history, following in the footsteps of Shirin Hornecker (Munich), who played for Nebraska from 1996 to 1998. Luebke finished second in the BWGW International Match Play and third at the German Youth National Championships. At 6-foot-1, Luebke was also an All-German performer as a middle blocker/outside hitter on the volleyball court in both 2009 and 2010. Luebke was limited during the fall by a back injury, but did compete in six rounds as an individual outside of NU's lineup. She managed an 83.00 stroke average over six rounds.
Huskers Continue to Set the Pace in the Classroom
Nebraska leads the nation with 61 NGCA Scholastic All-Americans since 1989, including two in 2012. Madeleine Sheils capped her outstanding career on and off the course as the fourth four-time NGCA Scholastic All-America award winner in Husker history. Sheils joined Jackie Beste, Allison Stewart and JC Stevenson as four-time Husker NGCA Scholastic All-Americans.
Sheils was joined on the 2012 NGCA Scholastic All-America squad for the second straight year by Steffi Neisen. The junior from New Prague, Minn., takes aim at her third straight award in 2013.
Overall, Nebraska owns one of the richest academic traditions in all of collegiate sports with a nation-leading 302 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all teams and all sports. NU also led the nation with 16 NCAA Top Eight Award winners.


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Structure and Organization
Several offices make up the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Each plays a key role in protecting America's food supply.
Organization Chart (PDF Only) | Alternate Text
Detailed Organizational flow chart for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. (Key Agency Contacts reflects any changes made since the chart was published.)
- FSIS EMPLOYEES: For More Information About the Organization
The employee intranet, InsideFSIS is the place to go for expanded information from and about your own program area.
Programs & Offices
Office of the Administrator (OA)
The Office of the Administrator oversees FSIS' major programs. The Administrator is FSIS' top official, with overall responsibility for all inspection and standard-setting activities.Includes:
- Civil Rights
This staff provides advice, guidance and assistance on the implementation, management and compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity programs.
- Office of International Coordination
- Internal Controls Staff
- U.S. Codex Office
Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)
A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has responsibility for budget and financial management in FSIS. The CFO leads development of policies and financial reporting systems to support FSIS' public health objectives.
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
The Office of the Chief Information Officer is responsible for supporting food safety, public health, and food security requirements through development and implementation of information systems.
Office of Data Integration and Food Protection (ODIFP)
ODIFP coordinates and manages all homeland security activities within FSIS. It also houses the Data Analysis Staffs, which coordinate the Agency's data collection, analysis, and integration activities across all program areas.
Office of Field Operations (OFO)
The Office Of Field Operations manages a nationwide program of inspection and enforcement activities regarding meat, poultry and egg products.
Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit (OIEA)
Office is responsible for assessing program functions and operations under FSIS.
Office of Management (OM)
The Office of Management provides a full range of administrative and support services to FSIS.
Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training (OOEET)
Office provides consolidated access, resources and technical support for small and very small plants to better assist them in providing safe and wholesome meat, poultry and processed egg products.
Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (OPACE)
This office is responsible for conducting public programs to inform, educate and work with a variety of different audiences.
Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD)
This office develops and makes recommendations concerning all domestic and international policy for FSIS.
Office of Public Health Science (OPHS)
The Office of Public Health and Science provides scientific analysis, advice, data, and recommendations regarding matters involving public health and science that are of concern to FSIS.


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These ancient creatures have been swimming our oceans for millions of years, and play essential roles in marine and coastal ecosystems. Yet all six species of sea turtles found in North American waters are endangered.
Your adoption supports our work to protect vital coastal nesting habitat for sea turtles, educate coastal homeowners about their impacts on sea turtles, and work in the courts to defend and enforce the laws that protect sea turtles.
All donations support our work to protect and restore the wildlife and wild places you care about.
Named "America's Best Wildlife Charity" by Reader's Digest, Defenders of Wildlife has been a leading innovator in developing the most effective ways to conserve imperiled wildlife and wild lands for over 65 years. Your adoption donation will immediately be put to use where it is most needed to achieve these goals.


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Last weekend, the latest X Games event was held in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The best players in the world put their skills to the test in various skateboarding, BMX biking, and moto-cross racing events. As a kid, the skateboarding scene was my life: I had my own skateboard, I collected and played with mini skateboards and ramps, and of course, played countless hours of Tony Hawk Pro Skater on the Nintendo 64. Thankfully I have moved on since then, but I can still say with certainty that I will continue to be a fan of the X Games and these types of sports for my entire life.
Being a motorcyclist, a mountain biker and a snowboarder, I can sort of relate and appreciate what these athletes endure with these sports. At the same time, I would never have enough guts to attempt anything they do. The skateboarding big air, for example, is basically just a massive ramp that skaters fly down at a near vertical angle, followed by a huge jump that they do tricks over, hoping to land thereafter. Maybe I would try it if I was wrapped in bubble wrap.
It's just mind-blowing some of the feats that the human being can do, not to mention the courage and mind strength that these athletes have in order to do these stunts is incredible as well. In October 2012, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch skydiver Felix Baumgartner free fall from the highest point anyone has ever jumped from before. Of course I wasn't there in person, but it was still pretty cool to watch the live stream of it online. He broke a few World Records with this successful jump.
Another daredevil stunt that is way more dangerous than skydiving is wingsuit flying. It's similar to skydiving, only the jumpers wear a suit that adds surface area to their body so they can fly around. Recently, professional BASE-jump athlete Alexander Polli flew himself through a small hole in a mountainside in Spain during one of his stunts. He was flying at about 155 miles an hour. Talk about a risky stunt.
But I'm getting sidetracked. These daredevil events aren't in X Games. That would be pretty crazy if they were.
My favorite X Games event is probably the snowboard superpipe during the Winter X Games. It's basically a massive half pipe of snow that snowboarders do tricks on. Shaun White is pretty much my hero when it comes to X Games. He is the best trick snowboarding athlete in the world, with 15 X Games medals and two Olympic gold medals. He is just insane at some of the epic tricks he can pull off. Also, instead of being arrogant and full of himself like some athletes would be with his status, he's apparently a super nice guy which makes me have so much respect for him. Can you say man crush?
So, if you have never watched the X Games before, I encourage you to do so. You can always go on Youtube and watch videos there too. It's great to see these types of sports still have a lot of popularity because they are sort of uncommon in the sports world and are more tailored for the younger crowd. But in reality, anyone of any age can enjoy them.
I also wanted to mention briefly that it looks like we might finally get some spring sporting events underway next week. I think the whole winter straight to summer theory might happen because I saw a high of 72 degrees for this weekend. Warm weather is finally here!


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Originally published on September 7, 2012 10:15 am
Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne with a story of a stellar MacGyvering. The International Space Station was faced with a malfunctioning electrical unit and couldn't screw down a new one because the exterior bolts were covered in debris. After two astronauts were stuck outside for hours, they hit on an idea - scrub the bolts clean with a toothbrush. It was a thrifty fix for the $100 billion space station and luckily the toothbrush was a spare. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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A doctor guides robotic arms to do urologic surgery. This is done through several tiny keyhole incisions.
Reasons for Procedure
Examples of urologic surgeries that have been successfully done using this technique include:
- Prostatectomy—to remove part or all of a prostate gland found to contain prostate cancer
- Pyeloplasty—to repair an abnormality of the kidney and nearby ureter, which is a tube that leads from the kidney to the bladder
- Cystectomy—to remove all or part of the bladder to treat bladder cancer
- Nephrectomy—to remove all or part of the kidney because of kidney cancer, kidney stones, or kidney disease
- Ureteral reimplantation—to disconnect and reinsert the ureter from the bladder to keep urine from flowing backwards from the bladder into the kidneys
- Procedures requiring fine dissection and suturing such as reconnection of the ureter
Compared to more traditional procedures, robotic-assisted surgery may result in:
- Less scarring
- Reduced recovery times
- Less risk of infection
- Less blood loss
- Reduced trauma to the body
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery
Possible Complications
Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:
- Damage to nearby organs or structures
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Anesthesia-related problems
- The need to switch to traditional surgical methods such as traditional laparoscopic or open surgery
Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Pre-existing heart or lung condition
- Increased age
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Use of certain medications
Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
Depending on the reason for your surgery, your doctor may do the following:
- Physical exam
- Blood tests and urine tests
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
- Retrograde pyelogram
- X-ray of kidneys, ureter, bladder (KUB)
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Cystoscopy
Leading up to the procedure:
- Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to 1 week before the procedure.
- Take antibiotics if instructed.
- Follow a special diet if instructed.
- Shower the night before using antibacterial soap if instructed.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home from the hospital. Also, have someone to help you at home.
- Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
General anesthesia will be used. It will block any pain and keep you asleep through the surgery.
Description of the Procedure
Several small keyhole incisions will be made in the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas will be passed into the area. This will make it easier for internal structures to be viewed. A small camera, called an endoscope will be passed through one of the incisions. The camera will light, magnify, and project the structures onto a video screen. The camera will be attached to one of the robotic arms. The other arms will hold instruments for grasping, cutting, dissecting, and suturing; for example:
- Forceps
- Scissors
- Dissectors
- Scalpels
While sitting at a console near the operating table, the doctor will use lenses to look at a magnified 3-D image of the inside of the body. Another doctor will stay by the table to adjust the camera and tools. The robotic arms and tools will be guided by movements of the surgeon. After the tools are removed, sutures or staples will be used to close the surgical area.
How Long Will It Take?
About 2-4 hours, depending on the procedure
Will It Hurt?
Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications. You may also feel discomfort from the gas used during the procedure. This can last up to 3 days.
Average Hospital Stay
About 1-2 days, depending on the procedure
At Home
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
- Limit specific activities until you have recovered.
- Follow your doctor's instructions.
Total recovery usually takes about 3-6 weeks.
Call Your Doctor
It is important for you to monitor your recovery after you leave the hospital. Alert your doctor to any problems right away. If any of the following occur, call your doctor:
- Catheter stops draining or falls out (if you had a catheter placed)
- Difficulty urinating
- Heavy bleeding or clots in the urine
- Pain, burning, urgency, or increased frequency of urination
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from an incision site
- Abdominal swelling or pain
- Constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs
- New or worsening symptoms
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
- Review Date: 03/2017 -
- Update Date: 05/29/2014 -


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Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
CAD is damage or disease of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. Changes to the blood vessel make it difficult for blood to flow, and slows or stops the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle.
Regular blood flow is needed through the coronary arteries to bring oxygen and nutrients to the constantly working heart muscle. Slowed or interrupted blood flow can cause damage to the heart muscle and decrease the heart's ability to pump blood to the body. Blood flow that is less than needed is known as ischemia. Slowed blood flow to the heart can cause pain known as angina. When blood flow is completely cut off a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack , will occur.
CAD is the most common life-threatening disease in the United States.
CAD Causes
Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of CAD. It is the narrowing of blood vessels due to a build up of a waxy substance, called plaque, on the walls of the blood vessels. The plaque is made in reaction to injury of the blood vessel walls and/or from substances in the blood. Patches develop over areas of injury on the blood vessel walls to help them heal. Substances in the blood like LDL "bad" cholesterol and glucose can get trapped in these patches and remain even after the injury has healed. Over time, more substances can get trapped in this patch and form plaque. The plaque is irritating to the blood vessel walls which causes more injury and creates a cycle that develops more plaque. The plaque growth continues to narrow the blood vessel opening.
Damage to blood vessels can occur from multiple factors such as:
- High blood pressure —causes turbulent blood flow that can injure the walls of blood vessels
- High cholesterol —"bad" cholesterol can stick to and irritate the walls of the blood vessels
- Diabetes —excess glucose in the blood can contribute to plaque build up in blood vessels
- Smoking —chemicals from cigarette smoke can irritate blood vessel walls and make deposits in the walls of blood vessels
- Radiation therapy
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC
- Review Date: 03/2017 -
- Update Date: 03/15/2015 -


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