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The following article regarding using children's books to promote imagination and thinking was posted at Kidzedge.com
Books. Many of us love them. We love the feel of snuggling up and turning the page to see what awaits on the very next page. They are like an adventure unraveling right between our fingertips, sometimes telling us a magical story. Sometimes teaching us about something we might long to know. But what we don't realize is how important they are to helping our minds think and grow, so that we are more productive in our world.
Like so many I grew up reading books, starting with picture books when I was very small. I remember memorizing the stories so that I could "read" them to my parents. Sometimes I read little board books. Sometimes my mom would read long stories from big story books. Other times I just read along with the magical "ding" as the record played along. Whatever the way, for most of us, reading books as a child was the beginning for our love of books and to our path of thinking outside of the box.
Is reading books when we are young just about learning to read? They lead to us sparking our imaginations. They lead us to think even in picture format which helps us think in much bigger thoughts than the specific ramblings of just words on a page. Often what we read on the pages is playing out in our mind. As we see the illustrations in a picture book, our minds begin spinning out its own little movie. When we read words on a page, with or without pictures, our minds begin picturing what it is we are reading. That picturing is what ultimately leads to more creativity. When we imagine things we begin thinking bigger. We aren't static. And thinking bigger ultimately makes us into better people because we can brainstorm and think in ways beyond what is concrete and in front of us.
Santa's (Zany, Wacky, Just Not Right!) Night Before Christmas was written because of thinking bigger. It was sparked by an innocent conversation with my daughter. She (who has been an avid reader her entire life) asked an innocent question about why Santa's suit was red? I didn't really have an answer, but that inquiry made me wonder. Why is it red? What would Christmas look like today if it weren't? Would changing that one thing change all of Christmas as we know it? My mind began imagining all of the things that might change. And my hope is, as kids read this book today, they ask themselves those same questions. What might change? What might change in their house at Christmas time if one thing were different? What if Santa's suit stayed the same, but the date changed? I hope they are picturing striped reindeer and polka dotted snowmen. I hope they are imagining the most whimsical Christmas ever, because those thoughts are what will make their minds expand. There can be so many questions and answers that come from just one question. And reading books can and will help expand those ideas by teaching our minds how to think beyond what is on the page.
We operate in a global world. We must learn to think and look at things differently than we've always done. Learning to read and imagine stories as we read helps us to do that. Even reading a how-to book with a mind that has learned to imagine can help us improve upon the process we are learning about. Perhaps we follow the basic how to, but we then can improve upon it. When we learn to expand our minds, we aren't limited to seeing what is, but rather we are able to create beyond that with our minds. It makes us better thinkers, storytellers, writers, and more. It makes us active in a world that is constantly changing. It makes us creative. So do yourself a favor. Go read a book. And let your mind wander. Better yet, read a book to a child, and teach them how to imagine and let their mind wander too.
As posted at KidzEdge.com


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If you're getting bored of breathing in herbs using just a regular pipe, get your hands on this Bumblebee Transformer Pipe. An impressively detailed piece of glass work, this pipe is made from smoking hash oil. That means you are smoking out of something that is made from what you're smoking.
The Bumblebee Transformer Pipe was created in a collaboration between Banjo and Bluegrass Man. The pipe looks beautiful and just begs you to put stuff in it and smoke it, but be careful because this piece of glassware is very delicate. You wouldn't want to destroy the machine that has contributed to saving the Earth from Decepticons on multiple occasions.
The Bumblebee Transformer Pipe makes the perfect complement to watching Transformers on your brand new 3D television -- wow, technology these days.
Superhero Smoking Gadgets
More Stats +/-
Smokable Morning Cuppas
Horror Movie Smoking Implements
Sci-fi Sword Smokes
Society-Enhancing Smoke Signal Photos
Gamified Anti-Cigarette Ads
The Bumblebee Transformer Pipe has Elevated Style
- By: Trenton MillarAug 24, 2012
References: smotpoke.tumblr & geekologie
References: smotpoke.tumblr & geekologie

subset: commoncrawl


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Delivery Method
- < All Methods
- By Mail
- Violin
- < All Genres
- < Miscellaneous
- New Age
- < All Price Ranges
- $20 and above
3 result(s) found
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Earth Voices by Jackson Berkey (1942-). For Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano. Original Works. Score and set of parts. Duration 13 minutes. Published by SDG Press (MT.J00944-SET).
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano and Keyboard, Vocal, Woodwinds, Strings
Genres: New Age, Miscellaneous
(Score and Parts). By Karl Jenkins. Set. Boosey & Hawkes Chamber Music. Boosey & Hawkes #M060105487. Published by Boosey & Hawkes
Instruments: Violin, Cello, Viola, Strings
Genres: New Age, Miscellaneous
By John Klemmer. For C instrument and Bb instrument. Instrumental Folio. Smooth Jazz, Jazz Fusion, New Age and Play Along. Difficulty: medium. Instrumental solo book and accompaniment CD. Standard notation, chord names, introductory text, black & white photos and discography. 37 pages. Published by Centerstream Publications
Pages: 37
Instruments: Piano, Piccolo, Clarinet, Oboe, Recorder, Violin, B-Flat Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Electric Guitar, Piano and Keyboard, Flute, Woodwinds, Strings, Trumpet, Brass, Guitar
Genres: New Age, Miscellaneous


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AAUW Ohio print and electronic publications
- Ohio Public Policy Updates
- AAUW of Ohio Public Policy Resources for Branch Programming
- AAUW of Ohio Public Policy Brochure
- Ohio Orbit Newsletter
More resources will be added soon.
AAUW print and electronic publications
AAUW brochures are available for downloading by clicking on the links below. You may also order copies of brochures and pay only a shipping charge. To order, visit Shop AAUW.
- AAUW Membership Brochure: Information about AAUW and a join form for people interested in becoming members of AAUW.
- Student Affiliate Post Card: Information and join form for college students interested in joining AAUW.
- College/University Partner Members Brochure: Benefits of and application form to join AAUW's nationwide network of support for women and girls on campus.
- Tech Trek Brochure
- See a full list of AAUW brochures and flyers.
- Public Policy Position Papers
- Public Policy Statements
- AAUW Issues
- AAUW Reports
Get more resources of all types at the AAUW website.


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Moderator: Site Moderator
tater wrote:I took a look at that site myself. I think the author is mistaken in his calling that a thumper.Slobber or puke barrel is what Ive seen them called. They were used in case of boiling over or puking.You know yourself should only be steam when still is being operated correctly. But in old days with wood fires it was harder to control heat. Grand dad used both on his stills puker and thumper Thumpers Ive seen were where 1 pipe went into some liquid and other wasn't so steam came out. Reason they called em thumper was sound they make when coming up to temp and starting to produce was a thumping or kinda rumble thunder like noise. Ive seen this and know it to be true . But what other foke call stuff at other places I cant say.
punkin wrote:goinbroke2 wrote:Bullcrap article and so was the references.
Left comments on both.
Love the picture of the thump keg which "is to seperate out the solids"!
Shows both pipes out of the water!
Didn't see the picture you are talking about, but sounds like a puke barrell. They have both lines outa the water and are used to seperate the solids and any puking liquids.... ....
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How do I get a Coach?
When you join the Team Beachbody Club (or sign up for a free membership), purchase a product from the Team Beachbody store, or become a Coach yourself, you'll automatically be assigned your own Coach to help you achieve your goals.
What will my Coach do for me?
Your Coach is there to support you and keep you motivated on your journey toward a healthier and happier life. He or she will offer you support, and may also help you set up your Team Beachbody profile, schedule your workouts, decide which fitness products you need, determine what to do after you've completed a program, and answer other questions you may have about getting fit with Team Beachbody. And if you join the Coach Opportunity, your Coach will be available to support you in building your business.
How do I contact my Coach?
Go to My Coach to see your Coach's profile, then send a message through the Message Center. If you became a member after our site was upgraded, your Coach will also be your first Workout Buddy. Depending on what method you used to purchase your membership, you may also receive a Welcome email containing your Coach's personal email address.
Can I choose a Coach, or is one automatically selected for me?
If you're new to Team Beachbody, a Coach will automatically be selected for you. If you were referred to Team Beachbody by a particular Coach, you should go to his or her website to complete your registration. That will ensure that person is assigned as your Coach. (You can also look up a particular Coach when you sign up here, and enter his or her screen name, email address, or Coach I.D.# in the form.)
When should I contact Beachbody customer service instead of my Coach?
Your Coach can help you with questions you may have about using your Beachbody products, getting fit, or being a Coach yourself. But for specific customer issues such as order status, shipping, or billing, you can also contact customer service directly by email at Coach Allura.
Apart from my Coach, where else can I get information on weight loss, fitness, and getting the most from my Beachbody products?
Team Beachbody is full of options for fitness and weight loss advice, starting with personalized workout and diet plans that are designed just for you. You'll have access to our Message Boards, where knowledgeable Fitness Advisors, Trainers, Coaches, and other Team Beachbody members all frequently give advice—just search for the information you need, or post your own questions. You'll also find lots of expert help in the Trainers' Corners, and lots more informative articles, tips, and videos throughout the site. And you can even ask for advice directly from the Trainers who created your favorite workout DVDs when they participate in our regular Web chats.
Can my Coach help me become a Coach myself?
Absolutely! Becoming a Coach can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding. Ask your Coach for help, or go here for more information about the Coach Business Opportunity.


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Here is a link to the updated North Okanagan real estate statistics for March 2010. If you have been following our stats updates for awhile - you will want to note that we have mad a change - we are now reporting the AVERAGE sale price. This is due to the change in the software we are using -currently the process to obtain the median price is not available without massive tech work - while we can get the average at the push of a button. - In this instance - expediency wins over what we WANT.
For more information about North Okanagan Real Estate Sales and the history of the real estate market visit our Market Wise Page
Yours in Vernon BC real estate,
Derryanne Hubbbard with TheOkanaganRealEstateHub.com @ Century 21 Executives Realty Ltd


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Last fall, Willie VanDeSteeg didn't think it far-fetched to believe he could surpass the 10 sacks he had to lead the Big Ten Conference as a sophomore. Jack Simmons expected to catch at least 40 passes. Deon Hightower wanted to improve on the 74 tackles he had the year before.
It all seemed attainable for VanDeSteeg, Simmons and Hightower until freak injuries got in the way. Now that the three seniors are fully recovered, there's nothing to stop them from achieving their goals with the University of Minnesota football team this year.
"It's huge," VanDeSteeg said about the impact they could all have this year. "All of us have to make plays. We have to make an impression. But more than anything, we just have to go out there and have fun. We only have 12 games left in our careers."
VanDeSteeg's production took a nosedive last year as he played with a cast over his broken right wrist. The former All-Big Ten defensive end recorded just one sack and had just one game with more than four tackles.
"If you're not getting better, you're getting worse," said the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Silver Lake, Minn., native. "I had goals to be better than I was last year, but playing with one arm just wasn't going to cut it."
The defense picked up some swagger the day VanDeSteeg cut off his cast and regained full use of both hands. His presence was critical for helping the Gophers make some strides during the spring, but they weren't complete with Hightower's limited participation.
Hightower played the entire season with a torn labrum in 2007. You wouldn't be able to tell, though, by the way he threw his body into every hit when the Gophers began full contact drills this weekend.
It had been almost six months since the standout middle linebacker went full speed after shoulder surgery. The team has had about 25 live plays in the past three days and, so far, he doesn't think he's lost a step.
"It was a great experience being able to get back out there with my teammates," said Hightower, who recorded 70 tackles last year. "By me not playing, it made me more hungry to hit. A lot of people thought I would come back timid, but I'm even more physical now."
As much as VanDeSteeg and Hightower have improved since last season, the comeback player of camp might be Simmons.
Being the only starting senior on the offense is a big responsibility for the veteran tight end, but he can handle a much bigger load this year after his offseason turf toe surgery went well.
"I had 20 catches last year, but I thought I could have doubled that," Simmons said. "After a couple practices, coach (Tim Brewster) told me I have to keep playing hard and I looked good. I know how I fit into this offense and I know how I'm going to have to be more of a leader this year."


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Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
Resort Overview
Billed as the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys, the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center is in the heart of downtown Dallas. With exceptional rooms, a host of in-house and nearby attractions and dining options and more than 400,000 square feet of meeting space, the Gaylord Texan seems to have something for everyone.
There are 1,511 rooms at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, each with luxurious accommodations. Hill Country Guest Rooms, Lone Star Tower Guest Rooms, Riverwalk Guest Rooms and Luxury Suites are available to all guests.
The resort is close to many nearby attractions, including the American Airlines Center, home of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and the NHL's Dallas Stars and the home of the Texas Rangers, the Ballpark at Arlington.
Golf at Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
- Cowboys Golf Club
18 holes | Public | Par: 72 | Length: 7017 yards
1600 Fairway Drive
Grapevine, Texas 76051 Phone: (817) 481-7277
Tee Times
1501 Gaylord Trail Grapevine, Texas 76051


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Cheese and Champagne
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in American-Midwest,American-Northeast,American-South,American-West,cheese plates,Cheese!
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What does E142 mean in Food Additives?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand E142 in the Miscellaneous field in general and in the Food Additives terminology in particular.
Green S
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Use the citation below to add this abbreviation to your bibliography:
"E142." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2018. Web. 24 Feb. 2018. <https://www.abbreviations.com/term/337>.


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The extreme market dislocations caused by the financial crisis of 2008 have given way to record-low levels of volatility. Not coincidentally, high-frequency trading (HFT) profitability and revenue have declined dramatically. High-frequency trading revenue reached $7.2 billion at its peak in 2009 before declining to $1.8 billion in 2012, according to the Tabb Group. The VIX (the S&P 500 implied volatility index) peaked in 2008 and has declined to an all-time low of a little over 10 (Figure 1). The CBOE crude oil implied volatility index has likewise declined dramatically since 2008 (Figure 2), and in fact reached its lowest level since 1996.
Figure 1
Figure 2
The crushing of profits against the backdrop of massive technology investment has decimated HFT returns, and many firms have downsized or exited the business.
This year might see an uptick in HFT profits. Adam Sussman of The Tabb group predicts "revenue from high-frequency stock trading may increase by about 22 percent to $2.2 billion in 2013 as volume in U.S. equity markets rebounds following a three-year slump." (Bloomberg data indicate that daily average volume in 2012 was about 6.4 billion shares, vs. nearly 9.8 billion in 2009.)
HFT is at a cyclical low, not a secular one. Volatility will at some point revert to and exceed the mean, and more turbulence in the markets will return. We just don't know when. But when it does, HFT profitability will likely explode, more investment in speed and complexity will ensue, and the danger HFT poses to market stability will increase.
Not that the industry hasn't continued its quest for more speed even while returns plummet. A recent addition to the arsenal of weapons is something called Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). FPGAs are hardware-programmable silicon chips. In contrast to processors that you find in your PC, programming an FPGA "rewires" the chip itself by allowing the user to program logic gates and allocate random-access memory blocks to implement functionality. The significance for HFT is the ability to run algorithms at "wire speed".
A recent study authored in part by Andrei Kirilenko, Chief Economict of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, concluded "the profits of HFTs are mainly derived from opportunistic traders, but also from fundamental (institutional) traders, small (retail) traders, and non-HFT market makers… We show that the level of profits is significantly higher for liquidity-taking HFTs than for liquidity-providing ones: the average Aggressive HFTs earned $45,267 in gross trading profits in August 2010, while Mixed and Passive HFTs earned significantly less: only $19,466 and $2,461 per day, respectively… The fact that Aggressive HFTs earn substantially higher profits than Passive HFTs suggests there is a strong profit motive for liquidity taking rather than liquidity providing."[1]
HFT has been lauded for injecting new liquidity into the marketplace. The conclusion above challenges that notion. Indeed, the May 2010 Flash Crash was in part exacerbated by the sudden and utter disappearance of an HFT bid for E-Mini S&P 500 futures contracts, moments after they rapidly accumulating same.
Recently, Commodities Futures Trading Commission member Bart Chilton said the following, regarding whether HFTs inject liquidity: "In voluminous instances these cheetahs are engaged in this activity [wash sales – when a party buys a contract from itself]…when they do so, it might appear to be liquidity, but it is not. It isn't really there. It's fantasy liquidity."[2]
As HFT gets ever faster, and liquidity concerns seem to multiple, it seems even more obviously dangerous, and actually detrimental (even absent an HFT-induced market meltdown), to human investors and traders. I believe it is not a stretch to assert that HFT is a threat to one of the most important components of the capitalist system – the stock market. The market's most critical role is to efficiently allocate capital by allowing the investing public to evaluate investment opportunities and commit capital to the most promising ones. HFT has absolutely nothing to do with that. And yet it comprises over half of all equity trading.
Some lawmakers are targeting HFT. Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey, who recently wrote a letter to the SEC, bluntly urging a curb to HFT activities. Markey state that "Given the evidence that HFT has already caused unnecessary volatility in our stock markets and could reasonably be expected to contribute to increased volatility in the future, I urge the Commission…to consider using its authority to adopt rules…that limit the use of HFT technology."
The SEC is ramping up its HFT surveillance efforts significantly, very late in the game (and the FBI recently announced it would be working with the SEC to identify and prosecute HFT abuse). It has requested 1,355 Enforcement personnel in fiscal (September) 2013, up from an estimated 1,247 in fiscal 2012 (will 107 more people make a difference?). Likewise, the SEC has requested a respective 990 versus 866 in Compliance Inspections and Examinations personnel. Finally, the SEC has requested an increase in spending on equipment to $81.9m in fiscal 2013 from an estimated $71.1m in fiscal 2012. Excellent. But puny, and laughably dwarfed by the estimated $2 billion, +/- depending on where we are in the cycle, spent annually by the HFT industry. Not to overstate, but $81.9 million is, um, 4% of $2b. The SEC is the little engine that can't.
Not long ago I published an article entitled, "High-Frequency Trading: A Grave Threat to the Markets and the Economy. In that article, I outlined a worst-case scenario in which high-frequency trading errors (or simply unpredictable interactions) result in a global market meltdown, with public confidence in the markets shattered, investment capital for growth made virtually unavailable, and major deposit-taking institutions destabilized. The Volcker Rule, which would force deposit-taking institutions to exit the proprietary trading business, is still not implemented[3].
I supported my thesis in part by emphasizing systemic lack of adequate testing. This comment, from Dr. Nancy Leveson of MIT, is worth repeating: "I don't want to sound like Chicken Little or a latter day Luddite. I did not get a Ph.D. in computer science and spend 47 years working in the field just to try and convince everyone not to use computers. But the bottom line is that there's 100 percent certainty that you will have more upsets caused by the financial system software and probably in not too long a time, but it will occur, and it's probably going to start occurring unless something is done more frequently because people are going to keep adding more functionality and more risk into the system unless it's limited…all software contains errors. I have not in all of that time ever come across any software that was not trivial in which no errors were found during operations. The errors may not surface for a long time, but they're lurking there and waiting until just the right conditions occur" (emphasis added).[4]
[1] The Trading Profits of High Frequency Traders. Matthew Baron, Jonathan Brogaard and Andrei Kirilenko. Draft, November 2012.
[2] Comments made by Chilton in a speech prepared for the National Grain & Feed Association conference in San Francisco, March 17 2013 (Bloomberg).
[3] According to a February 27 article in the Wall Street Journal quoting sources "close to the talks", the five regulators working on the Volcker rule, which would restrict banks from making speculative investments, may not come to agreement until the second half of 2013, in yet another delay (its official implementation was set for July 2012). So depositors remain at risk.
[4] SEC-hosted conference, "Roundtable on Technology and Investing: Promoting Stability in Today's Markets." October 2012.


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Jesus Dies on the Cross
Luke 23:44–49
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Francis Patton (1843-1932, a former president of Princeton University, observed that whereas the high watermark of the Old Testament was Psalm 23:4, that of the New Testament was Philippians 1:23. David was willing to go, but wanting to stay, but Paul was willing to stay, but w … More
The previous Bible passage showed three crosses at Calvary: One man died IN sin, one man died TO sin and one died FOR sin. Please note four things that happened in this passage (vv. 44-48).
- Darkness came over the whole land (v. 44). These three hours of darkness were a miracle. When the Israelites were in Egypt, three days of darkness preceded the first Passover (Ex. 10:21). Now three hours of darkness preceded the death of Christ. All nature seemed to mourn over the tragedy of the death of God's Son.
- The temple veil was torn from top to bottom (v. 45). The veil that was torn was the curtain that closed off the most Holy Place from view. This miracle announced that the way to God's presence was open to all. Now all people can approach God directly through Christ (Heb. 9:1-14).
- A Roman centurion praised God (v.47). He also noted that Jesus "was a righteous man."
- The people mourned (v.48). These were the spectators who were attracted to the execution and saw enough to be convicted of their sins.
This passage shows God's response to the cross of Christ (vv. 44-47). His first response is for darkness to fall upon the earth. Isn't it amazing that the first act of God in creation is to bring light and now he brings darkness upon creation. Darkness covered the entire world for about three hours in the middle of the day. All nature seemed to mourn over the stark tragedy of the death of God's son. The significant event of the veil being torn in two symbolized Christ's work on the cross. When the veil was ripped from top to bottom, it made it possible for all people to approach God directly through Christ (Heb. 9:1-14). As Jesus was being put to death his friends stood at a distance and watched all that was happening (vv. 48-49).
Death will truly be a moving day as I move from my earthly home to my heavenly home!
Luke 23:44-49 (English Standard Version)
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Post your comment or question below.


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By Jeff Garcia, Project Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the second-round of the NBA playoffs as they continue their march towards what will hopefully be title number five for the franchise.
But if San Antonio does claim a fifth title, one cannot forget this string of NBA crowns began in 1999 versus the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. In that series, the Spurs won in five games (4-1) en route to the franchise's first of four titles. And winning in five games is quite impressive for any team but not for Tim Duncan.
Click HERE for the complete article at Project Spurs.


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ACIN's post in the Watchtower and Lysimachus' recent contributions have inspired me to create some semi-original content of my own for my favorite subforum of the .org. While contemplating a subject to write about, I happened to glance at my sig and a topic became clear. The following is my educated opinion on the German Tiger II tank that operated in the later stages of WW2. It is not meant to be an exhaustive history, but more of a refutation of some common myths about the tank - and an opportunity to share some interesting pictures I have collected of it. It is based primarily on the work of historians Thomas Jentz and Christian Ankerstjerne, with some Wiki quotes (that are also based on Jentz) thrown in for emphasis. Feel free to criticize my work as much of this is from memory, and my apologies for my rather lacking writing skills!
German Propaganda Newsreel Featuring the Tiger II
In WW2 media the Tiger II is often portrayed as a slow, lumbering behemoth that took up valuable resources that would have been better spent on smaller tanks. Countless History/Military Channel top ten shows and pop history 'Tanks of WW2' books from less than reputable publishers reinforce this popular myth, yielding scores of discussion threads on the interwebs that mimic it. In reality, the Tiger II was a very capable, potent fighting machine with a proven combat record of success.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:I personally believe the myths surrounding this machine have arisen out of the natural bias towards the Western Allies that is common in much WW2 literature. It is far more flattering to promulgate the belief that the Allies deliberately chose a strategy of producing vast numbers of smaller, less sophisticated, and faster tanks whilst the Germans chose a strategy of pursuing smaller numbers of heavily armored, over engineered AFVs. In such a scenario, the Allies appear to have chosen wisely. However, the reality is that both sides had medium and heavy tank programs and produced as many of the former as possible. Allied industry simply won out. The German heavy tank program filled a small scale, specialized role in the Panzerwaffe and had little effect on industrial output. The fact that Shermans and Cromwells were forced to fight Panthers, Tigers, and King Tigers was not part of any grand strategy. The Western Allies simply didn't have anything capable of matching them.
Tiger II in Ambush camouflage Pattern
Example of Ambush Pattern Colors
The culmination of everything the Germans had learned about tank development during WW2, the Tiger II, often referred to as the "King Tiger", and more seldomly the "Royal Tiger", was the last German heavy tank to see service during WW2. It debuted in the battle of Normandy and fought on both the Western and Eastern Fronts in the Wehrmacht and SS heavy tank battalions in limited numbers throughout the rest of the war. As a heavy tank meant to replace the original Tiger, its role was to attack obstacles and enemy strong points, create breakthroughs, and engage enemy armored formations.
Originally Posted by wiki
Tiger II Cutaway (1)
The tank had a 5 man crew, including the commander, driver, gunner, hull machine-gunner, and radio operator. It incorporated sloped armor (which, by the way, was present in German tank designs long before encounters with the T-34 - another myth), Germany's (and arguably the world's) best gun during WW2 - the KwK 43 L/71, a wide-track suspension system that made it even more maneuverable in muddy and sandy conditions than the Sherman and many other allied vehicles due to reduced ground pressure, and a more modular platform designed for ease of production. It was in every way an advancement upon its predecessor, the already formidable Tiger I. More notably, it was a better performing tank than it's more lauded little brother, the Panther.
Tiger II Exploded (2)
Despite this, the King Tiger is often criticized incorrectly on a number of factors.
This is probably the most propagated, yet demonstrably false, myth about the Tiger II (and Tiger I btw).
Despite being a heavy tank, the Tiger II was as fast as the Panther and faster than all other German AFVs.
Tiger II - Maximum Speed = 41.5 km/h, Road Speed = 38 km/h, Cross Country Speed = 15-20 km/h
Panther - Maximum Speed = 46 km/h, Road Speed = 30-35 km/h, Cross Country Speed = 20 km/h
Pz.IV - Maximum Speed = 38-42 km/h, Road Speed = 25 km/h, Cross Country Speed = 20 km/h
StuG - Maximum Speed = 40 km/h, Road Speed = 20 km/h, Cross Country Speed = 12-15km/h
For comparison, the top speeds of the main Allied medium tanks were:
T-34 - 53.5 km/h
Sherman - 38-46 km/h (dependent on the variant)
And their heavy tanks:
IS-2 - 37 km/h
M26 Pershing - 40 km/h, 8.4 km/h (off-road)
(Apologies for not having detailed speed information on road speed and cross-country speed for these models.)
Obviously, the Tiger II was not a slow tank by any objective standards.
Tiger II at Rest in Budapest
At nearly 70 tonnes, 6.4 meters in length and 3.75 meters in width (platform only), the Tiger II was an enormous tank for the period. However, myths about limitations due to size are greatly exaggerated, specifically those about bridge crossing. The tank's designers took the structural limitations of European bridges into consideration when developing the tank, and German combat engineers in the field were highly skilled at determining a bridge's structural limits. In most cases, bridges too small and/or too weak to hold a Tiger II were built over rivers that could easily be forded, due to an advanced snorkel system. In the rare event that a Tiger II could not cross on a bridge or ford one, the standard German 16-ton engineer bridge could carry it.
Navigating Tight Urban Streets
Certainly tanks of all sizes and makes got bogged down or fell through bridges on occasion, but the Tiger II did not do so at greater rates than other AFVs. Further, combat operations were not compromised in any significant way to accommodate the Tiger II.
Propaganda Shot
Despite its weight, the Tiger II's advanced suspension system and powerful engine provided it not only superior mobility to Allied heavy tanks, but to their medium tanks as well. Crews loved the Tiger II for its maneuverability over virtually any terrain.
According to historian Thomas Jentz:
Reliability:The Tiger II was remarkably agile for such a heavy vehicle. Contemporary German records indicate that its mobility was as good as or better than most German or Allied tanks.
As with every new tank design during the war, including the much vaunted for reliability T-34, the Tiger II went through a teething process. The main cause of these issues was the added stress to the engine, which was essentially the same one used in the 12 tonne lighter Tiger I. This was exacerbated by inexperienced crews who were sent directly from the classroom into combat.
As the issues were identified, a number of strengthened engine components and new crew guidelines were developed and distributed. After these initial fixes, the Tiger II design proved to be a very reliable, far more so than the Tiger I. In fact, the Tiger II's teething process was far shorter than that of the T-34 and the Panther which both ate transmissions for a year or more after development, or its direct competitor, the M26 Pershing, which was so inherently unreliable that it still couldn't function competently in Korea and had to be pulled from combat.
Jentz says:
Fuel Consumption:Reliability was improved over time with the continuous introduction of modified seals, gaskets and drive train components, driver training, and sufficient maintenance. Statistics from 15 March 1945 compare the availability of Tiger IIs with respect to other tanks: 62 percent of Panzer IVs, 59 percent of Tiger IIs and 48 percent of Panthers were operational by this period of the war.
This criticism has some basis, but has been blown way out of proportion. While indeed high at 4.9 l/km, the Tiger II's consumption was not inordinately so.
Here are fuel consumption rates of some common late war tanks.
T-34/85 = 1.8 l/km
Sherman = 2.0 l/km
Panzer IV = 2.35 l/km
Panther = 2.8 l/km
Pershing = 4.32
While the Tiger II is often singled out as a fuel hog, the reality is that its fuel consumption was in line with other vehicles of its size. The truth is that after Romania fell, German AFVs of all shapes and sizes were lost due to fuel shortages towards the end of the war. Under more normal circumstances, the Tiger II's fuel consumption would not have been such an acute weakness.
Cost efficiency:
This is the murkiest myth to debunk against the Tiger II as it does include a bit of subjectivity. I don't know how many times I have read some variation of "the Germans should have made more low quality tanks instead of a few high quality ones".
First, who would crew these tanks? Despite the Allied bombing campaign and the huge stresses on German industry, towards the end of the war there were always more tanks available than crews to fill them. Wartime pressures including fuel shortages and Allied air raids crippled the flow of trained crews to the Panzerwaffe. It became so dire that fresh crews with only minimal classroom training were given command of expensive, technologically advanced AFVs such as Panthers and Tiger IIs, with predictable results.
Second, the Germans learned early on that the most valuable component of a tank is its crew. The Tiger II preserved and enhanced the one advantage the Panzerwaffe had that endured throughout the war – their experienced tank crews. Under the command of these crews, the tank delivered devastating results on the battlefield far beyond its limited numbers – which will be discussed below.
Finally, that oft-quoted sentiment betrays a lack of understanding about German armored doctrine. Said doctrine dictated the need for a heavy tank, and the German heavy tank program was a limited endeavor meant to fill a limited role in the overall armored structure. Only 1500 Tiger II's were ordered, and it replaced the Tiger 1's production lines on one floor of the Henschel plant. One may disagree with the need for a heavy tank at all, but the program did not significantly affect other tank production in any meaningful way. Germany produced 50,439 AFVs during WW2, only 1839 of which were Tiger I and II heavy tanks (1347 Tiger I's and 492 Tiger II's).
Despite this, the Tiger II is often held up as an example of German waste, when in reality the decision to replace the PzIV with the Panther is far more debatable.
Of course the Tiger II did suffer from some weaknesses. However, these were attributable far more to German late war circumstances than any inherent design flaws.
Late war German logistics: Tiger II's were far more likely to be lost due to a lack of fuel or spare parts than to enemy fire.
Crews: As could be expected, Tiger II performance varied greatly based on crew experience.
Deployment: Much like the first two weaknesses, the late war German position(and Hitler's interference) forced commanders to deploy their weapons systems in less than optimal situations. Tiger II's attempting to navigate the densely forested Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge would be the most obvious example.
Combat Record
Moving into Position: D-Day + ?
The Tiger II's combat record is often written about purely in terms of its performance on the Western Front, and then only during the Ardennes Offensive. The tank performed well in Normandy in the defense of Caen, particularly during the blunting of Operation Atlantic. However, the dense hedgerows that characterize the area were certainly not ideal "tank country" and the Tiger II's main advantage - its standoff capability - was rendered virtually useless, as engagements were conducted at very short range. Still, the tank's superior armor made it a fearsome opponent. Again in Operation Market Garden, the Tiger II was called on to help blunt an Allied armored offensive.
Under Cover in Normandy
One day a Tiger Royal tank got within 150 yards of my tank and knocked me out. Five of our tanks opened up on him from ranges of 200 to 600 yards and got five or six hits on the front of the Tiger. They all just glanced off and the Tiger backed off and got away. If we had a tank like Tiger, we would all be home today.
- Report by tank commander Sergeant Clyde D. Brunson from 2nd Armored Division, 1945.
Of course, the Tiger II's most widely known campaign - and the one from which most "evidence" of its failings is drawn from - was in support of Operation Watch on the Rhine. There the Tiger II faced a "perfect storm" of the three weaknesses mentioned above - poor logistics, inexperienced crews, and deployment in less than suitable conditions. The dense forests negated the tanks advantages even more so than the Hedgerows of Normandy.
American Inspection
Stories of Tiger II's being disable by determined American bazooka crews, getting bogged down, and running out of fuel abound - and are all true. What is not said, however, is that the same fate befell German and Allied (minus the fuel shortage) AFVs of all shapes and sizes. The terrain was simply not hospitable to armored warfare - which was the reason it was neglected by the Allies in the first place.
Knocked Out in the Ardennes
Not Penetrated
Further, what is not often mentioned is that the Tiger II performed very well in its role as a breakout tank during the Bulge. While a few tanks were lost to enemy action, and a greater number to mechanical issues and terrain difficulties, the majority of Tiger IIs sliced through Allied lines nearly imperviously until German forces inevitably ran out of fuel. That fuel shortage was predicted by German commanders before the operation and effected the whole of the German forces. It was certainly not unique to units operating the Tiger II.
Working with Fallschirmjager in the Ardennes
American POWs File Past a Tiger II
Despite the unfavorable conditions previously discussed, the lead element of the German assault, Kampfgruppe Peiper, utilizing Tiger IIs, left a path of destruction in its wake, including decimating American defensive positions and tank battalions. The kampfgruppe was later cut off and ran out of fuel, forcing its men had to abandon their equipment and retreat back to German lines on foot. The eventual fate of the kampfgruppe, however, was the result of logistics and operational issues that were the natural results of the insanity that was the Ardennes Offensive- not the Tiger II.
Artist's Rendering of the Infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper
American Use During the Bulge
Left out of many discussions about the tank is the Tiger II's service on the Eastern Front. Here in more suitable conditions and under the command of well trained, experienced crews, the tank's abilities were fully exploited. The tank's reliability actually surpassed that of the Panther, and Wehrmacht and SS heavy tank battalions were used both on the defense and the offence to great effect.
Tiger II in Budapest (1)
Tiger II in Budapest (2) Accompanied by German Infantry
Of particular note is the SS Heavy Tank Battalion 503, which played a key role in the critical Battle of Debrecen, which kept Hungary in the fight for Germany.
Street Fighting in Budapest
Originally Posted by wiki
Operating on the Eastern Front
On the road from Bollersdorf to Strausberg stood a further 11 Stalin tanks, and away on the egde of the village itself were around 120-150 enemy tanks in the process of being refuelled and re-armed. I opened fire and destroyed first and last of the 11 Stalin tanks on the road….My own personal score of enemy tanks destroyed in this action was 39.
-SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Körner, schwere SS Panzer Abteilung (103) 503 / III SS Panzer Corps, East Germany, April of 1945.
In many ways, the Tiger II, like the Panther, represented the realization of the main battle tank concept. The traditional dynamic of speed, armor, and firepower where one had to be sacrificed to achieve gains in the other two no longer held. Technology had progressed to such an extent that the Tiger II boasted formidable specifications in all three areas. Operated by an experienced crew in the role it was intended to fill, the Tiger II was nearly invincible on the battlefield, and boasted a combat prowess beyond anything the Allies fielded during the war. Of course, the Tiger II was not flawless, but it was a very capable amored fighting vehicle - arguably the best performing tank of the war - and it merits some historical revision.


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Facebook is being sued for what appears to be engaging in evolving as a social networking site. On its face, the lawsuit appears without merit because it does not allege anything new against Facebook. One of the lawsuit's allegations is that Facebook, "seeks to open and/or disseminate private information to third parties for commercial purposes and economic benefit."
Despite what many of its users think, Facebook is not in business to provide free social interactions for the benefit of its users. Facebook is in business to make money by providing a uniqe platform that enables its users to enjoy their online social interactions and activities. If and when Facebook is able to fully monetize all of this freely obtained information it will be the marketing industry's "El Dorado."
Users join Facebook to interact with their friends and potential friends and to share their thoughts and ideas with others. I am a Facebook user. However, I limit the amount of personal information that I post because I know that as soon as I post something I have no ability to fully control it. In contrast, some of my Facebook Friends post a tremendous amount of information that is not fit for professional consumption. For example, a cousin of mine who is a recent college graduate and a Facebook Friend has allowed some of her college Facebook usuage to follow her into the professional world. I have had to warn her not to disparage in any manner her current employer or position in her posts. I just hope that none of her posts boomerang and harm her in the future. As with any new technology, once the Genie has left the bottle you can't put it back in.
Copyright 2009 by the Law Office of Bradley S. Shear, LLC. All rights reserved.


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Elizabeth City State University parking lots
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Get info about Elizabeth City State University parking lots, and registering for elective seminars and lectures. As a student, your first stop should be the registrar's office, where you can pick up a free copy of both the academic calendar and course catalog, in order to find available credit classes that you may be interested in taking. It may surprise you that it's possible to enroll for a full-time course load, without having any 8am classes at all. Finally, check with the admissions office for assistance with prerequisites, tuition payment deadlines, and Elizabeth City State University parking lots on-campus information. Please use the form above to request admissions info for Elizabeth City State University.
Living in a dormitory is a great option for new students, as it provides the comfort of being surrounded by other people while far away from home. However, the dorms can get noisy which makes studying difficult, and there's always someone who wants to talk to you late into the night. As you mature, you may feel that the independence of your own apartment is worth the additional expense.
Sharing an apartment with roommates is a common cost-saving option, and a quick visit to the off-campus housing office will let you know how much two-bedroom apartments near campus cost. Before you sign a rental contract, note the main elements of the length of the contract, when your security deposit may be returned, and on what conditions, and if you can sub-lease your apartment if you have to leave early. If you can't get your landlord to make repairs, can always contact free legal aid through the school's student services office. Beyond degree requirements such as Elizabeth City State University parking services, you may consider Queens University online certificate course for complementary electives to your primary course of study.
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Today we continue with our series of reader questions for Dr. Tiffany Bierer:
Why are so many dogs becoming allergic to grain products? What are we doing now that we did not do say 20 years ago?
Our knowledge of dog and cat health care and nutrition has greatly expanded over the last 20 years making the way we care for and feed our pets today even better. There are many different diets on the market now because dogs and cats (and their owners!) have individual needs and preferences and no one diet is perfect for every pet.
As far as food allergies in pets, the incidence of true, diagnosed food allergies is low and diagnosis is very difficult and time consuming. If you believe your pet has a food allergy or intolerance, work with your Veterinarian to try and determine exactly what is causing the problem. Many times people believe their dog has a food allergy when the true cause of the problem with their pet is something else. Taking the time to understand the true cause will help you to better take care of your pet over his or her lifetime.
Dr. Tiffany Bierer is the health and nutrition sciences manager for Mars Petcare US, makers of PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs, CESAR® Brand, WHISKAS® Food for Cats, THE GOODLIFE RECIPE® Brand, TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats and CRAVE® Treats for Cats.


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Why exactly "Hello My Goddess" ?
A very long time ago, in a place far from here,
a little viking princess fell in love with her knight in shining armor.
The princess did 53 cartwheels out of sheer excitement
when the wedding was announced.
Ten years was a long time to be boy-knight-friend & girl-princess-friend.
The couple decided it was about time to populate the world
with miniature versions of themselves.
Marriage was logically the next step in their fairy tale world.
At long last, that special aisle-walking day came…….
………..and went.
The little viking princess bride moved in with her striking shiny knight and they lived happily ever.
Mr. Knight yelled and yelled and yelled.
Mrs. Princess cried and cried and cried.
A baby was born. A prince!
The baby prince didn't yell.
But, boy, did he cry!
And so, the princess cried along with him.
Baby # 2 came along. A little princess!
And so the original princess lost her place of honor
and was relegated to the role of chimney sweeper. And diaper changer.
And 3 a.m. night-shift nurse. And music-class-gymnastics-team-after-school-activities-chauffeur.
And cleaning lady. And smelly socks washer…..
[You get the picture.]
The chimney-sweeper-former-princess was overwhelmed.
Two precious babies and oh my, how they cried!
She hugged them daily and noticed that it helped her own crying go away.
Yet with all that embracing, one big question obsessed her daily:
"Why did Mr. Knight yell at me so much? "
"Is it something I SAID? ", she wondered.
So she stopped talking.
After all, he DID tell her that she said stupid things.
"Is it the way I laugh? ", she wondered.
After all, he DID say that she had an obnoxious laugh.
So she stopped laughing.
"Is it the way I dress? " she wondered.
After all, he DID say that those shoes didn't match that dress and how ever did he expect him to go out with her if she was going to wear that.
So she stopped dressing.
(NO, she did NOT go naked! Mr. Knight often called her "fat ass" and "cow", interspersed with "clumsy" and "klutz". So Mrs. Chimney-Sweeper-No-Longer-Princess tried to dress in a way that would play down her adorable bubble butt. )
Mrs. Kitchen-Mopper-No-Longer-Princess came to the conclusion that she was, oh, so weak because she didn't know how to deal with so much yelling.
After all, Mr. Shining Armor DID constantly say,
"You are too sensitive!
The problem is that you need to hear things delivered on a silver platter! Well, have I got news for you. You are just a spoiled brat and you don't even realize it!"
Mrs. No-Longer-Princess fell into a depression.
That lasted for quite some time.
But as with all fairy tales, this one has a happy ending.
One fine day, the ex-princess WOKE UP.
"A-HA! I've found it!
Here is the answer to the question that has been obsessing me all these years!"
It was right there in front of her.
Staring her squarely from the computer screen:
"You've always had the power.
It's just that you gave it away."
HUH? Was that REALLY it?
Yep. That was it.
Power Realization # 1:
"It's not ME! It's HIM! HE is the one with the problems. He thinks that he can blame me for everything that is wrong in his world."
Power Realization # 2:
"I am NOT weak!
Hell, no, I am one of the strongest woman alive to have tolerated so may years of anger!"
Power Realization # 3:
"I CAN make it on my own!
At the very least, I will NOT end up begging in the gutter as Mr. Soon-To-Be-Ex-Knight has often threatened me!"
Power Realization # 4:
"I AM a goddess!
I've been strong, and beautiful, and powerful all along! It's just that those qualities were buried so deep that I didn't even know it."
Power Realization # 5:
"Not only am I a goddess
but ALL women are goddesses!"
Power Realization # 6:
"Many Goddesses-In-Hiding do not know their true power.
I know how horrible this feels.
I really want to help them someday!"
Power Realization # 7:
"Yes! I CAN do it!!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And so, the idea of Goddess was born.
I'm starting this new e-commerce adventure
because I want to help all the goddesses out there:
By employing down-on-their-luck goddesses.
By donating to organizations that help goddesses.
By selling artisan goddesses' lovely creations.
I want to help ALL these lovely goddesses make a living
while infusing YOUR life with meaningful and beautiful objects.
And, in case you have any doubts, yes, that little viking princess was me.
In my new life, I blab A LOT!
And I laugh A LOT!
And I dress any old darn way I feel like it!
And I rarely dust the house, nor mop the floor anymore……..
Too many other beautiful things to do!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Why are YOU a goddess???
Just because.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Why the "my" in Hello My Goddess?
Have you ever noticed that when you really love someone you address them with the possessive word "my"?
Who hasn't ever uttered words like these while talking to a loved one:
"How is my cut little doggy-woggy today? Want to go out for a walk?"
Why the "hello" in Hello My Goddess?
"Hello" is a symbol of recognition. I acknowledge your presence.
Everyone needs to be acknowledged.
Everyone needs love.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hello My Goddess!
I welcome you to my world.
Which is also YOUR world.
Which is really OUR WORLD!
Would you like to join our power revolution?
Did you like this story?
Or , rather, did you NOT like the beginning of this story?
Share it with your friends!
WHAT kind of abuse have you suffered in your life AND what have you learned as a result?
LET US KNOW (if you're not shy) in the comments below.
By sharing, we can help support each other and regain our power!
[BTW, my ex really DID call me "viking" and "princess" almost daily while dating.
I didn't just make that up. Neither did I make up the rest of the fairy tale.
It's just that I found it less painful to tell my story in 3rd person.
It has been a rather daunting experience to put this in black and white and hit the Publish button.]


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New Colors Gracing The PSP Go?
It's still too early to determine if the PSP Go is a sales success for Sony but we do know many gamers aren't too keen on that $249.99 price tag. Well, maybe we just need more colors to choose from.
For the longest time, Japan has had a stranglehold on the multicolor concept for gaming hardware. You should see what they have available for their handhelds in the Land of the Rising Sun; it's a veritable rainbow of portable prettiness. Maybe that's one of the reasons such devices are more successful over there, and where is it written that we Americans don't enjoy different hues and shades of color? Well, thanks to a customer survey, it seems Sony will be launching several new colors for the PSP Go. What you're seeing here are all the potential winners (apparently) so maybe you'll get a chance to vote for your favorites. The survey comes from Hall & Partners Europe, "a firm that has some loose connection with Sony." So far, all we have are Piano Black and Pearl White but it appears many more could be on the way some time soon, so we'll stay on the lookout for any announcements. It might make the cost a touch easier to swallow...
You know, we've seen plenty of requests from gamers asking for more colors for their gaming units and it appears someone out there is listening.
11/11/2009 9:12:43 PM John Shepard
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009 @ 9:56:04 PM
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009 @ 10:58:46 PM
If you ask me its very innovative but they are assuming its potential way to soon and I hate the fact that it seems sony won't pay for jumping the gun on gamers.
Like everyone else im waiting for a price drop or at least until something like th 'GO' is more practical in terms of its intended use.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 @ 11:14:26 PM
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Welcome to Sunset Stables
We offer horseback riding through beautiful Lincoln Woods 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm, all year long.
We also offer a full equestrian lesson program for the Western and English rider.
We also offer a full equestrian lesson program for the Western and English rider.
Lesson Program for Adults & Children
We offer a full lesson program for the English and Western riding.
- For the Beginner to Advanced rider
- Basic horsemanship is taught
- For the show or pleasure rider
- Personalized riding instruction
- Safe, reliable lesson horses
- Private and group lesson are offered
- Knowledgeable instructors provide a full range of lessons
"Learning how to Ride is a Life Lesson."
Trail Rides Through Lincoln Park
Experience scenic trail rides through 600 acres of gorgeous Lincoln Woods State Park:
- On safe, comfortable horses
- To relieve stress of a busy life style
- Provides an enjoyable outdoor experience for the whole family
- It offers fun, physical outdoor entertainment
- Experienced trail guides help make your ride a true pleasure
- Enjoy a ride during all 4 seasons
Riding Camp at Sunset Stables!
Sunset Stables is a great facility with qualified staff.
We are devoted to teaching and learning in a safe and fun environment.
Morning Activities:
- Instruction on basic horse care and horsemanship
- Morning Snack
- Riding lesson in English or Western
- Lunch (bagged from home)
Afternoon Activities:
- Trail ride through scenic Lincoln Woods
- Participation in crafts and games
- Nature walks


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Asian Carp Response in the Midwest
The Problem
Download content as PDF (143 KB)
Read the Frequently Asked Questions »
"Asian carp" refers to several species of related fish originating from Asia. Two species of Asian carp—the bighead and silver carp—were imported into the southern United States to keep aquaculture facilities clean and to provide fresh fish for fish markets. Bighead and silver carp escaped into the wild in the 1970s and have been swimming northward ever since, overwhelming the Mississippi and Illinois River systems.
Bighead and silver carp are voracious eaters. This is a problem because the diet of Asian carp overlaps with the diet of native fishes in the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Asian carp consume plankton—algae and other microscopic organisms—stripping the aquatic food web of the key source of food for native fish. Averaging 30-40 pounds, some Asian carp can grow to be over 100 pounds. Both bighead and silver carp juveniles can eat between 20 and 120 percent of their body weight each day.
Between 1991 and 2000 the Asian carp population dramatically increased as fish spread throughout the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Between 1994 and 1997 commercial catch of bighead carp in the Mississippi River increased from 5.5 tons to 55 tons. Today, commercial fishers in the Illinois River regularly catch up to 25,000 pounds of bighead and silver carp per day. A pound of Asian carp is currently less valuable than a pound of many native fish.
In addition to causing ecological harm, the silver variety of the Asian carp has caused direct harm to people. The silver carp is skittish and easily startled by the sound of a boat motor. The sound causes the fish to leap as high as ten feet out of the water. They have landed in boats, damaged property, and injured people.
An artificial connection – known as the Chicago Area Waterway System – connects the Great Lakes to the Illinois River, which connects to the Mississippi River. The United States Army Corps of Engineers currently maintains an electric barrier to prevent carp from entering the Great Lakes basin. The Corps is also conducting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, which is exploring additional options and technologies that could be applied to prevent ANS transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways.
Biologists, policy makers, and citizens have grown deeply concerned about the prospects of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes through the Chicago Waterway System. If these fish enter the Great Lakes, they may spread throughout the basin due to the natural and man-made connections and the widespread distribution of suitable habitat. While the fish will not find all parts of the Great Lakes to be hospitable, the lakes contain areas where the fish may thrive, reproduce, and cause harm.
The health of the Great Lakes is important to the U.S. economy. The Great Lakes provide over 1.5 million jobs to U.S citizens and over $62 billion in wages. The establishment of Asian carp could decimate commercial and sport fish populations, hurting the Great Lakes' economically valuable commercial, tribal, and sport fisheries.
Recognizing the environmental and economic importance of the Great Lakes, the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is a federal and state partnership that was formed to help prevent the movement of self-sustaining populations of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
View maps to see where Asian carp have been found:
- Bighead and silver carp status map for the Illinois Waterway.
- Asian carp in North America distribution (2.2 MB PDF)
- Bighead carp
- Silver carp
- Black carp
- Grass carp


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An Upside for the Middle Class
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton declares, "The economy is not working for middle-class and working families," noting the typical American family earns less now than it did seven years ago. Citing the same trend, her Democratic presidential rival, Sen. Barack Obama, promises "to put America back on the path to prosperity." Sen. John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, says, "It is harder for families to weather hard economic times."
The candidates' pitches are aimed at wooing the vast majority of Americans who consider themselves middle class. Those people tell pollsters that they are increasingly anxious about their financial security, a feeling that has intensified in recent years because of flattening wages, rising income inequality, increasing consumer debt, soaring health-care costs, spiraling energy prices and, now, declining home values.
But as Americans' wage growth has slowed, their rate of consumption has accelerated, leaving some economists dubious about claims that the middle class is worse off than before.
"There are clearly some challenges out there, and it is easy to worry. But it is a mixed picture," said Stephen Rose, a Washington economist who is writing a book about the middle class.
Median family income in the United States has decreased about $1,000 since peaking in 2000. The income decline came after more than a quarter-century of slow growth. Between 1973 and 2000, incomes increased at just a third the rate of worker productivity, a sharp break from the previous generation when family incomes and productivity both doubled, fueling an unprecedented expansion of the middle class.
The wage stagnation experienced by many Americans has been accompanied by a sharp growth in income inequality. After-tax family income for the nation's middle tier of wage earners increased 21 percent between 1979 and 2005, to $50,200. Incomes of the top 1 percent of wage earners, meanwhile, tripled, to just over $1 million, even as the after-tax income of the bottom fifth of income earners grew just 6.3 percent, to $15,300.
Rose says that if total compensation -- which includes the increasing cost of health and other benefits -- is included, American workers have done better than census numbers would indicate. Also, he said, upward mobility allowed 13 percent more Americans to earn inflation-adjusted salaries of $100,000 in 2004 than in 1979.
And while workers change jobs more frequently than in years past, they are less likely to be laid off than in previous years, said Steven J. Davis, a University of Chicago economist who recently concluded a study on the matter. Moreover, median household net worth increased from $69,000 in 1989 to $93,000 in 2004, pushed in part by an increasing home ownership rate.
Some analysts liken the plight of the middle class to an increasingly perilous high-wire act guarded by a steadily shrinking safety net: Americans pay for a steadily improving lifestyle by sending more family members to work and by juggling more debt. The savings rate, which topped 11 percent in the early 1970s, plunged below zero in 2005, as more people turned to credit cards and home equity loans to pay their way.
Items once considered luxuries -- dishwashers, central air conditioning, video cameras -- are now common. The average size of new homes has increased 40 percent in the past generation. And as many consumer items cost less, Americans are shopping more. In 1991 the average American bought 33.7 pieces of apparel; by 2002 he or she bought 48 items, according to Boston College sociologist Juliet Schor. In 2005, she said, Americans were projected to discard more than 63 million computers.
Americans are twice as likely to travel overseas than they were in 1980, and overall they spend more than ever for other recreation, including sporting events, movies and plays -- the mark of an ever-improving quality of life, some researchers say.
"The amount of leisure enjoyed by the average American has increased substantially over the past 40 years," University of Chicago researchers Mark Aguiar and Erik Hurst concluded in a recent study.


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Grimes leads Mustangs past Panthers in OT
Published 1:00 am, Friday, December 10, 2004
The Immaculate High senior guard had a ton of responsibility in leading her team to a 57-52 overtime win against Pomperaug on Thursday night at Masuk High.
Offensively, Grimes led the Mustangs with a game-high 20 points. On the defensive end, she spent most of her time shadowing Lexi Allen , Pomperaug's most dangerous offensive player.
That's highly exhausting work to be sure. But Grimes managed to play 34 of a possible 37 minutes of what was a highly entertaining game in the first round of the Masuk Tip-Off Tournament.
With the win, the Mustangs advance to Saturday's 7 p.m. final where they will face Masuk, a 45-33 winner over NFA. The losing teams will meet at 5:15 p.m. in the consolation.
"You win with good guard play," Immaculate coach Joe Brady said. "I think we have some good guards. We were able to control the tempo and we were able to rebound the basketball."
The Mustangs took the lead for good on a lay-in by Nikki Weiss with two minutes remaining.
Grimes and point guard Lauren Mackay combined to hit three foul shots to salt the game away. Immaculate outscored the Panthers 7-2 in the extra session.
"Nikki was so huge for us down the stretch," Grimes said. "She has great hands. She'll catch anything. We played great as a team tonight."
Pomperaug forced the extra session on a three-pointer by Paige Moore with time winding down in the fourth quarter. Moore's clutch shot put the finishing touches on a 16 point rally for the Panthers.
Pomperaug did most of that damage at the beginning of the fourth quarter when it went on a 14-0 run.
That turned a 40-29 deficit into a 43-40 lead. It also served to put Immaculate on the brink of defeat. Allen and Moore were right in the thick of the run. Allen scored 12 of her team-high 18 points after half-time.
Moore, a 5-11 point guard, hit a trio of three-pointers after the half and finished with 15 points.
"We certainly looked better in the second half," Pomperaug coach Pete Kamide said. "We usually don't play well at Masuk in the first quarter. Tonight we sleepwalked through the entire first half. I was encouraged by the comeback. Every coach would be encouraged by that. But we didn't play well in the first half."
Grimes, Weiss and Lindsay Brown simply wouldn't let Immaculate lose. Brown scored 14 points, 11 in the first half. Weiss scored seven of her nine points in the second half. She also grabbed 11 rebounds.
Grimes, Brown, Mackay and Maggie Farrell showed how dangerous they can be in transition in the first half. They can all push the ball up the court, and they all are quick and track the ball well.
Grimes was 14-of-16 from the foul line during the game. Whenever a basket was needed, she usually came up with one. She shadowed Allen on the defensive end for most of the game.
Even though Allen was effective in the second half, she had only one basket in the fourth quarter and one basket in overtime.
"We showed what we were made of tonight," Grimes said. "When they took the lead, they took the momentum. We took it back. We were up, and we were down and we were still able to finish the game."
Immaculate (1-0) 11 21 8 10 7 - 57
Pomperaug (0-1) 11 5 15 19 2 - 52
IMMACULATE (57) : Emily Grimes 3 14-16 20; Kristina Haliskoe 0 0-0 0; Lindsay Brown 4 5-10 14; Maggie Farrell 1 2 -4 4; Lauren Mackay 2 3 -4 7; Nikki Weiss 4 1-4 9; Ashley Ward 0 2-2 2. TOTALS: 14 27-40 57
POMPERAUG (52) : Danielle Ulacco 0 0-2 0; Sarah Byers 0 0-0 0; Jacqueline Johannes 3 1-4 7; Erin Herlihy 1 0-0 2; Carla Zinno 1 1-3 3; Amanda Shortt 2 2-2 6; Kaitlynn Cates 2 0-0 4; Lexi Allen 8 1-2 18; Paige Moore 4 1 -2 12. TOTALS: 21 6-15 52
3-POINT GOALS : Moore (P) 3, Allen (P), Brown (I), Mackay (I)


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100 Best Albums of the Eighties
From synth pop and rap to metal and funk, 100 best albums of the Eighties selected by the editors of Rolling Stone
More News
14. Peter Gabriel, 'So'
"I was thinking of doing a blues and soul album," says Peter Gabriel about the origins of So, his multiplatinum 1986 album. "I was going to do half existing songs — favorite songs from my teenage years — and half new stuff. 'Sledgehammer' was the first song I developed for that project."
It was also the first single from So. Propelled by a powerful groove and a groundbreaking Claymation video, "Sledgehammer" went to Number One, opening the door for the album's commercial success. Daniel Lanois, who coproduced Gabriel's instrumental soundtrack for the film Birdy and then was invited back to work on So, says he and Gabriel wanted the album to be engaging and accessible.
"We had mutually decided on a philosophy for the record — that we would incorporate a playfulness and a humanness," says Lanois. "I thought it was important for Peter to be very clear with some of these songs. I wanted the listener to be able to touch the voice. I was definitely looking to bring Peter to the foreground."
Despite its mass appeal, however, So also presented compelling challenges. "Mercy Street" draws on the work of the influential American poet Anne Sexton, who committed suicide in 1974. Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour wails a spectacular background vocal on "In Your Eyes." A Depression-era shot by the American photographer Dorothea Lange and Gabriel's concern about the miners on strike in England inspired Gabriel to write "Don't Give Up."
The cartoonish rocker "Big Time" harpoons the excesses of Eighties-style ambition, while the haunting "We Do What We're Told" derives from a university experiment in which test subjects were asked to administer what they believed were injury-inducing electric shocks to others and complied, in the majority of cases, rather than disobey the authority figure giving them instructions. Addressing Gabriel's recurrent theme of control — "One is ego dominant, and the other is ego submissive," he says — these two songs define extremes that must be avoided.
Given the album's thematic reach, why the seemingly offhand title? "I liked the shape and the fact that it didn't have too much meaning," Gabriel says in his elliptical way.


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Fitness Fridays continue with indoor activities throughout fall, winter
An IU Health La Porte Hospital Release
— La Porte, IN – Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital, the City of La Porte and La Porte County Family YMCA have again partnered to continue providing Fitness Fridays during the cold weather months.
Re-vamped for the fall/winter season, Fitness Fridays are back to offer the public fun-filled physical activitites at several indoor locations. Area residents of all ages are invited to continue the tradition of Fitness Fridays on:
- Oct. 26 at IU Health La Porte Wellness Services at The Crossing, 1201 Washington St. in La Porte
- Nov. 30 at the La Porte County Family YMCA, 901 Michigan Ave. in La Porte
- Jan. 4, 2013 at the La Porte County Family YMCA, 901 Michigan Ave. in La Porte
- Jan. 18, 2013 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St. in La Porte
- Feb. 22, 2013 at IU Health La Porte Wellness Services at The Crossing, 1201 Washington St. in La Porte
All fitness events begin at 5:15 pm, and participants are encouraged to arrive early to register. There is no cost to participate in Fitness Fridays and all members of the public are welcome to attend to reach their fitness goals or simply participate in activities in an inviting atmosphere.
All participants are required to wear gym shoes. Participants are reminded to continue to track their attendance on the cards they received at the summer Fitness Fridays and work towards receiving a free T-shirt. Those who have already received a T-shirt are invited to start a new card.
The public is invited to save the date for the return of the summer Fitness Fridays weekly non-competitive walking and running group on March 29, 2013.


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Here's a new and rare $2/1 California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil coupon! If you can't find this coupon, head here and click on the Sign-in link in the upper right corner to log into your account at Coupons.com. Next click on your name in the upper right hand corner to show the drop down menu and finally, click on "Your Profile", set your zip code to 80004 and click "Submit Changes". Then click back on this link and the coupon should show up already clipped.
This brand of olive oil is sold at many stores in my area including Walmart and WinCo.
*Go here to find a store near you.
(Thanks, Printable Coupons and Deals!)


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It's easy to forget because of how thoroughly Storen has entrenched himself as the Nationals closer. Tuesday night, Storen recorded his 30th save of the season in his 34th chance. Reaching 30 saves did strike him as a significant goal, until he had achieved it.
"Now that I did it, it probably means more," Storen said. "It wasn't anything that I aimed for or anything like that. Just being that I didn't even start the year closing, it's been a long year. I had a terrible spring training, and I had to figure things out. It's been a cool process, to say the least."
Storen's season, at his age, has already landed him in rare company. With 47 games remaining, Storen became only the seventh closer in baseball history to save at least 30 games in his age 23 season or earlier.
Former Nationals closer Chad Cordero set the all-time record for saves by a reliever 23 or young in 2005, saving 47 games in the Nationals' inaugural season in Washington. Here's the full list, in descending order of saves, with the year they did and their age:
1. Chad Cordero, 47 (2005) 23
2. Neftali Feliz, 40 (2010) 22
3. Gregg Olson, 37 (1990) 23
4. Huston Street, 37 (2006) 22
5. Craig Kimbrel, 36 and counting (2011) 23
6. Byung-Hyun Kim, 36 (2002) 23
7. Drew Storen, 30 and counting (2011) 23
When Storen looks back at his season, he still sees spring training as the turning point. His ERA ballooned to double-digits and he struggled more than he had at anytime of his baseball life, all the way back to Little League. At the urging of pitching coach Steve McCatty, he focused on spotting his fastball and hardly threw his slider, his best pitch. He knew he needed to improve on the area, and by the end of spring training, he did.
"It kind of shows you how funny the game is," Storen said. "It just takes little minor adjustments, and they can go a long way. I think those spring training struggles were kind of key for me. It's obviously not ideal, but you just figure out what you need to be successful when you go through those struggles.
"It made me a lot tougher, too. Yeah, you have bad outings every once in a while, but you're used to bouncing back. Well, in spring training, I was adding on every time I was going out there. To be able to figure it out, I worked through that. To kind of grind it out, it helped me a lot."
Just as significant as Storen's success in his first full season has been his durability. On April 7, Storen threw two innings in Florida, and the next day he pitched one inning in New York against the Mets. The day after, he told Manager Jim Riggleman he needed a day off. That has not happened again all season. Even when Storen pitched three consecutive days in July, he told Manager Davey Johnson he'd be ready for the fourth day.
"I feel just as good as I did early in the season, which is pretty unbelievable," Storen said. "I've pitched a lot, but I don't feel like I've been abused."
Storen has been mindful of one of closing's cold reality: It is, for the vast majority of those who do it, a short-term profession. The list above is instructive. Set aside Kimbel and Feliz, whose careers are still unfolding, and consider the path of the other closers after the season in which they recorded 30 saves at 23 or 22:
>>> Olson recorded at least 29 saves the next three seasons, but injury and ineffectiveness derailed his career. After age 27, he did not have any productive years.
>>> Cordero pitched two more solid seasons, but underwent major shoulder surgery and was out of baseball by 27. He retired this year, at 29, after a short-lived comeback attempt.
>>> Kim never saved more than 16 games in one season, and he was out of baseball by age 29.
>>> Street has remained durable and effective. Over the past four seasons, he's saved 118 games and blown only 22 saves.
This is by no means conclusive data, but the one-of-four success rate is telling. Even the best closers are usually comets, shining bright and then burning out just as quickly as they appear. It's something Storen gets, and wants to prevent.
Storen has watched teammates and become attuned to his own arm. He knows when he shouldn't play long toss before a game and when he should push through soreness. This offseason, he shut down his throwing for the first time in four years, wanting to preserve his arm. He thinks that may have been one of the factors in his poor spring training, but he also thinks it was worth it.
"Relieving, and especially closing, there's a short shelf-life. That's why you can't cut corners when you condition. You can't cut corners on rehab. You do all your shoulder stuff after you throw. You ice. When you cut a corner, it might not hurt me tomorrow. Say I don't stretch before I throw. It may not hurt me tomorrow. But it might hurt me a month from now, or it might hurt me a year from now. Stuff adds up."
Ross Detwiler is still trying to tap his potential after the Nationals' 4-2 loss to the Cubs.


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September 16, 2010
Microsoft Unveils Internet Explorer 9
On Wednesday, Microsoft released a new Internet Explorer to try and fend off competition from the Firefox and Chrome Web browsers.
"The browser is the stage and the websites are the stars of the show," corporate vice president of Internet Explorer Dean Hachamovitch told AFP."Microsoft has over a billion Windows customers," Hachamovitch said of the software giant's ubiquitous computer operating system. "We want the browsing experience on Windows to be great."
The beta version of Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) made its public debut at the San Francisco Design Center Concourse.
The new browser takes advantage of better processing power in computers, especially the capabilities of graphics chips that excel at seamlessly rendering videos or videogame action.
"IE9 is using more of your personal computer," Hachamovitch explained.
According to the news agency, "More than 70 partners including Amazon, Twitter, MySpace, Hulu, and Yahoo! are capitalizing on IE9 with faster, richer features at websites."
According to industry statistics, IE has been losing its foothold in the browser market during the past five years, with its share of the market dropping from over 85 percent in 2005 to about 60 percent in August of this year.
One new feature of IE9 is that the browser allows a user to "pin" websites or applications to a tool bar at the base.
Once a website is reached, the browser seems to get out of the way and turn a spotlight to the content.
According to Net Applications, Firefox still remains the second most popular Web browser with a little less than 23 percent of the market.
"Once people stop using IE and use a different browser they might stop and ask themselves why they are using Windows," analyst Matt Rosoff of independent firm Directions on Microsoft told AFP. "It could be the same with developers designing websites."
Analysts say that Microsoft seems to have hit the mark with IE 9.
"It looks like they are taking a smart approach, which is to take you where you want to go and then get out of the way and fade into the background," Rosoff said.
On the Net:


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Meeting Notice - August 4th 2009
This meeting will be held at EMC formerly Configuresoft. This meeting will follow our summer schedule and be held from 11:30 AM - 1:15 PM - see here for more location and time details.
Steven Lange – Team Foundation Server: Today & Tomorrow
Team Foundation Server (TFS) is a pretty big tool, and it's only getting bigger! In this session, we'll explore the basics of what TFS does, including version control, work item tracking, automated build, process guidance, and reporting. We'll also look at some of the major improvements in the pipe for TFS 2010, including build workflow, hierarchical work items, and branch visualization. Join us and discover that TFS goes way beyond simple source control and can speed up your development process.
Steven Lange is a Developer Technology Specialist for Microsoft based in the Denver, CO area. He is an original holder of this role, and has been at Microsoft since 2005. Steve has been working in the fields of software configuration management, requirements management, and application lifecycle management since 1999. As a Developer Technology Specialist, Steve serves as a field expert for Microsoft's high-end development and application lifecycle management tools, specifically Visual Studio Team System and Team Foundation Server.
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By Lindsay Boyle, InterActivist, Editor-in-Chief
Standing at the front of the fifth grade classroom, Mara Giglio was about to begin a Second Step lesson when a boy's hand shot into the air. Giglio gave him the go-ahead. "It used to be so hard for me," he said, referring to school in general. "Now it's a lot better." Such feedback has become commonplace to Giglio, who's been employed by the Appalachian Peace and Justice Network since 1999. She regularly teaches Second Step bully prevention classes at local elementary schools including Amesville, Chauncey, Trimble and West.
Giglio, a Meigs County native, said she grew up in a very socially and emotionally supportive environment. In college, she studied figures like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Dalai Lama and became interested in the concept of non-violent education. Her junior year, she went abroad to India to study Indian and Tibetan culture. "It really opened my eyes," she said. "Not everybody does things the way we do them. It's so interesting and exciting to see that people have all these differences." She became eager to put what she had learned to use. When she heard about the job opening with APJN, she obtained an online interview and flew back to Ohio 10 days later. In 2006, she scheduled a visit with her mother in Seattle—where the Second Step curriculum was created—and underwent a two-day training session in which she learned both how to teach the curriculum and how to train others.
Though it's labeled as a bully prevention program, Giglio said the title doesn't portray it correctly. "I like to call it 'The Empathy Project,'" she said. "That puts a positive frame on it." The curriculum runs for 22 weeks and gradually moves from teaching basic learning skills to more complex concepts related to understanding feelings. It is administered to kids ranging from pre-school level through the eighth grade. It's also specially tailored: the curriculum for the younger grades is more picture-based and includes activities with puppets. The older grades view more short videos. However, discussions, group work and hands-on activities are central factors for all age groups. That's not to say that younger grades receive a more diluted version of the curriculum. Giglio called Second Step a respectful curriculum that honors people's intelligence. She explained that even the kindergarteners get into pairs, have discussions and learn to focus and pay attention to each other. In addition to that, Giglio pointed out that the average person's social-emotional skills are mostly set by third grade. She suggested that the younger kids are actually more aware of how they feel. As kids grow older, the focus is typically on academics and test scores, and emotions are often devalued.
"The whole idea is if you can identify feelings, you're more empathetic. If you're more empathetic, then you don't want to be in conflict," she said. "Second Step takes the whole cycle of violence and deconstructs it and teaches the opposite." In collaboration with the empathy element, the curriculum teaches students to embrace diversity. Giglio said that although racial diversity is not necessarily huge in southeastern Ohio, she's still able to use examples of socioeconomic class diversity as well as physical differences, such as hair color or wearing braces and glasses to make it more applicable to the students.
During an activity performed in a fifth grade Second Step lesson, the students answered questions about things such as their favorite hobbies, foods and sports. Then they compared their answers by playing a game similar to tic-tac-toe. Most were surprised by how many similarities they found. At the same time, they recognized that differences are good. If everybody was the same, in the words of one of the students, "It would be boring." In the discussion afterward, one girl stood up and said, "I judge my friends by what's on their inside." Many other students nodded their heads in agreement.
The curriculum is sensitive to the fact that many kids will come into it with impulse control issues and other behavioral issues. Thus, the curriculum suggests that teachers go against the norm and that instead of calling out and giving attention to kids who are misbehaving, they should focus on applauding the ones who are on task. Kids will quickly catch on that they will have to behave well in order to receive attention. Teachers aren't the only ones who can help keep behavioral issues under control. Research about the curriculum has shown that students are able to help one another. Those with good social-emotional intelligence have been shown to have a positive influence on kids who are lacking in it. "If we can take kids that are being judged on things that they can't change and give them some assets in another area, then they're going to have more of a chance of success," Giglio said. At the first grade level, Giglio's Second Step lesson tackled behavioral issues regarding assertiveness. The kids split into pairs and were given scenarios to act out. They practiced using respectful assertion when asking for help as opposed to passivity or aggression. Being able to communicate effectively in scary, frustrating or even ordinary situations is something that's useful to learn, especially in cases in which it isn't being taught at home.
Giglio is assisted by an Amesville school social worker and an Athens City Schools guidance counselor in teaching the lessons at several of the local elementary schools. In addition, three of the teachers at Amesville also teach the curriculum. "That's actually the best because they are with the kids and they know their issues," Giglio said. "They can bring their issues into role plays that are being done with the curriculum." Even the teachers who aren't Second Step certified observe and learn the Second Step management skills and then implement them in their classrooms. That reinforcement is helpful because the lessons only occur once a week.
"I've been at the APJN for 12 years now and the job's awesome. It's really grown with me," Giglio said. Amesville was the first school where the curriculum was taught. Conflict management in some form has been taught there longer than Giglio has been employed. West Elementary was the next school to begin implementing conflict management programs. Then in 2010, Giglio began teaching the Second Step curriculum at Chauncey and Trimble elementary schools. "Basically, I think there are two doors to any school. You've got the principal and then you've got the teacher," Giglio said. "If those two key people are open to collaboration, then you can work with their students." Some principals don't accept the curriculum because they don't think all of their students need it. Others cite a lack of time and a need to improve standardized test scores. However, the program has been proven to not only increase social-emotional skills, but academic performance as well. For some principals, that is more than enough. Peggy Williams, who's been the principal at Chauncey Elementary for four years, is one of those principals. "We are very happy with the program and the implementation," she said.
APJN serves 14 different counties throughout Ohio and West Virginia. Though Giglio only teaches lessons in local schools, she travels to other schools to train teachers and other staff members on things like Second Step and conflict management programs. She's also given presentations at local middle schools and, utilizing her field experience, has taught classes at Ohio University. In addition to teaching non-violent problem solving, the nonprofit also engages in activism. One of its board members started Democracy Over Corporations, which deals with the issue of corporate funding in politics. In the past, the organization has worked for legislative change on issues such as funding for public schools. APJN, which has been around since 1984, is primarily funded by individual contributions. The rest of the funds come from grants and income earned from Giglio's presentations and trainings. "There's a really progressive, activist base that supports the work and is incredibly generous," she said. "Athens is a really great place to have a nonprofit."
In the future, Giglio said she hopes to build capacity. She wants to train more teachers, teach more classes and ultimately get the curriculum in the hands of more teachers who will use it. So far, the principals at the schools where Giglio is teaching the Second Step curriculum have nothing but kind words. "Mara is outstanding and has demonstrated a true sense of commitment to the Chauncey Elementary School community," Williams said. "She is resourceful and well-respected by the students and staff alike." A sixth grade girl at Chauncey once told Giglio that she didn't know violence wasn't normal. "It was really powerful to me to think that her norm is violence," Giglio said. "We have the opportunity to offer her something else, to give her different skills and tools so she can get her needs met in a nonviolent way."


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I understand that gym machines are rather out of favour.If you want to strengthen your legs, do functional multi muscle movements like squats with weights, either barbells, or dumbells, the latter being harder and requiring more stabilisation of the weights during movement.This will also work your core. Working up to one legged squats with weights seems likely to be far more helpful for sit spins than using a leg press.
It'll vary but a 'reasonably trim' 5'4 lady who isn't a teenager and has the muscle mass of an athlete might weigh more than she looks.. try 125-130.
C. Fit males often lift similar height trim females, "on the threshold", and in social dance. A reasonably trim lady my height (5'4") might weight 100 pounds or a little more. Is 100 pound lift a good measure for good skating-related muscle stabilization for me?


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I wondered how to integrate google buzz in my blog (see mashable article here: http://mashable.com/2010/02/15/google-buzz-wordpress/) and it brought me to a wider question - how to integrate anything in my blog???
In tutorial video on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgaiOHJZEsc) a guy has "plugin" section in his wordpress blog management page, I don't have this section.
So to make a long story short - how to add these cute buttons "buzz it", "twitter it" etc into my wordpress blog???
Thanks everyone!
The blog I need help with is missionnoagency.wordpress.com.