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Graduate Assistantships
Fellowships and assistantships are available to graduate students who demonstrate potential in their selected field of study. These awards provide stipends, and in some cases, tuition remission.
Graduate fellowship and assistantship awardees are expected to devote 10 to 20 hours a week teaching, conducting research, or assisting with administrative functions during the semester in which their fellowship or assistantship is awarded.
Graduate fellowships and assistantships are awarded primarily in recognition of academic qualifications. Each program has their own criteria for choosing recipients of fellowships and assistantships, but financial need is not a factor in award selection.
To find out more, please contact your academic program coordinator or Ms. Michele Ralston (firstname.lastname@example.com), Education Support Specialist and Graduate Assistantship Coordinator for the College of Graduate Studies and Research.
General Responsibilities
Assistantship Policies and Procedures for 2023-2024
Graduate Assistant (GA)
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
Graduate Teaching Fellow (GTF)
Eligibility Requirements for All Assistantships
Application Process
Allocation of Assistantships: Coordinator Information
Award and Notification
Definition, Purpose, and Philosophy
Graduate assistantships at Radford University are used to recruit and retain full-time quality students in graduate programs. They are designed to enhance the educational experience for both graduate students and the undergraduates with whom they may have contact. The primary goal of assistantships is to provide a stipend to help graduate students reach their educational objectives by working within the University community. Important professional skills are cultivated and developed in assistantship assignments which will aid the students in future career endeavors. The assistant/mentor relationship is vital; the best relationships will result from careful planning and communication. The guiding principle is that students will primarily benefit from their assistantships. Graduate assistants should, at all times, be viewed principally as students rather than employees. In this regard, they must make satisfactory progress in their degree program. To ensure that their assigned duties represent learning experiences that appropriately complement and do not adversely impact their ability to successfully complete rigorous academic programs, they are expected to work collaboratively with their supervisors. Graduate assistants are expected to notify supervisors of schedule conflicts and must request flexible work arrangements as soon as possible. Students who are frequently called away from their assistantship duties and cannot fulfill the bulk of their work obligation should not accept an assistantship award. Evidence of this pattern may result in dismissal from an assistantship.
All assistantships are merit-based and competitive. The availability of assistantships varies by a graduate program's size, credit hour requirements, a student's programs of study, and the degree to which the graduate program's home department must balance graduate with undergraduate instruction. Assistantships are typically awarded for two academic years (three in the case of the Master of Fine Art), but continuation is not guaranteed. Reappointment each term and year is contingent on performance in the position, academic standing, and the availability of funds. Stipends for assistantships are paid four times each semester.
There are three types of Graduate College assistants: Graduate Assistants (GAs), Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Graduate Teaching Fellows (GTFs). Each is described below. After reviewing the types of assistantships, a link to a Graduate Assistantship Application is provided. Students – typically in their first year - are nominated by their academic programs for Graduate Assistantships or Graduate Teaching Assistantships based upon merit. Second year students in academic departments that teach introductory undergraduate courses may be nominated by their programs for Graduate Teaching Fellowships based on merit and appropriate pedagogical training. However, appointment to a GTF is not guaranteed. Some programs do not offer GTFs. Further, the process of selection to become a Professor of Record is a competitive one that may include students who were not awarded GTAs.
General Responsibilities
Students who receive assistantships are expected to make steady progress toward their degree while effectively performing their assigned duties. Graduate Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Fellows are expected to behave in a professional manner. Effective written and oral communication skills are necessary for students in assistantship assignments. These duties may vary widely, but generally include the following types of work:
- Research assistance
- Administrative assistance
- Teaching assistance
- Bibliographic research and record-keeping
- Undergraduate advising
- Paper grading
- Instruction of laboratory, discussion or clinical sessions
- Instruction of an introductory course
Radford University E-MAIL - All GAs, GTAs and GTFs are expected to activate and maintain their Radford University e-mail accounts upon admission to a program in order to receive important information from the College of Graduate Studies
Graduate Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Fellows are expected to follow all university regulations. They are obligated to maintain standards of academic honesty and integrity including full compliance with and support of the Honor Code.
Tuition and Fees are set each May for the upcoming August - May academic year. The Office of the Bursar has the most up to date information available to students and parents for Radford University and RUC campuses.
With a wide range of scholarships, assistantships, and other financial aid available, there are many paths to investing in your future.
Assistantship Policies and Procedures for 2023-2024
Policies and procedures vary by the type of assistantship.
Graduate Assistant (GA)
Academic programs recommend students for Graduate Assistantships. Academic Program Coordinators work closely with other faculty within their department when assigning assistantship duties. A GA can be awarded to a student to work within an academic department as a graduate teaching, research or administrative assistant. It is expected that GAs will primarily assist faculty with scholarly/creative activities or instruction, although there are some administrative GAs housed within academic departments. A GA must have no regular teaching responsibility. Alternatively, a Program Coordinator may assign a student to work outside the department assisting the university staff in an administrative or advising office. Supervisors in specific administrative or advising offices are allocated a set number of assistants from the Graduate College. They then review the resumes of potential assistants who were assigned awards by their Coordinators/Directors and contact a qualified student directly to discuss the placement. For both internal and external appointments, resumes are required as part of the Graduate Assistantship Application. Regardless of whether a student is placed within or outside their home department, GAs must be allowed the flexibility to first attend to academics while fulfilling the expectations of their assignments.
In order to receive a Graduate Assistantship, a student must be enrolled for at least 9 graduate credit hours, with a recommended maximum of 14 graduate credit hours. The stipend for a GA assigned to work 20 hours per week is $9,000 for the academic year ($4,500 each semester). A GA assigned to work for 10 hours per week receives a stipend of $4,500 per academic year ($2,250 each semester).
Note that a GA contract may be awarded for a single semester (Fall or Spring) at the discretion of the Program Coordinator. These awards are less common.
All new GAs appointed for the academic year must attend an orientation, generally offered the day before the start of classes in the Fall. All GAs must be evaluated by their supervisor during the term they work (Fall, Spring, Summer). The contract for a Fall or Spring GA runs from the day before classes begin till the last of day of classes in the term, respectively.
A very limited number of GAs are available during the summer, many of which are allocated to such external offices as the Advising Centers. The application process is the same as for the regular academic year, except that Graduate Coordinators do not make assignments. Supervisors of external offices are awarded a set number of assistantship hours. They then review the resumes of potential assistants, contact and discuss their position with them, and make a recommendation to the Graduate College which shall then verify the student's eligibility. Summer Graduate Assistants must be enrolled for at least 3 semester hours (any combination of Maymester, Summer I, II and III). Registration for all 3 hours must be completed prior to the start of Maymester.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
A limited number of academic programs recommend students for Graduate Teaching Assistantships, typically for a student's first year of study. Program Coordinators work closely with other faculty in their department when selecting teaching assistants. A GTA can be awarded to a student to work within an academic department to directly assist with undergraduate teaching. Serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for a University course is a demanding responsibility, reserved for only our best students. A GTA generally will directly and regularly assist an instructor with teaching responsibilities for two sections of a course each semester. This usually involves instructing two labs, discussion groups, clinicals or other equivalent activities for a course in which the instructor conducts the main lectures. Though some teaching may and should be required, a GTA is not responsible for the conduct of a course or for assigning final grades. Specific course sections are assigned by the Graduate Program Coordinator or an assigned teaching mentor based upon the needs of the department. A GTA will report directly to her or his teaching mentor and must have weekly contact with that mentor. A GTA must be formally evaluated by his or her mentor each semester.
Ideally, a GTA is in training to become the "Professor of Record" for an introductory course in his or her second year and earn the title of Graduate Teaching Fellow. Not all graduate programs have Teaching Fellows. Reappointment as a GTA or appointment to a Teaching Fellowship is competitive and, therefore, not guaranteed.
In order to receive a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, a student must be enrolled for at least 9 credit hours. The stipend for a GTA is $10,000 for 20 hours of work per week for the academic year ($5,000 each semester), plus an in-state tuition award. The tuition award consists of nine (9) in-state graduate credit hours that will be directly applied to your tuition bill each semester. GTAs who are not residents of Virginia may pay the remainder of their tuition based on in-state tuition rates if they are selected to receive a waiver for the out-of-state portion of their tuition by the program coordinator. (Out-of-state tuition waivers are based on the availability of funding in any given year.) GTAs enrolled in more than 9 credit hours in a term must pay the additional tuition based upon their status as residents or non-residents of Virginia.
GTAs are required to be on campus for training during the week before classes begin in the Fall. Specific programs or the Graduate College will notify GTAs of training dates. New GTAs are also required to meet with their teaching mentor and attend a Graduate College Orientation for Teaching Assistants during this week at a time to be announced. A contract for a GTA runs from the first day of classes until the last day of classes prior to exams.
Graduate Teaching Fellow (GTF)
Some departments on campus use Graduate Teaching Fellows to teach introductory courses as the Professor of Record. A Graduate Teaching Fellow is a student in her or his second (or, for the MFA, third) year of study who has demonstrated clear mastery of her or his discipline, along with excellent presentation, interpersonal and organizational skills. As is the case for a GTA, a Graduate Teaching Fellowship is an honor reserved only for our best students. To be selected, the student must have successfully completed at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline in which she or he is expected to teach, be enrolled full-time (for no more nor less than 9 graduate credit hours per semester), and have successfully undergone pedagogical training with mentoring. While the GTF will generally have primary responsibility for the course being taught, weekly formal mentoring by a full-time faculty member is required. GTFs will only be selected if they clearly have the ability to balance their own academic responsibilities with those of their assignment. GTFs will receive on-going feedback from their mentor and must be formally evaluated by their mentor and their students.
GTFs currently receive a stipend of $11,000 per year ($5,500/semester) plus an in-state tuition award. The tuition award consists of nine (9) in-state graduate credit hours that will be directly applied to your tuition bill each semester. GTFs who are not residents of Virginia may pay the remainder of their tuition based on in-state tuition rates if they are selected to receive a waiver for the out-of-state portion of their tuition by the program coordinator. GTFs enrolled in more than 9 credit hours in a term must pay the additional tuition based upon their status as residents or non-residents of Virginia. GTFs will generally teach two sections of a 100-level (or, with prior approval from the Graduate College, a 200-level) course each semester as Professor of Record. This category is very limited, with assignments given only in circumstances where there is a compelling reason for a student to serve as the Professor of Record.
GTFs are required to be on campus for training during the week before classes begin in the Fall. Specific programs will notify GTFs of training dates. A contract for a GTF runs from the first day of classes or the first day of training by the program until the day grades are due.
Eligibility Requirements for All Assistantships
To qualify for an assistantship, a student must be admitted as "degree-seeking" in accordance with the admission policies and procedures of the Graduate College. A minimum of a cumulative 3.0 GPA must be maintained for the duration of the appointment. Students may not be awarded an assistantship while on conditional or temporary admission status. However, students admitted on temporary status (i.e., the only outstanding requirement for admission is an official transcript verifying receipt of the undergraduate degree) are eligible for assistantships.
The English language abilities of international students should be thoroughly evaluated in relationship to the demands of an assistantship award. A formal assessment of speaking ability must be included in the language evaluation of any international student whose duties include working with undergraduate students.
All Graduate College assistants will be expected to take a minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate course work in each of the Fall and Spring terms. A summer GA must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours over the course of the summer.
All GAs, GTAs and GTFs must complete necessary tax forms, including the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification. To conform to the Federal Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986, documentation of identity and work eligibility is required.
International Students: Students maintaining valid F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant visa status are eligible to work on campus. Students in any other status may obtain work eligibility information specific to their visa by contacting the University Immigration Counselor at 540-831-6200. All international students must meet with the Tax Compliance Manager within 3 days of beginning their assignment. This individual will assist students in completing the tax withholding forms, Forms W-4 and VA-4, and verifying work authorization on Form I-9. Students will need to bring their passport, visa, Form I-94, Form I-20, Form I-9 documents and social security cards with them to this meeting. Students may call 540-831-7020 to set up an appointment.
Male Students: All males receiving an assistantship who are U.S. Citizens must complete a Selective Services Form.
Application Process
Full-time graduate students will automatically be considered for assistantship awards allocated through their graduate programs and will be notified of any offers. Students may also apply for auxiliary graduate assistantships as well as summer graduate assistantships by submitting a Graduate Assistantship Application, along with a resume, to email@example.com. The Graduate College will then make the student's resume available to the academic unit that is responsible for recommending the student for an award. Assistantship awards are contingent on merit, availability of funds and admission of the student to a degree granting graduate program. Award letters will be sent by the Dean of the Graduate College.
* Most assistantships are awarded for an academic year (Fall/Spring) and begin in the Fall. Students may also apply for summer assistantships, which are awarded through a separate assistantship process.
Allocation of Assistantships: Coordinator Information
Allocations to programs are made on the basis of merit and available funding. For the academic year (Fall/Spring), unallocated funding will be returned to the Graduate College for redistribution on or about June 15. For summer, any assistantships not awarded by the day that Spring term grades are due will revert to the Graduate College for redistribution.
Award and Notification
Once the Program Coordinator/Director recommends a student for an award, the Graduate College will verify the student's eligibility. Then, the Graduate College will send an award letter to the student. The student will accept or decline the award and return the signed award letter to the Graduate College. Specific duties will be assigned by the Program Coordinator/Director for students allocated positions within a department and by supervisors for those allocated positions in administrative or advising offices.
As a member of the Council of Graduate Schools, Radford University adheres to the following resolution.
Resolution: Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by a prospective or enrolled graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties.
Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.
Insurance and Parking
Graduate Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Fellows are covered by the University's liability insurance and by Worker's Compensation. GAs, GTAs and GTFs are not eligible for sick leave benefits.
Unfortunately the Office of the Dean of Students is no longer able to offer a student health insurance plan through Radford University. However, we have outlined some options available to you.
A) You can enroll/continue on your parent's health insurance plan until age 26.
B) You can access coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace (i.e., the Public Exchange) and may qualify for a subsidy offered through the Federal Government. American Exchange can assist you with enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace and in obtaining any subsidy for which you are eligible. To contact American Exchange directly, call 1-888-995-1674 to speak with a licensed agent. Please identify yourself as a Radford University student needing assistance with determining your best options for obtaining insurance coverage.
C) You can contact a local insurance provider to purchase short term medical coverage on an individual basis.
If you have questions or would like additional assistance, please contact the Dean of Students Office at 831-6259.
Graduate Teaching Fellows will be permitted to purchase Faculty/Staff parking permits, allowing them to park in designated faculty/staff lots.
Additional Employment
Students receiving GAs, GTAs or GTFs should avoid engaging in any employment beyond their assistantship, inside or outside the University, because of the demands of their studies and of their assistantships.
Tax Status
Stipends are taxable as earned income. They are subject to withholding and reportable to the IRS. Income tax withholding on the taxable amount is based on appropriate tax withholding forms, Forms W-4 and VA-4.
U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens: GAs, GTAs and GTFs are exempt from paying the social security tax if they are enrolled at least half-time per Internal Revenue Procedure 2005-11.
International Students: All international students awarded a Graduate College assistantship must meet with the Tax Compliance Manager within the first 3 days of class. This individual will assist students in completing the tax withholding forms, Forms W-4 and VA-4, and verifying work authorization on Form I-9. Students will need to bring their passport, visa, Form I-94, Form I-20, Form I-9 documents and social security cards with them to this meeting. Please call 540-831-7020 to set up an appointment.
International Graduate Assistants and Graduate Teaching Fellows are exempt from the social security tax withholding if they are on an F, J, M or Q visa and have not been in the United States for more than five calendar years. Those students who are not on an F, J, M or Q visa or who have been in the United States for more than five calendar years should read the section under "U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens" to determine if they are exempt from the social security tax.
The integration of the assistantship responsibilities and academic programs must be carefully coordinated and monitored by a faculty mentor. The mentor or faculty advisor has a serious responsibility to help the student monitor and manage the academic and assistantship roles. GAs, GTAs and GTFs should be provided with sufficient training, space and equipment necessary to effectively fulfill their assignments.
Each program or administrative office should designate an individual who has the overall responsibility for its assistants. Those programs and offices are encouraged to develop procedure manuals and other pertinent supplements that include the following:
- A description of the responsibilities and expectations associated with the assistantship;
- A description of all departmental, office, college, and University regulations;
- A description of orientation, training, and mentoring activities; and
- An assessment plan requiring the mentor to evaluate the Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant or Fellow.
Performance Evaluations
Programs are expected to provide an evaluation that is consistent with the plan set forth in the previous Supervision section. A productive evaluation should be an on-going process of bi-directional communication between the student and her or his mentor. Because the evaluation should be a supportive process that will help the student identify strengths and weaknesses in her or his assistantship duties, feedback must be provided to the student. Failure to complete the evaluation form or provide feedback to the student may result in the loss of assistantship support to a program or office in the future.
Conflict Resolution
The experience of a graduate student as a GA, GTA or GTF is an integral part of graduate education. An assistantship can be viewed as an apprenticeship under the guidance of a mentor, who is usually a faculty supervisor or administrative departmental supervisor. In most cases, this experience is instructive and positive. In some cases, however, a serious conflict may arise that may be resolved only through a change in supervisors or the termination of an assistantship.
When a serious conflict between an assistant and a mentor or supervisor occurs, reasonable attempts should be made to resolve the conflict informally. If there is a conflict between a mentor or supervisor and an assistant that cannot be resolved by informal means, the most practical solution may be to reassign the student to new responsibilities. If reassignment is not feasible or does not appear to be warranted, the assistantship may be terminated by following the procedures given below. The student may also choose to relinquish the award by submitting a letter of notification to the Graduate College.
Most conflicts between a supervisor and a student can be prevented if the student is given a clear description of responsibilities and expectations for performance and if the student receives regular supervision and evaluation. If conflicts surface, however, the Graduate College encourages and supports concerted informal efforts toward resolution within the department, beginning at the mentor/supervisor-student level. The procedures below provide guidelines for resolving and mediating conflicts informally. The procedures also provide guidelines for terminating an assistantship when informal resolution is not possible and the assistant's performance is found to be unacceptable. The Dean and Associate Dean of the Graduate College are available at any time to advise students, supervisors, graduate program administrators, or others who are involved in such conflicts.
Cases of academic misconduct, such as breaches of academic integrity in research and publication, are handled under the campus's Academic Integrity Policies.
1. When a conflict about a student's performance of assigned assistantship duties becomes apparent, concerted efforts shall be made to resolve the conflict informally. The supervisor and student should confer at the earliest opportunity, and review together the student's assistantship responsibilities and nature of the difficulties being experienced. If the student is assigned to an administrative office, the faculty adviser or other trusted faculty mentor may attend this and other sessions convened under this policy. The supervisor shall follow up in writing to the student, stating expectations for improvements in the student's performance. A written response shall be submitted by the student within five days after they receive the supervisor's statement. Copies of this correspondence should be kept in the department or administrative office.
2. If informal efforts to resolve the problem are ineffective, the supervisor shall send a copy of relevant correspondence to the Graduate College, together with written comments about the nature of the conflict. The supervisor should also recommend whether the assistantship duties should be changed, whether the percent-time of the award should be reduced, whether the student should be assigned to a different supervisor, or whether there is due cause for termination of the assistantship. The student shall be notified of this action, and may submit additional written comments within five working days of such notification, unless granted an extension by the Graduate Dean or Associate Dean.
3. The Graduate College should confer promptly with the student and the supervisor to effect an agreement or reconciliation. If no agreement or reconciliation can be effected, the Dean of the Graduate College shall decide about how to proceed within seven working days after the conference.
a) If the decision of the Graduate College is to reassign the student, another appropriate supervisor should be identified as soon as possible, and the student should be reassigned to a different assistantship supervisor. The Graduate College shall promptly notify in writing the student and present and future supervisors of the decision.
b) If the decision of the Graduate College is that there are probable grounds to terminate the assistantship before the end of the award period, the Graduate College shall promptly notify in writing the student and the mentor or supervisor. This written notice shall include reasons for the proposed termination, and the student will be provided with the opportunity to respond within five working days before a final decision is rendered. Due cause for termination of the assistantship shall exist if a student has been grossly neglectful of or grossly inefficient in the performance of appropriate, assigned University duties and functions as determined by the supervisor and the Graduate College. Due cause shall also exist if a student cannot be relied on to perform such duties and functions in a manner consonant with professional standards of competence and responsibility. Termination for cause need not be deferred until the completion of the award period; it may occur at any time that the procedures described here are completed.
If the decision of the Graduate College is that there are probable grounds to terminate the assistantship, the stipend will end on the effective date of the Graduate College's decision. Any tuition and fee waiver associated with the assistantship will also be cancelled on the effective date of the termination.
Should there be any questions relating to the student's schedule, the supervisor should take the lead in correcting the situation. Performance issues, such as when a student stops showing up to work, calls in sick habitually, does not report to work on time, or is habitually absent without a reasonable excuse may result in loss of the award. Supervisors and mentors can work with students to ensure that the assignments are completed and that there exists no excessive or ongoing time management issues. The mentor or supervisor may discuss the possible forfeiture of the following term's assignment, should behaviors fail to improve.
The Graduate College stands by the principle that students receive stipends to help attain their professional objectives; they should not be treated as wage employees.
Official University Closings (includes holidays and emergency closings) – GAs, GTAs and GTFs will be paid their normal stipends during an official university closing. For example, if an official closing falls on a day of the week normally scheduled for work, the student shall receive the regular paycheck and shall not be required to make up the hours that were scheduled on that day. If an official closing falls on a day of the week normally not scheduled for work, the student shall not receive a day or hours off to compensate for the closing.
Payroll InformationTax forms (W-4 and VA-4) are housed in the Payroll Department. Federal and state taxes will be withheld based on the information a graduate assistant provides on these forms.
Students should file new tax withholding forms if they have had a change in family status, or otherwise need to change the tax withholding status.
Paychecks are deposited directly into a student's bank account from the Payroll office. Pay dates will be posted by the Payroll office.
NOTE: Graduate Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Fellows are required to pay tuition and fees when they are due according to the Student Account policy. It is important to note that the first stipend check is processed well into the semester (both Fall and Spring), typically four weeks after the semester has begun. Students may choose to set up a monthly payment plan. Contact Payroll for information.

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Bob Seger Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
Bob Seger's career as a songwriter was acknowledged on Thursday (June 14) when he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.
Seger opened the show by singing 'Turn the Page,' which came in at No. 22 on our countdown of the Top 100 Classic Rock Songs. He was inducted by fellow member Valerie Simpson who, with her late husband Nickolas Ashford, wrote many classic Motown songs, most notably the duets by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, such as 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' 'Your Precious Love' and 'You're All I Need to Get By.' At the ceremony, Simpson performed Seger's 'We've Got Tonight,' of which she said, "It's one of the sexiest songs I know. It put more people in bed than I can imagine."
Stevie Nicks was also at the ceremony, giving a Lifetime Achievement Award to Bette Midler. Nicks sang Midler's 1979 hit, 'The Rose,' from the movie of the same name that was loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.
Other inductees included Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot and Jim Steinman, best known for the hits he wrote for Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler. American music icon Woody Guthrie was given the hall's first-ever Pioneer Award. This year marks the 100th birthday of Guthrie, who died in 1967. His daughter, Nora, was on hand to accept the award.


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If you require same-day delivery and it is after 2pm call us 01517244850 to make sure we can do it.
These beautiful fresh flowers hand-arranged by our professional florists into a hand-tied bouquet are a delightful choice from our new baby collection. This bouquet features pretty pastel colours and a cute baby-safe teddy bear which would make the perfect gift to celebrate the new arrival.
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These beautiful pastel fresh flowers hand-arranged by our professional florists together with a super soft baby-safe cuddly teddy bear are a beautiful choice to celebrate the birth of a new baby.
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This was published 11 years ago
Investigators close in on possible suspect as web sleuths take matters into their own hands
As officials continue to seek suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings, individuals are taking to the internet in efforts to identify potential culprits.
A group called 4chan ThinkTank posted a 57-picture album on the website imgur.com today that featured images of people who had black backpacks after it was revealed investigators were in possession of a video of a possible suspect.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department yesterday circulated a picture of a damaged black backpack that investigators believe may have held one of the two explosive devices placed near the race's finish line.
The imgur.com website has had more than 1.5 million views, while on reddit.com, a subgroup called ''findbostonbombers'' had more than 100 message threads, ranging from ''Electronic Bomb Component Analysis'' to ''Blue Robe Guy''. The latter refers to a bearded white male wearing a red shirt, blue jacket and carrying a black backpack over his right arm.
Another reddit page urged caution as individuals take to the website while state, local and federal officials track down leads.
''We do not condone vigilante justice. Our aim is simply to provide tips for the FBI, not to take matters into our own hands,'' a user known as Rather—Confused said in a posting.
''While it's admirable to help, posting information on anyone noted in pictures could have a devastating effect on their life.''
One such example cited by the website is Richard Jewell, the security guard who was falsely linked to the Centennial Olympic Park bombing during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
In what may prove to be a major breakthrough, a person carrying a black bag near the scene of the second bombing was caught on a surveillance video taken by a nearby Lord & Taylor department store, the Boston Globe has reported. The person had not been identified, however.
The FBI and Boston police were forced to deny a CNN report that a suspect had been taken into police custody.
''Despite reports to the contrary there has not been an arrest in the Marathon attack,'' the Boston Police Department posted on Twitter.
The two blasts went off in a 13-second period about 100 metres apart as stragglers from the marathon - in which 23,000 competitors took part - were crossing the finish line.
Despite reports to the contrary there has not been an arrest in the Marathon attack.
Meanwhile, a bomb threat at the federal courthouse in Boston forced the postponement of a scheduled 5 pm news briefing on the investigation.
Federal and state authorities were responding to the threat at the John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse, causing the delay, the agency said. Court employees were later allowed to return.
Pressure cooker lid found on roof
With no claim of responsibility made for the attack, the FBI said it had launched a "worldwide" hunt for the attackers.
It released photographs of the mangled metal remnants of a pressure cooker believed to have been used for one of the bombs which sprayed nails, ball bearings and metal pellets into the huge crowds.
The lid of one pressure cooker was found on the roof of the Charlesmark Hotel, close to the marathon finish line where the bombs were placed. A guest, whose girlfriend was running in the race, had been watching from the roof and just after the bombs exploded he found what he thought was the hub of a car wheel and handed it to police.
Shreds of black nylon bags believed to have been used to carry the bombs have also been found.
Doctors at hospitals where the critically injured were taken say ball bearings and nails removed from patients were being used in the investigation.
George Velmahos, Massachusetts General Hospital's chief of trauma surgery, said the metal was being handed over to police. He said 12 nails were taken from one patient's body.
US authorities have thrown virtually every investigative agency into the hunt, with more than 1000 officers working in Boston alone, said Rick DesLauriers, head of the FBI's Boston office.
Obama has condemned the attack as "an act of terror" and vowed that the attackers "will feel the full weight of justice".
He will attend a special inter-faith service for the victims at Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Thursday morning, US time.
Armed National Guard troops and police patrolled Boston's airport, commuter trains and buses, and authorities said the tightened security would last several days.
About 100 of the injured have left Boston hospitals but many remain in a critical condition.
Emotional tributes are flowing for the dead - eight-year-old Martin Richard, restaurant manager Krystle Campbell and a Chinese graduate student at Boston University identified as Lu Lingzi.
- Bloomberg, AFP


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OTTAWA – Newly released statistics show Canada's citizenship and immigration website experienced a huge spike in web traffic from the U.S. just before it crashed on Tuesday, as results from the American presidential election were rolling in.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says there were more than 200,000 users accessing the site around 11 p.m. on election night and American IP addresses accounted for about half of that figure.
Spokeswoman Sonia Lesage says that doesn't include users who tried to access the website but were unsuccessful, after receiving a server error message for instance.
She says the web traffic figures for Tuesday night, when the election results were starting to indicate a Donald Trump presidential victory, were significantly higher than the same time the previous week, when the website saw just over 17,000 users.
Typically, Lesage says the percentage of site visitors from American IP addresses ranges between 8.8 per cent to 11.6 per cent.
She says a "significant increase" in web traffic and technical difficulties was found to be behind Tuesday's site crash. The website is now fully operational.
A number of U.S. citizens have said they may consider applying to move to Canada if Trump follows through on proposed policies such as mass deportations of illegal immigrants or the reopening of international trade agreements.
Immigration lawyers have warned, however, that the process to move to Canada can be long and complex and may cause a number of potential U.S. emigrants to reconsider their plans to move north once they learn more.
The Canadian Press


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At DMVEdu, we give you a stress-free way of reducing your auto insurance premium and learning to be safer on the road. Our course is delivered entirely online – no classrooms, no fixed schedules! Enroll now, become a safer driver and reap the financial rewards right away!
We offer a fast and convenient way of earning an insurance discount and brushing up on your driving knowledge with our online defensive driving course.
Our sought-after program is designed to make studying hassle-free from start to finish! You can take the course anytime and anywhere using a device of your choice – mobile phone, tablet or computer.
You can complete the course in just a few hours. Finish it in one sitting or study for an hour each day – take your pick! It's a self-paced course, enabling you to take control of your schedule and decide when to work on the modules.
Your progress is automatically saved, so you don't have to worry about stopping or taking a break. You can pick up where you left off when you log back in.
We guarantee that our courses are comprehensive. Created by experienced and trusted driving instructors, our defensive driving programs contain all the information you need to become a safe driver - from general and state-specific traffic laws to defensive driving techniques.
Let's help you save money on your car insurance! Take our top-rated online defensive driving course to get a discount on your insurance premium and become a safer driver.
Course price only $49.99, $34.95!
Several insurance companies offer discounts to those who complete a defensive driving course. Depending on your state or insurance provider, you can get up to 20% discount on your insurance rates.
Talk to your insurance agent to find out if they have this program, if you are eligible and how much discount they give.
Insurance premiums can be expensive, especially for certain demographics like males and young adults.
By completing a defensive driving course, you could get an insurance discount which means huge savings in the long run!
Over time, drivers forget road rules and develop bad driving habits. Taking a car insurance discount course is a good way to refresh your driving knowledge and even stay up to date with the latest traffic laws.
Plus, this course is designed to help you avoid accidents as it equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to stay safer on the road.
Our program offers unmatched convenience as it is delivered entirely online. You don't have to go to a driving school or be in a classroom to take and complete the course. All you need is your laptop or tablet and an Internet connection to get started.
With our online auto insurance discount course, you can study wherever you want – whether it's in your bedroom, a coffee shop or the library.
Enrolling in our defensive driving program is not just about being able to choose your study venue. It is also about having the freedom to set your own schedule. No fixed class time, so no need to worry about squeezing the course into your busy schedule. Study when you can or when you want to!
You also determine the pace of the course. Finish it as quickly as permitted or study at a leisurely pace. You decide what works best for you!
Learning at your own pace is not just convenient but also effective. You are going to understand lessons better and retain more information.
We don't just help you get an insurance discount. We help you become a safe driver. How? By giving you a defensive driving course that contains all the essential information you need to minimize your accident risk.
To ensure the accuracy of every piece of information, we asked a team of experienced driving instructors to create our defensive driving programs. These experts also regularly review our courses to make sure that all the details are up to date.


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We Stand With Ukraine
It was way back in the 18th century, when the founder of Russia's porcelain tradition, D. I. Vinogradov, made the first porcelain figurine. It was a figurine of a bear. Since then porcelain figurines have been basically made the same way: by hand from "hard" and "soft" porcelain (the difference is in the firing). Being handmade, each figurine is unique and unparalleled. The porcelain figurine in front of you has been carefully hand-painted and hand-glazed in Russia. Would make a wonderful little gift. Imported from Moscow, Russia. Length: 2.5 inches.


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In this week's episode I interview Christiana Ellis, the mastermind behind a bunch of cool projects, including Space Casey, Nina Kimberly the Merciless, and the serial detective/adventure story Phyllis Esposito: Interdimensional Private Eye. Christiana had a lot of great insights to share about putting yourself into your work, knowing what you want to get out of your writing, and why you shouldn't worry about whether your stuff is "original" or not. I had a lot of fun with this conversation, and I hope you will too!
Buy "Nina Kimberly the Merciless" on Amazon
Phyllis Esposito: Interdimensional Private Eye
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


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Remote Control Wood Leaf Fan Chandelier
white grey blue coffeeAURORAE
Shop auroraeshop.com and find the best online deals on home decor, modern lighting and other items as your interest. In addition, we make it a priority to make your shopping experience the best and most convenient it can be. Wish you enjoy it! Feel free to get in touch with us at firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2024 AURORAE All Rights Reserved.


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April 28, 2010
FOMC statement
For immediate release
Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in March suggests that economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the labor market is beginning to improve. Growth in household spending has picked up recently but remains constrained by high unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business spending on equipment and software has risen significantly; however, investment in nonresidential structures is declining and employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. Housing starts have edged up but remain at a depressed level. While bank lending continues to contract, financial market conditions remain supportive of economic growth. Although the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate for a time, the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization in a context of price stability.
With substantial resource slack continuing to restrain cost pressures and longer-term inflation expectations stable, inflation is likely to be subdued for some time.
The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and continues to anticipate that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization, subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period. The Committee will continue to monitor the economic outlook and financial developments and will employ its policy tools as necessary to promote economic recovery and price stability.
In light of improved functioning of financial markets, the Federal Reserve has closed all but one of the special liquidity facilities that it created to support markets during the crisis. The only remaining such program, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, is scheduled to close on June 30 for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed securities; it closed on March 31 for loans backed by all other types of collateral.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; William C. Dudley, Vice Chairman; James Bullard; Elizabeth A. Duke; Donald L. Kohn; Sandra Pianalto; Eric S. Rosengren; Daniel K. Tarullo; and Kevin M. Warsh. Voting against the policy action was Thomas M. Hoenig, who believed that continuing to express the expectation of exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period was no longer warranted because it could lead to a build-up of future imbalances and increase risks to longer run macroeconomic and financial stability, while limiting the Committee's flexibility to begin raising rates modestly.


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Last week at Ignite, our customers and partners like UPS, HSBC, Ernest & Young, and more shared incredible stories of how they are transforming their IT and businesses with Azure – revamping dev/test processes, modernizing applications, running mission critical workloads such as SAP, and taking their cloud investments to the next level with machine learning and AI. We also had an opportunity to share the latest Azure innovations and roadmap.
As customers look to do more with Azure, they want to know how they can lower, optimize and manage their cloud spend. To address this need, we are working hard to save you money on Azure with our existing billing model, new free cost management capabilities, and compelling offers.
Better than per-second billing for VMs
In Azure, we bill all virtual machines (VMs) running Linux and Windows on a per-minute basis, rounded down to the nearest minute. We only charge for the full minutes you use. This saves you money and simplifies your bill. Imagine a Linux VM or Windows VM that ran for 10 minutes and 59 seconds (659 seconds). On Azure, we would bill you only for 600 seconds while other cloud providers would charge for 659 seconds. In fact, we have been doing this for years.
In addition, Azure led the industry with a new service called Azure Container Instances (ACIs) that realizes the true value of a per-second billing model. ACI offers containers that start in seconds and are billed per-second without any infrastructure management. Customer interest of this innovative service is incredibly high, especially due to its ability to extend container orchestration offerings such as Kubernetes.
Free cost management solution
Beyond how we bill, we enable you to easily manage and optimize your cloud spend. Azure is the only cloud provider that offers robust cloud cost management and optimization without any additional charge. Azure Cost Management, also known as Cloudyn, empowers you to monitor, allocate, and optimize cloud spend so you maximize resource utilization and reinvest cost savings to further accelerate your business priorities in the cloud. For example, when you first deploy cloud projects you may not necessarily understand the capacity requirements, and as a result you may provision more resources than you need. Azure Cost Management is available for free for managing Azure spend.
Best savings for Windows Server workloads
Finally, if you are using Windows Server, Azure offers cost savings of up to 82%. This cost saving comes from the combination of Azure Hybrid Benefits, that enable customers with software assurance to use their existing Windows Server licenses in Azure, and the newly announced Azure Reserved VM Instances (RIs). We are also working to bring similar Azure Hybrid Benefits to SQL Server and expand RIs to additional Azure services.
Other cost savings in Azure
The above are just a few examples of the cost savings features in Azure. We also recently announced the general availability of Azure Batch (low priority VMs), Azure RIs for Windows and Linux VMs, Partial Core Sizes for Oracle and SQL Licensing, and Burstable VMs. These offers will make your deployments on Azure more cost effective without compromising your cloud experience.
We are committed to helping you save money with a great billing and cost management experience so you can continue to do even more with Azure. For more information on Azure, please visit https://www.azure.com.


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Glass Onion
Every Little Thing
Dear Sir or Madam...
Hello, Goodbye
Comment? Question? Email us.
by Paul Saltzman, Photographer, filmmaker, author of The Beatles In India
These are excerpts from the new, Deluxe Limited Edition, box-set book, The Beatles in India. The time that John, Paul, George and Ringo spent at the Ashram in India, in 1968, was the single most creative period in their illustrious careers--they were inspired to write 48 songs in the few weeks they were there. But the real reason they went to India was to find inner peace: George Harrison shared this with me in one of the many intimate times I was fortunate to spend with the Fab Four.
The 1960s were archetypical. Following the enormous destruction and inhumanity of two world wars in the first half of the 20th century, and the reactive focus on creating personal wealth for safety in the 1950s, the 60s quickly became a time of tremendous change in society, marked by a world wide upheaval between the generations and growing skirmishes between governments and their own young people. The 'old order' was being challenged daily by social and political activism, as well as drugs, rock 'n' roll, and the 'free love' movement. As Bob Dylan told us, the times they are a-changin'. Our generation was looking for fun, yes, but also for deeper meaning for ourselves and for others, trying to create a better world.
The 1960s came to a head in 1968. It was both positive and negative. It started with the 'Prague Spring' liberalization of communism in Czechoslovakia, followed by the 'Tet Offensive' in Viet Nam and the buildup of the anti-war movement in the United States. In May of that year the 'Paris Riots' saw hundreds of thousands of French citizens take to the streets in a general insurrection, started by university students in a quest for social and political reform. By August, Russian tanks crushed the 'Prague Spring' but it was the first crack in the face of totalitarian Soviet communism that would eventually lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. And while the early and mid 1960s saw major leaps forward in the American civil rights movement, 1968 was the year the movement lost two heroes in the assassinations of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., at age 39, and Bobby Kennedy, just 42.
By 1968 the struggle for outer justice and equality was being mirrored by a growing thirst for inner transformation, and our generation dived into the universal quest for personal fulfillment. We were looking for a more loving redefinition of relationships than our parents' generation seemed to believe in. It wasn't just about getting a job and making a living, anymore. It was also about living your feelings, about honesty, joy and playfulness. It was about peace both inside and out. The Beatles, Dylan and Donovan were our heralds, our troubadours calling out to us, leading the way, in the ideal, to an end of the patriarchal, both within and without. It was the beginning of a movement from a struggle-based paradigm to a joy-based paradigm. In their music, they never felt or appeared or sounded as if they were out to please, or manipulate, or make money. For the Beatles, they were mostly having authentic fun, itself a great lesson.
But something was missing. Early in 1968, at the height of their popularity and arguably the most famous people on the planet, the Beatles traveled to India, to the foothills of the Himalayas, to find something that all their fame and fortune could not give them. They went to find inner peace. For eight weeks they disappeared into an ashram to study meditation. No press or visitors were allowed.
Seekers in their music, they were now seekers in their spiritual lives. For many of us, the Beatles were the avatars--the embodiment, the archetype--of western culture and society and when they turned to the East, millions of young people turned to see what they were looking at, where they were going, what they were doing. To the West, then, ashrams were a little known phenomenon. They were centers of spiritual learning, of yoga, of vegetarian eating and, to the generations of the 60s, word that the Beatles were at an ashram in India aroused a curiosity in a great many people searching in their own lives for a deeper fulfillment than materialism could deliver. The Beatles were forging ahead, again.
Why did all four Beatles go to India? George was the most interested. He was 'the quiet one', perhaps most in touch with himself. He was a devoted seeker, devoted to finding the inner connection with his own Divine Nature. This connection is soul food. It requires quiet to do this. That they all went was significant. Each, in their own way, more or less, was looking to get away from their fame, from the cacophony of their busy lives. Looking for the quiet. Looking for the soul food. As George said, when we sat together at the ashram: all the bells and whistles, all the outer rewards and distractions, "It isn't peace inside, is it?" They were also there to be together. They were family.
Personally, I woke up one morning in Montreal in late 1967 and realized there were parts of myself I didn't like. I was shocked. I had thought all was going well: I was working in film, been a television host at 21, was proud of myself for doing voter registration work in Mississippi in the dangerous summer of '65. And yet, in that moment, I felt empty inside. As I thought about it, I realized I lacked self-confidence. I lacked a sense of inner peace, even a sense of meaning for my life. In December of that year, I stuffed my backpack and set out on a journey to 'find myself'. I only thought of India. It was instinct, the inner voice. I knew nothing of India or meditation, and I had no idea the Beatles would be there.
I said good-bye to my girlfriend, both of us in tears, and arranged to end my time working at the National Film Board of Canada with one last job, as a sound recordist on a documentary shoot in India. On December 4, 1967, with two hundred dollars and a round-trip ticket to India in my pocket, I boarded a plane for my first trip overseas.
The Journey
Flying at 32,000 feet, heading for India, I was excited, and scared. I knew I was searching for something. I was looking for a different 'me'. But, who was that? And, how do I find him? And, what if 'he' didn't exist? What then?
Landing in the early dawn's dust and heat of Bombay on December 6, 1967, I was four days shy of my twenty-fourth birthday and I'd never been out of North America. On my own, far away from home, I found myself loving my girlfriend more than ever. Culture shock hit hard. I spent the first three nights in a Salvation Army hostel, for a dollar-fifty a night, including three meals and tea. The first night, my two hundred dollars in U.S. traveler's checks were stolen and I was awakened at 5:30 the next morning by an earthquake. Nonetheless, I was amazed by India--by its richness and its poverty. The streets around the hostel stank of sewage and yet the colourful clothes, the music, the art and the smell of incense were exquisite. The local people were remarkably hospitable. If I looked lost on a street corner for thirty seconds someone immediately came up to offer directions. Often, they were very curious and asked questions. "What is your name?" "How old are you?" "Where are you from?" "Are you married?" "How do you like India?" And several times I was invited into their homes for tea and conversation.
>>Continued on Page 2...
This article is Copyright © 2006, Paul Saltzman, and may not be reproduced on other web sites or in print, in whole or in part, without expressed permission.
Original Content Copyright © 1995-2024 Adam Forrest


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Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Little Smile
My short film is screened on 8th and 9th of june in Melbourne.... wow.
http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/film/little-smile |
Posted by Santosh at 9:30 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
The Greatest New Online Animation School
Who'd want to be a part of this wonderful animation school? I would! |
Posted by Dapoon at 4:37 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
We need Animators
This is a Stop motion Animation project for T.V. and we are looking for 12 Animators only. Whether you have had any experience with this medium or not if you feel you have the passion for it then apply today. Send your animation reels to us and if you meet our requirement we shall call you for a test. The attached image is not from the show but the stage set for an Animation test. Cheers vinay |
Posted by damncreative at 9:14 PM 0 comments
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Time to break the ICE
Alright folks! Its time to break the ice. Animation and Art School Goa is excited to announce it's production arm "MOPPET ANIMATION STUDIO". We begin our journey with Futuristic Vehicles, Robots, Laser Guns, Racing Pods, Crazy Creatures, Holograms and all of this in STOP MOTION. If you love Stop motion animation and want to work on an exciting project then email us with your resume and reel. Please contact us if got the passion Cheers Vinay |
Posted by damncreative at 8:26 PM 0 comments
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Frederic Back Passes away at 89
One of my greatest inspiration Frederic Back passes away at 89 leaving us with his greatest Animated short films. I remember seeing all his films during my college days and getting inspired to get into short film making. You sir were a genius at capturing those moments of life which engrosses the audiences into the magic of storytelling. You have surely have touched my heart with your creations. You will always stay as a master for all years to come. Rest in peace The Man Who Planted Trees from MrGreatShortFilms on Vimeo. |
Posted by damncreative at 5:31 PM 0 comments
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Sorry. This website is no longer being updated. You can try:
www.mlptp.net or www.mlparena.com
This site was an independent My Little Pony® collectibles resource for collecting toy ponies with people of all ages, through the years of 2003-2007. Our thanks to My Little Pony, its creators at Hasbro, Inc., and all the collectors who worked hard to keep the site updated during that time. All the old pages are up for reference, but they are currently outdated. ~Silverfall
Copyright ©2003–2007 Ponytopia. All Rights Reserved. My Little Pony® is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. This site is not affiliated with Hasbro. This site gathers information on collectible pony items for the benefit of My Little Pony collectors.


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The Anchorage economy showing promise can be used as an indicator for the rest of Alaska, Bill Popp, president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp., told the Society for Marketing Professional Services at an Oct. 23 luncheon.
Job growth, or lack thereof, is one of the first indicators he looks at when determining the health of an economy, Popp said. Figures were flat in 2009 and 2010 because employers were wary of faltering economies elsewhere.
Companies refrained from hiring, he said, to see whether "the global catastrophe was going to come washing over us."
Anchorage lost roughly 900 jobs over that time, Popp reported. When employers determined the global recession was not going to impact the city as hard as it did other places, they flipped the hiring switch almost immediately in 2011.
"We saw the biggest year of employment growth in a decade," Popp said.
Nearly 3,300 new positions were opened, equating to a 2.2 percent increase in total job numbers in one year, he said.
Over 2012, hiring will slow some, but Popp said indicators his organization looks at point to 1,600 additional jobs this year, or just more than 1 percent growth, a strong yearly outcome, he said.
Further projections show continued growth in Anchorage's job market with the city adding about 6,000 jobs in the next three years, Popp said.
Recent numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the nationwide unemployment rate at 7.8 percent.
Currently, the rate for Anchorage is 5.5 percent, Popp said.
Another very important economic gauge for Anchorage is the city's population, Popp said, particularly because of Alaska's location.
"In our situation, all the way up in the upper left-hand corner of the continent, pretty much removed from other population centers, population is a big economic indicator," he said. "If people are leaving Anchorage, we got trouble. If people are coming to Anchorage, or if all of you are getting fruitful and having kids, then we're doing good."
Population is a better tell of Anchorage's economic status than it is of cities in the contiguous states because of the commitment it takes to move to or from Alaska, and to do that requires the promise of a good job for most people, Popp said.
To that point, if economic health is tied to population, recent growth forecasts paint a solid picture for the Anchorage economy.
"In 2012, we're pretty confident we're going to break the 300,000 mark in population for the first time in the history of Anchorage," Popp said.
Further predictions show Anchorage growing to 310,000 people by 2015.
Proposed oil, gas and mining projects hold a lot of promise for the whole of Alaska, he said. The largest projects, those by Pebble Partnership, Shell and ConocoPhillips, among others, could provide the state with over 23,000 jobs in the next 6 to 8 years, Popp predicted. He urged for tempered enthusiasm, however, because many factors play into whether or not those projects will go off as planned.
"If we get a significant drop in the price of a barrel of oil, any of the oil-base projects will fall behind on the current timelines," Popp said.
He also noted that the Arctic offshore drilling projects are dependant upon oil actually being found in the amounts forecasted. If everything falls together, Popp said, Alaska could be looking at $24 billion in commercial investment along with the job growth over the next decade.
Popp sees North Slope oil production remaining fairly steady until a few decisions are made, he said.
"I think we're kind of in flux until the legislature decides what it's going to do one way or the another definitively," Popp said. "You're going to continue to see a holding pattern and maintenance-level work being done on the North Slope, with the exception of Shell."
Elwood Brehmer can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Read more: http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/November-Issue-1-2012/AEDC-forecast-sees-strong-growth-for-Anchorage-state/#ixzz2BVAaqw5m


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WASHINGTON — NASA and the LEGO Group are partnering to inspire the next generation of aerospace engineers by offering a new design competition. The competition will spur students of all ages to use the toy bricks in building models of future airplanes and spacecraft.
The "NASA's Missions: Imagine and Build" competition opens Wednesday with an entry deadline of July 31. Winners in each category will be selected by a panel of NASA and LEGO officials and announced Sept. 1.
The first category in the contest is "Inventing our Future of Flight." In this challenge, participants will design and build their idea for an aircraft of the future based on real concepts and new technology NASA's aeronautics innovators are working on to increase fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions and noise.
In addition to building a model from LEGO bricks or using the LEGO Digital Designer computer program, participants in this category also must prepare and write a technical paper. The paper will explain how the contest design takes advantage of NASA's ideas and potentially improves on them.
This category divides entrants into two groups: young student builders ages 13 to 18 and an open group for anyone age 13 and older. The two winners will receive a custom-made LEGO trophy and a collection of NASA memorabilia.
The second contest category is "Imagine our Future Beyond Earth." In this challenge, participants will use their imaginations to design and build a futuristic vehicle from LEGO bricks that might travel through the air or in space. It could be an airplane, rotorcraft, rocket, spacecraft, satellite, rover or something else. The design can be based in reality or purely a flight of fancy. This competition is open to entrants 16 or older. The grand prize is a LEGO set signed by the set's designer and a collection of NASA memorabilia. There also is a runner up prize.
To read the complete rules and guidelines for submitting the LEGO model and technical paper, visit:
LEGO Systems, Inc. is the North American division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of creatively educational play materials for children. For more information and to visit the virtual LEGO world, go to:
For more information about NASA aeronautics research and space exploration, visit:
– end –
Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
Amanda Santoro
LEGO Systems Inc., Enfield, Conn.


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Located in Virginia's beautiful heartland in historic downtown Farmville, State Wide Realty Company knows Southside Virginia. Our agents are ready to find the perfect property to suit your needs, whether you are looking for your dream home or the ideal location for your business we can help. Our agents can also help find a desirable buyer for your property. State Wide Realty stands as the number one realtor in sales for Southside Virginia. Our listings include farm land, residential, commercial, building lots, water frontage, hunting, and timberland. If you don't find a property to suit amongst our online listings, contact us and one of our agents will work hard to find a property to fulfill your needs.
Thinking of Building? Our affiliate Atkins Custom Homes can help you customize a plan that is just right for you and your needs.
Search All Listings


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Requirements: Android 2.0+
Overview: Create rage comics and other simple comics on your Android phone with ease.
Rage Comic Maker for Android is an application that lets users easily create rage comics on their Android devices.
Create rage comics and other simple comics on your Android phone with ease.
Rage Comic Maker for Android is an application that lets users easily create rage comics on their Android devices.
The most downloaded Rage Maker in the Market! Thanks for all users!
IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE FACES: many users seem to miss this, but you need to find the MENU button on your device. It's usually along the bottom of the screen, sometimes says MENU, sometimes it's just some horizontal lines.
Here's a shot of the menu button on the Sony Experia Arc: http://i.imgur.com/rBH2b.jpg
Using this menu you'll have different options depending on the mode you are in, for example in Manipulate mode you can add images, and in Draw mode you can set the color and brush width.
IMPORTANT: If you have problems please e-mail me directly with your phone version and exact details of the problem.
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TamasPlusPlus
Looking for volunteer translators! If you'd like to see this app translated into your native language, and you think you could do it, don't hesitate and contact me!
This application is completely free and open source, but features a small ad on the top to support the developer (it cannot be turned off). If you prefer an ad-free version please contact me.
Some of the key features:
* Flexible number of panels (1-20)
* Pan and zoom the comic canvas, as well as image elements
* Undo and redo your moves
* Different text styles and sizes
* Save and share your creations
* Use drafts to save comics in progress
* Draw straight lines or free curves with different brush sizes and colors
Keyboard shortcuts:
Directional pad - move object/canvas
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2014/15 | Trentino Volley returns to the highest levels |
The season 2014/15 is the one that sees the Trentino Volley returning to levels of excellence in all competitions in which it takes part. To help revitalize the Company of via Trener there are the return to Trento of all the most important successes' coach, Radostin Stoytchev, and two iconic players of the previous Yellow-blues epic the spiker Matey Kaziyski and the setter Lukasz Zygadlo. The team created in the summer along with the General Manager Bruno Da Re starts with the underdogs but in a short time is able to get many satisfactions, constantly keeping inviolate the PalaTrento (at the end of the year will be conquered only once, from Moscow, in twenty-four official games) and gaining quickly the most noble positions of the ranking of the fledgling Super League (the format that replaced the traditional A1 Series Championship). In late December, Diatec Trentino gets the title of the winter champion surpassing at photofinish Modena thanks to the home victory in the match 3-0 and has already won the qualification to the Final Four of Italian Cup. In parallel it goes smoothly even the European path in CEV Cup (the Yellow-blues Club is back to play it after ten years since the last time and after six consecutive participations in the Champions League). Kaziyski, well backed by Lanza and Nemec, leads his own teammates until the final of the two respective trophies, which get out of their hands at the very last note: in 2015 is Modena that wins the Italian Cup for 3-1 imposed on PalaDozza Bologna on January 11th, while the bachelorette European trophy comes three months after having succumbed to the golden set once again at Dinamo Moscow in the return match played in Russia. The disappointment for having only touched two high flow objectives becomes a stimulus for the final rush of the season: on the board of the playoffs Championship, moreover, Trento comes on top of seeded number one thanks to the regular-season victory - also this one obtained to the sprint over Modena - which also applies the new qualification to the Champions League. To try to get as far forward as possible, the Society complete the poker of excellent returns choosing also Mitar Djuric (from middle-blocker he became opposite); his arrival is decisive because thanks to the points that the Greek realizes, Trentino Volley exceeds Molfetta in the quarterfinals in two races and Perugia in the semifinals in three hard fought challenges. In the series of five games that assigns the tricolor, the opponent is again Modena, that close to victory in Game 1 (the prerogative of Birarelli and fellow comeback from 0-2 to 3-2), wins Game 2 at PalaPanini and then it undergoes two heavy 3-0 that deliver the fourth league title to the Company of President Mosna. On Wednesday, May 13th is a historic day for Trentino volleyball, in addition to other equally important ones: Trento celebrates precisely at PalaPanini (moment photographed in the left picture) the title of MVP of the young Simone Giannelli, eighteen year old setter grew up in the Youth Sector, brought into the first team squad only eight months earlier and became the protagonist of the final part of the season. |


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Did your ancestor belong to a non-conformist denomination? Search through more than 5,000 non-conformist marriage registers to find where and when you English or Welsh ancestors were married.
Did your ancestor belong to a non-conformist denomination? Search through more than 5,000 non-conformist marriage registers to find where and when you English or Welsh ancestors were married.
With each result, you will find an image of the original register and a transcript. The detail in each record can vary depending on when it was documented, the denomination, and the condition of the original books. In the transcripts, you may find the following information:
Marriage date
Spouse's name
Marriage place
The image can often give further details not available in the transcript. In the case of the marriage registers you could also find out
Witnesses' names
Bride's maiden name
The non-conformist registers are kept at The National Archives in Kew, Surrey. The records are part of the archive's RG4 and RG8 series. We have provided the archival reference for each record. These series comprise records from a variety of collections. They contain the birth, marriage, and death records from the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Independent churches, as well as the Wesleyan Methodist Metropolitan registry and the extensive collection of non-conformist records in the Dr Williams' Library in London.
The term non-conformist is used when referring to churches or denominations that do not follow the teachings of the Church of England or the Anglican Church. The term can be used to describe Roman Catholics, Jews, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, members of the Society of Friends and other denominations. Members of English Protestant denominations are also known as dissenters or radicals.
Before the introduction of civil registration in 1837, most people were baptized, married, and buried in their local Church of England parish, regardless of their beliefs. Historically, many non-conformists used their local parish church for registration purposes, despite their differences in belief, even after the Toleration Act of 1689 granted them the freedom to worship. However, some non-conformists did keep their own registers, and it is these that you can find here.
Between 1754 and 1837, it was illegal to marry anywhere except in a Church of England parish church unless you were a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) or Jewish. In both cases, members were exempt from the Hardwicke Marriage Act of 1754 and allowed to keep their own records. After 1837, while people were now allowed to marry in the church of their choice, some organisations still did not keep their own records.


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Aristotle, among the finest philosophers ever once stated that the lady is God's most breathtaking creation. Like a lady, you have to be a full time income evidence of this statement. That's the reason, it is crucial that we look good and presentable regardless of what we all do where we go. By doing this, one ought to always be popular.
Most agree that putting on good clothes can greatly increase your looks and may instantly help you become fashionable lady. And also to further increase your looks and sweetness, you have to put on women fashion accessories. It is not only about being beautiful but it's your need to stick out and become observed within the crowd. Which are just achieved by putting on the right fashion accessories.
Women's fashion accessories are ornaments worn or utilized by women to intensify pertinent design or style within their outfit. Also, they are utilised to enhance their clothes, giving a brand new exquisite look which will surely draws attention. Because these women fashion accessories are becoming a lot more popular, they aren't just regarded as fashion essentials however, many regard them as fashion basics. This is extremely true especially to ladies who don't want to visit out without one since it was already a celebration of the lifestyle. That's the reason these aren't just just an adjunct. Women fashion accessories are valuable assets.
With several different types of women's fashion accessories, most probably the most loved and many popular fashion-accessories of.
Jewelries. These shiny and sparkling ornaments are very known women fashion accessories. Types of that are earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings as well as watches. Jewelries are popular and probably the most loved because they may be worn no matter age. From kids, or perhaps babies, to grandma and grandpa, they all are keen on putting on such glamorous, colorful and sparkling fashion accessories.
Purses and purses. These handy bags are popular fashion-accessories for ladies and teenage women too. Really, these fashion-accessories are thought as compulsory accessories that each lady and girl must always have. Since women are recognized to bring their beauty kits with some other essential things, handbags are very helpful to easily carry stuffs.
Footwear and Sandals. Footwear and sandals will always be a part of your fashion wardrobe. These usually are available in various styles and designs. You ought to carefully pick the carefully and pick those that can complement your outfit.
With females fashion accessories, it is simple to add elegancy and class to your appears to be it enhances your clothes as well as your beauty. However, you have to choose the best pieces to be able to exercise. Although searching their way can amaze and impress you, they are able to still provide you with lower should you put on them in the wrong manner. Also, it is crucial that you're putting on sufficient and steer clear of over accessorizing yourself. With many different women's fashion-accessories available for sale, both at the local stores as well as online, you'll certainly discover the appropriate pieces for you personally. All that you should do would be to learn to correctly accessorize yourself but you'll shine.


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I was on this panel at SkepTech! You can read my prepared thoughts here.
-I improperly conflated psuedonymity with anonymity in the last third of the talk. Those are different things. I think pseudonymity (like Gravatar, Disqus, etc. offer) is one of the nice middle ground ways we can keep an eye on commenters across mediums.
-I stick with my remarks about wanting assorted -ist comments to be off my posts in the first place. Normalizing bad behavior perpetuates the problem. Removing awful comments in my little corner of the internet is one way I try to prevent normalization.
-I was a bit more wordy than I wanted–I'm lucky to have avoided the nerf gun.
What do you think? What did we leave out?


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HH 666: Carina Dust Pillar with Jet
To some, it may look like a beehive. In reality, the featured image from the Hubble Space Telescope captures a cosmic pillar of dust, over two-light years long, inside of which is Herbig-Haro 666 — a young star emitting powerful jets. The structure lies within one of our galaxy's largest star forming regions, the Carina Nebula, shining in southern skies at a distance of about 7,500 light-years. The pillar's layered outline are shaped by the winds and radiation of Carina's young, hot, massive stars, some of which are still forming inside the nebula. A dust-penetrating view in infrared light better shows the two, narrow, energetic jets blasting outward from a still hidden infant star. Open Science: Browse 2,600+ codes in the Astrophysics Source Code Library
Courtesy of NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day


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Folding experience into paper maps
Two recent projects that incorporate the experiences of map users into the subsequent versions of the maps:
1. For the Salone di Mobile event in Milan, The British Council commissioned a map of the event that would be augmented each day with information flowing in from Flickr, Twitter, blogs, and people's physical scribbles on the maps.
One thing that's very interesting to us that is using this rapidly-produced thing then becomes a 'social object': creating conversations, collecting scribbles, instigating adventures - which then get collected and redistributed.
More information about the project is available on The Incidental site.
2. Walking Maps, produced by Mike Migurski at Stamen, encourages people print out maps from OpenStreetMap, annotate them with missing information, and scan them back in.
In some places, participants are creating the first freely-available maps by GPS survey. In other places, such as the United States, basic roads exist, but lack local detail: locations of traffic signals, ATMs, caf'es, schools, parks, and shops. What such partially-mapped places need is not more GPS traces, but additional knowledge about what exists on and around the street. Walking Papers is made to help you easily create printed maps, mark them with things you know, and then share that knowledge with OpenStreetMap.


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The one night a week when you and your spouse spend time together…talk about the week…have a nice leisurely dinner…just the two of you.
You've lined up a babysitter…
You left money for the pizza delivery guy and a list of contact numbers on the refrigerator door…right under the magnet you bought in Yosemite last summer…
You've got everything taken care of…
Except what happens to your children if the unthinkable happens and you never make it back home.
If you have minor children and you're severely injured or worse in an accident, the police may have no choice but to place your children with Child Protective Services if they don't have information or documentation indicating who you would want to care for your children.
Once the immediate situation has passed, your children could then be at the mercy of the "system". There is no way the State can know who would be the best choice as a guardian for your children.
So…what do you need to do?
First, Put Your Guardianship Wishes in Writing
Just telling your chosen guardian that you want them to take care of your children is not enough. What you "said" is not legally sufficient and you could be placing your children at the mercy of the foster care system for a long period of time. You need to have a plan in place, written instructions, and the proper legal documentation in order to ensure that your wishes are followed and that everyone knows what those wishes are.
Another misconception is that if you name a guardian in your Will, that's all you have to do.
A guardianship provided for in a Will only takes effect after you die. If you become incapacitated but are still alive, it means nothing.
Proper Documentation for Guardianship
A good, solid guardianship plan will allow you to choose guardians either on a permanent or temporary basis and leave instructions for those guardians so they know exactly what you want them to do and under what circumstances.
You need to have at least these documents in place at all times if you have minor children:
- Legal documentation naming a short term or temporary guardian in case you become incapacitated for a short period of time, or in the interim between your death and the time your permanent guardian can arrive. The best option for this guardianship is someone close by that can take immediate custody of your children and keep them out of the court system. Make sure that you talk to these individuals about your plans and that they are willing to serve as temporary guardians. Have their names at the top of a contact list that is available immediately in the event you are not able to communicate. And always make sure they have a copy of the documents naming them as temporary guardians.
- Legal documents naming permanent guardians. The same information applies for this document as for temporary guardianship papers. Make sure you talk to the people you select and that they have copies of these documents to provide to the court.
- Make sure you have written instructions for anyone taking care of your children so they know exactly what needs to be done if something happens to you. Make sure they know who to call. Even if you're leaving your kids with the 16 year old kid next door to babysit on Friday night, make sure she or he knows what needs to be done if the worst happens. And always have written instructions in place for the person or persons you choose as a guardian to tell them how you want your children to be raised.
- Always have a Medical Authorization and Power of Attorney for your children, especially if you're sending them to Grandma's on their own. These documents will allow the person taking care of your children in your absence to make medical decisions that could be a matter of life and death.
Really makes you think, doesn't it?
He said/She said will not hold up in court, so if that is the only plan you've made for your
children if the unthinkable happens, you could be placing them at the mercy of the
foster care system without even realizing it.
If all this has made you realize you would like to get your documents in order to make sure that your children and your property are taken care of, call us to schedule your Family Wealth Planning Session today. We can identify what you need to do to plan for your family's future and answer any questions you have about an effective estate plan. Our Family Wealth Planning Session is normally $750, but this month I've made space for the next two people who mention this article to have a complete planning session with me at no charge. Call today and mention this article.