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13 May- NOVENA PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.
By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)
I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen


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Montrose House, Cape Town by SAOTA
Montrose House was completed in 2010 by the Cape Town based studio SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects.
This stunning contemporary, two story residence is located in Cape Town, South Africa.
Montrose House by SAOTA:
"High on the ridge of Bishopscourt in Cape Town, this unique site resulted from the demolition of an existing house. The site was divided by the existing driveway, which rose steeply from the end of the cul-de-sac below. The new building's form, perched as it is in a commanding position, was perceived from the outset to be a pavilion overlooking the lawns and the forested valley below.
The clients' brief had a few specific requirements; orientation towards the Constantia Valley and distant False Bay, and the dramatic views up the mountains above Kirstenbosch were essential, as was the emphasis on developing the site to maximise the garden and lawn area. Following the brief the driveway was relocated to the southern boundary of the site to allow this and open up the lawns and the gardens towards the sun and mountain views. There are panoramic vistas towards the south and west from the bedrooms and living rooms; while the pool and terraces are located on the north-east side, in a courtyard protected from the Southeaster gales by the intersecting linear forms of the house.
The triangular shape of the site, and its elevation above the street and steep incline, required extensive excavation and retaining, in order to provide a driveway of acceptable gradient, and extensive building platform on one level, and garden terraces all round.
The double-winged roof, floating above the bedroom wing, and virtually glass box-enclosed living rooms, are the main architectural features. These are complemented by secondary architectural elements such as the cantilevered end of the main entrance feature wall, the floating stone-clad fireplace, continuous perimeter cantilever terraces to the bedrooms and the wrap-around cantilever eyebrow.Finishes include: polished granite floors, no carpets, no curtains and the floating feature roof with clerestory lighting. The clients' preference was towards a slick modernist environment with a definitive northern European flair. The imported light grey granite floor slabs set the tone for a colour palette of cool greys rather than natural browns, a refreshing change from prevailing trends."

subset: commoncrawl


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The Fish and the Atheist
June 21, 2016
Hosted by Jim Stacey
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Episode Description
Today we see many atheists celebrating the collapse of Christianity as their churches are losing more and more attendants. To celebrate the defeat of a "belief" in some deity that was fabricated by the church is one's choice. But to then hold onto a "belief" in nothing, is sheer dishonesty because that becomes just another piece of non-theistic dogma. So my challenge to all my atheist friends is to go beyond the sheer nonsense of any kind of "belief" at all. It is time to KNOW, not just react. When did fish discover water? When did humans become aware that they were breathing air? Today's show will challenge all the old ideas of who we truly are and the lies we've been told.
Beyond Religion: Your Life is Waiting
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica 7th Wave Channel
Our show is designed to contribute to the healing of those wounded by dogma and shame. I know the beauty and power of the Aramaic language and I'll share that in the context of sharing with you that your life is your choice and that you can live above smallness and shame. I'll help you learn how to say goodbye to the old victim energies, and how to awaken to your hidden destiny. You'll learn how to understand your own "shadow" self and at the same time say goodbye to guilt and remorse. To celebrate all one's mistakes and learn valuable insights from them is tantamount to claiming your deeper life purpose and giving birth to your most beautiful self. To live in the energy of gratitude and unconditional love makes it possible to let go of all that causes pain and suffering and see the gifts in all that has stifled us in victim energies. To help and support you in knowing of and learning to experience the energy of The Divine within you is my goal. In that there is no fear whatsoever.
Jim Stacey
From time to time a voice comes upon the scene of the human drama and asks questions that are destined to shape anew the way people think, how they live, and what they value. Such a voice is that of Jim Stacey, author of Jesus Was Not A Christian, and ten other books about the Spiritual Adventures of being human. In his first book he dares to call into question what Christianity has been teaching for over 1700 years.
Today, Jim speaks boldly and passionately about the healing deeply needed by humanity. Jim began his doctoral pursuit with a study of the Aramaic language, Jesus' native tongue. He has been studying the meanings and applications of the Aramaic for fifteen years. Jim delivers a non-religious message of healing, loving, choosing our own destiny, and transforming our human shadow, which is the message from the lost Jesus who said "the kingdom of heaven is WITHIN you."
As a former Christian minister, college professor and businessman, Jim now writes to inspire people to go deeper in their search for knowledge, wisdom and the meaning of their own path in life.
Jim has been honored with the Golden Quill Award from the National Academy of Best Selling Authors. Jim is currently the author of eleven books. To know our Divinity, experience it deep within, and walk together in Love is the essence of the dawning new era. The key to loving all others is to first experience The Divine within ourselves.


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Special Plan BRGF Project
The Special Plan (BRGF) funded works under distribution system of NBPDCL are in 3 packages :
Package A – BRGF Phase –I (Strengthening,Improvement and Augmentation of distribution system under BRGF Scheme) in all 21 Districts.
Package B – BRGF Phase –II & Balance work of Phase-I (Strengthening of distribution system & Removal of Distribution constraints) in 04 districts(Siwan, Purnea, Araria and Kishanganj).
Package C – Strengthening of Distribution Network in Bihar under special Plan (BRGF) Phase-II, Balance work of Phase-I for 17 districts and Phase-II Part-C for all 21 districts of North Bihar under Special Plan(BRGF Schemes).
Work/ Scheme
BRGF Phase I
BRGF Phase II
BRGF Phase II Part C
RE Works
Cost (INR) Cr.
Physical progress of project as on October'19 :
BRGF Phase-I
New PSS: 12 Nos
Augmentation of Power Transmformers from 5MVA to 10 MVA:64 Nos
R&M of PSS: 179 Nos
New 33 KV Lines: 639.1 CKM
New 11 KV Lines: 1249 CKM
Augmentation/Installation of additional Transformer: 1128 No Completed
New LT Lines: 1350 CKM
R&M of DSS: 7084 Nos
District Control Rooms: 19 Nos
System and Consumer Metering: Completed
Extension of Control Rooms: 77 Nos.
BRGF Phase-II
New PSS - 20 Nos
New 33 KV Lines: 1142.6 CKM
R&M of 33 KV Lines: 194 CKM
New 11 KV Lines: 3251.9 CKM
R&M of 11 KV Lines: 2468 CKM
New LT Lines: 7321 CKM
R&M of LT Lines: 2145 CKM
New DSS: 3915 Nos
R&M of DSS: 9454 Nos
Augmentation of DSS: 934.5 nos
New Sub-division Control Rooms: 64 Nos
BRGF Phase-II Part C
R&M of 11 KV Lines: 112.72 CKM
R&M of LT Lines: 3318 CKM


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Workshop Code # wpkb415 Register on-line or call 1-651-487-2180 for credit card orders.
Dragon Door's mission for the RKC II, is to turn out highly competent, knowledgeable, skilled instructors who place a premium on strong, safe, health-based movement—for themselves and their clients. We consider the ability to move well, model well and teach well to be of equal importance to the instructor's strength and endurance capacities.
A hallmark of Dragon Door's RKC I and RKC II programs is the insistence on intelligent programming and safe progressions—for the long-term development of both health and strength.
Graduates of Dragon Door's RKC I possess the skills to perform and teach the fundamental lifts in the kettlebell trainer's repertoire.
Graduates of the RKC II will possess the skills to perform and teach the next most important set of kettlebell lifts—while refining and enhancing their RKC I competencies.
Key to the RKC II, will be an understanding of the progressions needed to help even the "average" client achieve "above-average" results—and continue to develop their health and strength for years to come.
Invest in Dragon Door's RKC II to:
Master the Weighted Pull-Up
Master the Weighted Pistol
Master the Clean and Jerk
Master the Windmill
The windmill is a powerful drill for shoulder and rib cage mobility and an excellent stretch for the hips.
It is hard to find an exercise that does more for the upper body than the bent press. An incredible lat builder, the bent press also develops shoulders extraordinary in their mobility and resilience, and powerful triceps. A Big Bang exercise of the first magnitude.
Important: review the complete RKC level II testing requirements before you register.
Luke Tipple, Marysville, OH, Collegiate strength and conditioning coach
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Luke Tipple, M.S., CSCS, USAWS, S.C.C.C has been a member of the strength and conditioning staff for The Ohio State Buckeyes since 2005. Prior to OSU, he worked in the private sector training college and professional athletes in the area of speed, agility, and strength development.
I have taken multiple certifications (CSCS, /USAW Senior, SCCC, TPI, Westside, Crossfit, TRX II). Dragon Door's HKC, RKC Level I and II workshops really do a great job of making sure students leave with a high level of understanding of the subject covered and continuing to educate after the course with the newsletter, forum etc. Would certainly recommend the course.
Very positive. The instructors were knowledgeable, interactive, and had different ideas and experiences to fix issues. Hearing multiple ways to reach/teach was very helpful. Andrea Du Cane, Max Shank and Phil Ross all have a superior level of knowledge. Felt very comfortable with any of their coaching.
Great course. Really enjoyed the weekend and am leaving as a better strength and conditioning coach.
Anne Johnson, Tucson, AZ, Capitalist
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: 12 marathons, tons of triathlons, 5 years of kettlebells and CrossFit. RKC, CF Level 1, CF Endurance. Air Force reservist (18 yrs. Lt Col, still drilling) and PhD in operations research (systems & industrial engineering). Co-owner of DNA Personal Training/CrossFit 520, Tucson, AZ. Real Estate investor, mother of 2 elementary school kids.
The RKC Level II Instructor Certification seminar contributed to my understanding and practice of kettlebells in the following five ways:
RKC II was physically and mentally challenging. My knowledge of kettlebell practice was exploded through practical, hands-on teaching, and my challenge now is to put my new arsenal of training options to work in my studio.
What five aspects of the workshop did you find most useful and why?
Quality was outstanding – Andrea Du Cane, Phil Ross and Max Shank are an incredible team, and I relished the chance to learn so much so fast from true experts. They walk the talk, and never hesitated to share, help, correct as needed.
Quality: top 5%. Extremely practical and empirically based (which I find more useful then training based on research that measures irrelevant responses...)
The scope was good – enough info to be worth the investment, but not an unmanageable amount. I will be able to put it to work immediately!
Karen Kurtz, Haddonfield, NJ, Kettlebell & Functional Movement Instructor
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: HKC, RKC I, Active Isolated Stretching-Aaron Mattes Method, TRX, CK-FMS, Naked Warrior, et. al.
It was an all-encompassing workshop that covered level II skills, correctives, progressives and addressed programming design for the conditioned male or female athlete as well as the average "Jane or John" who is picking up bells of the first time.
What aspects of the workshop did you find most useful and why?
Overall – a great experience! Thank you!
Moritz Rammensee, Munich, Germany, Personal Trainer
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: RKC, FMS Lvl1, Primal Move Fundamentals Level 2 and Regeneration Instructor.
It was a great workshop in an awesome, relaxed learning atmosphere with nice people and very good instructors.
All instructors have a huge background knowledge and experience in what they're doing and teaching and you could feel that throughout the whole weekend! It was great learning from you! Thanks a lot!
In comparison to the RKC by Pavel, I've been to, the whole atmosphere was much more relaxed and you could focus on the actual content rather then worrying about if you sit down correctly or not. It was an awesome learning environment and instructors gave you the feeling that they actually care about you and are there to help/assist you.
It was a great experience! Thanks a lot!
Lisa Kyte, Delray Beach, FL, Fitness Manager, The Polo Club of Boca Raton
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: RKC1, ACE Personal Trainer, Power Pilates, TPI, Previous Health Club owner, 17 years Personal Training
RKC Level 2 is an incredible experience! I worked hard, made new friends and had a lot of fun.
Excellent! I really enjoyed the knowledge and expertise from all three RKC Master Trainers. It's interesting to learn from instructors with completely different backgrounds and philosophies but applying them to kettlebell training. Max Shank, Phil Ross and Andrea Du Cane thank you!
The most thorough certification out there. You don't just pay your money and get a piece of paper. You have to actually work at it, dedicate time to training and test out on the skills we learned in Level I and II.
Brady Jones McComb, MS, Teacher
The only weekend better than RKC I, was RKC II. I'm headed home stronger and better at instructing my clients. I feel l learned from the best this weekend.
Quality was excellent in my opinion. Instruction had a lot of energy and kept us engaged throughout. The new manual is superb. I love the detailed progressions, which will only help my classes and myself become a better instructor.
I've only received topnotch instruction at my level 1 and 2. This style of teaching is the most efficient way to increase excellence in physical activity realms. I'll be able to use this with all of my people.
Thank you for providing this service. I believe in learning form the best in the world, if possible. This style of workshop is appreciated.
Laura Robertson, Minneapolis, MN, Personal Trainer
Walking away from the RKC II, I feel empowered with knowledge and inspired again to push even further with myself and my clients.
Each instructor was very knowledgeable. Each instructor had their own way of teaching each movement/skill. So if I did not understand one I could learn from the other. Each instructor was professional and enjoyable.
For me the RKC II was the perfect blend of physical strength and mental strength. For example I remember feeling physically destroyed during my RKC I so much so I couldn't consume all of the knowledge. However, I have been to the opposite as well. All book and lecture not enough movement to keep me engaged.
The new manual is great, very easy to use as a reference. Also clear-cut.
Jeff Ehrike, Oshkosh, WI, Gym Owner
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: All-Conference, All-Area High School Athlete (Football, Baseball, Basketball), All-American Collegiate D3 Track Athlete (Sprints), College Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science/Kinesiology, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, RKC & Power Plate Certified
Overall, I really enjoyed my RKC II experience! The small group interaction was very insightful and beneficial. Not only to me but also to each and everyone of my members which will only lead to a more successful business.
I thought Andrea Du Cane, Max Shank and Phil Ross were very knowledgeable and helpful to my development. Not only as an instructor, but also as a business owner. Their three personalities and strengths really complemented each other. I felt that together they gave us all a very broad perspective that hit on everything. The opportunities they gave us to ask questions to them individually and get their feedback was priceless in my opinion.
What I liked about the RKC II material was it makes sure we're physically sound, but it's not overwhelming to the point where we break down. The manner at which this course was ran, really allowed me to absorb the material. I like how the RKC takes a more physically demanding approach to weed out the weak and unwilling. But once you show you're capable of that, and show you're serious about being a professional... then it's more knowledge based (with some physical demand obviously). I think this was all perfected with my RKC I and RKC II experience.
Well done!
I also really enjoyed the fact that we also were able to have a little fun here also. The personalities of the instructors (Andrea, Max and Phil) really kept things light and enjoyable. We still learned a ton but making it fun and enjoyable allowed us to be a little more relaxed and also made the instructors appear more approachable. It wasn't a goof off session or anything, just allowed work to be done with a little humor along the way. That's a recipe for success in my opinion.
Daniel Ribeiro, Maui HI, personal trainer
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Jiu-jitsu Physical Education degree
Forever, it made me a better instructor and ensured better service to my clients. Really amazing, beyond my expectations. You guys are great!
Rob Exline, Houston, TX, Gym Owner
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: RKC, CrossFit Level I, USAW 1, Brown Belt in Chun do Kwan.
Very positive experience and definitely liked the small group atmosphere. It made for a much more intimate and student centered atmosphere.
A clear wealth of experience and knowledge. Clearly Andrea, Phil and Max have a deep understanding of the kettlebell movement as well as human movement.
Max – has a very keen eye to definitely get to a simple and effective solution to a movement issue.
Andrea – has a very deep understanding of this system as well as an understanding of how to apply the RKC system to special populations.
Phil – is very welcoming and eager to use his knowledge and experience to make people better!
As expected the training and material, are high quality, laser focused and very practical to sue. I am always impressed with the quality and practicality of these certifications.
Amanda Pezzullo, Chicago, IL, Personal Training Manager
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: 4 Year Gymnastics Scholarship @ University of Missouri, NSCA-CSCS, SCCC-CSCCa, RKC L. 1, FMS L. 1, Powerplate L. 1, Pre/Post Natal Certified
It was great to review level I as many of us haven't been watched by precise eyes in a long time. RKC II was a great review of level I material and packed my "toolbox" with an enormous amount of additional moves and mobility work. It gave me an opportunity to refine my skills.
The RKC II Certifications surpasses any other type of certifications because you are learning how to coach. They won't certify you unless you can coach someone through a movement and you shouldn't be coaching someone through a movement unless you can do it yourself.
Carlton Brown, Etobicke, Ontario, Canada, Personal Trainer
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: CPTN Personal Trainer, ISSA-SPN, Pitness Kickboxing Canada – Level III Instructor, RKC – Level II Instructor.
All instructors were great – very knowledgeable. RKC has always been the best personal training course year after year.
Edward Maulhardt, Port Hueneme, CA, Trainer
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: High School football all league, JC football all WSC in Track all WSC.NASM PT, CEC, RKC
Nothing but professional and encouraging. The best money I ever spent. Very knowledgeable in the fact of training safely. The material was well covered never felt lost and there was always someone to help in a positive manner. I just want to thank you guys for changing my life and motivating me to do more in the future.
Exit Requirements:
Not Tested, But Taught:
In the pull-up you will be required to start from a dead hang, pull up without kipping, and finish by touching the bar with your neck or chest using the thumbless overhand grip. Women will be tested with their bodyweight only. Men will be required to hang a kettlebell on a foot (a weight belt is not allowed). Kettlebell sizes: 24kg for up to 220 pounds bodyweight; 16kg for over 220 pounds. Men masters (over 50 years old): 16kg up to 220 pounds; bodyweight; 12kg for over 220 pounds.
In the pistol you must be able to descend at least to parallel and come up exercising control. You may hold a counterweight. Successful performance of the pistol with one leg is sufficient.
Successful performance of the windmill, bent press, and push press with one arm is sufficient.
The jerk will be tested with two kettlebells of the size required for the snatch test.
RKC II Preparation Advice
A large percentage of RKC II failures are due to tight shoulder girdles and thoracic spines. The following books and DVDs are recommended for preparation: Kettlebells from the Ground Up, Resilient, Return of the Kettlebell, Secrets of the Shoulder.
The Strict One-Arm Military Press
What disqualifies an attempt?
The Tactical Dead Hang Pullup
If you fail any of the above tests, you will be given three months to retest with a Master RKC, Senior RKC, or RKC Team Leader. Your RKC II Instructor certificate will not be issued until you have passed all the tests.
Regardless of how recent your Level I cert is, in addition to the above Level II requirements you will be retested for Level I: the technique in the six Level 1 basics and the five-minute snatch test. This will recertify you as a Level I RKC for two more years.
If you fail any of the Level I tests you will not be certified as a Level II instructor, even if you have passed all the Level II tests. You will not be recertified as a Level I instructor either.
If you fail any of the Level I tests, you will be given two months to retest with a Master RKC, Senior RKC, or RKC Team Leader.
Saturday, February 15th — Sunday, February 16th, 2025
Sat: 8:30—6:30, Sun: 8:30—4:30
Jersey City, New Jersey
Tuition: $1,199.00
$300.00 fee for cancellations or transfers, no exceptions.
No refunds on cancellations after February 6, 2025
Workshop Code # WPKB415
Workshop reference: RKC II, New Jersey, February 2025
* Registration deadlines are 11:59PM Central time.
Certification Location:
This workshop limited to 30 participants.
Workshop price does not include room & board or meals.
A map for the location and a list of convenient hotels/motels will be provided to all registrants.
Workshop Site Cancellation
Workshop sites may be cancelled up to 7 days prior to the beginning of the scheduled workshop session for any reason. When a workshop is cancelled or postponed, candidates will be notified immediately and will receive a complete refund of all workshop fees or be allowed to transfer at no penalty to the new dates or another course of their choosing without penalty.
Refunds for credit card transactions processed online will be refunded back to the credit card within 2 weeks after the cancellation. If workshop registration was not completed online or the refund cannot be processed online, a refund check will be mailed within 4 to 6 weeks after the cancellation.
If cancellation is required, Dragon Door is not responsible for any expenses (travel or lodging) incurred beyond the registration fees. We recommend against making non-refundable travel plans.
Note: We will be providing you with kettlebells to practice with at the training, but these kettlebells are not included in the price of the certification.
Learn More...


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Pineapple Express is a Sativa dominant strain with a 60:40 sativa/indica ratio. The strain is quite popular and has achieved recognition thanks to the stoner film of the same name. However, you have to keep in mind that the strain is not as intense as the movie has made it out to be. But Pineapple Express still manages to offer a mild and nice body-numbing buzz, which is something to look forward to. The strain is offered in the form of well-weighed nuggets that look like Styrofoam popcorn. It does not taste sweet, but it does smell funky with its citrus overtones. The taste is quite extraordinary with a hint of pineapple while you inhale. Pineapple Express is chosen to treat a lot of medical problems including anxiety and stress. However, it is even more effective at curing the symptoms of chronic depression at the same time. If you are suffering from mild pains and aches, you should look no further. After a smoke, you will realize Pineapple Express is calming and stimulating at the same time. Not only will it heighten all your senses but you will feel energized all the while observing an increase in focus, awareness and creativity.
Sativa Dominant Hybrid – 60% Sativa / 40% Indica
THC Level: 24%
Common Usage: Chronic Pain, Depression, Fatigue, Loss of Appetite, Migraines, Nausea, Nightmares
Effects: Energizing, Euphoria, Focus


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Director of Client Outcomes
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When you use HubSpot's customer platform, HubSpot Smart CRM is automatically integrated with your HubSpot marketing, sales, customer service, and operations tools right out of the box. This makes it easy to optimize and personalize your campaigns and processes with data from your CRM, which leads to more powerful and impactful work from your teams — and a much better experience for your customers.
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The main functions of a CRM system are to:
When choosing CRM software for your business, you should consider the following points:


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presented by
Liberation Breathing LA
"Liberation Breathing is a Conscious Connected Breathing Process that Restores Your Mind and Body to Health and Wellness."
- Sondra Ray and Markus Ray
Liberation Breathing is a modern way of taking in more Life Force. It is easy and simple. It is the quickest way I know to clear you of your negative thoughts and memories that are consciously and unconsciously limiting your life. A well-trained practitioner of Liberation Breathing can save you years of struggle… and bring you to decisions that will alter your life always for the better… liberating you from the past. Through Liberation Breathing you can reclaim your power to be the ruler of your destiny. No longer will any circumstances be "beyond your control", as you invite the Divine into your life to forgive and erase the past, and inspire you to be your Self.
Liberation Breathing recognizes the power of your breath to transform you and brings a new awareness of your true Identity. Yoga masters knew from ancient times the breath as the most essential part of human life, connecting us to the Life Energy behind all matter. They called this energy Prana. Liberation Breathing is a modern day version of Pranic breathing that gets you in touch with who you are, free of problems and the cause and effects of Karma.
Breathing session is performed laying down. You will need a yoga mat, pillow, and blanket. Some yoga mats and blankets are available. Please bring a pillow and whatever else you need to be comfortable.
Suggested donation: $33
For More Information Contact
Jane Mnoian
November 17, 2018 at 10:00am - 12pm


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Feb 1
Another Year Ahead of Compliance Activities Dominating the Healthcare Landscape
Guest post by Chris Giancola, principal consultant at CSC.
Looking into what's ahead, 2013 will be another year of compliance activities dominating the healthcare landscape. Mandates on the industry, from both the ARRA and ACA, are fully underway and stretching the financial and intellectual resources of healthcare providers and insurers across the country. Here are three major compliance pressures facing the industry this year:
ICD-10 – Though the U.S. Office of Health and Human Services delayed the ICD-10 compliance deadline to October 2014, it did so back in August 2012. This early action by HHS acknowledges the enormous scope of the challenge facing providers, HIT vendors and insurers that stands to impact every administrative process and workflow. Far beyond simply recoding claims, any process involving a diagnosis will materially change because of the higher degree of clinical specificity described by the ICD-10 code set, such as obtaining referrals and lab tests for patients, providing clinical decision support and e-prescribing.
Insurers and providers also will face the challenge of understanding how the code changes may impact their bottom line by determining the financial neutrality of any potential change in diagnoses and payment for treatment of those conditions. Providers relying on vendors with fixed or appointment-style upgrade schedules should consider as early adoption as possible to reduce the potential negative impact of these changes. There also will also be a period of overlap where both ICD-9 and ICD-10 code sets will need to be supported by all participants involved, increasing the complexity of the problems looming on the horizon.
Organizations that are late on their remediation timelines will increasingly look for solutions, like selective outsourcing and alternative technical solutions that will allow them to minimize the implementation risk and operating costs of achieving necessary compliance. But, if the ANSI X12 4010 to 5010 conversion was any indicator, these alternative solutions will be offered at a premium price.
Meaningful Use Stage 2 – Stage 2 makes much of the optional menu set of objectives in Stage 1 a part of the mandatory core set, meaning that those providers who deferred as many of the optional objectives as possible now face challenges in Stage 2 they can no longer avoid. Also, in 2014, penalties for noncompliance with Stage 2 will begin to take effect, and so 2013 will be the year for many providers to buy or build new capabilities, such as web-based and device-accessible portals to satisfy patient engagement objectives and to change clinical workflows to meet Stage 2's objectives and gather new mandated quality measures.
In Stage 2, Eligible Physicians (EPs) must complete 17 core and three of six menu objectives for a total of 20 objectives. Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) must complete 16 core and three of six menu objectives for a total of 19 objectives. Though Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments will offset some of the financial impact of implementing electronic health records, the impact to administrative and clinical staff, as well as to previously paper-based workflows, will be nontrivial.
Payment Reform – Many providers have already felt the financial impact of changes to their contracts with insurers that are implementing alternatives to the fee-for-service reimbursement models of the past. Bundled payments to providers for disease-state management will require higher degrees of care coordination and information sharing not only within delivery systems but across disparate organizations and affiliations.
Effectively managing referral networks will be a key success factor in the coming year. New payment contracts also typically require greater degrees of reporting to the insurer to ensure that quality of care is not being compromised, further increasing the burden on providers to gather, harmonize and report on clinical data previously written on paper or buried in unstructured text.
Compliance with these mandates, though not imposed by federal or state regulations, will grow to be a larger challenge as these new payment models mature and they represent a larger portion of providers' revenue streams.
Chris Giancola is a principal consultant at technology consulting company CSC with a combination of technical skills, project and product management experience, business development successes, and healthcare domain expertise.


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Amazon describes Robert Galbraith's best-selling novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, as "a brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein." But as brilliant and classically inclined as it might be, the real mystery until now has been all about the author.
It turns out that Robert Galbraith is the nom de plume of none other than J.K. Rowling, the famous creator of the phenomenally successful Harry Potter books.
Rowling fessed up to the Sunday Times:
"Being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience," she told the U.K.-based newspaper. "It has been wonderful to publish without hype and expectation and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name."
The 450-page book tells the story of protagonist Cormoran Strike, an Afghan War veteran turned private investigator who investigates the suspicious death of a supermodel.
Publisher's Weekly calls it "a stellar debut" and Mike Cooper, who wrote the Shamus Award-winning Clawback, said The Cuckoo's Calling is "a riveting read from an author to watch."
Rowling's publisher, Little, Brown and Company, provided a short biography of the author when the book was released back in April. Although there's no deception about the fact that Robert Galbraith isn't the writer's real name, everything else about the bio could have been conjured out of thin air by Harry Potter himself:
"After several years with the Royal Military Police, Robert Galbraith was attached to the SIB (Special Investigative Branch), the plain-clothes branch of the RMP. He left the military in 2003 and has been working since then in the civilian security industry. The idea for Cormoran Strike grew directly out of his own experiences and those of his military friends who returned to the civilian world. 'Robert Galbraith' is a pseudonym."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Climate change could hurt farmers' income by up to 20-25% in the medium term, according to the Indian government's latest annual economic survey. Extreme weather events, temperature rise and lower rainfall all threaten to derail the Indian government's agenda of doubling farmers' income across the country.
There are ways to counter this, however. New technology and better farm management can be deployed to improve irrigration systems. And, to ensure long-term impact, it is also important that the Indian government invests in agricultural research.
Agriculture is central to the Indian economy. It accounts for 50% of the country's employment and 18% of its GDP. And in India, about 80% of farmers are smallholders – which is generally considered to mean they have two hectares or less of land. The main crops are wheat, maize, rice, millets, pulses, sugarcane and oil-seeds.
Indian farmers must contend with a number of risks, including adverse weather, competition from larger landowners or food corporations and price surges. Small farmers are a vulnerable population where social, market and economic pressures are huge, often leading to considerable distress. India is home to nearly 25% of the world's hungry populationand has an alarming rate of farmer suicide (around 60,000 cases in the past three decades).
So the effects of fluctuations in weather, temperature and rainfall on agricultural productivity will have a significant impact on the wider population.
Climate change
Extensive meteorological data in the recent government report shows that average temperatures are rising across the country and annual rainfall is declining. It also shows a rise in the number of days with extremely high temperatures and a corresponding decline in the number of days with low temperatures.
Extreme temperature shocks, when a district is significantly hotter than usual, results in a 4.7% decline in agricultural yields. Similarly, when it rains significantly less than usual there is a 12.8% decline.
Areas lacking in irrigation are worst affected by these extreme weather conditions. A temperature shock in an area that is not irrigated reduces yields by 7.6%. Similarly, the effects of extreme rainfall shocks are 14.7% higher in areas without irrigation – much larger than the effects these shocks have in irrigated districts.
Lower yields mean lower incomes for farmers. The report estimated that extreme temperature shocks will reduce farmers' incomes by 4.3% and extreme rainfall shocks will reduce incomes by 13.7%. In a year where temperatures are 1℃ higher, farmers' incomes would fall by 6.2% in unirrigated districts. Similarly, in a year when rainfall levels were 100mm less than average, farmers' incomes would fall by 15%.
Temperatures in India are likely to rise by 3 to 4℃ by the end of the 21st century. It follows that in the absence of any adaptation by farmers, farm incomes will be lower by 20 to 25% on average in the coming years, especially in the unirrigated areas.
There are five important ways to mitigate against this that the Indian government could start investing in now.
1. Smart irrigation
There is a significant need for an appropriate irrigation system considering rising water scarcity and depleting groundwater resources. Less than 50% of agriculture in India is irrigated.
States such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are still extremely vulnerable to climate change due to poor irrigation. Smart irrigation systems such as drip, sprinklers and efficient water management should be made a priority and allocated across the country where needed.
2. Reduce post-harvest loss
Post-harvest loss of major agricultural produce is estimated at US$13 billion . About 16% of fruits and vegetables, valued at US$6 billion were lost in the year 2015. Only 2.2% of fruits and vegetables, the most perishable of agricultural produces, are sorted and packed for consumption in India, increasing the chances of wastage as it gets sent abroad. In contrast, the US (65%) and China (23%) are far ahead of India in processing their own crops.
Small landholders lose out the most from this. It is not economically viable for most of them to transport their produce for centralised large-scale processing – and they lack local processing and preservation technologies. This results in a lot of wastage. This is then compounded by inadequate transport infrastructure – produce gets damaged on the journey because of bad roads, gets contaminated from repeated loading and unloaded, as well as lack of refrigeration.
Small farms also suffer from their reliance on middlemen to sell their product. As a result, they are sometimes compelled to sell it at less than the cost of producing it.
So there is an overwhelming need to develop technologies for local processing, smart packaging and transport facilities which do not disadvantage small farmers.
3. Data driven supply-chain management
India must start using data to continuously improve the efficiency of its agricultural supply chains. New technologies such as sensors, GPS and satellite imaging can help collect meaningful data to make India's agriculture system more resilient.
This enables different sections of the supply chain to monitor environmental and other conditions. It can be used to adapt how crops are produced, stored and distributed to reduce waste.
4. Farmer-centric crop insurance
To compensate for the uncertainty caused by climate change, an effective crop insurance programme is required to protect farmers from bad yields. Many already pay into insurance programmes but they provide little protection. The system needs overhauling so that small farmers are protected by low premium and long-term insurance cover, instead of being designed, as it seems to be at the moment, purely for the profit of insurance companies.
5. Evidence based research
Agricultural research will be vital in increasing yields but also in increasing resilience to all the problems that could come with climate change – including extreme heat and precipitation, pests and crop disease. Research will be especially important for crops such as pulses and soybean, which are crucial crops and highly vulnerable to weather and climate change.
These measures will improve crop and water management practices. They are tailored to small farmers and to the fragmented, small-scale agricultural landscape – to directly improve efficiency, boost productivity and minimise the environmental impact on farming.
Author Bio: Manoj Dor is a Senior Lecturer in Operations & Supply Chain Management at Brunel University London


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Believe it or not, the new growth of many conifers, even pine trees, is edible. Certain species of fir and spruce are the most sought after for their tender and fragrant tips, and in my woods they're showing right now.
Simply chopped and sautéed in butter with mushrooms or potatoes, fir and spruce tips bring the forest right into your kitchen, with wafting evergreen aromas and the evocation of cool mountain shade. Infusions are another crowd-pleaser. You can use the pungent tips to infuse stock, cream, or alcohol. At the Herbfarm I've enjoyed a champagne cordial infused with a small shot of spruce extract.
For this drink, I first turned to The Wild Table for a quick primer on infusing alcohol with Douglas fir tips. Earlier this year I had the good fortune to be seated next to Connie Green at the Oregon Truffle Fest's big dinner. Connie owns Wine Forest Wild Foods in the Napa Valley. Her cookbook collects decades of experience in the foraging and restaurant communities of Northern California. Connie's instructions for infusing vodka with fir tips appear below.
1 cup Douglas fir tips
1 750 ml bottle of vodka
1. In a blender, combine fir tips with 1/3 bottle of vodka and blend for 2 minutes. Pour into a quart-sized jar. Empty remaining vodka into blender, swirling around to capture fir tip residue and add into same jar. Seal jar, shake, and refrigerate for 1 week.
2. Strain fir-infused vodka, first through a fine mesh strainer, then through a strainer lined with folded cheesecloth, and finally through a coffee filter for maximum clarity. The coffee filter will take a while, but this is how to get the most appealing result.*
3. Keep fir-infused vodka in fridge or freezer.
While the concoction was steeping, I checked in with my friend Andrew who has perfected a number of wild liqueurs and tinctures over the years. He advised me to allow the infused vodka to rest in between steps during the straining process, so that floating particulates can settle on the bottom. "The last step [with the coffee filter] may take several hours," he said. "But the end result is totally clean." You're left with a beautifully translucent, evergreen-tinted final batch. Pour this back into your vodka bottle.
To make a Firtini, add fir-infused vodka to a shaker with ice and a splash of elderflower syrup. Garnish with a tip.
* The photo at top depicts a jar of fir-tip vodka that's only a day into the infusion process and hasn't been strained through a coffee filter (I couldn't wait!), resulting in a more opaque cocktail. You can see the settling of the fir sediment in the jar. When ready to strain, don't disturb this settled layer of sediment.


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Literacy — the ability to read and write — is the precondition for an informed citizenship in a participatory democracy. But knowing how to read and write is no longer enough. The breakneck speed of technological innovation has made risk literacy as indispensable in the 21st century as reading and writing were in the 20th century. Risk literacy is the ability to deal with uncertainties in an informed way.
Without it, people jeopardize their health and money and can be manipulated into experiencing unwarranted, even damaging hopes and fears. Yet when considering how to deal with modern threats, policy makers rarely ever invoke the concept of risk literacy in the general public. To reduce the chances of another financial crisis, proposals called for stricter laws, smaller banks, reduced bonuses, lower leverage ratios, less short-termism, and other measures.
But one crucial idea was missing: helping the public better understand financial risk. For instance, many of the "NINJAs" (no income, no job, no assets) who lost everything but the shirts on their backs in the subprime crisis didn't realize that their mortgages were variable, not fixed-rate. Another serious problem that risk literacy can help solve are the exploding costs of health care.. Tax hikes or rationed care are often presented as the only viable alternatives. Yet by promoting health literacy in patients, better care can be had for less money.
For instance, many parents are unaware that one million U.S. children have unnecessary CT scans annually and that a full body scan can deliver one thousand times the radiation dose of a mammogram, resulting in an estimated 29,000 cancers per year.
I believe that the answer to modern crises is not simply more laws, more bureaucracy, or more money, but, first and foremost, more citizens who are risk literate. This can be achieved by cultivating statistical thinking.
Simply stated, statistical thinking is the ability to understand and critically evaluate uncertainties and risks. Yet 76 percent of U.S. adults and 54 percent of Germans do not know how to express a 1 in 1,000 chance as a percentage (0.1%). Schools spend most of their time teaching children the mathematics of certainty — geometry, trigonometry — and spend little if any time on the mathematics of uncertainty. If taught at all, it is mostly in the form of coin and dice problems that tend to bore young students to death. But statistical thinking could be taught as the art of real-world problem solving, i.e. the risks of drinking, AIDS, pregnancy, horseback riding, and other dangerous things. Out of all mathematical disciplines, statistical thinking connects most directly to a teenager's world.
Even at the university level, law and medical students are rarely taught statistical thinking — even though they are pursuing professions whose very nature it is to deal with matters of uncertainty. U.S. judges and lawyers have been confused by DNA statistics and fallen prey to the prosecutor's fallacy; their British colleagues drew incorrect conclusions about the probability of recurring sudden infant death. Many doctors worldwide misunderstand the likelihood that a patient has cancer after a positive screening test and can't critically evaluate new evidence presented in medical journals. Experts without risk literacy skills are part of the problem rather than the solution.
Unlike basic literacy, risk literacy requires emotional re-wiring: rejecting comforting paternalism and illusions of certainty, and learning to take responsibility and to live with uncertainty. Daring to know. But there is still a long way to go. Studies indicate that most patients want to believe in their doctors' omniscience and don't dare to ask for backing evidence, yet nevertheless feel well-informed after consultations. Similarly, even after the banking crisis, many customers still blindly trust their financial advisors, jeopardizing their fortune in a consultation that takes less time than they'd spend watching a football game. Many people cling to the belief that others can predict the future and pay fortune sellers for illusory certainty. Every fall, renowned financial institutions forecast next year's Dow and dollar exchange rate, even though their track record is hardly better than chance. We pay $200 billion yearly to a forecasting industry that delivers mostly erroneous future predictions.
Educators and politicians alike should realize that risk literacy is a vital topic for the 21st century. Rather than being nudged into doing what experts believe is right, people should be encouraged and equipped to make informed decisions for themselves. Risk literacy should be taught beginning in elementary school. Let's dare to know — risks and responsibilities are chances to be taken, not avoided.


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Gambling is like Narcotic Drugs, it might lead to people to turn additive. Possess have begun to play it, it's very easy for in order to definitely love it, more plus more ! until at the very least pull yourself too much of this situation. There have been quite a lot of incidences of people getting into serious debt troubles, stealing or even committing suicide just a new consequence of gambling hassle. When you find gambling is no more an entertainment, but a requirement of life, you are addicted. Addictive gambling ought to avoided utterly. The question is how to avoid addictive gambling if gambling is the favored pleasure?
Pg slot With each tournament awaits prizes. Yes, togel online prizes! Any time a player wins, he can receive actual money or casino credits. The awarding automatically happens big event tournament.
So who gambles without wanting to earn handsome profit? Unless of course you do the work for enjoyment and it is far more lose your money, it's alright along with you. But whether win or lose in brief term, you can still profit long term life insurance. You can work hard to learn all the tricks or the strategies in winning games or should depend upon luck.
Another associated with online casino temptation often they are giving their players a considerably lower associated with money to wager associated with casino video clip games. A lot of players grab a whole lot of offers, specially with those low rollers player. Online casinos are providing this sort of offers to make their players a longer hours to gamble in their Gambling house online.
They have even found some health improvements to gambling, believe it or no longer. Assuming it is recreational, many pensioners have found gambling to not only be enjoyable, but you'll find it keeps the minds of men alert and is very therapeutic.
This is confirmed along with fact which you can easily identify the craps gambling area within a casino. The correct way? Simply go into the area what your see the sizable crowd of folks that cheering and screaming. Naturally the popular side. but what all-around other side of craps gambling?
Finding the web casino is easy, there are plenty of all those meals over the world. But it's not that readily accessible a reputable one. It requires more effort to search on which online casino or gaming site would be best for you may. The most important factors that you need to look for in a shopping casino before registering and making your online deposit the actual games available, the software they use, the bonuses and odds they offer, and keep in mind be positive what physical training is a qualified one.
Bally Gaming High Rollers – $1000 Slot Machine: – I thought first delivered to America along with Las Vegas Bally's hotel and casino and is one of the classic slots online flash games. This is the slot game which is the red, white and blue sevens. Approach has become popular marketed coming from the International Game Technology it is actually one among the favorites of gamblers. Throughout these High roller slot Machines a person can win a payout of $1 million they will get the red white and blue 7 in the same order as spoke of. The maximum wagered amount is $2000 per spin.


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Motorcycle Insurance
Insurance World Agency insures a full spectrum of motorcycles, from street cycles to dirt bikes. Your motorcycle insurance policy starts with basic liability insurance. Insurance World Agency works with multiple insurance companies so we can provide you with motorcycle insurance coverage options that are right for you.
More Protection, Fewer Worries
Your plan can be customized to include any or all of the options below. Call us today to discuss what coverage is best for you.
- Custom parts & equipment coverage can offer coverage without any additional cost to you.
- Roadside assistance provides a certain coverage amount per breakdown.
- Guest passenger liability coverage is mandatory on all street bikes and, in most states, is automatically included at the same limit as your liability selection.
- Medical coverage provides for certain necessary medical expenses for you and any passenger that are the result of an accident.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for expenses associated with injury or death from an accident caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver. It also covers you if you are hit as a pedestrian.
Save Money with Discounts
When you allow Insurance World Agency to help you find the best insurance plan for you, we can help you find discounts in the following areas:
- If you have multiple policies under one insurance company
- If your motorcycle is stored in a garage
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- If you have taken a safe rider course sponsored by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Insurance World Agency will be able to help calculate how much money you can save. Contact us for help selecting the motorcycle insurance that best fits your needs.


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Cyclocosmia ricketti
(Pocock, 1901)
Chinese hourglass spider
~ 3 cm bodylength
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Canada's Air Transat will introduce flights from Toronto to Zagreb tomorrow, marking the resumption of transatlantic services from the Croatian capital. The airline marked the upcoming launch with a cruise on Lake Ontario where the airline's Business Development Representative, Susan Kooiman, said the route is being targeted at leisure travellers. "Consumers said they wanted something different. So we're delivering something different. We wanted to make sure it [Zagreb] doesn't become an air-only destination. It's a gorgeous country and there's so much to explore and so much to do". The carrier's leisure division is offering both seven and fourteen-night travel packages to various cities across Croatia in order to ensure the route's success. Furthermore, it has concluded deals with eighteen hotels in the country.
Air Transat A330-300 economy class cabin |
Since launching sales last September, Air Transat has seen strong demand for the service. "There is a high level of interest and booking numbers are very good. There is a big Croatian community in Toronto and we can feel the interest from Croatian travellers from both sides (Europe and Canada)", Debbie Cabana, Air Transat's Marketing Director, said. The airline recently upgraded its equipment on the route from an Airbus A330-200 to the slightly larger -300 series. The 375-seat jet features a two cabin layout, with twelve seats in business class (Club Class) and a further 363 in economy featuring personal entertainment systems with a selection of movies, TV programs and music, as well as in-built USB ports.


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January 17, 1915 – South Halsted Street between
Polk and Madison Streets becomes a battle ground as 1,500 unemployed men,
women, boys and girls battle the police.
According to the Chicago Daily
Tribune, "Shots were fired, clothes were torn, eyes blackened, and heads
cracked while clubs, blackjacks, and revolver butts were used with bruising
effect on heads, arms and knuckles" as the "hunger procession" proceeded up
Halsted Street. [Chicago Daily Tribune, January 18, 1915] The battle occurs after a
meeting of the unemployed at Bowen Hall at the Hull House settlement. Two detectives inside the hall, dressed as
unemployed workmen, listen as Lucy Parsons, the widow of Albert Parsons, who
was hanged for alleged complicity in the Haymarket Riot of 1886, speaks. The detectives, Sergeants Fred Krueger and
Herman Eastman, report that trouble is brewing.
Frist Deputy Superintendent of Police Herman Schuettler, who himself was
at his post during the Haymarket riot, orders, "Demand a permit from them, and
if they haven't got one order them to disperse. The reserves will be on the way
to help you." A procession forms on Polk Street, just west of Halsted and begins
to march, six people abreast, up Halsted, carrying a large black banner with
one word, "Hunger," displayed in white letters.
The police order the marchers to disperse, but the marchers continue
onward, a voice crying out, "To h___ with the orders. We're hungry!" The policemen, small in number and waiting
for reinforcements, are surrounded.
According the paper's reporter, "In a minute the cluster under the
swaying 'hunger' banner was a maelstrom of fists and clubs. Girls and women shrieked and fell to the
ground in the fray. A small, dark haired
girl, climbing on to the shoulders of a man, dove head foremost into the center
of the fight, her fingers reaching out for the eyes and hair of the policemen …
The detectives drew their revolvers and began to lay to right and left, felling
all within reach … Women threw their arms around the necks of the plain clothes
men, biting them and tearing their faces with finger nails." On the marchers move, coming up to a phalanx
of policemen at Harrison Street; the procession breaches the line and continues
north to Adams Street where they encounter mounted officers. On they continue to Monroe Street. Battered at each new block "the ranks of the
marchers were becoming noticeably thinned.
Those remaining appeared to be the more vindictive who had succeeded in
fighting their way through." Finally, at
Madison Street the marchers find themselves surrounded, and many of those who are
left "made for doorways, alleys, saloons, lunch rooms, and basements, where
they mingled with the surprised patrons and escaped." At each intersection along the route of the
march arrests are made, and those taken prisoner charged with rioting, unlawful
assemblage and parading without a license.
At the conclusion of the festivities the Tribune reports, "Halsted street looked like an armed camp with
squads of police stationed at the corners and mounted men patrolling the middle
of the street." Mrs. Lucy Parsons is shown above, missing a glove, after her arrest.
Also on this date from an earlier blog . . .
January 17, 1903 -- Judge Arthur Chetlain sentences George Wellington "Cap" Streeter to an indeterminate term in the penitentiary at Joliet for manslaughter for the killing of John S. Kirk on February 11, 1902 in the "District of Lake Michigan." The dead man had been a watchman for Henry W. Cooper, whom lakefront property owners had engaged to protect their interests on the north side of the river near Oak Street. "Cap" Streeter was not personally connected to the scene where the killing occurred; he was held responsible because testimony indicated that he had told the occupants of the district that if anyone "came fooling' around" to shoot him. After being found guilty in December 3, 1892, Streeter said, ""They found us guilty but it only goes to show that when a lot of millionaires get together and got the help of the state the liberty of a man ain't safe. This whole thing is a scheme." The captain and his missus pictured above.


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It is no secret that buying a house in Massachusetts or Connecticut can be a large expense. Often times buyers will want to cut costs in any way they can. However, you don't want to skimp on things that are important! In our latest post, we will discuss several ways to save money when buying a house in Massachusetts or Connecticut!
Go Directly To The Source
Finding the deals yourself can be done, but it will take some work. When you buy without an agent you will want to be fully educated on the local market and real estate trends in your area. The research can seem daunting when having to pour over property records to find the diamonds in the rough, however, the benefits can be worth it.
You will need to have a good approach when approaching a homeowner, especially one who does not currently have his or her house for sale. Always be courteous and respectful of their privacy. If a homeowner isn't interested in selling, move on to a different house.
Work With A Pro
A professional homebuyer, such as Mass Property Buyers will have the off-market deals you may have only heard about in the past. A professional home buyer works with sellers directly, saving money on commissions, repairs, and providing many other benefits to a seller. In return, when the property is sold, we are able to offer amazing deals to buyers! By eliminating agent fees, commissions, lender expenses, appraisal costs and more, we are able to acquire properties at excellent prices, passing the deals on to you!
Have Cash or A Good Sized Downpayment
A conventional mortgage loan requires, a sometimes daunting, 20% down. However, it will end up saving you money in the long run. An FHA loan is much easier to get with only a minimum 3.5% down, however, you will have to pay mortgage insurance premiums to protect the FHA should you default on the loan. Putting more money down will also save you a bundle in interest costs overall. The less you have to finance the better, so plan ahead and try to put down a good chunk of cash on the house you end up buying in Massachusetts or Connecticut.
Don't Be Afraid To Make A Few Repairs On Your Own
Many times, you can find a deal on a house that is plain old ugly. It might need new carpeting, wallpaper removal or some fresh landscaping. Sometimes all of the above. Simple fixes such as this can dramatically change the look and feel of a home. The repairs you make should be primarily cosmetic. If a house has deeper issues, you are likely to see a snowball effect of one repair after another. Fixer-upper properties are usually sold at a discount. You could potentially buy a house for $150,000, spend $20,000 on repairs and find yourself the owner of a house worth $200,000. Before buying any fixer-upper, make sure you know what you are getting into and are able to make the repairs at the prices you estimate! For the best fixer-upper properties, give us a call! 413-455-0008
Don't Buy With Emotion
We are all guilty of it. The dreaded feeling of buyers remorse after making a big purchase. Now imagine if that purchase was one of the largest purchases of your life. Don't find yourself blinded by a beautiful house that is way out of your budget. Or maybe a property that needs "a little work" but that turns into a much larger project. Make a list of the absolute "must-haves" and don't sway from them. Buying a house is an incredibly important decision. Take steps to ensure you are purchasing the house that is right for you.


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There's a public middle school in Brooklyn, N.Y., called Intermediate School 318, or I.S. 318. Like others in the area, it's a Title I school, which means it has a poverty level that's more than 65 percent. But unlike other schools, it's got the highest-ranked junior-high chess team in the nation. In fact, Brooklyn IS 3-18 has won more than 30 national chess titles.
I.S. 318 is the subject of a new documentary called Brooklyn Castle. The film has picked up audience awards at the SXSW and Hot Docs film festivals.
Director Katie Dellamaggiore talks to Guy Raz, host of weekends on All Things Considered, about her experience making Brooklyn Castle, and how the financial crisis turned the film into an unexpected story.
Interview Highlights
On the families of I.S. 318
"When I met the kids, I knew that we would want to go into their homes, and meet their families and kind of get to know them as people. I was so happy to be able to share that with the audience because I think a lot of people don't get to hear those kind of stories. Even if their parents are working two, three jobs a day, even. I mean, Pobo's mom [Pobo Efekoro is one of the students featured in the film] at the time that we were shooting, she used to sleep for three hours a day because she would run a day care out of her home until five o'clock in the evening, and then she would head to a night shift as an aide at a nursing home and work the night shift overnight, and then come back and work at the daycare. I was like, 'Pobo, when does your mom sleep?'"
On filming when the financial crisis hit
"[Assistant Principal] John Galvin called me actually, to tell me, 'Hey Katie — we got hit with some really bad budget cuts, and I don't know if we're going to be able to afford to take the kids to all their tournaments this year.' He said to me, 'Oh, maybe you don't want to make the film anymore.' He was being very sweet. But I explained to him that if this was just a competition film where all it was about was tournaments and whether the kids won or lost, then surely yeah — not going to the tournaments would be a big deal. But ultimately, it's a documentary. What happens happens. And this was a bigger story, one that I could never have expected, and one that we wanted to tell. If they didn't go, then that would be the story."
On 11-year-old student Patrick Johnson
"It wouldn't be a whole picture of the team if we just kind of skimmed off the top and took just the top kids and didn't include the kids who weren't going to become master. You know, John Galvin and [coach] Elizabeth Vicary always said that part of what they think makes the team really special is that they don't just take the top kids to the tournaments. They really are an inclusive team and so you don't have to be any good to play, you can just show up. And as long as you keep showing up, that's enough for them."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The brainchild of VentureFuel and the Experiential Advertising Group, the Advertising Week New York 2017 TechX experience in Times Square, in a pop-up space between H&M and the NASDAQ MarketSite, curated some of the hippest tech for the ad world, from September 25-28. From digital art projects to AR apps to VR tools and holographic displays, the TechX arena offered a wide palette of commercially available experiences for attendees – creatives and media buyers – to play with and understand.
Ryan Hilla demonstrates Verizon envrmnt's AR activation for Time Inc. to Guy Story and Vinne Grasso
The value of TechX cannot be understated: for years, Advertising Week has shunted ad-tech demos into the lower level of the Times Center on 8th and 41st, mainly as an afterthought to the main programming upstairs. TechX was both long overdue and also groundbreaking in its depth, bringing start-up companies in the immersive and AI worlds into a forum for major brand conversations on the state of the ad industry.
Mika Rautiainen demonstrates Valossa AI
TechX saw the launch of immersive analytics company QuantumXPR, with Scott Susskind and Kris Matheney camped out in the lower level of the venue, near two rows of digital art projects. Verizon envrmnt, the end-to-end VR/AR studio from Verizon Labs, was in full force, showcasing its AR projects for the likes of Time Inc., and Conde Nast, as well as its Virtual Sportsbar experience. The Valossa AI demo presented attendees with a new way to understand video, and VNTANA
showcased the best holographic display technology we have yet seen. Retinad's VR in-console ad analytics and Tunity's out of home display audio solution presented measurable technology for audiences underserved, or not yet measured. DreamSail Games showcased an expansive VR game environment, and Holosonics presented directional audio solutions.
VNTANA's holographic display demonstrated the full-size immersive side of out of home displays
Sean Brown, with Turner Courageous, gets a demo of the Verizon envrmnt AR activation for a Verizon Store drone campaign, from JR Dawkins
Brian Roth, from Immersv, gets a VR demo from Christian Egeler, director of VR/AR at Verizon envrmnt
Nestled just steps away from the Times Square bustle, TechX was a rare opportunity to glimpse some of the more inventive ways to deliver and measure ads – and no PowerPoint involved.
Yes – there were sessions at TechX as well. Here's a lively VC discussion in play


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The Development Committee will plan and implement the fundraising program for the library.
The Committee will:
- Review the mission and goals of the Library Board of Trustees;
- Develop a comprehensive development plan and strategy;
- Submit the development plan to the Library Board of Trustees for annual review;
- Participate actively in the selection of prospects, preparation for solicitations, cultivation and actual asking;
- Develop plans and procedures to involve the entire Library Board of Trustees in fundraising;
- Develop strategies for involvement and cultivation of major gift prospects;
- Evaluate potential prospects for increased levels of contributions;
- Solicit gifts at the various levels required for annual, special and planned giving programs;
- Involve other Library Board members and volunteers in the cultivation and solicitation processes;
- Develop a process to involve library staff in important aspects of fundraising.
Appropriate skills and characteristics for Development Committee
- At least two members from the Library Board of Trustees, others from the community as needed
- Library Director or designee will serve as staff liaison to the Committee
- Members who are knowledgeable about the community
- Those who are interested in financial matters and are comfortable discussing finances
- Skills and experience needed within the committee:
- Writing skills
- Presentation skills
- Successful experience raising money
- Knowledge of tax and estate law
- Interpersonal and listening skills
- Planning
- Financial planning
- Fundraising management
- Computer systems and data bases
- Knowledge of and access to grant resources
April 10, 2003


text: FlySky FS-GT2B LI-PO Lipo Battery Powered Surface 3 Channel 2.4ghz Radio System 79P-FSGT2B-2CH-CarFly Sky introduces its newest 3 channel radio system. This sleek radio system features improved ergonomics and design. The Radio is powered by a 800mah 3.7v lithium battery for enhanced runtime and lighter weight. No more searching for AA batteries the lipo is ready to charge up at any usb port. The 3 channel GR3F receiver features channels 1 and 2 for proportional throttle and steering controls, while the 3rd channel is a push button on and off type of switch located conveniently on the pistol grip. The transmitter is setup for right handed use and allows quick changes to the steering and throttle trim dials, along with steering and throttle channel reversing and very useful steering dual rate dial at the tip of your fingertips. The steering wheel has great response with the perfect amount of resistance and spring back to center perfectly. A rubber grip around the wheel ensure your fingers do not slip if they are covered in dirt or oil. The pistol grip is also interchangeable with a fatter palm swell to accommodate larger hands. This is the newest Fly Sky FS-GT2B 3 channel 2.4ghz radio and we are impressed! Specifications: FSGT2B Radio FS-GR3F Receiver Included in Package: Popular Best Sellers: |


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A new group billing itself as a "Consumer Reports for school materials" will soon begin posting free online reviews of major textbooks and curricula that purport to be aligned to the Common Core State Standards—an effort, some say, that has the potential to shake up the market.
The nonprofit organization, called EdReports.org, has gathered a team of 19 educators, about half of whom are classroom teachers, to conduct extensive reviews of yearlong instructional series. The team will start with 21 series for K-8 mathematics and eventually move on to secondary math and K-12 English/language arts curricula. For the first round of reviews, likely to be published early next year, the group selected some of the most commonly used materials: print products that had at least 10 percent of the market share and print and digital materials that had been recommended by at least two states' review processes.
Funding for the project comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—which also was a major financial backer for the development of the common core—the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Collectively, the three philanthropies have provided about $1 million so far and pledged an additional $2 million. (The Gates and Hewlett foundations also help support Education Week's news coverage.)
"This kind of information is just desperately needed," said Morgan Polikoff, an assistant professor of education at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, who has conducted research on common-core alignment. "There's just no question there's immense demand right now."
The organization's launch was spearheaded by Maria M. Klawe, the president of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif. The fledgling group's nine-member board includes Ms. Klawe, Maryland schools Superintendent Lillian M. Lowery, senior officials at the Education Trust and the National Council of La Raza, and several educators.
Other Players
Having aligned materials is even more crucial now, given that most states are expected to administer assessments based on the common core for the first time next spring. Yet according to a recent survey by the Education Week Research Center, fewer than one-third of educators say they have access to high-quality textbooks aligned with the new standards.
The new nonprofit, EdReports.org, has assembled a team of 19 educators to evaluate the alignment of major textbooks and curricula to the common core. It will start with the following 21 K-8 math instructional materials.
Common Core, Inc. (Developer); Wiley (Publisher)
• Eureka Math K-5
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Go Math
• Math Expressions
• Math in Focus K-8
• Saxon Math
Kendall Hunt
• Math Trailblazers K-5*
• Everyday Math
• My Math
Pearson Scott Foresman
• enVision Math
• Investigations in Number, Data & Space
TPS Publishing, Inc.
• Creative Core Curriculum for Mathematics with STEM, Literacy and Arts K-8
Agile Mind
• Common Core Middle School Mathematics*
Big Ideas Learning
• Big Ideas Math
Carnegie Learning
• Carnegie Math*
Common Core, Inc.
• Eureka Math 6-8
Edgenuity Inc.
• Edgenuity 6-12*
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Go Math
• Holt McDougal Math
• Connected Math Program
• Digits*
• Prentice Hall Math
*Primarily digital materials
SOURCE: Edreports.org
EdReports.org joins several other organizations that are vetting instructional materials for alignment to the common standards. Learning List, a for-profit company based in Austin, Texas, analyzes digital and print educational resources for common-core alignment but charges a fee for access. Achieve, a Washington-based nonprofit that played a key role in launching the common-standards initiative, created EQuIP (Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products), which trains "jurors" to evaluate the alignment of units and lessons to the common standards. That tool, however, is not currently being used to vet the work of large publishers and does not look at comprehensive curricula.
Some university-based researchers have waded into alignment studies as well. William Schmidt, the co-director of the education policy center at Michigan State University, in East Lansing, has analyzed several dozen K-8 instructional series, and Mr. Polikoff of USC conducted a smaller study with 4th grade math textbooks.
Looking only at print editions, Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Polikoff found the materials generally failed to meet the demands of the common core.
About 20 states also convene panels every few years to develop "adoption lists," which determine the instructional materials from which districts can choose.
EdReports.org is unique in that it "will be accessible to a wider audience," said Carrie Heath Phillips, a program director for the Washington-based Council of Chief State School Officers, which helped lead the common-standards initiative.
The new group aims to make detailed, easy-to-read reports "available not just to the field but to policymakers and the community at large," said Eric Hirsch, the recently appointed executive director of EdReports.org. "Our hope is these reviews will influence purchasing decisions, ... and one of our greatest aspirations is that publishers will look at these and that [their] materials will continue to improve." The group also eventually wants to add a crowd-sourcing component that would allow all educators to post their own reviews.
Review Teams
Ms. Klawe pushed to launch the undertaking after attendees at a 2012 education technology summit, held at the prestigious Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands, in Rancho Mirage, Calif., agreed there was a need for such independent reviews. Education First, a Seattle-based consulting group, will house and provide technical support for the organization until the review website is officially up and running this winter.
The 19-member review team for EdReports.org includes educators who have worked for or with Student Achievement Partners, a group co-founded by several lead writers of the common core; the teacher-training organization Math for America; the Illustrative Mathematics Project, led by common-core writer William McCallum; and EQuIP.
Each instructional series will be evaluated by at least three reviewers, and the results will be presented to the other 16 team members.
Jennifer Vranek, a founding partner at Education First, said the primary qualification for reviewers was "deep familiarity with and understanding of the common-core standards."
The content review team members have, on average, 10 years teaching experience.
Each instructional series will be measured against three benchmarks, or gateways, as the group calls them. First, reviewers will determine if the series meets the common core's expectations for focus and coherence—that is, does it devote the majority of class time to the most important topics in the standards, and does it do so in a logical sequence? The materials that pass through that gateway will move on to the next: rigor. Reviewers ask whether the material helps students develop both procedural and conceptual skills, and how well the material connects to the common core's Standards of Mathematical Practice, which describe the processes that proficient math students use in solving problems.
The final gateway asks how well the materials support student learning and engagement, including whether they help teachers differentiate instruction and use technology effectively.
Looking for Evidence
The reviewers will look at both the student and teacher materials for each series.
Amy Weber-Salgo, a professional-development trainer for the Northwest Regional Professional Development Program in Nevada, who will serve as an EdReports.org reviewer, said she wanted to get involved because the quality of common-core materials is a major concern among the teachers she works with. During her professional-development sessions, she said, "One of the most popular topics that comes up is, 'Where do we get these resources, and how do we know they're good?' "
In preparation for the reviews, the team spent several days on calibration, Ms. Weber-Salgo said, as a means of ensuring consistency across reviewers. For example, "If we have an indicator, we're going to look at what evidence do we need and where do we start to look for that evidence," she said. The website, in addition to providing detailed descriptions and reasoning, will use a yet-to-be-determined rating mechanism—possibly stars, grades, or numerical scores—for the instructional materials.
From educators, "we hear over and over, we wish you were here two years ago," said Mr. Hirsch of EdReports.org, who previously worked as the chief external-affairs officer at the New Teacher Center, a Santa Cruz, Calif.-based group that helps train new teachers.
For publishers, though, now that the majority of states are working under the same standards, the stakes for such an effort are much higher.
"Potentially, this sort of review service could frankly set up big winners and big losers in the process," said Jay A. Diskey, the executive director of the Association of American Publishers' P-12 learning group, based in Washington. "We'd hope that all parties involved would make sure nothing like that happened."
Mr. Diskey also noted that EdReports.org seems to be making a concerted effort to "build awareness" around its pending product, which he said is critical. "If there's not total transparency about this from the outset, I think it poses some significant issues for everybody involved."
Representatives from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and McGraw-Hill Education did not return requests for comment by deadline. Pearson Education declined to comment.
However, Lynne Munson, the president and executive director of Common Core, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that publishes the Eureka Math curricula, said she is "extremely excited" to have her materials to be among the first reviewed by EdReports.org. "We've been awaiting opportunities like this and are going to do what we can to provide whatever they need" for the reviews, she said. "We're confident in the quality of our work." Eureka Math was the only math curriculum to be awarded the highest possible rating by the Louisiana education department.
What Is Alignment?
In a statement, Lily Eskelsen García, the president-elect of the National Education Association, expressed optimism about what EdReports.org is doing. Implementation has outpaced the development of good materials, "and in areas where our members have found first-class materials, they are not sure how to share them with other educators," she said. "EdReports.org has the potential to fill this crucial gap by shining a light on materials that have been found to be aligned and high-quality by teachers, for teachers."
According to Ms. Phillips of the Council of Chief State School Officers, there's a reason not too many groups have gotten into the business of reviewing materials.
"People are afraid to rate instructional materials because it's not like a perfect science," she said. "There's variation, some of it's subjective, and it's extremely time-consuming. And you want to make sure it's fair the way it's done, so you're not getting into legal issues." She said it's unlikely more groups will jump on the bandwagon with their own review initiatives.
The definition of alignment itself can be a source of variation, said the AAP's Mr. Diskey, who has seen state panels and researchers disagree on which curricula meet the standards.
"The fact of the matter is, this process may very well work," he said. "All I'm saying is there are a lot of complexities to it. We've seen adoption processes in states work and not work, not only for publishers but for those states and school districts [where the reviews were done.] There's just a lot to this."
For Mr. Polikoff, the effort will be most valuable if it's eventually able to analyze small independent publishers as well as the larger ones. "That," he said, "could really shake up the market in a dramatic way."