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dwarf(redirected from dwarfed)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Financial, Encyclopedia.
Related to dwarfed: dwarfish
an abnormally undersized person; see also dwarfism. adj., adj dwar´�fish.
hypophysial dwarf pituitary dwarf.
hypothyroid dwarf a dwarf with hypothyroidism or cretinism. See dwarfism.
infantile dwarf a dwarf with infantilism.
normal dwarf an individual who is undersized but perfectly formed.
pituitary dwarf a person with pituitary dwarfism; called also hypophyseal dwarf.
renal dwarf a person with renal dwarfism.
dwarf(dwōrf), Negative or pejorative connotations of this word may render it offensive in some contexts.
An abnormally undersized person with disproportion among the body parts. See: dwarfism.
[A.S. dweorh]
dwarf(dworf) an abnormally short person.dwarf´ish
achondroplastic dwarf one with achondroplasia and a large head with saddle nose and brachycephaly, short limbs, and usually lordosis.
Amsterdam dwarf one with de Lange's syndrome.
ateliotic dwarf one with infantile skeleton, with persistent nonunion between epiphyses and diaphyses.
hypophysial dwarf pituitary d.
Laron dwarf one whose skeletal growth retardation is from impaired ability to synthesize insulin-like growth factor I, usually due to growth hormone receptor defects.
normal dwarf , physiologic dwarf a person who is unusually short but not deformed.
pituitary dwarf a dwarf with hypophysial infantilism.
rachitic dwarf a person dwarfed by rickets, having a high forehead with prominent bosses, bent long bones, and Harrison's groove.
renal dwarf one whose failure to achieve normal bone maturation is due to renal failure.
true dwarf normal d.
n. pl. dwarfs or dwarves (dwôrvz)
a. A person with a usually genetic disorder resulting in atypically short stature and often disproportionate limbs.
b. An atypically small animal or plant.
dwarf′ish adj.
Etymology: AS, dweorge
1 n, also called nanus. an abnormally short, undersized person, especially one whose body parts are not proportional. Kinds of dwarfs include achondroplastic dwarf, asexual dwarf, ateliotic dwarf, Brissaud's dwarf, cretin dwarf, diastrophic dwarf, nanocephalic dwarf, phocomelic dwarf, pituitary dwarf, primordial dwarf, rachitic dwarf, renal dwarf, Russell dwarf, sexual dwarf, Silver dwarf, and thanatophoric dwarf.
2 v, to prevent or retard, for example, normal growth.
An abnormally undersized person with disproportion among the bodily parts.
See: dwarfism
See: dwarfism
An abnormally undersized person with disproportion among the body parts.
an abnormally undersized animal or plant. See also dwarfism.
dwarf bay
dwarf cattle
see dwarfism.
dwarf Darling pea
dolichocephalic dwarf
dwarf with a long, narrow head.
dwarf elder
dwarf goat
a dwarf variety of any of the standard goat breeds; the best known is a dwarf of West African breed.
dwarf laurel
proportional dwarf
see proportional dwarf.
dwarf tapeworm
see hymenolepisnana.


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- Milton Brasher-Cunningham
- Donna Denizé
Great Expectations
- Dirk Detlefsen
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone
- Sharon Madison
- Pauline Moller
Bridge to Terabithia
- Frazier O'Leary
A Lesson Before Dying
Song of Solomon
- Ashby Reid
Flowers for Algernon
- Diana Russell
To Kill a Mockingbird
- Betty Williams
Things Fall Apart
In Search of the Novel: Teachers & Lesson Plans
Betty Williams
Betty Williams teaches English at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC. She has an M.A. in counseling psychology and a B.A. in English. Ms. Williams has served as Life Skills Coordinator and Social Services Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Group Homes and Shelters in Silver Spring, MD. She has also been a mental health counselor at the Center for Abused Persons in White Plains, MD. Since 1980 Ms. Williams has been a performer of African American traditional music with the a cappella sextet Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Lesson Plan forThings Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
To involve students in the novel on an emotional level.
The class is assigned to adapt any chapter as a:
- script
- setting with original music
- skit with characters faithful to the novel
Note: These lesson plans are probably suitable for all schools, but they were developed particularly for the Duke Ellington School for the Arts.
Plan 2
To help students appreciate the reality behind the fiction.
- The class travels to a nearby African American cemetery. In this case, it is an unkempt, freed-slave cemetery in Georgetown, a old section of Washington, DC. Students collected the names and dates of the dead.
- Follow-up Activity: On their own initiative, some students went to the National Archives to research names found in the cemetery. They learned basic research techniques. Of particular interest was the concept of how family histories relate to history generally and to language and culture.
Plan 3
To extend students knowledge beyond the novel.
Students conduct research projects centering on one of the following:
- The treatment of women among the Ibo
- The treatment of children among the Ibo
- The use of music among the Ibo
- The use of parables and proverbs among the Ibo
- Tribal beliefs
- Racism
- Colonialism

subset: commoncrawl


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Going green has always been high on Rod Joly's list of priorities. And now he has been rewarded for his efforts.
Rod and Michelle Joly held an open house recently at their home and were presented a Platinum certificate and they received the Water Star award for their efforts in water conservation. Representatives from CHELCO, Okaloosa Gas, the Florida Green Builders Council, and Water Management District attended. They were also presented with a rebate from the gas company.
Joly is a contractor who has built more than 100 homes in South Walton since moving here 17 years ago from Tallahassee. He is with Arbor Homes of Seagrove Development while his wife Michelle works at Davis Properties of Northwest Florida. When building homes, Rod has consistently paid attention to details, recycled when he could, and used appliances with the highest ratings.
So, when the time came for him to build his own home, there was no question about whether it would be "green."
It began with the lot.
Joly and wife Michelle bought a 43 by 80-foot lot on Nature Way in Greenway Park subdivision on 30A in Seagrove. The land is adjacent to state forest property and connects to greenway trails. The development includes 3.5 acres of preserved land.
The lots are intentionally small so there is no need for a lawn.
"The subdivision's developer, Ben Hammett, encourages all who buy into it to build green," said Joly. "But that was fine with us since we've thought green since the 1980s."
Indeed, there is no grass to mow at the Joly's home. But there are plenty of trees, flowers, mulch, and an edible garden surrounding the house, giving it a Garden of Eden look. Many of the trees are fruit bearing (persimmon, fig, lemon), and when the night's dinner calls for herbs, they are just steps away right outside the door.
Visitors to the Joly's 1,825-square-foot home will find no carpet on the floors, only wood that has no organic compounds in the glue.
The paint used on the walls is also low in VOC and the cabinets are rated "green."
The glass-tiled backsplash in the kitchen and the glass windows were purchased from the Re-Store.
All lights are florescent and all appliances are Energy Star rated.
The water heater is an on-demand appliance, and the air conditioning unit has a 20 percent higher rating than is required by the state.
"I have always used recycled materials as much as I could; my whole career, I've always recycled," said Joly. "It's about lowering the footprint. I wanted the green to be a savings � both an environmental and a money savings."
Joly said he probably spent $8,000 more by insisting on using the higher energy rated products in his home. However, he sees it as an investment as he will get a 10 percent return within 10 years as the appliances will pay for themselves through savings.
"It costs more up front but you save in the long run. My electricity bill last month was $70; that's a savings of about $100 a month. So, if you live in your house 10 years, you get it back," he explained. "You're not sacrificing but saving."
The Jolys completed and moved into the home in March.


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The Kids' Dream Room ... Is at Grandma's House
Alina Dizik and interior designer Marlene Oliphant take a look at the fancy bedrooms and play spaces some couples are creating for their grandchildren. Photo: Pottery Barn Kids.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... I'm Wendy downs it is time to explore the nice oil's grandkids and talk about luxury play wins ... all custom built by grandparents were eager to keep the little ones around Alina Dizik she's been digging into the trend for The Wall Street Journal and she joins us now as well as interior designer to some they are even lucky grandkids Marlene Aleph on she is in Glendale California thank so much to the tothe be nearly enough ... was that we can you explain this trend however that baby boomers getting their grandkids to tax and spend more time with them ... well actually redesigning their homes to include their series or ... five employees in teams to their rooms to Candler their grandkids to come over and even spend any more offenders ... and Marlene you are one of the folks who actually makes the makes these visions come to ... come to fruition tells about some of your clients and ... what are some of the war over the top things you can ask enclave ... I like I had actually traveled with four rooms in their home that they devoted to their grandchildren ... and they ... have prepared for the babies and so there's there's a teaser with crit that there's a toddler and ... a slightly older child ... there's a changing table ... there's a climate for the kids clothes ... and there's another brand if it is for the kids in their little bit older four and five six and seven ... they have trundle bed so that they can invite their friends over and asked him to come over because Brennan grandparent they're ready to welcome ... a lenient in Qantas and some other designers wonders for the more outrageous playroom type ... of paraffin in a new scene and install ... well I mean ... I don't think bond banks better change e dance one last quick and checks it ... is developing a shallow bowl a trial girls team on ... to their rooms and a ... couple times a day when can I ... actually had ... one of the grandchildren ... Kahn designed their own room with with the grandmothers she added a black outs ... and on land that had flip flops I meant intended ... I'm you know actually maybe inside in ... their own ... Slater and and what they mean to the ons for the French and what about like in the bathroom to do or do they do anything specific in the bath and do they go so far screens were like ... little mini kitchens where the kids might pertain to to sort of cook and give the go that far ... one of the last couple had ... me work than say any HK chains set out on to the side of their own teaching ... city contended that he knows that the kids can play and cloaking or in our meetings out of Lego email whatever it is ... to Canada ... Playhouse in the way that some that sounds pretty good but also pricey and potentially ... away them out D did to make your home outdated a little bit MAR are mulling some awesome look puzzled about that ... I mean he ... of the rooms from becoming outdated sense of the quick jaunt on the run so quickly ... any other item that I would design is classic colors you don't necessarily use ... at the key themes that ... classic colors and patterns are going to stand the test of time ... so that solid colors stripes back and got things like that ... and and furniture they can ... easily be adapted to other uses later ... alright


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It's been a happy time for comedians in Britain during this recruitment exercise we call a general election.
As in America 2008, all the politicians this time are trying to "pull an Obama" and shout that they are the ones who will bring change. "Change, change, change," is their refrain as though they were suddenly all homeless men pleading for charity. Of course, ever since a scandal broke last year about the indulgent ways members of Parliament (MPs) spend their expense money, many of them now can't even charge for having their moats cleaned.
Unlike Americans, we Britons tend not to get too excitable about the whole election process. Even political rallies usually elicit no more than an extra-strong cup of tea and maybe a ripple of applause if things get really heated.
But a fair proportion of the populace might actually stay up late on election night this Thursday. That kind of behavior is usually reserved for devotees of the Eurovision Song Contest, an event in which eager performers in eccentric clothing try to jazz up tired old lyrics to get a few more votes. Hmm, actually I can see the similarity...
Still, many voters clearly see this as a negative election. More important than what the candidates say is what they don't say. So most people will be voting to keep a party out, not to welcome one in. It's rather like staying married to someone you hate just to stop them from going off and finding happiness with someone else.
The main political parties have come to so resemble one another, at least on the outside, that the political battle has increasingly been one of personalities. Or it would be, if the top contenders had one.
Tory leader David Cameron, who is a distant cousin of the queen, is viewed as one who was born with not just a silver spoon but the entire cutlery drawer in his mouth.
Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, still comes across to many as having the personality of a dial tone, remarkable only for his boast in a men's magazine of his sexual adventures.
And the beleaguered prime minister, Gordon Brown, who was recently picked by GQ magazine as the "worst-dressed man in the world," is charismatically challenged. British Idol he most definitely is not. In a talent contest he would lose to the synchronized burping twins.
The only positive voting is likely to be for the fringe parties – or "the nutters" as most of us like to call them. There is a real possibility this time around that one or two seats could be won by either the neofascist British National Party (BNP) or the right-wing UK Independence party (UKIP), known mainly for its hatred of all things European and also for its occasional inability to spell the word "Independence" in its own literature.
And of course there are always those who grab the whole event as an excuse to drum up business for themselves. One of the more inventive is a restaurant in Northern Ireland that recently sent an e-mail to its customers with the following promise:
"Whoever wins, you win for the rest of May
•Conservative win – 25 percent off food and drink
•Labour win – 30 percent off food and drink
•Liberal Democrat win – 40 percent off food and drink
•UKIP/Green Party/Other win – 50 percent off food and drink
•A hung Parliament – 33 percent off food and drink
•BNP win – 100 percent discount. You own the restaurant. We're outta here!"
Whoever wins on Thursday (if anyone actually does), he will wish very quickly that he hadn't. It's a poisoned chalice. With our broken economy, broken society, and the MPs' broken reputation, any new leader will have to use some kind of political superglue to start to mend it all – and where can you get that on a Thursday night?
The good news is that, if we do get a winner, he will no longer be burdened by trying to please Eurovision Song Contest voters, so he can afford to make the hard choices that will put Britain back on track.
Jasmine Birtles runs Moneymagpie.com, a website that shows you how to save money and make money day to day. Her latest book is "Beat the Banks!"


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Boosterism 101
Charlottesville has received so many of those "Best Place to Live" awards over the years that locals worry too many people will move here, ruining what makes it so great. But, you know, we are also secretly proud to live in a place that gets so many kudos.
2013-Number 4 Best Small City for Working Women
2013-Travel Channels' Top Ten College Towns.
2012-Southern Living calls us one of the South's Best College Towns
2011-Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index ranks us number 2 in Overall Wellbeing. Whatever that means.
2010-Men's Journal names us Healthiest Place to Live
2009 -Ranked number 4 in Kiplinger's Magazine Best Places to Live in the Country
2009 - Forbes Magazine says we're the 11th best place to find a job
July 2008 - Outside Magazine names Charlottesville one of top 20 best cities in the country to locate and enjoy outdoor living.
June 2008 - Forbes names Charlottesville the 13th best place to live.
June 2005 - Life magazine names Charlottesville among the top ten "long weekend getaways." Our claim to fame? "Best New Place to Drink Wine. Twenty-one wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail combined with the lack of snooty angst makes this town the perfect weekend tour.
April 2004 - We're one of 23 American cities recognized as a "smart community" in a new book, Smart Communities: How Citizens and Local Leaders Can Use Strategic Thinking to Build a Brighter Future by Suzanne Morse, executive director of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change.
March 2004 - Cities Ranked & Rated, a book from Frommer's, ranks Charlottesville #1 among American cities.
September 2003 - UVA named best public college (tied w/Berkeley) in U.S. News & World Report
September 2003 - Outside mag sez Charlottesville one of the 40 best college towns (#8)
September 2003 - Organic Style magazine names Charlottesville the healthiest city in Virginia
September, 2003 - USA Weekend magzine calls this the "most energetic" town, with Tim and Susie Burgess as most energetic couple.
June 2003 - The Milken Institute, an independent economic think tank, ranks Charlottesville America's #30 small city in job growth and job creation.
May 2002 - InStyle Magazine: "Charlottesville has a longstanding reputation as an incubator of creativity. Perhaps it's due to the hazy Blue Ridge Mountains or the abundant historic architecture, or maybe the presence of the world-class University of Virginia. Whatever the reason, this lovely Southern town is home to a thriving community of musicians and writers, and was, of course, the favorite spot of Thomas Jefferson."
Spring 2002 - Where to Retire names Charlottesville to its top 100.
Summer 1999 - The Outdoor Explorer ranks Charlottesville #6 in the country of America's Best Towns to raise an Outdoor Family.
November, 1999 - A&E television profiles Charlottesville as one of the top 10 cities that "Have It All."
February 1998 - Southern Living: "Charlottesville draws writers the way Nashville beckons musicians" quoted in vabook.org 2000
September 1996 - Kiplinger's Personal Finance: #2 healthiest place to live in America.
1996 - Standard Rate & Data's 1996 Lifestyle Market Analyst, ranks Charlottesville #1 in "Avid Book Reading."


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Google and Adobe Partner up for Flash Player on Linux
As discussed in the just released Adobe roadmap for the Flash runtimes, Adobe has been working closely with Google to develop a single modern API for hosting plugins within the browser (one which could replace the current Netscape plugin API being used by the Flash Player). The PPAPI, code-named "Pepper" aims to provide a layer between the plugin and browser that abstracts away differences between browser and operating system implementations.
Because of this work, Adobe has been able to partner with Google in providing a "Pepper" implementation of Flash Player for all x86/64 platforms supported by the Google Chrome browser. Google will begin distributing this new Pepper-based Flash Player as part of Chrome on all platforms, including Linux, later this year.
For Flash Player releases after 11.2, the Flash Player browser plugin for Linux will only be available via the "Pepper" API as part of the Google Chrome browser distribution and will no longer be available as a direct download from Adobe. Adobe will continue to provide security updates to non-Pepper distributions of Flash Player 11.2 on Linux for five years from its release.
Flash Player will continue to support browsers using non-"Pepper" plugin APIs on platforms other than Linux.
We will be providing a debug player implementation of the Flash Player browser plugin on Linux, and will update the whitepaper once we have more details on how it will be distributed.
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LGV Training in Bromsgrove
Bromsgrove is near our LGV Training Centre based in the Midlands. We are just minutes from junction 3 of the M42 motorway, making this the perfect place for your LGV training. You will receive a warm welcome and freshly brewed tea and coffee are available free of charge throughout your course, which will be delivered in our modern training centre with fully equipped training rooms set in pleasant surroundings.
LGV training in Bromsgrove with Hunts Training Services
When choosing a training company you should not only make sure they are affordable with no hidden costs but also that you will be trained by experienced staff that will prepare you for the real world when it comes to driving an LGV. We want you to pass your test but more importantly we want to know you have the skills to drive safely every day, not just the day of your test.
Obtaining your LGV licenceIf you want to learn to drive a large goods vehicle (LGV - HGV) you must have a full driving licence for a car, be at least 18 years old and pass a medical. All drivers must pass the Category C (HGV Class II - Rigid) test before proceeding to Category CE (HGV Class I - Artic).
Your LGV test will last about 90 minutes. During this time your examiner will want you to drive safely to a high standard under various road and traffic conditions. You'll be given directions clearly and in good time and asked to carry out set exercises. The set exercises will include reversing within a marked area into a restricted opening, a braking exercise and you need to demonstrate the uncoupling and re-coupling procedure, if you're taking your test with a trailer. Train with us and we'll make sure you are fully prepared for your test.
Modern learningThe best LGV driver training most certainly involves a modern learning system. Battered textbooks and formal blackboards are a thing of the past. We have invested in state-of-the-art learning systems involving Specialised computer programs, and tailored courses so that we are able to provide the best possible LGV training in the Bromsgrove area.
If you would like to book onto a course, please complete the on-line booking form, send an email to email@example.com or call us on 01527 520 246.
Head OfficeHunts Training Services Limited,
Unit 1 Upper Crossgate Road,
Park Farm Industrial Estate,
Worcestershire, B98 7SR,
Phone: 01527 520 246.
Click here to email us


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Named scholarships
When it comes to earning a college degree, the greatest obstacle can be funding.
For this reason, The University of Akron is pleased for the opportunity each year to assist talented, deserving students achieve their dreams, thanks to more than 1,300 named scholarships established through the kindness and generosity of thousands of UA alumni and friends, corporations, and foundations.
Scholarships truly are the best way to ensure that today's students persist to graduation. Scholarships allow students to enroll full time and remain focused on their studies; they also reduce drop-out rates, decrease the stress of student loans, and shorten the road to graduation.
The need for scholarships grows each year, however, as students continue to face an increased financial burden in pursuit of a college degree. In fact, 94 percent of today's baccalaureate students borrow to pay for college – versus just 45 percent in 1993. Across the country, the average college-related debt for borrowers in the class of 2016 was $37,172; for Ohio students, that figure was $30,239.
If you are interested in making a significant contribution to student success, please consider a gift to the MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND MOVING FORWARD scholarship campaign, which is the University's most important initiative. You may also establish a named scholarship at The University of Akron, which can be created to honor a living person, in memory of a loved one, or to contribute to the growth of an area of study.
To learn more, please contact the Department of Development at 330-972-7238.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
This is not the page to apply for scholarships.
Students who want to apply for scholarships should visit the scholarship page on the Financial Aid site.
The Department of Development does not accept applications for or distribute scholarships. Scholarships are distributed through the University's Office of Student Financial Aid.
Search for a Named Scholarship
Wells, Hoyt M. and Merdith Scholarship for Excellence in Engineering
The Hoyt M. and Merdith Wells Scholarship in Engineering provides for an outstanding undergraduate College of Engineering student who demonstrates academic achievement, character, leadership, a significant work ethic, and a commitment to a business perspective of engineering. The student must be a U.S. citizen, and this scholarship may be renewed, based on the student's academic achievement.
The scholarship is funded for five years by Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt M. Wells, friends of The University of Akron. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are longtime members of the Akron Community and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company family. Mr. Wells' career with Goodyear featured involvement in many facets of the company's business and culminated in his serving as president, chief operating officer, and vice chairman of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Mr. Wells serves as chairman of the College of Engineering Advancement Council. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the President's Club of the John R. Buchtel Society.
The dean of the College of Engineering and the University Scholarship Committee will select the recipient of this scholarship.


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Protecting Your Event
There are many considerations organizers must contend with when planning a large event. Large events include educational and social conferences, leather contests, weekend play parties, vendor markets, swing events and club run0s. In light of recent attacks by religious and political extremists, here are some suggested guidelines for protecting your event and attendees.


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THURSDAY, Dec. 29, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- As fears of a flu epidemic that could cause severe illness or death gripped much of the United States the past two winters, George Boue grappled with more fear than just his own.
As vice president of human resources for a Fort Lauderdale commercial real estate firm, Boue had to devise a plan to reassure and protect not only the company's employees but also the tenants of the 45 office buildings and shopping centers it managed.
Hand-washing and hygiene became one of the key tactics embraced by the Stiles Corp. safety committee, Boue said.
"The one thing you can control more than anything else is washing your hands," Boue said. "People realized, 'This is one way I can have control over this situation.' Even though there's the possibility of getting it from someone next to you, airborne, you have more control over whether you get H1N1 if you keep your hands clean."
The company put up posters in common areas, urging people to wash their hands. Employees received e-mails containing U.S. National Institutes of Health guidelines on how to properly wash their hands.
As tension mounted, Stiles Corp. went further. It placed pump bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in all its conference rooms. Dispensers also were placed in key spots near elevators and in lobbies. "You put your hand underneath and you get a squirt of the foamy stuff," Boue said.
Stiles Corp. started its H1N1 response by focusing just on employees but extended its program to tenants when they began to ask what management was doing to prevent the spread of flu in its buildings.
The educational messages and the ready access to hand sanitizer played a key role in preventing the spread of influenza through the company, Boue said. Only one other strategy -- urging people to stay home when they were sick -- proved potentially more effective than hand-washing.
"Did we really prevent something from happening? In the company here, I think we had two H1N1 cases that were family members, not the employees themselves," Boue said. "I would speculate that yes, hand cleanliness contributed to it, but I think our policy that if you were sick you should stay home probably helped more."
The H1N1 scare may have created unintended public health benefits that continue to this day, he said.
"I think the whole H1N1 scare had a mindset change with many people to disinfect their hands more than they did in the past," Boue said, noting that human resources colleagues at other companies report similar observations. "Before H1N1, when flu season came along, we sent out communications about health and safety, but H1N1 really scared people into behavioral change. I see all the time in the lobby people as they get out of the elevator get a quick squirt of the hand sanitizer."
After a pause, he added: "I think the hand sanitizer industry must be doing much better than it was before."
More information
A companion article gives more on the benefits of hand-washing.


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Havelock residents could see a 2-cent property tax increase to go along with an increase in trash pickup under a proposed budget introduced to commissioners on Monday.
Havelock residents could see a 2-cent property tax increase to go along with an increase in trash pickup under a proposed budget introduced to commissioners on Monday.
However, the proposed tax increase met with opposition from the board and Mayor Jimmy Sanders.
�I�ve got three letters � D.O.A,� Sanders said, calling the tax increase dead on arrival. �When you look at no growth, or very, very minimal growth, it�s not time for a tax increase. We will do what we have to do to stay under budget. That, in my mind, does not include a tax increase.�
Lee Tillman, city finance director, presented the proposed 2013-14 budget to commissioners on Monday. The spending plan proposes to raise the property tax rate of 46.5 cents per $100 in property value to 48.5 cents. That would mean an increase of $27 per year for the average home in Havelock valued at $134,830.
�Two-cent tax increase for me, at this stage, is a no go,� Commissioner George Liner said. �They are going to have to prove to me why we can�t cut something else. We�re either going to cut people or we�re going to cut some services. I don�t want to do that, but I�ll do that before I go to a two-cent tax increase.�
The proposed budget is $15.6 million. It is 27 percent less than the $21.5 million budget for the current year, which included a one-time expenditure of about $3 million for the sewer expansion project.
Commissioner Danny Walsh gave City Manager Jim Freeman and the staff credit for reducing expenses in the budget but also opposed the tax increase.
�My opinion is that this is not a time for a tax increase,� he said. �Things aren�t that good. Our future doesn�t look that bright. People aren�t tearing down the doors to get here. We�re not expanding, and that�s not a time when you go up on the people that are here. You give them a break is my opinion.
�For several years I�ve been saying we�ve been needing to save for a rainy day and the rainy days are here and we�ve got to be tighter on our expenses.�
The budget also proposes an increase in trash service from the current $13.95 per month to $16.77. No water or sewer rate increases are included.
The board directed staff to come up with a budget that didn�t include a tax increase, but Tillman said sales tax receipts and other revenue the city relies on have been decreasing.
�We did try to balance the budget as per the board�s directive but we just couldn�t,� she said. �This is a very flat budget. Even at a two-cent tax increase it does decrease personnel by 1 1/2 positions.
�We�ve weathered a lot of storms without having to come to this, but unfortunately that time is now. This budget takes us into learning to live within our means. Usually I can find a bright spot, but this is a dismal budget.�
Commissioner Will Lewis said he understood the economic situation.
�Well, my initial reaction is that I don�t like a tax increase. None of us do,� he said. �We don�t want to see a tax increase, but we do understand the realities of the budget and as we work on it more, we�re going to see what we can do about it.
�I think the entire board is going to be very focused on making sure we do not have a 2-cent tax increase, but the reality of not having that tax increase is going to mean service cuts, and so we�re going to have to work hard to find a balance between service cuts and a tax increase. I�ll be clear that none of us wants a tax increase. It�s just going to come down to what we can cut that makes the most sense and if we can balance that and not have the tax increase.�
Commissioner Jim Stuart said the budget process was early on, and he believed a tax increase would not be necessary, even if it meant taking money out of the city�s reserve fund to balance the budget.
�The revenues coming in are less than the expenditures going out for services, and whenever that happens, it�s just like balancing a checkbook for the house,� he said. �There�s just not enough to go around. It is really tight. I just think that the recession has finally trickled down to where Havelock is now feeling the effect of it.�
Commissioner Karen Lewis said she did not want a tax increase.
�We�re going to do everything possible to further cut the budget in order to not increase the taxes on our citizens,� she said. �So as we go forward in the next few days, our intent is to find out where the cuts need to be made.�
Commissioners have scheduled budget work sessions from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at Havelock City Hall. Those meetings are open to the public, but there is no scheduled time for public comment. Residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the budget during a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 10 at Havelock City Hall.
Commissioners have until June 30 to approve a budget for 2013-14.


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Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
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Home automation used to be limited to turning on lights and appliances, and maybe controlling your thermostat and lawn sprinkler, from your computer. While you still might not be able to create all the Jetsons' toys, today you can also
- Build a wireless network
- Create and set up a weather station
- Automate your TV and sound system
- Spy on your pets when you're not home
- Set up an answering system that knows what to do with calls
- Increase your home's security
If you know how to use Linux and a few basic development tools — Perl, the BASH shell, development libraries, and the GNU C compiler—Linux Smart Homes For Dummies will help you do all these tricks and more. For example, you can
- Discover the best sources for Linux-based home automation devices
- Set up a wireless network, create a wireless access point, build a bridge between wired and wireless networks, and route your own network traffic
- Build a personal video recorder with MythTV that will record to DVD, or set up a wireless streaming music system
- Create a smart phone system that takes messages and forwards them to your fax, modem, or answering machine
- Build a weather station that notifies you of severe weather alerts
- Control and secure your home automation network, and even check on your house when you're away
The bonus CD-ROM includes all kinds of cool open source software for your home automation projects. Linux Smart Homes For Dummies even includes lists of cool gadgets to check out and great ways to automate those boring household chores. A smart home's a happy home!
- Get technical support for this product


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I grew up being a huge sports fan and got into betting on sports back in the early 2000's. What originally started as some fun during the NFL season, quickly turned into a passion. The more time I put into learning about sports betting, the better my results would get.
I decided to start a website based around sports betting named "The Sports Geek" (which I later sold), but building the website and hiring a professional sports bettor to help me fill the site with strategy content and picks really helped me out with my personal betting.
While running the website I was introduced to daily fantasy sports through DraftKings from a friend who told me they thought it would be the next big thing. I signed up in 2012 I believe, and tried a few contests out but wasn't crazy about it. Back then the prizes were much smaller, and I was chasing bigger money with my sports betting and couldn't be bothered to focus my attention on DraftKings.
Fast forward a few years and the DFS industry really started to grow. The prizes got bigger and that drew my attention. I started learning about DFS strategies and doing some research on how to win at DraftKings. Jonathan Bales, the co-founder of FantasyLabs.com, had some great articles and books out that really helped me learn the strategies for winning at DraftKings.
I dabbled in DFS and DraftKings for a couple years but didn't start taking it seriously until the 2nd half of the 2014 NFL season. In 2015 I was committed to try and make some money at DraftKings, and figured I would start doing YouTube videos on my Kev's Picks channel.
I released some videos prior to the 2015 season covering some DraftKings strategies that I had learned over the past couple years, and then started to release my picks in Week 1 of the NFL season. Week 2 came along and one of the stacks I recommended in my weekly video was Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson as a GPP play.
Using FantasyLabs to build 25 lineups in the $27 DraftKings GPP contest for Week 2 I had a couple of Bortles/Robinson stacks. Bortles was under 1% owned and Robinson wasn't much higher. Both had big games, including Robinson with 2 TD catches, and along with my other picks I managed to put up a score that took down the GPP for $100,000.
The same week using a similar lineup I also won a ticket to the DraftKings Fantasy Football World Championship valued at $80,000. I went to the live final in San Diego and took home $50,000 in cash.
Those wins got me really focused on Daily Fantasy Sports, and I've been continuing to put out DraftKings picks and strategy videos since. Although I haven't had another 6 figure pay day yet, I've been lucky enough to win a couple more big cashes (I believe, off the top of my head, it was $50,000 and $40,000 with a few PGA contests – the lineups reviews can be found on my YouTube channel).
I'm lucky and proud to be apart of the FantasyLabs Pro Team, because without the guys over there and their tools I wouldn't have had nearly the same success I've had with DFS to date.
I still love betting on sports and trying to beat the bookies, especially during the NFL season, but there's just something about going head to head with thousands of other sport junkies and smart guys trying to win life changing payouts that makes DraftKings and fantasy sports so fun.
If you're interested in following my picks I do 99% of my content free on my YouTube channel and through my email list (sign up here), but I'm also doing exclusive videos for FantasyLabs.com – so I highly recommend you join us over there too!


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Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
October 28, 2005
Dear Name*,
This is in response to your request for an opinion concerning the "salary basis" requirements for exemption under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its implementing regulations, 29 C.F.R. Part 541.
You state that healthcare institutions have specialized absence policies due to their special needs even in weather emergencies. Those absence policies provide that, if employees do not report to work during adverse weather conditions, when they are not sick and have not been advised not to report to work, the employees are docked a full day of pay and are not permitted to use their vacation or personal (leave) bank for the absence. You state that exempt employees who arrive late under such circumstances are not docked in any manner regardless of how many hours they miss of their scheduled shift. You ask whether the "salary basis" regulations, which permit deductions for one or more full days for absences for "personal reasons," would include within the "personal reasons" exception absences for weather-related reasons. As explained further below, it is the Department's view that an employer that remains open for business during adverse weather emergencies may make deductions, for full-day absences only, from the pay of an otherwise exempt employee who chooses not to report for work for the day(s) because of the adverse weather emergencies, and treat any such full-day absence(s) as being for "personal reasons" under the applicable regulations.
Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA provides a complete minimum wage and overtime pay exemption for any employee employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as those terms are defined in 29 C.F.R. Part 541. An employee may qualify for exemption if the employee meets all of the pertinent tests relating to duties, and receives compensation on a "salary basis" at not less than minimum amounts, as described in the appropriate section of the regulations. Please note that revisions to 29 C.F.R. Part 541 were published as a final rule in the Federal Register on April 23, 2004(69 Fed. Reg. 22,122) and became effective on August 23, 2004 (copy enclosed). [1]
Under section 541.600(a), "an exempt executive, administrative or professional employee under section 13(a)(1) of the Act … must be compensated on a salary basis at a rate of not less than $455 per week .…" Section 541.602 defines the requirements for payment on a "salary basis," and states that "[s]ubject to the exceptions provided in paragraph (b) of [that] section, an exempt employee must receive the full salary for any week in which the employee performs any work without regard to the number of days or hours worked. Exempt employees need not be paid for any workweek in which they perform no work. An employee is not paid on a salary basis if deductions from the employee's predetermined compensation are made for absences occasioned by the employer or by the operating requirements of the business. If an employee is ready, willing and able to work, deductions may not be made for time when work is not available." 29 C.F.R. § 541.602(a) (emphasis added).
Section 541.602(b) details the limited exceptions to the general "salary basis" rule. Deductions may be made "when an exempt employee is absent from work for one or more full days for personal reasons, other than sickness or disability. Thus, if an employee is absent for two full days to handle personal affairs, the employee's salaried status will not be affected if deductions are made from the salary for two full-day absences. However, if an exempt employee is absent for one and a half days for personal reasons, the employer can deduct only for the one full-day absence." 29 C.F.R. § 541.602(b)(1) (emphasis added). Deductions may also be made with regard to absences "for one or more full days occasioned by sickness or disability (including work-related accidents) if the deduction is made in accordance with a bona fide plan, policy or practice of providing compensation for loss of salary occasioned by such sickness or disability." See 29 C.F.R. § 541.602(b)(2).
The Department of Labor considers an absence due to adverse weather conditions, such as when transportation difficulties experienced during a snow emergency cause an employee to choose not to report for work for the day even though the employer is open for business, an absence for personal reasons. Such an absence does not constitute an absence due to sickness or disability. Thus, under the policy you described above, an employer that remains open for business during a weather emergency may lawfully deduct one full-day's absence from the salary of an exempt employee who does not report for work for the day due to the adverse weather conditions. Such a deduction will not violate the salary basis rule or otherwise affect the employee's exempt status. Please note, however, that deductions from salary for less than a full-day's absence are not permitted for such reasons under the regulations. If an exempt employee is absent for one and a half days due to adverse weather conditions, the employer may deduct only for the one full-day absence, and the employee must receive a full-day's pay for the partial day worked, in order for the employer to meet the "salary basis" rule. See 29 C.F.R. § 541.602(b)(1).
Furthermore, an employer may not make deductions "for absences occasioned by the employer or by the operating requirements of the business." If the employer closes operations due to a weather-related emergency or other disaster for less than a full workweek, then the employer must pay an exempt employee "the full salary for any week in which the employee performs any work without regard to the number of days or hours worked," because "deductions may not be made for time when work is not available." See 29 C.F.R. § 541.602(a).
You referred to a court decision from the Central District of Illinois, Kennedy v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 242 F. Supp. 2d 542 (C.D. Ill. 2003), which initially held employees of that case were not paid on a salary basis under the employer's "snow day" policy, finding the policy was not analogous to a permissible deduction for "personal reasons" because an absence due to extreme weather conditions is essentially out of the employee's control. On reconsideration, the district court reversed and held that the employer's snow day policy did not jeopardize the employees' exempt status because the deductions were made from leave accounts rather than from the employees' pay (Kennedy v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 252 F. Supp. 2d 737 (C.D. Ill. 2003). Despite the Kennedy Court's stated rationale in its initial decision and order that were later vacated, it continues to be the interpretation of the Wage and Hour Division that, when an employer remains open for business during a weather emergency, and an employee chooses not to report for work for the day due to the adverse weather conditions and/or attendant transportation difficulties, the employee's absence in that situation is considered to be an absence for personal reasons under the applicable regulations. Any full-day deduction from the salary of an exempt employee for such reason will not violate the salary basis rule or otherwise affect the employee's exempt status.
This opinion is based exclusively on the facts and circumstances described in your request and is given based on your representation, express or implied, that you have provided a full and fair description of all the facts and circumstances that would be pertinent to our consideration of the question presented. Existence of any other factual or historical background not contained in your letter might require a conclusion different from the one expressed herein. You have represented that this opinion is not sought by a party to pending private litigation concerning the issue addressed herein. You have also represented that this opinion is not sought in connection with an investigation or litigation between a client or firm and the Wage and Hour Division or the Department of Labor. This opinion is issued as an official ruling of the Wage and Hour Division for purposes of the Portal‑to‑Portal Act, 29 U.S.C. § 259. See 29 C.F.R. §§ 790.17(d), 790.19; Hultgren v. County of Lancaster, 913 F.2d 498, 507 (8th Cir. 1990).
We trust that this letter is responsive to your inquiry.
Alfred B. Robinson, Jr.
Deputy Administrator
* Note: The actual name(s) was removed to preserve privacy in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(7).
[1]As you know, the prior rule addressed the issues in your inquiry at 29 CFR § 541.118. Our response cites to the final regulations effective August 23, 2004; however, because there were no substantive changes in the regulatory sections pertinent to your inquiry, our substantive analysis applies equally under both the prior and the revised regulations.


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Montessori Northwest's Director of Primary Training, Sarah Werner Andrews, will present the closing Keynote Address at the upcoming Pacific Northwest Montessori Association (PNMA) Winter Forum in Tacoma, Washington on March 8th, 2014.
Founded in 1962, PNMA is a non-profit professional organization comprised of teachers, interns, administrators, and schools with a mission to encourage, support, and advocate for excellent Montessori education.
The theme of this year's Winter Forum is "Our Montessori Community of Practice and Advocacy." If you're unfamiliar with that expression, 'Communities of practice' are defined as groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. (More on the subject here)
Sarah joins a stellar lineup of presenters including Jacqueline Cossentino and Keith Whitescarver of The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, as well as others.
"Joyful engagement" is a quality that we identify with Montessori children and is an essential component in how we approach our work. But what does this really mean, and why it is so crucial? It's her task to help us "unpack" this idea and show how happiness, gratitude, and "friendliness with error" develop core executive functions, but also reduce stress in children's lives and lead to greater life satisfaction for teacher and child alike
March 08, 2014, 8AM - 4PM
Geiger Montessori, 7401 South 8th St., Tacoma, WA 98465
For Registration and Schedule information, visit PNMA's website here.
Registration codes for Oregon inquiries for $50 registration:
OMA14 for OMA members
MPS38 for Public School Montessorians