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Refuse to get stuck in the rut and instead make sure you try out all the rad hair style options. These modern short mohawk hairstyles will provide you with the best motivation to ramp up your locks with the coolest
envisioned by the greatest hair gurus. Sport these alternative and edgy girl's mohawk hair styles with attitude and charisma.
If you're thinking about making a dramatic change in your appearance don't forget about the most stylish and alternative looks. Modern hair styling allows you to juggle with textures and length using the latest styling formulas as well as tools. These women's short mohawk hair styles are some of the coolest style options.
These statement looks will definitely give away your style-consciousness and sculpting skills. Use the versatile variations of a short crop to make a different impression each time you attend and event. Drop a glimpse at these unique examples to see how you can master the art of creating some of the coolest mohawks.
Hair style chameleons are simply crazy about the cutting edge short hair styles as the mohawks. A similar short crop will definitely encourage you to stay versed with the newest style trends and keep your locks in their best shape. Whether you keep your tresses spiked up or curly the final outcome of your makeover will be each time unique and overwhelming. Those who are truly devoted to the statement looks should trim the hair on the sides pretty short as in the case of the old school mohawk. On the other hand some might be pretty shy to do this step, therefore they are advised to keep the locks on the sides at a moderate length.
As these examples illustrate you're free to keep your strands super-sleek and texturized with a drop of gel or paste. In this case the shorter the hair is trimmed the higher the hair can be lifted. Moreover you can also curl the locks or play with the natural wavy texture of your hair to pull off a more feminine look. As a consequence the short mohawk cut offers you the opportunity to go both for the wild as well as more muted and flirty looks.


text: In honor of World AIDS Day tomorrow (December 1), MTV is going Red on-air and online with a major push to educate and encourage young people to GYT (Get Yourself Tested). MTV and mtvU will air a new documentary, Me, Myself and HIV along with special World AIDS Day programming on MTV, MTV Hits and MTV Jams, plus offer free HIV testing in Washington Square Park in conjunction with Planned Parenthood . MTV will also join landmarks from around the world- from the Empire State Building to Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa - that will be illuminated the color red as part of the (RED) 's new campaign, 'The AIDS Free Generation is Due in 2015.' What are you doing to go Red? Tell us in the comments section below!

subset: commoncrawl


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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Outgoing Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti has touted his pretrial release program as one of his top achievements in office -- and a lot of people in the justice system agree with him.
"That program is important to working poor people but it's also incredibly important to the citizens of Broward County," said Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, who has often disagreed with Lamberti.
Lamberti's program has allowed hundreds of indigent inmates who are not considered dangers to the community to get out of jail while awaiting trial and has been cited as having been a successful way to reduce jail overcrowding and avoid potentially hefty federal fines.
But now Finkelstein and others are worried that Sheriff Elect Scott Israel, who takes office next week, is going to decimate the program in order to pay back the bail bonds industry that contributed heavily to his campaign.
Bail bondsmen have for years railed against Lamberti's program because it impinges on their business; inmates who are allowed out of jail on supervised release don't pay bail. And they backed Israel in a big way, contributing many thousands of dollars to his campaign. One of his biggest supporters was veteran bondsman Wayne Spath, a vocal critic of the pretrial release program who not only gave the maximum to Israel's campaign but also gave $10,000 to a PAC called Securing our Safety that ran attack ads on Lamberti.
In a troubling move to many, Israel has announced that he's getting rid of the two BSO directors who have run the program, Kristina Gullick and Debra Lesniak, who are both widely respected administrators.
"These are hard-working conscientious people, two quality people," said Finkelstein. "It troubles me ... politics in the sheriff's office has always troubled me going back to the days of Ed Stack."
Now Israel is considering hiring the heavily political bondsman Spath at BSO to monitor the jail population. "Wayne Spath and I have talked about him working in the community control division in the jail," Israel confirmed. "... One critical issue I'll deal with in the coming years is prison population."
When asked if that would be a conflict of interest since Spath's private business is directly related to the jail, Israel acknowledged it would be.
"I've told him that and unless he sells or diverges the bail bonds business he wouldn't be considered," said Israel.
Despite the fact that he's essentially fired the two people running the program and is considering hiring an enemy of the program to help oversee it, Israel says he's not planning to end it. He did say his staff was reevaluating the program and didn't rule out changes.
"I am a big believer in the pretrial release program and it will always exist in some fashion," he said. "We may curtail it a little bit, we may keep it the way it is, or we may enhance it."
Finkelstein is a long-time friend of Spath who said he has great integrity, but he said hiring a bondsman to oversee the jail population is "unacceptable."
"It is very unsettling that somebody who is of the bonding world would take over this department," said Finkelstein. "... I don't believe that private business interests should even be part of the equation when dealing with justice."
Attempts to speak with Spath were unsuccessful, as those at his Brandy Bail Bonds office in Fort Lauderdale said he was out of town. It's expected that if he does "diverge" from the bail bonds business, he would give ownership of the business to his two daughers, Mia and Tia, who already have management roles there.
Copyright 2013 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
7: Planning for Assessment
Check out these additional resources to explore the topic further.
ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K-12 Learners
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. National Standards in Foreign Language Education Collaborative Project. Yonkers, NY: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 1999. (To purchase the Standards document, go to www.actfl.org or call 1-800-627-0629.)
Arter, J., and J. McTighe. Scoring Rubrics in the Classroom: Using Performance Criteria for Assessing and Improving Student Performance. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2001.
Darling-Hammond, L., J. Ancess, and B. Falk. Authentic Assessment in Action: Studies of Schools and Students at Work. New York: Teachers College Press, 1995.
Guskey, Thomas R. "How Classroom Assessments Can Improve Learning." Educational Leadership 60, no. 5 (February 2003): 7-11. (This text is available in the Before You Watch section.)
Marzano, R. J., et al. A Handbook for Classroom Instruction That Works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 2001.
McTighe, Jay. "What Happens Between Assessments?" Educational Leadership 54, no. 4 (December 1996/January 1997): 6-12.
Mertler, Craig A. "Designing Scoring Rubrics for Your Classroom." Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation 7, no. 25 (2001). (This text is available in the Before You Watch section.)
Sandrock, Paul. Planning Curriculum for Learning World Languages, 65-95. Milwaukee, WI: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2002. (This text is available in the Before You Watch section.)
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices
Wiggins, G., and J. McTighe. Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 1998.
|7: Planning for Assessment >
Introduction | Before You Watch | Analyze the Video
Examine the Topic | Put It Into Practice | Action Research Project | Reflect on Your Learning
Resources | Library Videos Chart | Printouts | Assignments
Foreign Languages Workshop Home | © | About This Workshop | Glossary | Site Map
© Annenberg Foundation 2017. All rights reserved. Legal Policy


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So many packaged or bulk granolas have glutenous ingredients, are packed full of nuts (I'm allergic to almost all of them), are waaaay too sweet for my tastes, or have more dried fruit than I like. And thus, I prefer making my own granola. Not only is it cheaper, but I can make it fit my tastes and dietary restrictions perfectly! Here's a recipe I'm making a lot lately. It boasts a variety of seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, and flax) as well as coconut, honey, spices, vanilla, and raisins. As for the fat, I love using coconut oil in granola; it lends a wonderfully sweet flavor and fragrance. With a splash of coconut milk or a dollop of Greek yogurt, it makes a great energy-packed breakfast or snack.
Spiced Seed & Honey Granola (gluten-free, nut-free, low sugar)
yield: 7-8 cups
This granola is very lightly sweetened with honey. I love the subtle sweetness in combination with the roasty toasty oats and seeds. If you prefer a sweeter granola, feel free to up the quantity of sweetener to 1/2 or 2/3 cup, to fit your tastes. It will still work a-okay, but based on my experiences, it will need to bake just a little longer due to the extra moisture.
- 4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 cup coconut chips
- 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup ground flax seeds
- 1 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- optional: 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- 1 cup raisins
Pre-heat oven to 325º F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix together oats, coconut chips, seeds, salt, and spices. Set aside.
In a small saucepan on the stovetop, melt together honey and coconut oil over low heat, stirring often, until liquid. Stir in vanilla extract, if using. Pour liquid mixture over dry ingredients and stir until evenly coated.
Divide granola between baking sheets and spread evently in a thin layer over surface. Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove pans from oven, stir granola, and place pans back in oven on opposite shelves. Bake another 15 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove pans from oven and let cool completely. Granola will crisp as it cools.
Once cool, store in sealed jars or containers. Will keep for 2 weeks.
Substitution options:
- Substitute raisins with any other dried fruit.
- Substitute honey with other liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave nectar, brown rice syrup). Keep in mind each one has a different intensity of sweetness, so it may be less - or more - sweet depending on your substitution.
- Substitute coconut oil with another oil, such as sunflower oil
- Substitute sunflower and pumpkin seeds with any type of nut
- Substitute sesame seeds with hemp seeds
- Play with other spices, such as nutmeg or ground ginger
*The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
*Heads up! This post may contain some affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links you won't pay a single cent more, but I'll get a small commission that helps keep the content flowing. P.S. I only recommend products I use in my own daily life!


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20 U.S. Code § 7255 - Short title
§ 7255.
Short title
This subpart may be cited as the "Star Schools Act".
(Pub. L. 89–10, title V, § 5471, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title V, § 501, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1829.)
Prior Provisions
Provisions naming former part B (§ 6891 et seq.) of this subchapter as the "Star Schools Act" were contained in section 6891 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — For 14 years, Hugo Chavez has charmed them, inspired them and made them believe he is nothing short of their savior.
"Chavistas" are the lifeblood of the Venezuelan leader's leftist movement, and as he runs for re-election on Sunday, the question is whether Chavez still has enough popular appeal to stave off the toughest challenge of his presidency from youthful rival Henrique Capriles. It's a historic test for Latin America's most outspoken and divisive leader — and for his "Chavismo" movement.
His loyalists have been filling streets all over the country wearing red T-shirts with the slogan "Chavez isn't going away!" They cruise in caravans of motorcycles with posters of a smiling Chavez plastered to the handlebars. At campaign rallies, admirers hand him letters and women scream: "Chavez, I love you!"
For many in the crowds, "El Comandante" is the country's first president to genuinely care about the poor. They're thankful to the former paratrooper for building public housing, expanding free universities and setting up affordable state-run grocery stores.
Kengly Sanabria, a pregnant 21-year-old student, cheered at one rally in the town of Guarenas and showed off a message written on her bulging belly: "With Chavez, I'll be secure."
"I support Chavez to ensure my son's future," said Sanabria, who studies for free at a public university and says her family never could have afforded tuition otherwise. She shops at a government food store, gets checkups at a subsidized clinic and is applying for public housing.
She wore earrings emblazoned with images of the president, younger and with a confident gaze.
"I think people are going to support him because of the many benefits. The other candidate hasn't offered anything concrete," she said. "With Chavez, we have a secure future."
Some recent polls show Chavez with a lead of about 10 percentage points over Capriles, while others put the two candidates roughly even.
Violent crime, 18-percent inflation and accusations of government corruption and ineffectiveness have taken a political toll on Chavez, and the election will reveal how many remain loyal despite it all — and whether he still has his popular touch.
Chavez's Touch
In the art of campaigning, Chavez is an expert. He hugs children joyfully, shouts to supporters and points a finger toward individuals in the crowd. Sometimes, he remembers faces and calls out names.
He exclaims, "Hola compadre!" and "God bless you!" with an energy and folksy touch that's infectious.
Even after battling cancer for more than a year, the 58-year-old looked lively and strong in the final week of the campaign, sweating in the intense heat during stops in the cattle-ranching plains where he was born.
"How are you all?" Chavez told a crowd as he strode through his native town of Sabaneta. "It rained a bit this morning, didn't it? But it's a beautiful day. Look at how the breeze blows in this savanna."
That theatrical flair is part of the Chavez allure. Although his public singing, dancing on stage and rambling speeches may seem over-the-top to outsiders, his supporters see it as evidence of his down-to-earth genuineness. It's something Venezuelans have never seen before from a president, and it fits his image as a break in a long line of corrupt politicians culled from the traditional ruling class.
"The president has awakened people," said Maria Virguez, a 60-year-old who stood in line on a recent afternoon to pick up a free copy of a Chavez biography distributed by the government. "If we lose Chavez, the country goes backward."
His supporters and government employees filled the streets of downtown Caracas by the hundreds of thousands on Thursday for his final rally, blowing horns and waving flags while his campaign jingle blared from speakers: "Chavez heart of the people!"
His backers danced in the street, soaked by a heavy downpour. Chavez entertained them on stage playing air guitar. He called for an "avalanche of votes," and when he finished, fireworks thundered in the city.
At each stop, Chavez has trumpeted his "socialism for the 21st century" and emphasized that only his movement can guarantee stability and benefits for the poor and working class. After all, government figures show that poverty has fallen from 50 percent in 1999 to 32 percent last year as hundreds of billions of dollars in oil earnings have flowed into the economy and government aid programs.
The government says more than $300 billion has been spent during Chavez's tenure on "social development," including health care and education. Cuban doctors provide free treatment at neighborhood clinics, and university enrollment swelled from 894,000 students in 2000 to 2.3 million in 2010.
Turning to Capriles, Chavez says Venezuelans can't risk letting his challenger win because he'll take away the programs millions depend on — something the opposition leader denies.
Then Chavez reaches for the grand finale. Only he can protect the gains, he says, because he is Venezuela itself and its people.
Judging by the reaction from Chavistas, that message has won him lasting loyalty.
"Since I haven't failed you in these 14 years, I promise I won't fail you in the next presidential term either," Chavez bellowed at one rally. "Because Chavez doesn't lie, because Chavez doesn't sell out, because Chavez is the people, because Chavez is truth, because all of you are Chavez. We all are."
'Chavismo' Vulnerable
Yet this year, the Chavez show is showing cracks.
The president's popularity has slipped since 2006, when he last won re-election with 63 percent of the vote. Chavez's support has remained strongest in mid-sized towns and rural areas, while voters in cities have increasingly turned against him.
Capriles, a 40-year-old former state governor, has made inroads by pledging solutions to everyday problems such as crime, blackouts, corruption and poorly run public services.
Chavez has tried to head off the complaints both by vowing to fix the problems but also by taking the high road.
"Some people may not be pleased with our government's flaws — that they didn't fix the road, that the lights didn't come back on, that the water went out, that I haven't found work, that they haven't given me my home," he said at a rally last week. "That could be true in many cases."
"But well, in any case what's at stake on Oct. 7 isn't whether or not they paved the road," Chavez said. "No! What's at stake is much more than that, comrades. The survival of the homeland is at stake."
Chavez's style draws on an eclectic mix of influences from Latin American leaders past and present such as 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar, Cuba's Fidel Castro, Peru's Gen. Juan Velasco and Argentina's Gen. Juan Domingo Peron.
Like the classic "caudillos" of Latin America, Chavez has presented himself as a saintly protector of the poor fighting the elites responsible for Latin America's gaping social divisions. Massive public aid programs and an intolerance of dissent have followed.
That message once appealed to Guarenas resident Belkis Rivas, but after voting for Chavez the last three elections, she said she no longer thinks he's capable of running the country.
"The ideas he has are good, but the team that works with him doesn't do the things he wants," said Rivas, who emerged onto the sidewalk outside her apartment after a throng of Chavez supporters had passed. She said the soaring homicide rate, among the highest in the world, shows his policies are failing. Last year, her nephew was murdered.
Rivas also complained about the economy, including Chavez's seizures of private businesses. "All those situations made me turn the page," she said, gesturing as if closing a book.
However, her twin sister Jovahana Rivas, a pharmacist, was still on board with the president, calling herself "100 percent Chavista."
Walls in their neighborhood are spray-painted with slogans such as "I'm voting for Chavez." But one Chavista who stood on a rooftop also held a sign reflecting displeasure with crooked officials in his government: "Chavez!!! We still love you, but shake off the two-faced ones."
Taking on 'Goliath'
On the streets of Caracas, baseball caps emblazoned with the yellow, blue and red of the Venezuelan flag are selling fast, hawked by vendors who carry piles of them through lines of traffic.
The caps have become Capriles' signature during his frenetic campaign, and ahead of the vote many are wearing them. For "Caprilistas," they represent hope for change.
Capriles has called the election a "David against Goliath" contest, and both sides agree that Chavez went into the race with the clear advantages of an incumbent.
In a country with 18.9 million registered voters, at least 2.4 million rely on government jobs. Millions more rely on cash handouts and other social programs known as "missions."
More than 3 million families have signed up to receive government housing. Chavez says his government has built about 250,000 homes in the past two years, and while the opposition calls those figures grossly inflated, the mere hope of receiving a free home may be a significant incentive for some voters.
Capriles has been saying that time has run out for Chavez to deliver and that the election is not a conflict between left and right, as Chavez portrays it, but a choice between progress and stagnation. Supporters have been dancing at rallies to his campaign theme song, singing: "There's a way!"
In one measure of his appeal, Capriles' rally in Caracas on Sunday was the largest the opposition has mustered in about a decade, filling the city's biggest thoroughfare, Bolivar Avenue.
"I ask: What has 21st century socialism done for Caracas?" Capriles told the crowd.
He said that if he has an ideology, it's "to overcome poverty, have jobs, not have violence, invest Venezuelans' resources here to generate opportunities."
Then Capriles targeted Chavez, while following his practice of avoiding direct references.
"The one who's in Miraflores today has cheated the Venezuelan people," Capriles said, referring to the presidential palace.
After nearly 14 years in office, Chavez clearly still enjoys the loyalty of millions of supporters. But like Belkis Rivas, enough Chavistas have moved to Capriles' side that the president faces a real chance of losing the vote. The question to be answered Sunday is how many still have faith in the Chavez promise.
Associated Press photographer Rodrigo Abd contributed to this report.
Ian James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ianjamesap


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Easy to install, the mechanisms simply press-fit into the mill and secure using a small amount of glue (epoxy works best). Both mechanism styles, shaft and shaftless, are supplied with complete instructions and have a 25-year manufacturer's warranty.
Shaftless Mechanism
The great benefit to this mechanism is that it allows you to depart from traditional mill design. It can be mounted along the body at different positions to vary the proportions. It also installs in a blind hole, allowing you to make a short mill (a blessing for those without a drill extension) or an "upside down" mill that keeps your tablecloth clean by discharging pepper only from its "top" when it is flipped over. Measures 3" long and requires 1-1/16", 1-9/16", and 1-3/4" forstner bits.
Shaft Mechanism
We also offer a shaft-driven mechanism for turning a standard top-loading mill. The stopper affixes to the shaft with a plastic insert and is removable for refilling. Measuring 10-1/2" overall, it will make a 12" mill. The 8-1/2" long aluminum shaft can be cut to length to produce a mill as little as 5" tall. Requires 15/16", 1-1/16", 1-9/16", and 1-3/4" forstner bits.


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The amount of shadow inventory - homes that are seriously delinquent, in foreclosure or owned by banks but not on the market - is shrinking, according to a new report by CoreLogic.
CoreLogic estimates there were about 2.3 million such homes in the country as of October, a 12.3 percent drop from the year before.
CoreLogic said shadow inventory estimates were not available by state or metropolitan area.
Shadow inventory can weigh on the housing market and drag down prices. Shadow inventory often sells at a steep discount, depressing neighborhood values. It can scare buyers and reduce demand. Shadow inventory is typically not included in trade group reports.
Nationally, homes in shadow inventory are estimated to be worth $376 billion, down from $399 billion a year ago, CoreLogic says.
Nearly half of the U.S. homes counted as shadow inventory were seriously delinquent but not yet foreclosed, said Mark Fleming, CoreLogic's chief economist. Fleming said the inventory posed little threat to the housing market, which recently has shown promising signs of recovery.
"Given the long foreclosure timeline in many states, the current shadow inventory stock represents little immediate threat to a significant upswing in housing market supply," he said.
Fleming also said demand from investors will help absorb the already foreclosed and bank-owned properties.
Last January the Observer analyzed data and reported that shadow inventory in Mecklenburg County outnumbered active home listings by 2 to 1. About 13,000 Mecklenburg homes were owned by people more than 90 days delinquent on their mortgage. More than 3,800 homes were owned by lenders but not listed for sale.
For Wednesday's report, CoreLogic estimated the current stock of properties in shadow inventory by calculating the number of properties that are seriously delinquent, in foreclosure and held as real estate owned by mortgage services but not currently listed on multiple listing services. Properties that are not yet delinquent but may become delinquent were not included.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
U.S. shadow inventory falling
The amount of shadow inventory - homes that are seriously delinquent, in foreclosure or owned by banks but not on the market - is shrinking, according to a new report by CoreLogic.
4 comments:
- Skippy said...
Yeah and no one is reporting that the House "Ethics" Committee just cleared the friends of Countrywide for any wrong doing once again allowing Fanne and Freddie to escape unscathed while they continue to underwrite 90% of the garbage sub prime loans that got us into this mess in the first place. But ask any genius liberal or President Clueless about the "failed polices of the pass" what do they come up with?
- January 2, 2013 at 4:20 PM
- Anonymous said...
The real shadow inventory is all the would be sellers, if the sale price would cover the outstanding mortgage.
- January 2, 2013 at 4:33 PM
- jimmy wilson said...
Amazing post
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- September 9, 2013 at 2:42 PM
- Mass Effect Costumes to Buy said...
Superb article i really like it
Mass Effect Costumes to Buy
- September 9, 2013 at 3:00 PM


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Listening and Learning
H1N1 Flu Virus
ARRA Outreach
Recognition Programs
NAEP Trend Assessments
Progress Report
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Listening and Learning
On May 4, Secretary Duncan officially kicked-off his "Listening and Learning: A Conversation About Education Reform" tour with three events in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The tour will gather input on the Obama Administration's education agenda, including early childhood learning, standards, teacher quality, higher education, and workforce development. In the morning, the Secretary met with parents and teachers at Bunker Hill Elementary School (Bunker Hill) and had lunch with students and sat down with teachers and administrators at Eagle Intermediate School (Martinsburg). In the afternoon, he held a town hall meeting at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg with students, teachers, administrators, and area employers. "We want to hear directly from people in the classroom about how the federal government can support educators, school districts, and states to drive education reform," the Secretary explained. "Before crafting any education law in Washington, we want to hear from people across Americaparents, teachers, and administratorsabout the everyday issues and challenges in our schools that need our national attention and full support." Other states targeted for potential events include Alaska, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C. Additional states and events may be added over the course of the tour. Many events will be taped and reports and video summaries will be published on the Department's web site.
Also: The Senate has confirmed the nominations of Russlynn Ali to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Peter Cunningham to be Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach, Gabriella Gomez to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Carmel Martin to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, and Charles Rose to be General Counsel. Furthermore, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Tony Miller as Deputy Secretary of Education, and Secretary Duncan named Stacey Jordan as the Department's Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
H1N1 Flu Virus
Over the past two weeks, the Department's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) has been collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the development of guidance on the H1N1 flu viruswith the goal of ensuring it is understandable and workable for the education community. The number of U.S. schools that have closed due to the flu has been relatively small: as of May 5, 726 schools were closedin a nation of more than 100,000 schools. However, there has been a significant disruption for hundreds of thousands of students, families, teachers, and administrators at these schools. Following CDC's revised guidance, most of these schools will reopen, and most of the students will be able to return to class. (In summary, schools no longer have to close if they have a suspected or actual case of the flu, schools that closed for flu-related reasons may now reopen, and sick students and staff with flu-like symptoms should stay home for a minimum of seven days.) In the meantime, OSDFS continues to closely monitor the situation and update its list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). (Note: The CDC has also issued guidance for institutions of higher education.)
Also: OSDFS's Bill Modzeleski testified yesterday (May 7) at a House Education and Labor Committee hearing on how federal agencies can help child care, schools, colleges, and workplaces better prepare for the H1N1 flu virus and future pandemics.
ARRA Outreach
To spark ideas about how schools and school districts might use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, particularly under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF), Title I, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, the Department has released a new resource: "Using ARRA Funds to Drive School Reform and Improvement." This document includes framing questions for decision-making and examples of potential uses of funds to improve educational outcomes from early learning through high school. While many districts may need to use a portion of their ARRA funds to save jobs, all schools and districts should be considering how to use these funds to improve student outcomes over the next two years and to advance reforms that will have a long-term impact.
To date, over $7 billion in ARRA funding under the SFSF has been approved for nine states. The latest approved states are Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin. The agency has pledged to release funding within two weeks after receiving acceptable state applications. (Note: Approved state applications are posted online.)
Department ARRA reportsweekly reports, major communications reports, and spending reportsare posted online.
Also: Yesterday (May 7), President Obama released his full Fiscal Year 2010 budget request, including $46.7 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Education. ED Review will summarize the budget request in a future issue.
Recognition Programs
On April 28, in a Rose Garden ceremony with President Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Secretary Duncan, high school special education teacher Anthony Mullen was named the 2009 National Teacher of the Year. Mullen, who served as a New York City police officer for 20 years, teaches at The ARCH School (an alternative education branch of Greenwich High School) in Greenwich, Connecticut. Moreover, he mentors fellow teachers, leads a program to provide academic support to students who have been expelled, and is commissioner for a youth baseball league. He is the 59th recipient of the award. The National Teacher of the Year programa project of the Council of Chief State School Officers sponsored by the ING Foundationdesignates an outstanding representative from among the 56 State Teachers of the Year (representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, a number of outlying territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity). The winner is selected by a panel of 15 leading national education organizations.
Then, on May 4, the Secretary announced the selection of 2009 Presidential Scholars. The program was established by Executive Order in 1964 to honor academic achievement by graduating high school seniors. It was expanded in 1979 to honor students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts. Each year, 141 students are named, including at least one young man and woman from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American families living abroad. Another 15 students are chosen at-large, and 20 students are scholars in the arts. Over 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of significant ACT or SAT scores or nomination through the national youngARTS competition of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the President, chooses finalists. Scholars will be recognized June 20-24 in Washington, D.C. Each scholar will invite the teacher who had the greatest impact on his or her success to participate in the activities and receive a certificate of appreciation.
Later that day, the Secretary recognized recipients of the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, rewarding middle and high school students for outstanding community service.
NAEP Trend Assessments
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend assessments make it possible to chart educational progress of students ages 9, 13, and 17 since the early 1970s. Results in reading are available for 12 assessments dating back to the first in 1971, and results in mathematics are available for 11 assessments dating back to the first in 1973. The assessment's format, content, and procedures were revised somewhat in 2004 to update content and provide accommodations to students with disabilities and English language learnersbut the knowledge and skills assessed remain essentially the same. A nationally representative sample of 26,000 public and private students was assessed in the 2007-08 school year:
- In reading, average scores increased at all three ages since 2004. Average scores were also 12 points higher than in 1971 for 9-year-olds, and 4 points higher than in 1971 for 13-year-olds. Nevertheless, the average reading score for 17-year-olds was not significantly different from that in 1971.
- In mathematics, average scores for 9- and 13-year-olds increased since 2004, but the average score for 17-year-olds did not move significantly. Average scores were also 24 points higher than in 1973 for 9-year-olds, and 15 points higher than in 1973 for 13-year-olds. Yet, the average math score for 17-year-olds was not significantly different from that in 1973.
- In both subjects, racial/ethnic achievement gaps narrowed compared to the first assessments.
"We're pleased to see recent progress among all age groups in reading and among younger age groups in math," Secretary Duncan said in a statement. "We're also pleased to see achievement gaps shrinking in reading, but we still have a lot more work to do. Our focus on raising standards, increasing rigor, and improving teacher quality are all steps in the right direction."
Progress Report
The Department and Secretary Duncan are set on a "moon-shot" goal to get America on track and return to first in the world in high school and college graduation rates, school readiness, academic achievement, college matriculation and retention, and completion rates. Both the "Obama Effect" and the ARRA are bookends for this unparalleled opportunity to get significantly better. The Department's first progress report elaborates on efforts over the past 100 days to deliver on this promise and to lay the groundwork for the next four years.
Quote to Note
"We are rightly concerned about the potential impact of this flu. But, as Secretary of Education, I am also concerned about the impact of this flu on learning.... This school year isn't over yet. Don't fall behind your peers at other schools that are still in session. Keep working hard, and we absolutely want to finish this school year strong."
|Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (5/1/09), at a media briefing on the H1N1 flu virus
Upcoming Events
The next "Education News Parents Can Use" broadcast, on restoring American leadership in higher education, is scheduled for May 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET).
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at 3:00 p.m. local time, Americans are asked to stop what they are doing and spend one minute in a Moment of Remembrance. The mid-afternoon time was chosen because it is when a majority of Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the holiday.
May 11-15, the Department will exhibit at the Federal Asian Pacific American Council's National Leadership Training Conference in Houston. If you are attending this event, please stop by the Department's booth.
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To kick off our day of content, to coincide with the release of a new Factory Records compilation, DiS has this piece from the legendary Jon Savage, who gives us his perspective in the Factory Records story...
I was involved with Factory in the very early days. When I moved up to Manchester in April 1979, to work with Tony Wilson at Granada Television, I spent my evenings bagging up copies of The Factory Sample: the plastic cover, the stickers. It was painstaking work, lightened up by several joints.
Joy Division were the local group then, and I went to see them at the Factory Club, at Manchester's Apollo, and memorably, at the disastrous "Factory Meets Zoo" pop festival in a field outside Leigh in Lancs. Most of the people at Granada were stiffs, so I spent a lot of time with Wilson, Joy Division producer Martin Hannett and manager Rob Gretton.
Although Wilson and partner Alan Erasmus claim that the name had nothing to do with the Warhol Factory, Factory Records did pretty much the same thing: they provided a place for a bunch of very disparate people to meet, to have fun and to begin realising their artistic potential.
During 1979 Factory continued to run the club nights at the PSV club in Hulme, also called the Russell. They released records by Joy Division, including the classic Unknown Pleasures album, and the debut singles by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ('Electricity') and A Certain Ratio ('All Night Party') – all produced to a high standard of design.
They produced newsletters, individually numbered posters and were involved in the making of two films: Charles Salem and Liz Naylor's No City Fun and Malcolm Whitehead's Joy Division. Both capture the atmosphere of Manchester at that time, a deserted, derelict inner city.
After the death of Ian Curtis, Factory had success. Joy Division became New Order and the 80's pattern was set. For several years the label was at the cutting edge of the Electro/ Avant Rock interface: just listen to the John Robie remix of Cabaret Voltaire's 'Yashar' or the monumental eight minute mix of Section 25's 'Looking From A Hilltop'.
I left Manchester at the end of 1982 so was out of touch with Factory during the mid decade: these were the label's wilderness years but when I revisited the catalogue for the Factory Records: Communications 1978-92, I found a surprising amount of good records by New Order, A Certain Ratio and lesser known names like Life, The Stockholm Monsters and Biting Tongues.
Factory had a second wind during the late Eighties and early Nineties. They had New Order and Happy Mondays, one of Madchester's flagship bands. There were also great singles by Electronic – the group that Bernard Sumner formed with Johnny Marr – and, yes, Northside. However success brought its own problems, and the label folded in late 1992.
Factory showed that you could have an idea and run with it, that you could operate independently of the London based record industry, and that you didn't have to underestimate or short-change the public. The proof is the pudding: at least 4 cd's worth of music that plays brilliantly and will last beyond the life of its creators.
Jon Savage is a writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his award-winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, 'England's Dreaming'.


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The Kink Aware Professionals Directory (KAP) is a service offered by NCSF dedicated to providing the community with a listing of psychotherapeutic, medical, legal and other professionals who have stated that they are knowledgeable about and sensitive to diverse expressions of sexuality.
VISITORS Click Here to search the KAP directory
PROFESSIONALS Click Here to Create a KAP Listing
PROFESSIONALS Click Here to UPDATE a KAP listing
KAP cannot and does not in any way endorse or recommend any of these professionals, as their inclusion on this list is done without any verification or screening by NCSF. However, each professional listed has volunteered to be available to be contacted by people involved in "kinky" sexuality (leather, BDSM, fetish, polyamory, the Lifestyle, etc.) either by contacting KAP directly or through another kink-friendly publication or organization.
While the majority of KAP professionals offer services in the United States and Canada, we also accept submissions from kink-aware professionals throughout the world. In addition to their professional category, KAP providers may also list themselves in the "Worldwide and Internet-Based Providers" category to indicate that they offer their services via the web or phone.


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Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Education
Career Development and Life Planning
Three semester hours.
A survey course of the major theories of vocational choice and career development with demonstrations on how to translate these theories into meaningful practice in the counselor-client relationhip. Students will also develop a guidance model for career education in the school setting.
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Posing like a rock star is one way students at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster have been able to relieve the stress that comes at the end of the semester.
Some shoot pool and play ping-pong and others simply break to socialize. Inside the student center at USCL's Starr Hall, you're bound to see students engage in a host of activities to take their mind off the pressures of final exams, which began Monday and will run through Dec. 17.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Lancaster News, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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SARANAC LAKE - Instead of bemoaning the existence of a tourist train, a local advocacy group is trying to highlight the economic benefits of a year-round, multi-use recreational trail between Lake Placid and Old Forge.
The Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates hosted a well-attended meeting at the Harrietstown Town Hall Wednesday, July 11 to unveil a new study on the potential economic impact of the group's proposed Adirondack Recreational Trail. More than 100 people attended the presentation, which focused on the first stage of the would-be trail: the 34-mile span between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake.
This new study was conducted by the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy following weeks of detailed analysis by Carl Knoch, manager of trail development for the RTC's Northeast office. It showed that a trail could be constructed between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake at no cost, assuming rails and ties between Saranac Lake and Old Forge can be salvaged and sold for $65,000 per mile.
Knoch said stage one could attract more than 240,000 visitors and generate nearly $20 million in annual spending.
The study worked on the assumption that the town of North Elba will move forward with and complete a parallel recreational trail.
Knoch said the highest estimated cost to construct a trail from Saranac Lake to Tupper Lake would be about $5.36 million. That's approximately $760,000 more than what a recently released Stone Consulting report estimated for upgrading the rail line between the two communities.
Knoch said that stretch between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake is currently in poor condition.
"There are places where, literally, the ties are hanging with no ground underneath them, rotted ties - five, six, seven ties in a row are rotted out," he said.
Knoch's report broke down the first stage of the trail into five segments, each with its own estimated cost per mile:
Segment one, 4.5 miles from Lake Placid to Ray Brook, $666,666 to $888,889 per mile
Segment two, 3.7 miles from Ray Brook to Brandy Brook Avenue in Saranac Lake, $405,405 to $540,541 per mile
Segment three, 1 mile from Brandy Brook Avenue, Saranac Lake, to Saranac Lake train station, $3,000 per mile
Segment four, 6.2 miles, Saranac Lake to Lake Clear, $75,000 to $100,000 per mile
Segment five, Lake Clear to Tupper Lake, $50,000 to $75,000 per mile.
Knoch said the costs to put down a recreational trail between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake are significantly less if the railroad is removed. He noted that to build a recreational trail from Saranac Lake to Old Forge, the state would need to revise the unit management plan for the Remsen-Lake Placid Rail Corridor.
The RTC study is the third examination of the rail corridor in less than two years. Earlier this year, several organizations that support enhanced railroad service in the region with a recreational trail alongside it teamed up to sponsor a study by Stone Consulting on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad's economic impact. It found that current railway operations have a $3 million economic impact on the region in direct spending and could bring $5.5 million in tourist spending annually if the railroad is rehabilitated from Utica to Lake Placid.
In 2011, a Camoin Associates study showed that either expanding railroad operations or replacing the railroad with a recreational trail would have a larger economic impact than doing nothing.
ARTA member Lee Keet of Saranac Lake said both prior studies lacked "essential information," and the Camoin study used "fairly suspect" methodology. He said the Camoin study only counted new cyclists who would come to the region to use the trail, not other users like snowmobilers and hikers.
Notably absent from Wednesday's meeting, which was heavily-advertised by ARTA and previewed by several regional media outlets including the Enterprise, were vocal supporters of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. During a public comment period following the presentation, every speaker expressed support for the trail and lauded ARTA's efforts.
Pete Nelson, who has visited the Adirondack Park for most of his life, said a recreational trail would have a huge impact on the region's economy. He said the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in his home state of Wisconsin has put small, rural communities on the map.
"In the Atwood neighborhood on the outskirts of Madison where I live, there's a rail corridor that was abandoned for a long time and went through one of the seedier neighborhoods in the city," Nelson said. "Now it's filled with restaurants and businesses. Everybody in Wisconsin knows that recreational trails are an irreplaceable part of our economy. This is not a matter of a little bit better this way or a little bit better that way. This is a game-changer."
Before the meeting, Matt Scollin of Saranac Lake told the Enterprise he hasn't followed the rail corridor debate too closely over the last couple of years. He said he went to the meeting to get a better sense of what was at stake.
Speaking at the Blue Moon Cafe shortly after the meeting concluded, Scollin said he still didn't have a solid opinion about whether the railway should be upgraded or removed in favor of a trail.
"What I can claim to know is that I walked along the corridor one day," he said. "I went out and I walked from Kinney Drugs to McCauley Pond. I just kept going because it was beautiful. That's under-utilized; there's no two ways about it. Even with the scenic railroad, it's not the same benefit that you get from wondering what's around the next bend and walking up around that next bend and seeing it."
Scollin said he's had a lot of conversations with people about the so-called aging of Adirondack communities. He said a recreational trail would help attract younger people to the area.
"Everyone says Saranac Lake is graying and it's getting older and there's people that grow up here and then leave," Scollin said. "I was one of them that felt stuck when I was here, and then I left and came back and realized it's pretty special.
"There's this younger community of people that want to live up here. They want to spend their lives here and raise kids here, and I think anything that we can do to encourage that can help. And I think that having a railroad that runs three months out of the year for a nice scenic trip - I've ridden the railroad. It's nice. But it's not the same. You wouldn't get the repeat people that come up here again and again and again."
Scollin said ARTA makes a good argument for a recreational trail, but he plans to listen to both sides before he commits. Keet said people like Scollin - the ones who haven't made a decision - are the ones his organization needs to convince.
Contact Chris Morris at 891-2600 ext. 25 or cmorris@


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Watching the final few holes of the Wells Fargo Championship, it was fascinating to watch the drama of a crowded leaderboard and watch the world's best golfers battle each other, their own emotions and - the weather.
Congratulations to Derek Ernst, the 4th alternate coming into the week, the 2013 champion leaving Quail Hollow. Just making it to the weekend had to be a big win for him - much less, overcoming all the factors noted earlier.
Perhaps the key shot of the tournament was Ernst's shot on the final hole of regulation, a 6-iron he hit to four feet on the difficult 18th hole, one of only four birdies made on the hole on the final day. To do that, under that pressure - in the cold, wind and rain - well, that's just really impressive.
And for this week's "A Lesson Learned", I want to share three quick tips about playing in rain and cold.
Growing up and now working in Ohio, I've played my share of rounds in the rain. Some of my most rewarding rounds have come in tough conditions. Golf is an outdoor sport, playing against the weather is every bit a part of the game as water hazards and trees along the fairway. And even more, if you can handle shots when conditions turn tough - you're already one up on the rest of your group.
1.) Be prepared: Not to weigh you down but do you have rain gloves, extra towels, even an umbrella in your bag? You'd be surprised how many people do not. The goal when playing in the rain is to not think too much about playing in the rain. Those who are not prepared are constantly worried about wet gloves, water dripping down their back, etc. Know that conditions can change - and be prepared.
2.) Stay controlled: When it's time to focus on the shot, solid contact is more important than ever when conditions get tough. Don't give yourself any easier opportunities for mistakes by overswinging. A common mistake is the feeling that you have to swing harder - that's actually the most harmful thing you can do. The chance for the club to slip in your hands or your feet to slip on the swing are only increased in wet conditions. A shorter, more compact swing with more club will only help you in these situations. Think back to Phil Mickelson who really had the tournament in his grasp until making bogeys on two of the final three holes - including a short iron on the 17th hole that he pulled way right (a classic case of overswinging).
3.) Adapt to the course: When it rains, the course changes right in front of you. If you watched the end of the Wells Fargo Championship, you noticed how hard it was for even the world's best players to get their chips and putts to the hole as the conditions got slower and wetter. Be aware of what the rain, cold and wind can do to your shots. Wet conditions mean less spin for shots but slower greens and softer fairways. Adjust your game and club selection accordingly.
Doug Wade is the Head Golf Professional at Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton Ohio. Doug is a former All Big-Ten golfer for The Ohio State University, where he graduated in 2002. Wade has played in many championships including the 2012 PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. Feel free to learn more about Doug Wade at www.dougwadepga.com , and on Twitter at @DougWade_PGA


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DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) A superb shot from Phil Mickelson. A South African that was painful to teach. That was all it took Sunday morning for the Americans to put themselves on the verge of another romp in the Presidents Cup.
Mickelson hit 7-iron around a tree and onto the 18th green that gave the Americans a shot at birdie that Keegan Bradley made for a half-point in a foursomes match the U.S. team once trailed by three holes. Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, a lone bright spot for the Internationals, blew a 3-up lead with six holes to play with three bogeys and a double bogey.
The Americans, who trailed in every match at one point early in the session, wound up taking the rain-delayed foursomes 3-1-1. That pushed their lead to 14-8 over the International team going into 12 singles matches.
"They have still got a lot of fight in them," International captain Nick Price said. "But this is a pretty tall order. And I just hope the golfing gods are on our side this afternoon."
The Americans needed only 3 points to win the cup outright for the eighth time in 10 tries.
And if this event wasn't already a mess with all the rain delays, captains Fred Couples and Price didn't do the audience at Muirfield Village or watching on television any favors with the singles line-up. The captains match players one at a time, which over the years has led to star pairings.
This year, Tiger Woods faces Richard Sterne.
The Americans not only have won the last four times outright, the most recent three Presidents Cups have not been close. This one has been no exception. The Internationals failed to win any of the team sessions, and this is the fourth straight time they have faced at least a three-point deficit.
"This isn't over," Couples said, and he was right. The fear was that rain in the forecast might lead to a Monday finish.
Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge held on for a 1-up win over Woods and Matt Kuchar, giving the American tandem their first loss of the week. But even that was closer than it needed to be. The Internationals were 3 up with five to play, and it came down to Els having to make a tricky 4-foot par putt to secure the win.
The drama came from the once match that was halved.
Mickelson and Bradley were all square with Graham DeLaet and Jason Day when they returned to the 14th green. It was darker Sunday morning than when play was stopped Saturday night, but Bradley holed a tough putt to go 1-up. After Mickelson hit a chip with beautiful pace to secure birdie on the 15th, DeLaet knocked in a 20-foot birdie to keep from falling further behind.
Bradley hit into the water on the 16th, and the match was tied again.
It came down to the 18th. Mickelson had a tree blocking his line to the green. From 190 yards, he switched from a 6-iron to a 7-iron, shut the face and hit a hard hook that settled 10 feet below the cup. Day's approach should have rolled down the slope in front of the green except for the soft conditions. DeLaet then holed the chip, struck so beautifully that it rolled into the cup like a putt, and he pointed to a Canadian flag in the gallery during his raucous celebration.
Bradley stepped up and made the putt for matching birdies and a fitting end to a tight match.


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In Which She Doesn't Believe In Modern Love
Who Loves You
by LAUREN BANS
You know what, guys? I first addressed the evils of the NYT's Modern Love column three years ago. But the essay series continues its reign of terror, and the editors are not even kind enough to tip your chair back and wake you up out of the third-level inception nightmare that is an essay titled, "I Fell For A Man Who Wore an Electronic Ankle Bracelet."
That is why we are revisiting this today.
It's also worth noting, that important science people say devastating solar storms could put the planet in peril as soon as 2013. Dare to think: What if all that's left for Wall-E to find of our civilization is a What Women Want DVD and this vast collection of pandering one-dimensional essays? We would look so terrible! My therapist says I care too much about what other people think. And my life coach says that "my therapist said" jokes are totally overdone. I just feel really lost sometimes, you know? Pls consider the last three sentences my Modern Love pitch.
How A Series of Horrible Essays Taught Me All I Need To Know About Modern Love And Made Me Crawl Into A Bucket of Fried Chicken Left On The Roadside
I have this fantasy where I get the Sunday Times. After sleeping in until 10 or so, I begin the last weekend day in my sun-filled living room curled up on the couch by the huge bay windows, cuddling close to my fiance who has just given me the greatest orgasm of my life. He used to be a sociopathic rapist with a trust fund and I, a staunch feminist who preferred to date non-rapists. But you know what? We learned to compromise. That is what love is all about.
And now, cuddling close on the couch together, the clock shows it's nearly 11, and we're so intelligent we've almost completed the entire crossword. "12 letter name, philosopher, wrote On Women..." he reads aloud. We sit thinking, curling our fingers together.
"Schopenhauer!" I scream. He looks at me admiringly. "How did you ever get to be so beautiful but so brilliant too?" he gushes. "I didn't know they made women like you! I would never have been raping all those years if I knew someone like you was out there." My lower class roommate Marmsies walks in on our cuddling, and exclaims in her slightly Cuban accent, "My Momma always says when you got somethin' good, you gots to hold onto it!" My fiance turns to me, looking soulfully into my eyes, "That Cuban girl is right....Marry me now."
Does this sound like something you have or may want someday?
Then you probably love Modern Love, and maybe you should be a Modern Love writer!
I'd like to outline the fairly simple formula of a Modern Love column to make it easier for you to find this elusive brand of love and then write about it for a prestigious paper! First, it's very important to be an educated, upper middle class female. Actually don't bother trying to find modern love if you're not. You can leave subtle hints of your elitist qualifications by describing how you picked up your New Yorker copies scattered throughout his apartment after he broke your heart, or you can casually mention "pre-nups", "Ph.D's", "foie gras", "Park Slope", or "Schopenhauer" at any point during the course of your essay. All of these methods have worked beautifully in the past.
Sometimes a great twist on this element is how your educated position set you up to fail at love. For example in my FAVORITE column ever, "Changing My Feminist Mind, One Man at a Time" the author demonstrates how her superb intelligence and thorough understanding of feminism actually inhibited true love. Someone get this girl a book deal! She is a 19th wave feminist!
I read, re-read, and underlined "Backlash," "The Beauty Myth" and "The Feminine Mystique." I grew enraged by what I learned. Enraged, and utterly confused. Who was keeping women down? Men. But who were just so cute that I couldn't sleep at night for thinking and writing and obsessing about them? You guessed it, the self-same.
Then I went off to an all-women's college, Smith, where I didn't see a whole lot of men. I joined the campus women's group and studied up on gender issues. My rage toward men in general grew ever stronger, as did my desire to meet that one specific man who could make my dreams come true.
It also helps, once you've established your superb white upper class affiliations to dabble with some lower classes. You see, they're not as smart as you, thus they are not constricted by their own intelligence. They can teach you how to love purely and intensely, to rid yourself of the shackles of the Ivy League pedigree. Find a poor musician, like this week's columnist did, one who will kind of embarrass you, but who will play Damaged by Primal Scream, and tell you "This song makes me love you so much I want to die." So romantsies! Also, if you can manage to date a rapist serving time in prison you get like, a billion trillion bonus points. That is way modern love.
Lower class people are also very important in the Modern Love story arc to help bring you to your senses. When you're sobbing on some bus, after collecting your smart person materials from your ex-boyfriend's house, make sure that some guy with a "West Indian accent" lightly jokes with you, "Aw, that fool must be crazy to give up a nice young thang like yourself!" Let these people be the voice of sensibility. Let them guide you to your ultimate catharsis. You can even dedicate your entire essay to these characters like in "How My Plumber Turned Water Into Wine" (but remember the focus should still be on you and the shackles of your upper class life). I mean, this week's author comes to her senses thanks to a tenant in a flophouse!
So there I was, a girl with a university education, a glowing résumé, a loving family, and all the other annoying characteristics of a charmed life, writhing on the urine-stained floor of a flophouse. And I was making such a scene that the tenant from the next room, a hulking man in torn boxers, emerged from his den, pointed a shaming finger at me and shouted, "Girl, you need to get your mind right."
Once a poor tenant in a urine-soaked flophouse admonishes you for being crazy you can finally say, "If this dirty dude thinks I'm being crazy, then I must be being too crazy!" and begin the process of love's recovery. Brush the urine right off you. Go to the 'Bucks, grab yourself your usual Grande Skim Latte. Sit and listen to Norah Jones while sipping your steamy drink and process what just happened, though don't come to any conclusions that could, you know, subvert the patriarchy. This experience you've just had — this is modern love — and you should write about it so that I can barf up my Sunday brunch and not put on any winter weight.
Lauren Bans is the senior contributor to This Recording. She is a writer living in Brooklyn. She last wrote in these pages about the best TV dubs of all time. She blogs here and you can find her website here.
"Sun" - Caribou (mp3)
"Leave House (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)" - Caribou (mp3)
"Odessa" - Caribou (mp3)


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Managing Mining Structures in Data Mining Designer
The Mining Structure tab of Data Mining Designer displays a mining structure that you select in Solution Explorer. You can use this tab to modify mining structures that you create with the Data Mining Wizard. For more information about mining structures and other data mining objects, see Mining Structures (Analysis Services - Data Mining).
Mining Structure Panes
The Mining Structure tab is broken into the following panes:
Tree View Pane
Data Source View Pane
These panes function differently depending on whether you are working with structures that are based on relational data sources or structures that are based on online analytical processing (OLAP) data sources.
Tree View Pane
You can interact with both relational and OLAP mining structures in the same way in the Tree View pane of Data Mining Designer, except that for OLAP structures you can also slice the source cube.
The tree view contains all the columns and nested tables that exist in the mining structure. The following table lists the tasks that you can perform in the Tree View pane, and directs you to topics that explain how to perform these tasks.
Add a mining structure column
Add a mining structure nested table
Process all models in a mining structure
Add a new model to a mining structure
When you add a new column to a mining structure, the Select a Column dialog box opens. After you add a column, you can use that column in any mining model in the structure. Models cannot use columns that have not been added to the structure. You can modify the properties of each column in a model by using the Properties window.
For More Information:Setting Properties on a Mining Model
When you add a new nested table to a mining structure, the Select a Nested Table Key Column dialog opens. This lets you select the key column that relates the nested table to the parent table in the mining structure.
When you add a new model to the structure, the New Mining Model dialog opens. To modify the new mining model after you create it, use the Mining Models tab of the designer.
For More Information:Managing Mining Models in Data Mining Designer
Slicing a Cube
You can filter the OLAP cube on which a mining structure is based by right-clicking the tree view and selecting Define Mining Structure Cube Slice. This opens the Slice Cube dialog box, which displays a grid of four columns: Dimension, Hierarchy, Operator, and Filter Expression.
You can set as many filters on the cube as are required to return the data that you need for the mining model. You can also define slices on individual cube slices. For example, if your structure contains two nested tables that are based on products, you could slice one table on March 2004 and the table other on April 2004. The resulting model could then be used to predict purchases made in April based on the purchases that were made in March.
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Data Source View Pane
The Data Source View pane of Data Mining Designer contains different information depending on whether you are looking at a mining structure that is based on a relational data source or a mining structure that is based on an OLAP data source.
Relational Mining Structure
For mining structures that are based on a relational data source, the Data Source View pane contains basic functionality that you can use to explore the data and the relationships that exist in the data source view from which the mining structure is built. The following table lists the tasks that you can perform in the Data Source View pane, and directs you to topics that explain how to perform these tasks.
Access Data Source View Designer to modify the data source view
How to: Edit the Data Source View from the Mining Structure Tab
Right-clicking in any empty area within the pane displays a menu with several options for viewing the tables that are in the data source view. Selecting Show Tables opens the Show Tables dialog box, which you can use to filter the tables that are shown in the pane. You can also select Show All Tables to show all the tables in the data source view, or Show Only Used Tables to show only those tables that the mining structure uses. If the data source view contains many tables, you can use Find Table to locate a particular table. You can use Arrange Tables to modify the arrangement of the tables in the data source view. If you prefer to view the data source view in a tree format, point to Show Data Source View in and then select Tree.
Selecting Edit Data Source View opens Data Source View Designer, where you can perform such tasks as adding or removing tables, modifying relationships between tables, and creating named queries.
For More Information:Designing Data Source Views (Analysis Services)
Right-clicking a table in the Data Source View pane and selecting Explore Data opens the Explore <table> Table window. Within this window, you can use various charting options and table views to explore how the data is distributed within the table.
OLAP Mining Structure
For mining structures that are based on an OLAP data source, the Data Source View pane displays a view of the cube attributes and measures that exist in the source cube. If your structure contains a nested table, this view also displays the cube attributes and measures that are available for use by the cube. You can add columns to the mining structure by dragging them from the tables in the Data Source View pane into the appropriate location in the Tree View pane.
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With new terminal, LAX hopes to go from 'worst' to best
Los Angeles International Airport is undergoing a much-needed, airport-wide $4.1 billion modernization project. And on Wednesday, when the first scheduled flight arrives at the newly expanded $1.9 Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) – the project's centerpiece – passengers will notice big changes at the airport Dwell Magazine once labeled America's worst.
"They said LAX was the worst because it had hold rooms that were tired and small, that it had terrible retail, that the lines were long, that it was crowded and that way finding was terrible," said Curtis Fentress, Architect and Principal-in-Charge of Design for the new TBIT. "But now LAX has the best international terminal in the U.S., with wide generous spaces that are not dark and dingy but filled with daylight, lots of high-end retail and a signage systems that offers entertainment as well as information."
Sound promising? Here's a rundown of what you'll find now that Phase 1 of the terminal already being called LAX's "crown jewel" is open for business.
AIRPORT GUIDE:LAX travel tips, dining, shopping, more
The space
Outside, the building has a sloping, curved aluminum rooftop designed to be reminiscent of waves breaking on a beach. Inside, there's 1,179,000 square feet of useable space, which the airport notes is nearly 40% greater than that of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
The most impressive indoor space is the Great Hall, named the Antonio Villaraigosa Pavilion, who served as 41st mayor of Los Angeles. This 150,000 square-foot area houses dining and retail, the airline club lounges (including the Star Alliance Lounge, which has LAX's first outdoor terrace and bar), and other passenger amenities.
Nine of 18 new aircraft boarding gates are now operational. They're built to accommodate the larger, new generation aircraft such as the A380 and the Boeing 747-8 with two and, in some cases, three boarding bridges to allow simultaneous (and faster) boarding of the upper and main decks on the larger airplanes.
In the roomy gate hold areas, at least 50% of the seats have power outlets and many are lounge-style, offering foot rests for travelers.
READ MORE: World's worst airports: Dumps, disgraces and big bugs
Retail and Dining
Shopping is decidedly upscale, with 10 pre-security and 26 post-security shops offering extensive duty-free offerings and a "Boutique District" with storefronts inspired by Rodeo Drive. In addition to 7-Eleven and multiple news and gifts shop brands, retail outlets range from Bulgari, (Italian jewelry and luxury goods) and Coach (designer handbags/accessories) to Porsche Design (men's accessories), Kitson LA (trendy fashion), and Victoria's Secret (intimate apparel). The Duty-Free shopping area will include a L.A.-themed tasting bar.
There are 9 pre-security and 22 post-security dining venues, with local L.A. brands comprising 17 of the new offerings. The line-up includes ink.sack (sandwiches from Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio), LAMill Coffee, Border Grill, Luckyfish by Sushi Roku, Umani Burger, 800 Degrees Pizza, Petrossian Caviar and Champagne Bar, and several outlets offering baked goods and modern comfort food.
Art and other amenities
In addition to a branch of XpresSpa and a children's play area, the new TBIT has a wide variety of public art pieces and a very high-tech Integrated Environmental Media System (IEMS) made up of seven, architecturally-scaled media features. Hard to miss will be the 80 foot-tall Welcome Wall offering content that includes scenes of greeting and a Bon Voyage Wall featuring filmed clips of people jumping in super-slow motion. There's also a 72-foot-tall digital Time Tower, built around the elevator in the Great Hall.
"Traveling today has changed dramatically since 9/11," said TBIT architect Curt Fentress. "You spend a lot more dwell time in airports, particularly in international spaces, where people often spend up to two hours. With amenities for fine or fast dining, shopping and a variety of entertaining things, the new TBIT is an exciting and dynamic space where one can sit and enjoy."
Harriet Baskas is the author of seven books, including Hidden Treasures: What Museums Can't or Won't Show You, and the Stuck at the Airport blog. Follow her on Twitter at @hbaskas.


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Tag Archives: Daniel Backhaus
Business Seems Stuck in the 90s When it Comes to the Mobile Internet
Attend any digital marketing conference and you quickly realize who the belle of the ball is these days. Everyone, from agencies, management consultants, publishers, to technology vendors, seems to be obsessed with mobile. Everyone except business, that is. For while … Continue reading
Posted in Branding, Interactive Marketing, Mobile Internet, Uncategorized Tagged ARPU, CPM, Daniel Backhaus, Econable, iPhone, Mobile, Mobile Internet, Mobile Marketing, Tablet, UX 6 Comments


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Camera buyers want it all: Compact shooters with long zooms and great low-light performance for under $300. Because of a few principles called supply, demand, and physics, that's a tough one to pull off.
But that hasn't stopped enterprising camera manufacturers from trying. Sporting a 10x optical zoom, backlit CMOS sensor, and a price tag around $250, the Nikon Coolpix S8100 almost makes it happen. The results aren't perfect, but it's a pretty good compromise for the price.
Body and Design
The S8100 looks like a typical compact zoom, and is almost indistinguishable from the S8000, which was released in early 2010. It's about the length and height of a smartphone, and about an inch thick -- small enough to fit in a pants pocket, but not a tiny camera. It's a little bit heavy, but that heft makes it feel well-built. The 30-300mm (10x zoom) lens is a little bit narrow at the wide angle, but the telephoto setting is handy for nature shots. For a camera meant to shoot well in low-light, the max aperture of f3.5 is concerning, but that's an expected trade-off for such a versatile lens.
The layout leans toward the sleek and minimalist end of the spectrum. The model I tested was entirely matte black, though it's also available in gold and red. A vibrant, hi-resolution 3-inch LCD dominates the rear panel, rounded out by a few buttons (including a dedicated video record button) and a selection wheel, rather than a four-way pad. Up top, the power button, mode dial, and shutter release are placed comfortably, with the zoom tilter in a recessed nook -- no complaints there. On the right, there's mini-HDMI output. On the bottom, a somewhat flimsy battery door, and a port for the A/V and USB connectors. The latter is not well placed, in my opinion, because it prevents the camera from standing upright while it's charging or hooked up to a computer.
The S8100 suffers from one big design flaw: the irritating automatic pop-up flashes where my left fingers always rest -- judging by user comments, this design is unpopular with just about everyone on any camera. Thankfully, the S8100 is designed to shoot well in dim lighting without a flash, so you shouldn't have to use it too often.
It's also worth noting that the S8100 doesn't ship with a separate charger. It's in-camera charging only -- some folks like this set-up, since it keeps all the parts in one place, but others find it inconvenient. If you're planning to buy a second battery, you'll probably want to buy the optional external charger as well.
Performance and User Experience
The S8100 almost has the chops to be a semi-advanced compact, but the control scheme is made for casual users. The interface is stripped down and relies heavily on automatic settings. There are no Shutter and Aperture Priority modes, which are usually a staple of compact zoom cameras and a must-have for more serious, hands-on users. Even casual users will notice the lack of a Program ('P') mode on the dial, though the Auto mode basically functions like Program mode, and the Auto Scene mode is akin to a standard hands-off Auto mode.
In the place of the usual suspects, Nikon loaded up the mode dial with night-oriented modes, like Backlighting, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape. These modes basically just slow down the shutter speed and are available on most other cameras, but they don't usually get their own notches on the mode dial. There are also separate notches for Subject Tracking (which only sort of works) and Continuous mode, which (no surprise) queues burst mode. It fires at 10 frames per second, but can only shoot five frames in a row. That lends itself to pretty limited usage, but it should be able to capture one decent still from an action scene.
The menu system is also a bit quirky. Some attributes that you'd normally find buried deep in a menu system (vividness and hue, for example) are adjustable in the top-level exposure compensation menu. Some attributes are mysteriously uncontrollable at times -- if you adjust the hue at all, for example, white balance is stuck on auto. Basically, read the manual. You should always read the manual with any gadget, but I get the impression from my experience editing this website that about half of you actually do -- that's even a generous estimate. If you buy the S8100, read the manual.
So the control system is a bit of a paradox. Nikon wants to play up to the S8100's strengths and simplify the control scheme for casual users. It works on a broad scale, but fine tuning is harder than it needs to be. Still, just because it's different doesn't mean it's bad, and it succeeds in taking a lot of the pain out of low-light and nighttime shooting.
And for those who are interested, the S8100 has a slew of "that's nice" features -- you might not ever use them, but they don't hurt. It has features like in-camera touch-ups; Best Shot Selector, which takes three consecutive shots and picks the best one; high-speed capture at 1 megapixel; and the somewhat ballyhooed high-dynamic range (HDR) photography, which takes three consecutive pictures at three slightly different exposures, and creates a vibrant, richer-than-real-life image. It ends up looking a bit cartoonish, but it's definitely striking.
Image and Video Quality
Since the low-light shooting is the headline feature on the S8100, lets get right to it. Here's the thing. The low-light image quality isn't really crisper than any other compact zoom, but it's much easier to get a good exposure. In other words, you'll actually be able to post those concert shots and birthday party pictures online without making everyone look like a blown-out ghost or blurry mess.
On closer inspection, it's more complicated than simply saying "low-light quality is good." It's common to find details smeared like a watercolor painting. There isn't much spotty noise until ISO 800, which is pretty standard. But even down at ISO 200, textures and edges lose sharpness. In this portrait (left, Chris), the subject looks good, the lighting is eye-pleasing, but the table in front of him and the wall behind him look like they were spread with a brush. There's also a tendency to over-expose in brighter indoor conditions -- I suppose that's part of the compromise that allows it to capture decent low-light shots, but it does require a little extra attention to detail, and perhaps a notch or two down on the exposure compensation scale.
In good, daylight shooting conditions, the S8100 is average. For simple shots, like landscapes or outdoor portraits, it's nothing special, but totally fine. But even slightly more complicated settings throw it for a loop. Image clarity is fine and distortion is minimal, but the out-of-camera color seems cold. It has a particularly difficult time dealing with high-contrast areas, especially with the zoom extended. Take a look at the wide-angle/telephoto comparison below (click for full-res shots). At the wide-angle, the sky is blue, and the image is decently sharp and well-exposed. At the telephoto setting, the sky on either side of the clock is suddenly grey, and the purple fringing is front-and-center obvious. Most cameras will run into this problem, but it looks especially pronounced here.
30mm wide-angle (left) vs 300mm telephoto (right).
None of these flaws are necessarily deal-breakers. At medium sizes, it's tougher to spot these issues, so if you stick to sharing photos online and occasionally printing some 5x7-inchers, you're fine. And again, it's probably the best low-light and indoor shooter with a decent zoom at its price. But it's not a catch-all solution for night-time shooting. Dark shots hit more often than they miss, but you'll have to look elsewhere, in a higher price bracket, if you want to make large prints of shots in concert halls, bars, or other late-night escapades.
The 1080p HD video quality is another hallmark feature on this camera, and it's quite good. Nighttime video was clear and the S8100 still managed to focus pretty quickly. The motor noise from the extending zoom is audible (yet inevitable), but otherwise the stereo sound quality is ear-pleasing.
The Nikon S8100 is a great compromise. Long-zoomers don't do too well indoors, and low-light shooters have limited usage outdoors. The S8100 does better than most long-zoomers indoors, and thanks to its long lens, it's more versatile for outdoor use than any low-light shooters. It loses the best qualities of each, but there are a lot of users out there who have been looking for a camera like this. The design and build quality are very good, and the interface is decent, despite its unorthodox nature and lack of manual control. On a personal note, it's one of the more intriguing compact cameras I've reviewed lately.
It earns it a low A- precisely because it's what many shooters have been looking for -- I just hope that they realize they're sacrificing the very good image quality they'd get from the Panasonic ZS5 or Sony HX5V in outdoor conditions and very good indoor quality they'd get from the Canon S95 or even SD4000, in exchange for decent image quality in all conditions. The wild-card in this situation is the Canon SD4500, which is basically a direct competitor to the S8100: a 10x zoomer with a CMOS sensor. We hope to be able to update this review in the near future with thoughts on the SD4500, but the user feedback and outside reviews we've read lead us to believe that it's a B+ camera.