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Posts Tagged 'teaching tools'5 Ways to Super-Charge Your Teaching with Multimedia
January 5, 2011
We now know that people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone. Yet much of what students interact with in school continues to be mostly text-based. How can a teacher enhance and augment these learning resources most effectively and efficiently, using the rich multimedia now available? There are many ways, but here are 5 ideas you might want to consider:
1. Assess Background Knowledge : If you are beginning a lesson, you might want to first conduct a K-W-L activity to gauge your learners' prior knowledge. Do this with a collaborative word processing tool, such as Google Docs. Set up a K-W-L outline, share it with your students, and have them fill out their own information. Or, if you want the information to be anonymous, set up a form in Google Docs, having students submit their information. This will populate a spreadsheet you can quickly review and spot gaps in background knowledge.
2. Set the Stage: To set the stage for learning and to fill in gaps of background knowledge you could jump start your instruction by selecting and presenting various representative multimedia. You can easily search for engaging images, video, interactive activities, animations and documents in the GGfL Library and create a quick and effective presentation. You might want to insert the images/videos on your class website or learning management system, for students to review after a live presentation.
3. Facilitate Student Collaboration/Brainstorming/Analysis: As with most decisions concerning planning for lessons, the learning objectives are one of your first considerations. If you want your students to identify characters in a novel, spot patterns, organize and define concepts, compare ideas, brainstorm, and/or identify relationships, you might want them to contribute to an online concept map, such as bubbl.us.
Collaborative tools such as this offer quick and easy ways to get students engaged in a group, encourage conversation, and create relevant, meaningful artefacts. Most importantly, student can create, view, and analyze a visual representation through a collaborative, online medium.
4. Enable Student-Authored Multimedia: Multimedia can provide boundless ways to enhance learning. One of the easiest ways to help your students get started is to have them set up their own blog. It takes just a few minutes and can provide them with an authentic space to write and compile artefacts of learning throughout the year. One of the easiest blogging platforms to start with is Blogger.
How about having your students do a 3 minute response to a picture or video and post that to their blog? Students could create their own multimedia interpretation of a topic, an audio-enhanced presentation, a slide-show using any number of image-sharing tools, or undertake a semester-long project writing a blog from transcripts of letters, primary research, or other information about a person: WWI: Experiences of an English Soldier. (This blog has subsequently been published as a book!)
Students could document and share learning through recording their own videos. Just about any multimedia can easily be embedded on their blog, too. Get a couple of inexpensive video cameras, hand them out, and prepare to be amazed at what your students can create.
5. Engage through Social Interaction/Community: You can encourage students to participate in active live and back-channel discussions having students view content alone or with a small group, adding a Shoutbox widget to your webpage. Or, have them comment through Twitter, having them use the same hashtags to identify their comments and questions. You can review these comments either as they come in or later, assessing their understanding and the complexity of their questions.
You might also consider setting up a private Facebook group for your class. Facebook provides easy ways to message, share updates, images, and even record directly to the space from your browser.
How about student reviews of movies, books, and other media? This can easily be accomplished through various websites that offer ways to review products and media. One excellent tool, Good Reads, offers a way for students to record the books they want to read, are currently reading, and have read. They can review the books and embed a Good Reads badge on their website, to share their reading experiences with others.
And don't forget RSS readers, such as Google Reader. These tools can help students research, collect, and more easily analyze resources through viewing content in one space. Spend some time with your students explaining what RSS is, how it can be useful, and how to set up a Google Reader account and subscribe to feeds.
These are just a few of many, many ways you can use multimedia to enhance learning in your classroom.
What are your thoughts and experiences? In what ways are you using multimedia in your classroom? Please post your comments below and thanks for reading.
Learning Machines: Past, Present, and Future
October 13, 2010
Take some time today to view and reflect upon the fascinating evolution of pivotal "learning" devices through an interactive graphical timeline on the New York Times Magazine.
Starting with the horn-book (c. 1650), a wooden paddle inscribed with letters and lessons and ending with today's iPad, this timeline represents not only the development and progression of tools, but the evolution of teaching and learning.
The behaviorism of B.F. Skinner is vividly demonstrated through his Teaching Machine (c. 1957), a sterile-looking object that packs about the same amount of excitement as a stack of flash cards.
I was surprised to discover that the film-strip projector, a device I fondly remember from my grade school days, was circa 1925. More multimedia arrived by the late 50s with "educational" television (c. 1958), and by the early 1960s there were more than 50 channels that included some sort of "educational" programming across the United States. (The reason I put educational in quotes is that in my opinion, ALL television is educational. But that's fuel for another post.)
If we look at which machines have lasted and which have gone away, it can help us make predictions about technology and learning in the future. The hand-held calculator advanced to more sophisticated graphing calculators, which are still required in many math classes. However, the graphing and calculating capabilities of computer apps are quickly replacing these devices. The CD-ROM drive (c. 1985), which could store the contents of an entire encyclopedia, including video and audio, has been replaced by online databases accessible by any computer or smartphone. Older televisions in the classroom will be replaced by flat-screen LED panels, connected to the Internet for accessing and interacting with many different types of content.
The interactive whiteboard (c. 1999) is also going to disappear from the classroom as we move to interactive projectors that can project on any surface. Three companies are already selling this type of projector: Epson's new BrightLink 450Wi, Boxlight (ProjectoWrite2/W), and InFocus. The cost of these projectors is substantially less than the traditional interactive whiteboard, which will allow schools to use their money more effectively.
The iClicker (c. 2005) and other student response systems allowed teachers to poll or quiz students, receiving instant results. However, these devices required students to purchase them, they were costly and required students to remember to bring them to class. These devices are being replaced by what students ALWAYS carry with them–their mobile devices. Many software tools allow mobile smartphones to act as clickers in the classroom. We will definitely see more of this technology being used in ways that can engage students, especially in larger classrooms, for polling and back-channel conversations.
Finally, the computer of course, is here to stay in one form or another. The One Laptop Per Child initiative (c. 2006) highlighted the need for inexpensive, Internet-capable computers for all children. This initiative had some impact, but the development of computers and resulting lower costs make them more and more accessible to the public. The iPad, an apps-based computing platform, has and will continue to make inroads in how we teach and learn with technology. The ability to now download the Kindle Reader to just about any device makes ebooks very accessible and should increase their use. The day when students will no longer lug heavy textbooks around is coming–although it is still not a reality–and the increasing power and portability of smartphones will make accessing information and learning anytime, anyplace a common occurrence.
What's Missing?
What devices are missing from this timeline? Well, definitely the smartphone. Mobile technologies are still in their infancy, but almost all U.S. students own a cell phone and many of these are smartphones. People need and want instant information to make decisions whenever they want, wherever they are.
I can definitely see mobile devices becoming an accepted and required device for all students, along with a tablet or laptop computer. Instead of teachers saying, "Turn off your cell phones," upon entering a classroom, they will be saying, "Make sure your cell phones are turned on."
What devices and technologies do you think will enable innovative and effective teaching and learning, and which ones do you see going the way of the hornbook?
From #BectaX to #ukedchat: Virtual CPD for Teachers
August 19, 2010
In March this year, I was lucky enough to be invited to one of the most interesting conferences I've ever attended: #BectaX. As its name would suggest, the event was organised by BECTA, a UK government agency that promoted the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning. This was one of its final acts before being shut down by the new government.
#BectaX brought 150 education professionals, policy formers and digital media experts from the UK to the Wellcome Collection in London to discuss how education might evolve in an increasingly connected world. To widen the conversation, and simultaneously demonstrate quite how connected the world has become, the conference also had a significant presence online. Discussions were filmed and streamed, with pupils from a number of schools linking up to the event via webcam and contributing their own comments both via Twitter and in an afternoon Q&A session.
A screen at the back of the stage displayed the twitterfeed for the event, with a monitor facing the speakers providing them with instant feedback on the session, and giving them a sense of the wider conversations going on around the conference. I'm sure we've all heard cautionary tales about the risks involved in making the back-channel public in this way, but on this occasion it most definitely added value to proceedings. The afternoon Q&A session was rapidly appended to the schedule in response to complaints from pupils that their voices weren't being heard, while at least one presentation was rescued from being an ill-judged product pitch when the speaker realised quite how negative a response he was getting from his audience via the Twitter display.
After a morning of presentations, we returned from lunch to take part in a workshop. Pre-event publicity for #BectaX had raised five key questions to inform our understanding of how education and technology might interact in future. Delegates were divided into fifteen groups of ten and each group was allotted a question to consider. By the end of the session, each had to have produced a poster explaining their ideas, with the others voting on which was the best.
I found myself in a group discussing how technology might be used to create an environment in which teachers were encouraged and rewarded for continuous learning. After considering a number of tempting but implausibly idealistic possibilities, such as giving both teachers and pupils half a day each week to learn about anything that took their fancy, we finally fixed upon two key positives that already existed in the teaching community.
Teachmeets, those informal but organised meetings in which teachers share good practice, particularly with regard to using technology, were the first of our positives. The consensus around them, at least in our group, seemed to be that they were exceptionally useful, but that they'd be far more effective if better attended, since it was often those who would benefit most from ideas and assistance who were notable by their absence.
The other key positive was Twitter, and the way in which it too facilitated the sharing of best practice between teachers, by allowing them to swap ideas and links to useful tools quickly and publicly. Even more than teachmeets, though, Twitter tends to be the preserve of those already at least reasonably comfortable with new technologies.
This led us to probably our most realistic suggestion: that, as part of their teacher training, each newly-qualified teacher should be taught how to use Twitter, and given a list of tweeting teachers they might follow for advice and examples of best practice. New teachers would thus find themselves connected to good practitioners from the very start, while innovative teachers would have the opportunity to circulate their ideas beyond a sometimes small and already well-informed audience, in a kind of virtual teachmeet.
Though the closure of BECTA seems rather to have closed the door on #BectaX and its more ambitious ideas for improving education, this would seem to be one that could still be implemented easily and without much cost. For the moment, any UK teacher interested in learning from best practitioners would be well advised to get on Twitter between 8 and 9 on a Thursday evening, and search for "#ukedchat".
From its debut in June this year as a more conveniently scheduled UK version of the popular worldwide #edchat discussion, #ukedchat has provided a forum for teachers to discuss subjects that matter to them. Each week, contributors choose a question for debate. Often these address the use of technology within the classroom, such as "How do we make the use of interactive whiteboards TRULY interactive?", or "How can we use collaboration tools to get kids to learn from and about each other?" Then, over the course of an hour, teachers talk around the question, sharing best practice as they go, in what has been described by one participant as "Formula 1 CPD". Anyone can contribute, and each week more than 100 teachers and other education professionals do so.
In addition to providing advice and examples of good practice, #ukedchat can also serve as a rapid introduction to some of the most interesting education twitterers around. An hour spent in the company of these practitioners will give the novice a great many ideas as to whom they might follow for regular suggestions and advice.
The wider community that is developing around #ukedchat is also impressive. Each week's discussions are archived for those who've missed the discussion, or want to follow it at their own pace. (And with recent sessions producing more than 700 tweets, this may be an increasingly popular option.) Summaries are also posted on the #ukedchat blog, highlighting the most interesting tweets and links from previous sessions.
All in all, #ukedchat is an invaluable resource for the teacher looking for ways to develop their skills, particularly in the area of new technologies. With the demise of BECTA, and further cuts in education spending announced seemingly weekly, free teacher-led initiatives like this are going to become increasingly important.
Students as Creators of Multimedia Instruction
July 9, 2010
If you were in school during the 1960s, like me, you probably remember the anticipation and excitement when the filmstrip projector was brought out. If you've never heard of or seen a filmstrip, there is a picture below. The projector held the filmstrip, which was inserted vertically in front of the projector. Filmstrips usually came with a teacher's guide along with a 33 RPM record to provide the audio. The person in charge of the filmstrip projector would advance to the next slide when a tone sounded. Even though the content was "educational" and dry, this multimedia device was a welcome diversion from the almost totally text-based classroom environment. Even turning the projector knob was fun. How things have changed.
Now, we have many more options to include multimedia (both static and dynamic) in our classrooms–to enhance a physics lesson, provide pre-reading strategies for a literature assignment, stimulate a discussion or brainstorming session, serve as a platform for research or debate, and a multitude of other options. As a teacher, you have many more ways to include multimedia, both content that you create and content you can locate online.
Of course, Global Grid for Learning (GGfL) provides an easy way for you to locate, organize, and present content to serve any number of instructional strategies and learning objectives you've identified for your students. With over 1 million multimedia resources for teaching, you won't be running out soon. Whenever you can use resources that meet your needs, it will save you a lot of time. But what about when you cannot locate something or you need more specialized content for your classroom? What are your options?
You could: (1) create the multimedia instruction yourself or (2) have your students create it. For many reasons, it is often desirable to have students create multimedia for various applications, such as instruction, research, interviews, and other creative activities. In this way, you can free up your time to help students with the projects, learn along with them, and create an extensive archive of useful instructional and learning multimedia products. Because students create the instruction, they will have opportunities to learn about the multimedia technologies and about content. You will hear me preach this very often–teachers do not and should not create all of the instructional materials for the classroom. Students should increasingly take on this role and become more active learners.
Students as Creators: Ideas to Get Started
How do you get started? There is no one "right" way, and it really depends upon the students' skills and the instructional product or material they are creating. You may find you and your students need to learn a technology tool together, such as a video editing program (try Windows Movie Maker or Mac OS X iMovie) or a game creation tool (Flipnote studio for Nintendo DS) before you can create instructional content or a learning artefact. Or you may ask them to create a collaborative slideshow to enhance an instructional unit using Google Docs (http://docs.google.com) presentation software in groups, which would require little to no pre-instruction.
You might decide to collaborate using a class channel on authorSTREAM (http://authorstream.com), requiring students to narrate and upload PowerPoint files and comment on other student work. Or students could research YouTube, locating videos that explain and synthesize a concept they are learning and create their own customized annotated playlist along with an introductory video using their computer webcam.
The list of ideas is endless . . . How about students creating cartoons in place of essays, writing their reports or other reviews in this genre? There are many ways they can do this collaboratively, such as Toondoo (http://www.toondoo.com), which allows them to create and share their cartoons online. You might want students to explain a concept through a video game, which they can also accomplish online, using a game creator called Sploder (http://www.sploder.com).
Students could easily create their own blogs (I like the easy interface of Blogger), upload their videos, and create a video podcast on a semester-long project. Everything involved in this would be free, as blogger hosts videos on Google Video and the blogging platform is also free. Included in this activity would be the necessity to learn about RSS and how to subscribe to feeds, an essential aspect of social media and Web 2.0 tools. Students could share their blogs and create a feed mash-up using tools such as Yahoo! Pipes. And if you don't know how to do this, then again, learn with your students. Imagine the empowerment and sense of accomplishment that would accompany this work as students explore, create, share, and yes, teach.
So, the next time you think you need to create new multimedia instruction, think again. Research and use the multimedia already created and easily available online. And encourage your students to create rich and engaging instructional content and products. It's a win-win situation.
Twitter: Quick & Easy Classroom Communication
June 21, 2010
Image via CrunchBase
My summer session started today, with a new class I am teaching with a colleague called "EDTECH 597: Mobile Learning." This class was designed so students could interact entirely with their Internet-enabled mobile devices, learning about mobile learning. We are using a web-based Moodle course site along with a mobile site using a plugin called MLE Moodle. So far, so good, with our timed tweets being sent out through a service called Twuffer. We created a class Twitter feed, called et597 (short and easy to remember) and required our students follow the account and sign up to receive mobile notifications. We also reminded them to add hashtags to their tweets (#et597) so we could follow those easily, too.
Staying in touch with students, parents, and others through short, quick messages can be a lot easier and more efficient than opening an email program and sifting through messages. As more and more people have access to Internet-enabled mobile devices, we can and should use quick and easy methods to stay in touch, and Twitter provides a great way to do this.
If you've never used Twitter before, it might seem a bit overwhelming to learn, but it's really pretty simple. It's a social networking and microblogging service (you can post up to 140 characters) that allows you to inform people who follow what you are doing, important updates, or even complain about a product.
All you need is an account (each account requires a different email) and then tell your friends, students, or parents the account name and how to follow you. I now use Twitter for all of my classes, telling my students to follow my class Twitter feed and to enable it on their mobile devices for quick alerts. I also embed a Twitter gadget on my Moodle course site, which provides new information as I post it.
Help in Getting Started
To get started, go to the Twitter home page (http://twitter.com), create an account, and then practice, having a friend follow you. Once you see how it works, you might think of using it in your classes, to keep students and parents informed of news and updates, right on their mobile devices. In fact, I'll even share our Twitter information on how to set up a Twitter account, how to follow one, and how to enable alerts on your mobile device (Google Doc).
And while you're at it, follow me @boisebarbara (http://twitter.com/boisebarbara) and tweet me your ideas on how you use Twitter in the classroom. I'd love to hear from you.
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Popcorn Snack Attack! 8 Awesome Toppings for Popcorn
When it comes to snacking, we are devout popcorn fans. It's quick to make, travels well, and never fails to hit the spot. We have a fondness for popcorn that's simply tossed with a little melted butter and kosher salt. But when the desire for something fancier hits, we immediately turn to the spice cupboard.
We always toss the popcorn with melted butter or a drizzle of olive oil before adding any of the toppings. It helps the spices and herbs to stick to the individual kernels. In all cases, we use around a tablespoon of spice mix for a 6 cup batch of popped corn.
• Herbes de Provence - Light and savory, perfect for an afternoon snack
• Chili Powder - We love the spicy smoky flavor with the popcorn
• Lemon Zest and Cracked Pepper - The zest gets so fragrant!
• Chinese 5-Spice Powder - Warm spices make this a sweet treat
• Furikake - This Japanese seasoning is full of umami goodness
• Nutritional Yeast - Sounds strange, but this adds a cheesy flavor!
• Powdered Sugar - A quick version of kettle-corn
• Browned Butter and Salt - Nutty and caramel-sweet, like a cross between kettle and caramel corn
What other toppings do you like on your popcorn?
Related: How to Make Popcorn
(Image: Flickr member D3 San Francisco licensed under Creative Commons)
71 Comments
Smitten Kitchen just posted about ground-up kale chips on popcorn.
truffle oil
Curry and cyanne pepper.....salt and pepper.....cinnamon and sugar (light) are good too.
The classic: white cheddar cheese powder.
I do also love nutritional yeast, black pepper, and a bit of salt. Garam masala is good too.
truffle salt!
Curry powder! I melt butter in the saucepan I just made the popcorn in, while it still has residual heat, and throw in the curry powder and roll it around for thirty seconds or so. Then I toss the popcorn between the saucepan and the bowl, and it coats everything pretty evenly so I don't have to get my hands TOO dirty. A dusting of kosher salt and I am a happy happy girl.
agree with the nutritional yeast! it makes popcorn taste like smartfood.
lime juice or zest and cayenne pepper! very southwesty.
Peanut butter!
We love furikake on our popcorn too: a little sweet and a little salty-it's perfect!
I also sprinkle hot sauce or toasted sesame oil on my popcorn.
Curry powder for me as well. I also like parmesan and black pepper.
If I have a hankering for sweet popcorn, I occasionally will eat it dipped in honey. A little messy, but very tasty.
Sriracha sauce!
Smoked salt. Dill.
Chopped fresh rosemary, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and salt.
i use a metal fine mesh metal strainer when I put my spice on popcorn ( I like chili powder, taco seasoning, or pizza seasoning) I dust it over a couple of times and that seems to help it get a bit more evenly distributed.
I like chopped fresh rosemary, garlic powder, and a touch of black pepper.
Melted butter and truffle salt.
Green Tabasco sauce.
In college, I'm a little embarrassed to admit I would eat popcorn sprinkled with powdered Hidden Valley Ranch.
I love green tabasco sauce too! I also love cayenne pepper, a squeeze of lime, salt, and parmesan cheese. delicious.
butter & salt
nutritional yeast
seasoning salt
or doused in fresh lemon juice
My grandfather used to cook popcorn on the stovetop in butter. Yes, he had heart problems... and that popcorn cooked in burnt butter was absolutely delicious.
Butter with brown sugar and cayenne, sprinkled with chopped rosemary and Parmesan.
soy sauce
I love yeast on popcorn! I also love melted butter and Johnny's seasoning salt. I think the Johnny's might just be a Seattle/PNW thing, but it's super yummy.
@Kelly in NYC - I haven't tried it, but I can see how the ranch powder would be good!
Rosemary olive oil, garlic powder, a bit of onion powder, and a few sprinkles of kosher salt... Mmm.
I like to smash up some rosemary and thyme, and add it to butter before it goes into the microwave to melt. The herbs warm up and the butter takes on some of their flavor.
Though I must also admit a weakness for that cheese powder stuff.
i like to do melted butter, kosher salt and a sprinkling of sugar, but some of these options sound sooooo good! maybe i'll have a popcorn buffet one of these days...
Maple sugar granules (I found mine in the baking aisle at Whole Foods) combined with white cheddar cheese powder - the combination is better than fresh Garrett's popcorn.
Grated cheddar cheese
I am so boring, but I'm a butter-and-salt kind of girl. I love different types of popcorn, though (bust out of the Redenbacher rut!) and different salts!
Old Bay. It's official: Maryland has got to me.
I love nutritional yeast on popcorn. I do have a problem that I'd love advice on: I've started making popcorn in an airpopper, which I love because it's easy, healthy, and no-mess. However, now that I've cut out the fat, the salt and nutritional yeast don't stick and all falls to the bottom. Any suggestions on how to solve this with air popped popcorn?
I have an air popper, too. I've found that spritzing the popped popcorn with a bit of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray before salting helps the other toppings stick.
On the other end of the fat spectrum, I had an old co-worker who said his family always popped popcorn in bacon grease. And he's still alive (and healthy) to tell the tale.
@GoodFoodStories - maple sugar cheese powder?! I think I'm going to have to try that as I can't quite wrap my brain around it! Plus they sell both in the bulk section of my co-op.
I agree with the people who said Truffle oil. A couple drops of Truffle Oil into your melted butter, and some salt. Its one of the best things ever.
Cayenne and maple syrup! It's an amazing combination.
Brady Steet Cheese sprinkle by Penzy's and/or Old Bay....yum.
My BF would respectfully disagree... the infamous Lemonade Diet has forever put him off from both cayenne pepper and maple syrup! :)
Splim--this may sound weird, but I've sprayed a bit of water on my popcorn to help the nutritional yeast stick.
i like soy sauce on my popcorn!
Duck fat (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/484666), but I like truffle oil better!
Soy sauce and nutritional yeast- a fat free way to make the nooch stick. Skip the salt if you're doing this.
Usually, though, it's 3 tbsp melted Earth Balance, a little extra salt, stirred to coat, and a good 1/4-1/3 cup nutritional yeast stirred in over that- more if the corn will take it. God, I love that stuff...
sprinkle the juice from the pickled jalapeno jar over the popcorn, then a good handful of parmesan cheese, grated or shredded. so delish!!
or tabasco and parm :)
I must be the only Marylander reading this because everone here knows a little of Old Bay is awesome on popcorn!
I love the powdered Hidden Valley ranch on my popcorn.
I've also recently tried Rachael Ray's popcorn, which is 6 tablespoons melted butter and 1 cup of pecorino cheese, sprinkled with black pepper. It was good, but decadent! And a little messy.
Cumin and garlic salt
My fiance's uncle turned us on to popcorn with Sriracha and grated parmesan cheese. We add a little butter, too, to help the cheese stick to each kernel. (Plus, what isn't better with a little butter on it?) You guys have to try it!
My favorite (and a huge hit with everyone I make it for): stove-top popped corn (in one of those Whirly-Pop things), topped with a couple tablespoons of melted butter, salt, nutritional yeast, oregano, garlic powder, and a pinch of chili powder.
My favorite is with a little butter and parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, and then whatever spices strike my fancy. Usually a little majoram, thyme, parsley, season salt, and a tiny dash of garlic powder.
Keep it simple: a spray of olive oil and some salt & pepper.
P.S.: MarcellaMcKenna, I second the Old Bay. EVERYTHING is better with Old Bay (eggs, potatoes, even cottage cheese).
Thirding the Old Bay recommendation. I put it on everything.
I'm super plain - a dash of salt!
My sister and I used to drizzle honey over it with a little dash of cinnamon, and then eat it with chopsticks. Makes perfect sense and you don't get your fingers sticky.
Braggs and Parmesan cheese!
butter, sea salt, a little pepper and lots of fresh grated parm
Duck fat satisfies this Texas girl. It tastes like the aroma of a cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas meal with just the smallest hint of smoky flavor. Thanks Branch Water Tavern in Houston!
I'm on the truffle oil bandwagon. A few drizzles cracked black pepper grated asiago or parm cheese
Or, nutritional yeast AND chili powder together.
Yum, popcorn. I know what I'm having this afternoon
umeboshi vinegar
I do that shaker of parmesan BUT and this is where it gets really "white trash" I spray PAM cooking spray on it first so the parm will stick. When I'm feeling really "fancy" I drizzle olive oil on first :)
A very popular popcorn snack in Hawaii is 'Hurricane' popcorn which is furikake and mochi crunch (small sweet n' salty rice cracker snack) sprinkled onto popcorn drizzled with oil or butter to fuse it altogether.
As it turns out, some kernels are heavily portioned with furikake giving you these intermittent bursts of flavor. The crunch of the every so often rice cracker gives it texture which makes this popcorn dish very fun for your mouth.
Old Bay seasoning!
Olive Oil, Kosher Salt...a little Parm Cheese....yummy.....
Old El Paso powder taco seasoning. (Other brands don't stick to the popcorn as well.)
Popcorn popped in bacon grease is as amazing as it sounds. An epiphany. But don't eat too much. It will make you sick.
I love to sprinkle with melted margerine, ground sea salt and dried dill weed. So delicious!
cinnamon sugar, butter, and salt!
Maple syrup...for when I want something sweet.
Tabasco...for a bit of a kick
Salted butter, pepper and parmesan cheese! Yes please!
Chili-Lime popcorn! It will change your life. We had some in a bar and became determined to make it at home.
Works great with Thai chilis but would probably work with any kind. Slice the chilis, slice a little bit of garlic if you want, and add it to some olive oil and nuke it for a tiny bit. Then strain out the garlic and the chilis and put the chili-garlic oil on the popcorn...squeeze a lime on top...voila. Spicy and refreshing :)
red wine vinegar and parmesan. so so delicious.
Okay I have no idea where this come from but my mom always out worschester (is that even how you spell it?) in the melted butter and then topped with fresh parm. Anybody else do that?


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Searching for a Paint Professional?
- Determine area to be painted
- Consider work to be done before painting, such as replacing moldings, patching walls, removing old paint and maybe even hanging new doors
Decide colors and type of paint
- Painter may have suggestion
- Paint store can help
- Have painter inspect site and quote price
- Make sure painters are quoting same detail such as area to be painted, preparation, number or coats, and quality of paint
- Ask the painter for references and contact them
- If doing specialized painting, such as sponging, make sure painter has experience
- Is residence built before 1978, insist painter is RRP certified
Listing by Store Location - Click on Links to see more detail where available.
A List of Professional Painters to help you decide who you want to receive an estimate from
Store: 2564 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Click Here For Detailed Summary
Brothers Painting 617-623-1055
Doolan Paint Contracting 781-396-8530
Home Solutions Co. 617-543-3582
Jim Hough 781-632-9607
Store: 1472 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington
Bryant Painting 781-933-9398 Video
Store: 729 Broadway, Somerville
Pro Line 617-875-3289
Quality Painting by Dino 781-932-6309
Coelho Contracting Inc. 781-391-0989
Store: 1149 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Paradise Painting
A&D Construction
Eagle Building
Matos Painting
The "Need A Painter?" list is provided by City Paint as a service to our customers. The program is based upon the premise that not every person who claims to be a Painter is qualified to be a Painter.


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Not much better than she is now
But she's my mom
I'm sure her scathing, critical, at times hurtful, not to mention degrading commentary had some sort of character building purpose.
And hey! If it didn't, doesn't matter!
Because I'll show them soon enough!
We'll see who's the useless, layabout, crackpot, failure of a son when my thneed becomes the product to change the world


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Book your room at Oakwood Lake Mary
Please enter your travel dates.
An innovative mixed-use development designed in harmony with its natural surroundings. Everything from our spacious floorplans to immaculate landscaping to thoughtful and unique amenities. Enjoy easy access to both a business environment and elegant shopping.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Oakwood Lake Mary
At your hotel
Wheel Chair Access, Family Plan, Pets Allowed, Elevators, Guest Laundromat, 120 AC, Air Conditioned, Hairdryers Available, Ironing Board, No Smoking Rooms/Facilities, Private Bathroom, Free Parking, Outdoor Pool, Tennis, Restaurant, Internet Access – Complimentary, Queen Bed, FAX, High speed internet access, Telephone, U.S. Government Fire Safety Approved, Smoke Detectors, 24 Hour Security,
- Number of floors - 2
- Elevator/lift
- Smoke-free property
- Outdoor pool
In your room
- Coffee/tea maker
- Hair dryer
The fine print for Oakwood Lake Mary
When you arrive
Check-in time starts at 3:30 PM
When you leave
Check-out time is 11:00 PM
How you can pay
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB International, MasterCard, Visa
Your pets
Pets allowed
You need to know
All rates indicated are for search purposes only. Check availability to verify rate


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We would like to thank you for joining us this year at EC 2014! We hope you had a wonderful time here on Sado Island. If you have time, be sure to fill out the questionnaire on the EC official website. Your input will help us plan future events. Thank you!
The date for EC 2015 will be Friday, August 21st to Sunday, August 23rd 2015. More details will be made available in May 2015.
We can't wait to see you again on Sado Island for the next Earth Celebration!


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East Avon - Local Information, Resources & Photos
East Avon - Searchable Map, Aerial Photos & Driving Directions
East Avon is a community or populated place (Class Code U5) located in Livingston County at latitude 42.9092 and longitude -77.7064. (East Avon Panoramio Photos). The elevation is 820 feet. East Avon appears on the Rush U.S. Geological Survey Map. Livingston County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5). Observes DST? Yes. Current Time. | Avon, NY ZIP Code Maps | East Avon local area photos
Photos of the East Avon Local Area
East Avon had a population of 0; a land area of 1.31 sq. miles; a water area of 0 sq. miles; and a population density of 0.00 people per sq. mile according to the US Census Bureaue estimate of July 1, 2009. Latest Census Estimates for all incorporated places in New York.
Livingston County: Cities & Towns | ZIP Codes | Schools | Features (airports, churches, hospitals, etc.)
East Avon Local Resources
East Avon Arts & Culture
East Avon Community Organizations
East Avon Data & Demographics
East Avon Entertainment - Movies
East Avon Environment & Science
East Avon Government
East Avon Health & Medical
East Avon Newcomer Information
East Avon Newspapers, Radio & TV
East Avon and Greater New York Parks & Recreation
East Avon Pets & Hobbies
East Avon Schools & Education
East Avon Social Services
East Avon Travel & Tourism


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Good recipe to make using some ingredients I don't incorporate frequently. Tasted nice for the short amount of cooking time. Only problem I ran into is the recipe as written is way too much for a 5 Qt Dutch Oven. I initially planned to halve the recipe but did not because I thought it could affect the taste. Ended up making in two batches anyway because not doing so would have filled my pot to the brim. If just making for two eaters, halving the recipe is plenty and still tasted great.
Provençal Pork Stew with Olives and Fennel
Papaya Posted: 01/19/09
Falstaff Posted: 06/13/10
A delicious dish. The flavor is subtle, not bland. Much depends on the quality of the wine you use. I prefer the more intense flavor of the kalamata olives as well.
liz581 Posted: 02/01/10
I actually made this in my slow cooker. I sauteed the veggies and browned the meat, then threw it on low in the slow cooker with all other ingredients during the day. Meat was nice and tender. I made fresh breadsticks to go with it, and the breadsticks definitely made the meal great. Would absolutely recommend serving this with a nice bread, because it needs it.
ubfit2 Posted: 01/11/10
I was disappointed in this recipe. Expected to love it as I love fennel and olives. But, in my opinion, the recipe is bland. Plus, it is nearly impossible to find pitted nicoise olives and doing it yourself is quite time intensive. Not a terrible recipe, just nothing special.
Zamboni Posted: 04/25/11
I absolutely love this recipe. I've been making it for years, and I pretty much make it exactly as the recipe calls for. Made it tonight for my boyfriend for the first time, and he loved it! He kept saying how complex the flavors are. I will definitely make it again. Tonight we just had it with some oven-baked broccoli coated in herbs. Delish! I highly recommend - great for guests or just for home - we have a ton of leftovers and I'm excited to eat it again tomorrow!
IFortuna Posted: 09/05/11
This is a great recipe. A recipe is only as good as the chef's ability to season to taste because everyone is different and the ability to select and use quality ingredients. If the Herbs de Provence are not fresh it can make or break a dish. And, pitting olives is not that difficult nor time consuming, it just takes a little practice. : )


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Botsford News Release
Farmington Hills, Mich. (February 26, 2010)---Tina Pickett-Baisden, M.D., has joined the medical staff at Botsford Hospital.
Board certified in Dermatology, Dr. Pickett-Baisden is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Women's Dermatological Society, the Michigan Dermatological Society and the Michigan Society of Cosmetic Dermatology & Aesthetic Surgery.
Dr. Pickett-Baisden practices at Bingham Farms Dermatology located at 31500 Telegraph Road, Suite 130 in Bingham Farms. The office number is (248) 433-3803.
Dr. Pickett-Baisden received her medical education from Wayne State University School of Medicine. She completed her internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and a Dermatology residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Botsford Hospital is a multi-specialty 330 bed hospital and verified trauma center located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The campus also houses an imaging center and a comprehensive care cancer center. Botsford Hospital is also home to an extensive medical education program and is part of Michigan State University's statewide campus system. Botsford Hospital each year cares for approximately 16,000 inpatients and more than 60,000 emergency and trauma patients with a team of 2,500 employees, 300 volunteers and more than 600 physicians. A not-for-profit hospital, Botsford provided almost $10.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year.
botsford.org, twitter.com/botsfordnews, facebook.com/botsfordhospital, botsford.org/blog
MEDIA CONTACT: Lynn C. Anderson, Director, Marketing & Public Relations or Beth Montalvo, Publications & Media Relations Coordinator


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Search in
Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has returned to practice after recovering from a torn Achilles, but his status for Sunday's game against Houston is still in question.
Suggs had reportedly indicated his desire to return to game action right away, but said Thursday he was still unsure when he would be ready to play.
An ESPN report said Suggs was expecting to play Sunday, but last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year met with media members Thursday and said that was not the case.
"If it didn't come from Coach Harbaugh or myself, it's not really a credible source," said Suggs, who practiced Wednesday on a limited basis for the first time this season. "We're going to make the decision as a group, whether it would be better for me to sit it out or suit up."
The Baltimore Sun cited a source Wednesday as saying he "would be shocked if (Suggs) played" Sunday.
Suggs suffered his injury in late April and underwent surgery in early May. He was placed on the physically unable to perform list for the start of the season.
The Ravens and Texans share the top record in the AFC at 5-1 heading into Sunday's contest.
Baltimore may want to keep Suggs out of Sunday's contest because the team also has a bye the following week, which would give him more time to practice and get into game shape.
Suggs had a banner 2011 season for the Ravens, posting 14 sacks with 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.
The Ravens have had numerous injuries to their stellar defense, as star middle linebacker Ray Lewis is expected to be sidelined until at least late December because of a torn triceps, while cornerback Lardarius Webb was placed on season-ending injured reserve earlier this week because of a torn ACL.
Safety Ed Reed also told a Baltimore radio station earlier this week that he has been playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder, but said it was nothing overly serious and the Ravens have yet to include him on an injury report this week.
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It's funny that line from Pulp Fiction could totally set me off on a tangent and start me on a rant. But I am truly scared for the English language. I know it's probably just me, but I really hate when people misspell words or misuse words either in Facebook posts or via text message. I understand that it's some sort of modern techno-shorthand allowing you to fit more info into your micro messages, but please don't get mad at me when I correct you, in my opinion it's for the good of all mankind. For instance: to and too. The preposition to refers to a place, direction, or position. To is also used before the verb in an infinitive. The adverb too means "also" or "excessively." Now if you really want to save even more space in a text, just used the numeral "2" and you save at least one extra character and I can infer whatever meaning you might have intended. I have friends who are English/Language Arts teachers and I know that they teach the usages of: Their, They're and There; You're and Your, Its and It's; To and Too; and others. Are we really headed to Mike Judges's vision of the future, "Idiocracy"?
Honestly, if you have issues with spelling, use predictive text or a spell checker, maybe you'll learn something. I've honestly seen graduates from Texas A&M use phonetic spellings in their texts and Facebook posts, and it makes me want to beat them with a dictionary. I too have a degree from A&M, but when I see phone spelled "fone" it's like my diploma has been devalued 75%. I'm not asking for perfect grammar or punctuation. I know typos happen, and I'm the worst when it comes to hitting extra buttons on my phone. But please, proofread what you've written before hitting "send" or "post".
Thanks and please don't let stupid happen,


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Falmouth's Consultant for Town Manager Resigns
By: Christopher Kazarian
Published: 04/22/11
After working with the Town Manager Screening Committee for just three meetings over a month and a half, consultant Thomas J. Groux resigned this week.
The decision comes after a heated meeting on Tuesday evening at the Morse Pond School in which screening committee members complained about the entire search process and Mr. Groux's actions, which included personally interviewing 16 town employees without board approval.
That emotion played out after the meeting when Falmouth constable George W. Morse confronted Mr. Groux in the parking lot of the school, telling the consultant he did not have faith in him. "I did say that and that's where I'll leave it," Mr. Morse said this morning.
As to why he felt the need to do so, Mr. Morse said, "I have my own personal reasons. Yeah, I am [upset]. I confronted the guy and that is it. It is between me and him."
Residents are taking a cautious approach to finding a new town manager following the resignation of Bob Whritenour in November.
Whether that was a deciding reason in Mr. Groux's withdrawing from the process is unclear. "He didn't give a specific reason," Selectman Mary (Pat) Flynn, the liaison to the screening committee, said this morning.
Mr. Groux did not return calls for comment.
Ms. Flynn was disappointed that Mr. Groux, whom she worked with when she was a human resources director for the Town of Plymouth, left in such a manner.
"I think it is unfortunate it happened and I'm concerned about it," she said.
A rocky start to town manager search
Thus far, the process for finding a town manager has gotten off to a rocky start after the screening committee was appointed in March at the same time Mr. Groux was hired as a consultant.
Selectmen are set to discuss their options moving forward on Monday. The one certainty, Ms. Flynn said, is the town will need to find a replacement for Mr. Groux.
It is up in the air as to whether the town will continue with a committee consisting of members of the community. While it worked well in the hiring of Falmouth Police Chief Anthony J. Riello, Ms. Flynn pointed out that the process was handled by the town manager.
"The board thought replicating that idea of a community-based committee was a good idea," Ms. Flynn said.
"I think our board has to take a look at that and decide what our best option is going forward... We have to have a committee that has the best interests of the town at heart."
Both she and Chairman of the Falmouth Board of Selectmen Brent V.W. Putnam, who said this morning he was unaware that Mr. Groux had stepped down, said the internal disputes of the screening committee are a poor way to start the process.
"Obviously you want to make sure they are working together and not at odds," Mr. Putnam said. "It is discouraging. You don't want to have any questions about how the committee has gone about its business or the integrity of individuals who compose the committee. If there's questions then the public is not going to have a lot of faith in the decisions that are made."
The resignation of Mr. Groux will only add to those concerns although Ms. Flynn was positive that these problems will be rectified.
"I'm absolutely confident we can do this," she said. "This is a bit of a setback and I think it is unfortunate, but it is not something we can't overcome."
3 Responses to "Falmouth's Consultant for Town Manager Resigns"
The Falmouth Board of Chuckleheads continues to provide entertainment for the populace...sort of like watching a Three Stooges Film Festival...Whap! Bam! Ouch! Smack! Oof! Pow!
Typical Falmouth!!!!!! Maybe they should form another committee to see why this guy left.
Oh, and I almost forgot. Who in the heck does George Morse think he is. Mr Morse, you are out of line sir. The whole situation is very sad. The committe should be an average group of working class people but instead you have a room full of insecure alpha personalities. Mr. Groux appears to be a solid individual with a good track record. How about having some faith and trust in the guy and getting past it. I do agree that some town employees would not feel comfortable expressing their concerns in a open forum. I beg you all to get past it and get the job done. It's common sense that we need a person with the following qualifications: a proven track record, fiscally responsible, experience in contract negotiations, good communicator and honesty and integrity for good measure. Simply put, we need the total package. The town deserves it and we should not accept anything less!!


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"Get Rings" by Geneva Hodgson
I don't know what it is about this comic, but it has stood out to me since the moment I read it. It's so simple. but at the same time it's just very… I don't even know the right word. It just makes me feel kind of quiet and makes me think.
Posted 1 year ago
42,339 notes
Sonic 2, Get Rings, Speedhog zine, speedhogzine, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, Miles Tails Prower, Sonic,
About for lack of a better title
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Simple Things theme by Dan Hauk.


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- The 2014 Big Picture on Cyber Security
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Search Tags: Inside Government
Inside Government - May 28th, 2010
John Gage
AFGE National President
Dwight Bowman
AFGE 14th District National Vice President
Tags: pay & benefits , AFGE , John Gage , Dwight Bowman
Inside Government - May 21st, 2010
Bryan Lowry
President, AFGE Council of Prison Locals
Steve Ressler
Founder and President, GovLoop
Tags: pay & benefits , AFGE , Bryan Lowry , Steve Ressler , GovLoop
Inside Government - April 30th, 2010
James Cameron
Director, "Avatar"
John Berry
Director, Office of Personnel Management
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)
Sharon Pinnock
Director, AFGE Membership and Organization Department
Perry Pidgeon Hooks
President, Hooks Book Events
Bob Hill
Financial Advisor, First Command
Tags: pay & benefits , James Cameron , Sharron Pinnock , John Berry , Mark Warner , Perry Hooks , Bob Hill , AFGE , OPM , David Walker , First Command
Inside Government - April 23rd, 2010
Vincent Gray
D.C. Council Chairman
J. David Cox
AFGE National Secretary-Treasurer
Jane Nygaard
AFGE 8th District National Vice President
Marilyn Park
AFGE Legislative Representative
Tags: pay & benefits , Vincent Gray , D.C. Council , J. David Cox , AFGE , Jane Nygaard , Marilyn Park , Department of Veteran Affairs , health care
Inside Government - April 16th, 2010
Beth Moten
AFGE Legislative and Political Director
Philip Dine
Author, "State of the Unions: How Labor Can Strengthen the Middle Class, Improve our Economy, and Regain Political Influence"
Tags: pay & benefits , AFGE , Beth Moten , Philip Dine , health care
Inside Government - August 7th, 2009
Michael D. Yates
Author of "Why Unions Matter"
Elise Gould
Director of Health Policy Research, Economic Policy Institute
Tom Webb
President, AFGE SSA Local 3615
Tags: pay & benefits , AFGE , Michael D. Yates , Labor , health , Elise Gould , Tom Webb , Economic Policy Institute , tax , health care
Inside Government - July 24th, 2009
Phil Glover
AFGE Council of Prison Locals Legislative Coordinator
Terry Rosen
AFGE Labor Relations Specialist
Perry Hooks
President, Hooks Book Events
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Executive Director of Government Programs, Kaiser Permanente
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Inside Government - June 17th, 2011
J. David Cox
AFGE National Secretary-Treasurer
Andrew Fieldhouse
Federal Budget Policy Analyst, Economic Policy Institute
Former Rep. Bob Edgar (D-Pa.)
President & CEO, Common Cause
Tags: pay and benefits , AFGE , J. David Cox , Andrew Fieldhouse , Bob Edgar
Inside Government - June 3rd, 2011 and June 10th, 2011
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.)
David Borer
AFGE General Counsel
Don Hale
Chair, AFGE Defense Conference
Nate Whiteman
Director of Recruitment and National Events, Union Sportsmen's Alliance
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Inside Government - May 20th, 2011 and May 27th, 2011
Earl Tucker
President, Council 224
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President, Council 215
Witold Skwierczynski
President, Council 220
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President, Council 109
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Metro ramps up mobile drive
Metro, the free urban newspaper brand, is set to launch a "first of its kind" mobile-optimised and personalised website as it looks to reach new audiences beyond the morning commuter readers that pick up its print edition and increase its digital ad revenue.
It hopes the site will help the brand spark more conversations across social media, be more consistent between devices and be "more espresso" - the way Metro aspires to be "more concise and stimulating".
The Metro.co.uk site will become the first UK newspaper destination to allow mobile and tablet users to swipe between articles when it launches on 5 December.
Next year it will add personalisation functionality, meaning the site can be curated around readers' personal interests or behavioural activity. It will also include the ability to comment on stories via Facebook.
Jamie Walters, Metro product development director, says the functionality will offer brands ad format "firsts", such as the ability to buy a full-page interstitial HTML5 ad between swipes.
Metro will also potentially be able to offer advertisers the chance to target users based on their personal content optimisations of the site.
Initially Metro is looking to work with "early adopter" brands who are keen to trial formats on the new site, which Matt Teeman, Metro's commercial director, says is likely to include some of the major brands who advertised with the paper during the Olympics - such as Adidas, BA and BMW.
The new site was developed based on learnings from the Metro's iPad app, which launched last year. Bryan Scott, Metro marketing communications director, says 70 per cent of tablet readers that read past page four on the app went on to read the whole edition, engagement it is hoped will be replicated on the new website.
Walters adds Metro is aiming for its site to have the fastest load speed in the industry, which may also help increase engagement with its content.
Looking forward, Metro is also looking to experiment with mobile payments - which could include scannable ads or editorial content in the fashion, home or technology pages in the print version, or click-to-buy functionality on its mobile site and apps. New apps are also set to launch on Android, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Windows 8 and BB10 in the coming weeks and months.
Ultimately, Metro is looking to appeal to more "urbanites" than those who pass through the major city commuter centres in the morning - but managing director Linda Grant says the paper's mobile developments will not come to the detriment of print.
Grant adds: "Our print product is as fit for purpose now as it was in 1999 because we've kept it fresh and relevant. Mobile allows us to extend our connection with consumers from the morning day part to other parts of their lives where smart boredom exists. Our vision is that urbanites will get more from their city on the move with Metro. We are mobile first and we will reach more urbanites on the move with mobile platforms."
Metro's owner, the Daily Mail and General Trust, reported a 3 per cent rise in group revenue in the 11 months to the end of August. It does not split out separate results for the Metro paper, although it commented in its pre-close trading update at the end of September that its consumer business delivered a "resilient performance" and benefited from "incremental revenue" from the Olympics - in which Metro secured a substantial amount of advertising, including a landmark cover wrap deal with Adidas.
The group is now at the start of the year and the Metro is in a "key period of investment", according to its editor Kenny Campbell, which has enabled it to train its editorial staff to adopt its "mobile first strategy". It is also recruiting across its social media, product management and SEO teams as it looks to build out its digital capability.
Readers' comments (2)
"We are mobile first and we will reach more urbanites on the move with mobile platforms."
A bold claim, considering that right now the Metro site isn't mobile optimised, not even for iPhone.
On a mobile, www.metro.co.uk and m.metro.co.uk point to the full site. Metro.mobi goes to a weird web/mobile hybrid, which I presume is their iPad site.
Mobile last would be more accurate.
With respect to the comment from Anonymous above, you are right to point out that we are not yet mobile-first at Metro, but we will take a huge step in that direction as of December 5. As the article points out, that is when our new responsively designed website will go live. It will be market leading in terms of some of the functionality it will introduce and we are confident that consumers will respond positively.
Please take a look at the new site when it goes live and give us your feedback then.


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Tracking System
Tracking System | Vehicle Tracking | Teen Tracking
Open 7 Days A Week! Call 951-704-9503
Tracking System | Vehicle Tracking | Teen Tracking
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SilverCloud technology and real-time tracking have revolutionized the way people use GPS trackers. This new form of GPS vehicle tracking, known as public tracking, allows people to easily gain access to the exact location of school buses, airport shuttles, public transportation vehicles, taxi-cabs and more. To learn more about the benefits of public tracking, please view our online demo or contact one of our GPS tracking system experts.
U: demosc
P: demosc
Tracking System Direct was founded with the vision of bringing all consumers high-quality and unique GPS tracking systems at wholesale prices. We carry out an extensive 12-point hands on testing process and verification of every device before we offer our customers the best-of-the-best the GPS tracking system industry has to offer. Tracking System Direct only offers award winning tracking system products that are extraordinary, functional and perform beyond the industry standard.
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Sadly, there is no way to hide the statistics when it comes to the prison population in the United States. According to one set of data gathered in 2009, it is said that for every 100,000 people in the U.S. population that 743 out of that sample size were or spent time in some form of jail or prison whether that be at the state or federal level. Although there is a lot of information and reports circulating to suggest that having a large prison population is in fact good business, let's pretend that we live in a world where we want to reduce the prison population. That we want to reduce the costs associated with maintaining that population. Clearly, there are a lot of complexities and no singular model that will remedy the over crowded jail population situation, but one piece of technology that could be as close to a singular solution as possible is the personal GPS tracking system.
Real-time GPS monitoring involves data obtained from a network of satellites orbiting the sky, a GPS receiver, cellular communication and online mapping program. That may sound pretty complicated but the application is actually rather quite user-friendly. Basically, a GPS receiver is able to determine locational data by absorbing GPS signals from satellites. This locational information includes time, date, altitude, orientation, direction and more. The GPS receiver then works with a gadget called a cellular data module that provides the mechanism to transmit the data on the GPS receiver across cellular networks. The transmitted locational data is sent to computer servers where it is integrated with mapping software where a person can literally view the data in real-time. The GPS data is formatted into a digestible version that can help a person determine the location of a vehicle, asset or individual within a couple feet! The coolest part is this GPS locational data can be viewed from a iPhone, galaxy or any cell phone with Internet connection.
Currently, a number of people convicted of crimes are able to select GPS monitoring as a alternative to time in jail. But what if in a effort to reduce the overall jail population criminals convicted of non-violent crimes were given the choice between jail or GPS? This means those arrested for drug charges and things of that nature could opt to stay outside prison walls to serve their punishment via house arrest. It is probably a safe bet to say that the significant majority would opt for the GPS personal tracking. So how would this process work and would it be effective ?
GPS bracelets have been employed for some time with success in monitoring criminals. Basically how the process works is that the person who was convicted of a crime wears a real-time GPS monitoring system. The tracking data is the monitored off-site where both the real-time and historical tracking information can be viewed 24/7. The real-time GPS monitoring systems are even designed to provide security alerts to notify authorities if a criminals under GPS monitoring leaves the home, city, state or country! In fact, the GPS monitoring system programs have already been found to be helpful in situations regarding domestic violence and sexual assault. This evidence can be found in the number of different independent research programs that have investigated the effectiveness of GPS as a deterrent.
Read more: GPS Tracking As Alternative To PrisonLast Updated on Tuesday, 30 September 2014 04:12
There are a number of different reasons why a person would choose to invest in a GPS monitoring device to observe where a car goes throughout the day. Maybe a husband suspects his wife is having an affair with another man, maybe a tow truck company wants to validate driving activity of an employee they suspect is falsifying time sheets or maybe a private investigator wants to investigate a corporate fraud case. Regardless of the reasons for wanting to use GPS car monitoring technology, people should be aware that using any form of spy gadget comes with responsibility. That means that a person using a GPS needs to make certain that they are using such monitoring technologies inside the parameters of lawful use in a way that does not violate the rights of others.
The purchase of a GPS auto tracking device that can track a car is 100% legal. However, just because a product is legal doesn't mean it can be used in any sort of fashion that the buyer chooses. Let's compare GPS for example to the purchase of a video camera (even though smart phones have essentially crippled the video camera industry). A person can walk into most electronics stores in their city and purchase a video camera without any issue, but even though that product can offer a wide range of benefits it, like a GPS unit, can be used maliciously. For example, video cameras are legal but it's not legal to place that video camera in the office bathroom. This is where it can be a little bit tricky when it comes to the application of GPS car tracking units.
GPS car tracking units are legal but the act of monitoring a vehicle has many shades of white, gray and black. For example, in many states a employer can equip auto tracking equipment on their company vehicles and not have to disclose that information to employees. Some states require that employees disclose this information. In some places it's legal to place a car tracker on the outside of a vehicle but if a person places a GPS inside the cab of the vehicle that is illegal. Therefore, it is important to understand that laws are not concrete when it comes to GPS monitoring practices. In fact, what is legal in one place might be illegal in another. That's simply the way many laws work, including laws related to GPS vehicle monitoring.
When it comes to getting sound legal advice regarding the use of GPS monitoring systems the first place a person should start is the city and state they plan on using the tracker systems. The first step would be to contact local police to see if they have any knowledge about personal or business application legalities. However, that information should also be reinforced by a attorney in the local area who understands criminal and business law. Those would be the two parties with the most knowledge about GPS vehicle monitoring laws in the region of intended use. Those wanting extra credit confirmation could even speak with a local private investigation company, as many PIs are aware of legal boundaries and what is considered acceptable with GPS.
It is important that people do the appropriate research before investing in car GPS systems so they do not cross the line where they themselves are conducting themselves in a unlawful fashion. Talking with police, local attorneys and private eyes before using any automotive tracking units is the best way to avoid doing something against the law.
This article is NOT legal advice! GPS vehicles monitoring systems should not be used to violate the rights of others. It is the responsibility of the user to learn what laws may apply in their area of intended use.Last Updated on Saturday, 13 September 2014 06:50
One of the fastest growing applications related to GPS tracking is senior safety. More and more families are trying to avoid sending their elderly loved ones to senior health care facilities and instead keep those family members at home. The only problem is that many seniors struggle with wandering, especially those with early on-set dementia or some other form of cognitive challenge. That creates a very serious personal safety situation that can lead to tragic consequences if not handled properly. This is the reason so many concerned family members are investing in senior GPS tracking bracelets or watches to help them monitor senior loved ones. The only problem is that these GPS personal tracking devices can be costly. Therefore, the first thing these family members do is try to get the cost of the senior GPS systems covered through medical insurance.
The first step that those who investigate real-time GPS tracking devices discover is that any GPS device that provides live locational data requires a monthly or annual cost. That means the customer must keep a credit card on file for monthly or annual billing to keep the senior GPS system active and functioning properly. Medical insurance companies at this time rarely if ever provide this type of service, so the best hope a person seeking to invest in a senior GPS tracking system is for reimbursement.
Medical insurance providers have been known to reimburse their clients for certain expenses at times depending on the coverage plan in place. Therefore, the very first thing a person who wants to get medical insurance coverage or reimbursement for a GPS should do is speak with both their doctor and healthcare insurance provider. Naturally, each circumstance and insurance policy is different. This can't be over stated so please do not take this article as the absolute answer to the medical insurance question. The only party that can tell a person if they qualify for any type of reimbursement for the cost of a GPS tracking system or if their insurance coverage will cover the product cost is that insurance company themselves. This includes insurance providers such as Medicare, Medicaid or private medical insurers.
"Our sales staff receives hundreds of customer inquiries about our senior GPS tracking systems every single day and one of the first questions that those inquiring customers ask is whether or not their medical insurance will cover or reimburse them for the costs of senior GPS devices", explained Vice President of Sales for online retailer Tracking System Direct. "As much as our trained staff would love to be able to provide these customers accurate information they really are only qualified to provide product support. We understand that this might be frustrating but the best party to ask about medical insurance coverage of senior GPS systems is that insurance provider themselves."
The costs associated with Senior GPS devices really should be covered by insurance companies and hopefully in the near future that will be the standard practice across all insurance agencies and providers. Until those modifications are made across the health care system the only choice is for senior citizens and their families to discuss in detail what options are available to them through their insurance plans. Senior safety is obviously a very serious issue for many all across the world and with elderly tracking technologies available it seems as though finding an avenue to cover those costs should be a priority.Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 August 2014 17:15
By now you have probably seen the videos of celebrities, athletes and likely most of your friends on Facebook dumping a large bucket of ice water over their heads. The Ice Bucket Challenge has gone totally viral and brought more attention to ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, than any other awareness campaign in recent memory. Unfortunately, with that success has come significant criticism. Social media now has people talking about how only 7 cents on every dollar donated to ALS actually goes toward research and a cure, while others point out wasting water in the midst of some of the driest conditions on record sets a poor precedent. The world we live in will always have it's share of doubters, haters or negative thinkers even when the message being sent is truly one of inspiration and positivity. A Temecula, California resident and man suffering from ALS eloquently made this point in his very moving and personal Ice Bucket Challenge. The man is Anthony Carbajal and I wanted to tell you a little bit about the man behind the powerful video clip that has since gone viral with over 6 million views in just a few days.
Anthony Carbajal is unfortunately all too familiar with ALS because his grandmother lost her life to the disease and his mother is near the end of her battle with the disease as well. Knowing that he would need to care for his mother with ALS, Carbajal began to peruse a career as a wedding photographer about 5 years ago. Carbajal always enjoyed photography and saw a career as a wedding photographer as the perfect occupation because it would allow him to both generate an income and stay at home as much as possible to care for his mother. Fueled by passion for photography and the love of his mother, Carbajal quickly became one of the most in demand Temecula wedding photographers, booking over 50 weddings per year. His work became featured in wedding blogs and the awards began to pile up. Everything was going perfectly as planned, but that was when Carbajal began to notice weakness in his hands. Weakness in the hands is an early sign of ALS that Carbajal was quite aware of and that terrified him to think about. That was when we met for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.
At dinner, Carbajal told me about his fear of what an ALS diagnosis would do. Not only would it put an immediate stop to his photography dreams but it also would force him to focus more on his personal health which meant taking care of his mother would be that much more difficult. This emotionally taxing thinking doesn't even factor in the loss of income and struggles that would surely come as ALS care can be quite costly. I spoke with my friend in hopes to reassure him everything was okay and to tell him that he was probably being hyper-sensitive to everything since he was so entrenched in the ALS stuff. See what made Carbajal's situation slightly different was that his family had a genetic form of ALS that came on at a atypical young age. His mother was diagnosed in her late twenties and so too was his grandmother. Therefore, at 25-years old Carbajal was in the rare position where ALS could be a real possibility. We continued to drink a couple more margaritas, Carbajal decided to see the doctor soon and then later we parted ways.
Read more: Anthony Carbajal Ice Bucket Challenge VideoLast Updated on Friday, 22 August 2014 04:16
The geo-political conflict in the Middle East between Israel and terrorist organization Hamas has been dominating the recent news headlines. In short, after constant bombardment from rockets fired by Hamas terrorists into Israel, the Israeli intelligence found that the terrorist group was using a network of sophisticated tunnels to move weapons and assist in attacks. These tunnels became the strategic advantage Hamas had in attacking innocent Israeli citizens, and therefore the Israeli government felt it was necessary to develop a plan to both find and destroy these tunnels. After sending ground troops into Gaza to locate and eradicate the tunnel networks, it now appears that the conflict is nearing its temporary end, which is something Israel, the Palestinian people and governments across the world can feel relieved about. However, Israel is sadly no stranger to conflict and attack by Muslim extremists and it is likely not if, but when Hamas will regroup to continue its assault on the Israeli people. Although the conflict in the Middle East is complicated and deep, Israel may find an ally in a technology commonly used in the United States to help improve fleet management strategy. This technology is GPS tracking system technology and it could play a key role in reducing terrorist attacks.
GPS tracking systems are small devices that report locational data in a comprehensive and detailed fashion. This real-time tracking technology is commonly used for surveillance applications such as car tracking. When placed on a car, a GPS tracking system will document every spot a driver goes, the length of time the driver was at that spot and more. The GPS tracking systems also are engineered with the ability to communicate via alert (geo-fence & speed).
Israel is nation roughly the size of the state of New Jersey, but it faces a number of very unique challenges due to its proximity to countries such as Syria, Iran and Egypt, countries that have publicly announced their refusal to accept a Jewish state. What this results in is numerous terrorist plots and attacks being inflicted upon the Jewish nation. Therefore, Israel has to allocate numerous resources to defend itself, making GPS tracking technology advantageous in this very critical area of national security.
GPS tracking systems are designed with covert monitoring applications in mind, which is exactly how Israel could benefit from the technology. How law enforcement and military could use GPS is by tracking the vehicles of people they suspect are engaging in terrorist activities. Through the process of car tracking the Israelis would be able to determine who a potential terrorist is associating with, what locations they travel and more. This information may even be helpful in finding terrorist training camps or high ranking Hamas officials wanted by Israel.
Government use of surveillance technology is certainly intended to enhance national security and there are not many other nations in the world more concerned with national security than Israel. Therefore, employing a strategy that utilizes GPS vehicle tracking could be significantly influential in boosting security as well as helping the government bring terrorists to justice.Last Updated on Thursday, 07 August 2014 02:43


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Sven Kramer of the Netherlands won gold in the men's 5,000-metre speed skating race to lead a Dutch sweep Saturday at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, Russia.
Kramer posted an Olympic-record time of 6:10.76.
Jan Blokhuijsen took silver with a time of 6:15.71 and Jorrit Bergsma followed with 6:16.66 for bronze.
Mathieu Giroux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., finished 22nd with a time of of 6:35.77.


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My Wife's First Taste Of Another Man's ***,
I started taking Sindy to **** theaters to get her used to watching **** knowing that she was the only female in the theater and that other men were looking at her. I kept telling her that most of the men in there were watching the movie and her. I assured her that they were ******* her in their minds. After about three or four months I made sure that we sat close to one of the men in the theater that I thought would be or was actually jacking off. I enter the isle and stop for a moment, forcing her to be directly in front of the man. I didn't pause long just enough for him to say anything or to actually touch her ***, just long enough to make her very uncomfortable. I stooped shortly after passing the man making her sit three seats from him with her being between him and me. She objected and would try to sit on the other side of me but I would not allow this. He must have understood what I was doing or just had enough balls to whip out his **** and start beating it. He was making more noise than I would have expected unless he wanted her to hear and watch what he was doing. Then and there I knew he knew what I wanted him to do.
She had to sit there and hear and smell the guy jack off and ***. I knew that she could see what he was doing and in the beginning when he actually did ***, she would wrench and act as though she was going to vomit. She got over this fairly soon since I took her there at least two times each week. Sometimes as many as three times a week, making her watch any and everything the guys were doing to themselves. Since the movies are about four hours each, it allowed me to move her around in the theater to allow her to actually watch other guys jack off and ***. She kind of got used to being made to watch and the smells of other mens *** as it shoots out of their ****. The guys knew she was watching and many of them actually put on a show for her to disgust her even more. We got to be regulars in the theater and I was beginning to notice the same guys would show up to ******** for her. Some of them even went as far as to talk to her while they did it. Making her talk to them made her even more uncomfortable which was my goal all along.
After about four months I started making her take her bra off before we entered the theater. She was confused at first, but after the first time I made her unbutton her blouse she knew what I was doing to her. She complained that she did not want to expose herself to these men but I made her do it each time we went there. She got used to it within a few weeks. I allowed them to watch her open her blouse while I was fingering her *****. The guys knew what I was doing and it did actually turn Sindy on after she resigned herself to the fact that she was going to be forced to do what I wanted.
Her first physical contact came after I had one of my friends,that she did not know, come into the theater after we had been seated. He came down the row we were sitting in and sat to the left of Sindy. I thought she was going to jump right out of the seat. He sat down looked at her making some rude comments. She tried to cover her **** but I removed her hand and told her not to touch her blouse. She looked at me and whispered that she did not want the guy sitting next to her to see her this way. I told her not to worry that he has seen **** before. She once again tried to cover her **** but I reached over and uncovered her **** once again and told her if she covered them again that I would take her blouse off completely. She began to cry but she sat there and knowingly allowed the other guy to take a very good look at both of her ****. After a short time he whipped out his **** and began to jack off. Sindy turned her head towards me. I knew that she could hear him moaning as he stroked his ****. I told her to watch what he was doing but she refused so I forced her head back around. Next my friend did something I did not expect. He reach over and took her hand and pulled it over and placed it on his **** and told her to hold it. She jerked her hand back only to have him pull her hand back and repeat his demand only this time with much more force. I leaned over to Sindy and told her not to fight it just do what he wants. I saw one of his hand reach up and cup her left ***. He then told her to jack him off. She froze but soon began the up and down movement of her hand on his ****. She worked him until he shot a big load straight up and then it came back down all over her hand. She jerked her hand off of his **** sitting there not knowing what to do with the *** on her hand. She asked to be excused to go to the bathroom. My friend told her no and forced her hand to her face and wiped it all over her face. I am sure that some of it went into her mouth since he made sure that he rubbed her hand across her mouth. She started to spit but he put his hand over her mouth and told her to enjoy it. She whined and fought but he was to strong for her. She went limp allowing him to put more into her mouth. He told her "swallow it all *****", She did as she was told and this was her first actual taste of another man's ***.
Hot thanks for sharing :) lq1bp m
Mmmmm nice. I love **** theatres. I've been gang banged in **** theatres twice, its such a turn on
Yes but then again, I might do it just for fun. The problem is you do not know what you could have happen to you in one of those dark adult sex shows with guys jacking off all areound you. Might be fun.
Oh yes, I am not married yet.
Spousal abuse--if it were true.
I found your story so sexy and very scary as in many ways it was like part of my "training"

I was only 16 when we were married, my hubby was a lot older, and he said it was his right to let other men enjoy me when he wanted

I remember that visit to an adult cinema and that first creepy old man who mauled me as I was forced to stroke his slimy **** in my trembling hand, but it pleased my hubby so much and he stil demands that I tel him about it in bed some nights

love Tina
How sad. She must have very low self-esteem to allow you to manipulate her in such a way, and the longer she stays with you, the worse it will get for her. What a man. All I can feel is sorrow.
oh yeah my ***** dripping at the thought of this story
i wud luv to jack off on an unwilling woman and feel her **** and rub my **** and balls and *** all over her face while her husband makes her stay still till im finished! i luv using totally submissive women.
i want to be ur friend too! im jacking off right now thinking of doing that to ur wife!
It is nice to train your wife.
Well, it made me horny and turned me on just thinking about it happening. Still, I guess it sort of runs against my grain to "force" anyone. To me it would have been a lot more fun if she at least half way liked the ideas. To each his own.


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With a focus on increasing self-awareness, communication and goal-setting, students return home from their expedition having further developed the values and skills needed to create and maintain a healthier self-image, trustworthy relationships and productive life skills. Parents and guardians join us for the last three days of the program in a pivotal and productive workshop with instructors and students.
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Dwight Howard's Individual Goal is to Win DPOY
Dwight Howard's individual goal is to win DPOY
9/27/13 in NBA | aaronjchung | 264 respect
In an interview with Jason Friedman of Rockets.com, Dwight Howard gave an update on how he feels from a physical standpoint and some of his individual goals for the upcoming year. It was obvious that Howard was a shell of himself when he played for the Lakers last year, yet he was still able to put up some impressive numbers. This year, however, Howard feels like he did during his Orlando days.
"I'm so much better," said Howard. "My body feels a lot better. The little aches and pains that I was having for the most part of last season are gone already. It's going to continue to get better. I'm very excited. I'm excited about the possibilities of what I'll be able to do this season because my body is so much healthier. It's a big difference. Last year I couldn't really move the way I'm used to moving until the end of the season. Some of my bounce is coming back. I'm so happy about that."
In regards to Howard's individual goals, he wants to be the enforcer in the middle that he has always been throughout his entire career. "I just want to win a championship and Defensive Player of the Year and get back on top." Last year, players were able to exploit the paint a little bit more than usual with Howard's back issues. Now that he is back to full health and doesn't have to carry the offensive load with James Harden on his team, he should return as the unanimous DPOY for 2013-2014 season.


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Categories > Celebrities > Panic! At The Disco > All We Are Is Entertaniment
Soul Meets Body3 Reviews
I want to live where soul meets body. And let the sun wrap its arms around me.
"Is he?" Spencer rushed over next to me.
"Oh my gosh. Brendon, wake up." Jon hit my back and I lifted my head.
"What?" I mumbled.
"He's waking up." Spencer said with a small smile. I looked at your face, noticing it contorting. Your eyes were closed, but you opened your mouth to speak.
"Bren?" It was hardly spoken, and was closer to just being mouthed than whispered. But it was still there. I squeezed your hand, smiling a little.
"I'm here Ryan." I whispered it, hoping that it wasn't just another dream. Eyes started to slowly twitch open, closing as soon as the light hit it. The room was quite, everyone waiting to see if you had anything else to say. Nothing. It was just like you had gone back to sleep, the only thing proving that you were still slightly awake being your eyes that tried to stay open. And then you flat lined. Spencer stood, screaming for a doctor as Jon ran to press the nurse button. I stayed still, staring at your face.
Nurses and doctors ran in, pushing me away from you. I let go of your hand, being pushed out of the room as you were taken away to an operating room. The sound of people screaming as they pushed you down the hall putting my nerves on edge. Spencer and Jon were talking silently, watching me with wiry eyes.
"Brendon." Spencer walked over to me, giving me a small hug. I stood still, not knowing what else to do. "Brendon, we're going to take you to the hotel so you can get some sleep, okay?" I stared down the hall they had taken you down, wishing that you would come back. Nothing.
"Come on Spence, I'll carry him if I have to, but we're not getting anything done standing here." Jon said as he took one of my hands. He walked towards the door, leading me to the exit of the hospital. They took me to the hotel, Jon practically carrying me the way there. He put me down on the bed, and I curled into myself.
"Brendon?" Spencer put his hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing it. "We have something to help you sleep. I held my hand out, allowing him to drop the two white pills in it. He handed me a cup of hot tea, allowing me to swallow the pills and down the tea. It didn't take long for it to knock me out.
Spencer drove us back to the hospital, talking to Jon along the way. It wasn't like I had anything to say. It felt like you would never wake up. And I knew you weren't going to get better. They didn't allow us in the room, so Jon and Spencer left to get coffee. Leaving me alone with my thoughts. I knew we both deserved to live longer, that there were still places for the two of us to go. But if the silence were to take you, I could only hope that it would take me too.
They allowed me to walk in your room, letting me see your pale face. Most of the cuts had healed as much as they could, the bruises practically gone. And your eyes were open. You were wide awake and breathing. The nurses left, leaving me alone with you. I sat by your side, staring into your honey eyes.
"Brendon." You're voice was so weak, it sounded like it was hardly there. I took your hand once more, burying my face in the crook of your neck.
"I thought I lost you." I felt tears stinging my eyes, loving the fact that you were still alive and awake.
"Brendon, I think you should leave." I stopped breathing, my heart skipping a beat. I moved my head away, looking at your face. You were staring down at your hands, your hair covering your eyes perfectly.
"What?" I couldn't help it. I had waited so long for you to wake up, so I could hear your voice again. Your soft melody filling the air. It wasn't fair for you to want me to leave. Not when I had worked so hard to stay.
"I'm not good for you Brendon, look what I've done just by being sick. How much have you had to eat this week?" I stared at you in disbelief for a few moments.
"Ryan, I'm not leaving you. Just give me a chance." I held your hands, wishing you would look at me. "Let me take care of you. Please. Even if it's only for a day. Please. Just let me take care of you." Everything was silent, the only sound being that of the heart monitor. I waited for you to say something, but there was nothing. "Ryan look at me."
Our eyes met, and I could see that you had been crying. Arms were thrown around my neck, tears making my neck slightly damp. "Ok-ay." Your voice cracked, but it didn't matter. I smiled, hugging you back as I listened to you cry.
I know we've still got life left to live. I can't guess what will happen, what we'll discover, but I can think it's somewhere were soul meets body. Where we can live in harmony, so I can hear your brilliant voice.
You're the only song I want to hear.
I'm not sure how many more chapters there's going to be, but I know there won't be many more.
And I just want to say, I have about 29 pages of reviews. You don't know how much that means to me. Really, it's just, it's amazing. Thank you all so so so so so so sooooo much. The reviews I get just, sometimes their the only things that get me through the day. It really helps me feel less shitty about myself.
PartyPoison:That just, that makes me feel amazing.
AnotherKnifeInMyHand:Most of them are sweet even though their heartbreaking. It's just the way I feel like depicting their relationship. (Weird, I know.) And I agree with you. It's just nice to get away from the cheesy endings.
RydenBeliever:Always happy to have people who like it. Makes my day to read that I'm not just wasting my time writing them.
-xoxo Pansy.