text:
Miley Achievement Center
Las Vegas, NV 89101
About This School
Student Ethnicity (2007)
Students (2007)
Female/Male (2007)
Subsidized Lunch (2007)
District Spending (2010)
Grade 4 Reading Performance
Miley Achievement Center Reviews
This school is very structured and teachers are extremely informed about the individual special attention their students need. The family is always included and encouraged to participate with the student needs.
All staff is very caring and always on task with interest to support the individuals student needs.
The Principal is very supportive and includes herself with the individual needs of her students, very admirable!
The school has a outstanding learning environment focusing on the needs of the students they cater to. Helping the student to overcome the issues that life has dealt to them. The school has a outstanding support system ready and available upon request. Kudos.......
We are very grateful, as a family, to have the valuable assistance of the excellent and caring professionals who comprise the staff at Miley. Together we are working to help our child face and overcome all that will face him in the chaos of the world around us in light of emotional challanges. This is his second school year there. His academic accomplishments, overall attitude and behavior speak volumns for the experience Miley is providing him. Yes, he does have "good days" and "better days", however, the reminders of those days are a great reminder for him, us, his therapist, and MD. during the times we might just throw our hands up in frustration. Thank you Miley for the major role you are playing!
The family of R. Jones-Allen


text:
India expects to complete its purchase of Barak medium-range surface-to-air missiles, despite a corruption probe. (Wikipedia)
- Filed Under
NEW DELHI — India is likely to proceed with the purchase of Barak missiles from Rafael despite a probe of alleged corruption involving prime contractor Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and former Indian Defence Minister, George Fernandes, an Indian Defence Ministry source said.
Indias top weapons purchasing authority, the Defence Acquisition Council, said at a Nov. 11 meeting that it had referred the missile purchase to an internal committee for evaluation.
Indias Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had charged Fernandes in a $326 million deal involving the purchase of Barak anti missile systems from IAI, contracted in 2000. So far, the CBI has not released any findings on the probe.
But the Defence Ministry source said the CBI is likely to close the case against IAI and described the internal inquiry is only a formality.
The Navy has been demanding the purchase of Barak missiles, but the Defence Ministry has been holding back because of the alleged kickback case. Currently, three of the Indian Navy ships that have the Barak air defense system on board have no missiles.
The Navy had given a proposal to the Defence Ministry early this year to procure about 300 Barak missiles for the warships Ranvir, Brahmaputra, Betwa and Beas at a cost of around $100 million.
The Barak under purchase is an anti-aircraft, anti-missile system with a range of 70 kilometers, a warhead of 52 kilograms and speed of Mach 2.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Measuring Our Performance
Accountability Reports
Every year, the University of Toronto makes a large amount of updated data available about its performance. Below, please find a series of reports that measure our progress and achievements towards key goals.
In addition, U of T prepares a set of data in a standard format common to all Ontario Universities:
Detailed reports of Graduation, Employment and Government Loan Default Rates:
The Multi-Year Accountability Agreement (MYAA) is a key component of the overall performance and accountability relationship between universities and the Province of Ontario:
In 2006-07, the University signed a three-year Multi-Year Accountability Agreement with the Government of Ontario:
- Multi-Year Agreement for the University of Toronto
- MYAA Report Back for 2012-2013
- MYAA Report Back for 2011-2012
- MYAA Report Back for 2010-2011
- MYAA Report Back for 2009-2010
- MYAA Report Back for 2008-2009
- MYAA Report Back for 2007-2008
- MYAA Report Back for 2006-2007
For information on U of T's position regarding student faculty ratios and counting faculty:
National Student of Engagement Survey (NSSE)
Canadian Graduate Professional Student Survey (CGPSS)
Financial & Planning Reports
- Deferred Maintenance Annual Report
- Endowment Reports, University of Toronto
- Enrolment Report
- Financial Reports, University of Toronto
- Pension Reports, University of Toronto
Divisional Annual Reports
- Degrees Awarded: Annual Report
- Employment Equity Annual Report
- Health and Safety Annual Report
- Ombudsperson and Administrative Response, Report of the University
- Vice-President and Chief Advancement Officer Report
- Vice-President, Human Resources and Equity: Annual Report
- Vice-President, Research & Innovation


text:
i tried to install clang and ( as expected ) it came with the warning that it can't import ctypes. Pointing to the workaround (http://sublimetext.userecho.com/topic/8 ... -in-linux/).
the first step in there is:
Go to the python console and type "import ctypes" in build 2139 and you'll get:
>>> import ctypes
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
File ".\ctypes\__init__.py", line 10, in <module>
ImportError: No module named _ctypes
But on my machine the system wide python behavies differently:
- Code: Select all
which python
[az@server src]$ python
Python 2.6.6 (r266:84292, Jun 18 2012, 09:57:52)
[GCC 4.4.6 20110731 (Red Hat 4.4.6-3)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import ctypes
It is my understanding the Editor has a problem with python.
how do i make the use of system installed python?
Thank you


text:
garden.com > Birds & Wildlife > Bird Feeders & Accessories > Bird Feeders > Item # G25502
promotional discount applied. Cart total will reflect savings.
Buy 2 or more, each at $26.99
Quantity discount will reflect in cart.
Sometimes, manufacturers require that products be advertised only at their suggested prices.
When we choose to sell these items for less, we display the sale price only in the cart. To see the price, click Add to Cart.
One-time delivery
Deliver Every:
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
4 Weeks
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
8 Weeks
1 Month
2 Months
3 Months
6 Months
Product Summary:
Playmate squirrels enjoy sheltered dining year round in our unique feeder built for two. This feeder was the inspiration for a new Christmas children's book "Earl & Pearl The Christmas Squirrels" by: John Rock. Feeder holds one ear of corn and is 15.5"H x 11"W. Our unique sheltered, double capacity feeder the squirrels as they share a nutritious meal of Corn on the Cob.
In Stock-Ships Fast
No No Red Cardinal Feeder
Now: $34.49
Window Cafe Birdhouse
Now: $33.99
10oz. Glass Hummingbird Feeder
Now: $18.99
Duet Diner Squirrel Feeder
Now: $29.99
Fly-Through Gazebo Feeder
Now: $32.99
HummZinger Feeders
Starting at: $24.99
The Ultimate Hummingbird Feeder
Now: $24.99
Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder
Now: $28.99
Stovall Wood Pavilion Feeder
Now: $74.99
Product Reviews by Customers
Ads by Google
This item is not eligible for Canadian shipping.
Some items everyday price is so low we can't discount or we have marked down the item to a final sale price. These select items will not be included in your order total when determining if your order qualifies for a promotional event.


text:
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- Town administrators in Basalt have placed the police chief on paid administrative leave for undisclosed reasons.
Town attorney Tom Smith confirmed to The Aspen Times on Monday that Roderick O'Connor remains the police chief but is on paid leave. Smith says an investigation is under way, but he wouldn't elaborate, citing town policy on personnel issues.
O'Connor didn't return telephone messages from the newspaper Tuesday.
The 63-year-old was placed on paid leave in October, but town officials didn't give an exact date.
O'Connor has been with the Basalt Police Department since 2007.
KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.powered by Disqus


text:
But Once a Year
No one intends to rush into sin at first. John Calvin reminds us that "men never deliberately rush headlong into ruin, but being entangled in the deceptions of Satan, they lose the power of judging rightly." Pray that you would ...Read More
Regulations for Worship
Although it is not emphasized here, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the true Temple of God. Just as God dwelt with His people in the temple under the old covenant, He has dwelt among us in the ...Read More
The Covenant Fulfilled
We say we are saved by grace alone — which is absolutely true. But this grace is only available to us at Christ's expense. Only because He came and perfectly fulfilled the covenant of works could God graciously impute His ...Read More
The Kingdom of God
Some promises of the new covenant have already been fulfilled (the reign of Christ on David's throne and His atonement), and some are not yet realized (the complete removal of sin). Praise God for those things already accomplished and be ...Read More
Davidic Covenant II
God would have had every right to give up on the Davidic line. Most of the kings of ancient Israel led the people into sin and persecuted those who proclaimed the law of God. But God, because of His sworn ...Read More
Davidic Covenant I
Some people think that God never intended for there to be a king over His people. But the history of redemption shows us that although God alone is the ultimate ruler, He purposes to reign over His people through the ...Read More
Mosaic Covenant II
God demands that all people worship and obey Him. But as fallen creatures, we cannot obey God, and so God became incarnate in order to fulfill the covenant on behalf of His people. Now that Christ has come, we obey ...Read More
Mosaic Covenant I
God did not wait for His people to be perfectly holy or for them to know all His law before He redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. This same pattern holds true today. While we were yet sinners, God reached ...Read More
Abrahamic Covenant II
At this point in the Abrahamic covenant, God takes it upon Himself to make sure the covenant is fulfilled. But God was making Himself responsible for this long before Abraham was born. God's children are His solely due to His ...Read More
Abrahamic Covenant I
We will never bring about the kingdom of God ourselves. We, like Abraham, are utterly dependent upon God for all of His promises to come to pass. He will bring them about with or without us. As you seek to ...Read More
DevotionalsDaily readings to encourage your heart and mind in the pursuit of God and his glory.
- All
- Angels and Demons
- Atonement
- Basic Reformed Theology
- Irresistible Grace
- Limited Atonement
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Total Depravity
- Unconditional Election
- The Church
- Church Discipline
- Church Leadership
- Creeds and Confessions
- God
- Holiness
- Sovereignty
- Heaven and Hell
- Heresies
- The Holy Spirit
- Jesus Christ
- Cross
- Incarnation
- Resurrection
- Justification
- Last Things
- Man and Sin
- Sacraments
- Salvation
- Faith
- Regeneration
- Scripture
- Systematic Theology
- Theological Views
- Roman Catholicism
- Music
- Apologetics
- False Teaching
- Atheism
- Christianity and Culture
- Creation
- Ethics
- Fiction and Literature
- Philosophy
- Science
- Bible Figures
- Bible Interpretation
- Bibles
- Books of the Bible
- Gospels
- Covenants
- General Reference Works
- Introduction to the Bible
- Jesus' Ministry
- Life of Jesus
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Parables
- Prophecy
- Sermon on the Mount
- Ten Commandments
- The Lord's Prayer
- Controversies in the Church
- Arts
- Bible Translation
- Covenant Theology
- Creationism
- Education
- Inclusivism
- Law and Gospel
- Lordship Salvation
- Politics
- Sabbath
- Spiritual Gifts
- Stewardship of Creation
- Theonomy
- Women in Ministry
- Marriage and Family
- Divorce
- Parenting
- Practical Theology
- Discipleship
- Evangelism and Missions
- Grief and Death
- Pastoral Ministry
- Preaching
- Worship
- Spiritual Growth
- Anxiety and Worry
- Apostasy
- Assurance
- Conscience
- Depression
- Doubt
- Fellowship
- Godliness
- Guilt
- Humility
- Joy
- Knowing God's Will
- Legalism
- Love
- Money and Stewardship
- Oaths and Vows
- Prayer
- Pride
- Repentance and Forgiveness
- Sanctification and Growth
- Service
- Spiritual Fruit
- Suffering
- Thankfulness
- Vocation
- Ancient Church
- Biography
- Enlightenment and Modernism
- Historical Theology
- Reformation
- Twentieth Century


text:
Item in product family
Item in product family
Call us 7 days a week
Item #: WBB316264
Sold By: globalindustrial.com
Usually ships in 30 to 33 days Estimated lead times do not include weekends or holidays. Transit time is determined by shipping method and destination. Orders requiring credit information might take additional time.
0 reviews | Write a review
Frequently Purchased Together
Roman Scupper Fountain 24", Tan
Free Shipping
Not Yet Rated
New England Arbors® Bloomsbury Composite Planter, 24" x 36" x 35-2/5"
Free Shipping
Not Yet Rated
Documents are in PDF format
Product Specifications


text:
Avoid-A-Poo Markers were developed by Carl and Shirley Debolt of Stevens Point, who now run the company Neat Little Ideas.
- Filed Under
Carl Debolt of Stevens Point worked 24 years in the pet supply business, so he has a good idea what pet owners want in a product - especially when it comes to dealing with dog waste.
So he and his wife, Shirley, created and recently got a patent for Avoid-A-Poo Markers. They are weighted markers that pet owners can leave by dog feces to remind them where it is for cleanup later.
The couple's new company, Neat Little Ideas, makes the markers, which have been featured in Pet Business magazine and can be bought online at Amazon, eBay and Sears. ...


text:
My name is Deidra Wilson and I am a Las Vegas photographer. I shoot weddings, engagements and boudoir. Whether you're getting married or getting sexy, my camera loves to capture it all. I'm glad you're here and I invite you to look around and learn more about what makes me, well, me! Read my blog for a real peek into who I am and what I'm all about.
I work hard. I have fun. I make amazing photographs. And I can't wait to meet you and tell your story with my camera.
Deidra Wilson Photography Studio
100 Park Vista Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89138
Local: 702-635-5222
Toll Free: 1-888-59-PHOTO
Email: email@example.com


text:
We measure, publicly report, and continuously improve our performance.
We offer a wide range of medical information sheets for patient families.
We share health tips, patient stories, recipes and more.
We don't just care for children. We care for the most amazing people on earth.
MyChildren's allows you to access information about your child's health.
Search over 1,100 members of Children's clinical staff.
© 2014 Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota | Privacy and Terms of Use
Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to the Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our tax identification number is 41-1814223.


text:
Employee Profile
Recruiter, HR
Heredia, Costa Rica
"Intel is a great place to work because the people are very nice, and you have plenty of opportunities to learn and develop your skills, Plus, the benefits are great!"
What do I do at Intel?
I am a recruiter in charge of finding the talent to meet Intel hiring needs. I support some of the business groups in Costa Rica and South America.
What is great about my job?
I like meeting people, getting involved in exciting projects, and also building relationships with other groups or institutions. It is a great feeling when you do the right things right, but even a better when you do quality work that has a positive impact.
Who at Intel has been the instrumental in my career development?
My managers have been instrumental. They always gave me the opportunities I needed and the guidance to do things right.
What do I do when I'm not at work?
I love to be at home, watching movies, spending time with my family and friends, and sleeping. I also like to go to the beach.
If I could live and work abroad for a year, where would I go?
ITALY! It is such a nice place and it would be awesome to learn Italian.
What's the coolest gadget that I've bought lately?
A digital photo key ring!
More Faces of Intel
Choose Your Location
Latin America >
Greater Asia >
Greater Europe >
United States >
Look exciting?
Submit your resume/C.V. >
- 阅读更多内容
- ˄
- ˅


text:
Another sighting of 'black panther' near Carlisle
Last updated at 11:33, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
It was early evening and the light was fading fast.
Related: 'Black panther' spotted in field near Carlisle - claim
Jeni Banks had driven along Eastern Way in Carlisle on her way back home to Wetheral hundreds of times and she had no reason to think this journey would be anything other than normal.
Then, in the gloom, she saw something moving, a creature of some kind, ambling across the road ahead of her.
To the left of the road were houses and beyond the pavement to the right was an area of woodland.
"It wasn't quite dark, but it was gloomy enough for me to need my sidelights on," explained Jeni, a 26-year-old businesswoman.
"I remember thinking to myself that it looked like a big black Labrador because of its size but as my car drew level with it I looked again."
For a few fleeting seconds, Jeni stared in disbelief as the creature stood at the roadside, its head turned back towards her approaching car.
Its eyes gleamed in the headlights, and Jeni took in the creature's size and shape: its elongated black body, and its long curling tail.
"I saw it as clear as anything," said Jeni, obviously still fascinated by the memory of the creature, which vanished into the woodland. I was within 20ft of it, and when I saw it I was in shock.
"It was a big cat, right here in Carlisle, beside the road. It was surreal.
"There were no other cars around but I know what I saw. When I got to Tesco I called in for some shopping and just blurted it out to the woman at the checkout, saying that I'd just seen a panther.
"She said: 'Oh, right' and must have thought that I was a bit of a lunatic. As soon as I got home to Wetheral, I rang the police and told them what I had seen because the creature was so near to houses.
"They were very nice about it and said they would log it with the other sightings."
Like many of those who have reported panther or puma sightings in Cumbria, Jeni had never expected to see an animal so exotic on the fringe of a northern English city.
Having spent a week in South Africa's Kruger game reserve several years ago, she has seen panthers and other big cats – and she is sure that is what she saw that night in April 2010.
Her account is just the latest to emerge after the News & Star reported how Carlisle bus driver Steven Allison, 32, reported seeing a black panther like creature in a field near Rockcliffe village.
Several readers have been in touch to give their experience of seeing big cats.
Are they victims of an overactive imagination? Or might there really be a panther roaming wild in the north Cumbrian countryside?
As the debate about sightings in Cumbria rumbled on this week, one reader got in touch with what she believes may be the best evidence yet that the beast exists.
Mum-of-four Sharon Larkin, 39, is determined to find this elusive creature.
"I've been looking into panther sightings for some time now," said Sharon, from Broughton Cross in the west of the county.
"There have been big cat sightings in the Stainburn area near Workington – some in July last year and some over the last couple of weeks.
"It's been seen in a field near the road that goes past the Briery Hotel. I spoke to a dog walker who told me he saw a panther like creature, bigger than a Labrador dog.
"It was crouching in the field, in the afternoon, just watching, and the next minute it looked up and then got up. At first he thought it might have been a dog, but when it stood up he saw its long tail, curled up at the end, the classic sign of a panther."
Sharon has spent hours in watching and waiting in the area, armed with a camcorder, hoping for a glimpse of the big cat.
Two weeks ago, in a muddy lane near the Stainburn bypass, she discovered what she believes could be the first tangible evidence of a Cumbrian panther: a distinctive paw print, its size markedly bigger than that of a cat or even a large dog.
She said: "When I saw the story in the News & Star about the Rockcliffe sighting, I thought it proves what I've been saying.
"There's definitely a creature out there: it's been seen in Stainburn, Ennerdale, Arlecdon, and now Rockcliffe.
"These big cats cover a radius of about 40 miles so it could be the same animal."
Mr Allison, 32, reported seeing a panther like creature as he drove towards Rockcliffe just before 8am last Tuesday. His account came just over two years after similar reports of a large puma like cat seen prowling on waste-ground near The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
Other Cumbrians have spoken of sightings for the first time but many, fearful of ridicule, have chosen to remain anonymous.
A cabbie reported seeing a "huge black cat" run out from a hedgerow near Rockcliffe a few years ago while another reader spotted a large black cat near Patterdale.
"I didn't tell anyone because I thought nobody would believe me," he wrote.
Yet another account came from 48-year-old taxi driver Marie Dickens.
"I saw it at around 4.30am on Houghton Road in Houghton about a year ago. It was standing at the roadside, Labrador sized, but from the way it moved, it was definitely feline, with a longer body and more low slung than a dog.
"It was definitely a big cat."
First published at 11:27, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
Have your say
There used to be a guy that lived in Dale Street who had photos and video footage of Cumbrian and North England wild cats.He showed me and my friends a few pictures and camera footage from his mobile phone that he said came from near Carlisle and Brampton.He has since left Carlisle and does research for the University of Lincoln.His name was either Daz or Jimmy.The images were of Lynx hybrid cats and hybrid black cats that this guy said had escaped from wild life parks then mated with our native wild cats.The cats were said to be around 60 centimetres in height.You never know?
I don't know if this 'Panther' is a Panther or not but in my humble opinion if it is I quite frankly do not care. BREAKING NEWS wildlife spotted. Seriously? I lived in Canada for 10 years of my life and let me tell you this for free they barely battered an eye lid when bears were rummaging through their rubbish or 'Garbage' as it's called over there. It's wildlife deal with it. D.Pumperump (80)
View all 99 comments on this article


text:
Andrew Luck, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, shows Sydney Clifford, 11, Franklin, how to throw a pass at the kickoff of the 'Change the Play' Wellness Initiative at the IU Health Sports Performance Facility, Carmel, April 13, 2013. Change the Play is an eight-week fitness, nutrition and health challenge developed by Riley at IU Health experts in partnership with Luck. D. Kevin Elliott / For The Star
The appetite to be on hand for Indianapolis Colts games at Lucas Oil Stadium is eating through the team's available season tickets.
Approximately 1,100 season tickets remain, according to chief operating officer Pete Ward. Less than a month ago, the number hovered around 5,500. The team had a waiting list of approximately 8,000 at the end of the 2012 season.
"We thought there would be a high demand," Ward said. "We didn't expect they would go this quickly. It's nice." ...


text:
Flower symbolism was everywhere during the 19th century—pure romance to receive a coded message in the form of a bouquet or flowers or a small jewel.
This splendid end-of-the-century 14k yellow gold locket unveils unspoken sentiments of adoration with a gorgeous multi-hued lavender enamel pansy flower with a small old mine cut diamond center. Beneath is a wreath of pastel blue enamel "forget-me-nots" punctuated by small gold bead centers and accented with a twisted gold rope border.
The double box locket has a removable glass covered insert and room for two photos, curl of hair or other memento. On the back is a beautifully engraved monogram of the scripted initials "IB" or "JB".
Date: Circa 1890.


text:
- Filed Under
Southern Miss football fans definitely will need a roster to keep up with the changing times at Roberts Stadium this fall.
Conference USA announced its 2013 football schedule, and the Golden Eagles have five of the league's six newcomers on their schedule, including all four home games.
Dates weren't announced, but USM will host Florida International, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Middle Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles will travel to Louisiana Tech, Alabama-Birmingham, Marshall and East Carolina. ...


text:
Mother Nature keeps her cards close to the vest during the summer months when local governments plan for safe, winter roads.
This year, however, she broke her poker face and laid down a royal flush.
Ive already fully expended my annual snow-plowing budget for 2013, said Winnebago County Highway Commissioner Ernie Winters.
County officials say winters failure to loosen its grip on the Fox Valley this year has had an impact beyond the fading patience of residents, who are awaiting warm conditions. Snow and freezing rain in the early months of the year have decimated spending plans for winter road maintenance.
County budgets for winter maintenance are set in a calendar year. Funds are typically expended in the first three and last two months of the year. With winter work extending well into April, highway departments already have thought ahead on how theyll handle next winter.
Winnebago Countys highway department has received county board approval for an additional $350,000, beyond its $550,000 budget, for 2013 to assure road safety when November and December roll around.
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson projected a $500,000 shortfall by years end to its $1.2 million road maintenance budget.
Budgeting comes down to predicting the unpredictable. Sometimes, there are funds to spare at the end of the year. Other times, budgets arent sufficient to cover costs.
Regardless, safe roads are among the non-negotiable items when it comes to public services, Nelson said. Life doesnt stop when the snow flies and costs would only grow higher if roads were left slick or snow-covered, he said.
There are fewer accidents, Nelson said. Fewer cars slip into the ditch. There is a very real public safety benefit of having a very well-funded highway department.
Mike Ottery, Calumet County highway commissioner, said theres a method to budgeting, but its far from foolproof. He said he plans for 40 or 50 winter weather events that would require trucks out on the road.
Were already at 50 for this year, he said.
Ottery said his department has the luxury of being a touch more conservative on when to plow and salt, given lower traffic counts in Calumet County compared to nearby counties with greater populations.
The winter season was not kind to Calumet County crews.
The county has already spent about $443,000 nearly 93 percent of its 2013 budget for winter maintenance of county roads and has $35,000 left for the tail end of the calendar. The county spent nearly 96 percent of the maintenance funds for state highways within Calumets borders.
Ottery and Nelson said cutbacks in summer maintenance duties would help balance out the recent winters tough financial demands in their respective counties.
Nelson said prior to this year, Outagamie County had just one month in the last decade that required more than $500,000 in road maintenance spending. This year, the county exceeded that figure in both February and March.
Winters was unable last week to determine if the salting season has fallen behind. Like everyone else, he is waiting for the grass to green and temperatures to stay above the dreaded freezing point.
It was a relatively average year as far as major snow events, Winters said.
As for the season as a whole, it was anything but average.
Its been a lot of small events, Winters said. They just never stopped.
Jim Collar: 920-993-1000, ext. 216, or email@example.com. On Twitter @JimCollar.


text:
As students prepare to take the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams this week, a growing number of parents are refusing to let their children take the high-stakes standardized exams aimed at showing which schools are excelling or failing.
It's part of a national groundswell of opposition by parents who cite design flaws in standardized tests, increasing anxiety in students and teachers, and unrealistic performance standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The 2001 law requires all public schools that receive federal funding to administer a statewide standardized test annually. By 2014, schools must have 100 percent of students score proficient or better in reading and math to meet the federal benchmark.
In Pennsylvania, parents can exclude their children from PSSA tests, given in grades three through eight, based on religious objections, although many of the parents contacted cited reasons other than religion for their decision to opt out.
When pressed on how their objections are tied to religion, some parents contend that low test scores lead to cuts in school resources, rather than increases, which exacerbates gaps in racial or economic achievement. They believe that violates many religions' social justice missions.
By law, districts cannot deny an opt-out request.
Growing trend
"The purpose (of No Child Left Behind), while in one sense is admirable -- why not reach for the stars? -- is also unreachable," said Timothy Slekar, an associate professor and head of the Division of Education, Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State-Altoona. "The idea that every student in every fifth-grade classroom is going to read at a proficient level, that's just not the case."
The event drew fewer than 100 people last year, but Slekar expected several hundred opt-out supporters to participate this time.
Opting out is extremely unusual in Pennsylvania: Only 260 out of about 932,000 students were excused from the math and reading PSSAs last year; an even lower number opted out of the science exam, according to the state Education Department.
However, opt-outs in reading and math increased 21 percent statewide from the 2010-11 school year to 2011-12, while opt-outs in science testing increased 36 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Data for the current school year is not available, according to Tim Eller, spokesman for the department.
Kathy Newman has exercised the rarely used opt-out provision for the annual standardized tests -- and caused a buzz by encouraging others to follow her "act of civil disobedience."
Her op-ed piece in last weekend's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in which she writes that the stressful tests "warp the educational environment," went viral on social media and in education circles. The response, she said, has been "overwhelmingly positive."
"I'm surprised that it struck such a chord because I think it could be seen as a radical idea," Newman told The Associated Press.
Jennifer Jablunovsky, whose older children attend Ligonier Valley High School part time and are home-schooled part time, said she was shocked by how much time her daughter spent preparing for and taking the PSSAs when she attended public school full time in eighth grade.
In the end, Jablunovsky said, it's the way student performance and public funding are connected that drove her decision to exclude her children from the testing.
"Funding is tied to the scores, so not only are the teachers penalized for poor grades, but really the children are expected to perform like trained seals to earn the money for their schools," Jablunovsky said. "I think there is something very wrong in that assumption."
"The things I'm really worried about as a parent are the things I see happening in our schools -- a really drastic narrowing of our curriculum, in part because of (state) budget cuts," said Jessie Ramey, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh who is excluding her two children from testing at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 in Squirrel Hill.
"Our curriculum was once very rich. It's now very narrowed in our school," said Ramey, who planned to attend the Washington sit-in. "When states hand out these budget cuts, (schools) have to keep only what is tested."
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Linda Lane defended the district's curriculum.
"We have worked hard on our curriculum areas outside of PSSAs. We've done a lot of work on social studies, especially at the high school level," Lane said. "We think social studies matters. We think health matters."
At the same time, she said, there's value in focusing on reading and math.
"So much of the rest of their lives is dependent on their ability to do that well. I don't want their options in life shut down because they can't read or they don't have adequate skills in math," Lane said.
The district has received 14 opt-out requests and could have more trickling in, but likely fewer than 20, she said. Last year, opting out wasn't a hot topic, so while the district might have gotten a few requests, there were not as many as this year, she said.
Results in jeopardy?
There could come a point where opt-outs have an unintended consequence: If fewer than 95 percent of students at a given school fail to take the PSSA tests, the school automatically fails to make adequately yearly progress, or AYP.
Schools that fail to make AYP receive extra oversight and, eventually, could end up with new staffs or be shut down. Testing opponents say the pressure to hit that target leaves little room for anything but rote learning and, in extreme cases, has led to cheating.
On last year's exams, the proportion of Pennsylvania students performing at or above their grade levels was 75.7 percent in math, 71.9 percent in reading and 61.4 percent in science.
"It could skew the results" if enough students opted out," Lane said. "But that's not the parents' worry. Their job is to worry about their child -- not the district, not the school."
Hempfield Area School District Superintendent Andy Leopold said the district has received one opt-out request this year.
"(One opt out) does not impact our scores. It does not impact our student sample, so for us it's really a non-issue," Leopold said.
Starting this fall, PSSA test scores at the individual and school level account for 30 percent of a teacher's evaluation score under an evaluation formula signed into law last year.
Wythe Keever, spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, said the group supports a parent's right to opt out their child. He said the number has been small enough so far that he's not concerned about opting out affecting teacher evaluations.
But the group has long criticized the role of high-stakes exams in No Child Left Behind because of the effect on curriculum, instruction and learning, he said.
"A national dialogue about the overuse or potential misuse of standardized testing results is a healthy conversation to have," Keever said.
"We think it's a healthy conversation to have -- whether or not standardized tests are over emphasized in this country's educational system," he said.
Kari Andren from the (Greensburg) Tribune-Review and Kathy Matheson from The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Daily Farm Photo: 12/1/05
26 comments:
ummmmmmmm......don't you just love the smell of clothes dried outside? Happy December to you!ReplyDelete
I love that photo. Outstanding!
Wow, I love it. You are very color-coordinated!ReplyDelete
Reminds me of staying with my grandmother, she had a washer but no dryer. I remember I hated how my jeans felt when they were line dried, but towels are just the best.ReplyDelete
Now I feel like a know Farmgirl a little bit betterReplyDelete
great colors! I love laundry photos.ReplyDelete
surreal and dreamy. i love that picture even though i'm not a fan of line drying. my clothes always come out kinda stiff.ReplyDelete
My favorite is line dried sheets and pillowcases. They smell so good. They are a secret luxury more likely to be experienced by an ordinary person than a wealthy one. (People doing the laundry of others, for payment, are not so likely to do this for them.)ReplyDelete
my comment is along the lines of jamie's...nice color/hue-matching:) i can't remember the last time I dried something OUTSIDE in the fresh air...ReplyDelete
My husband's grandmother lives in upstate NY. When we stayed more than a few days we washed our clothes there. She showed me now to hang clothes on a clothes line that was attached to a telephone pole a long way from the house that was on a pulley. It was the neatest thing I had ever seen. Sheets and pillowcases, were so crisp from being dried outside. Great photo and wonderful memory!ReplyDelete
in England everyone line dries all the time. what does that tell you?ReplyDelete
ha! they look like color-clothing bandits that have given up on a life on the run :) PS I love turtlenecks, too!ReplyDelete
Ha! This is so my childhood! Except that my dad would hang the clothes out to dry in the (freezing cold) wintertime and we would have frozen pants to thaw when we brought them in! That, and he never quite figured out how not to leave clothespin stretch marks on our shoulders - we'd have little peaks that would stay even after wearing them. Thanks for the blast from the past!ReplyDelete
How beautiful those bright colors are against the backdrop!ReplyDelete
There are two schools of thought about stiff clothes - first is put wet clothes in dryer for a few minutes and then hang, the other is to use softener, hang, dry, and throw in dryer for a few minutes with a damp washcloth. I suppose you could iron, if one knew how. This one doesn't.ReplyDelete
I'm wondering if Dan and Whitey play dress-up when noone is watching....ReplyDelete
That makes me smile. Very nice colors, I can see them on you.ReplyDelete
My theory on fixing the stiff clothes is to shake them out once or twice as they hang.
I love this photo - it reminds me of how much I love putting on stiff jeans and crackly shirts that have hung out to dry.ReplyDelete
In holland line-drying is still very much "in voque". Imagine farmhouses with meters of lines in their frontyard and blue coveralls billowing in the wind like the farmers are still in them. I'm with Lindy for sheets and pillowcases. My kids grumble at the feel of line dried towels (spoiled brats). We recently replaced our first! dryer after 11 years....ReplyDelete
I cant believe people actually dry their clothes in a dryer if they dont have too...ReplyDelete
we always hang ours on the clothesline, and if its raining hang them on the line strung up in the garage..
the last resort is the dryer if its too cold outside for the air to dry them properly.
I love clothe drying outside, but with enourmous amounts of clothes in need of a wash every day a tumbledryer is the only solution except in the summer.ReplyDelete
This photo is beautiful - the colors are great :-)
I don't even own a dryer! LOLReplyDelete
I don't understand how you can make even clothes look soo pretty!
hey I dont own a dyer... great pic FG.... are those land ends? ;-)ReplyDelete
Someone had an online website devoted to the hanging of laundry (I can't find it now); back when I was doing my old website, I was going to do something similar and asked for laundry photos from readers - they were awesome!ReplyDelete
This photo rocks and reminds me that I need to find those photos again...
Hi Everyone,ReplyDelete
Wow. I am overwhelmed by the huge response to a picture of, well, our laundry. : )
I'm just tickled that it inspired so many amusing comments and sweet memories--not to mention valuable laundry advice. I loved reading them all. (I also loved being accused of being a color-clothing bandit. You people are a riot. And Dan & Whitey playing dress-up? What imaginations. Ahem. And Sam--that isn't my dirty laundry hanging out there.)
My favorite thing about this photo? It was totally unplanned. As Joe put it, "You couldn't have arranged that any better if you'd tried." And I didn't. I was just walking from the garden to the house (with my camera), looked over at the laundry hanging on the line, and saw a photo. I took this one picture and that was it.
I'm thrilled everyone has enjoyed it so much. Thank you all for taking the time to write.
January 2013 update: Hi! I know word verification is a big pain, but it's the only way I can stop the ridiculous number of anonymous spam comments I get every day. I don't want to require commenters to be registered Blogger or Open ID users because I know many of you aren't. Thanks so much for your understanding!
Hi! Thanks for visiting Farmgirl Fare and taking the time to write. While I'm not always able to reply to every comment, I receive and enjoy reading them all.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and I especially love hearing about your experiences with my recipes. Comments on older posts are always welcome!
Please note that I moderate comments, so if I'm away from the computer it may be a while before yours appears.
I try my best to answer all questions, though sometimes it takes me a few days. And sometimes, I'm sorry to say, they fall through the cracks, and for that I sincerely apologize.
If you're waiting for a reply to your comment and have a Blogger profile (it's free to create one) you can check the NOTIFY ME box that is below and receive all follow up comments to just this specific post via email.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy your e-visits to our farm!


text:
WHEN AI PRESSES the touch-sensitive computer screen, the Arabic numerals 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 pop up in random order. She correctly taps the numbers in ascending order, earning a handful of raisins as a reward. Ai, a chimpanzee, also reveals a lightning-fast short-term memory for numbers. When white boxes mask the numerals right after each is displayed, she still strikes the boxes accurately—unlike some of the human volunteers who take the test.
Ai's videotaped demonstration, at a recent conference, is the culmination of two decades of work by Japanese researcher Tetsuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University. Matsuzawa has been training and observing Ai since 1978. Ai proved to be a star pupil, and she and Matsuzawa get together almost daily for a mixture of play and research. The 30-year-old chimp participates enthusiastically—as does her six-year-old son, Ayumu.


text:
What would an all Ford show be without the presence of Ford itself? On hand for the weekend was Ford's newly minted Marketing Manager of Enthusiast Events Paul Brearey. We asked Paul how Ford justifies being so involved in enthusiast events around the country. He replied "Even if we had zero proof this works, and even if we couldn't prove that racing made any sense from a customer standpoint, you would still find people like myself and my boss out here because we love it. The auto business is full of car people, but I've never seen any company on earth with as many car freaks as Ford Motor Company." Paul then proved his point by attending the Ford Racing Performance Driving School at Hallett Racing Circuit, as well as every single event over the weekend. This year in addition to the cool performance cars that they normally bring, there was a Ford Ride & Drive event at the host hotel. Attendees had a chance to drive almost every vehicle in the Ford product line on a short street course. This turned out to be a great way to get behind the wheel without a sales person breathing down your neck.
Also on board was Shelby American, Inc. and their rolling horsepower show of amazing vehicles. In addition to the insane Shelby 1000, GT350, and GT500 SuperSnake, there was the new Shelby Focus and the Shelby Raptor. While it is not the first time that the Shelby brand has ventured into the hot hatch or pickup scene, it is nice to see the company stretch its creative legs and have some fun outside of the Mustang world. Seeing Shelby President John Luft and Vice President Gary Patterson walking around talking to fans was a great reminder that horsepower brings everyone together.
This is such a big event that it is hard capture it all, but we tried as best we could. Click the links below and dive right into hundreds of photos!
Report: 2013 Mid America Ford & Shelby Nationals
Bringing the Ford & Shelby family together again in Tulsa!
2013 Focus ST Road Trip!
Trekking to the Mid America Ford & Shelby Nationals in Ford's hot hatch.
Gallery: 2013 Mid America Ford & Shelby Nationals Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit was alive with Ford powered corner carvers!
Road Course Action - Part 2
Road Course Action - Part 1
Road Course Paddock - Part 1
Road Course Paddock - Part 2
Road Course Paddock - Part 3
Gallery: 2013 Mid America Ford & Shelby Nationals Tulsa Raceway Park
Tulsa Raceway Park thundered with Ford power, a quarter mile at time!
Drag Strip Action
Drag Strip Pits - Part 1
Drag Strip Pits - Part 2
Gallery: 2013 Mid America Ford & Shelby Nationals Downtown Tulsa Cruise Night
The Brady Arts District was once again flooded with Fords!
Cruise Night - Part 1
Cruise Night - Part 2
Cruise Night - Part 3
Cruise Night - Part 4
Gallery: 2013 Mid America Ford & Shelby Nationals All Ford Super Show
A fitting finale for an amazing Ford filled event!
Car Show - Part 1
Car Show - Part 2
Car Show - Part 3
Car Show - Part 4
Car Show - Part 5
Bonus Galleries!
Custom License Plates
Engines - Part 1
Engines - Part 2
Want more Ford content? Check out our Ford Enthusiast Headquarters!


text:
Narrow your search
iWineMaker is unique application, which provides winemakers and wine enthusiasts with the most useful Winemaking calculators and information about...
The traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena P.D.O. is unique in the world of vinegar-based dressings obtained exclusively in the province of Modena...
With sea life is in danger due to rising ocean acidification, the Wendy Schmidt Ocean XPrize kicks off with $2 million in prize money on the line for the best methods for measuring ocean pH levels.
Next spring, Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the legendary Jacques, will lead a 31-day mission, living in an underwater lab and exploring the mysteries of the deep. And you're invited to come along.
As oceans become overfished, polluted, and warmer, the X Prize foundation is looking to the public to come up with ideas for three new challenges to pose to the world's top innovators.
The $2 million challenge tasks competitors with accurately measuring ocean acidification, a step toward improving the health of our seas and inspiring new market-based uses of the oceans.
Acidity in the Earth's oceans is increasing more rapidly than any time in the last 300 million years, leading to severe consequences for marine ecosystems.
Blaming a lack of progress on nuclear arms and climate change, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists puts humanity at five minutes before a dire midnight.
Science Magazine reports that Bill Gates has spent at least $4.5 million to fund academic energy and climate research, some of which touches on the controversial topic of geoengineering.
Time to assess different climate engineering approaches--be it injecting light-blocking particles in the atmosphere or artificial trees--say academics at an MIT symposium.


text:
Republican House Representative Ray Scott Proposed a Bill that could bring more energy jobs to Colorado.
Scott said the "Energy, Jobs, and Higher Education Act" would offer incentive for oil drilling companies to bring their business to Colorado.
Under the act, companies would have a two year severance tax holiday.
"Right now it appears that the support is good, I think what is happening is that people are understanding that we are one of 12 energy producing states in the united states and this is a business we ha ve to do things to attract business."
Scott said if the Bill is adopted, the severance tax from the wells, that would normally be paid to the state will go toward the Colorado Opportunity fund.
Scott said each rig would provide around 200 new jobs.
KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.powered by Disqus


text:
- 42
- Steven Wilks
- Height
- 6' 1"
- Hometown
- Lakeland
- Weight
- 235 lbs.
- Experience
- School
- Lakeland
CAREER: Redshirt junior fullback who has seen action in 14 games during his career with the Gators.
2010: Did not dress for the 2011 Outback Bowl victory vs. Penn State Saw action in the last seven regular-season games after being sidelined with an injury during UFs first five games Floridas primary fullback for the 2010 season Graded out a Champion against Georgia, Vanderbilt and Appalachian State.
2009: Played in six games for Florida his redshirt sophomore campaign Played a crucial part on special teams and at fullback Saw time versus Georgia, Vanderbilt, FIU, FSU, against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and versus Cincinnati in the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl Dressed for his first game of the season on the road trip victory against LSU and followed that by suiting up against Arkansas on Homecoming, but played his first game of the season by contributing to UFs 41-17 win over Georgia in Jacksonville Started the season out slow after suffering a torn ACL at the conclusion of 2009 spring ball.
2008: Dressed for five games for Florida during the season, including Hawaii, Miami, The Citadel, Alabama for the SEC Championship Game and Oklahoma for the FedEx BCS National Championship Game Saw his first action as a Gator in the 70-19 rout of The Citadel Named the Scout Team Player of the Week for his role in preparing the Gators for LSU.
2007: Did not see any game action.
PREP: A hard-hitting defender who helped lead Lakeland to its 45th consecutive victory, third-consecutive Class 5A state championship and second-straight USA Today national championship in 2006 Rated 58th among safeties by Scout.com Recruited as a linebacker As a senior, he collected over 136 tackles, averaging 9.1 tackles a game, seven interceptions, two blocked punts and a blocked field goal Scored two touchdowns, including one after he forced a fumble in the state championship game Was chosen as a member of the Class 5A all-state team selected by the Florida Sports Writers Association Had over 100 tackles, six interceptions, two blocked punts, two sacks and six fumble recoveries as a sophomore Named as his baseball teams Most Valuable Player High school coach was Bill Castle.
MAJOR: Family, Youth and Community Sciences.
© 1998 - 2015 University Athletic Assoc., Inc., FOX Sports Sun & IMG College. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Chattanooga, Tennessee - home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo, is a modern city combining the best of city life and outdoor activities with history and culture. There is something fun for every one of your guests. Whether shopping at Hamilton Place, taking in a baseball game at Bellsouth Park, biking the Riverfront, or enjoying the opera, your guests will have a memorable stay. Visit the Hunter Museum of American Art and enjoy the spectacular views from its vaulted location.
Kids can discover marine life at the Tennessee Aquarium. Stay at one of Chattanooga's many hotels, B&Bs and Inns. Visit Chattanooga Tourism and discover a great event destination for your next corporate or social event.
1346 Deer Head Cove RoadRising Fawn,
featured forum posts
Ask a question to the
Chattanooga, TN Community
Last Post by Guest posted October 29, 2015
Last Post by posted 19 days ago
Last Post by posted September 20, 2015
Last Post by webma1434098 posted June 11, 2015
Last Post by miche1413606 posted May 14, 2015
start a new discussion
see more posts
featured event planning article
Posted by admin
Planning your wedding can be overwhelming, but taking the time to choose the right venue, caterer, photographer, DJ, and other vendors will help create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. Consider these tips as you begin your search and learn from the experiences of other brides. Read More
Posted by eventective
Planning a party can be a very stressful task and many people don't know where to start. Eventective helps walk you through the process and guide your critical decisions. Read More


text: Historic day as same-sex couples receive marriage licenses Share this story email Share this story «Previous 7 of 17 Photos Next » Read the story « » Gay Marriage Midnight Licenses King County Executive Dow Constantine smiles as he signs a document recognizing "Marriage Equality Day" for couples who had just received some of the first marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in the state in the early morning hours Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Seattle. Constantine began issuing the licenses immediately upon certification of the November election that passed Referendum 74. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)


text:
Every day we face the challenge of persuading others to do what we want. But what makes people say yes to our requests? Persuasion is not only an art, it is also a science, and researchers who study it have uncovered a series of hidden rules for moving people in your direction.
Based on more than 60 years of research into the psychology of persuasion, Yes! reveals 50 simple but remarkably effective strategies that will make you much more persuasive at work and in your personal life, too.
Cowritten by the world's most quoted expert on influence, Professor Robert Cialdini, Yes! presents dozens of surprising discoveries from the science of persuasion in short, enjoyable, and insightful chapters that you can apply immediately to become a more effective persuader.
Why did a sign pointing out the problem of vandalism in the Petrified Forest National Park actually increase the theft of pieces of petrified wood? Why did sales of jam multiply tenfold when consumers were offered many fewer flavors? Why did people prefer a Mercedes immediately after giving reasons why they prefer a BMW? What simple message on cards left in hotel rooms greatly increased the number of people who behaved in environmentally friendly ways?
Often counterintuitive, the findings presented in Yes! will steer you away from common pitfalls while empowering you with little known but proven wisdom.
Whether you are in advertising, marketing, management, on sales, or just curious about how to be more influential in everyday life, Yes! shows how making small, scientifically proven changes to your approach can have a dramatic effect on your persuasive powers.
©2008 Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, and Robert B. Cialdini; (P)2009 Simon & Schuster
"Yes! is the Freakonomics of social psychology. This book changed my way of looking at the world. This thinking is the real deal. Don't miss out!" (Daniel Finkelstein, Comment Editor, The Times, London)
"Not What I Expected"
This book is not what I initially thought it was. I was expecting a book about sales techniques that would act as a template for closing more sales. The approach is much more indirect. Few of the studies were directly related to sales and more about how subtle messages in environment and wording can influence decision-making. That being said, I still enjoyed it and recommend it to sales and marketing professionals.
"Interesting and useful."
The book is, as promised, a well referenced scientific discussion of ways that you can be more persuasive. The narrator is adequate but does not sound like a polished "pro", which in some ways gives it a more authentic feel. The authors try their best to introduce humor and keep it interesting but it is, after all, a review of scientific literature so it is understandable that some parts are a bit dry.
However, the chapters and the book as a whole, are straight to the point and packed with useful information making it much less of an investment in time than most of us have probably wasted elsewhere. The format lends itself well to skipping around and picking out just the points you wish to try to apply. Anyone who is interested in self improvement either personally or in business, as I am sure anyone bothering to read this review is, would do well to not miss out on these tips.
If you are wondering how easily they are applied I have used at least 7 of the techniques in this review. Seriously though, I am so glad that I listened to it that I plan to buy the hard copy in order to have it as a reference. Much of it qualifies as "pearls" that can easily be dolled out at staff meetings and similar venues.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I chose this book over some others in my wish list that were somewhat longer in length. I was very pleased.
This book isn't filled with any 'fluff' but every chapter presents something new and interesting, each having studies and experiments backing them up.
Each of the 50 points were pertinent, interesting and not always obvious. I would say this is a must have book for anyone who needs to sell, garner support, or even avoid being persuaded if they don't want to be.
I'm all thumbs and they're all up for this one.
"Authoritative and well researched"
There is an old adage that half of your marketing budget is wasted. The problem is knowing which half. This book will help you solve that problem.
How? By reconciling perfectly rational decision making with the imperfect irrationality of being human. Beyond the implications of using this book in your career and personal life, it is a fascinating examination of human behavior.
It is easy to read this book as a cookbook: Follow the authors' recipe and voila! But, it is wiser to read this like a chef. Listen closely to explanations to understand the 'raw ingredients' and the 'cooking methods' practiced. Therein lies the key to replicating their results.
Persuasion is a subtle art. You could follow an example to a 'T' and fall short of your goal if you overlook a detail that undermines your intent. The authors hint at this by alluding to the impact of tone of voice, stress, mental fatigue, environment, and cultural perspective on decision making.
So, 1) focus on the cognitive and social psychology that underly the techniques, and 2) be wary of unrelated, situational factors in play that could offset your results.
For example, if a boss who wants to deter employee theft follows 'Yes!' like a cookbook with tepid results, s/he may wonder why. If employees think the boss playing games with their hours just to avoid promised benefits or overtime, workers may be acting out of spite or revenge; or perhaps they are modeling the boss' underhanded sales practices, reflecting his or her 'me first' value system. Such factors were not part of the controlled research studies in the book.
Cialdini's reputation precedes him. His involvement in this book carries weight. Every conclusion drawn is backed by peer-reviewed scientific studies. Alas, the narrator is a bit 'old school' for me, with a touch of that 1970s narration artifice. If that sort of thing may distract you, listen to the sample before you buy.
"Well Rounded!"
This is truly a great piece of work. Well rounded and covers many different situations. One of the most profound materials I have come across & read in a long time.
"Excellent, to-the-point persuasion techniques"
Yes! is a very practical compilation of many persuasive ideas. Some I already knew, some not. The reason I like it is because each point was made succinctly & persuasively, for immediate & practical use, then they move on to the next point. All the information may not be new, but it's good to have it concisely in one place. The reading is clear; it's difficult to make such purely information content exciting, but they do a good enough job & the text includes lots of interesting examples. One suggestion: I'd prefer that the chapter titles were more concrete, less catchy. That way I could write down the point immediately for desktop reference.
"Good Read"
Being in sales, I found this book to be very helpful and provided real life examples of how to use these persuasive techniques, and I must say that most of them work quite well. I have read quite a few persuasive books, and this was up there with the best of them. You will be able to use these techniques almost immediately!!! I have already listened twice and taken notes so I can make these techniques habitual. Good Listen!!!
"Very useful tips"
The book is very well written and laid out. I actually bought it in hopes of picking up some useful sales tips as I start out on a new career path, nervously. The book obviously focuses its topic on Persuasion and not necessarily sales but again, it contains lots of good tips for dealing with many different types of situations.
I liked it so much I went and bought the book. Just get it.
Report Inappropriate Content
If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.


text:
Middle Tennessee Medical Center on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro should have a new name by the end of next week.
- Filed Under
Hospitals and other entities under Saint Thomas Health, including Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, are getting new names under a rebranding initiative.
"With changes in health care delivery, it's important for people in the region to understand the size and scope of Saint Thomas Health," Saint Thomas spokeswoman Rebecca Climer said. The decision is part of a strategic direction and based on research of public awareness of the Catholic-owned hospital system's health ministry, she said.
Climer declined to reveal the new names of the system's area hospitals, but she said ...


text:
Lt. Heidi Boettger and Chief Yeoman Brianne Dentson model prototypes for the female combination cover. Wear tests of the cover begin this month. (MC1 Elliott Fabrizio/Navy)
For coveralls, boondockers, womens uniforms and even the Uniform Board, updates are in the works.
The next change was slated for April 8 and 9, when officials will fit and issue the new female combination cover to three female lieutenants and an admiral at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va. and approximately 15 midshipmen and 10 Navy band members at the Naval Academy as part of a wear test.
Testing includes female sailors donning Dixie cup covers this summer. They will also try out service dress blue jumpers with a side zipper on the blouse, and zippered trousers will soon be tested by sailors in Norfolk, Va. The plan is to roll out the SDBs in tandem with the mens uniform by 2015.
The changes were driven by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who wants more uniformity in the ranks.
Not all changes are about looks. Flame-resistant coveralls are being issued throughout the fleet. Crew members aboard the amphibious assault ship Bataan received the first batch in January.
Every fleet sailor will receive three pairs, with deploying commands getting first dibs; the fielding should be complete by years end. The coveralls are to be worn underway in place of the poly-cotton utility coveralls and the blue-and-gray Navy working uniform both of those uniforms are made of fabric thats susceptible to burning and melting until completely consumed in a fire.
The utility coveralls are still being issued at boot camp, but it is a reasonable assumption that they will be phased out and replaced by the flame-resistant coverall, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens told Navy Times in March.
Lighter on your feet?
Steel-toe boots soon may be a thing of the past. Navy experts are testing new materials in hopes of replacing the steel toe cap with a lightweight but durable resin that would lighten your boondockers. Boots with the new toe caps could be up to 20 percent lighter.
About 400 fleet sailors will test prototype toe caps over the next six months. The protective steel toe is not only too heavy to be comfortable, but it also is liable to transmitting heat or cold to readily to your toes.
Sailors aboard the attack submarine Jimmy Carter were the first to be outfitted. They are in the shipyard, but will be underway long before the six-month evaluation is complete, which provides evaluators the best of both worlds. Sailors in 7th and 3rd Fleets also will participate.
Big changes also are expected behind the scenes. In February, Vice Adm. Bill Moran, the chief of naval personnel, said he was looking for ways to dismantle the Uniform Board and create a smaller, streamlined group that can get uniforms to the fleet faster. As it stands, some uniforms can take forever to reach sailors: Itll take the better part of a decade for sailors to get their redesigned crackerjacks, for example.
As part of the first steps, Navy Exchange Service Command and Naval Supply Systems Command established a Navy Uniform Product Group within NEXCOM. It is unclear how this will fit within the larger vision for a nimbler uniform development process. Moran has said he thinks a much smaller board can do the job.
What we want is good input, good ideas, and [to] be able to attack those ideas in a responsive way, Moran said in a Feb. 18 interview. The [chief of naval operations], myself and the [master chief petty officer of the Navy] we think we can get that information without having to rely on a large board that meets on a routine basis.
Personnel officials are developing more detailed plans for the streamlined structure.■
Answers by RallyPointSEE MORE ANSWERS
Join trending discussions in the military's #1 professional community. See what members like yourself have to say from across the DoD.


text:
- Filed Under
Three men authorities say stole two vehicles in Wisconsin Rapids and drove them to Kenosha face related felony charges in two counties.
On Thursday, a teenage girl who was running away from her Marshfield home and Joseph R. Kaser, 19, Rome were at Hank's Auto, 2410 W. Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids Police Lt. Brian Krzykowski said. The pair, along with Joseph Timothy Karis, 18, Nekoosa, and Cody A. Schladweiler, 18, Rome, took two vehicles from the business, Krzykowski said.
The group headed toward the Illinois border, and the teenage girl became concerned and called her mother, Krzykowski ...


text:
H. Michael Robin Jr., 24, left, and his father, H. Michael Robin, 66, in their 140,000-square-foot snack production facility in Detroit on Thursday
Locally, Grandpapa's may be best known for its line of pork rinds. / Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press
H. Michael Robin arrived in Detroit from his native Baghdad, Iraq, in 1968. The Chaldean immigrant found a job loading potato chips onto delivery trucks.
That modest beginning led to Grandpapas, a snack food manufacturer that is part of Robins $15-million-a-year snack food business. From a newly renovated 140,000-square-foot factory at 6500 Davison in Detroit, Robin ships pallets stacked with cheese curls, cheese balls, and other snacks to nations as diverse as China, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.
Locally, Grandpapas may be best known for its line of pork rinds, although that particular snack food is just the tip of a business operation that ships 99% of its production overseas.
From loading trucks to owning a far-flung export business was a journey of hard work and luck and seizing every opportunity.
Determination and guts and a lot of hard work and dont take no for an answer, Robin, 66, said last week. When you start something you have to really put 150%. Its a lot of your own money, efforts, sleepness nights. Hard work will always get you there.
In Grandpapas cavernous plant, employees wearing hair nets at various machines mix cheese and other ingredients to bake and package the cheese curls and other snacks. Grandpapas also is a co-packer for other brands such as Better Mades potato chips.
Grandpapas is now on the verge of major expansion, which Robin said will boost his workforce from 22 to about 70. The expansion is being underwritten by Urban Partnership Bank, a Chicago operation that recently opened an office in Midtown Detroit.
Invest Detroit, a nonprofit funding operation, brought Grandpapas to the attention of the bank. Melinda Clemons, a lending officer at the bank, worked with Invest Detroit and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to get Robin the funding he needed for his expansion.
Clemons cited Grandpapas strong business model, export focus, and the willingness to take over a vacant industrial building in the city of Detroit. What a great success story, Clemons said last week. When we put all that together, we said, Wow, this would be a great partnership for us.
Robins son, Michael, 24, serves as vice president and checks the export-oriented site Alibaba.com for leads on new opportunities. I get inquiries from the most random countries in the world, he said, including a recent query from French Guiana.
Many of products they ship overseas carry brand names such as Americas Best or Lady Liberty, and all are clearly marked as products made in the U.S.A.
People love American product, Robin said last week. And when a person in Saudi Arabia or the Philippines or wherever eat American product, its a bragging right. Its like Im eating something superior to anything else thats available. And thats what sells.
Contact John Gallagher: 313-222-5173 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
I got rid of all the garbage and line this week.
A Cabelas order was delivered the same day,
More on fishing: Fishing news from around the state | Your fishing photos | Build a map | Read fishing reports
Read more from Len Harris.
Len Harris blogs from the "Heart" of Wisconsin's Driftless Area. Len's passion is small stream trout fishing with every legal means possible. When trout season is closed he writes and takes photos. He even dabbles in a little cooking. Read more of Lens writing on his blog at http://lenharris.blogspot.com/.


text:
micoach is all you need to get the results you want.
Your SelectionClear All
My son is a size 6, so i bought, 6, 6.5 and 7.. Lucky I did!, He needed the 7!. I love that adidas offer free delivery and returns! making ordering different sizes affordable. slightly concerned that the postage cost they pay from germany to the UK and back again would cost them more than the profit on the shoes though? These Adios Boost 2's are perfect for the track or shorter distances when you need a little more support for regular training. The grip is exceptional too. Really impressed with this shoe and will look for a pair for myself now! ... read more
This is the second pair of Adios Boost's I've bought. They are light but offer great support. The continental Tyre grip is long lasting, even after 400 miles. I have worn them for speed work and long runs out in the countryside. ... read more
I recently decided that I would buy some new shoes to help me keep fit during my studying at university. I have suffered with knee problems for the last few years after a minor injury, and would get knee aches after long periods of running, so did my research into finding a supportive shoe to avoid the knee aches I got in previous running shoes. These shoes provide great stability and support that I need and I have now avoided any knee pains whatsoever, and whilst being very supportive the shoe is also extremely lightweight and comfortable, and the Boost soles give an amazing bounce, much greater than all other previous shoes I've owned. I would highly recommend this shoe to any type of runner, the Boost soles especially are a must for anyone! ... read more
When I received the shoes I thought they sent me and empty box. These shoes are lighter than my old Adizero Boston shoes that they replace. The support feels concentrated in the middle of the forefoot. This is where I aim to land my strides. I like the bias cutout on the heel. If you do have a heel landing this shape will have the heel to road contact area almost parallel, so your foot does not get twisted. The laces and the overall shape are almost identical to the Adizero Boston so these too allow a perfect snug fit, but the Adios may even be better than their predecessors. ... read more
I run two marathons per year, one in the spring and one in the fall each year. My shoe is the adios. That shoe was moved to boost technology. I purchased my first pair in early 2014, orange and silver, started experiencing slight knee discomfort after my first run, but I thought it was a running technique issue. I raced one marathon in those shoes. Purchased a second, same issue although not as bad. My current pair, purchased in Feb 2015, have caused even more knee discomfort. I wish there was an adios option without boost technology. Otherwise, I'm afraid I am going to move to another shoe maker. I would like to avoid because all my running apparel (running shorts, short and long-sleeve running shirts, socks, pants, jackets, gloves, beanies) are also adidas. ... read more
I ran 15 mile long run with this shoes as soon as it was delivered. Despite the lack of time to get used to, or feeling comfortable about it, the shoes fit perfectly. I really liked it particularly its light and nimble structure. I strongly recommend this product. ... read more
I already owned a pair of Adios Boost flats but needed a similar shoe that I could use regularly during my speed workouts. I just ordered the exact same size as my Adios and they fit like a glove. With about 20km on them so far I can say that they are very pleasant to use on the road and yes, they are very fast. If you already own another pair in the boost family, you will not be disappointed with the Bostons. They are fast, yet you can still feel supported. ... read more
I'm a long term fan of the Boston line, perfect fit for my feet, and used them for road and trail. Initially I was pleased with the upgrade to the Boost midsole - shoes felt fast and lighter than the previous version and still a great fit. I've used them on runs of 5 miles to 100. The downside for me compared to the previous version is the much reduced durability of the sole unit. I have 2 pairs, one of which has 300 miles on it but feels more like my Boston 3s or 4s at 500 miles. Except for the first 100 miles they don't seem to have the firm heel and that snap off the road that i like so much on the pre-Boost Boston and Adios2. Ideally i'd like the Boost cushioning just in the fore/mid foot. ... read more
The last 2 years i have been regularily training and running in half marathons. I have found these shoes to be excellent from the get go. For a runner weighting 100kg I find these shoes make me feel light and energenic ... read more
These shoes look great and work well for the gym. Not every shoe is good for both inside the gym and outside on the track. I have to watch for shoes that will not turn an ankle and these shoes fit the bill! Adidas shoes last well and fit very wide feet. I don't mind spending more for Adidas shoes because I know they will fit, do the job and last! ... read more
Simply a perfect fit and an anatomically correct sole. Finally, a shoe company who doesn't think it can replace millions of years of evolution of the human suspension system with a few millimetres of man made foam ! ... read more
I have fairly narrow feet and purchased these at size 10 based on my experience with the Boston 4s 9.5 being just too small on my left foot. In other brands, size 9.5 fits best. Unfortunately, my feet felt like they were losing circulation as soon as I put these on, as they are very narrow. I was wearing thin socks. The construction, lightness, airyness, and boost mid soles were all things I was looking for, so I was sad to have to return them. I'm now interested in the adios boost, and will try them on to see if they fit a little wider. I'm also getting more used to lower heel drops, and would have happily used the Boston 5s for my recovery runs and longer runs, had they not been too narrow. ... read more
The Adios are for mid-foot strikers. That's the healthy and natural way to run. Heel-strikers need a lot of cushioning, cause they're running the wrong way - jump on your heels, bare foot, and you'll understand what I say. So, the Adios boost might be a bit softer in the heel, but is still very firm and responsive in the mid and forefoot, so, still an amazing shoe. Adidas is number one - though not on the availability of the products, but they might have been surprised by their own succes.... ... read more
I have started to use these trainers as I am planning a run from Reading to Maidenhead I needed something relatively light and comfortable. I have been running on these now for almost two weeks and find them easy going I would certainly recommend. ... read more
well, I really, really, I like 'em. What else is there to say.the top is so light you feel like you are running bare foot. the bottom is elastic and very supportive. I got them as a replacement for the same I already have, although the one's I have are still fine after 6 months of haevy use. The thing with adidas is that they change the shapes and widths of their products so often, so much so that by the time you need replacements you realise that your type is discontinued. I will definitelly get a second resrve pair if they ever go on sale. Super shoes! ... read more
I own both the supernova glide 6, and the adios boost 1. So was stoked to finally complete the neutral set with the boston 5. I chose to go with a half-size up from my size for the adios and glide, and I have to say I'm happy I did. This shoe does run slightly small. It is also quite narrow. I have a reasonably narrow foot however, and the ride on this shoe is incredible (i wanted something that sat pretty much right in between the glide and adios in terms of cushioning and responsiveness). I've been using it for everything from a 4km time trial to a 90 min trail run (though the grip isn't that suitable for anything other than the driest of trails), and I am loving the boston 5! BUT! What have you done with this toe-box Adidas? It's swede, and as such makes little folds inwards instead of sitting nice and uniformly, which can press a little uncomfortably into your big toes. I don't notice it while running, and hopefully the material will soften as I continue to break the shoes in, but please Adidas, I love this shoe. Take the end of the toe-box from the glide, stick it on future models, and you could be on to a winner. ... read more
I had to buy a half size larger like the Glide Boost I'm wearing now. The Glide Boost is more cushioned but the Boston Boost is much lighter. I'm training for a full marathon so the light weight would be an asset. The Boston fit like the Glide, more comfortable and cushioned than another major brand I've switched from. Also Adidas seems to have narrower toe box which is ok for me since I have narrow feet. ... read more
I've raced in all generations of the boston from 5k to Marathon and take the Boston 5 to the world masters this year with confidence. its light and fast with just enough protection when form goes out the window in the last 10k of a Marathon. ... read more
I don't normally write reviews but I felt compelled too. I will say that shoes are a very individual thing, especially for distance running and I've tried a few but these have come out on top. I'll be running my 30+ (lost actual count) marathon in 2 weeks time in a pair of these and I'll bounce around in sub 3 or my money back (I won't actually get money back if I don't or want it any way). And remember these work for me, for what I do. That doesn't mean they'll work the same for you :) ... read more
I am using adidas shoes from past 10 years and this is one of best shoes I have ever used. its very comfortable and doesnt pain your feet. More I wear the more I am liking this product. the thing I didnt like too much is its color, it extremely blue in colour than I thought. ... read more
Absolutely the best running shoes I have ever owned. Light, fast and responsive with just enough cushioning for longer runs. Only drawbacks are slightly too small sizing (as normal with adidas) and laces are a bit too snazzy for my liking. Usually adidas include another less conspicuous pair but not in this instance sadly. Great running shoes tho, highly recommended. ... read more
I am a huge Adidas fan. Love the Boost and Adios line. Been training and racing with them for about 5 years now. I ran the San Diego Marathon on 31May15. My right foot began to hurt about mile 10 or so. (I am a mid-foot striker). I am not sure if it was anything I did but the pain left after about 2-3 miles. About 17 or 18 the pain was much worse but this time in my left foot. The pain forced me to walk and jog and I was done. I completed the race way slower then I anticipated. I want to say the shoe was great up to a Half-Marathon distance. I don't think there is enough cushion and support for a marathon. I will stick to the Boston Boost. Anyone else have similar problems? I am 49 yoa. I do 1-2 marathons a year. I train all the time and have a 3:07:11 PR for the 26.2 haul. ... read more
I've used the original adios and every version since. Fantastic shoes, I just wish the toe box was a little wider on the latest incarnation, as the mesh can be quite abrasive on the pinky toe. Would love it if there were more customisation options for sizing again. ... read more
I have been running in Adidas adizero shoes for several years now, and have been very satisfied with the fit and feel. I wanted to touch on the color of the Adizero Boost 2.0 listed as "Mid grey/flash red/flash green", as this was a major problem for me. On the website, the shoe is shown as gray with a red stripe and a green bottom. To me, that is great, however, when the shoes arrived, they were both gray, but one had a red stripe and green bottom like that pictured, but the other had a green stripe with a red bottom. I thought this was a mistake at first, called Adidas, and returned the shoe after they also thought this was a mistake (two shoes that don't really match). I re-ordered the same shoe, and to little surprise, it was still mismatched. I am attaching pictures to show what I mean. After carefully looking at the website, it is very clear that only the left shoe is shown with the green bottom. I am very disappointed in Adidas for not making this clear on their site or to their customer service reps and will be returning these again, as I really dislike the mis-matched look. ... read more
Having owned several pair of energy boosts I wanted so etching a little quicker. This shoe certainly helped me !!! They are so comfy , have great grip and dry quickly, it's no wonder why this shoe is so popular in the racing world. As someone who has really got into racing this trainer has really helped me to improve my game! ... read more


text:
- Filed Under
Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are fully open. How long they will remain open depends upon whether House leaders have learned they must stand up to the loose cannons in their midst.
President Obama early Thursday signed legislation to keep federal money flowing through Jan. 15 and raise the debt limit through Feb. 7. The two houses of Congress are to reach an accord by Dec. 13 on tax and spending policies for the next decade.
That last is going to require some heavy lifting on both sides of the aisle. An accord isn't likely unless Democrats accept some reductions in spending and Republicans some increases in revenue.
Last week's deal was reached because enough Republicans, including Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina and 10th District Rep. Patrick McHenry, voted to end the stalemate. However they may have felt about the issues, they recognized the nation could not be allowed to default on its obligations. Rep. Mark Meadows of Glenville voted against the agreement.
Key figures in both parties were saying the right things Thursday. "We've got to get out of the habit of governing by crisis," the president said. "We've got to assure the American public that we are not going to do this again," said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican whom Obama beat to reach the presidency in 2008.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, made a good point when he said the president must be involved in the tax and spending negotiations. The president wants to see immigration and agriculture bills passed while the pressure is off, but he may have to set aside those goals in the interest of getting the budget on a stable footing.
The optimistic view is that the president is stronger. After all, he got precisely what he said he wanted, clean budget and debt bills, and the crisis forced Democrats who had bucked the president on other issues to unite behind him. As for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, he scored points with House hardliners by not giving in until the debt deadline gave him no choice.
The problem with that scenario is that the hardliners show no indication of bending on their demands, which for the moment center on undermining the Affordable Care Act. The lesson they seem to be drawing from this sorry affair isn't that they were wrong in pushing the global economy to the brink of chaos, but that they didn't fight hard enough to win showdowns on unacceptable demands.
No democracy can be governed on the basis of ultimatums. If the extremists will not budge, Boehner will have to deal again with Democrats in order to reach accord.
The shutdown took $24 billion out of the economy, according to Standard & Poor's. The very possibility of default was making people nervous around the world. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park shutdown alone cost eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina more than $3.3 million a day, according to Steve Morse, director of Western Carolina University's hospitality and tourism program.
This is no time to worry about political advantage or the 2014 elections. If Washington is to avert a repeat of this fiasco, those willing to negotiate must negotiate and those who will not negotiate must be marginalized.
Conservative kingpin Grover Norquist, who has gotten quite a few things wrong in his time, got it right when told National Journal, "It'd be a good idea if they (shutdown proponents) stopped referring to other Republicans as Hitler appeasers because they opposed the strategy they put forward which failed. I think if you make a mistake as big as what they did, you owe your fellow senators and congressmen a big apology - and your constituents, as well, because nothing they did advanced the cause of repealing or dismantling Obamacare."
Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho, a favorite of the fringe element, insisted that Republicans should not negotiate with the president because "he's trying to destroy the Republican Party." Obama doesn't need to try, as long as people such as Labrador are doing such a good job of it.


text:
COLUMBIA — For less than the money the state Revenue Department spent on hotel rooms last year, the agency could have upgraded its password protection, a move one senator says would have prevented the nightmarish data breach that could end up costing the state at least $14 million.
That was among several revelations Wednesday as senators questioned Department of Revenue Director Jim Etter and others about the breach and what could have been done to prevent it.
Etter said the agency will spend about $25,000 to upgrade its password protection to a dual-password system many cyber security experts say is basic protection with large data systems.
The Department of Revenue breach occurred after an employee opened a malicious email that allowed the hacker to copy the employees password and user name, the director of a security firm hired by the revenue department told a Senate panel. The hacker used the credentials to gain access to the system and eventually send a mountain of data outside the agency.
Sen. Kevin Bryant, an Anderson Republican who is co-chair of the special Senate Finance Subcommittee investigating the hacking, said he was dumbfounded at what Etter said.
I almost fell out of my chair, Bryant said after the hearing. The cheaper technology would have prevented this crime.
The agency spent $42,110 on in-state hotel rooms during travel last year, according to the state comptroller generals website.
Etter, who has resigned his job effective at the end of December, also disclosed that the agency studied the idea of encrypting all the agencys data in 2006 but rejected it as cost ineffective because it was thought then to cost $5 million.
Etter, hired in 2011, also told the panel that the agencys cyber security officer position was vacant for almost a year, from September 2011 until August of this year, because the agencys $100,000 salary for the post wasnt competitive with the private sector.
That drew criticism from senators, who questioned why Etter didnt do more to raise the salary and get the post filled.
Why was someone not screaming from the rooftops? Bryant asked. How many banks go 11 months without a security guard?
Etter said the agencys chief information officer acted as its cyber security chief during the vacancy but left in September for reasons unrelated to the hacking. He said the Department of Revenue hired a cyber security officer in August, just as the agency was unknowingly being hacked.
The breach exposed 3.8 million taxpayers Social Security numbers, 3.3 million bank account numbers and data for nearly 700,000 businesses, officials have said, angering citizens and prompting lawmakers and Gov. Nikki Haley to demand improved security procedures for the states computers.
Wednesdays hearing was the second appearance by Etter before a Senate panel, and both have left senators with questions and frustration.
The government dropped the ball, Bryant said. This is a disaster.
Etter tried to mitigate any criticism by repeatedly telling the four-member panel that the agency had met IRS security guidelines. But several senators called the guidelines minimal, and Bryant described Etters explanation as a red herring.
Etter also noted that the agency last year asked for $14.4 million for an upgraded computer system, money, he said, that would have paid for encrypting all the data. House budget writers turned down the request, he said. The agency did encrypt credit and debit card information and any data being transmitted in or out of the system.
Bryant said he doesnt recall the Senate Finance Committee ever being asked by Etter for money to improve cyber security.
The Anderson pharmacist raised the issue of a dual-password system after noting his business uses a small device that generates new passwords every minute that have to be used in addition to normal passwords for bank deposits.
Using such a system could have reduced the risk the agency had to hacking, said Jimmy Earley, director of the state Division of Information Technology.
It would certainly have been a deterrent, he told the senators.
Marshall Heilman agreed. Heilman, a director of the cyber security firm Mandiant, hired by the revenue department in the wake of the breach, said in hindsight the two measures that made the agency most vulnerable to hacking were the lack of a dual-password system and the lack of encryption.
Officials with the revenue agencies in Georgia and North Carolina say their departments have encrypted all their data, GreenvilleOnline.com has previously reported.
Etter, however, said in a telephone survey of 20 states, only four reported they had encrypted all data and the IRS doesnt require it. The Department of Revenue is in the process of encrypting more of its data now, said Etter, who also argued that many breaches in other states go undisclosed.
Etter declined to answer some questions publicly about specific security measures the agency had taken, saying it would jeopardize the agencys system.
The revenue department declined until after the hacking to use a free monitoring system offered by Earleys office. About 50 state agencies use the monitoring, including the State Law Enforcement Division.
Etter said the DSIT monitoring system isnt certified by credit card industry standards, which is why the Department of Revenue hired a private firm, Trustwave. That firm did quarterly vulnerability scans on the agency, Etter said, until recently, when the scans were increased to monthly.
Earley said while he doesnt know of another agency breach to compare to the revenue departments, other than the theft of records by a Medicaid agency employee earlier this year, many agencies are being attacked on a regular basis.
Unlike 10 or 20 years ago when hacking was done by curious college students, he said many breaches these days are done by organized crime or by nation-inspired groups. Data is stolen now for money, he said.
He said agencies on a daily basis are subject to millions of probes by hackers, and each week his security staff investigates 25-30 events that could include breaches. But Earley said while security should be improved, there is no magic solution to prevent all attacks.
The best thing we can do as a state is work together, he said. We need a statewide solution to security.
Bryant said that solution should include some basic security steps. He said he believes South Carolina was picked by the hacker because the Department of Revenues security system was lacking.
Obviously a criminal is going to go into a door that is unlocked rather than a door with 15 locks, he said.
Why is our most sensitive information the easiest to get into? That is a mystery to me. We dont need to have the easiest database to crack into and obviously we were.


text:
The Commit to Mitt Early Vote Express, which stopped in New Philadelphia near the Tuscarawas County Courthouse on Thursday stressed the importance of early voting, especially in swing districts..
With 20 days to go before the presidential election, both the campaigns for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have been encouraging their constituents to vote early.
It's no secret that both campaigns are targeting the swing state of Ohio, and the 6th District may decide the race, according to Rep. Bill Johnson, the Republican incumbent for the district.
On Thursday, Johnson joined Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor on the Commit to Mitt Early Vote Express, which stopped in New Philadelphia, near the Tuscarawas County Courthouse. The tour also stopped in Muskingum, Coshocton, Holmes and Jefferson counties.
Not only did the duo stress the importance of their supporters voting early, they also mentioned the importance of swing districts.
"Right here the 6th District is a swing district. You don't win the state without winning the 6th District," Johnson said.
Following the redistricting of Tuscarawas County (formerly the 18th District), dubbed swing voters in the 6th District include residents from Uhrichsville, Dennison and Newcomerstown, as well as residents from the suburbs of Youngstown to the outskirts of Portsmouth in southern Ohio.
Addressing a small group of supporters who joined Taylor and Johnson on the tour bus, Taylor encouraged them to vote early and then go and encourage others as well. She said early voting makes it far more convenient for Ohioans and she expects a greater turnout as a result.
While there is still one presidential debate left, Taylor said "I trust Ohioans to know when they've made up their minds."
By Wednesday evening, 10,000 Tuscarawas County residents participated in early voting, according to Chuck Miller, director of the county board of elections.
Carl Russo, 55, of New Philadelphia, already cast his vote for Romney.
"There is no other choice if you want to maintain the country and get it back," he said. "If your personal income was in debt 60 percent over the last 3.5 years, you yourself would be in the poor house. What makes you think the nation isn't going to go to the poor house?"
Gail Houglan, 56, of Dover, said she would like to vote early. "I have Christian values. I personally don't believe in abortion and some of the things Obama promotes and I think we need a change. I'm voting for my values not the candidate."
While meeting with supporters, Taylor spoke about Romney's plan for helping the economy and repealing the Affordable Care Act.
Taylor said Ohio is fourth in the nation for job creation and continues to grow. She blasted Obama's policies saying Ohio has succeeded in spite of him — not because of him.
"We've had the wind in our face," she said.
She said the federal mandates, including the Affordable Care Act, will kill jobs.
Page 2 of 2 - She also said Romney will cut the federal deficit by making budget cuts in a similar style as Gov. John Kasich, by going through "line by line" to determine what programs are effective and which programs can be reduced.
Not giving specifics on which items may be cut, she said the best way to help the unemployed and underemployed citizens is job creation through tax cuts.
"The biggest solution is to give the free market opportunity to create jobs and allow more Americans to keep more of their tax dollars, and not taxing these small businesses more but reducing taxes and their regulatory burden so that they can put that money and that time back into their business," Taylor said. "They can reinvest and create new technology ... and then put the money back into hiring folks."
Comments are currently unavailable on this article
Location, ST | website.com