text:
Certification Program
Following an on-site visit in May 2012 by three IFSAC members, the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Board of Governors voted to accredit PCC's Fire Protection Technology Program on September 22, 2012. The next site visit will occur in 2017.
IFSAC member entities include 39 states, the United States Department of Defense, 10 Canadian provinces, the Republic of South Africa, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Kingdom, and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Fire service personnel in Oregon may become certified by successfully passing a certification examination. The certification process is available to any member of a recognized fire department, emergency response organization, or student of a training/education institution within the State of Oregon. Candidates must score 70% on the written examination. Skills examinations are scored on a pass/fail basis. Study Guides for each level of certification offered by the FPT are available below. The following certification levels are offered by the FPT:
Certification Level Study Guides
- Fire Fighter I
- Fire Fighter II
- Supplemental ICS Study Material for Fire Fighter II
- Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Personnel
- Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responder, including:
- Hazardous Materials Mission Specific, Section 6.2 - PPE
- Hazardous Materials Mission Specific, Section 6.6 - Product Control
- Supplemental Safety Data Sheet Study Material for Hazardous Materials Operations
Testing Schedule
PCC will be conducting the following IFSAC accredited certification tests. Testing is limited to a maximum of 24 applicants per day. If more than 24 register, a second date will be added. Note: if fewer than 10 applicants register, the test will be cancelled until the following scheduled date. Once you register, a confirmation email will be sent confirming your registration and testing date.
Fire Fighter I
- Testing:
- Written and Skill
- Date:
- June 17, 2016 (registration closed)
- Next testing date:
- December 16, 2016
- Time:
- 9am to 3pm
- Location:
- Clark County Fire District #3, Station 31
17718 NE 159th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98606
Fire Fighter II
- Testing:
- Written and Skill
- Date:
- June 18, 2016 (registration closed)
- Next testing date:
- December 17, 2016
- Time:
- 9am to 3pm
- Location:
- Clark County Fire District #3, Station 31
17718 NE 159th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98606
Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Personnel
- Testing:
- Written
- Date:
- June 16, 2016 (registration closed)
- Next testing date:
- September 8, 2016
- Time:
- 9am to 1pm
- Location:
- Portland Community College, Cascade Campus
909 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR, 97217
- Room:
Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responder
- Testing:
- Written and Skill
- Date:
- June 16, 2016 (registration closed)
- Next testing date:
- September 8, 2016
- Time:
- 9am to 1pm
- Location:
- Portland Community College, Cascade Campus
909 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR, 97217
- Room:
Registration and Application
The certification testing application process has two steps. First, go online and register for testing. Next, go online and complete an application for a testing date. After your application for a testing date is received, you will receive an email confirming your admission in the requested testing date, along with testing information.
- Register for testing
- Apply for a testing date
Policies and Procedures
Policies and Procedures for PCC's fire fighter certification program.
If you have any questions please contact the Fire Fighter Certification Program, 971-722-5494, or:
Portland Community College
Fire Protection Technology
Fire Fighter Certification Program
705 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, Oregon 97217
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an IFSAC accredited Oregon Fire Fighter I or II certificate?
There are two steps you will need to follow before you can receive Oregon IFSAC accredited certification. First, you will need to meet the required qualifications/prerequisites, and second, you will need to successfully pass the certification examination process. Review the Fire Fighter Certification guide for the level of certification desired to get information on qualifications/prerequisites and examinations.
What is IFSAC accredited certification?
The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) is one of two fire service certification accrediting bodies recognized by States, the U.S. Department of Defense and many foreign countries including Canada. Certifications received from an IFSAC accredited entity are recognized by all other IFSAC accredited entities. As a result, the certifications you receive from PCC FPT are recognized by most States, the U.S. Department of Defense and many foreign countries including Canada. Certifications from entities not accredited by IFSAC are only recognized by the entity awarding the certification. This means you ARE NOT certified outside the state where you were awarded the certifications, e.g., you will need to start over.
How much will certification cost me?
The fees for each certification test are identified in Section 5-6 of PCC's Certification Policies and Procedures Manual. The fee for each certification level is as follows:
|Certification Level
|Cost Per Certification Level
|HM Awareness
(HM Written)
|HM Operations
(HM Ops Written + HM Ops Skill)
($14.00 + $52.00)
|Fire Fighter I
(FF I Written + FF I Skill)
($14.00 + $207.00)
|Fire Fighter II
(FF II Written + FF II Skill)
($14.00 + $136.00)
Will PCC FPT grant reciprocity for my certifications from Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) or another state?
PCC FPT will only grant reciprocity for certifications received from an IFSAC accredited entity. In addition, the certification must be current and it must be one of the certification levels PCC FPT has been accredited to certify.
Basis of the PCC FPT Certification System
Equal Access for All
Applications for certification will be accepted from any person meeting the criteria listed in the Certification Policies and Procedures and specified in the appropriate certification guide. Applications will be accepted without regard to race, color, religion, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, or status as a military veteran. Applications will be accepted without regard to age, as long as the applicant is at least 18 years of age upon the date of the examination. Applications will be accepted without regard to disability, as long as that disability does not hinder the applicant's ability to perform the psychomotor requirements identified in the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Professional Qualifications Standards for the certification level applied for by the applicant. Where appropriate, accommodation for a disability is permitted. If you have any questions regarding certification, please, contact Portland Community College (PCC), Fire Protection Technology (FPT) program by calling 971-722-5494.
Legal Authority
Authority to award International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) accredited certification in Oregon was granted to PCC FPT program by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) through a letter of empowerment dated April 9, 2009. DPSST retains legal authority to award Oregon certification.
The PCC FPT program has been accredited by the IFSAC to certify fire service personnel to accepted national standards. Oregon fire service personnel that are successful in completing the certification process achieve international certification. Accreditation of the PCC FPT program certification process assures the Oregon fire service that standards used within the system adhere to the most current recognized NFPA Professional Qualification standards. The assurances gained through an accredited certification process provide credibility and prestige for every fire fighter participating. As a result, fire fighters certified through PCC's FPT program are recognized throughout most of North America and internationally as meeting the Professional Qualifications standards set forth by the NFPA.
Certification Recognition
Once candidates have successfully met the certification requirements, the individual's name is entered in the PCC FPT certification data bank, as well as the international certification data bank maintained by IFSAC. An official seal from the IFSAC is affixed to every certificate of certification and includes a unique individual international certification number.
System Integrity
The requirements, criteria, and processes set forth are used to ensure the highest possible credibility and stature for candidates in the PCC FPT certification system. These processes help ensure certified fire service personnel are among the most highly respected fire fighters in the world.
Entering the System
Qualified personnel from any recognized fire department, emergency response organization, or students of a training/education institution within the State of Oregon may participate in the certification system. Applicants must enter the certification system at the level for which qualified. For example, Fire Fighter I must be completed before Fire Fighter II.
Application & Fees
Every individual seeking certification within the PCC FPT certification system must submit an application and the fee to secure entrance into the system. Applications for each level and category of certification may be obtained from the PCC FPT at no cost or can be downloaded. The PCC FPT requires an application with payment at least 14 days prior to testing. Individuals seeking certification must pay the appropriate fees prior to testing. The Fire Protection Technology Program will not "bill" individuals for the certification fee.
Approved Methods of Payment
PCC accepts credit and debit cards when registering. Payment is required at time of registration. Purchase orders from a city/organization may be accepted by contacting William Benjamin at 971-722-5494. After completing the registration, applicants must submit an application for testing. Any application received without prior to registering will not be accepted. The PCC FPT accepts applications at any time. Registration and application must be completed at least 30 days prior to the exam date identified by the candidate. NO "WALK-IN" REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT ANY TEST SITE! Applicants will receive a confirmation after the application has been processed.
Refunds of Registration Fees
A request for registration refund must be made prior to the exam date. Registration fees will not be refunded if you fail to request a refund prior to the certification exam. Refunds will be applied to the credit or debit card used to pay the registration fee. NO CASH REFUNDS.
Testing Deadlines
Candidates testing for any level of certification will be given six (6) months to complete the certification process for the certification level being sought. The six (6) month time limit begins on the date of the initial certification examination attempted by the candidate. This includes any retests required.
Candidates are encouraged to complete as many documentation requirements as possible, prior to applying for certification. Detailed documentation requirements can be found in the Certification Guide, including the Local Verification found at the end of the Guide. After the expiration of the time limit allotted for certification, candidates that have not completed the certification process, including any retests, will be required to submit a new application, pay a new certification fee, and complete the entire certification process, regardless of any portion successfully completed during the previous certification process. This includes all documentation requirements identified in the Certification Guide.
Certification Exam Availability
Every qualified individual seeking certification will be allowed access to the certification exam process (see "Certification Requirements" and "Membership & Residency" in the certification policy and procedures manual).
A list of exam sites is maintained by the PCC FPT and is available to any interested party. Candidates are required to pre-register for exams through PCC FPT. The pre-registration process ensures that adequate resources are available and that no test site is overburdened with too many candidates to test within the allotted time. Pre-registration may be accomplished as explained in the "Application and Fees"section above. Restricted test sites are also conducted for fire departments having enough candidates to "fill" a test site. Fire departments wishing to schedule a restricted test site should contact the PCC FPT for more information.
Facial Hair Policy
Persons with beards or facial hair in the area of the SCBA face piece seal (including full-face beards, muttonchops, goatees, etc.) will not be permitted to participate in the skills exam for any certification level that requires the use of self contained breathing apparatus. This policy will be strictly enforced. No exceptions to this policy will be granted. This is in conjunction with 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory Protection Standard.
Exam Results
After candidates have completed the exam process, the PCC FPT begins the process of scoring and processing the test results. As soon as grading, processing, and documentation is complete, the results are sent to the candidates via U.S. Mail. To ensure candidate confidentiality, certification exam results will not be released on the telephone, through email, or by any other mechanism. The candidate should receive test results within 20 working days of the exam. If candidates do not receive their test results within 20 working days, they should notify the PCC FPT. Please DO NOT contact the PCC FPT Certification and Accreditation Unit prior to the 20 working days.
Upon successful completion of the certification process, the applicant's name will be entered into the PCC FPT certification database and the International Certification Database maintained by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). Individuals will also receive (at no additional cost), an individualized certificate recognizing International Certification through PCC FPT. This certificate will also bear a numbered seal from the IFSAC. NOTICE: PCC FPT will only issue one International Certification certificate bearing an IFSAC numbered seal. Applicants are responsible for keeping copies of all documents!!
Denial and Revocation of Certification
The PCC FPT may deny or revoke an individual's certification if that individual knowingly submits false information to the PCC FPT or cheats during the evaluation process.
Appeal Process
If certification is denied or revoked, the individual is entitled to due process, including an appeal and hearing. Any person believing that he/she has not received fair treatment within the certification process is also entitled to the appeal process.
Issues that arise during the testing process will be addressed by the Lead Proctor. The PCC FPT certification program manager is responsible for appeals not resolved on-site, appeals arising from the application process, and appeals arising from the certification process.
The first step in the appeal process arising from an on-site testing issue is to contact the Lead Proctor. The first step in the appeal process arising out of the application process or as a result of denial or revocation is to contact the PCC FPT certification program manager.
All appeals must be initiated in writing or by personal contact (or telephone) and must be initiated within 90 days of the action being appealed. The candidate may request the review be conducted through a meeting with the certification program manager.
If the appeal is not resolved at the first step, a candidate may appeal to the Portland Community College Fire Service Certification Program Appeals Board. This appeal must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the certification program manager's review. Candidates may request a formal review of the appeal through a meeting with the Portland Community College Fire Service Certification Program Appeals Board. The decision of the Portland Community College Fire Service Certification Program Appeals Board will be final.
The Appeals Process is found in Chapter 11 of the Certification Policies and Procedures Manual.


text:
Page 1 of 4
AHMEDABAD: The recent outbreak of swine flu in the state has resulted in 23 deaths even as 82 patients are being treated in various hospitals.
Divulging details on swine flu cases in the state, government spokesperson Nitin Patel said that of the dead persons three were from Rajasthan. He said that maximum 28 positive cases have been reported from Rajkot, while the figure for Ahmedabad, Kutch and Vadodara is 12, 9 and 3 respectively.
The minister claimed that all the major government hospitals have sufficient stock of medicines and detection kits to deal with the situation. "We expect that with the increase in daily temperatures, the incidence of swine flu will go down," he said.
Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.
Interest Networkitimes

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Federal Reserve Delays Enforcement of Volcker Rule
The Federal Reserve and other banking regulators have granted banks a two-year grace period to come into compliance with the Volcker Rule. That's one of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul bill passed nearly two years ago. It restricts U.S. banks from making trades that put the bank and depositor funds at risk. But regulators are struggling to iron out the details of those rules.
Some other news. The Federal Reserve and other banking regulators have granted banks a two-year grace period to come into compliance with the Volcker Rule. That's one of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill passed a couple of years ago. It restricts American banks from making trades that put the bank and depositor funds at risk.
But as NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports, regulators are struggling to iron out the details.
YUKI NOGUCHI, BYLINE: The principle of the Volcker Rule - named after former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker - is to restrict a bank from taking too many risks with its own proprietary trading. But as a practical matter, defining what is risky is fraught with more questions. How risky, exactly is too risky? Would, for example, investments in government bonds - once considered very safe, now be considered risky?
Nancy Bush is contributing editor to trade publication SNL Financial.
NANCY BUSH: It's a nightmare. To me, it just illustrates the degree of complexity and the degree to which quote, "safe" activities and quote, "non-safe" activities in the banking industry are so difficult to differentiate.
NOGUCHI: The Volcker Rule and other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act were to go into effect this July. But, of course, you can't enforce rules unless you have them. The Fed and other regulators therefore said it would delay enforcement of its to-be-announced rules until July 21st, 2014.
Yuki Noguchi, NPR News, Washington.
Copyright © 2012 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.
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text:
Riverview teacher is finalist for state teacher of the year
Published: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 3:19 p.m.
SARASOTA - The past year has been something of a whirlwind for Riverview High School marine science teacher Katrin Rudge.
Last May, the Aquadome — a state-of-the art, hands-on learning center for agriscience, aquaculture and marine science — opened on campus. In March, Rudge was named Sarasota County teacher of the year. Then Wednesday, Rudge was named one of five finalists for the 2014 Macy's/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year award.
"I'm from a research background," Rudge said. "I'm used to doing stuff on my own, not having much visibility.
"Getting this recognition is something I have to get used to, but I'm fine with it and excited and glad the school is getting some notoriety with this program — which is an awesome program in Sarasota County.
Rudge received the news Wednesday morning as Florida DOE Chancellor Pam Stewart, along with Colleen Reidy, Macy's district vice president, visited the school's Aquadome. There they made a surprise announcement, complete with confetti cannons and a banner that read, "Congratulations ... You are a Macy's Teacher of the Year Finalist."
"It's unbelievable," Rudge said, shortly after filming a promotional TV spot with Macy's. "When you do what you love, you're not looking for that recognition.
"But the hours of work have paid off."
"Just seeing the kids and how excited they are about this program, that's enough for me," she quickly added. "It's icing on the cake."
"It's a wonderful program where students see science can be applied in business."
As part of the honor Rudge received a $5,000 check made possible by the Macy's Foundation and a $500 Macy's gift card.
A $1,000 check, also paid for by the Macy's Foundation, was given to Riverview High School.
The winner of the 2014 Macy's/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year award will be announced during a July 11 ceremony, hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Deborah Norville at Orlando's Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios CityWalk.
If she is selected, Rudge would be the second state teacher of the year for both Sarasota County and Riverview High School in the 46-year-old awards program, following in the footsteps of 1985 Teacher of the Year Edith H. Smith, who taught 11th grade English at Riverview that year.
"We're thrilled," said Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Lori White. "Katrin Rudge is a wonderful representative for our district and she also exemplifies some key priorities in the state with career technical education.
"She helps the students make the connection from a career technical education perspective to their careers post secondary."
Rudge has been a teacher in the Sarasota County school system for about 11 years. Since the Aquadome opened a year ago, the school's marine science curriculum has thrived.
"Our grand opening was May 5 of last year," Rudge said. "The Aquadome is the essential part of the program — that makes it work."
The Rockville, Md., native then went on to talk about how important the students and fellow teachers were to the curriculum, especially the "Stars to Starfish" program developed along with the school's planetarium.
In that 20-minute lesson, student interns divide elementary school classes into groups of 10 and guide them from outer space to inner space and the oceans — passing along a spark for science.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
by Emily Atkin Aug 27, 2015
He and his staff are taking violent threats seriously and said that "authorities have been notified."
by Emily Atkin Aug 26, 2015
Marriage equality is the one thing that's historically been a sore subject for otherwise LGBT-friendly Denver.
by Scott Keyes Feb 7, 2014
If you live in Baltimore, make sure you put on a warm coat before finding out the answer.
by Judd Legum Dec 4, 2013
A new independent report reveals that the Denver Sheriff's Department repeatedly ignored dozens of serious complaints by inmates against deputies -- including numerous allegations of choking, racial epithets, and sexual harassment.


text:
Media Troubled Times
posted by December 28 at 10:25 AMon
Originally posted yesterday.
Puget Sound Business Journal has the scoop on financial woes at the Seattle Times.
Blethen said the Times' print revenue losses for 2007 and 2008 will total about $33 million, and senior leadership has "amazingly" found $21 million in cost reductions, but "we still need another $6 million to ensure stability next year."


text: "It´s all about these joyful moments of storytelling - and this is what these little cameras can do!" Anthony Dod Mantle NAB2016 Visit us in Central Hall, Booth C7947! Ultra-small LTE-streaming field units. Indiecam´s professional VR-camera of miniscule size. NEWSLETTER Email Address * First Name Last Name * indicates required


text:
Area Residence Sathorn Hotel
132 Narathiwatratchanakharin Road, Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand
Area Residence Sathorn defines comfortable living in the heart of Bangkok. Specially designed to provide modern convenience and a wide range of facilities for business individual and their families. Centrally situated on Narathiwatratchanakharin Road, just a few minutes to Chongnonsi Sky Train Station and BRT Station. *** Free shuttle bus service to BTS & MRT for all guest*** Read more
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Luggage Room
- Towel
- Air conditioning
- Free Wi-Fi
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Adaptors
- Breakfast Not Included
- Business Centre"
- Cable TV
- Cots available
- Direct Dial Telephone
- Elevator
- Fitness Centre"
- Free Parking
- Hair Dryers
- Hot Showers
- Housekeeping
- Internet Access
- Laundry Facilities
- Luggage Storage
- Mini Supermarket
- Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Parking
- Restaurant
- Safe Deposit Box
- Shuttle Bus
- Swimming Pool
Check-in / Check-out
Earliest check-in: 14:00
Latest Check-out: 12:00
- Child Friendly
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Taxes Included
Group booking?
Group of 15 or more traveling to Bangkok?
Area Residence Sathorn defines comfortable living in the heart of Bangkok. Specially designed to provide modern convenience and a wide range of facilities for business individual and their families. Centrally situated on Narathiwatratchanakharin Road, just a few minutes to Chongnonsi Sky Train Station and BRT Station. *** Free shuttle bus service to BTS & MRT for all guest*** Read more
About Area Residence Sathorn
All 37 fully-furnished are superbly decorated and fully equipped with modern necessary appliances and comfort facilities for both long and short stay with affordable room rate.
With less number of apartments but wide range of facilities, it creates a peaceful atmosphere and comfortable and private living away from the hustle of the city. Our well-trainned and friendly staffs offer you the best service to ensure that you will feel truly at home, while a professional security team will enhance your safety and privacy.
- Lobby & Reception
- Fitness Center & Aerobic Room
- Swimming Pool
- Sauna
- Meeting Room
- Library
- Restaurant
- Convenience Store
- Internet Room
- Laundry
- Shuttle bus service to BTS
- 24 Hr. Security & Key Card Access
- House Keeping
- Wireless internet access
The free shuttle bus serviced is available for all residents in Area Residence Sathorn to Chongnonsri BTS Skytrain station & nearby locations.
Accommodation Information
Superior room (size 30 sqm.) is superbly decorated and fully equipped with all modern necessary appliances and equipped with 1 bed room, living area, kitchen corner, bathroom and balcony.
Studio room (size 26 sqm.) provides a double bed, kitchen corner, living area, private bathroom with bathtub and shower.
Room facilities
Sofa and Table
Dinning Table
Bed & Mattress
Dressing table
Air Conditioner
Television with Cable TV
DVD Player
Safety Box
Wireless Internet in room
Electric stove & hood
Vacuum Bottle
Sanitary ware
Water Heater
Location Information
Centrally situated on Narathiwatratchanakharin Road (Sathorn), between soi Narathiwatratchanakharin 14 & 16 and just a few minute to BTS Chongnonsri station.
(Transit : our hotel is located at the same side of Makro Narathiwatratchanakarin, just passed Makro you will see Lumpini residence on the left, just turn left into and you will see our hotel on the left at the last building.)
Cancellation Policy
- Cancelation should notify to the hotel 2 days before arival date.
- Fully booking will be charged for late cancel / No show / Early check out
Cancellation Policy
Customers can cancel their reservation free of charge up to 1 day before arrival. After this date, charges will be applied by the property up to the first nights cost of the reservation, unless otherwise stated in the property's conditions. Deposits paid are non refundable.


text:
Cotton Prices Fall
Posted: 04/04/2011 - Cotton prices close down.
Posted: 04/04/2011 - Cotton prices close down.
Posted: 03/30/2011 - Finances are tight for farmers across the country, and with growing operating costs, they are trying to find every break possible. Now, the state of Alabama is trying to help, but time is running out.
Posted: 03/30/2011 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Department of Agriculture has canceled plans to close two farmers markets in Montgomery because of budget cuts. Instead, they will be turned over to outside management.
Posted: 03/22/2011 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the world's busiest airport say they've foiled a destructive beetle from entering the country, where it could have done massive damage to crops.
Posted: 03/18/2011 - Milk prices are rising, but that's not helping a lot of dairy farmers, who are still struggling after several disastrous years.
Posted: 03/17/2011 - Cotton closes higher than expected.
Updated: 03/14/2011 - As Spring planting approaches farmers are keeping their eyes on soaring gas prices.
Posted: 03/07/2011 - Cotton prices close lower.
Posted: 03/04/2011 - US food, farm exports could have record year
Posted: 03/01/2011 - Approximately 10,000 African bees, also known as killer bees, swarmed around a central Florida couple's home.
Posted: 02/08/2011 - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal will address members of the state's largest farm lobbying group during their annual visit to the Statehouse.
Updated: 02/01/2011 - The Hilton Sandestin Golf Resort and Spa has spent $6.5 million rebuilding its back deck.
Posted: 01/27/2011 - SBA Disaster Loans Available in Florida Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration
Updated: 01/25/2011 - If you are a peanut farmer, the Alabama Peanut Producers may be looking for you.
Posted: 01/25/2011 - Authorities say a 14-year-old high school freshman stabbed another student to death just after stepping off a school bus in their Naples neighborhood.
Posted: 01/24/2011 - A recent snowstorm that collapsed greenhouses in northern Alabama has forced Birmingham restaurants to find new produce suppliers.
Posted: 01/19/2011 - Wiregrass Cotton EXPO February 4th, 2011 National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds – Dothan, Alabama
Posted: 01/19/2011 - Alabama's new agriculture commissioner, John McMillan, says dead birds found recently in large numbers in two north Alabama counties will be tested at the State Diagnostic Lab in Auburn and the results on the cause of death should be known within a week.
Posted: 01/18/2011 - Researchers checked hundreds of pieces of fruit from groves around the state.
Posted: 01/17/2011 - An invasive kudzu-eating bug that swept across Georgia last year has now been detected in Alabama.
Updated: 01/12/2011 - A new farming practice is cropping up across the Wiregrass.
Posted: 01/04/2011 - All peanut farmers in attendance have an opportunity to win more than $20,000 in door prizes.
Posted: 12/28/2010 - Plant experts, scientists, environmentalists and ranchers believe sulfur dioxide pollution from coal-fired power plants is slowly killing vegetation across Texas.
Posted: 12/21/2010 - All 67 Alabama counties have been declared areas of primary natural disaster by the federal government because of drought and excessive heat that has damaged crops in the state since March 1.
Posted: 12/21/2010 - Farmers have eight months to apply for assistance.


text:
10 PACK 3/4" Fillable Round Clear Glass Half Domes 20mm DIY 3D Jewelry
Our Price: $12.99
Retail Price: $19.99
You save 35%
Item SKU: 102C-10PACK
Ask a question about this product
Why you'll LOVE this item:10 pack of crystal clear fillable round clear glass domes~ jeweler's quality 20mm or 3/4" each. Make your own fine art pendants, collage, altered and photo jewelry. Fits our SKU413A-10PACK top loop bases, our 1229-10PACK double looped silver bases, and our other 20mm tray jewelry bases (ring blanks and earring blanks). Put found object(s) in dome. Finish by rimming the glass dome edge with a small amount of e-6000 clear adhesive, press to base, let dry fully.


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Woven Wednesday: Free Shipping on 1+ Yards of any woven fabrics through 11:59 p.m. EDT July 27th.
Hi and thank you for visiting! I am a 29 year designer maker living on the south coast of England. I make wedding stationery, cosmetics bags and fabrics with a quintessentially British style.
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text:
I don't understand why this is occurring. Take the following piece of psuedo code:
volatile unsigned long count = 0;
volatile unsigned long sum = 0;
void ThreadFunction() {
InterlockedExchangeAdd(&sum, rand());
int main() {
for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
// This is the problematic instruction
InterlockedExchange(&count, 0);
InterlockedExchange(&sum, 0);
std::vector<boost::thread> threads(i);
for (int j = 0; j < i; ++j)
threads[j] = boost::thread(ThreadFunction);
while (count != i)
On the very first run of the program, when
i = 0, the atomic exchange on
sum from the main thread usually occurs after the spawned thread has completed. The operations on
count always occur in the correct order.
This only happens once; it does the operations in the correct order for the remainder of the loop. It doesn't always happen, but it usually does. If I break into the debugger or sleep before the atomic add, the instructions will be carried out in the correct order.
Either way, the result is that the value written by the thread is replaced by the 0 that should have occurred before the thread was even launched.
Why is this happening? Why can't I rely on the processor to complete the atomic instructions I gave it in the order I gave them in? Doesn't an atomic operation imply a memory barrier to prevent reordering?
Side note, this is occurring with Visual Studio 2010. I don't have other versions to test with.


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In this May 12, 2011 photo, Joe Stumpf lifts weights during a workout designed to mirror a US Navy SEAL training at the SEALFIT exercise center in Encinitas, Calif. Excitement over the Navy SEAL team's takedown of Osama bin Laden is fueling interest in fitness programs run by former members of the elite force. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Men are gaining on women when it comes to life expectancy.
A recent report from the institute for health metrics and evaluation found men are adding more years to their lives at a faster pace.
The study looked at data from 1989 to 2009.
Men's life expectancy jumped 4.6% on average, compared to 2.7% for women.
Men are expected to live to be about 82-years-old.
Women are expected to live to be 86.


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Local Sports
Sub-State Basketball Assignments Announced
The Kansas State High School Activities Association has released its sub-state basketball assignments.
Russell to Host 3-2-1A Regional
Russell High School has been selected as one of the host sites for a 3-2-1A Regional.
KBCA Preseason Basketball Rankings
The Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released its first basketball rankings of the 2014-15 season.
KSHSAA Honors Officials
Topeka, KS - The KSHSAA is pleased to recognize these special individuals for their years of study, preparation, sacrifice of personal time, and most of all, their enduring commitment to the schools and youth of Kansas.
Knights Win 8-Man Div. 2 State Championship
NEWTON – With 41 seconds left, Victoria coach Doug Oberle called timeout in the Knights' 52-8 victory against Argonia-Attica in the Eight-Man, Division II state championship.
Sylvan-Lucas' Batchman Earns All-State Honors
The Kansas Volleyball Association has released its all state selections for the 2014 season for all classes.
Russell's Murphy Earns All League Honors
The North Central Activities Association has released its all league football team selections.
More Articles...
- Knights Top Wallace Co. to Make State Championship Game
- KSHSAA Football Playoff Brackets
- Victoria Rolls by Minneola
- Area Teams Go 1-1 in Playoff Opener
- Natoma Boys Win 1A State Championship
- Sylvan-Lucas Goes 0-3 at State
- All NCAA Volleyball Selections Announced
- Russell Closes 2014 Season with Loss at Beloit
- Area Football Scores - Week 9 - Oct. 30
- Area Runners Make State
- Sylvan-Lucas Advances to State
- Lady Broncos Fall to Hoisington at 3A Sub-State
- RHS Ends Season in Cimarron


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Comic-Con Trailers: The Best of the Best, Ranked
Film, TV
Political cartoons | The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists is calling for an independent review of the audio tape provided by the LAPD to the Los Angeles Times to refute Ted Rall's claim he was treated roughly by an officer when he was stopped for jaywalking. "Determining the truth in this matter is important to Mr. Rall's personal and professional reputation, and to the rights of journalists to freely express themselves," the statement said, adding that the newspaper "should have demanded a higher standard of proof in this matter."
Graphic novels | December's Nielsen BookScan list of the Top 20 graphic novels sold through the book channels looks markedly different from previous months because it now includes nonfiction. That actually makes it a much more interesting chart, with Roz Chast's memoir Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? taking the top spot, followed by the first two volumes of The Walking Dead Compendium, the fourth volume of Saga and the Oatmeal book The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances (which is apparently classified as nonfiction) showing up at No. 5. The chart, which tracks books sold in retail bookstores, some mass market stores and Amazon, also included a couple of much-hyped December debuts, the first collected volume of Ms. Marvel and Richard McGuire's Here. [ICv2]
Political cartoons | In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, Zeidy David revisits the case of Palestinian cartoonist Mohammad Saba'aneh, who was arrested in Israel and held without charges for several months before being given a five-month sentence and a fine for "contact with a hostile organization" — a Jordanian publisher with whom he had discussed a possible book. [Mint Press News]
As a part of our sixth anniversary, Abrams ComicArts has provided ROBOT 6 with previews of two more books from its 2015 lineup — The Age of Selfishness: Ayn Rand, Morality, and the Financial Crisis by Darryl Cunningham and Trashed by Derf Backderf.
Tracing the emergence of Ayn Rand's philosophy of objectivism in the 1940s to her present-day influence, Darryl Cunningham's latest work of graphic-nonfiction investigation leads readers to the heart of the global financial crisis of 2008. Cunningham uses Rand's biography to illuminate the policies that led to the economic crash in the United States and in Europe, and how her philosophy continues to affect today's politics and policies.
Announced almost a year ago, Trashed started in 2002 as a comic from SLG Publishing and was revived in 2010 by Backderf as a webcomic. It's a memoir of the year he spent as a garbageman in his rural hometown, with added fictional characters and situations. As he explained on his website, "It didn't really happen but, trust me, it's all too real."
Check out the previews below. Our thanks to Abrams.
Auctions | An original 1939 drawing of Tintin created by Herge for the cover of the weekly magazine Le Petit Vingtième sold Sunday for $673,468 at an auction of French and Belgian comics art held simultaneously in Paris and Brussels. The auction featured 101 works, of which 86 were purchased for a total of $2.4 million. [Agence France-Presse]
Auctions | A copy of The Hulk #181, featuring the first appearance of Wolverine, fetched $8,000 at an auction held Saturday at Back to the Past comics store in Redford, Michigan. [My Fox Detroit]
Retailing | System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, who shuttered his online store Torpedo Comics in 2010 after about three years in business, is looking to open a brick-and-mortar shop. A brief story notes that while Las Vegas store Comic Oasis, owner Derrick Taylor is partnering with Dolmayan to open Torpedo Comics in January at 8775 Lindell Road, Building H, Suite 150. [Vegas Inc.]
Conventions | It looks as if Wizard World's convention won't be returning to San Antonio, Texas, in 2015. A Wizard World spokesman said the company couldn't come up with a date that fit the schedule of the city's Henry B. Gomez Convention Center, adding, "We hope to revisit the possibility for 2016." However, reporter Rene Guzman notes that San Antonio's Alamo City Comic Con was a much bigger deal this year, in terms of the exhibit floor (it took up three exhibit halls of the convention center, compared to Wizards' one) and probably attendance as well: Wizard World said its inaugural event in August drew "thousands," and Alamo City had 73,000 attendees, almost twice as many as last year. There will be a Wizard World Austin conventionn in 2015, so anyone wanting a taste of that Wizard magic can find it a short road trip away. [San Antonio Express News]
Legal | The Wally Wood estate has sued Tatjana Wood, ex-wife of the late cartoonist, claiming she's in possession of 150 to 200 pages of his art erroneously sent to her address in 2005 by Marvel. The couple were married in 1950 but divorced in the 1960s; Tatjana later worked extensively as a colorist for DC Comics. Wally committed suicide in 1981, leaving "all bank accounts, whether savings, checking, Certificates of Deposit, or otherwise" to Tatjana, and everything else to his estate, supervised by John H. Robinson. [The Comics Reporter]
Creators | "I'm an acquired taste," says Howard Chaykin, who was speaking to the press in advance of this weekend's Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival. He talks about working for small publishers, his unhappiness with the licensed Star Wars comics he did for Marvel, and the current trend of movies based on comics: "It's really just a matter of the guys who beat us up in high school finally figuring out a way to make money off our asses." [Las Vegas Review-Journal]
Creators | A U.K. researcher argues that Marie Duval was the real creative force behind the wildly popular 19th-century British comic Ally Sloper, which is largely credited to her husband Charles Ross. Duval, the pen name of French cartoonist Emilie de Tessier, drew the character at the height of his popularity in the 1860s and '70s, but historian David Kunzle now questions what role Ross actually played in his creation. [The Guardian]
Commentary | Chase Magnett pushes back on Chris Suellentrop's statement, made in a column about GamerGate, that comics are "a medium that has never outgrown its reputation for power fantasies and is only very occasionally marked by transcendent work (Maus, or the books of Chris Ware) that demands that the rest of the culture pay attention to it." [Comicbook.com]
[Editor's note: Each Sunday, Robot 6 contributors discuss the best in comics from the last seven days — from news and announcements to a great comic that came out to something cool creators or fans have done.]
The unexpected death of Robin Williams was shocking enough, but the news that it was suicide was a punch to the gut.
For better or for worse (and it can work both ways), we look for redemption in tragedies. As soon as the news got out, people started sharing information about suicide help lines on Twitter and Facebook, and as the week went on, many people used the moment to reflect publicly on their own struggles with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
In that context, I really appreciated "You Might as Well Live," the little cartoon Darryl Cunningham posted this week: He depicts a man who realizes, in the split second after jumping off a bridge, that he has made a terrible mistake: "All the actions he had taken in his life were fixable, he realised, except for the action he'd just taken."
Graphic novels | BookScan's list of the bestselling graphic novels in bookstores in March divides neatly into eight Image Comics titles (six volumes of The Walking Dead and two of Saga), eight volumes of manga (four Attack on Titan, four Viz Media titles) and four volumes of media tie-ins. For the second month in a row, not a single DC Comics or Marvel title cracked the Top 20, although an older DK Publishing character guide to the Avengers (not actually a graphic novel) came in at No. 11. The top-selling title was the 20th volume of The Walking Dead, and the No. 2 was the third volume of Saga. It's also interesting to note that the first three volumes of Attack on Titan charted higher than the most recent release, which suggests new readers are still coming into the franchise in substantial numbers — and sticking with it. [ICv2]
Usually when we use the term "comic book science" around, it's to refer to the close-enough-for-fantasy hand-waving that goes into kinda-sorta explaining things like yellow sun radiation allowing a man to fly, or alternate dimensions created by a mad doctor's time-travel machine in our favorite superhero comics.
There is, of course, the other kind of comic book science, too — real science that appears in comic books about science. Comics like these two very different, new-ish releases that tackle some of the most difficult subjects ever put in panels: Margreet de Heer's Science: A Discovery in Comics and Darryl Cunnningham's How To Fake a Moon Landing: Exposing The Myths of Science Denial.
Of the two, De Heer's is perhaps the more ambitious, attempting as it does to tell the entire history of science, from the murky dawn of mankind up until where quantum theory stood at the point of publication. All in just 180 pages!
And she manages to get it all in!
How? Well, mainly through abbreviation. While various major scientists (Sir Isaac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, Charles Darwin, etc) get little, multi-page stories, many more simply get an image, a label naming them and a dialogue bubble saying, "I was the founder of Optometry!" or whatever.
Conventions | Retailers in the Boston area talk about the importance of Boston Comic Con to their bottom line. This year's event will be held Saturday and Sunday. [The Boston Globe]
Creators | Leslie Chew, who recently faced legal action because of his political cartoons on Facebook, and his attorney talk about Chew's cartoons and the legal case against him. [PRI's The World]
Creators | Nate Powell, who got his start distributing photocopied minicomics at punk-rock shows, talks to his hometown newspaper about working with Rep. John Lewis on March, drawing a Percy Jackson graphic novel, and life as a full-time comic artist: "There's a whole lot of constant hustling as a cartoon artist, and really I credit DIY punk as far as shaping the way that I navigate the world to allow me to still tap into the constant hustling necessary to keep my head above water." [Arkansas Times]
Darryl Cunningham's How to Fake a Moon Landing, which debuted last month at MoCCA Arts Fest, looks at a number of popular fallacies, from homeopathy to global warming denial, and lays out not just the science behind each one but the history as well, including the personalities who drove them.
Personal tales crossed over into science in Cunningham's first book Psychiatric Tales, which not only described different mental disorders but related stories about each one, told from Cunningham's vantage point as a care assistant on a psychiatric ward and his own experience with depression. How to Fake a Moon Landing is less personal but still has a point of view, which is that there's good science and bad science, and it's important to be able to tell the difference. (You can see excerpts from the book, and his other work as well, on his blog.) I spoke with Cunningham about both books during a quiet moment at MoCCA.
ROBOT 6: Do you have a background in science?
Darryl Cunningham: I worked as a care assistant in an acute psychiatric ward, and after a few years, I thought I would do training to be a mental health nurse. I did a three-year course, which is very, very academic — more academic than it needs to be. Through that I learned how to write essays and research things, and to be skeptical about research, to look at how things have been properly peer reviewed, [whether] the evidence has been replicated, that kind of thing. I got a sense of how science works. After eight years of doing this, I was completely burned out. I couldn't continue — I had a major crisis, really, started suffering from anxiety and depression, and I had to leave that work, but out of that whole experience, Psychiatric Tales came out.
I got into the habit of researching and have been able to boil down a lot of information into a comic strip format. And I listen to science podcasts when I'm drawing — some are famous ones, like The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe — and listening to these, I realized there was a whole series of hot-button issues that came up time and time again that people didn't really understand, things like the idea that the moon landing was a conspiracy, the MMR vaccination controversy, and evolution, not so much in Europe but very much here. I had the whole book structured for me and ready to go. All I had to do was research, write, and draw it. [Laughs] It took the better part of a year.
Conventions | The Orange County Register previews WonderCon, which returns this weekend to Anaheim, California, and selects some of the highlights from the programming schedule, including panels dedicated to "Batman: The Zero Year," The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, and Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing. [Orange County Register]
Conventions | The Los Angeles Times wraps up last weekend's Fabletown and Beyond. [Hero Complex]
Conventions | The Detroit News runs down the upcoming slate of Michigan conventions dedicated to comics, anime, fantasy/sci-fi, horror and collectibles, ranging from Shuto Con to Kids Read Comics! to Detroit FanFare. [The Detroit News]
The Olympics are over, and London returns to normal. Surveying the Twitter feeds and blogs of that city's comics creators, we see a very mixed reaction to the Games of the XXX Olympiad. Some loved it, others hate sports so much they fled the city for the duration, and some cynical souls were total converts after Danny Boyle's epochal Opening Ceremony. Here's a selection of reactions from U.K. comics folk.
Did you know there's a Rich Johnson as well as a Rich Johnston? Rather than being a wispy bearded gossip-monger, the man we'll call The Other Rich is a teacher-turned-cartoonist, influenced by the tradition of the great DC Thomson comic anthologies The Beano and The Dandy. I loved the work he produced as the nation got swept up in euphoria and expectation. His Bradley Wiggins tribute, the Wigbot (above), reminds me of the joke that originated after the Beijing Olympics: the British are good at any sport that involves sitting — cycling, rowing, sailing — but not so much the other stuff. Continue Reading »
Creators | Alan Moore will make a rare convention appearance in September — his first in 25 years, according to this article — at the inaugural Northants International Comics Expo in Northamptonshire, England. To attend Moore's hour-long talk on writing comics or the hour-long question-and-answer session, convention-goers are required to donate graphic novels to the Northamptonshire Libraries, which will have a table at the event. [Stumptown Trade Review]
Creators | Mark Waid gets the NPR treatment, as Noah J. Nelson interviews him about his digital comics initiatives. "I got news for you: I've been doing this for 25 years, and this is the hardest writing I've ever had to do," Waid says of creating digital comics. [NPR]
Publishing | Abrams ComicArts editorial director Charles Kochman discusses the publisher's spring lineup, which will include William Stout's Legends of the Blues, Darryl Cunningham's What the Frack, a history of Bazooka Joe comics, and a Will Eisner artbook written by Paul Levitz. [ICv2]


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Witherspoon Evacuated Thursday
Posted: 09/27/2007 - A Meridian elementary school was evacuated for a period of time Thursday, after there were reports for an explosion.
Posted: 09/27/2007 - A Meridian elementary school was evacuated for a period of time Thursday, after there were reports for an explosion.
Updated: 09/27/2007 - A former WTOK news anchor and reporter pleaded guilty Thursday to the armed robbery of a Meridian credit union in 2006.
Updated: 09/27/2007 - A tanker truck caught fire Thursday afternoon on Interstate 20 in Newton County. It shut down westbound traffic for a couple of hours.
Posted: 09/27/2007 - Sanctions against the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at the University of Mississippi have been upheld by the chancellor.
Posted: 09/27/2007 - Three United Parcel Service workers were charged with stealing University of Alabama football tickets from customers.
Posted: 09/27/2007 - A 17-year-old student at Forest High School died Wednesday after collapsing in the gym.
Posted: 09/26/2007 - Lauderdale County work crews have been building up the shoulder along a county road adjacent to Dalewood.
Posted: 09/26/2007 - A local man will have a chance to take a shot for $1 million later this week.
Updated: 09/26/2007 - The Meridian Fire Department is trying to combat its turnover rate by seeking fresh recruits.
Updated: 09/26/2007 - Authorities say a local motorcyclist was killed Wednesday after his bike struck a car.
Updated: 09/26/2007 - Stun guns are commonly used in self defense. But before you buy a stun gun, local authorities say there's information you need to know.
Updated: 09/26/2007 - Residents of a small Clarke County town says they are relieved, now that dozens of guns, and drugs are off their streets.
Posted: 09/26/2007 - Movie Gallery is closing five store in Mississippi, but the Meridian locations are not on the list.
Posted: 09/26/2007 - On Tuesday, Gov. Haley Barbour said a children's health insurance program passed by the U.S. House shortchanges Mississippi. With a recent report claiming 1 million Mississippians are without health coverage, is there a solution?
Updated: 09/26/2007 - Dozens of housing officials from around Mississippi visited Meridian to see how a new idea in public housing is changing neighborhoods.
Updated: 09/26/2007 - Students gathered around the flagpoles at campuses around the nation, before school hours, to pray.
Posted: 09/26/2007 - Lawyers representing Alabama death row inmate Tommy Arthur have asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay of his scheduled execution on Thursday, based on its review of a case in Kentucky.
Posted: 09/26/2007 - Firefighters responded to a 911 call at North Hills Manor Tuesday night.
Posted: 09/25/2007 - Insurance commissioners from states most vulnerable to hurricanes, like Mississippi and Alabama, say federal help may be the only way to keep insurance available to many property owners.
Updated: 09/25/2007 - According to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report, violent crime increased in Lauderdale County.
Updated: 09/25/2007 - New life has been breathed into a Clarke County business that was on the verge of closing down this summer. Bazor will make a new product.
Updated: 09/26/2007 - After a week of being missing in action, Ronald McDonald is back.
Updated: 09/25/2007 - Clarke County authorities made several arrests Tuesday after a year-long undercover investigation.
Updated: 09/25/2007 - People who have lost their lives to violence, and their loved ones, were remembered in a service Tuesday in Jackson.
Posted: 09/25/2007 - Efforts to get rid of some of Meridian's biggest eyesores has come to a temporary halt. But one dangerous situation was addressed this week.


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Banner Thunderbird Occupational Health Clinic, Glendale
Description Banner Thunderbird Occupational Health Clinic, Glendale
Save time and money by having Banner Occupational Health Services come to your business for physical exams, audiograms, drug screenings, and a host of other services. If your business does not have the available space or appropriate set-p for services, we can come to you. Banner Occupational Health Services has the only licensed mobile occupational health clinic in Arizona.
This fully-equipped 34-foot mobile van has an exam room, two audio booths, a restroom and waiting area. If your company would like to have a full-time or part-time nurse placed at your worksite, we can provide you with a qualified RN.
Our skilled team has experience in all aspects of occupational health and is able to provide the following on-site services: Audiograms, Physical Exams, Pulmonary Function Testing, Urine Drug Screening, Breath Alcohol Testing, Vision Screening, DOT Exams, Laboratory Screening, Respiratory Fit Testing, Electrocardiograms, Mini Health Fairs, Immunizations/Vaccinations and flu shots.
Banner Occupational Health Services provides international vaccines for individuals in Maricopa County, Arizona who are traveling overseas. Based upon the travel itinerary, the individual works with a specially trained nurse to discuss important health and safety data about the country or countries to which they are traveling. Information regarding health alerts and disease risks, emergency phone numbers, medicines to bring, and general information can be very helpful to assure a safe trip. Each person receives an evaluation/consultation to assure the safety of the vaccinations as well as discuss any medical issues they need regarding the country or countries to which they are traveling. You are charged for a consultation/evaluation fee and the cost of the vaccines. We offer a full-range of vaccines including Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus and Japanese Encephalitis.
Vaccines are available at all five Banner Occupational Health clinics: Banner Good Samaritan, Banner Desert, Banner Thunderbird, Banner Estrella and Banner Baywood. In most cases, appointments can be made for the next day. International vaccines are available to the general public for anyone over the age of 14. If you have a large group going overseas, we can arrange to have the vaccines administered at the worksite. Banner Occupational Health Services has provided executive physicals for more than 13 years.
We respect the busy executive's time by completing the exam in less than half a day. Each executive is given age and health appropriate exams to determine if any latent medical problem is present so that early treatment can minimize its effect. Keeping your employees healthy and preventing illness results in a more productive work team. Our experts can come to your business with classes, health fairs, and screenings. We can put together a wellness program to meet your company's needs.
KeywordsVaccinations, Wound Care, Industrial Rehabilitation, Ime, Breath Alcohol Testing, Audiogram, Travel Immunizations, Injury Care, Physical Exam, Health Risk Assessment, Dot Exams, Independent Medical Evaluation, Rehabilitation, Drug Testing, Occupational Health, Drug Screening, Toxicology, Wellness, Testing, Workers' Compensation, Mobile Services, Physical Examinations, Alcohol Testing, Work Conditioning, Pre Employment, Workplace Injury, Random, Occupational Health Clinics, Hiv Prevention, Onsite Service, Banner Health Facilities, Executive Health, Job Site Analysis, Post Accident, Adaptive Driving Program, Hazmat Exams, Glendale Occupational Health, Reasonable Cause Testing, Firefighter Physicals, Osha Mandated Exams, Dot Collections, Respirator Fit Exams, Acute Injury Management, Respiratory Clearance Exams, Police Officer Physicals
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Peer Support And Advocacy Network
Rating: 2.43 stars 7 7 reviews 882
Advocacy Network 938 Penn Avenue - % Marhta Field Pittsburgh PA 15222 USA
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Reviews for Peer Support And Advocacy Network
1 person found this review helpful
How can you have "advocacy" in your title when the only advocate position, which was part-time, is no longer filled. The person left to work in another field.
2 people found this review helpful
This organization has had significant growing pains, but really knows how to use PR to find it's way to showcase it's services to it's primary funder, Allegheny County. The Certified Peer Specialist program has become a shambles. There were 17 peer specialists in 2011. In the past year several have been fired, some have left for other positions, or been demoted. They now have only ONE full times peer mentor and 5 part time. Obviously the number of clients with serious mental illness they can now serve has been diminished significantly. The Allegheny County Warmline they run has a revolving door of employees. The supervisor staff position has changed at least six times in the past 4 years.
The most inflammatory aspect is that they fraudulently claim ALL employees are past or present consumers of behavioral health services. This is NOT true. The lowest employees in terms of pay and rank, those who work on the Warmline are all past or present mental health consumers. However, the administrative staff positions are no longer filled by only those with past or present behavioral consumers of mental health services. The current Director of Operations has no such personal involvement in mental health services. People with backgrounds in social work are "hired as subcontractors", then subsequently become employees. The previous Director of Operations "retired" for 2 months then came back full time! His position had been filled but he still is working there full time at his previous salary! Lower level employees are almost NEVER permitted to come back to PSAN once they leave, for whatever reason. Many of the subcontractors and higher paid administrative
employees are filled by family and friends of the past Director of Operations and Executive Director. in conclusion, nepotism is clearly ongoing , and this non profit presenst themselves as fully staffed by individuals that have received behavioral health, the only one in Allegheny County! Not true!
If you type this link in you will see the actual Allegheny County Controller's Audit which is a 33 page report that verifies that this organization had to repay $371,844 due to a variety of problems that were due to mismanagement on a number of levels, i.e. not monitoring county funded vehicles by not appropriately logging information related to them; the executive director taking over payments of salary and bonuses; discriminating against employees by not allocating equal bonuses appropriately, among other mismanaged items found and reported by the Allegheny County Auditors. I worked at this organization and was hired as a temporary employee at the time of my hire. To recoveryworks, another reviewer, I am not, nor ever have been, dishonest about my experience at this organization. I also have no mental illness but learned that this organization hires individuals with mental illnesses as you note. Your written personalization of my comments makes me fear for my safety as you say you "know who I am." That sounds threatening to me. Due to the arrests of many employees and the problems with management, I reported this organization to the authorities appropriately. In March 2011, I wrote a letter of complaint about this organization and sent it certified to the District Attorney. I still have all copies of all records regarding this issue. Within a few days of me sending my letter to the District Attorney, another arrest was made at this organization of an employee selling drugs out of a county funded vehicle that was not appropriately monitored by this organization's management. It was televised on all local news channels and published in print and on the internet via the local media. I was contacted by detectives of Allegheny County via telephone and discussed my complaint regarding the issues. I stand by my comments and this is a forum to discuss facts. The above link to the Allegheny County Controller's report verifies the facts as I write them herein and their report contains more facts. I have no personal issue with anyone at the organization. I take issue to the poor performance and dishonesty of the organization's former management - which is justified and appropriate. I am thankful to the District Attorney and its office staff and the Allegheny County Controller and its staff for their hard work in regard to correctly identifying and reporting about this organization publicly.
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To ImOkay (another reviewer of PSAN), Thank you for validating my credibility by agreeing with me that you experienced employees at PSAN being arrested too. That is one purpose of this website, to inform donors and members of the public about organizations that are problematic and poor stewards of funds.Our support of one another in this regard helps shape public opinion. I love my profession and have raised millions of dollars for nonprofits through private and public contributions over my 25+ year career in development and public relations. PSAN is a 100% government funded organization using taxpayers' funds to operate. At PSAN, I learned their mission is to help people with mental illnesses and to employ them as well. I also learned what mental health recovery is through others affected with those issues, and I know nothing about personal recovery as I was a Director at PSAN that did not have a mental illness or addiction or disorder of any type, yet alone a dual diagnosis. I never had those issues, did not want any of those issues, and continue to pray that i never develop those issues and thus far, have had my prayers answered favorably. However, I did have a family member that was affected by those issues that is now deceased and I was committed to helping others affected by those issues. I recently learned that the last executive director hired at PSAN in 2005 just retired January 12, 2012, shortly after receiving the Allegheny County Auditor's report demanding that PSAN reimburse the County app. $371,844 for funds mismanaged under her supervision, or lack of. Among many things, it was disclosed in that audit, that she was taking overpayments of salary and bonuses that were not allowed by the County. Maybe the agency realized some positive change since her departure. You write you no longer work at PSAN. I left PSAN in 2006, and it was several years until I reported PSAN's managerial problems to the District Attorney in March 2011 hoping PSAN would correct their behaviors without government intervention. My opinions of PSAN will never change due to my work experience there, but I am glad it sounds like you found the help you needed while working there. I did not need PSAN's help; I am a professional that gave PSAN my help and it was my professional and personal obligation to report them. I have copies of my excellent evaluations while working there. ImOkay, I hope your mental health recovey lasts a lifetime. Again, I thank you for your honesty related to the arrests of employees at PSAN that you evidently have knowledge of too.
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I had very negative experiences at PSAN. PSAN's 501(c)3 status was founded in 2003. Staff arrests are reported by media since 2004 & I have supportive documentation to evidence my claims i.e. news articles, police reports, etc. I witnessed arrests of its ex. director & recreation coordinator in 2004. I knew of several thefts (totaling $10,000+) in 2004 and in 2006. I told the police who committed one of these crimes, the employee confessed. In August 2005 a new ex. director was hired. I reported PSAN to the EEOC for discrimination of its employees in 2006. In 2007 the EEOC learned my name was forged on documents given to them by the ex. director hired in August 2005. I received a right to sue letter but chose not to sue PSAN & I attempted to work with the Board of Directors to locate the criminal who forged my name, they ignored my request and the criminal was not located. Another employee of PSAN was arrested in April 2011. In April 2011, I reported these crimes & other information including overpayments of salaries & bonuses paid to the ex. director hired in August 2005 to the local District Attorney. The statute of limitations had expired for me on forgery and fraud yet he ordered an audit & found apr. $371,844 mismanaged by the ex. director hired in August 2005 (and still in place in 2011) & staff & board & ordered it to be repaid, including the salary overpayments. As a Development & Public Relations professional for over 20 years, I would not refer PSAN to assist anyone due to so much criminal activity and arrests of its employees, nor would I contribute financially to their organization under these circumstances.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
[PDF] County Aug 31, 2011 ... Response from Peer Support and Advocacy Network 24. Response ... These procedures Were performed as a non-audit service. Therefore ... www.alleghenycounty.us/controll/pdf/2011/2011-51.pdf
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Change its leadership immediately through termination of the highest executive and key administrative staff who demonstrate through the above listed county government audit that they are not able to perform the job they are hired to, are not complying with appropriate laws and regulations, are demonstrating poor leadership, poor judgment, and poor management skills, and last, are evidencing they are poor stewards of public and private funds, therefore, a harm to public trust.
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Will you recommend this organization to others?
I am very familiar with this organization, and have been for many many years. I know its history since its incorporation. "njfp", you should be sued. Your comments are inflammatory and in fact, are lies. Because of your description of yourself and the name you have used in your comments, I know who you are. You were fired in 2006 due to dishonesty. No surprise that it continues to be a problem for you. The audit that occurred was NOT initiated because of you , or your false reports. Your attempt to sue the organization for discrimination was completely dismissed by the EEOC as frivolous. The arrest you refer to concerned an employee and drug use, who was subsequently and appropriately fired. Such an event could happen in any organization. The Executive Director you refer to left the organization not in 2011 as you assert, but in 2012 because she and her husband retired to another state. Again, your assertion that she left, essentially, in disgrace, should be cause for a lawsuit. This organization has helped thousands of people with mental illness find their way to recovery, my son included. Under the auspices of the past Executive Director, additional programs were developed that helped people leaving the state hospital, people who needed daily support, and people across the country who could use the Warmline in order to obtain help from others who experienced the same symptoms. Such peer support is essential for recovery from a serious mental illness. You clearly have an issue with the Director who fired you. Clearly your continuing mental illness (a requirement for employment at PSAN) is a serious issue, for which I pray you come to terms with and obtain the help you need. However, this forum is not the appropriate place to libel anyone. Saying such things about people and organizations anonymously, and continuing your hateful bashing of the Executive Director only reflects poorly on your own character.
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If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
The organization is wonderful, and hopefully will continue for a long long time. It is recognized nationally as one of the top consumer run organizations.
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Will you recommend this organization to others?
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
This is a Mental Health Facility that works with and employs workers with mental health disabilities. Many are dual diagnosed with addiction problems as well. When I worked there, I saw wonderful things done to get people (many of whom had not worked in many years), back into the work force. Many of those people went on to work in the private sector and have done well for themselves. There have been those who did not experience recovery to the degree that they might have and had to be let go. One was even arrested for outside activities and was fired. All of those who applied themselves and accepted responsibility for their recovery have done well. I have never worked for any agency that showed such compassion and patience with its staff members as does Peer Support.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
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Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
durga85 wrote:
gplc is great place to learn to read,write n speck english for an immigrant like me. more »
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Lying, manipulative baby stealers who prey on naive, scared young women. more »
Mainstay Life Services
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I started working for Mainstay right out of college. I've worked in different capacities throughout the agency. Mainstay is such... more »
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This is a wonderful organization that gives new meaning to life for its residents. It gives them dignity and self respect. It... more »
Light of Life Ministries, Inc.
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I began working at Light of Life three months ago, and ever since have been incredibly impressed with them as a non-profit organization.... more »


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Co-Sourcing Improves Pharmaceutical Laboratory Productivity
Capitol Hill Critics Second-Guess Agencies Using...
Clinical-Style Validation, Regulation, and Quality Control...
Keep the Opportunities, Lose the Opportunists
China Medical Technologies (CMED) and Leica Biosystems established a research, development, and sales collaboration to co-develop and market automated fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) kits for use on the Leica Bond system. Under terms of the deal, CMED will sell the kits in China, and Leica will have a sales option for the rest of the world.
The firms will work together to develop automated FISH solutions for Her-2, EGFR, and TOP2A tissue sample tests on the Leica Bond automated staining platform. Their agreement covers the development of additional FISH kits for fields including cytology and prenatal applications.
CMED and Leica claim automation of FISH tests on the Leica Bond will provide laboratories with the means to run the diagnostics more efficiently and reproducibly, and at higher test volumes. "We believe that FISH applications will be more widely used in various clinical applications on an automated basis in the future," comments Xiaodong Wu, chairman and CEO at CMED. "By partnering with Leica, we can provide more efficient and higher quality FISH diagnostic solutions to the end users not only in China, but also in the global markets."
CMED specializes in the development, manufacture, and marketing of in vitro diagnostics for disease detection and monitoring, using enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), FISH, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technologies. The firm's first ECLIA analyzers and reagents were launched in 2004.
Its FISH and SPR operations are carried out by the wholly owned subsidiary, Beijing GP Medical Technologies, which was established in 2006. CMED acquired its FISH business in 2007, and the SPR business in 2008.
In June Beijing GP inked a strategic collaboration agreement with Gaoxin Da An Healthcare Investment Lt, to co-market and promote molecular diagnostic technologies for clinical diagnostic applications in China.
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MDMA (commonly known as the empathogen "ecstasy") is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which is reserved for compounds with no accepted medical use and a high abuse potential. Two researchers from Stanford, however, call for a rigorous scientific exploration of MDMA's effects to identify precisely how the drug works, the data from which could be used to develop therapeutic compounds.Do you agree that ecstasy should be studied for its potential therapeutic benefits?
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Your favorite hip hop artist's bumpin' slang may be off the chain, but no one has left a mark on the English language quite like Shakespeare did. The man deserves his own dictionary. Ya feel us, homeskillets?
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A Journey Through the Jungle
In 1960, she began studying chimpanzees, notebook in hand—a long way from today's computers and satellites. Jane Goodall reflects on 50 years of primate research, and the cast of characters she grew to love.
I remember them all so, so well. Goliath, who lost his alpha position when Mike, using his superior intelligence, learned to enhance his dominance displays by hitting and kicking empty four-gallon tin cans ahead of him. William, the clown, who once stole a blanket, dragged it up the hillside, then draped it over his head and felt around him like a child who has been blindfolded.
Is it really 50 years ago that I stepped ashore, for the first of who knows how many hundreds of times, onto the sandy beach of Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve, now Gombe National Park? Has half a century passed since I saw, for the first time, a wild chimpanzee feeding high in a palm tree? It seems almost impossible to believe.
Today, the last of my original chimpanzee friends is gone: Fifi, who was just a year old in 1960, disappeared and must have died in 2004. But seven of her offspring and seven grandchildren still roam the forests. Also in 2004, Goblin fell sick and died. I first saw him a few hours after his birth in 1964, still attached to the umbilical cord. His younger sister Gremlin and her family are still around. And there is Sparrow, a female we have known since the mid-1960s, who, with her daughter Sandi, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, form another successful and growing family. Sadly, though, I cannot recognize the younger chimpanzees—I am only there twice a year, for a few days at a time.
Fifty years later a team of Tanzanian field staff and a small group of students from around the world continue the Gombe research. There are databases, satellites and smartphones involved, which greatly enhance our research and conservation efforts. Yet in 1960, I roamed alone in the forests with my pencil and notebook, and wrote up my notes by the light of a hurricane lamp.
If I close my eyes the early days are so very vivid. I can so well recall the sense of unreality I felt as we chugged northward up Lake Tanganyika toward Gombe, passing the densely forested valleys that brought small clear streams down from the ridge of the Great Rift Valley. How would I ever find the chimpanzees, I wondered. My mother, Vanne, and I were with David Anstey, the game ranger in charge of the southern parks, who would see that we were properly established and stay a couple of nights to ensure that all was well. On board with us too was our little 12-foot aluminum boat that would be our only link with civilization.
The chimpanzees, from top: a mother with baby; the prolific mother Fifi; and alpha male Freud.
And oh! How deeply I remember David Greybeard, my favorite chimpanzee of all time, who lost his fear of me before the others, who visited my camp to eat oil palm nuts and helped himself to some bananas from my table. David became the first chimpanzee to take a banana from my hand, accepting an offering of friendship from a member of a different species. It was David who opened for me the door into a magical new world—the world of the wild chimpanzees of Gombe, for his calm acceptance of my presence helped the others to realize that, after all, I was not so terrifying as they had thought.
There was one occasion I can never forget. I had followed him deep into the forest. He stopped to rest, and as I sat near him I saw a ripe palm nut and held it toward him on the palm of my hand. He turned his head away. I held my hand closer and then he turned back, looked directly into my eyes, took the nut, dropped it and very gently pressed my fingers with his in a gesture of reassurance. We each understood the other, bridging our two worlds, communicating with gestures that had probably been used by our common ancestor six million years ago.
And there were David's companions. Flo, the much-loved matriarch, with her family—adult Faben (who would lose the use of one arm in the terrible polio epidemic of 1966); adolescent Figan (who would become the most powerful alpha male in Gombe's history, reigning for 10 years); and Fifi (who would become the most prolific mother we have known).
Then there was Olly, so unlike Flo, timid and nervous, her neck swollen by what appeared to be a goiter (common among humans in the area). And her enchanting infant Gilka, who suffered so much tragedy. Gilka lost her infant brother, and lost partial use of one hand during the 1966 polio epidemic. She developed a fungus infection that horribly deformed her face. And finally she lost both of her infants to the cannibal mother-infant pair Passion and Pom.
The National Geographic Society, having given me a grant to continue at Gombe after my first six months there, naturally wanted photographic and film material. Some of the very first photos were taken by my sister Judy. Louis Leakey, the famed anthropologist who first sent me to Gombe, found money for her to come out for a few months because I argued that she looked and sounded a bit like me. I was terrified that my hard-won relationship with the chimpanzees would be compromised by the arrival of a stranger.
But when Hugo van Lawick arrived in 1962 the chimpanzees seemed to feel "any friend of Jane's is a friend of ours" and most of them accepted him and his cameras quite readily. We were able to document, for the first time, tool using and tool making. Hunting and sharing the kill. And the development of an infant in the wild—Flo's son Flint. In fact, after Hugo and I married in 1964, we rushed back to Gombe instead of having a honeymoon because of that birth.
And three years later it was my turn to give birth. Hugo Eric Louis, nicknamed Grub, spent a good deal of his early years at Gombe.
Since the 1960s so much has changed. In the early days we had supper around a campfire each evening, and our work was done by lamplight. Today most of the buildings (all on the shore hidden away in the trees) are fitted with solar panels, and we eat indoors. During the 1960s there was only about one motorized "water taxi" per week carrying people from Kigoma to villages up the lake, and my own little boat went into town only once or twice a month for supplies—and letters. How eagerly I waited for those letters, especially after Vanne left (she only stayed four months).
Now, not only are there water taxis—at least six—that pass up and down the lake each day, but also boats hired by tourists and boats on errands for Gombe National Park and the Gombe Stream Research Center. And it is possible to send and receive emails from the park office. Gombe is no longer the gloriously isolated and remote place it once was.
Our early maps, used to plot the range of the chimpanzees, were derived from black-and-white aerial photos. Today we use GIS, GPS and satellite imagery to create detailed maps of the chimpanzees' range, location of food sources and so on. And there is other new technology: DNA profiling, done from fecal samples. Collecting poo has always been important. At first we simply poked around to get a better idea of the frequency of eating various foods, such as insects and meat. Now more sophisticated DNA profiling can inform us about genetic relationships between chimpanzees. And, for the first time, we can be sure as to which males fathered which infants. Before we could only make informed guesses. Finally we can use fecal samples to learn about the prevalence of some diseases.
Today we try to keep a certain distance from the chimpanzees while observing them—their immune system is uncannily like our own and we know they can catch many of our infectious diseases. This is particularly worrying in light of the fact that tourists now visit Gombe regularly, mostly staying in a tented camp in Mtumba Valley close to the northern boundary but coming by boat to see the chimpanzees of our main study community.
The forests that once surrounded Gombe on three sides are almost gone. The lake forming the western boundary still gently caresses or, at times, crashes in great waves, onto the shore. But its once crystal-clear water is often clouded by the soil washed down by the streams flowing through bare hills outside the park. The chimpanzees of the Kasekela Community still roam the hills and valleys of their central range. But the communities to the north and especially to the south are diminished. They used to wander outside the boundaries of the tiny 35-square-kilometer park in search of food and mates. Now they are trapped, their wanderings curtailed by cultivated fields beyond the boundaries.
But some things have not changed. When I climb to the Peak (they call it "Jane's Peak" now) and sit looking out over the landscape that is as familiar to me as my own backyard, I can recapture the feelings I had as a young woman, the excitement of never knowing what I would see, what new thing I would discover. The waterfall, deep in Kakombe Valley, has not changed. It is still a place for spiritual refreshment, and I can sit, listening to the roar of falling water, and remember the first time I watched a group of chimpanzees performing their rhythmic waterfall displays: With bristling hair, they stamp through the shallow stream, sometimes standing upright and swaying rhythmically from foot to foot, hurling huge rocks, then sitting and watching the water as it falls. Surely these displays are triggered by a sense of wonder.
And I get the same deep satisfaction when I am alone in the forest, in the dim green and brown world beneath the great trees. A sense of timelessness. A feeling of peace that I take away with me, that sustains me during my days of lectures, meetings, hotels and airports, the noise of traffic, people talking loudly in receptions.
And I can look to the future with hope. Already, the villagers around Gombe have, thanks to our community-centered conservation program, become our partners. Trees, many of them 20 feet high, now clothe the bare slopes outside the national park, and leafy corridors are slowly moving toward other fragmented patches of forest, other remnant groups of chimpanzees. Some day, the Gombe chimpanzees will no longer be isolated, doomed to gradual extinction due to inbreeding and disease.
Gombe, with its chimpanzees and baboons (we began studying these smart primates in 1966 and the research continues today), its forests and birds, lizards and butterflies, is my spiritual refuge. Lying under a great tree, looking up at the tiny stars whose light shines down through the rustling leaves, or lying on the beach and gazing up at the moon, puts everything in perspective, gives meaning to my life. Gives me the strength to leave the peace and go back on the road. Sometimes we must leave what we love to save it—and so I stay on the road, raising awareness and support, always thinking of Gombe.
—Jane Goodall is founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. Her latest book, "Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe," will be published in October.
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Call it our "militarization moment."
We have seen something like Ferguson, Mo., before. A police officer shoots and kills a young black man, which touches off protests and looting. Which prompts headlong rushes to judgment about the actions of everyone involved — the cops, elected officials, activists and the media. Which causes us to question our progress on race, our politics and our national character.
We saw it with the beating of Rodney King in 1992 in Los Angeles. We saw it again with the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 in Sanford, Fla.


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There is definitely a grin on NASA's countenance as NuSTAR (NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) is providing the astronomers with its extraordinary X-ray images of cosmos.
Space enlightenment again! Heard about the giant gravitational ogres- the huge black holes? Astronomers believe they may have the reason why the black holes are so indiscriminately ingesting their quarry.
A giant Black Hole situated at the center of our galaxy is eating asteroids and emitting huge flares daily according to the astronomers.
A rare cosmic sight burst at the center of a distant galaxy has befuddled scientists at NASA.
The Obamas enjoyed the performance of a legendary Beatle on Wednesday night. Sir Paul McCartney performed at the East Room of the White House, after accepting the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the President.


text:
Bela Szandelszky, Associated Press
CAIRO — Egypt's military rulers were quick to take credit Tuesday for a strong turnout in the first elections since Hosni Mubarak's ouster, a vote that appeared to be the country's freest and fairest in living memory.
The military did not field candidates in the parliamentary vote. But winning bragging rights for a smooth, successful and virtually fraud-free election would significantly boost the ruling generals in their bitter struggle with youthful protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square calling for them to transfer power immediately to a civilian authority.
"When we plan, we execute and, at the end, we succeed," Maj. Gen. Ismail Etman, a member of the ruling military council, said in a television interview. He compared the elections to one of the Egyptian military's proudest moments — when they battled Israeli forces across the Suez Canal in 1973.
"The armed forces pulled off this election like they pulled off the crossing in 1973," he said.
Even before two days of voting began Monday, protesters were accusing the military of trying to cling to power and safeguard its interests under any future government. Now, they warn the ruling council will try to use the success of the election to cement its hold on power.
Already, the ruling council's perceived success seems to have taken the wind out of Tahrir protests, at least temporarily. The square that was the center of the anti-Mubarak uprising had as many vendors as protesters on Tuesday. Several small groups of older men intensely debating politics was the only sign of political activity.
"I voted yesterday and returned to Tahrir. I found it empty except for the vendors," said Samer Suliman, a political science professor at the American University in Cairo and one of the founders of the Social Democratic party.
"I think the military won big from the elections," he added. "The soldiers at the polling stations with their big smiles and politeness are giving the impression to the people that they are carrying the country on their shoulders. No doubt that they are dancing right now."
The generals, who took power after the 18-day uprising that pushed Mubarak out, were clearly hoping their successful shepherding of election would deflate the wave of protests against them that erupted 10 days ago. The protests, which drew more than 100,000 people in Tahrir at their height, galvanized growing anger among some who accuse the military of perpetuating the old regime's autocratic rule.
Etman estimated the turnout for the first round of voting at 70 percent and the head of the elections commission said it was "massive" but gave no figures. There will be two more rounds of voting for a parliament in the coming months and a series of run-offs. The process will not be completed until March.
Another member of the ruling council, Maj. Gen. Mukhtar al-Mulla, called the turnout "unprecedented in the history of the Arab world's parliamentary life."
Egypt's state media lavishly praised the military as the guardians of democracy, splashing on their front pages pictures of troops protecting polling centers or soldiers carrying elderly women to the polls.
"The ballots of the freedom parliament under the protection of the army," announced a headline in Cairo's Al-Ahram Al-Masai.
Al-Malla said the turnout was a message of solidarity from Egyptians to their armed forces.
"Our response to that message is: We are with you," he said as a small crowd of supporters gathered around him while touring polling centers in the Mediterranean city of Port Said, northeast of Cairo. "The army and the people are one hand," they chanted — invoking the mantra of the uprising earlier this year, when Tahrir protesters enthusiastically welcomed the military's takeover of power.
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