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VMT - Mobility made simple!
The VMT 3015 is a high-performance terminal PC with a touch screen and a front USB, mounted in an elegant, rugged aluminum die-cast housing with a plastic aperture.The terminal is supplied with a software keyboard as a standard feature.This software keyboard provides all the alphanumeric keys of a standard keyboard.In addition, you can switch over to a separate block of numeric keys.
The VMT 3015 has a high-resolution 15" color TFT display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.
The special features of the flat terminal are the high IP65 degree of protection and the easy and direct assembly on the machine.The voltage supply of 19 29 V makes the VMT 3015 ideal for mobile applications.
It can be mounted using either a support bracket (left and right), table stand, Vesa standard bracket, or Rittal bracket connection adapter.
The following features can be configured individually:Processor, RAM, and operating system.


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Good morning and welcome back to the funny farm, where it's best not to take the pills they're trying to give you.
On Monday I'd asked you guys to answer my poll question of who's more scared, the bulls or the bears. The results were surprising to me in how overwhelming in one direction they were -- The bulls are more scared. I had 70 responses and it was 61 Bulls, 9 Bears. The way to think about this "Who's more scared" poll is that it generally works as a great contrarian indicator when it's this far skewed to one side.
When the bulls are scared, it's time to buy. When the bears are scared, it's time to sell. We'll see if this time turns out to be an exception and earnings season here certainly could be a catalyst to the downside for the near term. And even though this poll has worked excellently as a contrarian indicator over the years, the markets can and do change over time and it's possible that at some point the efficacy of this poll fails. High speed trading, government bailouts and endless financial crises are the kinds of things that change near-term market dynamics.
But then again, how many times have you heard the old saying about buying when others are fearful.
You guys have seen me turn cautious for the near-term several times in the last few years even as I've been very bullish about the markets overall. And l0ng-time readers have seen me turn outright bearish about the economy and the markets back in late 2007. So you know I'm no perma-bull. But I do remain bullish here heading into earnings, with Apple , Google and Facebook as my top 3 largest positions, and the results of my "Who's more scared" poll certainly reinforces the idea that being long is a contrarian place to be.
A video of the bulls in 2012?
Cody Willard writes Revolution Investing for MarketWatch and posts the trades from his personal account at TradingWithCody.com. At time of publication, Cody was net long Facebook, Apple and Google. Follow Cody on twitter at http://twitter.com/codywillard

subset: commoncrawl


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While investigating the conditions for India's surrogate mothers, NPR's Julie McCarthy revealed some truly sad stories — of women carrying babies to expunge family debt and of disrespectful professionals, apparently exploiting the disadvantaged for financial gain.
No law currently governs the lucrative surrogacy industry in India, but that may change, with the government proposing restrictions on who can participate in the practice. Couples married fewer than five years, unmarried gay couples, gays, singles, and foreigners would all be banned from commissioning a surrogate under the new law. Some have questioned whether the ban, which seeks to protect the disadvantaged women who most often act as surrogates, will actually deprive them of economic opportunity.
McCarthy interviewed Isha, 30 years old and already a mother to two teenagers, who is carrying twins for another woman. She says she would not have acted as a surrogate if her husband had not suffered a debilitating and financially crushing accident while at work as a rickshaw driver.
Her doctor, Anoop Gupta, who runs one of New Delhi's largest fertility clinics, says India's poorest women are not being exploited, as they would get pregnant regardless because "they do not use contraception."
"They are thoughtless people," he said. "Now if they get an opportunity to help somebody who is childless, and they help themselves with the money they can never think of in their lifetime — nobody has been exploited."
Manasi Mishra, a social researcher in New Delhi who has surveyed hundreds of surrogates, begs to differ, disclosing a range of terrible deceptions the women endure.
Read the full story at NPR.
India plans to stop birth surrogacy for foreigners
Surrogate pregnant with triplets sues to prevent forced abortion
Are American couples buying babies in India?


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50 Hours
About the Book
Franco Allessi is a broken, lonely man who wants nothing more than to outrun the ghosts of his past. For years, he tries to numb the pain of his wife's death with cheap beer and whiskey. When he's convicted of drunk driving, the judge revokes his license for six months and orders him to serve fifty hours of community service. Franco chooses Savannah Falls Hospice for no reason other than it's walking distance from his dilapidated house trailer.
On his first day on the job, he meets Aubrey Brewer, a woman whose time on earth is quickly ticking to a stop. Their unusual connection teaches powerful, life-changing lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the importance of appreciating that precious treasure called Life.
Praises for 50 Hours by Loree Lough
50 Hours is a moving story about love, loss, friendship, and last chances. It's a reminder that our lives are precious stories, no matter how long or short. This is a must-read for all of us who have been touched by cancer – victims, caregivers, family, and friends. This poignant and touching tale will inspire hope in the midst of even the darkest hours.
(Cerella Sechrist, author of the popular Findlay Roads series from Harlequin.)
All is well with 50 Hours. REAL well! Franco is a good dude, and well designed. He doesn't do anything out of the ordinary or unusual, and behaves in a completely believable fashion. And I genuinely like him. I drug this out for 3 days so I could enjoy the story longer. It's a hard topic, but handled very skillfully. I appreciate the opportunity to share Franco and Aubrey's story.
(Travis W. Inman, author of Shadows and When Love Calls.)
You'll laugh, you'll cry… 50 Hours is an unforgettable tale of healing, redemption, and the cost of true love. With a delicate pen, author Loree Lough writes an honest and poignant view of what cancer patients face with commendable bravery. A must-read for readers of every kind!"
(Rachel Muller (Author of bestselling World War II series, Love & War, and the newly released, Phillip's War)
50 Hours is the story of Franco and Aubrey, each trying to navigate a journey through different aspects of death: Franco, who'd lost his wife in a car accident; Aubrey, who's quickly losing her battle with cancer.
They're fighting alone until circumstances put them together, and changes their lives, permanently. This book will change lives!
(Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield, Founder FaithInspires.Org, and Christian Growth and Healing Expert at SelfGrowth.Com)
A brilliant and heart wrenching story about a determined woman, Aubrey Brewer, making her days on earth count after receiving a terminal diagnosis. Loree Lough took a difficult subject and turned it into a compelling read with light humor to soften the inevitable sadness that comes with a depressing disease. The grim truth about how a person with cancer really feels could only be truly understood by someone who has suffered with the same disease. Emotions run deep between the characters, and Loree perfectly draws the reader in to feel those emotions, right alongside the characters.
(Emma Gingerich – Author of Runaway Amish Girl; the Great Escape.)
Loree Lough has entertained me with her stories for many years, but I think with this one we've crossed into a new realm. 50 Hours is more than a story… it's therapy. Emotion and awareness wrapped around two main characters that make you care for them. The novel is a reminder that life is indeed short, but always worth living. And almost always… one life will touch many others. Great job Loree!
(-Robin Bayne, author of Reunion At Crane Lake. www.robinbayne.com)
Loree Lough's books are always an absolute pleasure to read, and 50 Hours is one of her best yet! The story is powerful and poignant on many levels. It delivers stunning visual imagery, characters you will care about deeply and an emotional roller coaster that will leave you satisfied. The story serves as an important reminder of what's important in life, the capacity of the human spirit, and not being victims of our circumstances, regardless of how dire they might be. 50 Hours is a book you won't be able to put down, and its messages of love and compassion will linger with you long after you've turned the last page.
(Kate James, award-winning author of Sanctuary Cove, Silver Linings, and The Truth About Hope.)
I defy anyone to start the beautifully written 50 Hours and to put it down or to go on with their own lives as they had before reading about the remarkable, emotional and insightful relationship between dying Aubrey and the lost Franco. As a recent widow myself, the strength, humor and respect between the main characters shot close to home, but delivered so much hope and love that even as I march forward to tomorrow, my perspective has altered—all to the positive. In her last days in this life, Aubrey finally lives out the dreams she's been too browbeaten by her mother and ex-husband to accomplish. She can only do this with help from Franco, who risks imprisonment to see her wish come true. Emerson said, "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded." Aubrey and Franco succeeded. Believe me when I say, THIS IS THE KIND OF BOOK THAT WINS PULITZER PRIZES.
(Catherine Lanigan, Author of Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile, and over forty-five novels and non-fiction.)
Related Posts
Feb 14, 2018CategoryArticle,Book Blitz
A broken man, a dying woman, a friendship that knows no bounds.
Jan 29, 2018CategoryTour Info
Welcome to the main page for 50 Hours blog tour. This page contains detailed information about the tour, including event dates, media kits, giveaways, and tour schedule.
Jun 30, 2017CategoryArticle,Book Tour,Release Blitz
A broken man, a dying woman, and a friendship that changes them both. We are delighted to present the release of 50 Hours, a touching and heartwarming novel by Bestselling and Award Winning Author Loree Lough.
Jun 4, 2017CategoryTour Info
Welcome to the main page for 50 Hours blog tour. This page contains detailed information about the tour, including event dates, media kits, giveaways, and tour schedule.


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New Name Reflects Intensified Research Focus and Partnership with University of Maryland
Baltimore — July 8, 2013. The University of Maryland Medical System today
announces an important milestone for rehabilitation and orthopaedic services in the state of Maryland. Effective July 2013, Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital will be known as the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute, reflecting its growing prominence in innovative and collaborative research to advance patient care, strong ties to the University of Maryland and continued commitment to the highest-quality patient-focused care.
"As one of the nation's leading rehabilitation care and research facilities, the specialized services that we provide the citizens of Maryland are increasingly being sought by patients looking for innovative care," says Michael Jablonover, M.D., chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He adds, "While our name may be changing, what will not change is the tradition of providing the best rehabilitative and orthopaedic care in the region."
The hospital specializes in advanced rehabilitation services and state-of-the-art technological and surgical approaches to help patients recovering from trauma and stroke as well as spinal cord, brain and other injuries. The hospital also has a comprehensive orthopaedic program, including joint replacement surgery.
"Our founder, James Lawrence Kernan, established this hospital with a vision of better rehabilitative care. As we enter this new era, we strive to honor that legacy through the commitment of our interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, therapists and other staff to further our mission helping our patients to recover and achieve their maximum independence," adds Dr. Jablonover.
The 144-bed University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute is the largest inpatient rehabilitation hospital and provider of rehabilitation services in the state. Patients make the transition to rehabilitation after recovering from cardiovascular events such as stroke, traumatic injury, orthopaedic surgery and other illnesses.
Other specialty programs that are located at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute include treatment services for amputation, rheumatology, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neuro-degenerative disorders, and a broad range of outpatient clinics, including the University of Maryland Pain Management Center, dental services and the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Medicine.
Many of the hospital's physicians are faculty members and physician-scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The institute's growing research focus may feature expanded collaborative studies in stroke, spinal cord and brain injury, and physical therapy. Researchers and patients also have access to state-of-the-art technologies such as a new dynamic body-weight support system to help patients with gait dysfunction and a motorized exoskeleton designed to help paraplegics gain upright mobility.
The University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute is part of the University of Maryland Medical System, a 12-hospital system of academic, community and specialty hospitals. For more information on the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute, go towww.UMRehabOrtho.org
If you are a member of the media, please contact Karen Lancaster (firstname.lastname@example.com) or me (email@example.com). You can reach us at 410-328-8919.
Best regards,
Sharon V. Boston
Media Relations Manager
University of Maryland Medical System &
University of Maryland School of Medicine
110 S. Paca Street, 9th floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 328-8919


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Blackford speaks to Trumann Lions Club
John Blackford, the new Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church Trumann was the guest speaker last Wednesday at the Trumann Lions Club weekly meeting. Blackford will also be the Youth Pastor as the church.
Blackford grew up in Marion and was like most kids, he wanted the best clothes, hang out with the coolest kids and be friends with all the girls. He came to know the Lord his freshman year in high school. At a revival before his sophomore year, he said, "The Lord told me I was going in the wrong direction and I gave my life to him that night." As his new found faith grew, Blackford struggled with what he wanted to do with his life. He had a friend suggest he surrender to the ministry. Blackford told him, "I don't know" as he had plans to attend the University of Arkansas after high school.
After visiting Williams Baptist College (WBC) Blackford felt this is where God wanted him to go to school. Blackford enrolled at WBC after his graduation from Marion in 2008. "I figured I'd enroll, major undecided, and just see how it goes and probably end up getting a degree in business administration." Blackford told that God laid it on his heart with Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for your life." Blackford surrendered to the ministry and set his goal on becoming a youth pastor.
After coming back home and sharing his news with his church family, Blackford declared his major the next week for the ministry. Blackford said he continued to grow in his ministry at WBC with internships and directory positions as the Lord continued to work in his life.
While at WBC, Blackford met his future wife, Mallarie. Mallarie was on a full softball scholarship and they began dating during his junior year. The couple were wed in early January of this year.
Blackford ended with saying, "All the times I passed through Trumann and saw the Welcome to Trumann sign, God did know the plans he had for me and it was to bring me to First Baptist Church Trumann. I'm excited and looking forward to good things to come."


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How would an emergency or disaster affect your business? Relatively speaking, small businesses may have more to lose than large ones if a disaster strikes. Think about your staff, your property, your stock – if any of these were hurt or damaged, how would you deal with it? Are you prepared?
Emergencies and disasters can happen any time with no warning. The more prepared you and your staff are, the less panic and confusion there will be in an emergency. Emergency response drills (see below) are an excellent way to keep them ready.
This module is designed to help you plan ahead.
Think about the kinds of emergencies that could happen at your location. For example:
You need to be prepared for any emergency that you can reasonably foresee happening at some point. That means creating written instructions for dealing for specific situations; training staff; and having appropriate equipment and supplies on hand. It's the law.
In developing your emergency plan it can help to look at the results from your safety inspections. It's essential to involve staff, since they will be the ones to act on the plan.
A good plan will:
For many emergency situations, such as a fire, the first response should be to get everyone out of the building. It is a legal requirement for all workplaces to have a plan for evacuation.
People need training and practice in following the plan, but in a moment of crisis it can be hard to remember what to do. It can be easy to panic in an emergency.
The best way to train people in an emergency plan is to practice.
Every workplace is required to do an emergency drill at least once a year and keep a record of each drill. The records should be used to improve the plan and you need to document the results.
Use an emergency response drill checklist to create a written record you can use to evaluate and improve the plan periodically.


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As noted in yesterday's post, APS announced the departure of four school principals. Toomer Elementary principal Nicole Jones has resigned and both Douglas High School principal Tony Burkes' and Forest Hills Academy principal Anthony Howell's contract were not renewed for next year.
In addition, South Atlanta High School – Law principal Charlotte Davis has resigned. An AJC article (see here) provides more background on Davis' resignation:
South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice Principal Charlotte Davis has resigned after a district investigation into alleged improper grade-changing…Davis signed off on at least 39 grade changes last spring, grade-change sheets obtained by WSBTV show. But Davis changed many more grades — several hundred — in a school with about 300 students, according to WSBTV. All but one of the grades were increased to 70, the lowest passing grade. In some cases, the new grades allowed students who earned numeric grades as low as 8 or 9 to pass.
The principal turnover rate continues to be high – 11.0% since August 2014 – but there has also been a process during which Superintendent Carstarphen has had to make some tough assessments and to get her team in place. With a full year to review principal performance, I would assume that the team in place now is the team Carstarphen believes will help her drive the changes she is looking for.
[Follow me on Twitter @Financial_Decon & Facebook]


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If you're searching for information on available Hampstead NH homes for sale, we have them for you below. We also offer our newest feature of being able to notify you by email anytime a property you're interested in within the Hampstead area changes or goes off the market. Simply sign up for our Email notification list to take advantage of this feature.
Hampstead, a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, has around 9,000 residents. Hampstead is situated within the Merrimack River watershed with the summit of Butman Hill in the northwestern part of the area, near the town of Sandown and a short commute to Salem, NH and Routes 93 and 495. Close proximity to Manchester and Nashua provides easy access to all the amenities of a big city and enables Hampstead's residents to enjoy gorgeous, natural surroundings.
Hampstead is a perfect choice for a family searching for a home in a quiet and welcoming community. It is a popular location for camping with its 400 acres of water including Sunset Lake, Island Pond and Angle Pond. Residents and visitors to Hampstead can enjoy swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking, skiing, horseback riding and many other outdoor activities.
Elementary school students attend the Hampstead Central School and high school students attend Pinkerton Academy in Derry.
Hampstead NH Homes For Sale
The median value of Hampstead, NH homes for sale is $91,500. This is lower than the county median home value of $248,600. The average price of homes sold in Hampstead, NH is $91,500.
Hampstead is a distinctive town located in southern New Hampshire with stately antique colonials lining the main street. Big Island Pond and Sunset Lake provide the opportunity for waterfront living.
Hampstead features a wide variety of housing opportunities from senior housing in mobile home parks and condominiums to single family homes of all ages, price ranges and styles from historic to contemporary. Listings include condos, townhomes, and single family homes for sale. Commercial properties are also available.
Check out some of the currently available Hampstead NH homes for sale below…


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Welcome to our website!
We are very proud to provide you with the best quality of service around. We take great pleasure in fulfilling all your award needs.We understand that everyone has an individual expression of who they are and our goal is to capture the unique quality and personality of every individual, team or business.
990 N. Diamond Bar Blvd Diamond Bar CA 91756 us
© All rights reserved
R.K. Trophies and Awards


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A must have for your phonics lessons! These cards can be used for so many different games and activities as well as general teaching flash cards. These are also available with matching sound cards. - Printable Classroom Activities and Games by Teacher's Pet. Primary school resources, including premium downloadable, printable classroom activities and games. Resources for Early Years (EYFS), KS1 and KS2 including challenge cards, board games, CVC, VCOP, stickers, posters, wordmats, signs, roleplay activities and much much more! A sparklebox alternative! - letters, sounds, phonics, five
This website requires "Adobe Flash Player"
Click Here to download.


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Read Keith Lair's 2012 story "For 10th consecutive summer, X Games set up shop in L.A., where they have become a staple"
After 11 years, the Summer X Games are leaving Los Angeles.
The extreme-sports showcase had found its footing as a major event in the region starting in 2003, but that relationship will end after this year's games in August, when the three-year contract with Anschutz Entertainment Group expires.
Four other cities beat out all Southern California proposals to hold the games, starting in 2014, event promoter ESPN announced Tuesday. Chicago, Detroit, Austin and Charlotte are the finalists, with the winning city receiving a three-year contract to be announced this summer.
"There is no question there is Southern California DNA in the X Games," said Scott Guglielmino, a senior vice president of programming for the X Games. "Southern California is the home of the board sports and the motocross sports. There will always be Southern California DNA in the X Games, wherever they are held."
Pasadena and Long Beach were two of the 13 cities to submit proposals to ESPN to host the games. Rose Bowl officials looked at what ESPN was seeking, but General Manager Darryl Dunn said the facility, which will host its 100th Rose Bowl game in January, did not submit a bid.
"Next year we anticipate having to do a lot of work and we could not hold an event like that," Dunn said. "We looked at it. We have a lot of construction coming up, and we could not commit at this point. Maybe down the road."
ESPN began a six-city global X Games tour this year, with the final stop from Aug. 1-4 in Los Angeles.
The split between ESPN and AEG was amicable and Guglielmino said the games could eventually return to Southern California.
"We had a great experience in Los Angeles," Guglielmino said. "AEG showed they had a passion for the X Games. They had great vision for transforming downtown Los Angeles and they were a great role in helping us. We feel it is the right time for us to leave."
The decision came right when ESPN officials expanded the X Games into six worldwide events. They recently had a competition in Foz do Iguaqu, Brazil, and will head to Barcelona for its fourth event from May 16-19.
The news was disappointing to Southern California fans of skateboarding, BMX and motocross, as well as local hotels and other businesses that benefited from the tourism revenue.
"I feel like my favorite cousin is moving away," said Devon Steigerwald of Venice Beach, a former action sports athlete who has attended five Summer X Games in Los Angeles. "I'm sad to see them go. It's been part of the city's tradition."
The X Games bring in about $8 million a year in tourism revenue, according to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. Still, the city will eventually find something to replace the loss, said Robert Kleinhenz, chief economist with Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.
"There's a lot going on here so there will probably be something that will fill that void," Kleinhenz said. "It may take several years to replace, but eventually Los Angeles will be occupied with something else. The question is, 'Will it be able to replace it with the same amount of activity?' I just don't have that answer."
He added that it's particularly surprising the event would leave, given there are some 21 million people in the Southern California area who could attend the games.
"It's hard to find a city with the same concentration of people to attend the X Games," he said. "That's the first thing that struck me when hearing the news."
According to a 2011 economic impact study conducted by Micronomics, the majority of X Games attendance was by Angelenos, with roughly 25 percent of X Game attendance from outside a 50-mile radius.
Last year, events in the four-day summer action-sports festival were held at Staples Center, the Nokia Theater and around the L.A. Live complex. In past years, events have been held around Southern California, including at the Coliseum, Home Depot Center, Long Beach Marine Stadium and Huntington Beach pier.
The X Games started in 1995 in Rhode Island and in just two years became so popular that it expanded to both summer and winter events.
While both seasons of the games have been hosted in several cities from Big Bear to Mount Snow, Vt. and San Diego to Philadelphia, both the Winter and Summer X Games eventually found their homes in the early 2000s in Aspen and Los Angeles respectively.
ESPN is also negotiating with cities for the Winter X Games, which have been in Aspen, Colo., since 2002. That contract expires after the 2014 games.
"I've soaked it all up and been to every single one of them in L.A.," said fan Tony Hibbitts, who treks more than 100 miles with his family from Palm Desert to attend the Summer X Games in Los Angeles.
"When Jake Brown fell out of the sky. When Anthony Napolitan was first to do a double front flip on a BMX bike on a megaramp. I've seen Travis Pastrana win gold medals at the Staples Center. There's been some great memories and historic moments.
"I'm definitely going to miss it. It's one of the events I look forward to every summer," Hibbitts said. "It's what I do. Ride to live, live to ride – and that's on skateboards and dirt bikes. It's what everyone in Southern California does, so this is sad news for all of us."


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Thank you for expressing an interest in applying to Fisher College's Full Time Boston Campus! We have created this online application to make it easy for you. Once your application has been submitted you will automatically be entered into our database, and an Assistant Director of Admissions will be in contact with you.
If you do not have a valid email address, please click here.
For more information you can also visit our website.
If you are interested in part-time evening programs, please visit the Division of Accelerated and Professional Studies page.
Colleges are asked by government agencies, accreditingassociations, college guides, newspapers, and their owncollege communities, to describe the demographic profileof their students. Your responses will be used only for statistical purposes and will be kept confidential.


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The Department of Health-funded randomised controlled trial will initially involve 4,000 people in several local authority areas undergoing computerised tomography (CT) scans of their lungs, increasing to 32,000 in total next year.
CT scans uses low-dose radiation to build a high-resolution picture of soft tissue inside the body.
Previous trials have found CT scanning to be much more effective at picking up the early stages of lung cancer than x-rays, or doing nothing.
A small-scale study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 found that 88 per cent of patients whose lung cancer was picked up by CT scans, were still alive after 10 years.
In Britain, only about one in 20 people with lung cancer survive for 10 years after diagnosis.
By the time lung cancer is diagnosed, the tumours are usually so big that they are inoperable.
Every year 34,000 people die of lung cancer - more than breast and bowel cancer combined - making it Britain's biggest cancer killer by far.
The pilot will compare detection and survival rates for those who undergo CT lung scans and those who do not.
According to details of the trial published in the journal Thorax, UK Lung Screen (UKLS) will choose patients aged 50 to 75 with a high risk of lung cancer - defined as a five per cent risk over five years - from NHS records.
They will initially be screened once for small nodules, which could be cancerous.
These nodules will be graded into one of four categories that reflect their risk of being malignant.
The smallest, "category one" nodules will be considered insignificant and no further action will be taken.
Patients with category two nodules will be asked to return in a year for another scan, while those with category three nodules will be asked to return in three months and again at a year.
Those with category four nodules will receive immediate treatment.
Professor John Field, director of research of the Roy Castle lung cancer research programme at the University of Liverpool and principal investigator for the UK Lung Cancer Screening Trial, said: "The success of CT screening trials could potentially lead to the implementation of a national lung cancer programme, which could have an enormous impact.
"We could see significant changes in managing the disease, similar to the impact of breast screening over the last 15 years."
However, he said the pilot and main study needed to demonstrate firstly that it reduced mortality by at least 20 per cent compared to those not screened, and that subsequent treatment was cost effective from a health economics point of view.
Funding for lung cancer research is harder to come by than for other cancers, due to the fact that most lung cancers result from smoking. Many therefore consider it to be a self-inflicted disease.
But Prot Field challenged what he called the "stigma" associated with lung cancer.
Many other cancers were the result of unhealthy lifestyles, he said.
He added: "Ten to 15 per cent of individuals who develop lung cancer have never smoked, which is more than the number of people who get ovarian cancer.
"It is still a big problem with non-smokers; it's just an enormous problem among smokers."
Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for Cancer at the Department of Health, said: "I am delighted that the Department of Health, through the National Institute for Health Research, is taking the lead on behalf of all National Cancer Research Institute partners, by funding this important pilot study and progressing research in this area.
"UKLS complements other trials currently underway in Europe and the US."


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Graduates at this year's University of Limerick conferring ceremonies, which take place this week, face "a more positive economic environment and a buoyant jobs market," according to university President Dr Des Fitzgerald.
According to a recent survey, nearly three quarters (74%) of last year's UL graduates are in employment.
This figure is a full 12% higher than the average employment rate for all Irish universities graduates in 2015, which stands at 62%.
Dr Fitzgerald highlighted the figures to the 2,687 newest UL graduates, including 47 PhDs, all formally receiving their qualifications this week.
"You are entering a more positive economic environment and a buoyant jobs market. Even through the bleak years of recession, UL maintained its fantastic record of graduates in employment and UL graduates remain some of the most employable graduates in Ireland. 74 per cent of last year's UL graduates are in employment – that's 12 per cent higher than the average employment rate for all Irish university graduates in 2015. Most of those who are not in employment went on to further education," Dr Fitzgerald told the class of 2017.
Each year, UL's Cooperative Education and Careers Division (CECD) collects information about the 'First Destinations' of its graduates. The survey supported by the Higher Education Authority forms part of a nationwide review of the employment outcomes of Irish university graduates.*
Of the 74% of University of Limerick graduates who went directly into employment, 63% are employed in Ireland and 11% overseas. This is a 2% increase in employment levels overall on the previous year with an increase of 3% if those securing employment within Ireland.
The results record a decrease of 1% in the number of University of Limerick graduates seeking employment, which is now 5%. This is lower than the official labour market unemployment figure that is currently in excess of 6.3%.
The survey shows that one-fifth of the class of 2016 went on to do some form of postgraduate study or research.
UL's doctorate students are also very much in demand, with 89% of last year's PhD graduates currently in employment – 70%in Ireland and 19% overseas. Also, 84% of those who completed a Research Masters and 80% of last year's Taught Masters graduates are currently in employment.
In his speech, President Fitzgerald mentioned UL's achievements over the past year including achieving University of Sanctuary status, the launch of the Titan Themis microscope, the opening of the Munster Rugby High Performance Centre and the new 25m pool, as well as detailing the university's new Healthy Campus initiative.
"This is a programme close to my heart," said Professor Fitzgerald. "As part of this campaign, we will be introducing healthier eating options in our restaurants, and we will be moving towards a 'No Smoking' campus – with designated smoke-free areas all around the campus in the coming months. We will also have support programmes for students and staff seeking help to quit smoking."
"Through this initiative we aim to create a model of excellence and to promote a healthy environment in which to develop the minds and bodies of our students," he added.
President Fitzgerald concluded his speech to the graduating class of 2017 with words of encouragement: "As you know, graduates from this great institution have made and continue to make an enormous contribution to this region, the country and the wider world. You now stand in that line of tradition, about to make your own mark, in your own way".
*The UL Cooperative Education and Careers Service offers careers information, advice and guidance in good faith. Users must take responsibility for their own decisions based on this information.


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Hello, I've (finally) been reading the latest XSL spec. I've got a few questions or requests for clarification concerning the areas generated by the fo:table objects. Question 1. In 6.7.3 the spec says: "The fo:table formatting object generates one or more normal block-areas." Under the "Trait derivation" section it says, "The areas generated by the fo:table formatting object have a value of "true" for the is-reference-area." Does that mean that the area(s) generated by fo:table are really normal "reference-areas"? That seems more consistent with other parts of the spec (fo:table-cell and fo:table-caption for example.) Or perhaps table areas are NOT intended to be reference areas. This actually seems more reasonable to me, since cells are reference areas. Question 2. Also in 6.7.3, the spec says: "The areas generated by the fo:table formatting object have as children: . Areas, with only background, corresponding to the column-groups, columns, and rows. . Areas returned by the fo:table-cell formatting objects." But in the sections concerning columns and rows, it clearly says that these FOs don't directly generate any areas. I interpret this to mean that any background (and border?) properties specified on columns or rows affect the appearance of the underlying table grid (as determined by the z-order). But perhaps this could be made clearer? Thanks in advance for any explanations, Karen Lease email@example.com on Wednesday, 26 April 2000 17:49:14 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 20:44:18 UTC


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So I was contemplating how many stinking anchor charts I was going to have this spring. I will have a frog life cycle, a chicken life cycle, ladybug life cycle, plant life cycle… Do ya get my drift?! Then I got to thinking, I love me some anchor charts, but these are really just posters, I print, I cut, I assemble. Somehow that doesn't make it interactive. Then BAM! it hit me! What if I MAKE IT interactive!! The idea came to me!
As I was making it, I took pictures, so you could enjoy how many mistakes I made!
I started out with a few items: poster board, glue, paper, scissors, paper cutter, velcro
The first thing I did was cut everything out, lay it all out before I used my glue stick to glue it all down.
Glue stick number one was empty, glue stick number two worked better. Now it was time to head to the laminator. (Gotta make sure there is something to collect the gooey stuff in the end of our laminator.)
Yay! It worked! Our laminator usually hates me. So I added Velcro to the board.
This is when I started getting frustrated.
Can you guess why?! ALL of my lamination peeled off. THEN…
Glue stick number two wasn't as amazing as I thought… So I brought out the big guns (Pun intended)
Hot glue all the pictures and velcro on and…..
TADA!!!! An interactive life cycle poster board!!
Then after all the drama with Poster #1, Poster #2 was easy peasy!
Well, I gotta go cook dinner for the hubby! Make sure you check out my TPT store, I have all my Life Cycle set up!!!
I also have them marked down to $10, that is $1 per Mini Unit!!
I also have them marked down to $10, that is $1 per Mini Unit!!


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Leggings Hosiery describes tight-fitting garments worn directly on the feet and legs. Most are made by knitting methods. Modern stockings usually are tight-fitting by virtue of stretchy fabrics and meshes. Older forms include binding to achieve a tight fit. Due to its close fit, most hosiery can be worn as an undergarment, but it is more commonly worn as a combined under/outer garment.With the right type of hosiery it will not matter whether you are 4'11 or 5'10, your legs will look as if they were Aphrodite's herself. With the sexy lace and ribbon strewn on your legs, it will melt away any one that deserves to be melted by you.
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Lauren's Before Photos: Dated, Bare-Bones Kitchen
When we moved into our house, we regretfully didn't take any before photos, but we did manage to save the MLS photos. Above is the photo that the realtor took of our kitchen with the seller's belongings/decor. It's the closest thing to a true before photo that we have. Although we still haven't done much to the space, we did declutter and add a fresh coat of paint. Here is where we are at now:
I honestly didn't even need to hang out in my space for a while to know exactly what needs to be done. Being the kitchen - one of the hardest-used rooms in the house, I'm constantly thinking about what I dislike and want to change.
Things I immediately want to rip out:
- The plastic pendant light and absolutely hideous dust-ridden ceiling fan
- The dated "fence" above the cabinets
- The in-the-way paper towel holder
- The gingerbread trim above the sink
- The black plastic pulls
- The ugly faucet
(Sorry, I know the lighting in the above photo is not ideal, but it was the time of day that both of my children were napping - sometimes you've got to strike while the iron is hot!)
To make the space a little more functional, I'd like to:
- Add a small prep space next to the stove (where the trash can currently is)
- Add more storage next to the refrigerator with an old hand-me-down IKEA bookcase that we inherited (similar to the BILLY)
- Add more shelves to the teeny tiny storage closet
And for the fun part (decorating!), the plan is to:
- Paint the cabinets white - the wood tone is too orange for my taste, plus the cabinet doors have an ugly black recessed line that I'd like to cover up.
- Repaint the walls. The creamy yellow isn't bad, but I'd like to neutralize a bit so that I can easily add in color with the accessories. While I love a white kitchen I think that would be a little much with white cabinets and white appliances. I'm thinking a light gray similar to the color in our family room might do the trick.
- Replace the current light and ceiling fan with matching pendant lights. Something classic like a schoolhouse pendant or perhaps something a little bit more industrial? I'd also like to center the new pendants with the windows if it's possible.
- Add art. There isn't a ton of wall space, but I'm planning to make the most of what I have. I'm not sure if I want to do a bunch of small pieces grouped together or one large statement piece.
- Add fun accessories - I don't want the space to look cluttered, but I want to add in some personality and color.
- Replace the cabinet and drawer pulls - again, I'm leaning toward a classic look for our little 1930's casa.
- Find a shiny new faucet to dress up our sink. I'd love to eventually replace it with a farmhouse sink but I'm afraid right now it's just not in the budget.
- New window treatments. I'm hunting for some cute, inexpensive roman shades, but I kind of don't think they exist. Maybe a DIY project is in my future?
- Down the road we want to replace the existing laminate flooring with the same hardwood that we installed throughout the rest of our first floor, install new countertops, and add a white subway tile backsplash. I'd love to tackle these things right away, but with an infant I just don't have the time or energy - maybe next summer?
- While I'd love to replace the microwave with a hood, I'm not sure how practical it would be considering that we don't have much storage space to begin with, and venting it would probably mean losing our two upper cabinets. I also would prefer stainless steel appliances, but these are fairly new so we'll just try our best to make them work.
So there's the plan - whew! I love making a list, but the best part comes next - crossing it off, line by line.
(Images: Lauren Hufnagl)


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Status: Missing and presumed lost except for the fragments found in the film's trailer.
This is the very first film adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, filmed a mere four years after it was written. No need to make this a costume picture. The twenties were roaring away as the cameras cranked.
1926 was a banner year for silent film and The Great Gatsby, while praised, seems to have been a bit lost in the shuffle of Beau Geste, Old Ironside, What Price Glory, Night of Love, Flesh and the Devil…
Here are some vintage reviews:
Photoplay particularly praised Lois Wilson as Daisy Buchanan.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of the great war's aftermath presented unusual film difficulties. Herbert Brenon, the director, has managed to retain much of the feeling of the story. Gatsby comes out of the war to achieve a fortune unscrupulously. He falls, of course, in the end, finding that happiness can't be won that way. Lois Wilson runs away with the film as the jazzy Daisy Buchanan who flashes cocktails and silken you-know-she-wears-'ems.
The distributor magazine Motion Picture News had this to say:
Every good job has been done by this picture — an adaptation of the novel and play. It offered material which necessitated the intelligent handling of characterization so as to keep its spirit intact. In other winds, it depended upon the director emphasizing the central figure as he was emphasized in the novel and play to approach a "nearly perfect gentleman." This Herbert Brenon has done and so well has Warner Baxter responded that his performance is quite the best of his career and one of the best of the season.
A tragic figure is Gatsby, a product of the gutter who comes up in the world and tries to assume the culture which only goes with long-established generations of ancestry. The manner in which Brenon works is in showing the mute pride and helplessness of the man in attempting to "belong." Of course, Baxter has his work cut out for him, too.
It's a sophisticated story, told with first-rate lights and shadows. The spirit of the original is there with plenty to spare. It has its dramatic moments, its romantic scenes, its contrasts and conflicts. And it is splendidly acted by every member of the cast, including Lois Wilson, Neil Hamilton, William Powell, Hale Hamilton, and Georgia Hale.
You read that cast right. William Powell, Lois Wilson, Georgia Hale…
The New York Times felt that something was missing from the final product:
The screen version of "The Great Gatsby" is quite a good entertainment, but at the same time it is obvious that it would have benefited by more imaginative direction. Although Mr. Brenon has included the tragic note at the end, he has succumbed to a number of ordinary movie flashes without inculcating much in the way of subtlety. Neither he nor the players have succeeded in fully developing the characters.
Zelda Fitzgerald was even less happy with the film (she and her husband walked out):
"We saw 'The Great Gatsby' in the movies. It's ROTTEN and awful and terrible and we left."
Unfortunately, we will never be able to judge for ourselves. The Great Gatsby is one of the more sought-after lost films of the silent era. It is a shame that it is gone since it would have provided a unique perspective on the novel, as played by the men and women who made up that Lost Generation.


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Here's what some of our valued customers have to say about our candles. If you would like to leave a testimonial, please send us an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
I always sigh to myself when someone gives me a candle as a present. No candle I've ever had comes close to making our home smell as cozy and warm as Aunt Becky's. The fragrance from one candle is enough to fill an entire room! My favorites are your Christmas scents (Christmas Kitchen, Christmas Splendor), and I will admit that I burn these all year long! I keep the Apple Cinnamon candle in my office and it never fails to get comments on how lovely it smells (I never fail to tell them where I got it either!). Thank you for making such a wonderful quality product!
Jenn J., Atlanta, GA
I have been buying scented candles for years. I am a writer and I like to burn them while I work: not only do candles symbolize the creative spark nicely, but a scent can create the mood of a scene set under a wisteria pergola, for example.
However, when I actually get my newly purchased candles home and light them, it is always an anti-climax. Most smell nice in the jar but not at all once lit. All they do is sit there and look pretty. I finally settled on Yankee Candles, because at least they smell when burning; but the scent is usually so faint, you have to practically singe off your nose hairs to get a good whiff! I always think, "I paid $25 for THIS?"
Then one fateful day, I purchased two small candles from Aunt Becky's Candle Shoppe (mostly because Yankee didn't have the scents). Having known disappointment for so long, I tried not to get my hopes up, figuring I'd wasted my money yet again. Thirty seconds after lighting your first candle, I knew I had found something remarkable. Not only did the scent waft out almost immediately, it soon filled my entire apartment. Even across the room, I was constantly taking deep breaths and saying "Mmmm!"
I am converted. Not only do Aunt Becky's Candles actually smell like they're supposed to, they burn more evenly and cost less than the other guys'! I also like your homey-shaped jars--and your customer service is outstanding! So I wanted to send out a big thank you.
Jennifer B., Fairfax, VA
First off, I would like to tell everyone out there, if you are wanting a scented candle that burns evenly and with the most scent possible, then purchase your candles from Aunt Becky's Candle Shoppe. Forget about all those other brands out there, yours are so more superior than any other scented candles on the market.
I first came in contact with your candles are the craft fair in Thurmont, MD last year after smelling your Honeysuckle candle (my favorite). At the fair I purchased a few and when my wife and I returned home that day, I lit one in my family room and was amazed at the long lasting scent it gave off. This scent was repeated each time it was lit to my amazement - generally scented candles die out. Needless to say, I went to your website (thanks for your business card) and purchased additional candles in your 26 oz jar. It's just amazing how long and even your candles burn.
This year October 2007, my family and I made the trip to Thurmont for the Craft festival even though I just had knee surgery a few days prior and had to be pushed around in a wheelchair. I made it a point to inform my wife, son, daughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law that I had to locate your booth in order to purchase more of your candles and that you were they only vendor I was interested in locating at the craft fair. Well, needless to say, my 33 year old son found your booth and informed me where you were located. Even though it took a while to decide on a few candles as you may remember, I did make my purchase of 4 of your 16 oz candles (a few Honeysuckle of course) as well as a few other scents. Even my son and his wife, as well as my daughter and her husband purchased a few on "Dad's" recommendation. They will be very happy that they did and I'm sure they will visit your website to purchase more once they have had the pleasure of experiencing the fantastic fragrance your candles give off.
Sorry for this testimonial being so long, but it's rare in this day and age when you can find someone that makes and sell a product that is as exactly as the person states it is and is what we call in my family a "Top Door" product.
Thanks Aunt Becky to you and your husband for putting out such a wonderful product - you have a "Customer for Life".
Steve L., Woodbridge, VA
At Candlefind.com, Christina reviewed one of our candles. Click Here to read what she has to say about it.
In the past when I bought a scented candle it would smell for about the first two days, and when I would light it, it didn't smell like anything. Well, I went to a little fair at my daughter's preschool and saw auntbeckyscandleshoppe, I didn't really want to buy anything, but I thought I would support this cute, little company. I bought a cinnamon candle in a glass jar. A few days later, my husband's family was in town for Thanksgiving so I broke out my candle. As it turned out I LOVED it. It smelled so good and so rich, but not overwhelming. I have burned it every night since then. Last night I realized that it was almost burned out. I went to your website and saw that you were going to be at Ida Lee, so I rushed out this afternoon and now I have lots of new, different smelling candles. Thanks for making a beautiful product that actually does what it's intended to do.
Merry Christmas and much thanks, Susan G., Leesburg, VA
I recieved the candles yesterday, and I absolutely love them!!!! I burned 2 already, and they smelled sooo good, and nice and strong the way I like them. I especially loved the apple cinnamon. Thanks for a great product, and I will be ordering more for me, and for gifts.
- Linda W., Akron, OH
I burn candles and Aunt Becky's are the only candles whose fragrance is everlasting and depending on the scent, even delicious. I will not buy any other candle since I discovered Aunt Becky's candles.
- Cindy W., Purcellville, VA


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Any World (That I'm Welcome to): JZ in Transit
by John Zerzan
Since last fall (2004) I've had the good fortune to have traveled rather widely, speaking and discussing anti-civilization perspectives. Here are some impressions and tentative conclusions.
September involved about ten days in Italy, sponsored by the independent publisher Stampa Alternativa; stops in two south Tuscan villages, Siena, Bologna, and Rome. I'd done a slightly more extensive tour in 2002, and see an interesting contrast between the two swings. The first go-round consisted of anarchist settings, the latter less so. This time, the people I encountered were more likely to be small farmers, anthropology students, or curious ex-leftists, rather than more strictly political types. And what I kept sensing was a greater interest and openness than I'd met with two years earlier.
In late October/early November I was in Turkey for 2+ weeks. The excellent anarchists of Izmir and Istanbul are fairly few in a country of 70 million; but according to folks I talked with, they exert an influence that greatly exceeds their numbers. Anarchism is only about 20 years old in Turkey. One very intriguing highlight, along with meeting some superb primitivo individuals and enjoying legendary Turkish/Kurdish hospitality, was an evening with three Islamic anti-civilizationists. Islam includes some shamanistic, pantheistic elements (sometimes Sufi-oriented) and the folks who wanted to meet are among such unorthodox Muslims. It was very clear that their outlook went far beyond a simple anti-Western position to very actively engage with green anarchy ideas, but I don't know what this really means or how far it goes. A woman and two men of this persuasion virtually demanded— in the friendliest terms—that KAOS, Istanbul anarchists publishers who were present at the meeting, bring out more anarcho-primitivist works. "We need them!" they emphasized.
I spent a week in Frankfurt and Berlin in January 2005, in conjunction with the opening of Lutz Dammbeck's fine anti-technology film Das Netz (The Net). The Left in Germany managed for a long time to actively suppress the questioning of mass society (aka modernity, technoculture, etc.) and civilization, but it appears that this film has finally kicked that closed door open. The film has been something of a sensation in terms of this (long overdue) discussion, and it felt good to witness this shift, and even play a tiny part. New anti-civ projects are now emerging in Germany, such as Die Eule 2 in Chemnitz.
In early April I spoke at the University of Wisconsin, University of Florida, and University of South Florida, meeting sharp and friendly people and hearing about new anti-civ efforts and awareness. It's not like the old days—just a couple of years ago—when the primitivist orientation was often viewed as something almost secret, esoteric.
Two and a half weeks in Croatia and Serbia (April/May) offered a wonderful opportunity. Once again some beautiful folks expended a lot of time and energy to make the visit happen. In the Balkans neither communism nor war is an abstraction, or even a distant memory. Another very educational sojourn for me. Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Pula in Croatia; Novi Sad and Belgrade in Serbia: serious interest, lots of protracted discussions, and biggerthan- expected turnouts across the board.
A leftist at the talk in Belgrade proclaimed it a "scandal" that I would be offering such exotic approaches in a country faced with a "lowered standard of living," etc. But it made me feel a bit less of an arrogant American to see that he was the only one present who saw things that way, given the negative reactions he received. In Belgrade and Zagreb, the large number of women discussion participants was very noticeable; women were the majority in the post-talk Q-and-A sessions.
With apologies for leaving out important cultural, economic, and political differences among countries, here are a few common threads that seemed evident to me:
There is an extremely widespread understanding that something different is needed. Matters worsen in every regard, and though we clearly need forward momentum, it feels like we're stuck. It's well known that the left is dying or irrelevant, an enormous failure. I have been struck by the willingness to grapple with an orientation that really aims to change this world in fundamental ways, rather than to slightly rearrange the same old massified reality under new management.
The invitations I've received are just one small sign of growing interest, as is the fact that virtually every single presentation/discussion exceeded attendance expectations.
Something new is in the air, with roots that are humankind's very oldest. Quite a few see this "something" as a spiritual development, an effort to restore wholeness and reconnect with the earth and one another. I think we should be very open to this, especially given the limitations of a political sphere that is increasingly understood as shallow, limited, and grounded in power relationships (including the power relationship of "representation"). This spiritual tendency intrigues me a lot and may prove to be decisive, in profound and unforeseen ways. –John Zerzan
Originally published in GA issue #20 - Summer 2005


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SW 4th Micro-apartments
Portland, Oregon
Schlesinger Companies is breaking ground on a new apartment project containing 108 units in 2017. The parcel was sold to Koz Development in 2016 by Schlesinger Companies who will continue to be an investor in the project and manage the 25 parking spaces on the completed property. The building is located on the border of Portland State University's urban campus and seeks to provide affordable and high quality housing in a highly sought after area. This is Koz Development's second project in Portland. Koz CEO Cathy Reines said "Working side-by-side with Schlesinger Companies during the City of Portland's entitlement process has been a pleasure. The Companies' integrity and collaboration was imperative to the project's success."


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I've posted on this before; but since it's for a good cause, I'm going to post on it again, and also give you an excerpt.
The Gruff Variations: Writing for Charity Anthology, Vol. 1
An anthology to benefit the Children's Literature Association of Utah and the Future Light Orphanage in Cambodia.
The stories and poetry in this anthology were all inspired by the legend of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. But you won't just find goats and trolls in here. You'll also find xenoarchaeologists hunting a legendary burial ground, a harried troll who wants nothing more than peace and quiet, star-traveling cities in search of resources, a cloaked warrior of prophecy, an honest politician, princesses on vacation, interstellar probes, superheroes (and villains), cursed princes, necromancers, fairies, bikers, aliens, violinists… the list goes on.
Contributors to this anthology include New York Times best-selling author Shannon Hale, award-winning children's picture book author Rick Walton, Hugo Award winner (and Nebula Award nominee) Mary Robinette Kowal, Edgar Award finalist Dene Low, Nebula Award nominees Brad R. Torgersen and Nancy Fulda, and many other authors such as Kristen Landon, Lisa Mangum, Kristyn Crow, Clint Johnson, and Dean Hale. Nebula Award Winner Eric James Stone edited the anthology.
P.S. Hugo and Nebula and Campbell Award nominee Brad R. Torgersen weighs in here.
Contains my story "Gruff Riders". When T-Roll picks on Kidd, he finds himself tangling with the smartest young goat in the city; and Kidd isn't about to let some troll take his bicycle! With help from his skateboarding brother Billy and their motorcycle-riding big brother Gruff, they teach T-Roll a lesson… and maybe learn one for themselves as well!
And here is an excerpt:
Gruff Riders
By Martin L. Shoemaker
"Gimme your bike, kid." The troll blocked the bike path, squatting on a motorcycle. Large, green, ugly and smelly. No, not the motorcycle, the troll. The motorcycle was sweet: a custom Indian, black with gold trim and a modified suspension to support the troll's weight. On the gas tank in gold script was painted T-Roll. Like the troll, the T had large fangs.
"That's me: Kidd, with two D's." The little goat jutted his chin out. He had no whiskers on his chin yet, nor horns on his head, but he wasn't taking any guff from the troll. Kidd had two big brothers, so he had learned to stand up for himself. "Why should I give you my bike? You're too big for it."
T-Roll blinked twice and shook his head, as if he couldn't understand anyone telling him "No." Finally he answered, "Because I'm bigger than you, and I can beat you up and kick you into the river, and I said so."
Kidd looked down at his sneakers and kicked at a rock, hiding his smile. He might be smaller than T-Roll, but he was sure he was smarter. "So? Yeah, you're bigger. You'll break the bike! And besides, you have a motorcycle. You can't ride both of them. If you take my bike, are you going to give me your motorcycle?"
"No!" T-Roll roared, leaning over. Spittle dripped from his fangs, staining Kidd's gray T-shirt. Some of the other animals in the park looked over at the shouting, but no one seemed eager to get involved with an angry troll.
"So, what, you're going to tow my bike behind you?"
"No…" This time T-Roll didn't roar.
"Are you going to carry my bike on your motorcycle?"
"Uhhh…" Kidd imagined rocks grinding in the troll's head as he tried to think of a solution. "I'm really strong. I can carry a bike."
"But can you steer at the same time without losing your balance and crashing? I would hate to crash such a nice motorcycle, wouldn't you?"
Again Kidd hid his smile. He had an idea. "So you don't want a bike, you want something smaller that you can carry!"
T-Roll squinted at Kidd, trying to understand. "Okay… Yeah, I can carry something smaller."
"So you want…" Kidd paused as if he was thinking, but he had already figured out the first part of his plan, and maybe more. "…a skateboard!"
"Yeah! A skateboard! I could carry that!" T-Roll's eyes lit up. "Do you have one?"
"No." T-Roll's glare returned. "But my brother does…"
T-Roll opened one eye wider. "Is he here?"
"No, but I can call him." Kidd suppressed a giggle. "But I won't."
"Why not?"
Kidd rubbed his chin and looked T-Roll in the eye. "You said you were gonna beat me up and kick me into the river! Why should I help someone who's gonna beat me up?"
T-Roll looked pained and confused. Finally he nodded slowly. "Okay, if you call him, I won't beat you up and take your bike."
"Or kick me into the river?"
"Or kick you into the river."
"Are you sure?"
"Troll's honor."
"Trolls have honor?" T-Roll frowned, and Kidd decided he was going too far. It wouldn't do for the troll to realize Kidd was playing him. "All right, all right, I'll call him."
Kidd pulled his cell phone from the thigh pocket of his jeans, and he dialed Billy's number. "Hey, Billy? Yeah, it's Kidd. I'm in the park over by the Goose Bridge. Uh-huh, yeah, Rita said 'Hi.' Say, I need a favor, and it's kind of important. Could you come meet me and this guy I've met? Uh-huh, yeah. Thanks! And please, bring your skateboard."


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Sometimes history is easier to understand after the crucial interacting elements of the time have played out.
It is my opinion that looking back three centuries on the origins of modern industrial commerce, from my current perspective, with my experience consulting several thousand contemporary businesses, has given me insight.
I see the period before 1750 as 50,000 years that consisted of the classic Malthusian battle between increasing food output and increasing population. The British, by 1750, were influenced by the Enlightenment and Dutch attitudes toward science and worked aggressively to increase crop and animal food output.
Two things changed the course of history. The first was the Glorious Revolution, 1686, in which Holland successfully invaded England and created a modern financial infrastructure (a bond market and sound taxation systems) combined with a Protestant explosion of individualistic middle-class values.
The Dutch-British forces of the time had already created a global empire. The the people in that Empire… the outcasts, the innovators and the losers in that primogeniture family structures were shipped voluntarily to the outposts of the globe.
What we ended up with was a British-Dutch scattered society that continued to expand its agricultural output dramatically. These food producers were middle-class citizens scattered around the world trading with their home countries. The absence of hereditary control at the periphery of the Empire allowed these middle-class citizens to create extraordinary value added in agricultural output and most importantly these citizens on the periphery created global trade.
Global trade among ordinary citizens thence created the modern industrial commercial world.
Summary: rising agricultural output combined with a scattering population of middle-class Protestants who settled nonhierarchical innovative societies, created global trade networks. The sources of prosperity out-ran the Malthusian cycle and became the positive sum modern commercial world.
The Spanish and Portuguese empires did not generate modern commerce because they were Roman Catholic with strong hereditary hierarchies and were focused on extractive industries not trade.
The other 13 Phillips original ideas are here.


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An academic checkup, tests are an important part of California's plan for high-quality teaching and learning, which seeks to help all students graduate prepared for college-level coursework and a 21st-century career. Like class assignments and report cards, assessments are one gauge of student progress, providing information to schools, teachers, and parents about how students performed in terms of California's challenging new goals for learning.
Parents/guardians of students in grades three through eight and grade eleven are mailed Student Score Reports for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These reports include detailed information about their child's performance on new, computer-based tests for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, which replaced the former paper-based assessments.
Students receive an overall score for each subject, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000. Overall scores are reported within one of four levels: standard exceeded, standard met, standard nearly met, and standard not met.
The new score reports also highlight students' strengths in key areas for both ELA and mathematics. ELA results include information about the students' performance in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and research. Reports of mathematics results include information about students' performance in problem solving, using concepts and procedures, and communicating mathematical reasoning. The student's performance in these key areas for each subject are reported using the following three indicators: below standard, at or near standard, and above standard.
For students in grade eleven, individual reports also will indicate their readiness for credit-bearing, college-level work and, if further preparation is needed, which areas to focus on in their senior year. For many students, that is the kind of information that can help make the dream of a college education become a reality.
For students in grades five and eight, Student Score Reports also will include student scores from the California Standards Tests for Science, a requirement of the federal government. California is in the process of developing a new state science assessment aligned with recently adopted science standards. California may also develop new assessments in other subjects, including history–social science aligned with state-adopted content standards.
Like the new learning goals they were designed to measure, the CAASPP tests for ELA and mathematics are too fundamentally different from the old assessments to make any reliable comparisons between old scores and new. That is why this year's scores are better thought of as a starting point—a baseline for the progress students are expected to make over time.
Gradually, California is providing more support for teachers, more resources for students, and more access to technology. Because this is the first year students are taking these new tests, overall scores may be viewed as a basis from which to compare performance in future years.
Many if not most students may need to make significant progress to reach the standards set for mathematics and ELA that indicate college and career readiness. No student, parent, or teacher should be discouraged by scores, which will not be used to determine whether a student moves on to the next grade. Rather, the results can help guide discussions among parents and teachers, as well as help teachers and schools adjust instruction to meet student need.
The sample CAASPP Student Score Reports (PDF) file contains sample reports for students in grades four, five, and eleven. The following video is designed to assist parents in understanding the Student Score Report:


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RUMOR CONTRACT: Confirmation of Catherine to be Released in North America Confirmed By Reputable Sources
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