text: The California Teacher Development Collaborative (CATDC) is a nonprofit organization founded by local independent schools to provide and coordinate opportunities for teachers to grow as professionals. Head of School, John Carlstroem served on the board of the CATDC and several faculty members have served as professional development fellows in the CATDC program. Additionally, Black Pine Circle School has served many times as a site for CATDC programming.


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Tel Aviv has seen a number of new developments along it's shoreline, with Herbert Samuel 10 quickly becoming one of the most exciting in regards to its architecture and prime location. Located directly on the beach on Herbert Samuel street in the south of the city, this prime location offers close proximity to the prestigious Neve Tzedek and Lev Hair neighborhoods,
Overlooking the historic Neve Tzedek neighborhood, the Lieber Tower is at the very heart of Tel Aviv. Soaring up 28 floors and featuring 104 luxury apartments, the Lieber Tower is one of the city's finest residential projects in its most desirable location.
We invite you to see Tel Aviv's newest and most sought after residential project, The White City Residences at Neve Tzedek.
On Tel Aviv's most prestigious thoroughfare, Rothschild Boulevard, no project is more anticipated than Rothschild 17, the city's newest luxury high-rise residential project.
Situated at the head of prestigious Rothschild Boulevard in Downtown Tel Aviv's Lev Hair district, Rothschild 1 is the city's most prestigious high-rise residential tower, offering resident's unparalleled services, amenities, finishes, and views to the Tel Aviv skyline and Mediterranean.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dino Rex Costume Green MItem #: 15756 M
Add the product directly to your basket by clicking the checkbox
Dino Rex Costume Green Gr.M
Green Dinosaur Toddler costume schnuckeligem plush!
Animal costumes are a creative costume idea for children and adults.Especially for a child is a cute animal costume a good investment and a guarantee of fun and joy.Whether for Halloween, Carnival, for school or for play, kids love to dress up as animals in an animal, immerse cool fantasy world! Plump, soft dinosaur child costume in hervoragender Premium Quälität!
The spassige Dino children costume consists of a samstweichen green body suit with schaumstoffgefültem dinosaur tail in lizards serrated design, two matching gloves and a hat with Characters, having as a final two sewn googly eyes.The entire costume boasts a love of detail and quality workmanship, the carefully worked out details and the extraordinary pressure of the substance.Every child knows the Dinos loves the sweet dinosaur and here your child is to Dino megastar! This Dino-Rex Child Costume Your child is the hit at every carnival and carnival event and the chance to win the costume contest are huge!
- Delivery: T-Rex Dinosaur Costume with T-Rex Hat
- Color: green
- Size: M
- Material: 100% Polyester
|M corresponds to ca.Kids Size 86/18 Mo
|Shoulder width:
|approximately31 cm
|Arm length:
|approximately27 cm
|Waist size:
|approximately66 cm
|Total length (collar to bottom):
|approximately70 cm
|Leg length from crotch:
|approximately32 cm


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kim kardashian and i prefer laser hair removal.
unwanted body and facial hair is a topic i visit often on this site. from depilatories, to waxing, plucking, shaving and laser - i've tried it all. two years ago i completed laser hair removal on my underarms and i am currently working on treatments for my lower legs.
laser hair removal has been commercially available since the mid-1990s. it's predecessor, electrolysis, required each hair be removed individually. laser hair removal uses a laser to target a small area, often containing multiple hairs at once. typically it requires 6-8 sessions to complete hair removal in a designated area, such as underarm or bikini. originally laser hair removal was only to be performed in the most structured of settings - by a healthcare provider (physician or nurse practitioner) in their office, but in recent years more options have entered the market for lower cost and at home laser hair removal.
there are many advantages of laser over other hair removal options that make it a favorite of celebs. kim and khloe kardashian famously attended a bikini laser session together on their hit E series "keeping up with the kardashians". KK has stated, "i am Armenian, so of course I am obsessed with laser hair removal! arms, bikini, legs, underarms... my entire body is hairless." while laser hair removal is far from painless (i require two advil and a shot before an appointment, and kardashian admits she can't handle an appointment without numbing cream), it offers many advantages over other methods:
- less redness than waxing: if i get a wax, i'm usually red for at least 24 hours, sometimes with accompanying folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles that turn into raised red bumps). after a laser treatment i find my redness subsides in under an hour, and i never experience folliculitis.
- ditto on the pain -- my skin will be sensitive to touch for hours after waxing, but while laser is painful during, the pain subsides immediately after. i'm left wondering what i was being such a baby about!
- however, i think celebs, beauty editors and consumers agree that the number one advantage laser has over waxing and shaving is that it's permanent! yes, there's pain and redness, but laser hair removal, like a diamond, is forever.


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Allusion, Allegory, & Symbolism. is
a passing or casual reference. It can be an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication. "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone"
Have any idea of where it came from? Next example! Let's take a look at an example and see if you can guess what it's referring to, alright? If you thought of the Bible, then you're right! Actually, the Bible is one of many of the main references people use to imply an idea or teach a lesson to someone. Why'd you think some of our laws are so "coincidentally" alike to the Ten Commandments of the Bible? http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbbvef_1975-official-jaws-theme-john-willi_music Ever seen "Jaws"? Of course we all know the shark's theme song, too. The theme is suppose to let you suspect of something tragic that will occur, in this case scenario, someone was about to be shark bait! Monster – a societal allegory about the American Justice System Animal Farm – a political allegory about Communism Allegory The Pilgrim's Progress, the story of the character's difficulty is a symbol of the difficulty of leading a good life in the "bog" of this world. The "bog" is a metaphor or symbol of life's hardships and distractions. Similarly, when Christian loses a heavy pack that he has been carrying on his back, this symbolizes his freedom from the weight of sin that he has been carrying. Symbolism For example, in the book "To Kill A Mocking Bird", "mockingbird" comes to represent the idea of innocence. Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, a number of characters can be identified as mockingbirds—innocents who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for truths about human life. the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. Allusion
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(FootballSTL) -- A week after hardly getting any touches for newly acquired tight end Jared Cook and first round draft choice Tavon Austin, quarterback Sam Bradford made it a point to get his two fast targets involved this week versus Green Bay.
Austin was targeted a team high seven times (catching four) while Cook caught a short pass and raced 37 yards with it down the field. Bradford says it was great to get them involved, especially the rookie from West Virginia.
"After last week with (Austin) not getting any receptions, we wanted to try to get him the ball - a couple touches," said Bradford. "I thought he did a great job. Obviously (Jared) Cook, too. He took a shallow reception for 30-something yards. I think those two guys are going to be big parts of our offense during the season, so it's nice to get them involved in the preseason."
Cook agreed with Bradford's assessment.
"It was good to get a catch in," said Cook. "I wish we had a little more time to prove what the offense could do, but I understand it's a stepping stone and we're still building. We've still got two more games left, so we'll get ready for the regular season."
The Rams play the Broncos next Saturday against Denver in their third preseason game. News 4 and Football STL will be there with full coverage on air and online.


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Some credit cards are overlooked because the APR or introductory offer isn't as eye-catching, but be sure to take a closer look
When searching and comparing credit cards, many consumers search for the best interest rate or balance transfer period, but some cards offer other rewards.
Compare credit cards
Compare all sorts of credit cards from 0% cards to rewards cards.Compare credit cards
However, there are some credit cards that don't completely follow the rulebook and – if you know what details to look out for – could improve your finances in the long run.
Our guide will help you identify the rewards and benefits that often get overlooked when comparing credit cards.
Credit cards for loans
If you're planning on making a big purchase (but not too big), such as a television or furniture, then a low APR or 0% purchase credit card is usually the way to go.
Instead of taking out a loan, you can make an interest-free or low-interest purchase on your credit card.
One problem with 0% purchase credit cards is that the introductory interest-free period is sometimes used to simply pull in consumers for the long haul, which then includes paying a larger APR.
However, if you manage your money well and are sure that you'll be able to pay it off in the 0% purchase period, then it could work in your favour.
Meanwhile, low APR cards can sometimes work out better if you're confident of paying off your debt within a reasonable amount of time.
Typically, low APR cards come in at just under 8% APR.
But some introductory APRs can be maintained for the entire repayment term, like if you make a purchase within the 90-day introductory offer period, you can continue paying back the debt for as long as it takes at the introductory rate.
There's a whole range of credit cards that can be used as a 0% or low-interest loan, so it's worth shopping around for the right introductory rate or long-term deal that suits your needs.
Compare credit cards
Compare all sorts of credit cards from 0% cards to rewards cards.Compare credit cards
Credit cards for bad credit
Credit cards for people with bad credit are widely available on the market as consumers with less than perfect credit histories seek to improve their status.
These credit cards are usually open to people who have had County Court Judgments against them and who may have missed payments or even faced bankruptcy in the past.
This availability comes at the cost of a higher than average APR.
Consumers might just be looking to get some quick and easy credit to tide them over until next payday and the high APR of the bad credit cards market can make these cards less appealing.
When comparing bad credit cards, it's worth looking past the high APR before coming to a decision, as you may miss the details that could help you reap better rewards.
The monthly repayments are also designed to be predictable and responsible, which can help consumers manage their finances better.
While consumers turn to payday lenders for easy credit, they risk losing control of their financial situation and worsening their credit status with unexpected debts spiraling.
Credit cards such as shout require debit card details as a pre-condition for approval, meaning the repayments of £15 for every £100 come out of your account automatically each month.
Other benefits with credit builder cards can include interest free purchases. But it's important to note that the interest free purchase period is usually an introductory offer and if you don't stay on top of your finances, can come back to hurt you with a very high APR.
However, the opportunity to increase your credit limit is there as an incentive to keep up your repayments.
Compare bad-credit credit cards
Find a credit card for people with a bad credit score.Compare credit cards
Balance transfer cards
Long balance transfer periods can be appealing but often come with large transfer handling fees, so finding a happy medium can be quite time consuming.
This means that although you have typically over two years to pay off your balance with no interest, you could be paying a large chunk upfront for the privilege, and will typically pay higher rates of APR once the 0% period expires.
Some cards have no window of zero interest on balance transfers, instead offering low rate "for life", which can be useful for helping to keep in control of your finances in the long term.
Compare balance transfer credit cards
Find a balance transfer credit card with a the lowest transfer fee or longest 0% interest period.Compare credit cards
Finding the best credit card for you
Ultimately, finding the best credit card for you comes down to checking all of the details, not just the top credit cards in the comparison tables, as these are often based on the longest balance transfer period or the representative APR, rather than additional benefits you could get.
Assess what you would need a credit card to do for you: transfer a balance, make a purchase with a 0% term, improve your credit rating, and so on.
After that, have a look at a credit card comparison table for that category and check the pros and cons of each card.
Pros are likely to include the key features such as length of the balance transfer period or 0% purchase period, if any, and various reward schemes and customer service benefits.
Cons will often include details such as exclusions – who can get this card and who can't – and any features that may restricted many consumers.
Weigh these two areas against each other and decide whether or not the card suits your lifestyle and financial requirements.
Read more…
- Stoozing How you can use your credit cards to make money.
- Cashback is being cut back: which cards are safe? We explain why some cardholders are seeing their credit card cashback and rewards scaled back.
- What Is Apr Do you know what the letters APR stand for, or how it's calculated?
Compare credit cards
Compare all sorts of credit cards from 0% cards to rewards cards.Compare credit cards


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The Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Biorepository at California Pacific Medical Center (IELBC)Background | Donors | Diseases | Sample types | Facilities | Sample requests | Contact information | Staff
The IELBC is a rapidly expanding resource of clinically annotated human samples for use in translational liver research. The IELBC was IRB approved and established in 2009 with the aim of providing researchers with access to high quality human samples and to establish a foundation for our own translational research program within the Division of Hepatology and Department of Liver Transplantation.
Samples are obtained by consent from inpatients, outpatients and healthy volunteers, including family members of patients with liver disease. Subjects who agree to become research participants are recruited from sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California and Nevada.
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We collect samples from subjects with a full spectrum of liver diseases at all stages. For many patients we can collect longitudinal samples throughout the natural history and/or treatment phases of their disease, including before and after liver transplantation. The broad ethnic diversity found throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California and Nevada allows us to collect samples from patients of diverse backgrounds. Samples are also collected from healthy individuals.
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The diseases for which we have samples include:
- Viral hepatitis (B, C, D)
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- Cirrhosis (All causes including alcohol, cryptogenic)
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH)
- Auto-immune liver diseases (Primary biliary hepatitis, Autoimmune hepatitis, Primary sclerosing cholangitis)
- Genetic liver disease (Hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, Alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency)
- Metabolic liver enzyme deficiencies
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Sample types
Samples obtained from patients before and after liver transplantation include:
- Whole blood
- Serum
- Plasma
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
- Patient derived Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCL)
- In situ patient liver biopsies
- Genomic DNA (Whole blood or PBMC derived)
- Transplant donor liver biopsies
- Transplant recipient liver tissue
- Transplant donor liver perfusate derived mononuclear cells
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In collaboration with the Kalmanovitz Liver Immunology Laboratory the IELBC has access to a Flow Cytometer (BD FACSAria, with cell sorting capability) and can provide custom sorted cell subsets. Nucleic acid extractions are automated using an Eppendorf epMotion 5075 VAC and special requests may be accommodated – please ask.
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Sample requests
Investigators interested in obtaining samples are encouraged to contact the IELBC to assess the options and availability of samples. All enquiries should be made to the manager of the Biorepository Program Adrian Wadley (firstname.lastname@example.com)). All requests for samples from the IELBC are referred to the Department of Transplantation Tissue Allocation Committee for consideration. The proposed research must have approval from the relevant local Institutional ethics review committees (e.g. IRB, CHR).
Begin your application for samples by completing this form.
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Contact information
The Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Biorepository at CPMC
Department of Transplantation
Frank L.A. Gerbode Research Building
2200 Webster St, Ste 237
San Francisco, CA 94115-1821
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel: 415 600 1723
Fax: 415 600 1715
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Program Manager:
Email: Adrian Wadley
- Email: Jiajing Li, Research Coordinator
- Email: Jae Shin, Research Coordinator
- Email: Stephanie Huynh, Research Associate
- Email: Diana Suen, Research Associate
Principal Investigator:
Email: Stewart Cooper MD
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LaFayette native Hubert Marsh continues to help preserve the rich history of Walker County.
He met with Hill High School alumnae Alma Benton and Betty Aiken at the Marsh House during a Walker County Historical Society meeting Sunday, Feb. 24 along with Walker County Historical Society president David P. Boyle. The purpose of the meeting was to collect African-American education-related historical documents and facts for an exhibit at the Marsh House.
"The first school for blacks was in my grandfather's home. [that of] Ed Marsh, who was the son of Wiley Marsh, who was born [at the Marsh House] as a slave," said Hubert Marsh. "The city [then called Chattooga and later LaFayette] started a school system for blacks in the churches. There was one in the Bronco area of town, one in Kensington and one in West Armuchee. The one I knew the most about was the Hickory Hill School in the Naomi community at Mount Zion Church."
He said Walker County funded Hickory School, which operated from 1915 to the late 1930s. It was a one-room schoolhouse building with one teacher for all ages. There was no lunchroom, so students brought their own lunch from home.
He said the North Georgia Industrial Institute was later started by 25 churches in the Northwest Georgia Baptist Association. It was a private school that costed 75 cents per quarter.
Hubert Marsh personally attended Hill High School that had grades 1-12. The school was open from 1951-1967.
"It was a smooth transition to LaFayette High with no problems," said Marsh of his transfer as a junior. "The teachers worked hard to help with a good transition. The fall of 1967 is when I transferred to LaFayette High. The year before that, in the fall of 1966, Hill High students could transfer and three students did, but I stayed one more year at Hill High School."
He said attending Hill High School was equally a positive experience. He remembers having an assembly every Friday where the young men wore sports coats and ties. He said the educators at Hill High taught him to look his best at all times.
"When I was at Hill High the whole school was 350 to 400 students in 1-12th grades," said Marsh. "Hill High School was at the corner of Steele and Culberson streets in LaFayette. I could walk home for lunch from Hill High to my house on Chattanooga Street. Spencer Marsh of the Marsh House gave my great-grandfather Wiley Marsh the land that our house was built on. My dad was born in that house and I was born in that house."
Boyle said the Walker County Historical Society likes to recognize the African-American history of the county, particularly in February for Black History Month.
"It would not be Walker County without African-American history," said Boyle. "Spencer Marsh brought several African-Americans here with him before he set up his property when he was acquiring businesses. LaFayette was 20 to 30 percent African-American in the early days from the 1830s to 1850s with a total [black and white] population of 200 to 400 people. LaFayette was a village. The town limits were one mile from the courthouse. People lived in the LaFayette Square area."


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TDOT Announces Decision for State Route 91 Improvements
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 | 04:13am
TDOT Announces Decision for State Route 91 Improvements
Northern Widening alternative selected for Carter County project
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following years of discussion with citizens, local and state officials, as well as state and federal agencies, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has chosen to move forward with the Northern Widening alternative for the State Route 91 Improvement project in Carter County.
The proposed project will consist of adding a center turn lane along the 4-lane undivided portion of West Elk Avenue from Holly Lane to North Roan Street. There will also be sidewalk improvements and repaving of State Route 91 from West G Street to State Route 37 (US 19E). This project will improve traffic congestion and reduce the potential for crashes along State Route 91.
"With crucial input from local citizens, the Department is pleased to have reached a decision on the State Route 91 Improvements project," said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. "This will be a safer, less congested roadway for travelers in Upper East Tennessee."
Senator Rusty Crowe said, "Having worked with TDOT and the city for a number of years, I know the route to the north was not feasible due to environmental issues. On the South side, we have the Gap Creek project. In the end, the best option is to go through town to provide the needed relief. I'd like to thank Commissioner John Schroer and TDOT staff for their willingness to move this project forward, and Governor Bill Haslam for his attention to this project as well."
Representative Kent Williams added, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank TDOT for their efforts in finding ways to improve our transportation system in Carter County. Environmental impacts and cost issues prevented the Highway 91 Bypass from being a viable option, but with that being said, the new Gap Creek Road and Elk Avenue improvement will facilitate traffic flow through Elizabethton. TDOT and I have a great working relationship and will continue to work together to make our highways better and safer."
This project, originally known as the "Elizabethton Northern Connector," was initiated back in 1996 at the request of local officials. Prior studies and consideration were given to three alternatives on a new roadway, but were eliminated because of numerous environmental impacts. Based on comments received from the December 2, 2010 public meeting, support from citizens and local officials for the Northern Widening project was considerable in comparison to other widening and new roadway proposals.
As mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), projects receiving federal funding are required to undergo a fully detailed environmental review, whereby the transportation need must be considered, and impacts to the environment evaluated. In comparison with other widening alternatives, the ability to reduce congestion and improve safety, while minimizing impacts to adjoining businesses, were critical factors in the Department's choosing the Northern Widening option for State Route 91.
TDOT estimates the earliest timeframe for construction to begin would be summer of 2015.
For more information about this project, please visit www.tdot.state.tn.us/sr91.


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Latest News
Simpson Marine presents the Sanlorenzo 46 Steel, Forwin
Simpson Marine, one of Asia's leading new and brokerage yacht sales companies will once again return to the Thailand Yacht Show, presenting the stunning new Sanlorenzo 46Steel, Forwin.
Forwin was launched in 2013 as Starling and has recently undergone a refit in Sanlorenzo's facilities in Viareggio, Italy before being delivered to her new Chinese owner. Details of the refit have not been revealed, however those interested in learning more about Sanlorenzo's interior capabilities can visit her this December at Ao Po Grand Marina.
Simpson Marine became the exclusive dealer for Sanlorenzo in Asia in May 2015, and has since seen a growing demand for the prestigious Italian yard's yachts in Asia Pacific. Since taking on the brand, Simpson has sold, in addition to the 46 Steel, a SL106, and one of the standout yachts of the last year, the new Explorer 460.
With Simpson Marine's 20 offices in seven countries, there are sure to be more Sanlorenzo's joining Forwin cruising the region.
If you are looking to talk about your own Sanlorenzo superyacht, visit the Simpson Marine team this December at the Show, or contact .
The Sanlorenzo 46Steel, Forwin


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Valtteri Bottas set the fastest time in final practice ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix despite crashing out early on in the session.
The Mercedes driver has struggled to keep pace with team-mate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton in recent races.
But Bottas' time of 1 minute 29.055 seconds was enough to top the timesheet, with Hamilton right behind as the Mercedes ran on the soft compound tyre during the hour-long session.
The Finn, who has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change, set the fastest time in the opening 20 minutes but ran wide and suffered a puncture as well as front-wing damage which saw the session red-flagged.
Just three minutes after the track was cleared, a second red flag came out as Bottas' compatriot Kimi Raikkonen crashed his Ferrari into the wall at Degner Two.
Hamilton is 34 points clear of Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' championship with five races remaining and the Briton looks to have the beating of the Ferrari man here.
Vettel was over 0.3 seconds adrift of his title rival despite running on the supersoft tyre, while the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were fourth and fifth fastest respectively.
Esteban Ocon was sixth for Force India with the Renault of Nico Hulkenberg seventh and McLaren's Fernando Alonso eighth.
The second Force India of Sergio Perez and Jolyon Palmer's Renault rounded out the top 10 - although the latter faces a 20-place grid penalty after a change of engine components.
Alonso will also drop to the back of the grid due to a 35-place penalty for several changes, while the Toro Rosso of Carlos Sainz has a penalty of 20 places for similar breaches to those of Palmer.


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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jul 20, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Black Box, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that Need for Speed(TM) World, the massively multiplayer online action racing game, is available for digital download on July 27 for the PC. Need for Speed World combines the rush of illicit street racing, deep RPG style progression and vehicle customization into an immersive, socially-connected Need for Speed experience. Players can compete against any one of their friends, family or pick from thousands of top ranked players to challenge in intense online battles and police pursuits across 150 miles of sprawling open world.
Players can pre-order the Need for Speed World Starter Pack* today to gain early access to the game on July 20. Gamers will also unlock exclusive cars, earn double XP, reserve their driver names and have VIP status permanently displayed in their driver profile before the game officially launches.
On July 20, the Need for Speed World Starter Pack will be available for $20. The Starter Pack includes a credit for $20 worth of SpeedBoost (the in-game currency), full access up to level 50 and a bundled assortment of power-ups including Nitrous and Traffic Magnet to help players get started. Players can also purchase additional items like power-ups, double XP periods and even rental cars starting at just a few cents.** A free client download of Need for Speed World will also be available at world.needforspeed.com to give gamers a sample of the intense street-racing action with access to all races, pursuits and career progression up to level 10.
Need for Speed World is being developed by Black Box, an Electronic Arts studio and is available on the PC. More information and details on the game can be found at world.needforspeed.com or follow us on Twitter at NeedforSpeed. Press can download assets at http://info.ea.com.
* Conditions and restrictions apply to this preorder offer. See eastore.ea.com for details.
**Conditions and restrictions apply. See details at point of purchase.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA MobileTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, POGO, and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA Games Label
Dana Sissons, 604-456-5004
PR Manager
Peter Nguyen, 650-628-3607
PR Director
Tammy Schachter, 650-628-7223
Vice President
Copyright Business Wire 2010


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An outbreak of plague, which is considerd a potential bioweapon, among the Syrian military may be raising more questions than answers.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently ordered the shutdown of all Syrian military exercises due to a plague that currently affects a large number of military personnel, according to Examiner.com.
The Syrian president has told Syrian news sources that food and drinking water in military bases, coupled with one of the country's worst droughts in over 40 years, are responsible for the outbreak of plague.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are experiencing food shortages, nearly 60,000 small livestock owners have lost all their animals and 50,000 others have lost 50 to 60 percent of their cattle.
The infectious bacterium Yersinia pestis causes the infectious disease plague, which is commonly found worldwide in rats and other rodents. Fleas often serve as common vectors of plague. There are three forms of human plague - bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic.
Humans may also be infected by direct contact with an infected animal, through inhalation and, if it is pneumonic plague, by person to person contact.
Drinking water, food and a heat wave are not common causes of plague, Examiner.com says, unless they have increased the contact between humans and plague carriers.
Because of this, the article says, questions should be raised about the true cause of the Syrian army plague.
Mysterious plague outbreak among Syrian army
An outbreak of plague, which is considerd a potential bioweapon, among the Syrian military may be raising more questions than answers.


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Nelson Mandela has inspired millions around the world, but his account of his long imprisonment had a unique resonance for one Clipper Race crew member.
Five years ago, Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan was held hostage in war torn Somalia for 462 days – or 15 months – after being kidnapped by 12 jihadi gunmen just three days after landing in Mogadishu. Along with his then-girlfriend Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout, he was held in pitch-black, rat-infested cells, locked in chains, beaten in public and forced to go for days without food.
Those horrors of being held captive are in stark contrast to the freedom and exhilaration he is now enjoying as a crew member on PSP Logistics and the recent visit to South Africa where the Robben Island prison was in plain view of the Clipper fleet's base in Cape Town gave real substance to the words he had cherished and clung to for inspiration during his own ordeal, found in Mandela's account of his 27-year incarceration.
Following his own release in November 2009 Brennan recalled that after the first three months in captivity, he was sent a 'care package' which contained a collection of books.
"One of the books that I found incredibly inspiring was Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom. I think I read it more than 75 times while incarcerated," said the Australian.
"He went through 27 years of being treated brutally by other human beings, and his whole resolve was to come out of the situation and to not let them break him. He is proof that, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve amazing things."
In his own account of his captivity, The Price of Life, Brennan recalled his and Lindhout's delight at receiving their packages, and the secretive exchange of books.
"My days of obsessively reading the Qur'an come to a halt now I've got better offers," he wrote. "Whereas time had been moving at a glacial pace, the puzzles and books make the hours and days whizz by.
"Amanda is ploughing through her books, reading the first part of Mandela's story in two days. We begin swapping books, secretly leaving them for each other in the bathroom, and being careful to conceal them in our rooms. We're sure that the boys [the group holding them] know exactly what we have received."
As his incarceration ground on, Brennan also found Mandela's experience offered some practical lessons in enduring his imprisonment.
"The days drag on endlessly, and trying to fill them becomes that much harder as each one passes," he continued. "I begin making up memory games. Inspired by what Nelson Mandela did at Robben Island, I commit my diary to memory. What begins as a game becomes a fixation."
With his Somalia nightmare behind him, Brennan has now helped sail PSP Logistics to a solid overall third place in the Clipper Race, and will remain aboard until the yacht reaches his home country of Australia at the end of November.
After winning the leg to Rio, the PSP team had to settle for eighth place on the next leg to South Africa. The yacht is currently mid-fleet on what is proving a stormy Southern Ocean passage.
Brennan, no doubt, is relishing the challenge and enjoying the camaraderie of being part of a crew. He wrote: "Our crew is like a mongrel dog, a mishmash of different nationalities, (Aussies, Saffas, Pommies, Welsh, French and even a few dirty Kiwis). Like a mongrel dog we are loyal to each other as the day is long.
"I would have to say that we are one of the most boisterous teams in port, especially when we have all had a few drinks like all good sailors do. There is certainly no shortage of banter and a lot of p*** taking between the crew. Luckily we are all thick-skinned."
PSP skipper Chris Hollis awarded Brennan a quote of the day for "Turn you face towards the sun and your shadows will fall behind", and felt moved to write a poem for the man with "a self-proclaimed nickname as 'The dirty hostage'".
"Dirty hostage was held for a time, has a funny name that does not rhyme, old mate is called Nige, gals he tries to oblige, And his story can be found online," Hollis wrote.


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Scott Disick Turns His Bad Boy Life Around For Baby Mason — Will It Last?
The Kardashian clan's troublemaker has decided that there are more things in life than being a "selfish, self-centered pr**k." He's right!
For once in his life, Scott Disick is thinking about something other than himself! Kourtney Kardashian's long-time beau and soon-to-be husband (?) now says he's focused on one thing and one thing only — being a good dad to his 1-year-old son Mason.
"I realized I didn't want to wake up 10 years from now and have a son I didn't know," Scott tells Men's Fitness, which he covers this month. And this statement comes right after he told People he's a new man, explaining he "just realized there's bigger things in the world than just being a selfish, self-centered, prick."
So are drunken rants and paparazzi battles in Scott's past? "I've definitely had a couple of low points in my life," he tells Men's Fitness, adding that his televised antics were "a blessing in disguise."
Do you think Scott's ready to grow up? Maybe finally marry Kourtney? WE HOPE SO!


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Task Force on Teaching Evaluation - Proposed Process
Background | Recommendations | Process | Overview | Bibliography |AppendicesUW-Green Bay, like many other universities, relies heavily on the use of student ratings to evaluate teaching. As discussed earlier, there are concerns with this approach. In addition, the reliance on student end-of-course evaluations has contributed to an insufficient amount of attention paid to teaching improvement and continued development. Reliance on end-of-course student evaluations moves the entire appraisal process toward a summative rather than formative approach. Compounding matters, the questions on the Course Comments Questionnaire (CCQ) are global (i.e., each question summarizes a dimension), and provide only general information. Hence, faculty members are placed in the uncomfortable position of having to "be better organized" or "better motivate students" without specific feedback to foster the development process.
We need a process to document classroom performance and simultaneously a process to improve our teaching and document this improvement. According to Seldin (1991), the best approach in this regard is use of a teaching portfolio. The task force strongly recommends that the entire university adopt a portfolio approach to teaching evaluation and improvement. Below is a description of the approach and a discussion of how we could implement it at UW-Green Bay.Teaching Portfolio
A teaching portfolio is a "factual description of a professor's major strengths and teaching achievements (Seldin, 1991, p. 3)." Taken as a whole, it includes documents and materials that suggest the scope and quality of a faculty member's teaching performance. It enables faculty members to document and display their teaching in a way that "stays connected to the particular situation in which their teaching has occurred (Edgerton, 1991, p. 3)."
Below is a discussion of how one constructs a teaching portfolio. We must emphasize that it requires time to build a portfolio; however, it is not as time-consuming as one would think. Also, as preparation of portfolios becomes routine and faculty members and chairpersons become more familiar with the process, the time commitment decreases significantly. Berquist and Phillips (1977) and Seldin (1987, 1991) report that chairpersons and faculty members are willing to invest time in portfolio preparation if they know that the process will lead to better teaching and more effective decision-making with respect to promotion, merit, and retention.
The task force recognizes two key sets of individuals in constructing and using a portfolio approach for evaluation and improvement of teaching. They are the faculty members who will develop the portfolios and the chairpersons who will oversee the entire process. Ideally, we would like a process implemented university-wide around the portfolio approach that is supportive, collaborative, and focused on the improvement of teaching.
Creating a Teaching Portfolio
There are six key steps to creating a teaching portfolio (Seldin, 1993; Seldin, 1991; Seldin, 1987; Shore, 1986; Vavrus and Calfee, 1988). The steps are: (1) clarify teaching responsibilities; (2) select items for the portfolio; (3) prepare statements on each item; (4) arrange the items in order; (5) compile the support data; and (5) incorporate the portfolio into the personnel file. We include two sample portfolios in Appendix C (Portfolio Samples).
Clarify Teaching Responsibilities
Most portfolios begin with a two or three paragraph summary of the teaching responsibilities and criteria for teaching success. This might cover such items as number and types of courses to be taught, likely number of students in each course, techniques used to evaluate students and the kinds of progress expected by students.
Select Items for the Portfolio
Based on the teaching responsibilities identified in Step 1, the faculty member selects items for inclusion in the portfolio. This may be the most important step in the portfolio process. The following is a list of items the faculty member may choose to include in the portfolio. It shows the many options or possibilities available to build the portfolio. Since the portfolio is very personalized and varies according to the teaching situation, the items selected will vary from one individual to the next. The list is compiled from the work of Shore (1986), Sorcinelli (1986), Seldin (1993, 1991), and the faculty at York University in Canada (www.yorku.ca). The items are placed into four categories: (1) material from oneself; (2) material from others; (3) the products of good teaching; and (4) items that sometimes appear in portfolios. For a complete discussion of these items, see Seldin (1991, pp. 9-12). Appendix C (Portfolio Samples) shows how these items are included in the teaching portfolio.
One should begin gathering and retaining information which pertains to teaching from the first day of the first teaching assignment. When making decisions about what to retain and what to discard, it is better to err on the side of saving too much, than to risk destroying material that may later prove useful.
Keep copies of all items referred to in the portfolio such as examination outlines, original copies of course evaluations, letters from chairpersons or students, samples of students' work, etc. These materials will not necessarily be included in the personnel file or teaching portfolio but should be retained in case "original" evidence is required.
Material From Oneself
- Statement of teaching responsibilities, including specific course titles, numbers, enrollments, and a brief description of the way the courses were taught. Provide details of other teaching activities such as supervision of independent studies, internships, honors projects, masters theses, teaching or research practica, field placement supervision, coaching, guest lectures, and the like. Documentation of supervision activity should include the names of those supervised and the nature and extent of the supervisory activity. Stating the outcome of the supervision may also be useful (e.g., the thesis title and acceptance date, the citation information of a student publication, or the date and venue of a public performance).
- Statement describing personal teaching philosophy, strategies, and objectives, along with teaching goals for the next five years. Examples of statements of objectives from specific course descriptions, including statements concerning anticipated course changes, might also be included.
- Representative course syllabi detailing course content and objectives, teaching methods (e.g., lecture, small group/discussion, problem-solving, collaborative inquiry, critical thinking pedagogy, feminist pedagogy, project-based approaches, student presentations), readings, exams, assignments, etc.
- Descriptions of steps to evaluate and improve one's teaching, including changes resulting from self-evaluation, reading journals on teaching improvement, participation in programs on sharpening instructional skill, etc.
- Instructional innovations and revisions (e.g., course design, curricular changes to include subject matter, methods of presentation, classroom processes, evaluation procedures, specially designed assignments, teaching methods geared to developing critical skills, as well as developments involving teaching resources such as films, computers, and other audiovisual material). Where possible, provide evidence of the effectiveness and/or impact of the teaching developments undertaken.
- Lists of published and unpublished curriculum materials, textbooks, workbooks, case studies, lab manuals, special notes, handouts, problem sets, and other classroom materials developed by the faculty member.
Materials From Others
- Student course or teaching evaluation data that produce an overall rating of effectiveness or suggest improvements.
- Statements from colleagues who have observed the faculty member engaged in teaching.
- Statements from colleagues who have reviewed the faculty member's teaching materials, such as syllabi, assignments, testing and grading practices.
- Honors or other recognition from colleagues such as outstanding instructor award/nomination or election/appointment to a committee on teaching. Where possible, provide information regarding the nature of the award (how many are given, the adjudication procedure, etc.).
The Products of Good Teaching
- A record of students who succeed in advanced study in the field.
- Student awards, honors, publications or presentations resulting from course-related work.
- Testimonials from employers or students about the faculty member's influence on career choice.
- Student scores on pre- and post-course examinations.
Items that Sometimes Appear in Portfolios
- Contributions to the teaching profession: books (including chapters in books, edited books, and special issues of journals); articles (refereed, solicited or non-refereed); papers in conference proceedings (refereed or non-refereed); bibliographies; newsletters; unpublished conference papers, workshop presentations, and unpublished professional reports.
- Statement by the chairperson assessing the faculty member's teaching contributions to the unit.
- Invitations to speak (internal or external) on teaching-related topics.
- A full-period audio or video of the faculty member teaching.
- List of local, regional, state or national seminars, workshops and conferences on teaching methods (internal and external) attended.
- Evidence of help given to colleagues leading to improvement of their teaching (e.g., orientation sessions for new faculty members, sessions that introduce teaching techniques or technological developments, observing teaching as part of formal or informal evaluation of teaching effectiveness, individual consultation).
- Description of how computers, films, and other non-print materials are used in teaching.
- Statements by alumni on the quality of instruction.
- Examples of graded student essays, creative work, fieldwork reports, etc. along with the faculty member's comments on why they were so graded.
- Statement from colleagues who have observed the faculty member advising or interacting with students outside the classroom.
- Committee membership: List all activities concerned with teaching that you have undertaken as a member of a unit or university committee, subcommittee, or task force (e.g., curriculum development, program review). Include details such as names of committees, dates, the nature of the contribution, and the names of committee chairs and collaborators.
- Cooperation with other programs: Use of teaching materials by faculty members in other units or universities, involvement in program review of other teaching units, development of widely used course evaluations or other assessment instruments.
- Funding: internal and external teaching research and development grants and/or fellowships to do if an item cuts across two categories (say work on unit curriculum review that could be counted as Teaching or as Service, or publication of a workbook that could be counted as Teaching or as Scholarship)? While a single activity can have many different aspects which reflect on performance in different categories, these items should not be counted twice (for example, once as Teaching and once as Scholarship). In such cases, it is best to work with the chairperson and/or mentor to develop an appropriate strategy. This should enable one to decide where to list the item on the vita and where to provide a "cross reference" (for example, listed under Service and referenced under Teaching).
Prepare Statements on Each Item
The faculty member prepares statements on activities, initiatives, and accomplishments for each item. Documentation and appendices are referenced, as appropriate.Arrange the Items in Order
The ordering of the items depends on their intended use. They should be ranked in order of magnitude and relationship to the faculty member's primary goals. For example, if the faculty member is focusing on effectively teaching large lecture classes, then he or she should emphasize the items that directly reflect that goal (e.g., intended innovations, attendance at teaching seminars).Compile the Support Data
During the evaluation/development period, the faculty member would continually assemble the supporting evidence that relates to the items in the portfolio. At the end of the appraisal period, the evidence is included in the completed portfolio.Incorporate the Portfolio into the Personnel File
In preparation for merit review, promotion, or retention, the completed portfolio is inserted into the faculty member's personnel file for the teaching area. The intent here is to provide a record of teaching accomplishment for these personnel decisions.
Portfolio Process
It is not enough to have a well-constructed portfolio. Rather, the processes developed to (1) create the portfolio, and (2) use the portfolio are as important as the portfolio itself. As mentioned previously, the faculty member and the chairperson play key roles in constructing the portfolio. In constructing the portfolio, we strongly encourage a consultative, collaborative approach between the chairperson and the faculty member. This approach is entirely consistent with the chairpersons' desires to assume major leadership responsibilities. Our recommended process is presented below. The process is presented in a generic form. The process may need adjusting to meet the size and structural characteristics of the different units. Also, the portfolios generated through the portfolio process must be consistent with the goals of the respective units. Therefore, units may need to review and revise their goals before starting the portfolio plan. Finally, the process as described integrates the mentoring function into the development and evaluation of teaching. Mentors/sponsors need not be part of the process for tenured faculty members.
- During the spring semester (or early September for new hires), the budgetary chairperson, the faculty member, and a sponsor/mentor for the faculty member meet to develop the framework for the portfolio. Through a process of guidance and negotiation, they agree on the faculty member's teaching responsibilities for the next academic year and the items to be included in the portfolio (the first two steps of the portfolio: clarify teaching responsibilities, and select items for the portfolio). We recommend that portfolio selections be distributed across the three categories (material from oneself, material from others, and products of good teaching), with additions from the fourth category -- items that sometimes appear in portfolios -- as desired. In this meeting, they also discuss the type of information that will be collected during the next year to document progress, and dates when the faculty member and sponsor or chairperson will meet to review progress. Periodic review is essential for maintaining the formative aspect of the process.
- The unit's Executive Committee reviews all portfolio plans after they have been developed. This review ensures equity across all plans, and facilitates achievement of the unit's teaching goals.
- The faculty member and sponsor (or chairperson) meet occasionally during the academic year to review progress and make adjustments as needed.
- In spring and in preparation for merit, retention, or promotion decisions, the chairperson, faculty member, and sponsor review the documented portfolio to review teaching performance for the academic year. The chairperson then writes a letter summarizing the faculty member's teaching performance. This letter and the completed portfolio become part of the personnel file. Also, during the meeting with the faculty member, chair, and sponsor, a new portfolio plan is developed for the following academic year.
The Task Force strongly believes that the portfolio approach and its attendant processes are substantial steps forward in the evaluation and development of teaching at UW-Green Bay. Based upon our research, we know that:
- use of portfolios will both improve the evaluation and development of teaching;
- portfolios must be individualized and comprehensive;
- hence, the content and organization of the portfolio must relate to the faculty member's teaching style and teaching situation;
- portfolios can be integrated into our current evaluation and teaching practices; and
- use of teaching portfolios make the reward system more responsive to teaching.
The best way to implement the portfolio process is to do it slowly. We suggest that next year, two or three units volunteer as pilot sites to introduce the concepts and processes described in this report. A "shadow" or evaluation group should be appointed to monitor the pilot study. We can learn from this pilot experience and refine or change the process where appropriate before it is introduced university-wide.


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Drivers get one chance
NOOSA North Shore holiday makers who are caught without a beach permit for their vehicle are being given one chance to get one before being hit with a $150 fine.
The permits were introduced in October as one of a range of measures to safeguard more than 60,000 hectares of environmentally sensitive land between Noosa North Shore and Rainbow Beach.
They are required by people driving along the beach or inland along the Freshwater track, the Kings Bore Circuit track or the Leisha track.
According to the Department of Environment and Resource Management, more than 8600 permits have been issued since the system began.
"Early reporting suggests that the overwhelming number of visitors are doing the right thing and purchasing a permit before entering the area," QPWS acting general manager Marine, Richard Quincey, said.
"The new system is being successfully rolled out with very few incidents so far."
Since the Cooloola Recreation Area was declared, 226 warning notices have been issued to drivers without permits, and eight fines have been issued.
"As part of the plan, and taking into account that some people may still be unaware of the new requirements, drivers without a valid Vehicle Access Permit are issued with a warning notice and advised to obtain a permit within 24 hours," Mr Quincey said.
"Only when drivers fail to obtain a permit after being warned do they attract a fine (of $150)."
The upcoming holiday season, particularly post-Christmas, has become so popular that visitor safety, especially traffic issues, had become a major concern for QPWS.
Additional rangers will be on duty for the holiday break.
Mr Quincey said there would be an increase in compliance patrols and enforcement of the vehicle closure area between First and Third Cutting on Noosa North Shore.
Bookings for the Teewah Beach and Freshwater camping grounds are "relatively stable" despite the forecast for wet weather over the Christmas period.
Permits are available at www.qld.gov.au/camping or by phoning 13 74 68.
They can also be obtained from visitor information centres and certain local businesses at Rainbow Beach and Tewantin.


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Cheetos are "one of the most marvelously constructed foods on the planet, in terms of pure pleasure," argued food scientist Steven Witherly in a recent New York Times article on addictive junk food. It's hard to disagree with Witherly -- despite the frightening neon orange color of Cheetos, they remain one of the most delicious artificial cheese snacks out there.
Frito-Lay, Cheetos' parent company, has released two new Cheetos products: Cheezy Salsa Mix and Xtra Cheezy Mix. Each bag contains four different flavors of Cheetos. The idea behind the move, according to Frito-Lay, was to combine all the different forms of Cheetos in one place. Now, Cheetos fans no longer have to choose between puffed or crunch, hot or mellow.
Here's a closer look:
Take a look at the slideshow below for a closer look at all the flavors:
The two bags will be available in stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.49 (8.75 ounces) and $1.49 (3.75 ounces) respectively.


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"Do you see anyone?" Azalea said.
Azalea's sister, Evelien, peeked through the blinds. A soda can fell to the floor as she bent over to get a better look, the trailer's kitchen sink and counter filled with garbage and debris. "No."
Azalea moved to the opposite side of the trailer and sat next to her husband on the couch.
Hugo rested a hand on her leg. "Everything will be fine."
Azalea took little comfort from those words, continuing to stare at her sister instead. Every time she looked at Evelien, she felt as if she were gazing into a mirror. Though a few years apart in age, the two could pass for twins. Dark hair flowed halfway down her back, and Evelien's brown eyes complemented her bronzed skin tone.
"How are you feeling?" Evelien asked, backing away from the window.
Azalea swallowed. "Okay."
She wasn't, though. Azalea's heart fluttered. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her breaths were quick and shallow.
"You should drink some water," Evelien said.
She opened a cupboard above the sink, the door nearly coming off one of the hinges. Evelien found a glass and held it under the faucet. Azalea watched as a murky liquid filled the glass. Evelien glanced at her with a concerned face, then dumped the water down the drain.
"We have some bottled water in the back," Hugo said. "I can get it."
"No," Evelien said. "I'll get it."
Trash littered the floor, nearly causing Evelien to slip. She disappeared into the back bedroom, and Hugo squeezed Azalea's leg.
"We shouldn't have to live like this," she whispered to him.
"I know. I promise it won't be like this forever."
Azalea had heard those words before. She wanted so much to believe it, but her faith had dwindled in recent weeks. It's why she was forced to make the hardest decision of her life.
"Do you hate me?" she asked.
"Why would you say such a thing?" Hugo wrapped his arms around her.
"I know how much you want a child. I do, too … eventually … but no child of ours should have to be raised like this."
Hugo pulled her close. "It's our decision. You don't have to justify it."
A tear descended Azalea's face, and she quickly wiped it away as Evelien appeared.
"Here, sweetheart," she said, handing Azalea the bottle.
Azalea forced a weak smile. "Thank you. Shouldn't Dom be back by now?" she said after a long pause.
Like everyone else in the compound, Evelien's husband Domenec had to work in order to live there. One edge of the facility, which divided Mexico and Texas, was fenced off, while a huge wall had been erected on the other side of the complex. It kept people from entering what eventually became known as "Free America."
Those who lived in the compound were only allowed beyond the wall on two occasions: a medical emergency or employment. However, only a select few were permitted to work in Free America, Dom being one of them. He'd passed the rigorous screening process all citizens were subject to prior to receiving their job assignment. The government found him to be a low flight risk and granted him this special privilege.
"Don't worry," Evelien said. "He'll be here."
"I'm sorry," Azalea said.
"For what?" Evelien stared at her.
She found it hard to maintain eye contact with her sister. "For putting you and Dom in danger."
Evelien knelt down in front of her. "You're my baby sister, and Dom loves you like his own blood. You know we'd do anything for you and Hugo."
Azalea bobbed her head. "I know, but we could be deported if we go through with this. Maybe even jailed."
Evelien kissed Azalea on the head. "Whatever happens, we do it together. Okay?"
Azalea nodded again, a sense of pride and contentment rising up inside of her. A knock came, two knocks to be precise, startling Azalea and forcing Evelien to turn.
"That should be him," Evelien said. "He said he'd knock twice." She stood and put an eye to the blinds just to make sure.
"Dom?" Azalea whispered.
Evelien nodded and opened the door. Dom stepped inside wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, quickly closing the door behind him. Tall with parted black hair and a smooth face, Dom always looked and acted in a very professional manner. It's probably why he was allowed to work outside the wall. He carried himself much differently than most men Azalea knew, including her husband.
"Sorry I took so long," he said. "The drone patrol is pretty heavy this time of the day, so I didn't want to look suspicious or attract too much attention."
"I'm just glad you're here," Evelien said, hugging Dom. "Please tell us you have good news."
Dom broke away from Evelien and walked over to the couch.
"We gave you everything we had," Hugo said. "Was it enough?"
Dom took a clip of money from his pocket, offering it to Azalea.
"He didn't take it?" Azalea said with alarm.
"He didn't want it," Dom said.
Evelien sidled up to him. "What does that mean?"
"It means he's going to report us." Azalea had no intention of hiding the fear in her voice. "They're probably coming for us now."
Dom shook his head. "No. I don't think so."
Azalea didn't understand. "How can you say that?"
"Doctor Lawson is an outsider, but he's someone I trust. He's sympathetic to our situation."
"Then why—"
"He didn't take the money," Dom said, interrupting Azalea, "because he doesn't need it. He said you need it more."
"But he'll still help us out?" Hugo asked.
Dom's demeanor didn't change. "Yes."
Azalea stood up and hugged him. She wasn't happy by any means, but the news brought a sense of relief. "You're taking a big risk, Dom. Thank you."
Hugo and Evelien joined in, the four of them embracing one another. When they separated, Dom spoke again.
"You'll go in tomorrow morning. We'll say you're experiencing abdominal pains and that you're in your first trimester. Dr. Lawson will handle the procedure. He'll report it as a life-saving measure under the circumstances."
"Thank you, brother." Hugo extended his hand and Dom grasped it.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Dom said. "We have to play this right, but I'm cautiously optimistic."
"Thank you, baby." Evelien kissed Dom on the lips.
Hugo gave Azalea a peck on the cheek, and she rested her head on his chest. The painful reality of terminating her unborn child in a few hours' time threatened to eat away at her from the inside out. Azalea would no longer have this life inside of her, the life she and Hugo made together. It brought fresh tears, but imagining the pain and suffering their child would undoubtedly suffer in such a cruel world outweighed the alternative. Maybe in time she would learn to live with herself again.
And that's when it came…Another knock at the door.


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Author's Note: six years ago now, I posted an article on my old site (teachertrenches.blogspot.com) about the connections between the film Field of Dreams and the J. D. Salinger novel Catcher in the Rye. And since the movie came out twenty-five years ago this summer, I thought I would re-post it. Hey, who's not a fan of re-cycling, right?
By the way, my wife Sheri now has a sister blog, Hearing God's Whisper. She just started it, but she already has some really great content. I'm really proud of her. You can access it here.
Finally, just today, I have a piece running on an awesome site called LikeTotally80s. The article celebrates the song "The End of the Innocence," which– like Field of Dreams– came out in the summer 1989. You can check out the piece here.
* Whew *… OK, enjoy…
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
So what does Field of Dreams, a 1989 film about spectral baseball players in an Iowa cornfield have to do with The Catcher in the Rye, a classic novel about a depressed 1950s teenager wandering through New York? I'm glad you asked!
First off, the most obvious connection: for the three of you out there in Internet-land who may not know this,…
- Field of Dreams, the film, is based on the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella.
- In the film Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella goes to Boston to find a reclusive novelist named Terrence Mann.
- In the novel Shoeless Joe, Ray Kinsella goes to New Hampshire to find a reclusive novelist named J. D. Salinger.
That's right: Terrence Mann is loosely-based on J. D. Salinger. And I say "loosely-based," because Salinger is not a large, black man with a voice that sounds suspiciously like Mufasa. But like Terrence Mann, both the real-life J. D. Salinger and the character J. D. Salinger from the novel Shoeless Joe are hermits who stopped writing (or at least, stopped publishing their writing) at the peaks of their careers.
Incidentally, you really can't teach Catcher without talking about Salinger's biography; over the years, it seems more people are more interested in what Salinger hasn't written in the past forty years than anything he's ever has actually written. (You can find out more on Salinger's perculiar reclusiveness in the documentary, J. D. Salinger Does Not Want to Talk.) And the Terrence Mann character provides a way to segue into Salinger's infamous reclusiveness.
Beyond the Mann-Salinger connection, the film shares some thematic connections withCatcher. You can find the real biggie in Terrence Mann's famous climactic speech. (Come on: You know the words– say it along with us!)
"People will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces.
People will come, Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh… people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
The whole speech, and especially the parts I italicized, is about the biggest dream of them all: regaining childhood innocence. And Ray's field makes that impossibility possible. That's why those thousands of cars show up at the end: to get back to a time when there were no mortgages, no gambling scandals, no fallen heroes. That's childhood, essentially.
Holden desperately wants a place like Ray's field. He wants to be the "catcher in the rye," the guardian who keeps kids from losing their innocence, from falling from grace. He knows it can't happen in real life, but he wants it anyway. (Of course, a place like Ray's field can happen in the movies– an artform which Holden claims to hate. If Holden actually saw Field of Dreams, he'd probably dismiss it as being "corny" or "phony." Or at least, he'd say those things, but who knows what he'd really feel deep down? )
Holden's desire to be a "catcher in the rye" relates to his fundamental fear of change. This seems odd to say, since he has been to four different high schools, but Holden can't deal with change and flux. This relates to one of the most important and most overlooked symbol in the book, for my money– just as significant as the "catcher in the rye" symbol: the "big glass cases," which Holden talks about at the end of Chapter 16.
Holden marvels at how the "big glass cases" you find at museums preserve things: they keep objects and moments frozen in time. "Certain things they should stay the way they are," Holden says. "You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone."
Holden could probably really use a place like Ray's ballfield, a place where time stands still, where the flux of life is held in stasis. Basically, the Iowa ballfield is the equivalent of Holden's "big glass case."
Of course, if Holden heard a voice telling him to build a baseball field, he would never do it. For one thing, building the field takes work; Holden won't even pick up the phone to call Jane Gallagher. In addition, Holden, despite all his posturing, is too concerned with what everyone else thinks about him. (Remember, in the movie, all the locals think Ray Kinsella's crazy, the "biggest horse's ass in three counties.")
Finally, Holden is too self-absorbed to do something to help someone else. And that's really what the building of the field was for Ray. Just like he said to Shoeless Joe near the end of the film, "I never once asked what's in it for me." And his selflessness allowed Ray to realize his dream of playing catch with his dad. Holden's a lot of things, but you'd never really call him selfless.
There are other smaller connections too (Allie's baseball mitt with the poems on it, the name "Richard Kinsella" appears in Catcher), but the connections I detailed above get to the heart of both texts. Showing the movie in conjunction with the novel highlights the themes in both texts; plus, it's an excuse to show a timeless classic in class. And maybe, if you get "meta" with me for a moment, that timelessness can be a connection in itself.
Serendipity time: this past weekend, I was watching the Red Sox-Orioles game, and Kevin Costner was in the booth with Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. (Some of Field of Dreams, remember, was shot at Fenway.) And Costner was saying that, while making millions at the box office is nice, he's more interested in making movies that stand tghe test of time. (I'm paraphrasing, but that was the general gist of it.)
Well, he may not have passed the "test of time" with Dragonfly, but he definitely did with Field of Dreams. The film has aged well– so well, in fact, that it doesn't age. And in that sense, the film Field of Dreams is like the "field of dreams" it showcases. Maybe Holden's idea of the "big glass case" is not so impossible after all.


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FRIDAY JULY 17, 4-7PM, OPEN REHEARSAL – Jen Rosenblit, Clap Hands (new work in progress): come and go as you wish or stay 'til the end and take her out for a martini after. Free Admission
Clap Hands is a mating call that looks to hail, disappear, disguise, displace and reveal the solo form, complicating a narrative of intimacy that is not limited to pattern, ritual or husbandry. Piles of fuchsia felt install the space, enacting a still life while demanding flamboyance. Clap Hands asks how we continually locate ourselves and what is it to deal with the haunting nature of remaining alone amongst others?
Performed by Rosenblit, Addys Gonzalez, and Effie Bowen and with sound by Andy Kobilka AKA DJ Snoggybox, a solo is being made together, as a team. You will be finding us toward the end of a week-long residency, where we will continue our research into manifesting, disguising and replacing the solo. There are many different feelings around how this can happen and where the solo aspect is located. While trying to house this multiplicity, entangle desires, misunderstandings and miscommunications, the process is opened up for you to come and flood the work, to entertain the impossibility of the solo and the problem of autonomy as it sits in the same architecture as a need for togetherness. This is not so much a viewing of the work and a talk back but more an open process space. You can sit in the room and watch us work, you can actively participate in the conversation, wherever it is. We will consider the architecture of The Invisible Dog as material for the work. We will look into costumes that hide or reveal the body as body. We will work with sound and text, navigating a flirtation between the body that needs other bodies, disappearing bodies or an absence that has to be organized and general stage directions for the work within a scripted reading of the performance.
Clap Hands will premiere April 20-28, 2016 at The Invisible Dog co-presented by New York Live Arts
For more information contact Alexandra Rosenberg, Manager at email@example.com


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Grounds for Hope Cafe...KidStreet...Community
Closed Labor Day
Grounds for Hope Cafe, each drink is handcrafted so you can enjoy your favorites or try something new! Add a wholesome, mouthwatering sandwich, salad or snack and then relax and enjoy our free wifi or fireplace.
At KidStreet PlayCenter, your children can play in a safe environment and you can build new friendships! Open Monday - Saturday 9am - 4pm. Closed Sundays.
For your Special Event party, meeting, or production, we can meet your needs for 10-100 people.
And the most amazing thing about Grounds? You will be buying more than a great cup of coffee - you will be giving the world grounds for hope!
Project Grounds is our effort to meet our mission to change lives, change community and change the world through smart sourcing and passing along our profits.
We love bringing you great coffee and helping others have grounds for hope!


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Northern Virginia map - Virginia county, city, map with roads
Arlington County, Alexandria City
Arlington and the city of Alexandria Virginia are close to Washington DC, inside the beltway.
Fairfax County
Fairfax County Virginia is the largest county in the Washington, D.C. area. It is inside and outside the beltway. Fairfax County VA includes Falls Church, Reston, Tysons Corner, McLean, Great Falls, Fairfax, Oakton, Springfield, Burke, Annandale, Chantilly, Centreville and Clfiton.
Loudoun County
Loudoun County Virginia is the fast growing county that has seen many larger homes and diverse communities. It includes Sterling, Ashburn, Potomac Falls, Countryside, Middleburg, South Riding, Hamilton and Dulles International Airport. It has become popular partly due to the extended expressway that extends to Leesburg Virginia with views of the Shenandoah mountains.
Prince William County
Prince William County Virginia covers the southern suburbs and is less populated. It includes Manassas, Manassas Park and Manassas City.
Other Counties near Virginia include Fauquier County, which is farther west out Interstate 66. This is more country properties in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains. It includes Warrenton, which has grown much in the past years.
Notes: Route 267 is the Dulles Toll Road. I-95 is the Interstate that goes from New York to Florida. I-66 goes out to Front Royal, Virginia.


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When: Thu., March 7, 8 p.m. 2013
AMC's adaptation of the hit comic book about a zombie apocalypse and the increasingly strung-out people who survive it, The Walking Dead, is such a huge hit that even the recap show, The Talking Dead, is beating NBC in the ratings. (Though that might also say something about NBC.) Demand for a March 1 panel at New York's Paley Center for Media was so high that Fathom Events is screening a recording of the event, which featured series creator Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd and cast members including lead Andrew Lincoln and Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick. See if questions get asked like, "Why'd you spend so many episodes on that damn farm?" and, "Seriously, are the walkers going to eat that annoying kid Carl or what?"
The following week will feature a series of a different color with a live simulcast from Los Angeles of The Big Bang Theory panel on March 13, with an opportunity for early-arriving audience members to submit questions to the cast and creators. I suspect there'll be a lot of, "Seriously, why in God's name would anyone hang around with Sheldon?" This event starts a bit later, at 10 p.m., because of the West Coast time difference. It's still cheaper than flying out there or trying to get a ticket! The participating theaters are the Crossroads Stadium 20 in Cary and the Brier Creek Stadium 14 and North Hills Stadium 14 in Raleigh. 8 p.m. (Big Bang begins at 10 p.m.) —Zack Smith
Price: $15


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Flo Liu is entering his third season with the Presbyterian College men's soccer team in the 2018 season.
An integral part of the team's recruiting efforts, Liu was instrumental in the formation of Head Coach Jonathan Potter's first recruiting class in 2016 which provided the Blue Hose with five new starters, including Freshman All-Conference member Sergio Pinto. In addition, Liu also helped develop Mason Lewis, Cade Crow and Connor Behrend into All-Conference honorees, which marked most All-Conference Selections in program history.
Involved in all aspects of the program, Liu supervised player academics as well as community service. The Blue Hose received the NSCAA Academic Team Award for exemplary performance in the classroom and are heavily involved within the community for local soccer clinics and volunteer efforts with Special Olympics and the Thornwell Orphanage Home.
Liu, a nationally licensed coach through United States Soccer Federation (USSF), came to Presbyterian College after two seasons with Temple University. Liu assisted in student-athlete development, recruiting, video analysis, daily practices, scouting, social media, marketing, alumni relations and camps. Liu helped developing 7 all-conference and 2 all-region players, including MLS draft Jorge Gomez-Sanchez, and Carlos Moros Gracia, who signed with Swedish 1st Division team GIF Sundsvall. During his time, Temple had one of the best turnarounds in the country in 2015 (8 more wins than previous season) and school's highest NSCAA ranking (#17) in 30 years.
A native of Richmond, British Columbia, Liu was a standout at University of Connecticut where he helped UConn to two NCAA Elite Eight appearances in 2011 and 2012, he was part of a defense that set a school record with 16 shutouts in 2011. Liu played every minute in Big East play on route to conference championship in 2012 while contributing game winning goal against No.8 Notre Dame and game winning assist against No.3 Georgetown.
In 2013, Liu had a brief playing spell in Germany, including training with Eintracht Frankfurt of German Bundesliga.
|Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
|Alma Mater:
|Graduating Year:
|2 Years


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As they begin the fall harvest, wary farmers are watching a federal debate over whether to clamp down on one of rural life's constant companions — the dust clouds that farm machinery kick up in fields and along unpaved roads.
Farming groups have urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retain its current standards for dust, soot and other microscopic particles, arguing that tighter restrictions would be unworkable and that dust isn't a real pollutant.
Grain farmer Charles Schmitt, who farms about 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans near the southwestern Indiana town of Haubstadt, called the possibility of tougher rules on dust "ridiculous."
To read the entire article, link here.


text: Groove Merchants November 08, 2013 07:00pm UCO Jazz Lab 100 East Fifth St Edmond, OK 73034 Description: Named one of the top four most popular bands in Oklahoma, the Groove Merchants are certain to entertain. It is easy to hear that the band is comprised of the finest musicians in the Midwest due to their tight harmonies, thick grooves, and versatile song lists. Not only are the Groove Merchants known for their excellent quality of music, but they are also known for their superb professionalism. Agency: Film and Music Office, Oklahoma - OF&MO Contact Phone: Contact Email: Event Resources: http://www.ucojazzlab.com/ Event Phone: Event Email: Close Details Window


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Last Tuesday, ReserveOut Amman has set up and event to get some of the local Ammani Bloggers and the amazing team of ReserveOut at Trattoria – Alqasr Metropole Hotel (Atico Group). It was our first time getting to know each other, and getting to know Atico Group even better. It was …Read More »
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For now, the Moose bids adieu to his Mooseketeers.
It's been a good run. The Moose has tremendously enjoyed musing, observing and holding forth on the issues of the day. But, for the time being, this cervine creature will not be seen in cyberspace.
The great and grand political development of the past year has been the triumph of Independent - Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman. Joe has bravely revived the great tradition of Scoop Jackson that is so critically needed at this time of international challenge and crisis. The Moose is leaving the blogosphere with the deep satisfaction that in a small way he was part of this historic and monumental victory for the vital center.
The Moose has attempted to give voice to the immoderate moderates that are often not represented by either the donkey or by the elephant. In the proud tradition of T.R., the Moose has defied the reigning orthodoxies of the two parties.
The Moose may re-emerge at any moment in a new venue. The fight is far from over. The program of progressive national greatness is a powerful one that can have great resonance in American public life.
So, the Moose declares "farewell", for now. He is hibernating... or not. He thanks his Mooseketeers for their loyalty and often insightful communications to him. And the nutroots and their ilk should not take solace in the departure of the Moose. The Moose will surely re-emerge again. When and where will the Moose be spotted?
The Moose works in mysterious ways... --
Thursday, November 16, 2006
The Moose argues that progressives shouldn't redeploy away from their principles.
The Iraq war is leading some progressives into a full embrace of neo-realism. These liberals shun interventionist internationalism for the type of pragmatic realism that was the hallmark of Brent Scowcroft and Jim Baker. In fact, these two Republican figures are rapidly becoming national security role models in progressive circles.
Not so fast. It was the realists' coddling of Middle Eastern tyrannies that helped breed the Jihadist menace with which we are at war. Saudi Arabia which spreads Wahabi hatred is Exhibit A of a theocracy that realists love to love. Back in the nineties, the realists would have us look away from the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.
Will Marshall authors a fine rebuke to the realists in the new issue of Blueprint Magazine - here.
Marshall writes,
"Democrats should leave realpolitik to Republicans and instead offer an internationalist alternative to Bush's policies. Rather than limit America's power, this approach would embed it in an expanding alliance of global democracies and a modernized system of collective security better able to protect the weak from the strong. In an interdependent world, America should use its power to shape international institutions that can cope effectively with global terror networks, failing states, nuclear proliferation, and mass murder in places like Darfur. But America must remain the catalyst for collective action; there is simply no one else who can take our place.
"Realists see American idealism as a dangerous distraction from the unsentimental pursuit of core national interests. But progressives believe U.S. foreign policy works best when it reflects the moral sentiments and political values of the American people. Recognizing that what happens within states is often more important for world order than what happens between states, progressives understand that the peaceful spread of liberal democracy is a strategic imperative for America."
The manifold errors in Iraq are giving internationalism a bad name. But, President Bush was fundamentally correct in his analysis that genuine democratic transformation is the only long term answer to the Jihadist threat. There must be an alternative to the stifling tyrannies of the Islamic world.
We have painfully learned that this transformation will be difficult and is by no means guaranteed. The Islamic world will not easily adopt democratic habits. However, the realists' answer is not a plausible alternative either strategically or morally.
In 1992, Bill Clinton was correct in opposing Jim Baker realism toward the Balkans. And the failures of this Administration should not tempt contemporary progressives to succumb to the allure of neo-realism.
Realists would not have had us intervene in Rwanda in the nineties. They would look askance at stopping the genocide in Darfur. And the liberal "get out now" realists would allow Iraq to truly devolve into a massive killing field that would damage our moral and strategic standing for a generation.
If a Democratic Congress forces a premature withdrawal from Iraq, the party will pay for it in moral and political terms for many years to come. Yes, the American people want a change in course in Iraq. But, they will not readily embrace defeat. And, like after Vietnam, the Democratic Party will be branded as the party of defeat and retreat.
Progressives should not abandon liberal values at the water's edge. --
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The Moose comments on the torment of the right.
Back in the early sixties, Barry Goldwater wrote the right wing manifesto, "Conscience of a Conservative." Today, it would likely be titled, "The Crisis of Confidence of a Conservative."
For the past forty years, conservatism was in the ascendancy. Just a couple of years ago, it had a certain self-confident swagger. Hubris was its only threat. In 2000, conservatism reached its zenith. The right had a President that was viewed as Reagan plus. Conservative leaders controlled the Legislation and Executive Branches. The entire "Leave us Alone" crowd was riding high in the saddle.
And now, conservatives are wondering how they were so resoundingly rejected not by the elites, but by the masses. They have been left alone.
Social security privatization went nowhere. The Schiavo episode was a disaster. The public has no great appetite for more tax cuts. A conservative-led Congress and President greatly expanded the welfare state. The disillusionment with this Administration is now profound. The right even sympathizes with the hapless Rumsfeld.
The Moose is not suggesting that conservatism is in disrepute. It has not reached the state of liberalism in which actual adherents of that view fear to attach that label to themselves. However, there is no doubt that the right faces a crisis of confidence that is usually associated with the left.
Whither conservatism? Is big government compatible with this perspective? How is it to win back the affections of the middle class when it pursues a plutocratic economic policy? Are they internationalists who can competently manage nation building? Will the right write off millions and millions of Americans in a restrictionist rage?
Fundamentally, will conservatism shrink to the minority movement it once was? Or will it evolve into a more middle class and less plutocratic movement?
All elephants (and donkeys for that matter) would be well served to read this brilliant piece by Ross Douthat & Reihan Salam that appeared in the Weekly Standard a while back - The Party of Sam's Club. Douthat and Salam wrote,
"The economic anxieties of middle and working-class voters are likely to be the domestic political issue of the coming years, and a party, or at the very least a 2008 presidential candidate, in search of an agenda needs to start thinking seriously about how to address them."
Can conservatism be born again? --
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Moose wonders what the incoming Speaker was thinking when she decided to meddle in the Majority Leader's race.
If there was one unmistakable message that the voters were sending last week is that they are sick and tired of the old Washington politics of pork, perks and corruption. That is why it is so perplexing that Congresswoman Pelosi chose as her first major public action to lend her support to John Murtha for Majority Leader.
Congressman Murtha, while a decorated patriot, is not going to win any awards from Common Cause as a stalwart congressional reformer - quite the opposite. He is the embodiment of the old guard pork-laden, back-scratching politics that was rejected last Tuesday.
Today's editorial in the Washington Post,
"Mr. Murtha would also be the wrong choice as majority leader after an election in which a large number of voters expressed unhappiness with Washington business as usual. Mr. Murtha has been a force against stronger ethics and lobbying rules. He was one of just four Democrats whose votes helped kill a strong Democratic package of lobbying reforms this spring.
"As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has been an avid participant in the orgy of earmarking, including numerous projects sought by a lobbying firm that employed his brother. During the Abscam congressional bribery investigation in 1980, Mr. Murtha was videotaped discussing a bribe with an undercover FBI agent. ("You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't, you know," Mr. Murtha said.) He wasn't indicted, but it's fair to say the episode raised questions about his integrity."
The Speaker-elect's misstep will hopefully be soon forgotten if Steny Hoyer is victorious in this race. However, it is not a promising opening act. Democrats must realize that the voters are desperately looking for a departure from business as usual.
The new boss must be clearly distinct from the old boss. --
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Moose endorses Steny.
The Moose has long admired Steny Hoyer. He represents the Truman/JFK/Scoop tradition in the party of a strong national defense and progressive social policy. He is an effective spokesman for the vital center that his party is attempting to seize.
Steny Hoyer should become the donkey's House Majority Leader. He is being challenged by John Murtha who has become the darling of the anti-war left in the House and nationally. While Murtha is a patriot, he now represents the old guard of ideological polarazation. A Murtha victory would be viewed by the media as a triumph for the left. It would be welcomed by the right which is desperately looking for some good news.
This should also concern the Democrats - today's Washington Post,
"Hoyer also has the strong support of many of the party's conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats, who worry about Murtha's involvement in the Abscam bribery sting in 1980 and what they see as his freewheeling style on the House Appropriations Committee, where he has openly advocated for the interests of his district and his political supporters."
Most importantly, Steny has earned the position of Majority Leader. As an opposition leader, Steny was a reasoned, articulate, media savvy voice for the Democratic caucus and played a major role in last Tuesday's triumph.
If the donkey is to be successful in their new majority status, they must prove to the country that they will govern as centrists. By electing Steny Hoyer as their Majority Leader, the Democratic caucus will send a powerful message to the country, that they are seizing the middle.
Stick with Steny.
*This is the Moose's view and does not necessarily represent anyone else's. --
Friday, November 10, 2006
The Moose wishes the Marine Corps a happy birthday - created November 10, 1775
"From the halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli' ,
We fight our countrys battles In the air', on land, and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom , And to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marines"
America is indebted to you for your service to our nation. --
Thursday, November 09, 2006
The Moose celebrates the rise of the middle.
Across the board, the election has been correctly interpreted as the revenge of the center. The immoderate moderates smote the elephants because they have displayed incompetent incompetence and acted as dividers and not uniters. After the red-state blue-state divide, this year the voters were in a furious state.
Both parties are on probation with the electorate. Republicans were fired and Democrats were hired. But, unless they deliver for the vital center, their tenure could be brief.
Liberal commentator E. J. Dionne put it well today,
"...many of the party's successful candidates ran as moderates, and Democrats hold power on the basis of a loan of votes from middle-of-the-road Americans who simply could not stomach Bush Republicanism anymore. The loan can be recalled at any moment."
And conservative commentator David Brooks nailed to the door in the Times,
"Well, somebody's been on steroids, because on Tuesday the muscular middle took control of America. Say goodbye to the era of Rovian base mobilization. Say goodbye to the era of conservative dominance that began in 1980. On Tuesday, 47 percent of the voters were self-described moderates, according to exit polls, and they asserted their power by voting for the Democrats in landslide proportions."
Perhaps the President's greatest mistake was to fail to forge a new politics after 9/11 and unite the country for the long haul in the war against terror. Instead, in the 2002 midterms, he chose the Rovian politics of the base - and in 2006 that polarizing model cost Republicans control over Congress.
Democrats should not make the same mistake. That means actually working with the White House to achieve big things such as comprehensive immigration reform, energy independence and expansion of the military.
Democrats are no longer just an opposition party. Soon they will control the Legislative Branch. That means that they, unlike the Bush Administration, must have an occupation plan. Progress must be stressed over partisanship. Democrats must make alliances with Republicans to pass legislation to send to the President.
Ideologues of the right and the left take note - the center is inflamed and will not be denied. The immoderate moderates are not wedded to either party. They reward and punish regardless of party affiliation.
Hopefully, the two parties will begin getting their acts together. If not, there is always the Bull Moose! --