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|December 23, 2010, 09:53 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: August 20, 2009
Posts: 186
My first match: IDPA/IPSC Hybrid holiday shoot.
On Sunday, the thunder tactical shooters group held a hybrid match at thunder gun range. The hybrid match used IDPA scoring with IPSC rules. Having never shot IPSC, I was stoked to find an overall lack of restrictions. One shooter equated IPSC to being a mind puzzle versus IDPA which reduces the need for creativity to measure pure skill. Combining both makes for a Helluva lotta fun.
The match was originally going to be for single-stack guns only, but was later opened to include all autos to get more participants. I found it interesting that double-action hammer guns are frowned upon so much SOLEY for their 1st shot trigger action. The huge magazine capacity of my H&K P30 was more than enough to make up for the smooth triggers of 1911s.
I've shot IDPA practice matches but never an official match. The stages were significantly more elaborate with many more targets than in practice matches. This accompanied with weather that one might see in the beginning of a Disney movie made the event nothing short of a shooter's paradise.
There were lots of very experienced shooters there including state/national champions and professionals. One of the things I love about such events is that there is no "down time" If you're not shooting, you're watching and getting prepared. If you've already shot, there's no shortage of time to evaluate your performance and get advice from experts to practice in the next stage. In all honesty, a shooting match is one of the fastest ways to meet new people…..Proof that an armed society IS a polite society.
My shooting went quite well except for a brain fart which cost me a procedural and 1 no- shoot. (I had practiced with the no-shoot hands on a sign that was hung around the neck of the target rather then being spray-painted on) I learned that I shouldn't watch my shots as I take them and learn to trust the front sight, shoot with rhythm and just know the hits will be there. By the last stages, I was flying though the scenarios with reasonably well-placed hits. Now all I need to do is practice my shooting rhythm and A-zone hits will just come naturally.
The match results were pretty impressive. The match champion shot the course in a total adjusted time of 77.53 seconds. I shot the course in 124.91 seconds to put me 19th in the ranking of 45 shooters. This is certainly a hobby I plan to keep and recommend to any shooter who's anxious to shoot "outside the box".
|December 23, 2010, 11:10 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,348
As one shooter at a past Nationals said, any sport whose scoring system takes 20 minutes to explain and a computer to run has got problems.
IPSC actually agreed. Back when they thought they could get in the Olympics as a "demonstration sport", they planned to use a Time Plus score akin to IDPA so the spectators would be able to see who was ahead without having to wait for hit factors and stage factors to be computed.
|December 23, 2010, 12:04 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: August 20, 2009
Posts: 186
I'm still wondering why the miss zones are - 1/2 and 1-1/2 seconds instead of 1 and 2 seconds.
|December 23, 2010, 12:17 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 1, 2000
Location: Western WA
Posts: 7,256
"Miss" twice into the -3 zone, and it will cost you eight seconds.
|December 23, 2010, 12:20 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: August 20, 2009
Posts: 186
Yea, i didn't learn that until a week ago. Apparantly it's also an FTN correct?
....wouldn't it be better to just not hit the target at all and take the FTN with no additional points down?
|December 23, 2010, 02:41 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 1, 2000
Location: Western WA
Posts: 7,256
Not hitting the target at all will cost you ten seconds; two misses at 2.5 each, plus the 5-second FTN. Of course, you'd probably also get a 20-second FTDR for trying to get a better score by ignoring the rationale and procedure for the stage.
|December 23, 2010, 06:17 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: August 20, 2009
Posts: 186
Ah, I didn't realize the FTN was inaddition to the 5pt penalty for no hits on a 2-shot target.
....that explains my horrible score on my first qualifier.
|December 23, 2010, 11:35 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: February 16, 2009
Location: John's Creek, Georgia
Posts: 328
Yes, IDPA uses rules for the 10 bullet limitations plus one in the barrel and most mods to the pistol as not accepetd unless they do not show on the outside of the pistol. No Optic Dot sights, No Ghost Ring Sights, no Magwells unless you are in Enhanced Service Pistol category. So I go shoot indoor IDPA matches with my G-19 and have so-so fun. When I shoot IPSC I run my full race G-35 with all the bells and whistles I can add on to it including 19 round magazines. Lots more fun.
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Saudi Arabia
major macro economic indicators
|2016 (f)
|2017 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average) (%)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(f) Forecast
- A quarter of global oil reserves and largest OPEC producer
- Predominant regional economic and political role
- Economy going through a diversification process and more open since joining the WTO end-2005
- Solid financial situation
- Robustness of the banking system
- Significant dependence on the hydrocarbon sector where there is little job creation, and growing domestic energy consumption
- High unemployment rate among Saudi nationals
- Governance weaknesses hampering the business climate
- Unstable geopolitical environment
An economy which is suffering from the impact of the fall in hydrocarbon prices
Saudi growth saw a sharp slowdown in 2016. In response to the fall in the price of hydrocarbons, which has affected the government finances, the authorities have significantly reduced their capital spending, leading to a contraction of added value from the private sector. The sectors which depend on government contract, such as construction, have reported a decline in their activity levels over the year, penalised by an extension of payment delays from the public sector. The sectors which rely on household demand, such as distribution and commerce, have also been impacted by the slowdown in consumption. The freeze on recruitment and salaries in the civil service, which employs more than 50% of the working-age Saudi population, and the slowdown in the non-oil economy weigh on household purchasing power. Conversely, the increase in oil production was the principal contributor to growth.
The activity is likely to recover gradually in 2017. The agreement reached in Vienna between the various members of OPEC should favour a gradual rebalancing of the oil market, pushing prices slightly upward, which will relieve pressures on the government's finances. The policy of austerity initiated in 2016 is likely to be replaced with more support on the part of the public sector for the non-oil sector. Compliance with the production quotas should however constrain the oil GDP of the kingdom. In addition, conditions for financing of the private sector should improve. The tightening of liquidity on the banking market, which led to a slowdown in credit growth in 2016, should weigh less on the non-oil sector in 2017, with the authorities turning towards the international debt market in order to meet their financing needs. The termination of subsidies on energy products and regulated goods led to an increase in inflation in 2016. Inflationary tensions are likely to be more moderate in 2017, thanks to the appreciation of the US dollar, to which the Saudi Riyal is anchored, and should lead to a reduction in imported inflation.
Fall in the twin deficits
Government receipts continued to contract in 2016, due to the weakness of the price of hydrocarbons. In addition, non-oil receipts were constrained by the slowdown in non-oil activity. The policy of budgetary austerity initiated in 2016 has however resulted in a reduction of expenditure. The reform of the public sector, which was materialised by a freeze on salaries, as contained the growth in total payrolls. It is likely to be continued in 2017, enabling the authorities to reduce their incompressible current expenditure. The authorities are likely to continue to enlarge their tax base, by creating new local taxes, particularly at the level of the municipalities and by increasing fees for nationals, after having surcharged them for expatriates. The increase in the price of oil should in addition relieve the pressure suffered by the government finances. At the time of the presentation of the Saudi Vision 2030 development plan, the government announced the launch of a large programme of privatisations, which is likely to include the opening up of the capital of the Aramco oil monopoly, as well as a sell-off of public land. Following these measures, the government deficit should continue to be reduced in 2017. The significant financing needs generated by the fall in the price of oil have led to a substantial increase in government debt but, with regard to the significant Saudi reserves, it remains sustainable. The authorities have turned gradually towards the international debt market to meet their financing needs and to relieve the domestic debt market which is suffering from liquidity constraints. The country completed an initial bond issue of $17 billion in October 2016 and it is likely to continue to call on external financing.
After having fallen slightly in 2016, the current account deficit should contract significantly in 2017. Although the price of a barrel of oil in 2016 was lower than in 2015, the fall in export receipts was offset by the reduction in imports resulting from the economic slowdown. The slight rise in prices in 2017 and the slow economic recovery should enable the trade balance to return to positive territory. The economic gloom is also affecting transfers by expatriates, which are tending to diminish, leading to a contraction in the balance of revenues. The foreign currency reserves should thus stabilise in 2017 and amount to around $521 billion.
Towards a planned structural transformation
Following the accession of King Salman in 2015, the Saudi executive was renewed in depth with the appointment of Prince Mohammed Ben Nayef to Security and Crown Prince Salman ben Abdelaziz Al Saoud to Economic Affairs and Defence. The latter began a vast programme of economic transformation, which should lead the country towards more diversification and limit the Kingdom's dependency on oil. He thereby also intends to profoundly modify the economic functioning and organisational processes of the State in order to reduce the weight of bureaucracy. Even though a proportion of young people are looking forward to more transformation, the Crown Prince has nevertheless to deal with the reticence of some of the tribes and clerics.
In terms of foreign relations, the Kingdom has reversed its external policy, particularly toward the Egyptian neighbour, but remains directly involved in the political crisis in Yemen.
Last update: January 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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Governor Christie Conditionally Vetoes iGaming Bill: What About Poker?
Yesterday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie acted on the internet gambling bill sitting on his desk during the final moments of his forty-five day time-frame. He could have (i) taken no action, thus allowing the bill to become law, (ii) vetoed the bill, or (iii) conditionally vetoed the bill, recommending changes to the legislation that he would sign off on.
The Governor's conditional veto has apparently generated little, if any, initial opposition. State legislators and other interested parties believe the proposed changes are non-issues and that internet gambling in New Jersey is going to happen.
For a clear and concise read on the events surrounding the Governor's conditional veto, be sure to check out this piece at Online Poker Report. The "short answer" on what Governor Christie wants changed:
- Taxes at 15%, not 10%
- License fees roughly double
- NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement takes the reigns of online gambling
- Online gambling regulation "sunsets" (expires) after 10 years (though nothing prohibits the legislature from renewing)
- More funding for problem gambling initiatives, including an annual report wrt the impact of online gambling on problem gambling
Online Poker Report also delves into a "longer answer" on the changes. There are a couple in particular that raise some interesting questions.
Authorizing Online Poker in New Jersey
I came across this thread on the TwoPlusTwo forums. The original poster wondered whether online poker would be authorized under the Governor's proposed changes.
The conditional veto calls for this language to be deleted from the bill:
2. (New section) Any authorized game or authorized gambling game, as defined in section 5 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-5), that is authorized to be played in a casino may, with the approval of the division, be offered through Internet gaming.
And to be replaced with:
2. Section 5 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-5) is amended to read as follows:
"Authorized Game" or "Authorized Gambling Game" – Roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, big six wheel, slot machines, minibaccarat, red dog, paigow, and sic bo; any variations or composites of such games, provided that such variations or composites are found by the division suitable for use after an appropriate test or experimental period under such terms and conditions as the division may deem appropriate; and any other game which is determined by the division to be compatible with the public interest and to be suitable for casino use after such appropriate test or experimental period as the division may deem appropriate. "Authorized game" or "authorized gambling game" includes gaming tournaments in which 6 players compete against one another in one or more of the games authorized herein or by the division or in approved variations or composites thereof if the tournaments are authorized by the division. "Authorized game" or "Authorized gambling game" shall also include any game that the division may determine by regulation to be suitable for use for wagering through the Internet.
No, you don't see the word "poker" anywhere, although other games are listed. What, then, is the authority for permitting online poker under this legislation?
The language proposed in the original bill says the Division of Gaming Enforcement may approve for internet gaming any games only already authorized to be played at New Jersey casinos. Since poker is authorized for play in NJ casinos, then the division may approve it for internet gaming.
The Governor's proposed language (underlined portion above) takes a different approach. Instead, he wants the Division of Gaming Enforcement to decide pursuant to promulgated regulations the games that are suitable for internet gaming. From my reading, it appears that the division would not be limited to approving for internet gaming those games only already authorized for play in NJ casinos, but instead may approve for internet gaming any game the division so chooses.
The proposed change runs consistent with the Governor's conditional veto statement, which makes clear his goal to grant the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement "wide latitude and authority to establish a regulatory framework that provides for the most effective controls, monitoring, and supervision" of internet gaming.
What wouldn't surprise me is if the division takes a cautious approach with poker. Games not against the house (i.e. player-against-player) raise various unique issues, such as collusion, that require special attention and consideration.
Poker will be a part of internet gaming New Jersey. Governor Christie is just giving the division the apparently unilateral power to figure out how to bring the game—any games, for that matter—online in the state.
Pooling Liquidity
Another proposed change pointed out at Online Poker Report:
Page 32, Section 33, Line 47: Delete "an interstate compact" and insert "a reciprocal agreement"
The phrase "interstate compact" is found in section 33 of the bill:
33. (New section) Notwithstanding any other provision of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), wagers may be accepted thereunder from persons who are not physically present in this State if the Division of Gaming Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety determines that such wagering is not inconsistent with federal law or the law of the jurisdiction, including any foreign nation, in which any such person is located, or such wagering is conducted pursuant to an interstate compact to which this State is a party that is not inconsistent with federal law.
Interstate compacts are agreements entered into between two or more states. Under the U.S. Constitution, interstate compacts require congressional consent.
Perhaps the Governor is anticipating possible legal challenges to agreements entered into with other states for internet gaming. If the iGaming law acknowledges that the agreement is an "interstate compact," then the State is essentially admitting that the agreement is subject to Congressional approval under the compact clause. By labeling these possible future agreements as something else, the State at least leaves the question open as to whether the agreement is one subject to the compact clause.
With that said, is there any special significance with using the phrase "reciprocal agreement?" Perhaps. As fellow gaming attorney Bob Crawford noted on Twitter, it's possible that a reciprocal agreement would require other states to accept NJ players, but an interstate compact might not.
We should continue to think on this issue. As I've previously discussed, how states seek to pool virtual liquidity may prove critical on how the internet gaming market thrives in the United States.
In the meantime, NJ Assemblyman John Amodeo said he is working "to get these [proposed amendments] passed by the Legislature as soon as possible and back onto the Governor's desk for consideration."
Yesterday's conditional veto was a very significant step along the path towards regulated internet gambling in the United States.


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Actor Samuel L. Jackson hit "The Tonight Show" Tuesday and performed slam poetry about the television series "Boy Meets World" before talking about his Twitter account and the Marvel Comics Mafia.
For his poetry spot, Jackson stood at a mic while smoking a fake cigarette and sprouted lines about the '90s sitcom like: "Topanga, Topanga, Topanga, beats the heart of Corey, a story as old as time. Daughter of hippies, name of a gypsy, Topanga! Cory cried."
"That was fantastic," Fallon said when Jackson joined him at the desk post reading. "Thank you for doing that. Are you a fan of 'Boy Meets World'?"
"Uh, no. I don't think I've ever seen one single episode of that show," Jackson said. "I was Googling last night like what? So I just let it go and flew with it.
Fallon chatted briefly with the "Captain America" star about his past Broadway experience and how Jackson's wife LaTanya Richardson is currently appearing on stage in New York.
"Well somebody's gotta be out there there making movies and stuff so it's her turn," Jackson said. "She's doing 'A Raisin in the Sun' with Denzel Washington."
"Brand new actor, you guys look out for him, he's really talented," Fallon quipped.
"He's got a shot at being something," Jackson joked.
Talk turned to Jackson's lively Twitter account that has amassed almost 3.5 million followers. Back in 2011 on "Late Night," Fallon helped Jackson send his very first tweet (which was, unsurprisingly, profane).
Fallon also mentioned that Jackson once tweeted a picture of himself wearing a shirt that read "I'm Not Laurence Fishburne," referring to an awkward exchange the actor had with a Los Angeles news anchor who confused the two stars.
"I had to stop and think, 'was I in a Superbowl commercial?'" Jackson said.
Fallon moved on to the topic of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," in which Jackson stars as Nick Fury. Also in the movie as Captain America is Chris Evans, who hilariously avoided discussing the movie's plot during his recent appearance on the "Tonight Show."
"He tried to explain the movie for three minutes and I had no idea what the heck he was talking about," Fallon said. "He was very vague and I guess Marvel doesn't want him to say what the movie is about?"
"We do have issues with that cause they'll kill us or just replace us with people that look like us and nobody will know that we're not there anymore," Jackson said.
"Next thing you know Laurence Fishburne as Nick Fury," Fallon said.
Watch the slam poetry performance above. You can also view some of the interview below.


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CAMP LEJEUNE, NC (WWAY/WCTI) — The "all clear" has been given aboard Camp Lejeune following Thursday morning's bomb threats.
A base officials confirmed the "all clear" was issued around 10 a.m. No threats were found aboard base. The Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, where the bomb threats were called into, have been reopened. The official confirmed all business is back to normal in the area.
This all followed the alert posted at 8:29 a.m. to Camp Lejeune's Facebook page:
"BASE ALERT: Camp Lejeune PMO is currently working an incident in the area of the mainside Exchange/Commissary. All personnel are advised to avoid the area at this time."
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Camp Lejeune Public Affairs Director Nat Fahy confirmed the incident was two bomb threats at separate locations aboard base. The first bomb threat was called in to the Starbucks and the second was to the Dunkin Donuts. Fahy said the threats are currently being investigated and bomb-detection crews are still on scene. The area is still under evacuation.


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1. Do you feel Bella's fears for Jacob and the pack being involved in the fight are reasonable?
Sure, sure
2. The wolf pack has grown in number. Who did you suspect the new werewolves were?
No idea... except all through the books, I really expected Billy Black to become a werewolf.
3. How did you think the wolves and vampires would manage to work together? What about Jacob and Edward's cooperation for Bella's safety?
I thought they'd manage. It would be challanging. I love that the boys cooperated for Bella's safety! I looked forward to every part of this. I just loved every moment.
4. What were you thinking as you read about Jasper's exercises with his siblings?
Honestly, every time we get any bit of Jaspers envolvment, I like him as a character more. I really feel like he is a wall flower. I don't get how everyone loves Jasper so much. It's just recently I've understood and cared about him. Before that I just loved saying and reading the word Jasper.
5. What did you predict Bella's reaction would be to Jacob in wolf form? Were you surprised?
Bella has already seen Jacob in his wolf form, so I would not her to react any differently. Bella does not get all that shook up by differances in people. I only think Bella was surprised to see Jacob half nakid because he had a good body and she wasn't used to seeing it.


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So then, last week I upgraded to the new version of Zone Alarm Security Suite (version 10.0.246.000) on my Windows XP system. I would add also that I used the clean install method. Since that moment, I have had problems running uTorrent. Specifically, the download speeds are miniscule and the program gradually becomes more and more unresponsive (ie I might click on a menu for it to only appear a minute later). Bringing up the task manager on these occasions has confirmed that it is the process 'vsmon.exe' that is hogging 100 percent of my computer's CPU. As soon as I turn off uTorrent, vsmon calms down again.
I would love to hear from anyone who has experienced this problem or knows of a workaround for it, because the problem is severely limiting my computer's functionality!


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I'm trying to hide fields when I reopen a form and of course it works in all browsers except IE6. Why do I even care about IE6? I mean it's 2012! Unfortunately, that's what the client wants and has paid extra to get it to work there.
Anyways, I hide a section of a table (using jquery selectors on tbody elements) when I open the form in a dialog window. I have verified in both IE6 and other browsers that the elements needing to be hidden both have the style="display: none;" attribute. All browsers except IE6 properly hide these elements. IE6 waits until you hover over them or change screens to refresh the view and properly hide the elements. It does not partially hide the elements I am trying to hide. Even when I hover, the entire element that needs to be hidden disappears.
I tried a little hack by using .focus() on one of the hidden elements on the form, then immediately changing focus back to where it needs to be at the start of the form. This solves the issue of having to hover over any content to hide it, but is not quick enough to not see the hidden content for about a second. I know this is not a computer speed issue for me (I have 4 GB of RAM).
Can you provide a link to the page that exhibits this behavior. I did a search on google for "jquery ie6 hide()" and all problems seem to stem from an id attribute being used multiple times, which is invalid.
I'm pretty certain there are no duplicate ids being used. I can't provide a link. Sorry. I know that limits the ability to fix the problem. I'll work on getting something helpful up.
It looks like my best option is to just use my little focus hack. Thanks anyways.
If you run http://jsfiddle.net/cpradio/C2STc/ in IE 6 (sorry, i don't have access to IE 6), does it hide the paragraph?
So the hide function works fine in 1.7.2 of jQuery, what version are you using?
1.3.2, that could be the problem... when I upgraded to 1.7.1, it acted exactly the same as my focus hack without my hack in place, except I get a runtime bug (Can't move focus to the control because it is invisible, not enabled, or of a type that does not accept the focus) when editing a form item (repopulating a form the user already filled out)
I could understand the error if the field was hidden and you were still trying to set focus to it or setting a property on it. But the field is visible and you are getting the error?
Yes, the field is visible.
For the field that gives the error, are you absolutely certain there isn't a second element on the page with that same id? One that may still be not-visible.
100% positive
hmm... well, I'm at a lost. Not sure why you would be getting that error if the field is visible (it isn't disabled, is it (though that shouldn't matter...)?)
thanks for trying.
Could you please post snippets of your HTML and JavaScript as without debugging the issue is impossible as the hide method works perfectly fine in IE6, to me it sounds like a markup issue in your HTML.


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text:
February 10, 2010
Summit's NEW Movie With Anna & Bryce...
8 comments:
I love how Seth Rogan gets to work with some of the hottest stars. How being funny & average or above average doesn't work in real life for women?ReplyDelete
I love Seth Rogan, he's so funny XDReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 10, 2010 at 1:58 AM
Seth rogan is def. Halarious... this shld be good!ReplyDelete
Seth is a very funny actor, but is this a drama or a comedy? He can be a serious actor too.ReplyDelete
- Tay+LynFebruary 10, 2010 at 3:11 AM
oh my god Seth Rogan is my husband!!! (In alist of about 10 other husbands...including taylor...and johnny depp....and caleb followil...haha)ReplyDelete
But seriously, Ive watched Pineapple Express about 50 times. No joke.
mathecin:"Wanna wear my vest? smells good"
other dude: "Its not my style"
mathecin: "You aint got no style mutha f&%ka"
ahahahahaha... good times.
Whoa! I LOVE James! Seth is a major cutie! And then Anne and Bryce? WAY Coool!ReplyDelete
I want Anne's top!
Such a pretty feminine blouse!
- AnonymousFebruary 12, 2010 at 12:43 AM
AND they are filming in Vancouver!!!!! The ladies will feel right at home in my fair city of Vancouver. They begin filming after the Winter Olympics have ended!ReplyDelete


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This article appeared in the Sept. 29 gameday magazine. Click here to view the complete magazine.
Jamaicans, known for their colorful nature and positive outlook, are smiling even more these days. After track stars Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce dominated London's Summer Olympics in August, their soccer team orchestrated Jamaica's first win over the United States in September. The win snapped a string of 18 matches without a win over the United States and continued a historic summer for the island nation, which also celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain
Two Dynamo players, midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson and defender Jermaine Taylor, were both in the starting lineup in Kingston on Sept. 7 for the 2014 World Cup qualifying match between Jamaica and the United States. The Reggae Boyz fell behind in the first minute of the game on Clint Dempsey's goal, but rallied in front of their raucous fans at National Stadium, and earned a deserved 2-1 win behind two free kicks goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton.
"After Dempsey scored on us early, we just grouped together and said 'If we don't beat the United States tonight, we are never going to beat them,'" recalls Watson.
For Watson and Taylor, it was the brightest moment in the unique competitive experience of vying for a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil against their Dynamo teammates. As the Dynamo tandem helped Jamaica defeat the United States and former Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron, teammates Andre Hainault (Canada) and Boniek Garcia (Honduras) helped their national teams in their quest for a place in Brazil.
"Before the game, everybody just put their hands and hearts together and we went out there and played hard and tackled hard," said Watson of Jamaica's historic 2-1 win over the U.S. "Everyone was celebrating after the game like we just won the World Cup because it was the first time we ever beat the United States."
Watson, 28, signed with the Dynamo in April 2011 after completing a successful preseason trial. The versatile midfielder has contributed in various positions across the midfield in his two years with Houston, adding depth to a loaded group of midfielders. Although Watson has only seen action in 18 regular season games this season, the Jamaican midfielder has contributed to the Dynamo's strong start in the CONCACAF Champions League, starting all three matches and providing an insurance goal in the August 22 win over C.D. FAS.
The Jamaican has relished the Dynamo's never-say-die mentality and its willingness to play hard until the end, a quality he shared with his teammates after falling behind in the first minute of the September 7 qualifier.
"The game reminded me of playing for the Dynamo," said Watson. "After Dempsey scored, I was encouraging my teammates, telling them, 'Come on, come on…' and that is something that I've learned from the Houston Dynamo. This team, even if we are three goals down, never gives up until the final whistle."
The rivalry waged between Jamaica and the United States at the track within London's Olympic Stadium seemed to linger on the island ahead of the September qualifier. With the teams set for a rematch in Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 11, the Jamaicans knew how important a win at home could be for their World Cup hopes.
"After the rivalry between Jamaica and the United States in track and field at the Olympics this summer, with Bolt, Tyson Gay, Blake and all of the sprinters, it felt like they brought the Olympics to that soccer game," Watson recalls. "Everybody told us that the U.S. couldn't come to Jamaica and win after we dominated them at the Olympics. We couldn't allow them to beat us in Jamaica."
Part of the urge to avoid defeat at home was the harsh realization of near-certain trouble on the road. The Americans earned a 1-0 win in Columbus, making the win in Kingston seem more valuable. With the crucial three points secured at home, Jamaica is still in position to advance in qualifying.
Jamaica and the United States are tied for first place in Group 1, along with Guatemala, with seven points each and two games remaining in this qualifying stage. In Group 3, Canada and Honduras are tied for second with seven points, trailing Panama (nine points). The top two teams from each group advance to a six-team final round, in which the top three nations secure a place at the 2014 World Cup and the fourth place finisher advances to a playoff.
Regardless of the outcome of Jamaica's quest to qualify for Brazil, the night the Reggae Boyz beat the U.S. at The Office, as their national stadium is named, will never be forgotten. The stadium, known for its Bob Marley statue outside its gates and a cacophony of noise within, strengthened its reputation on the triumphant night.
"After the win, it was crazy in the stadium," said Watson. "I don't know how all the fans made it onto the field. It was something I have never experienced before. It felt like we had just won the World Cup."
The current Jamaican team has drawn comparisons to the 1998 squad, the only Jamaican team that has reached a World Cup, partially due to current national team head coach Theodore Whitmore's role on the team. Jamaica was defeated in the first round in 1998, but it earned a 2-1 win over Japan with Whitmore providing both goals.
"Everybody in Jamaica says the 1998 team was better," says Watson. "But the coach now (Whitmore), he played on that team and scored two goals against Japan. He is always telling us, this is a better team than the 1998 team. We just have to believe we can make it."
Jamaica continues its World Cup journey on Oct. 12, with a vital road test at Guatemala, where a positive result could lead to a celebration four days later, when it hosts Antigua & Barbuda in the final game of this round. Watson is confident the team will be prepared for the challenging test of a road game in Guatemala City.
"We have a good group of guys," says Watson. "After losing to the U.S. in Columbus, our team got together and said we have to go to Guatemala and get a win or a draw. The guys are ready."


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Help a kid, give a coatWritten by Admin
- font size decrease font size increase font size
The final day to donate "Coats for Kids" through the Cullowhee United Methodist Church and Cullowhee Valley Elementary School is Monday, Oct. 31.
Donations of good-condition used or new warm clothing, hats, gloves, shoes and coats can be dropped off at sponsoring locations.
Underwear and sock donations should be new and in original packaging (in sizes newborn-18 or XS- XL).
"Coats for Kids" Distribution Day will be Saturday, Nov. 5, at Cullowhee United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Parents or guardians will need to be physically present with their children in order to receive items.
Monetary gifts can be sent to Cullowhee United Methodist Church, PO Box 1267, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Please write on the memo line: "Coats for Kids."


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In a First, Interchange Gained Federal Regulation
This year saw a regulation capping the interchange card issuers were able to earn on a debit card transaction come into effect for the first time in history.
Passed and signed into law in 2010, the legislation mandating the cap, colloquially known for its chief sponsor, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), had been included relatively late in the process of drafting the Dodd-Frank package of financial industry regulatory reforms. Controversial from the start, the amendment mandated that debit card issuers of more than $10 billion in assets would have to live under the cap while those under $10 billion, including all but three credit unions, would be exempt from the cap.
In practice this meant that card processors needed to adopt two different debit interchange schedules, which they did, but also brought what critics called excessive pressure on credit union debit interchange. A dual interchange system, critics charged, would not be sustainable over the long run and credit unions and smaller banks would only see their debit interchange fall over time to the same level as those institutions living under the cap.
While this might still happen over time, the immediate consequence of the interchange cap was to help further differentiate credit unions from larger banks as the banks began to either cut back on free checking or charge fees on debit cards. Credit unions, generally, declined to do either.
Even two of the three credit unions that are subject to the cap, the 3.8 million-member, $44.4 billion Navy Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Vienna, Va.; the 1.6 million-member, $23 billion State Employees' Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C.; and the 1 million-member, $15.1 billion Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Alexandria, Va., reported they would not add any additional fees to their checking or debit programs, though they said they would take an income hit from the cap.
Consumers reacted strongly to the banks' moves to recapture debit interchange income, objecting particularly vociferously to Bank of America's plans to charge a $5 monthly fee for the use of its debit card. Eventually, these consumer objections coalesced into a national movement, Bank Transfer Day.
But even as credit unions wrestled with how to welcome new members' fleeing higher debit fees, they also had to prepare their own debit programs for the new rules. Although most credit unions were exempt from the interchange cap, they were not exempt from the rules about having a minimum of two unrelated debit processing networks on each of their cards. In practice this meant that some credit unions had to take bids from new processors to add another network to their programs while others had to sort through several networks and decide which ones to drop. In general, card consultants advised CUs to limit the number of debit networks they carried in order to make it more difficult for retailers to lower the debit interchange.
Consultants also urged credit unions to improve the monitoring of their debit card interchange so that they would be able to measure the impact of the cap, if any. Currently, many credit unions lack a basic understanding of their debit interchange and would be unable to detect any potential loss.
One worry that has not yet been realized has been the concern that retailers might act to steer consumers away from CU-issued debit cards because of their higher interchange fees, but one California credit union that raised the possibility of such steering found its concerns did not pan out.
Robert York, CEO of the 13,000-member, $108 million California Bear Credit Union, Los Angeles, wrote an email on Nov. 18 to other California credit union CEOs reporting that some of the CU's members and employees had reported difficulty using their CU-issued debit cards. He said some retailers appeared to want them to use cards issued by larger banks.
York sent the email to see if any other CUs had seen the same thing and reported that California Bear had received no positive responses. Further, one of the retailers named in his original email, the Regal Entertainment Group, parent company of Regal Cinemas, denied outright that it had been trying to influence debit card choice.
"Our policy is to accept any and all payment cards–regardless of issuer," said David Ownby, chief financial officer at the Regal Entertainment Group. He also denied the company had a policy about refusing debit cards based on their date of re-issuance.
The other retailer York mentioned in the email, LA Fitness, a chain of fitness and health centers, did not respond for comment about the question.
Craig Shearman, vice president of government relations for the National Retail Federation, declined to comment on the specifics of York's email but pointed out that card economics made the allegations doubtful.
"Most consumers might have a number of different credit cards in their wallets or purses but usually only one debit card," he remarked. "So if a retailer was going to try to steer a transaction to a different card that would most likely be a credit card where the swipe fees are higher."
But while the interchange cap's direct impact on CUs, at least in 2011, appeared limited, the cap already has begun to reverse some of the progress the payment industry made in getting consumers to pay more often with cards than cash.
According to media reports, merchants like coffee shops, newsstands, vending machine deployers and others have started trying to find ways to get consumers to pay with cash rather than debit cards after card processors eliminated the interchange discounts they had offered on transactions of less than $10.
The loss of the discounts has meant that interchange on transactions of below $10 has sometimes jumped from 2-3% to almost 21%, which is the regulatory mandated debit interchange cap. This has led to merchants offering discounts for consumers who pay in cash or, in some cases, deciding to only take cash.
Should the trend continue, it will represent the most recent and obvious reversal of a tendency to move payments steadily further away from cash and onto cards. In the last five years, the ability to pay by debit card has appeared in the fast food industry, the taxi industry and in vending machine sales.
CFPB Tackled Many Issues
Though it lacks a permanent director, that hasn't prevented the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from tackling a range of issues–from credit card disclosures to mortgage forms–during its first months of operation.
The bureau, an independent agency housed inside the Federal Reserve that began operating on July 21, received considerable attention when it announced an agreement with Pentagon FCU to test a simplified credit card form. The form is approximately 1,100 words, compared with the average form which is 5,500 words.
It contains information such as interest rates, the costs of balance transfers and cash advances, and explains how interest rates are calculated. The form is also on the bureau's web site and the public can comment on it and make suggestions.
The form is part of the bureau's Know Before You Owe, program, designed to give consumers extensive information about the cost of obtaining credit.
Pentagon FCU is one of three credit unions–the other two are Navy Federal CU and State Employees of North Carolina CU–that because they have assets of greater than $10 billion are subject to the direct oversight of the CFPB on consumer protection matters. The bureau's regulations are applicable to all credit unions but the enforcement for most is handled by their safety and soundness regulator.
Credit card regulation will be a large part of the bureau's work. During its first three months of operation, the CFPB said it had received 5,074 complaints about credit. Of those, 13% were related to billing disputes, 11% concerned APRs and interest rates, and 10.8% were related to identity theft, fraud and embezzlement.
Another part of the bureau's Know Before You Owe, program is its work in combining the mortgage disclosure forms required under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. The bureau is seeking input on the content of the form, and the agency has done focus groups in different parts of the country to help it further fine tune the form.
The CFPB, which was created by the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul bill, is responsible for enforcing all or part of 14 consumer protection laws. The laws include the Consumer Leasing Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Truth in Lending Act.
Until it has a permanent director, the agency can revise existing regulations but can't issue new ones. It also can't regulate non-bank entities such as payday lenders and mortgage companies.
In December, the CFPB began a 90-day comment period to solicit input on ways to change the rules it enforces so as to make it easier for banks, credit unions and others to follow the rules.
President Obama has nominated former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to run the agency but his confirmation has been blocked by Senate Republicans. They have vowed to prevent the approval of any head of the agency until there are structural changes to the agency, including having it run by a five-person board, rather than by a single director.


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Summaries of EU Legislation
Summaries of EU legislation: direct access to the main summaries page.
Use of security scanners at EU airports
The use of security scanners at European Union (EU) airports is currently regulated at a national level. This communication examines a harmonised approach to the use of security scanners and discusses the key issues and concerns associated with their introduction as a measure for screening persons at EU airports. Differing standards within the EU risks fragmenting the fundamental rights of EU citizens, impeding their rights of free movement and escalating their health concerns related to new security technologies.
Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 15 June 2010 on the Use of Security Scanners at EU airports [COM(2010) 311 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
The aim of European Union (EU) policy on aviation security is to protect persons and goods from acts of unlawful interference to civil aviation. Following the attacks of 11 September 2001 the EU established a common aviation security framework. One of its key elements is that every passenger and every piece of luggage or cargo departing from an EU airport must be screened or otherwise controlled in order to ensure that no prohibited article is being brought into security restricted areas of airports and on board aircraft. Over the past years civil aviation has been facing new types of threats, as shown more recently by the attempted terrorist attack of 25 December 2009 involving explosives concealed on a passenger on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, against which the traditional security technologies currently deployed at airports are not fully effective.
Concerns related to the use of security scanners
Over the past years, the concerns raised on the use of security scanners predominantly relate to the creation of body images and the use of X-ray (ionising) radiation. These concerns have initiated a fierce debate on the compliance of security scanners with EU fundamental rights and public health principles. Fundamental rights are primarily protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Any adoption of measures restricting these rights must be justified for reasons of general public interest (in this instance aviation security) and must respect the principles of necessity, legality and proportionality. In relation to the deployment of security scanners, concerns have been raised as regards the possible impact on human dignity, privacy and protection of personal data, religious beliefs and non-discrimination. With regards to health concerns, the EU legislation and the Euratom Treaty set principles and thresholds for radiation doses. In particular, the Euratom legislation requires legitimate justification for human exposure to X-ray radiation. Since the effects of X-ray radiation on health are well known, limited exposure of human beings to X-ray radiation for medical and non-medical use must be in compliance with EU legislation principles. Today security scanner technologies exist that neither produce full body images nor emit ionising radiation.
Currently, under the EU legal framework for aviation security, EU countries must choose from a given list which methods and technologies they use to screen persons. The existing legislation does not allow airports to systematically replace any of the recognised screening methods and technologies with security scanners. A decision from the Commission, supported by EU countries and the European Parliament, is needed to allow security scanners to be considered a method to screen persons for aviation security purposes. EU countries may, however, introduce security scanners for temporary airport trials or as a more stringent security measure than existing EU legislation requires. At the time of this communication, security scanners are known to have been tested in Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.
Security scanners alone, like any other single security measure, cannot completely guarantee aviation security. Nevertheless, on-going tests have demonstrated that security scanners can improve the quality of security controls at EU airports. They could significantly increase the detection capacity of prohibited items such as liquid or plastic explosives which cannot be detected by walk-through metal detectors. Only a common EU approach to the use of security scanners would legally guarantee uniform application of security rules and standards in all EU airports. This is essential to ensure both the highest level of aviation security as well as the best possible protection of EU citizens' fundamental rights and health.
In 2008, the Commission proposed a draft regulation with basic screening requirements which provided a list of recognised screening methods and technologies, including security scanners. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the impact of aviation security measures and body scanners on human rights, privacy, personal dignity and data protection, requesting a more in-depth assessment of the situation. The Commission agreed to review these matters further and withdrew security scanners from its original legislative proposal. The draft legislation became Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009.
The Commission will decide next steps to take, including whether or not to propose an EU legal framework on the use of security scanners at EU airports, following an impact assessment further analysing the possible impact of the deployment of security scanners on fundamental rights and health and in the light of the outcome of discussions with the European Parliament.
Last updated: 18.01.2011


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Read the full story here Web Link posted Sunday, October 7, 2012, 2:01 PM
Town Square
Students report better mental health
Original post made on Oct 8, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Sunday, October 7, 2012, 2:01 PM
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Oct 8, 2012 at 8:24 am
While this Weekly article seems to be focusing on student "Mental Health", the details of the report focus heavily on student drug use--which could be as high as 35% of the student body, if Seniors had been included in the survey.
The following letter has been sent to both the School Board, and the City Council, identifying the drug-related data:
Web Link
The letter requests that the PAUSD Board of Trustees pass a Resolution opposing Measure C, based on the hard data staring them in the face that demonstrates a very unhealthy use of drugs by far too many students.
a resident of Gunn High School
on Oct 8, 2012 at 10:43 am
Wayne - why didn't you use the data from Paly in your letter since the article states that Paly had a higher level of substance abuse? It seems like your group is on a serious war-path for Gunn these days and it's very troubling.
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Oct 8, 2012 at 10:54 am
> It seems like your group is on a serious war-path
> for Gunn these days and it's very troubling.
And what group would that be? I am not associated with any group. This letter was submitted because I am a resident, and a concerned citizen.
As to not using the Paly data..I took Gunn since it was supposed to be the more "troubled" school. Getting the data out of the .pdf files into .xls format takes some time, and I didn't want to spend another hour, or so, going through the Paly data..which more-or-less reflects the Gunn data. I requested the PAUSD to do a full comparison in my letter, so that everyone could see the drug-use data for the two schools in a side-by-side comparison.
While the demographics between Paly and Gunn are a little different, they are more similar than different, in the long run.
a resident of Gunn High School
on Oct 8, 2012 at 11:46 am
Sorry, I thought you were associated with WCDB. I apologize.
I understand using only one set of data, but obviously Gunn is not the more "troubled" school as this article points out. It's time to get the facts out there and have this community realize that Paly is just as "troubled" if not more, than Gunn.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Oct 8, 2012 at 11:47 am
On the topic of mental health, there's a big difference between Gunn & Paly on the question: "Outside of my home and school, there is a
teacher or some other adult…who notices when I am upset about something." Nearly 30% of Gunn students disagreed with this compared to 15% of Paly students.
Though, apart from the above question, the results for outside of school support are good for both schools.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 8, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Substance abuse is rampant in both schools and this could be caused in part by parents who are checked out and into their own drugs. It is time that we start looking at the modeling we are doing for our students. The kids get their drugs at school whereas the parents get their drugs from their doctors in the form of pain med scrips and the liquor store in the form of booze. We all need to work together to reduce or eliminate the abuse of mind altering drugs amongst our students. One thing that would really help is if the parents would get out of their denial and into recovery themselves. These parents would also be much more available to their students as a touch point when they are having difficulties.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Oct 8, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Thanks "details" for highlighting the fact that students at Gunn are twice as likely to lack that close relationship with a teacher, counselor or other adult as students at Paly. When can we stop the politics and help the kids. Stop stalling and bring TA to Gunn. It's been 20 years, time enough.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Oct 8, 2012 at 5:45 pm
TA, while TA at Gunn may be the way to go, the data referenced talked about connectedness outside of home or school. TA wouldn't change that. Gunn students need more opportunity to engage with the community.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 8, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Substance abuse has always been prevalent at high pressure schools. Look at Saratoga High, Menlo School, St. Francis, and Castilleja as well as Paly and Gunn. As a former riding instructor and foster parent, I have had students and foster kids from all of these schools. One of my foster kids had been busted for selling ecstasy to Castilleja and Paly kids ten years ago!
I have studied much about European schools, and the ones that stand out are in Germany and Finland, where through similar experiences to America's, they learned about ten years ago to tone down the pressure, give more breaks between classes, encourage more physical activity, and cut homework loads drastically. Of course, the school day in most of Europe is longer than ours, as is the school year, but the kids do more school work in school and usually have no more than thirty minutes a day of homework. They actually have time for a life after school!
They also have far higher test scores--Finland's are the highest in the world-- far, far, far less substance abuse, far lower delinquency rates, fewer teen suicides, almost no dropouts, and way more college graduates and holders of graduate degrees.
The numbers and statistics speak for themselves.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Oct 8, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Interesting that people are pointing to this data and demanding that TA be brought to Gunn (not sure if it should or shouldn't) when the data in table A3.1 says that:
At Gunn -
30% of 9th graders score high in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
40% of 11th graders score high in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
61% of 9th graders score Moderate in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
58% of 11th graders score Moderate in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
While at Paly
39% of 9th graders score high in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
39% of 11th graders score high in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
57% of 9th graders score Moderate in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
56% of 11th graders score Moderate in "Caring Adult Relationships in the School Environment"
This says to me that they are pretty even in terms of connectedness to an adult on campus by the time they are in 11th grade. It is interesting that there is growth in the percent that feel connected at Gunn, but not at Paly. It may be that the 9th grade TA program at Paly works well at providing that connectedness. Since Gunn is revamping their Titan 101 program for freshmen it will be interesting to see these numbers next year.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Oct 8, 2012 at 6:52 pm
It's not just freshman, it's sophomores too. Both see their counselors for one brief annual meeting per year if that. Many sophomores have not met their counselors ever by mid-year.
Agree with "devil" that this is a question about teachers outside of school -- my point is that if Gunn students are lacking these relationships outside of school that is all the more reason to give them to them inside school. If they need those connections we should give them to them. If they are twice as likely to lack them (probably due to the comparative lack of athletic participation between Gunn and Paly?) then TA will help. It sure won't hurt. And it will help with that 10% point difference for frosh and soph students as well.
Oh, those are the ones that Dr. Skelly says he doesn't care if they ever see a counselor, I forgot.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Oct 8, 2012 at 8:47 pm
The data I reported was "School Environment". The other data reported by someone else was about outside school relationships. This survey was only given to 9th and 11th graders. It was not given to sophomores. Again, not sure if TA at Gunn is the right way to go or not, but I really feel people need to analyze things fairly and not just pick and choose the data that best suits their opinion.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 9, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Jan H. is a registered user.
I do know that I will not vote for Ken Dauber if he supports TA.
a resident of Downtown North
on Jun 5, 2017 at 5:12 pm
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?


text: is being held next weekend (May 17-20) at the Springwater Conservation Area near St. Thomas and Aylmer, 3 km south of Orwell on Hwy 3 (N 42.750230 W 081.03331O). Our rally will have live entertainment, prizes, a chance to win a motorcycle jacket, two meals, hot showers, campfire, prizes and a very relaxed atmosphere. Weather should be great. Come out for the your first rally of the season. Our servers, do their best to entertain! More information can be found under the Calendar heading. Hope to see you next weekend!


text:
10 time UK champ
3Lz - opened into 2.5Lz
3F - strong
3T - step out
deathdrop backsit - okay
2F step out 2T
3T-2T-2T - good bounce back
2A-2A SEQ - step out of 2nd 2A
Straight line step - started slow but picked up a bit of speed in the middle, slipped at the end.
laybay, catchfoot spin
Struggled to finish, fatigue?
75.77, 6th (last?) place


text:
Dr. Banks was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Earl and Lorraine Mae Waid Banks; and a stepson, Kerry Diggs.
He is survived by his wife, Millie Banks; his sister, Jerry Banks Williams of Nashville; his daughter, Kelle Jo Banks Barfield of Vicksburg, Miss.; two sons, Eric Charles Banks of New York City and John Gregory Banks of Liberty Township, Ohio; a stepson, Kenneth Edwin Sharp Jr. of Vicksburg; and 10 grandchildren, A.D. Barfield IV, Allie Barfield, Waid Barfield, Brayden Banks, Hall Banks, Kathryn Banks, John Banks, Maggie Banks, Olivia Sharp and Jacob Diggs.
Dr. Banks was born on March 17, 1940, in Dardenelle, and graduated valedictorian and class president of Russellville High School. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a doctorate of philosophy in civil engineering from the University of Illinois. He began a 35-year career at then U.S. Army Corps Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg in 1962, where he went on to become chief of Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics Division and later chief of Soil and Rock Mechanics Division, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory.
Dr. Banks was named a fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Rock Mechanics Association. In 2012 he was admitted to the WES Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees for projects including Panama Canal stability surveillance, development of computer code capable of predicting behavior of soil, rock and groundwater, perfection of discontinuous deformation analysis computer modeling, and a study of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' ability to build a permanent moon habitat. After retirement, he continued his civil service to the United States as a contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense specializing in military applications of rock mechanics. He was also an international contributor to the field of rock mechanics, including co-authoring a book on rock-based construction and offering global instruction and mentoring for Engineers Without Borders. He authored or co-authored some 40 reports and papers throughout his career, the last in 2011, which he presented at Hindu Kush Geoscience Conference at Kabul University, Afghanistan. His leadership resulted in the Corps being recognized as pre-eminent in the field of rock mechanics.
One of Dr. Banks' greatest joys was having lengthy debates about all things possible. Every subject was worthy of his passion, and every theory deserved greater exploration; he was always mid-sentence. While humble, Dr. Banks inspired greatness through his own achievements and keen, insatiable curiosity. He instilled a drive for educational excellence, especially in his children and grandchildren. To him, no part of the world was inaccessible and no idea was unachievable.
A memorial service will be arranged at a later time.
Memorials may be made to an endowed Dr. Don C. Banks Civil Engineering Scholarship by making gifts to the Georgia Tech Foundation Inc., 760 Spring Street NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308, noting in memory of Dr. Don C. Banks. Scholarship committee meetings will be conducted at The Varsity in Atlanta.


text:
Johnson County's Commissioners, at their last meeting, heard an update from those interested in building an indoor shooting range in Buffalo.
Organizers for the "Johnson County Indoor Shooting Complex" said they are now ready to file their Articles Of Incorporation with the state and file paperwork with the IRS to be recognized as a non-profit organization.
What they are seeking from the county is a piece of land to house their building. Although they don't have the money to build the complex in-hand, co-organizer Mike Mestemaker said the money has been earmarked by the National Rifle Association for the complex once they are a tad more organized.
He explains further.
The group is not seeking monetary help from the county, only a place to locate the complex, either at the fairgrounds or at their preferred location near the airport.
The commissioners suggested the group speak with the Airport Board to get their opinion on the matter, and to work with County Attorney Ken DeCock to work out details and bring their proposal to the next commission meeting October 16th for their consideration.


text:
"The Daily" is the new "Portfolio."
That is, News Corp.'s iPad-only newspaper is the closest thing we've seen to Condé Nast's glitzy business magazine, which launched with much hype and flamed out during the financial crisis a couple of years ago.
They both started with a reasonable premise but ultimately failed to deliver. They both had tremendous resources from their giant parent company that an entrepreneur would kill for. They both had big staffs with marquee names.
And like Portfolio, we expect The Daily to be disbanded, before too long.
The biggest problem is that The Daily still hasn't given us a reason to read it, whether through interesting stories, great writing, or captivating production. (Nevermind The Daily's well-documented technology problems -- perhaps the WSJ or New York Post can use some of the iPad app or server code.)
We think we're the target audience. But we still have no drive to ever open the app -- let alone pay the $0.99 per week that they want from us, now that the free trial is over.
It is very hard to build an audience from scratch -- we get that. But it's even harder to justify a huge, expensive project with a small audience than if it were a scrappy, bootstrapped project.
So vote in our poll below -- when will Murdoch pull the plug?


text:
HOUSTON - Several downtown Houston streets will be closed for the annual Holiday Parade.
The 63rd annual Holiday Parade, presented by HEB, will start on Texas Avenue at Crawford at 9 a.m. Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the parade route.
Floats will wander down Congress and San Jacinto before ending on Walker at Caroline. (For the parade route, click here.)
The following downtown streets will close for the route.
- Crawford between Texas and Congress beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m.
- Hamilton, Chartres, St. Emanuel between Texas and Congress beginning Thursday at 7 a.m.
- Texas between Hamilton and Crawford Wednesday at 7 p.m.
- Texas between Bastrop and Hamilton Thursday at 7 a.m.
Check Traffic Now:
- Houston TranStar Real-Time Traffic Map
- Traffic Pulse Real-Time Traffic Map
- Traffic Section
- Jennifer Reyna's Traffic Blog
- Houston TranStar
- Gas Price Calculator
- Texas Dept. of Transportation Website or call 800-452-9292
- Harris County Office of Emergency Management Website
Check Construction Information:
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Harry Potter Symphonic SuiteJohn Williams/arr. Smith - Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
What a combination! ĀThe artistic strengths of John Williams and Robert W. Smith combine to create a simply marvelous symphonic medley of music from the hit movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!" ĀThe vivid imagery of the film is woven into the varied textures of the work. ĀYou don't have to be a wizard to know this is music the audience will love to hear! Ā
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text:
One of the houses damaged in the deadly East Haven, Conn., airplane crash earlier this month was demolished Thursday morning.
The house at 68 Charter Oak Avenue was one of two that were destroyed when a small propeller-driven plane crashed on approach to Tweed-New Haven Airport on the morning of August 9.
The house was demolished on Thursday and all that remains is a pile of rubble.
Four people were killed in the plane crash, including sisters Sade Brantley, 13, and Madisyn Mitchell, 1, who were both in one of the two homes struck.
William Henningsgard, of Medina, Washington, was operating the plane and his 17-year-old son, Maxwell, was a passenger, according to officials. Both were also killed.
The Cherry Hill Construction Company demolished 64 Charter Oak Avenue.
Mayor Joseph Maturo said on Wednesday that the company had the demolition permits.
Environmental testing was completed on the property late last week and the State Health Department, along with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and local utilities, gave the necessary clearances.
The house at 64 Charter Oak Avenue is the one that was directly hit by the plane and officials have not said when it will be demolished.
Maturo said the town is working with the insurance company to facilitate the demolition of that property "in the coming days."
"Environmental concerns from the jet fuel deposited on 64 Charter Oak Avenue have made the process of demolishing that property a bit more complex than the one being taken down tomorrow. Nevertheless, the Town has indicated to the insurance company handling the matter that if the home is not taken down expeditiously, the Town will exercise its authority to have the home demolished," Maturo said in a statement.
Maturo is asking people to be sensitive at this stage in the process.
"Precious lives were lost on August 9th and I'd ask everyone, including the media, to continue to be sensitive to that. As painful as it is for the homeowners to watch their homes come down, the raising of these homes is a difficult but important step in the healing process for these families and for the neighborhood," Maturo said.


text:
Discussion in 'TV & Media' started by Chaos Descending, Jul 14, 2008.
Sounds brilliant. I've only rented a movie on XBL once, and it was in HD and took forever to download. I'm a Netflix subscriber so getting access to their Watch Now service through XBL will be awesome.
When are we getting it?
And when does the new Xbox firmware come out?
The 360 just keeps getting better and better.
That is fan-fucking-tastic!! I was recently contemplating the purchase of the box Netflix sells, but just couldn't justify it. Now I don't have to!
Also, I saw a mention of a party chat feature coming with the update. Does this mean we can finally have a voice chat between more than just two people (without having to be inside of a game like Uno or Call of Duty 4 first)?
So the rumors that have been swirling over the past few months are true. That's fantastic.
Will this be U.S. only, or will the service be available in Canada?
Mind you, this is only a guess, but I think it applies only where someone can get a NetFlix account.
If you can in Canada, well, then maybe!
It may also be coming to ps3.
Considering how much Microsoft mentioned the exclusivity of their deal with Netflix, I very much doubt the service will be coming to the PS3 anytime soon.
As a Netflix subscriber, I might use this once in awhile but I don't see the utility until the selection improves significantly and they get HD versions of movies and shows (which may or may not work at all considering the bandwidth required for HD files).
The PS3 is getting its own video download service, but so far all they've got signed up is Sony themselves.
I don't believe Netflix services Canada, so unless they make a deal with Zip or something...
That's pretty cool! Guess I'll have to get my 360 un-bricked now.
I thought it was neat until I read this at the link:
As someone who doesn't play online games (and thus doesn't buy that service), I'm not interested in paying 5 bucks a month extra to watch Netflix movies instantly over my X-Box. In a little over a year's time, I would have paid for a Roku box that I can use forever at no additional charges...but X-Box would cut me off as soon as I stopped paying for that Gold membership.
Considering I just acquired a Xbox 360 yesterday, and I've had a Netflix account for years, this is wonderful news.
Having to be a XBL Gold member does suck, but I guess Microsoft wants their chunk of the money pie as well. If this was available to Silver members, they'd get absolutely nothing.
I was quite pleased when I saw this at the press conference. We've had Netflix for a long time, so just having the ability to watch on the tv rather than the computer will be nice. Even better, your friends can watch the same thing with you at the same time on their 360. Cool.
That seems to be the case. Too bad.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
The problem here is that MNFF is an open site, meaning the stories there are open to people from all around the world, people from different countries, cultures, and religions. So while gay marriage may have become legal in some countries, in many others, it has not. I would understand why reading about something illegal may make a person uncomfortable. Also, putting that aside, gay marriage makes a lot of people uncomfortable on a personal level because of their religion. Now, I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on religion, but I do know that a lot of religions outlaw homosexual relationships. Another thing we have to take into account is that since Harry Potter's fan-base is so wide in range, people of all ages will be reading these stories, including children. If I were a parent, I wouldn't want my daughter/son to read such things at such a young age.Originally Posted by Carole
But yes, I do agree that they should be looked at as tags rather than warnings.


text:
>Health and Nutrition>Best of a bad lot
old woman w/hobby
Which lite beer/
Just run.
an amazing likeness
Sam Adams Light is one of the better ones. (But really, I'd rather find some way to burn 50 additional calories and have a good beer.)
I've done my best to live the right way. I get up every morning and go to work each day. (for now)
Sam Adams Light is one of the better ones. (But really, I'd rather find some way to burn 50 additional calories and have a good beer.)
I do agree. However, I need to lose a couple extra pounds that just won't shake loose
and I've reached my max on miles for the moment
Feeling the growl again
Yes SAL is what I would choose as the best.
In terms of a trade-off from the leaded version, I really can't tell the difference between Corona and Corona Light (I enjoy both in the right mood).
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
Doc, my tooth hurts
If you are looking to hydrate after a run I know Coors light works pretty well.
I would say that most lite beers taste pretty similar and calorie wise Michelob ultra is like 60 calories. But guinness only has 130 calories in it and is the best you are going to do for a "low calorie" beer. Miller lite has about 90 with bud light being the same. I think Sam adams light is about the same as guinness too, but doesn't taste as good. I'm speaking of all of these in 12 oz servings.
Will Crew for Beer
Rule number one of a gunfight, bring a gun. Rule number two of a gunfight, bring friends with guns.
12 oz servings.
12 oz servings.
What's that? I don't understand.
What's that? I don't understand.
Roughly about a quarter of a glass of beer.
Queen of 3rd Place
Corona light - second that. If you're cutting calories, maybe vodka in diet ginger ale?
Ex runner
Corona light - second that. If you're cutting calories, maybe vodka in diet ginger ale?
Oh I'm more a Jamesons and diet coke kind of person when not into beer I'm trying the Sam Adams and it isn't too bad
considering. Maybe best to just kick it all to the curb come Wednesday.
Yeah you get the idea.
But, what happens Wednesday?
Yeah you get the idea.
But, what happens Wednesday?
Cool Jump Suit
So bittersweet,This tragedyWon't ask for absolution;This melody,Inside of me,Still searches for solution.A twist of faith,A change of heart Cures my infatuation.A broken heart, Provides the sparkFor my determination.
Options,Account, Forums
Does this mean that "de gustibus non est disputandum" does not apply to light beer?
It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.
Oh, that. I was gonna give up light beer.


text:
This week Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.) proposed a comprehensive plan to reduce projected federal borrowing by $9 trillion over ten years and the bipartisan "Gang of Six" senators outlined a $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan to their colleagues. President Obama this afternoon praised the Gang of Six plan as a "very significant step" that is "broadly consistent" with the approach he has urged.
Coburn also announced today that he is rejoining the Gang. His "Back in Black" report includes over 600 pages of detailed recommendations for achieving $9 trillion in deficit reduction from the entire federal budget, including domestic discretionary spending, defense, entitlement programs, and revenues.
The plan includes nearly $1 trillion in savings from eliminating and reforming tax expenditures, which have increased in recent years and often benefit special interests. Coburn also released a report detailing wasteful spending in his own state.
Coburn, along with Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Id.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), has been a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Six" that has worked this year to develop a deficit-reduction plan. Coburn had withdrawn from the group after a disagreement over spending cuts.
Coburn announced his decision to return at a meeting today where the group presented the outlines of its plan to Senate colleagues. The proposal is based on the recommendations of the President's fiscal commission and would reduce the deficit by nearly $4 trillion over ten years.
While members of both parties will undoubtedly criticize many aspects of each plan, Coburn and the other members of the "Gang of Six" deserve credit for going beyond speeches on fiscal responsibility to place specific proposals on the table for discussion. Before rushing to attack the difficult choices made in the plans, critics should propose alternatives.


text:
Here's tonights lineup for the Reds. As expected no Phillips.
1. Shin-Soo Choo (L) CF
2. Zack Cozart (R) SS
3. Joey Votto (L) 1B
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Todd Frazier (R) 3B
6. Xavier Paul (L) LF
7. Ryan Hanigan (R) C
8. Cesar Izturis (S) 2B
9. Bronson Arroyo (R) P


text:
The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 7 "Gloria" XFCE Community Edition RC1. Quick steps: Download the ISO or the torrent. While it's downloading look at the overview of the new features and make sure to quickly go through the known issues. After the ISO is downloaded verify the MD5. Burn the ISO at low speed [...]
Read more: http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=962
Bug thread: viewtopic.php?f=143&t=29486


text:
COURSE: 46-210 Aircraft Structures II (4)
A continuation of 46-110, this course focuses on types of airframe structures, including wood and fabric applications and repairs, aircraft assembly and rigging, use and repairs of plastics and honeycomb repairs. 180 contact hours (60 lecture/120 lab). Meets requirements of 14 CFR 147 Offered: Fall and Spring.


text:
Notice Number: NOT-DA-10-018
Key Dates
Release Date: April 19, 2010
Receipt Date: June 17, 2010
Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), through its International Program, fosters international collaborative research and the exchange of scientific information by drug abuse researchers around the globe. In 1999, NIDA and The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw and NWO) signed an Exchange of Letters expressing their mutual intention to promote and strengthen scientific collaboration between U.S. and Dutch research groups working in the field of addiction and illicit drug use. Since that time, NIDA and the Dutch Addiction Program (DAP) have cooperatively funded researchers in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 working on binational collaborative projects. To date, there have been 17 collaborative research projects that have received funding. In FY2011, NIDA intends to provide up to $300,000 to support up to three one-year administrative supplements to ongoing NIDA grants to continue this program. Matching funds will be provided by the DAP to support Dutch collaborators.
Research Objectives
The intent of this initiative is to stimulate collaborative research between current NIDA grantees and Dutch researchers identified as project leaders in the Dutch Addiction Program and other ZonMw/NWO project leaders with expertise in addiction research. Funds are being made available for collaborative teams, with Dutch members supported by the DAP and U.S. teams supported by NIDA. U.S. components of these collaborations will be supported by supplements to ongoing NIDA grants. An important aspect of this collaboration is that the research projects should address both countries' interests and priorities in a coordinated and meaningful way.
For this year's program, NIDA and the DAP have agreed to focus the collaboration on areas related to improving interventions. This includes the areas of translational research and research on implementation of prevention and treatment programs (cure and care). Translational research includes studies to test new interventions that have been developed in small, controlled studies, (studies in humans in laboratory settings, or even animals studies) and test them in patients. Implementation projects may focus on dissemination, adoption, routine use, or sustainability of empirically-supported practices and they also evaluate the strategies used and the factors that contribute to the level of success. Interventions that have proven effective in one setting can be adapted and tested in a different or wider setting, or with other patient populations. The projects may be carried out in various settings and involve physicians and other clinicians, providers, and patients.
Applicant teams should familiarize themselves with the DAP addiction research goals and objectives (http://www.zonmw.nl/en/programmes/all-programmes/risk-behaviour-and-dependency/).
IMPORTANT: The research proposed by the U.S. partner in the collaboration must be within the original scope of the NIDA-supported grant project. The funding mechanism being used to support this program, administrative supplements, can be used to cover cost increases that are associated with achieving certain new research objectives as long as they are within the original scope of the project and include cost increases that result from making modifications to the project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes.
This program is part of NIDA's effort to encourage rigorous collaborative international research and to build knowledge for evidence-based strategies to reduce demand for illicit drugs around the world. Other important objectives of NIDA's program include: Promoting an international cohort of scientists who are knowledgeable of NIDA's research and methods; providing professional development opportunities and technical consultation to the international drug abuse research community; and disseminating NIDA's research findings to international scientists and organizations. Additional information on NIDA's international research program and opportunities for research and research training funding can be found at http://www.international.drugabuse.gov/.
The current announcement is for supplements to NIDA-supported grants. Awards will be for one year, the existing grant must have at least one year remaining at the time that the supplement is awarded, and the research must be completed by the end of the parent grant. Any no cost extension must be in place before submission. The proposed supplement MUST be within the general scope of the peer-reviewed activities and aims approved within the parent grant.
Submitting an Administrative Supplement Request
Applicants are encouraged to review the Dutch call for applications on the ZonMW website at the following link: http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/subsidie/subsidiekalender/
To be considered for an administrative supplement, submit a request in writing to the Institute/Center, not to the Division of Receipt and Referral, Center for Scientific Review. The request must be signed by the authorized Business Official and describe the need for additional funding and the categorical costs.
Requests under this notice should use the PHS 398 forms (rev. 11/2007; available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html) and include the following elements in the request packet. Font size restrictions apply as designated within the PHS398 (rev. 4/2006) instructions.)
1) Cover Letter - Citing this Notice (NOT-DA-10-018), a request for an Administrative Supplement, and the following information:
The cover letter must be signed by the authorized organizational representative/institutional official.
2) PHS 398 Form Page 1 (Face page) MS Word PDF
3) PHS 398 Form page 2 MS Word PDF
Note: The project "summary" is that of the administrative supplement, not the parent grant.
4) A brief proposal describing the project, including:
Note: Certain of the sections below should be prepared and submitted jointly by the US and Netherlands partners, these sections are indicated below:
i) Human Subjects/ Vertebrate Animal documentation (if applicable). Include a current Human Subjects/IRB or Vertebrate Animals/IACUC approval letter, if available. Otherwise, this will be required at the time of funding. All appropriate IRB and IACUC approvals must be in place prior to a supplement award being made.
Any differences in the involvement or use of human subjects or specimens, or use of vertebrate animals, between the administrative supplement activity and the parent grant should be noted. When appropriate, details should be provided on the protection of human subjects and inclusion of women, children, and minorities. Additional guidance on Human Subjects Research and Vertebrate Animals is provided under Part II of the PHS 398 instructions (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).
j) PHS 398 Checklist Form MS Word PDF
Selection Factors
Administrative supplement requests will be reviewed administratively by NIDA Program and Grants management Staff. Selection factors will include the following:
Budget and Funding Information
For FY 2011, $300,000 will be available for administrative supplements to existing research projects. Administrative supplements are generally limited to less than 25 percent of the Council-approved direct costs for the current budget year of the project or under $100,000, whichever is less. Revisions must be in the same budget format as the parent grant. Administrative supplements may be submitted at any time, but no later than June 17, 2010. It is anticipated that supplemental funding will begin not later than December 31, 2010.
Concurrent to the NIDA review, the DAP will review the Dutch partner's proposals. Funding decisions will be based upon consideration of both reviews and research priorities of both programs.
How to Apply
This is a one-time announcement. Applications must be received on or before June 17, 2010. Do not send applications to the NIH Center for Scientific Review. Submit one original, hard copy of the request packet (with original signatures of the authorized business official) to the NIDA address listed below:
By U.S. Mail:
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Blvd., Rm. 4000, MSC9560
Bethesda MD 20892-9560
By Express Mail:
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Blvd., Rm. 4000, MSC9560
Rockville MD 20852
In addition, applicants are encouraged to send an electronic copy of the submitted supplement request as an e-mail attachment in PDF format to the program contact listed below under "Inquiries."
Inquiries and discussion of plans for responding to this Notice are strongly encouraged.
Program Contact:
Dale Weiss
International Program
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Blvd
Rm 5252, MSC 9591
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
EXPRESS/COURIER: Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (301) 443-6480
Email: email@example.com
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.


text:
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Gould Elementary School first-grade teacher Seth Kolodny is beginning a 60-day, unpaid suspension for inappropriately handling a situation with an out of control 6-year-old student on Nov. 18.
Savannah-Chatham Public Schools administrators recommended that Kolodny be terminated, but after a seven-hour hearing Wednesday, the board opted to suspend the teacher, who has received satisfactory evaluations during his eight years at Gould and is held in high regard by parents and co-workers. Savannah-Chatham Public School Board attorney Leamon Holliday described Kolodny as a good person and dedicated teacher who made a mistake.
"After the 60 days he can return to a school but he won't return to that school (Gould)," Holliday said. "I believe he is a good man but this situation required action and the board took action. It was a very difficult case."
The trouble began as Kolondy's first-grade students sat on the floor around his rocking chair for a math lesson and one 6-year-old boy became unruly. He was asked to sit down and stop bothering his classmates, but instead of following Kolodny's orders, the child snatched a roster out of the teacher's hand, crumpled it up and threw it on the floor.
Moments later the boy's mother entered the classroom to deliver his misplaced eyeglasses and she found the 6-year-old bruised, cowering in the corner and complaining of breathing trouble.
The mother took her son to the office, where the assistant principal and school nurse testified that they photographed fresh bruises and scratches on the boy's chest and face.
The 6-year-old sat before the school board Wednesday, feet dangling from a black swivel chair, and described his version of happened that November morning.
"Mr. K said sit down and I didn't sit down," the boy said. "Then he pushed me into the chairs and I kicked him. Then he pushed me in the bookcase and then he slapped me two times on the ground and kicked me in the chest."
Kolodny used a diagram of the classroom to help explain his version of what happened around the rocking chair when the child snatched the paper from his hand.
"I was in shock," Kolodny said. "A child has never done this to me before and I thought to myself immediately, 'If this child is going to be this aggressive to me I need to get him away from the children in the immediate area.'"
Kolodny said the 6-year-old, who had thrown a chair a week earlier, started kicking at him and grazed him on the leg with his foot, as he tried to back away from the rocking chair area. He said the boy aggressively pursued him across the room and grabbed his shirt. Then suddenly the boy said he was sorry, sat on the floor and started crying. Kolodny said he then finished his math lesson and had just begun another lesson when the boy's mother entered the room.
He said the boy didn't appear to be in any pain or have fresh injuries while in his presence. His attorney Alan Lowe suggested that the boy injured himself or was beaten by his mother on their way to the office.
Assistant Principal Dionne Young and interim Principal Lillie Ellis testified that they reviewed witness statements from students in the class and were inclined to believe the child's version of events. Kolodny was adamant that he did not touch the boy.
"I never slapped him. I never pushed him. I don't think that he fell into any chairs, but I certainly never pushed him," Kolodny testified. "I never kicked him. I never touched him. "
However, school Board members weren't convinced that Kolodny followed protocol.
They wanted to know why Kolodny didn't call for help during the altercation. They questioned his decision to resume lessons instead of reporting what happened after the clamor died down, and they asked why he never told the boy's mother or his supervisors when the child threw a chair a week earlier. Board President Joe Buck also tried to get Kolodny to explain whether or not he had ever been counseled about putting his hands on students. Initially Kolodny implied that general discussions with the principal had taken place in group settings, but Kolodny ultimately testified that he and the principal had spoken about discipline individually in the past. However he said the principal has spoken with other teachers as well and he insisted that he had never inappropriately touched a child in any way.
"This is disgusting," Kolodny testified of the situation. "I switched from a business major to education so I could be with children. This is my livelihood and my life. I would never do anything to jeopardize that. A lot of them look up to me, especially those who don't have fathers. It breaks my heart to be out of the classroom, not be able to teach. "
After the Nov. 18 altercation, Kolodny was immediately removed from the classroom and reassigned to duties in the school library. The 6-year-old student was moved to a different class. Witnesses from the Gould staff testified that Kolodny was a kind and gentle teacher. They also said no behavior referrals involving the 6-year-old boy occurred prior to or after Nov. 18.
The school board approved Kolodny's 60-day, unpaid suspension in a 4 to 3 vote. Board members Buck, Shawn Kachmar, Irene Hines and Jennifer Lambeth votes yes. Hall, Lower and Jones voted no. Julie Wade and Dionne Hoskins were not present.
But no one left the hearing happy.
Kolodny declined to comment but his attorney, Lowe, said their reaction was mixed.
"We believe this was a compromise decision," Lowe said. "We don't think Mr. Kolodny deserved any punishment at all."
The boy's family members said they were insulted by the way the defense negatively characterized the 6-year-old in an effort to excuse Kolodny's actions.
"We didn't want him to lose his job," said the child's mother, Jessica Creech. "We just wanted him to realize there are consequences for not doing your job properly or following procedure."


text:
Thought I'd share this in case it could help someone else....
Initial installation of ZA seemed to work fine, but could never get the user interface to open so I couldn't run virus scans, change settings, etc.
When I tried to uninstall the program, ZA told me I did not have permission to make those changes...that I had to be an administrator. I AM an administrator.
Searched this forum for a solution, found the cpes_clean tool, ran it, tried to re-install ZA. Once again received the message I did not have permission.
Had a live chat with a ZA tech who told me to download cpes_clean again, download ZA again, run cpes_clean & then re-install ZA. I did. Once again, I didn't have permission.
A second live chat with a ZA tech & was told to start XP in Safe Mode, and manually edit my registry. I have four printed pages of instructions from this guy...he was very thorough...but who wants to manually edit their registry? Of all the software I've ever purchased and installed in the last twentys year or so, I've never had this much difficulty (and I've had previous versions of ZA which worked great & I loved).
As a last ditch effort, I did go into Safe Mode and was about to manually edit the registry, and then I thought, WTF? I'll try to install ZA one more time.
Lo and behold!!! It worked. It installed seamlessly, no hitches, no glitches. I then logged out, restarted Windows normally, configured ZA to my preferred specs, updated my virus definitions, and as I type this ZA is succesfully scanning my computer. It's found a couple things that my other virus protection somehow missed...so far nothing too dangerous.
So, if any of you out there are having difficulty because of "permissions", and cpes_clean does not take care of the problem, try installing ZA while in Safe Mode before you go to the trouble of editing your registry.
It worked for me.