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Students often complain they can't see the point of math - beyond basic arithmetic. In response, keen teachers look for ways to show them how math is relevant to their daily lives. Trigonometry is set inside problem solving about rugby ball angles and penalty kicks, probability is used to predict the winners of X Factor and Pythagoras' theorem is applied to save people from a burning building. This shift to meaning and context in learning maths is laudable, but it does fundamentally change the nature of math teaching in ways that teachers are not currently trained for.
Rigor is creating an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels,
each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels,
and each student demonstrates learning at high levels (Blackburn, 2008).
each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels,
and each student demonstrates learning at high levels (Blackburn, 2008).
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Literacy in Math
I ran across this blog entry about word problems in math. Written by a professor at a university in Australia, the points are very relevant to our teaching. Literacy is an important skill--especially in math, and she makes the point with a clear example. It's worth your time!
Posted by Barbara R. Blackburn at 8:00 AM 1 comment:
Monday, April 28, 2014
Rigor in Your Classroom: A Toolkit for Teachers
I'm very excited today. My fourteenth book, Rigor in Your Classroom: A Toolkit for Teachers, comes out next week. It has over 200 tools to use to increase rigor in your classroom. Topics include: curriculum standards (Common Core and more), higher order questioning, strategies to scaffold learning, assessment, and extending your reach to parents, substitute teachers, and more! Check it out.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Top Ten Strategies for Differentiated Instruction
I found this PDF from St. Joseph-Scollard Hall School with details on ten strategies for differentiated instruction. I've written about several of them, including the tic-tac-toe activity, but found the entire list to be useful. Following the initial list is a description of each activity.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Searching by Readability Levels
I'm often asked during my workshops where teachers can find materials at different reading levels, particularly since the Common Core requires that you find texts at increasingly difficult levels. The CCSS provide exemplars of different texts, as well as some recommended readability formulas, such as the Lexile Framework. However, many teachers want a way to search for materials online at varying levels. This blog post provides a step-by-step description to searching by readability level with Google. It's certainly not linked directly to the Common Core Standards, but it is a tool that can be used to supplement your instruction.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Dealing with a Dominant Student
In my workshops, I'm often asked questions about classroom management. One recent question: "I have a student who always wants to answer. His hand goes up first every time I ask a question, and it's becoming hard to ignore him, especially when the other students want to let him take over. It's leading to passive learning behaviors from my other students. What should I do?"
In that case, I would move away from typical whole group, call on one person instruction. Too often, one student does dominate. Instead, when you ask questions, immediately have students take a moment to think about an answer, then turn and talk to a partner. Then, as you move around and monitor students, choose those who you would like to respond to the whole group. This way, all students have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding, and it encourages active learning.
In that case, I would move away from typical whole group, call on one person instruction. Too often, one student does dominate. Instead, when you ask questions, immediately have students take a moment to think about an answer, then turn and talk to a partner. Then, as you move around and monitor students, choose those who you would like to respond to the whole group. This way, all students have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding, and it encourages active learning.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Scaffolding Learning
One way to think about scaffolding is with a diamond. It starts at the top with me (meaning the teacher). You begin by modeling a lesson. Next, we go to us. There are two parts of this. First is the teacher and the students (us) following guided practice. The second part of guided practice is us, meaning students working with partners or in small groups. Finally, the student (you) does the work independently. As you think about how to support student learning, consider this method of instruction, guided practice, and independent practice.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Spring Break?
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Technology-Based Instruction
My newest e-newsletter is out! The topic: Technology-Based Instruction. To receive it, sign up using the link on the right of the page. I resend it every day or so to make sure new participants receive it.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Three Ways to Deal with Behavior Problems
A new teacher asked me, "How can I deal with a student who chronically misbehaves? He interferes with the learning of other students."
There are three suggestions I gave her. First, redirect the other students' attentions from this student. I immediately put my students into a pair-share so I could deal with the individual student. Next, try to find the root of the problem. The misbehavior is caused by something--is it a need for attention? Is it a way to cover-up a lack of success in the classroom? Until we deal with the cause, the misbehavior will continue. Finally, find a strategy that will stop the behavior. That may mean moving the student to an isolated spot near your desk, using a positive behavior intervention plan (positive is always better than negative), or asking for help from an administrator. Ultimately, misbehavior is a symptom. Do your best to understand what is going on, then take appropriate steps from there.
Friday, April 4, 2014
One of My Best Teachers
Last night, I was thinking about the difference teachers make, and I thought about one of my teachers, Mrs. Kiser. I was lucky enough to have her as my English teacher for two years. She was one of the most caring people I have ever met. I still have a note she wrote me, encouraging me to step out and let the sun shine on me because I could make a difference. Which of your teachers do you appreciate today? How can they inspire you?
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The Most Important Job of a School Leader
Today, I'm working with a group of principals in an area school district. One of the most common questions I receive from principals and other school leaders is, "What do you think is the most important job of a school leader?" That one is easy--it's to remove barriers to student learning. In other words, think from a perspective of "How would xxx positively impact student learning?" If you take that perspective, how would it change what you are doing today?
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About Me
- Sharon Benini
- My teaching career began 17 years ago when I decided I would finally become "What I wanted to be when I was grown-up", a teacher. At that time I had worked for 15 years in the banking and financial industry and was even a stockbroker at one time. I returned to college and graduated with a Masters of Elementary Education from Wilmington University. I became certified to teach art and currently I teach grades PK-8. Art is my passion and I love what I do!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Sloth and Service
After the last player dropped out. a new player was added. This was the journal that I received a week ago. The theme for this round was Sloth and Service. I had an original idea prior to receiving this journal, but after reading the artist's guidelines, I had a complete change of thought. This artist expressed that she loved writing, so I thought that I would devote this spread to that. I set this up as a journal entry format over the life of two brothers. The diary entry begins with this photo and the events of that day:
The vintage photo was edited using Adobe Elements 5.0, then printed onto photo paper. The frame was a slide frame.
Encaustics were used to create the texture of the frame.
The white pages were painted with two coats of Golden Carbon Black to give it a vintage scrapbook appearance.
The entries were written with silver calligraphy pen.
The ceramic tile represents the tombstone.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hampton City Attorney Cynthia Hudson addressed three complaints that were subject to affidavits brought by the Coalition for Justice for Civil Rights and two other complaints from the coalition which did not lead to affidavits.
Hampton City Attorney Cynthia Hudson addressed three complaints that were subject to affidavits brought by the Coalition for Justice for Civil Rights and two other complaints from the coalition which did not lead to affidavits.
In a letter to the coalition, Hudson said the evidence of in-car videos did not substantiate a complaint from Jordan Ballard that police damaged a car during a search or a complaint brought by Nancy Wray that police searched her and her passengers for no reason.
Hudson declined to provide the video footage following a Freedom of Information Act request, citing it as "evidence relating to a criminal investigation."
But personnel action did follow a complaint concerning Anthony Jackson. Jackson claimed he was manhandled while being stopped by Officer Robert Self during a speeding stop.
"Based on the findings of the police department's self-initiated investigation of this matter, appropriate, confidential personnel action has been taken," Hudson wrote.
Rudy Langford, president of the Coalition for Justice for Civil Rights, cited racial profiling as an issue in Hampton during the Dec. 9 City Council meeting. He noted as many as 14 complaints involving police stop-and-search operations against black people in the city.
He said nine complaints alleging racial profiling, described by Langford as "stopping young blacks without lawful cause," have been filed by the coalition and five more are being filed.
"You cannot continue to stop young black men for no reason," he said.
The city attorney responded to the Ballard and Wray complaints after they were raised by coalition members in the public comments section of the meeting, and that of 21-year-old Kirby Johnson. The Johnson case is the subject of a $66 million lawsuit against Hampton and its police division.
Hudson was unable to address a matter brought by Joan Fludd in relation to her son Robert Bargaineer, claiming officers were verbally abusive to him because of a pending court case. And in relation to a complaint brought by Natalie McKenzie, who claimed a young child was left unrestrained during an interstate police stop, Hudson said the officers involved were Virginia State Police as opposed to Hampton officers.
"Seven or eight days ago a response went out stating the findings of a police department internal investigation of the alleged incidents," Hudson told the City Council this month. "There is video evidence with respect to both of the incidents that were discussed here tonight that belie the allegations that were made," Hudson said.
She said the city stands by the investigations and has no reason to believe the complaints have merit.
"It's a very significant public responsibility that we have to put police officers on the street to enforce the law. We take that responsibility very seriously in making sure those responsibilities are carried out consistent with the constitutional rights of Hampton citizens," Hudson said.
Langford outlined the Johnson case at the Dec. 9 council meeting.
Johnson filed a complaint over a June 2007 traffic stop where he claimed officers ordered him to take his shoes off and stuck a metal object in his rectum.
The other police officers laughed while this happened, told Johnson he could leave without a ticket or citation and told him they would "get him," Langford said.
"The coalition believes he told us the truth, that there is ground to believe Mr. Johnson ... for this city not to accept some responsibility for this heinous act is unforgivable," Langford said.
The Johnson case isn't the only one that has resulted in a lawsuit. In a December 2008 case, Amy Williamson and Mark Kendall claim their rights were violated by police and have sued for $8.75 million.
Both lawsuits were filed by attorney Verbena Askew, a former Newport News Circuit Court judge.
Hudson said she was constrained by what she could say about the Johnson case because of the federal civil lawsuit, but the city believes the case has no merit.
"I wish very much that I could speak more specifically to the merit, or lack of merit I should say, of that complaint. However, it is the subject of a federal civil lawsuit at this time which constrains me speaking any more specifically about the facts."
She said the Johnson case was "in the same category as other complaints we have investigated."
"We have not been able to substantiate that there's any evidence to support the allegation of misconduct that's made in that case."
By the numbers14 number of cases a civil rights group wants investigated
3 number of cases addressed by the city attorney
1 number of cases that resulted in police disciplinary action
2 number of federal lawsuits pending against Hampton police in profiling and abuse claims


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y'all– moving the blog
come find me here
y'all– moving the blog
come find me here
jimmy + justin
y'all, this is money.
ca$h monayyy.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EPl0OGz2Cg]
parks+rec can make me giggle anytime, anywhere. can i get a bean blankie?[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OhJJR8nBl4]
new music for this new month… of loving others fiercely and celebrating andrew's birth
favorite lyric: like the dawn you woke the world inside of me
I Am My Relationships // Paul Tripp, y'all. Breaking us all down to the Gospel.
God created us to be social beings. His plan, from day one, was for us to live in meaningful community with one another. Our relationships are so important to God that He positioned the command for us to love one another as second only to the call to love Him (Matthew 22:37-39). Those relationships must be a very high priority as we make our daily decisions.
No sinner can ever be your rock and fortress. No sinner can give you a consistent reason for hope. Sooner or later, everyone around you will fail you. But there's an even greater danger here.
As you look to this person for identity, you're not really loving them – you're loving you. You've turned the second great commandment on its ear. Instead of serving people because you love them, you're willing to serve them so that they'll love you. This kind of parasitic relationships is never healthy.
Read it and enjoy grace this Sunday.
because everyone always needs a good laugh…
dear taylor swift, what color is this emotion? love, the floor[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyhaJFi1rLg]
Y'all, I've been planning our wedding. (See how i really eased into that!?) It really is this unique time where you have the newfound freedom to talk with your other half about the future and then have the ability to actually make things happen. It still feels a little unnatural to me, but it feels most certainly like a gift. AND, we are, like, getting married!!!
There are decisions upon decisions to be made. Ones I never even dreamed of deciding (like using Jackson vine– 12 hours ago, I didn't know what that was)! Venue. Date. Dress. Food. Flowers. Travel plans. Cake flavors. Wedding party. Guests. Invitation design. Rehearsal dinner options. Your color scheme–stumped by this. I've been feeling a little crowded with it all, but I opened my journal the other day randomly to my 22nd birthday and read:
lord, what you will, let it be.
This is my new motto as of this very second. How many times did I say "I" in the last two paragraphs? NINE REFERENCES TO ME. Yuck. Need my One+Only to get back to being my one+only. Here goes to letting it all be about Him! Lord, let it be your will even in something so typically "me" focused.


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4. Nessie
Ten Lovable Movie Monsters
4. Nessie
Bookmark this post:blogger tutorials Social Bookmarking Blogger Widget
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Shopping Trip:
Begin by making a trip to the paper goods store. Purchase plain white paper plates, cups, napkins, party hats, goody bags, paper placemats, a paper tablecloth, crepe paper streamers and balloons.
Next, it's a trip to the crafts store where the birthday child can choose rubber stamps in a party theme. You will also need a selection of stamp pads in various colors (make sure you purchase waterproof, non-toxic ink for decorating the plates and cups; all other ink can be washable but should still be non-toxic), blank note cards with matching envelopes, heavy white paper, fine line markers (again, waterproof and non-toxic for the cups and plates) or colored pencils, and an invitation rubber stamp.
Decide from the various party activities below, and purchase supplies for each.
Using the blank note cards, have your child stamp and decorate the outside of each card and envelope. Use the invitation stamp on the inside of the card. Write in the party information.
Party Prep:
Set aside some time a few days before the party for your child to stamp and color the paper goods. When coloring the napkins, tablecloth, and streamers, make sure the child works lightly to avoid tearing the paper.
Cut heavy white paper to 3" x 4" with pinking shears to make place cards. Fold in half to 1-1/2" x 4". Stamp and decorate. Write the guest's name next to the stamped image.
For stamping the balloons you'll need to use acrylic paint. Make a stamp pad by adding paint evenly to a moistened piece of felt. Blow the balloon up halfway. Hold it steady on a flat surface while your child stamps the image. Continue Blowing the balloon up. Tie with string. Allow the balloon to dry completely. Deflate until party day.
Party Day:
When the guests arrive, have each child stamp and decorate his own party bag, hat, and name tag.
Purchase Fun Buttons or a badge maker for name tags. Let the children stamp and decorate the pre-cut paper circles and add their names before assembling the buttons.
Stickers, bookmarks, and jigsaw puzzles are all great projects to make. You can buy puzzle blanks at your local crafts store. Purchase white stickers in assorted sizes and shapes from an office supply store. Make bookmark blanks by cutting heavy white paper 1-1/2" x 6". Punch a hole in the top of each. Tie ribbons through the holes after the children have stamped and decorated the bookmarks.
When the party is over, the children will have had an enjoyable time and go home with great party favors.
What types of kids parties have you hosted? Let's hear from you. Post a comment this week to be entered in our Book Club Friday book drawing for a free book from our guest author. -- AP


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6x8, watercolor on Tyvek
A few more jottings that spoke to me me from Robert Henri's, The Art Spirit:
-We must paint only what is important to us, must not respond to outside demands.
-The painter that bowls you over at first sight and the next day loses the power to attract your attention is the one who always looks the same. It has a moment of life, but dies immediately thereafter.
-Originality. Don't worry about your originality. You could not get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick to you and show you up for better or worse in spite of all you are anyone can do.
-No knowledge is so easily found as when it is needed.
-The habit of digression - lack of continued interest - want of a fixed purpose, is an almost general failing. It is too easy to drift and the habit of letting oneself drift begets drifting. The power of concentration is rare and must be sought and cultivated.


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How the duties checker tool works video transcript
Every employer across the UK will have to offer a workplace pension and pay into it, even if they employ just one person.
This is called automatic enrolment and is enforced by us, The Pensions Regulator. We are a public authority set up by the government to regulate work-based pensions.
We send employers information on how to meet their duties, so we want to ensure that business advisers like you understand what this is and what we are asking your clients to do.
Our online duties checker tool is a simple way of showing employers what they need to do and when they need to do it. The tool shows your clients which employer category they fall into, and gives them information to help them meet their duties under automatic enrolment.
To use the tool, employers will need some information to hand, including their PAYE reference, a letter code (which can be found on letters we send to them), and some details about their staff.
They'll then be asked a few basic questions, such as if they employ anyone or if they run a business. If they do employ staff we'll need to know if any meet the age and earnings criteria.
By telling us about themselves the duties checker will identify if they are either employers who have to provide their staff with a pension scheme, or employers who don't have to provide a pension but still have duties to fulfil.
We also use this information to send employers communications that are relevant to their specific duties. Employers will have their staging date confirmed; this is the date their automatic enrolment duties apply to them, and then we outline the important steps they need to take and when these should be carried out.
These vary depending on if they have staff to put into a pension scheme or not.
One of the first steps we ask your clients to complete is to confirm their details and nominate a point of contact to receive emails.
They may nominate you as their business adviser to receive these - this means you'll receive additional information to support them through the steps. You should speak to your clients about what's involved and agree how you will support them.
Our online employers step-by-step guide provides your clients with other interactive tools, videos, and supporting resources available to help them during each step.
We also have tailored guidance available for you on our website to help you support your clients with automatic enrolment.


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I love this bean dish, it's warm, soft plus I like the combination of cilantro and garlic. It is also a popular dish in the Lebanese cuisine. There are different kind of beans, for this dish we use the Romano Beans, also known as Borlotti Beans or Cranberry Beans; it's streaked with red. This dish is eaten with pita bread. The recipe calls for:
- 1 cup of Romano Beans, soaked in water overnight
- 5 garlic cloves, crushed with a garlic presser
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- half bunch cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- water
- salt and pepper
Get rid of the soaking water; put the beans in a large pan to boil, with enough water to cover the beans; When the beans are almost done, over a medium-heat, in another sauce-pan, drizzle the oil, add the garlic, stirring for a minute then add the cilantro and let them cook a bit, lowering the heat. Then add the tomato paste, and let them cook. Taste the beans, they should be soft, well cooked; reduce a cup of the water if it's a lot then add the garlic-cilantro sauce, stir and let simmer like 15 minutes, season with salt and pepper. Serve the dish with spring onions, green bell pepper, radish, and pita bread. Enjoy.


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Today, we went to a birthday party for one of Big Sis' friends. She turns 7 on Wednesday, but since it's the day before school starts, the party was today. This is a conversation that transpired while we were all eating pizza.
Friend: "Big Sis (well, she said the real name), have you ever been baptized?"
Big Sis: "Yes."
Me: "No, you haven't."
Big Sis: "Yes I have! I was watching my fan and it was going round and round."
Me: "Honey, she said 'baptized' not 'hypnotized.'"
I had a very hard time containing my laughter. However, now, while typing it again (I did post it to Facebook), I'm laughing again!!


text:
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
PEOPLES' State Of the Nation (SONA) SPEECH
By: Rep. Satur C. Ocampo, Bayan Muna Party
In her seventh SONA last year, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo boasted that the Philippine economy had never performed better than under her watch. She claimed that over seven years the gross domestic product (GDP) had consistently improved, and that the Philippines was on the verge of take off to becoming an industrialized country. She then tried to regale Congress and the people with visions of foster growth through her ambitious, unrealistic "growth area" development plans that offer huge chunks of the national territory for exploitation by foreign investors.
Recall that 12 years earlier, then President Fidel V. Ramos had boasted of the same claimed GDP growth, and prospect for the Philippines becoming a "newly industrialized" country or NIC. Recall also that the 1997 Asian financial crisis sent those claims and prospect coming down.
In her eighth SONA today, Gloria M. Arroyo can no longer make the same boast. As it happened in 1997, the severe economic crisis, spiked by the US financial meltdown and soaring prices of oil products and food, has shot down the GDP, with the immediate impact of impoverishing a greater number of Filipino families.
Gloria Arroyo cannot evade blame for this dire state of the nation by pointing to external causes as the culprits. What cannot be denied or hidden by contrived statistics is that the Philippine economy's growth has been gravely stunted. It has remained basically backward, with neither a modern agricultural base nor an industrial backbone to speak of, all because the Arroyo regime, like her predecessors, has adamantly stuck to the anti people neo-liberal globalization prescriptions of the IMF-WB-WTO triad – liberalization, deregulation and privatization.
By her canine devotion to both these multilateral instruments of global capitalist plunder and to the discredited George W. Bush administration, Mrs. Arroyo has deprived the economy and her government of any defensive shield and flexibility to withstand the destructive impacts of the frequently recurring crisis of global capital.
For these failed policies and programs, for her puppetry to the US, and for her betrayal of the national interest, aside from her other crimes against the people --- Gloria M. Arroyo must step down NOW, or else, we the people will bring her regime down, the sooner the better. ##
Ms. Grace Saguinsin
International Officer
Bayan Muna Party List
International Desk
Room 416 Ramon V. Mitra Building
House of Representatives, Quezon City
Philippines 1106
Posted by Sonny San Juan at 10:46 AM
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By Jeff Flinn - AngelsWin.com Contributor
Again not many
Alberto Callaspo and Howie Kendick each has 2 hits.
Hunter hits a HR and drives in his first RBI in what seems like forever.
Weaver pitches 7 innings, allowing three runs and keeps the Angels in the game.
Rivera (6-49) and Abreu (5-51) are now an awesome 11 for the past 100 between them, hitting a whopping buck ten. Why Mike do you continue to trot them out there????
Callaspo apparently wants to join in the baserunning fun, committing two STUPID blunders that cut rallies short. Nice Alberto, and just when we were liking your hitting and solid defense.
Mathis is now hitting a buck fifty-five since June 18, with a whopping 5 XBHs in 135 at bats since then. Sandy Koufax might have been able to give Mathis a run for his money at the plate as a hitter, and Koufax was downright terrible. At least Mike is sitting him much more often lately.
Hunter, why can't you deliver like you did in the 7th with RISP?????
How much longer must we sit through the same veteran players doing NOTHING at the plate???? At least get Trumbo and someone else up here after Monday's regular season finale for SLC. The fans are getting bored at the home games!!!!
I'm going to ask this question I've asked a couple of times on the board. Is part of the problem due to this team not knowing what extended losing is like because they've won at least 89 games every year since 2004? and therefore they don't know how to cope with the losing this season and thus that feeds on the struggles and makes it even more difficult to overcome the hitting/running woes?
That the only solution is for the season ending after October 3, at which point they can get away and use that next 4 1/2 months to store up the anger and then take it out on the opposition in 2011? I want some destruction of other teams in 2011. This is getting embarrassing, going 21-35 since July 1!!!!


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By Bruce Wentworth, AIA
Craftsmanship, and a passion for woodworking, is a wonderful combination to have in a carpenter. This is the fortunate talent for Steven Barnard, Wentworth, Inc's production manager. Not only does Steven enjoy constructing and supervising our client's remodeling projects…he loves to spend free time at his home shop creating custom items fabricated from exotic woods. Bowls, trays, ball point pens, and custom home accessories are examples of his craft work. The man knows what he likes.
Three of his recent projects illustrate his attention to detail and creative use of modern tools to fabricate items with old world charm.
Cake Platter
A circular platter, fabricated from a South American wood called Jatoba, has pie-crust scalloping (often called flutes), and is elevated on a turned-base. The wood is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Cherrywood although it is not from a cherry tree. What looks like a hand chiseled flute pattern on the surface of the platter was actually created with a guided router and box core bit. To index the flutes he used an old 40 tooth saw blade with a small strip of ¼" plywood to create the ratcheting system. The flutes were router cut with a box core bit and took forty repetitive passes. The base, turned on a lathe, was made of 70 pieces of wood and glued to form the segmented round base with a flared plinth.
Custom Crown Moldings
Custom moldings are something we frequently need when remodeling older homes. Many of Wentworth's remodeling projects are for older, often historic, homes with crown molding, base, chair rails, and plate rails being altered that are no longer available as stock catalog items. Steven's wood working skills make it possible to quickly replicate old moldings without resorting to an expensive private millwork shop with long lead times. A recent project involved alterations to a 1880s Queen Anne residence on Capitol Hill. Because the oversized crown molding was to be painted a Poplar wood was utilized. Poplar strips were glued up as thick lengths of lumber and ripped to size. Using the old molding sample, the profile was traced onto the new wood to determine which of the router bits should be used, and in which order, to replicate the molding profile. All of this was run on a router table at his home shop.
Custom Stair and Newel Posts
A recent project in a small older urban townhouse required that our carpenters build a custom stair and railings. This new stair replaced an existing winder staircase that had been poorly built. Every tread was a different size to fit the tight space. Treads, risers, railing and newels were all custom oak work. These newels were also built by Steven using a lathe along with good eye and hand work.
Remodeling older homes is more complicated than building new. It requires integrating the new and old, and understanding how older buildings were assembled. A carpenter who understands these issues, is able to replicate the old, and has a passion for custom work is an essential ingredient to a successful remodeling project. Wentworth's remodeling clients benefit from Steven's technical skill and experience because it reduces cost on custom details, speeds the process, and makes the project fun.
A Passion for the Craft
Posted by Bruce Wentworth, AIA at 7/13/2009 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: 2009, Ask The Architect, Carpentry, Steven Barnard
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In a series of posts Becoming George, Is experimentation ethical? and Creativity without purpose? Experimentation without control?, Doug Johnson of Blue Skunk Blog put on the devil advocate's hat and ask:
Why should we treat our children's intellectual health any differently than we do our children's physical health?
I have no answer to his question. I would only ask this.
Should we keep our children in a sterilized bubble so that they would never catch any deadly germs?
When our children are physically sick and they are treated, we expect the health professionals to follow best practice. When our children have intellectual or mental illness, we also expect the responding professionals to treat our children following best practice.
As for teachers who are helping our children to grow and to become independent, I don't want to see my children's teachers just to follow what they have been doing for the past 20 years and forget that my children are going to face a world very different from mine. I want my children to be challenged, inspired, take risks and manage success and failure. I want my children to enjoy learning, have fun and foe during the process. I like them to be exposed to germs so that they can build their immune system.
My previous two posts are also part of my response to Doug's challenging question. See Demotion and Creativity and Teaching
21st century learning


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American Titan Rpm Lid, 48 Sq.Ft. Filter - 59055400
No.4 Image Shown 59055400 Filter Tank Lid, 48 Sq. Ft. Used on American Titan RPM Products Manufactured By Pentair Pools Filter PartsPentair is a common name in pool filter parts. The schematic diagram of filter parts, American pool filter parts, American - Pentair Products, American filter parts and spares (spare filter parts) are listed. Always low prices and fast shipping. Discount American Eclipse, Meteor, Sandpiper, Titan, Warrior, Commander, and Clean & Clear / Predator swimming pool filter parts and other swimming pool filter parts are always in stock and available.Back To American Products (Pentair) Titan RPM D.E. Filter Parts


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Black diamond wedding rings – There is no far better way to state 'I do' compared to with a diamond ring. A ruby ring takes the words right to the ladies' heart. When it concerns diamonds, white or transparent rubies were the favorites. Yet much more recently, black diamond wedding rings have become THE option, leaving behind all other tinted stones. They are renowned for the mystery connected to the black tinted diamonds. Theories linked with the buildup of black diamond fuel the fad further, linking them to supernovas, and bringing a planetary element to it.
Black diamond wedding rings ruby
Black diamond wedding rings and black ruby used to be low-cost a decade earlier. It was conveniently located as well as was not considered useful. Nevertheless, when jewelers started providing refined black diamonds in great cuts, taking a large threat, customers reacted positively. Quickly the trend captured each's attention and now black ruby wedding celebration rings are sold for a ton of money.
So if you are planning to offer your loved one a black diamond wedding rings, there are some belongings to keep an eye out for. This way you will certainly have the ability to provide a special suggestion of your love and will not acquire broke while doing so.
Black diamond wedding rings reviews
Know a lot more concerning them: Black rubies are likewise normally taking place crystallized carbon. Either the color black happens due to dark additions, or because of changes in a white ruby in high temperatures or radiation. There are a variety of sources to understand even more concerning them. An all-natural black diamond is uncommon and also for this reason extremely pricey. Many black diamonds take place as uneven black masses. Therefore, most black rubies on the market today are dealt with. This makes them look polished. Treatment is done to bring uniformity of black color.
What to seek. A great cut, a smooth surface area and an abundant consistent shade is just what is gotten out of black ruby wedding celebration rings. Even if treated, a black ruby is still a diamond. Understand about the four Cs of rubies. They are Shade, Quality, Cut as well as Carat Weight. A black diamond ought to have a simple cut (16 facets). The areas need to be smooth. Color needs to be rich and also evenly dispersed. Clarity describes the presence of various other colors, impurities as well as flaws. The quality is rated as AAA, AA+, AA and A, with AAA being the very best. Carat is the weight of a ruby. As the thickness of a black ruby is higher, a one carat black diamond wedding rings shows up smaller sized compared to a one carat white ruby.
Look for real black rubies. The sides of a black diamond wedding rings show up dark brownish with a fiber optic light
Seek a combo of rubies. Jewelry black diamond wedding rings claims for a quite solid individuality. If your companion is even more of an imaginative and a very easy going person, a combination of a black and white ruby would certainly be a far better and much more gorgeous idea. It would be equilibrium between conventional and contemporary.
Await that HUGE costs. Black diamond wedding rings do not come for inexpensive. One might be worth an island or more. A lot better go for terms that say neglected or GIA approved. The term expensive black is made use of for neglected black diamonds.


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I need a Shopify developer for fix slider and home page
Budget £20-250 GBP
I need a Shopify developer for fix slider and home page
Awarded to:
Hi, Please send me your store login and tell me details about your slider. Relevant Skills and Experience shopify Proposed Milestones £33 GBP - milestone
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Black and white patterns, colourful patterns, monochrome patterns, it really doesn't matter, it's up to you as long as you keep it pattern! This s/s patterns combined with floral prints are an absolute Must Have!
Brian Dales this season has made some beautiful pattern and floral printed dresses in different colours. Like this Purple and blue coloured dress. Or the bright one with flowers all over.
Or even the Roberto Cavalli mini and maxi dresses with sweet patterns mixed with small flowers.
Moschino has as well made cute pattern covered dresses in purple tones.


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Don't miss out! Join the thousands of people who subscribe to our once-daily email or our free miles and points Facebook group with all the best travel news. Some links on this page may pay me a commission - as always, thanks for your support if you use them
Some news and interesting stories from around the travel world.
- One Mile at a Time reports on what $65 / night gets you in the Maldives. It's a far cry from some of the luxury hotels we USUALLY associate with the Maldives!
- From TravelMole, an AirIndia flight is grounded after a fight between pilots in the cockpit!
- EasyJet is under fire for denying boarding to a 14 year old girl traveling alone because she didn't have a credit card to pay for a baggage fee.
- The Forward Cabin had a great post about how you can take a hypothetical 12 days of vacationa year, combine those with holidays and get 37 days of travel!
- View from the Wing had an interesting article about how to get all over the world without any foreign language skills. My favorite comment on that article was "As for how you can expect to be treated ask yourself — how do I treat non English speakers in my home town? If someone comes up to you on the street and says "uhhh, go me Elem Street where?" do you hit them and steal their money? Laugh at them? No, odds are you do your best to help them. And that's how (most) people will treat you." 😛


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So it isn't Monday, but I am going to give my goals not just for this week, but for the rest of the summer (or until I leave September 2nd). Besides, Peter has gone all soft in the sweltering city heat, so I will have to state my goals here on my own blog. How dare he ;)
I had some grand ideas of what I would like to do, but then I had to evaluate those to figure out what is physically possible to do. So here it goes:
- Finish the bleeping shirtwaist dress for once and for all. I did actually make some headway on it before the new store opened. Well two steps forward and then a couple back. Did I ever tell you how difficult it is to rip out a crooked buttonhole? Moving on!
- Decide on two patterns to actually sew up before I leave for Italy. The first being a dress to wear on our anniversary trip to Cinque Terre and one for...whatever. The second is completely open. Just something that I will *actually* finish. Fabric and notions must be purchased and ready to go.
- Set-up new sewing area. Obviously this will have to happen before goals one and two, but those are much more fun to think about. This goal involves opening boxes and rearranging things in a different house than my own. I should also take this opportunity to try to see what I absolutely need with me to sew a garment. This info will be helpful in packing my sewing gear to take to Rome.
- Finish sewing for others. At this point that will involve a pocket and a button. If I get on goal two and three, I may have time for an overdue romper.
- Use my vintage sewing machine. It shames me that I have this great machine, repaired and ready to go and it has been collecting dust. So shameful, I know. But one of the two garments I sew must be sewed on the New Home. Otherwise, it is just a beautiful doorstop. Whatever it may be, I need to decide.
- Sew said garments. Obviously not in the same week, I am not trying to go crazy before moving to a different country. But, they must be street ready. So if the hem is not done, and buttons aren't attached: it. is. not. done.
So there we have it. I am not giving myself too long to figure out the logistics of the two patterns. Those will be decided by tomorrow. I would also like to use fabric I already have in my stash for both projects, but I will not hold myself to that. What would be the fun of that? ;)
I think that sounds reasonable. Although, I think I need something to motivate me even more...some type of repercussion if I fail. Maybe if I don't get to at least one goal done by next Tuesday I will have to give away fabric from my stash. And it will not be of my choosing. I will have Laurel do it. She'll know where it will hurt the most. Let's see how motivating those four little letters on that black bag are...
Laurel and faithful followers (even possible potential owners of my coveted stash) are with me? Will you hold me accountable?!


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Hello everyone!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it-if not, I hope you had a wonderful whatever-else-you-celebrate!). I know I did.
For fun, since it's been a while, let's bring back the old Ask-me-questions thing! So ask me questions in the comments below and I'll answer them!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Expedition- Day 2
I honestly don't remember exactly where this was. We saw this kind of view regularly.
August 15th, 2010
We're at the Waterfalls Campground today. We had heard that it was a beautiful site, so we decided to spend a good day here. So today's hike was a mere 4.5 kms.
We followed the creek for most of it (hiking South), until it split, one part going East and one going West. The West section comes down from a huge waterfall, which is where the camp gets its name (surprise). The campground location really is beautiful. Standing near the camp looks down over a hill, with the water fall on our left and the creek at the bottom.
Today was leisurely. We spent most of the afternoon playing in the water, washing our shirts and faces and hair. My feet feel wonderful after all the cool water. Surprisingly, the water is the perfect temperature, and not as frigid as one might imagine from a mountain stream. For drinking and cooking, we filter all our water. We have three hand pumps and to pump enough water for meals (for the 9 of us) takes about an hour. I'm getting used to the weight in my pack (about 40lbs) and really enjoying it. It's really so far a remarkable trip.
More waterfall.
A really lovely pool in the creek, which was nice and deep and cool, perfect for wading.
The waterfall.
I have to remember to ask my dad what these little flowers are. They were growing all over the hill.
My pack on the table.
A casuality.
Ah, yes. Here we are. The Green Throne Privy (That's what they're actually called in the pamphlet). Yep, these are the toilets on the trail. Don't expect privacy.
Posted by Dan at 20:35 1 comment:
Labels: Jasper expedition
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Introducing the MQTT Security Fundamentals
Recently we did a survey asking about the most important MQTT topics you think we should cover next. As already mentioned in last week's post the winner is Securing MQTT. So today we will start a new series called the MQTT Security Fundamentals. We hope that you are as excited as we are to discover a new part of MQTT Security every week. This first post will be more general and introductory as the upcoming ones, which will dive more into the nitty gritty about the different areas of security in MQTT. Ok, lets get started.
Why is security essential for the Internet of Things?
In our digital and global world security is prominent every day, it doesn't matter if you are making a bank transfer, buying stuff online or access personal documents over the internet. The idea of the Internet of Things is to connect every object in order to make process more efficient, provide more comfort or improve our work and personal life in any kind of way. But connecting objects like cars, homes, machines also exposes lots of sensitive data. For example the location of all people in an household. Maybe it is good to know what your family members are up to, but it is not ideal to share these information with a burglar. There are different kinds of data, which are not meant for the public and should be protected by the pillars of information security: confidentiality, integrity and availability. There is also another take to it, when real machines or things are compromised, an attacker can do harm to real people. Like activating the breaks remotely in your car while driving or sabotage machines. Even if there is no real person involved, as we all know the exposure of sensitive data can damage the reputation of companies big time. So with more and more data that is collected every day and more devices being around in our lives security is a topic that is crucial and more important than ever.
Security Challenges in IoT
There shouldn't be any doubt about whether security should be implemented or not, but the Internet of Things brings new challenges to the table. While security is already often a trade-off between highly secure and great usability, it gets even more interesting in the Internet of Things. IoT devices are often constrained in computing power and memory capacity. Therefore it is a challenge to use cryptographic algorithms which often need more resources than the tiny devices have all together. Another challenge is updating devices in the field. There is often only an unreliable connection available and security critical things call for immediate updates, which can be difficult to roll out to all devices at once. Additionally the challenge of making security intuitive for the user is more relevant than ever, because the acceptance of users depends on easy installation and maintenance. Nevertheless security should always be present when developing IoT applications from the very beginning.
Approach to security in MQTT
So after we provided some context let's dive right into how MQTT handles security. If you want to freshen up your MQTT knowledge first, make sure you read the MQTT Essentials before reading any further, we will assume you already know the concepts of the protocol.
Security in MQTT is divided in multiple layers. Each layer prevents different kind of attacks. The goal of the protocol is to provide a really lightweight and easy to use communication protocol for the internet of things. So that's why in the protocol itself are only a few security mechanisms clearly specified. But in all common implementations other state-of-the-art security standards are used, like SSL/TLS for transport security. The idea behind is that security is hard and there is no good in embedding non-standard security mechanisms and instead build upon generally accepted standards. So in the following the different levels will only be covered briefly, we will have designated posts for each of them in the series. This should only serve as high level overview and big picture.
Network Level
Using a physically secure network or VPN as foundation for any communication between clients and broker is one way to provide a secure and trustworthy connection. This would be suitable for gateway applications, where the gateway is connected to devices on the one hand and with the broker over VPN on the other side.
Transport Level
When the goal is to provide confidentiality in most cases TLS/SSL is being used for transport encryption. It provides a secure and proven way to make sure nobody can read along and even authenticate both sides, when using client certification authentication. We will also cover in detail the feasibility of TLS on constrained devices.
Application Level
On the transport level it can be ensured that the communication is encrypted and the identity is authenticated. The MQTT protocol provides a client identifier and username/password credentials, which can also be used to authenticate devices on the application level. These properties are provided by the protocol itself. When it comes to authorization or what each device is allowed to do, it lays in the hand of the broker implementation, how to handle it. Another possibility is to use payload encryption on the application level in order to make the transmitted information secure even without having a full fledged transport encryption.
Scope of the series
So this was already a very brief overview of what we will cover over the next 10 weeks. Our goal is to discuss all major pillars of Security in MQTT and best practices. We don't have the aspiration to cover all topics in an equally detail level. But to focus on the ones, which are most commonly used and show practical examples. Another topic will be potential attacks on an MQTT solution and how to prevent these from the beginning. As already mentioned we will also cover how to adapt available security mechanisms to constrained devices. MQTT provides a lot of options to make it completely secure, but still there is no silver bullet and the security requirements are often dependent on the use case.
We hope todays overview has motivated you to follow our series of the MQTT Security Fundamentals, if you want to get notify as soon as we publish the next post, you can subscribe to our newsletter or RSS feed. You think we have missed some important topics? Please tell us, we are always open to questions and suggestions.
3 comments
Really appreciate the security series on IoT. Hope you will get into the specifics from a risk perspective. I'm interested in hearing about the specific threats and vulnerabilities that we should focus on that are particularly relevant to IoT devices.
COAP is one of the IOT protocol. LWM2M runs over COAP that provide bootstrapping(secure handshake between client and server). Is there same thing in MQTT too? Please share the security comparison between these too.


text: One more shoe brand joins the sale rush. VNC is having their mid-year sale, with prices slashed off up to 70% off. Check out VNC at Robinsons Galleria, Glorietta III, Robinsons Place Manila, TriNoma, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and SM North Edsa Annex.


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Starting a screen printing business can be a fun and lucrative endeavor, especially for an entrepreneur with many connections in his or her community. Schools, churches, clubs, businesses, sports teams, and many other types of organizations use t-shirts and other printed apparel as uniforms and gifts or for special events, so there is always a need for high-quality screen printing services. Starting a successful business also entails having the right screen printing supplies.
The Press
A manual press is a good piece of equipment to start out with, especially if the plan is to start small, and a high-quality machine can see a business through a lot of growth. A tabletop press can fit into a small space, and attaching it to a cart can make it conveniently mobile. Upgrading to an automatic press to handle a higher volume of work is a great alternative to hiring an extra employee. A good automatic press can do a week's worth of manual work in just a few hours. In terms of ink colors, most screen printers find that four colors are the minimum needed in order to create sufficiently detailed designs.
The Screen
The screen is a framed mesh through which an image is transferred. The mesh is first coated with an emulsion and allowed to dry, and then the desired image is burned into the screen with UV light. The result is a negative stencil of the image that can be placed on the fabric for the transfer of ink. Meshes come in many different sizes, in terms of frame length and width and mesh thickness. The mesh count is the number of thread intersections per square inch. The higher the thread count, the more detailed the design.
The Software
Business owners need a software package that is geared … Read More ...


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Yesterday, we posted an article on phosphorus in Lakes. Today, we are going to learn some basic information about the effects of dissolved Oxygen in Lakes.
Dissolved Oxygen in Lakes (from Chapter 2 - Dept of Ecology publication) link above and below.
Why Is It Important?
Like terrestrial animals, fish and other aquatic organisms need oxygen to live. As water moves past their gills (or other breathing apparatus), microscopic bubbles of oxygen gas in the water called dissolved oxygen (DO), are transferred from the water to their blood. Like any other gas diffusion process, the transfer is efficient only above certain concentrations. In other words, oxygen can be present in the water, but at too low a concentration to sustain aquatic life. Oxygen also is needed for many chemical reactions that are important to lake functioning.
Reasons for Natural Variation
Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis and consumed during respiration and decomposition. Because it requires light, photosynthesis occurs only during daylight hours. Respiration and decomposition, on the other hand, occur 24 hours a day. This difference alone can account for large daily variations in DO concentrations. During the night, when photosynthesis cannot counterbalance the loss of oxygen through respiration and decomposition, DO concentrations steadily decline. They are lowest just before dawn, when photosynthesis resumes.
Please see chart that shows the Relationship Between Temperature and Oxygen Solubility.http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/management/joysmanual/dissolvedoxygen.html
Other sources of oxygen include the air and inflowing streams. Oxygen concentrations are much higher in air, which is about 21 percent oxygen, than in water, which is a tiny fraction of 1 percent oxygen. Where the air and water meet, this tremendous difference in concentration causes oxygen molecules in the air to dissolve into the water. More oxygen dissolves into water when wind stirs the water; as the waves create more surface area, more diffusion can occur. A similar process happens when you add sugar to a cup of coffee – the sugar dissolves. It dissolves more quickly, however, when you stir the coffee. Rivers and streams also deliver oxygen to lakes, especially if thy are turbulent and thus well aerated when they reach the lake. Consequently, natural variation of DO concentration in lakes is also caused by weather and changes in inflowing streams (e.g., higher, more turbulent flow during winter months).
Another physical process that affects DO concentrations is the relationship between water temperature and gas saturation. Cold water can hold more gas – that is DO – than warmer water. Warmer water becomes "saturated" more easily with oxygen. As water becomes warmer it can hold less and less DO. So, during the summer months or in the warmer top portion of a lake, the total amount of oxygen present may be limited by temperature.
Dissolved oxygen concentrations may change dramatically with lake depth. Oxygen production occurs in the top portion of a lake, where sunlight drives the engines of photosynthesis. Oxygen consumption is greatest near the bottom of a lake, where sunken organic matter decomposes. In deeper, stratified, lakes, this difference may be acute – plenty of oxygen near the top but practically none near the bottom. If the lake is shallow and easily mixed by the wind, the DO concentration may be fairly consistent throughout the water column.
Putting the Squeeze on Fish
Mid-summer, when strong thermal stratification develops in a lake, may be a very hard time for fish. Water near the surface of the lake – the epilimnion – is too warm for them, while water near the bottom – the hypolimnion has too little oxygen. Conditions may become especially serious during a spate of hot, calm weather, resulting in the loss of many fish. You may have heard about summertime fish kills in local lakes that likely result from this problem.
Seasonal changes also affect dissolved oxygen concentrations. Warmer temperatures during summer speed up the rates of photosynthesis and decomposition. When all the plants die at the end of the growing season, their decomposition results in heavy oxygen consumption. Other seasonal events, such as changes in lake water levels, volume of inflows and outflows, and presence of ice cover, also cause natural variation in DO concentrations.
Expected Impact of Pollution
To the degree that pollution contributes oxygen-demanding organic matter (like sewage or lawn clippings) or nutrients that stimulate growth of organic matter, pollution causes a decrease in average DO concentrations. If the organic matter is formed in the lake, for example by algae growth, at least some oxygen is produced during growth to offset the eventual loss of oxygen during decomposition. However, in lakes where a large portion of the organic matter is brought in from outside the lake, the balance between oxygen production and oxygen consumption becomes skewed and low DO may become even more of a problem.
Dissolved oxygen concentrations are reported in units of milligrams of gas per liter of water – mg/L. (The unit mg/L is equivalent to parts per million – ppm.) There is no numerical Washington State water quality standard for oxygen in lakes. The standard reads - there will be "no measurable decrease from natural conditions." DO concentrations for three Western Washington lakes are shown in the table to provide values for comparison.
The next section talks about pH in lake water.
Chapter Four provides information on how to collect and analyse samples for dissolved oxygen.
Temperature Oxygen pH Secchi Nutrients Turbidity Chlorophyll Fecal Coliforms Return to Table of Contents
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Citizen's Guide to Monitoring Lakes and Streams
Posted by Latte Rebublic at 12:37 PM
Labels: Lake Whatcom
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Unpublished Paper
Designing Bankruptcy Auctions: The Indubitable Value of Credit BiddingExpressO (2010)
AbstractNow that most chapter 11 "reorganizations" are glorified asset sales in which the debtor uses bankruptcy to prepare itself for auction, the design of sale procedures has be-come a paramount concern to bankruptcy practitioners and courts. Among the choices they face is whether — and if so, how — to permit credit bidding, the practice of offsetting the value of a creditor's claim against the purchase price of the debtor's assets. This paper shows that credit bidding tends to augment, and cannot depress, total creditor recoveries, and we therefore conclude that it should be a mandatory feature of bankruptcy auctions. Yet two recent decisions hold that a bankruptcy court may cram down a plan of reorganization that denies secured creditors the right to bid credit. We argue that these cases were wrongly decided as a matter of both law and policy. In their parsing of one Code provision — 11 U.S.C. §1129(b) — the courts lost sight of what we think crucial: Even where a proposed plan satisfies the strictures of §1129(b), the court may cram down a plan only in its sound discretion. As it is always an abuse of discretion to order something that can lower but not increase stakeholder recoveries, we conclude that bankruptcy courts should be obligated to permit credit bidding.
- Credit Bidding,
- Philadelphia Newspapers,
- Pacific Lumber,
- 363(k),
- 1129(b)
Publication DateFebruary 10, 2010
Citation InformationVincent S. J. Buccola and Ashley C. Keller. "Designing Bankruptcy Auctions: The Indubitable Value of Credit Bidding" ExpressO (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/vincent_buccola/3/


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Deuteronomy 32:36
"For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free."
"For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free."
Today was a bit exhausting for me, and not to forget exhausting for Endurance.
Endurance's feeds were turned off again today. He was getting 1ml an hour, which is about 1/5th tsp. It goes back and forth, on and off so often that I don't wonder why he doesn't gain much weight. He's now at 4.7 kilos, which is a little under 10 1/2 lbs. About 2 1/2 pounds weight gain since birth. The doctor's explanation for today's food shutdown was for Endurance's agitation and high heart rates not coming down. He was still upset afterward too. The doctors really don't have a good explanation for his frequent agitation.
Endurance had 7 in-house visitors today, including an occupational therapist. She told me Endurance will start having little therapy sessions, training him to get his neck strengthened, so when he sleeps he doesn't shift his head backwards, almost touching his back. Definitely not a chiropractor's recommended position!
Endurance also had two different chaplains visit at two different times. One of them also has another job description and that's what Mike and I know him as. The other one, a woman, came to meet me. I must admit that I felt completely uncomfortable. I didn't send for her and I really didn't want to talk to her at that moment. If I want to talk about the possibility of our son dying, I'd rather talk to Mike, one of our elders, or a godly friend. Sorry, I just feel like they are "pushing" Endurance through their line sometimes. She did get Hannah and Noah doughnuts though. Buttering them up???
Endurance smiles now when he's happy! Absolutely adorable!!!! He tries to say baby "hello's" as well. He seems to be pretty out-going.
Thank you again for all of your prayers and encouraging words!!!! I'm hoping to have a better day tomorrow.
Oh, something cute: yesterday Endurance was going to have the dear McKinley family from church visit, so I asked for a comb to get rid of Endurance's "mad scientist" hair. His nurse Kelly said, "well let's just give him a shampoo and make him smell good instead." Great! After he was finished and hair all dolled up, Kelly gave him a kiss on his forehead and said, "I shouldn't have done that without asking, but he's soooo cute! I love him!" Endurance will put Kelly on his nurse request form!


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Basically, these are my weapons for today. A lotion, q tip, and nail polish.
After applying the lotion, you will have a hand similar to this. All oily and that.
And after applying the polish, you might have a hand similar to my hand as shown above. The thing is I actually painted my nails carefully as ever. Oh well. I miss long nails. SOON! Okay so to remove the mess, you would be needing the q tip you used awhile ago to apply the lotion so don't throw that yet okay?
VOILA! Ain't this the cleanest picture I showed you? YUP! is the answer. LOL. And since I used lotion, I then was able to moisturize the skin surrounding my nails too! Haha
That's all! :)


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Ural has issued a recall of certain 2006 Gear-Up, Patrol, Raven, and Tourist motorcycles.
On certain motorcycles, the wheel bearings may have been improperly installed at the factory. This can cause loose wheels or wheel lock up increasing the risk of a crash.
33 units are affected.
Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Ural Recalls Motorcycles for Improperly Installed Wheel Bearings
Labels: motorcycle recalls, motorcycle views, motorcycles, Ural


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Not Every Princess
For individuals in the U.S. & U.S. territories
Who do you want to be: a princess? Pirate? Teacher or scientist?
And where would you like to play: a castle? Pirate ship? Library or spacelab?
It's your decision to make, so think away. Your imagination and thoughts can create pictures and scenes, the most beautiful, amazing, picturesque dreams!
Also included is a Note to Parents and Caregivers filled with useful advice and strategies to help children imagine, play, and ultimately envision and inspire themselves beyond the limited roles and expectations that gender stereotypes create.
Jeffrey Bone, PsyD, and Lisa Bone, PhD, are psychologists in private practice in Orange County, California. Jeffrey graduated from Kenyon College and the California School of Professional Psychology. Lisa graduated from the University of Alabama and the California School of Professional Psychology.
They are parents to two girls, who have inspired them to create poetry and whimsical stories for their nightly entertainment. Their children are cute, but ferocious, and the authors do not dare to hold back silly words or ideas that make them laugh.
- Top Ten Title, ALA Rainbow List
This is another example of the excellent and instructive books published by the American Psychological Association.
—Spirituality and Practice
Not Every Princess has a strong positive message about using one's imagination to awaken one's full potential, and is highly recommended.
—Midwest Book Review
The thrust and charm of the poem is sweetly powerful, perfectly expressed and complemented by the swirling, stunning illustrations by Valeria Docampo. Not Every Princess is a children's title that constitutes required reading for all children (and their parents).
—Midwest Book Review
The authors keep their messaging to a minimum; coupled with the emotion and humor in Docampo's artwork, it goes a long way to helping the book feel like a book and not just a resource.
—Publisher's Weekly


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Defkalion to Build Factory in Northern Greece
Brian Wang brings more news about Defkalion -- the Cyprus based Greek company meant to build Andrea Rossi's E-Cat LENR devices and auxiliary power production apparatus for a 1 MW Athens plant.
PDF from Defkalion contains broadest inforamation available so far regarding the company's plans.
Defkalion Green Technologies has taken the Andrea Rossi E-Cat and created its products around it. Our products produce heat only – not electricity. Our current product line ranges from kW units (5 - 30kW) to MW units (1.15 - 3.45 MW). The actual E-Cat forms only the kernel of our products; it is the black-box so to speak. Building around the ECat, we have developed a complex unity of machinery and electronics that comprise the overall product, which we have named Hyperion.Images and more details at NBF link above.
Area A is the E-Cat and consists of:
• Metal tube(s) charged with Nickel and catalysts where the reaction with
hydrogen occurs inside to produce heat ranging from 5 up to 30KWh/h.
• A thermally closed circuit (typically glycol) to drive the produced heat out of the
module which cools the tube. This is integrated with a cooling liquid circulatorpump
(inverted- controlled by unit's electronics) in area C.
• A sealed (isolated thermal and led) internal box
• An electric radiator to heat the tube which starts the reaction consuming less
than 0,5kW/h _NBF
PDF from Defkalion contains broadest inforamation available so far regarding the company's plans.
Labels: LENR


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An off-center comedy composed mostly of actors from the popular troupe the Actor's Gang in California, this picture follows Joe (Mackenzie Astin), a young man who is told some unusual and unsettling news. His doctor has informed him that he has a virus spreading in his body and has only a few weeks left to live. After being prescribed painkiller lollipops, Joe decides to leave his desolate Texas existence to go on a quest to search for his grade-school sweetheart, Joyce (Jennifer Morrison. On the road...more
All The Zeros cast + crew photos
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2018 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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Low pressure looms over Kuwait
Director of Meteorology Department at Civil Aviation Directorate Mohammad Karam said that a low pressure extension may affect the country starting tonight and it is expected to last for at least 72 hours. The low pressure system could possibly result in rain clouds leading to gusty winds and dust storms. He said the change in wind activity may cause low horizontal visibility starting today with a sudden influx of high temperatures and thunderstorms, which will last until Saturday. He added that the temperatures will begin drop from Sunday onwards.
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
"Envy comes from wanting something that isn't yours. But grief comes from losing something you've already had."
Photo Gallery


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|Criminal Justice and Police Bill
Mr. Heald: My constituency is about 15 miles south of Huntingdon and scientists who live there have been persecuted in the way in which the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) outlined. I am determined that the law should be improved so that such activities are stopped, in so far as they can be. On Second Reading, my right hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon set the matter in context when he said that the experiments at Huntingdon Life Sciences are not optional, but necessary. They are experiments to find cures for cancer, AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, asthma and other serious conditions.
This country has a tremendous pharmaceutical industry. In Hertfordshire, we have some of the best companies in the world with some of the best research facilities. It is not just a matter of making money for Britain, but such research provides for the world cures for some terrible, crippling illnesses and diseases. I do not believe that this country is not wedded to animal welfare. We are. As a country, we take all possible precautions to ensure that animal welfare is compromised only in so far as it is absolutely necessary and where there is the overriding human concern, which is a necessity.
Mr. Hawkins: Does my hon. Friend agree that, in addition to the superb reputation of the companies in his constituency, within the London and Thames valley area of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry are 40,000 staff who are employed by its 17 member companies, which is two thirds of the industry's total for the United Kingdom? Those 17 member companies are investing more than £1.8 billion annually in this country's research and development. As my hon. Friend said, employees in that industry need protecting.
Mr. Heald: Yes. It is wrong that people who are doing the world a service as well as making money for Britain are subjected to the sort of harassment that we have heard about. I shall not cite examples, but I have received the type of letters that the hon. Member for Peterborough has received. In fact, at least one of them was the same. We have a duty to tackle such matters.
Dr. Ladyman: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the regulation system for animal experiments in the United Kingdom is the tightest and most comprehensive in the world and that the standard of welfare for those animals is the best in the world? The inevitable consequence of terrorism driving animal experiments abroad is that they will be done to a lower standard under a more lightly controlled regime.
Mr. Heald: That is exactly one of the commitments, or statements, that my right hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon asked the Minister to make on Second Reading, and I was pleased that the Minister did so. The Minister also pointed out that the exercise is not voluntary for those companies. They are required by law to apply such procedures to protect people who have such treatments applied to them to save them from serious illness. As my right hon. Friend said, the Thalidomide centre is in his constituency, so no one knows more than he about the possible effects if medicines are not properly tested and a regime such as the one that we have is not in place.
The points that my right hon. Friend made at the time that especially needed to be dealt with related to directors' and shareholders' addresses. The Government have introduced welcome proposals on directors' addresses, and I hope that the Minister will assure us that he will continue to examine the issue of shareholders' addresses and consider what action might be taken. Malicious communications are dealt with in the new clauses, which is welcome.
The point that my right hon. Friend made was that besetting people's homes should be unlawful. The proposal does not go that far. Although we shall support the proposal, my anxiety relates to an organised rota for a large number of activists going to someone's home. One of them might one day be told by the constable to leave, and might eventually leave or be dealt with. However, the following day there might be another one, who would be dealt with, followed by another.
The proposal would not necessarily stop the continuing conspiracy aspect of what is going on at the moment. I hope that the Minister will consider ideas to tackle that. New clauses 14 and 15 make an attempt to do so by providing protection from harassment by ending the requirement relating to the need for someone to have behaved in such a way on two separate occasions. Other ways may be available, and we should continue the search between now and Report, and even after Report if necessary, as the Bill proceeds to the Lords.
Secondary activity was another great anxiety that my right hon. Friend raised. He had in mind pressure on staff of financial institutions, such as banks and pension funds, as a result of the harassment of their employees. I should like an assurance from the Minister that his proposal will tackle that problem.
Although today we are being consensualI hope that Labour Members will support new clauses 14 and 15we are owed an explanation of the action of the Labour party pension fund. At a crucial moment it pulled the plug, and there is no doubt that that had a damaging effect on everyone else. If the Government's political party's pension fund pulls the plug on an important investment in Huntingdon Life Sciences on the basis of ethicswhich was, I understand, the basis on which it was portrayedwe are entitled to know what exactly were the ethics that drove the Labour party pension fund to do that. Perhaps the action had nothing to do with ethics but related simply to Labour party pension fund workers being threatened, and the Labour party deciding, as have others, that it could not afford to put its employees at risk. One way or the other, we are entitled to know.
The Government may want to reflect on the fact that in opposition they were very vocal on animal rights issues. I am all in favour of animal welfare, and I believe in peaceful protest, as do Labour Members. However, the point of fever pitch was reached on the issue. Before the general election, the Labour party accepted a substantial donation from a group that campaigned on animal welfare issues. Looking back on the matter, the Minister might say, ``The Labour party has made some mistakes in this area. Now we are in government, we have come to our senses. That is why we are bringing forward sensible proposals at this time.''
Mr. Hawkins: My hon. Friend has come to part of the point that I was going to make. It seemed to me, as it did to other Opposition Members and many people outside the House who had studied such issues, that there could be a third explanation. My hon. Friend has perhaps given part of the explanation in relation to the sudden decision by the Labour party pension fund to pull the plug. In addition to substantial donations by the animal rights lobby to the Labour party, it might be related to the fact that the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), who was then shadow spokesman on agricultural issuesand therefore on animal and animal welfare issuesand who is now a Minister, personally received a substantial donation. I raised the issue when we were in government and the Labour party was in opposition because it was entirely inappropriate for a Front Bench spokesman on such issues to take that money, which, of course, he declared. When he came into government and became the Minister as opposed to the shadow Minister, he, and, by implication, the whole Labour Government, were partis pris, which could only give comfort to the animal rights extremists.
Mr. Heald: As my hon. Friend says, the Labour party may have been silly in opposition, and I hope that it has come to its senses
Mr. Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green): Would the hon. Gentleman like to take the opportunity to make it absolutely clear that he is not in any sense attempting to claim that animal welfare organisations support terrorist operations or are in any way connected with the kind of activity that we have discussed this afternoon?
Mr. Heald: I am happy to confirm that.
Mr. McCabe: I was asking
The Chairman: Order.
Mr. Heald: I entirely accept that there is no such connection, and I did not say that there was.
On more detailed aspects, is the Minister saying that the sending of services such as funeral services, gravel and so on is covered by the law, either under the new clauses or the protection from harassment provisions?
What will be the impact on farms? The National Farmers Union has contacted me about serious incidents of intimidation and threats of violence outside farm premises by individuals who disagree with the method of farming that is being practised. Apparently, there have been terrorist attacks, including activities such as following the farmer's children to school and videoing elderly relatives of the farmer through a window.
The NFU is concerned about what ``in the vicinity'' means in that context. Will it be possible for those who are directed to move away simply to walk to the other side of the farm field and continue their activities? Under subsection (5), it is anticipated that the constable can make exception to his direction, including
Does that mean that constables have the power to direct persons to leave and stay a significant distance awayfor example, a mile or half a mileor just a few yards? The Minister will recall that, under section 65 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which was fully debated, a person who is within five miles of the boundary of the site of a rave can be instructed not to proceed in that direction. That is a much longer distance than the phrase, ``in the vicinity'' might suggest. Will the Minister clarify what that means?
|©Parliamentary copyright 2001
|Prepared 6 March 2001


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|Eliot Cutler. Photo from the Bangor Daily News.
Maine independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler should not drop out of the race. Frankly, I find all calls for him to do so--primarily coming from the Maine Democratic Party and liberal voters--highly anti-democratic.
A recent MPBN report on the candidates' campaign finances ("Viability of Cutler Campaign Questioned in Wake of Finance Reports," 7/23/2014), finds Cutler trailing Republican incumbent Paul LePage, and Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud, with only $527,000 on hand. Michaud, meanwhile, is leading with more than $1 million, with LePage following close behind, with a little more than $900,000, according to the report.
The independently-wealthy Cutler is largely self-financing his campaign--a fact MPBN reporter, A.J. Higgins makes the focus of the story. In the warped logic of our money-driven political system, Higgins and other local media pundits are using Cutler's comparative lack of campaign cash to further justify calls for him to drop out of the three-way race.
Higgins goes on to raise fears that Cutler will "take away votes," from Michaud (as if the latter candidate is somehow entitled to them) and, thus, "spoil" the governor's race. This accusatory word, "spoiler," holds a unique place in the U.S. political lexicon in that it applies exclusively to third-party candidates. It is the same asinine, discriminatory accusation Democrats continue to hold over Ralph Nader for allegedly "costing" Al Gore the 2000 presidential election.
The truth, of course, is that Gore won that election. It was the conservative-led Supreme Court, in refusing to allow the Florida vote recount to continue, that essentially anointed George W. Bush president.
But, as is often the case in the contemporary world of corporate politics, if voters are fed a false talking-point enough times, most of them come to accept it as true. Besides, why blame the real culprits for a stolen presidential election when you can just blame the long-admired consumer advocate who just happens to be the only candidate talking about corporate crime and single-payer health care?
Thus, this notion that third-party challengers to the corporate two-party duopoly are "spoilers" for the "real" candidate (i.e. the Democrat) persists in the minds' of voters and has carried over to the state-level. As a result, the rage--and that is the only accurate word to describe it--that Maine Democrats display toward Cutler is not much different from that which they hold for Nader.
Cutler, to his credit, says he is giving "zero thought--maybe less than zero, if that's possible--to getting out of this race." He notes, likewise, he has been forced to largely fund his own campaign given how severely Maine's election laws are stacked against third-party and independent candidates. Those same laws are the reason why the Maine Green Party is not running a gubernatorial candidate this year.
Let me be absolutely clear: I am not a Cutler supporter.
In fact, I find Cutler, overall, to be only slightly less conservative than LePage. He supports charter schools and merit-based-pay for teachers. He is anti-union. He talks of "reforming" welfare. His previous career as a corporate lobbyist and his general ties to business are worrisome. And, in his previous bid for governor in 2010, both Cutler and LePage cited New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as a politician they admire.
In fact, Cutler is not all that different from Sen. Angus King: Socially liberal (i.e. they don't hate gays and minorities) and fiscally conservative. But, like King, Cutler does not challenge the fundamental workings of the economy, foreign policy or capitalism. Though both claim to be "Independent," each would fit right in with either the Democrats or the Republicans. (In fact, King may be headed to the GOP himself come November, depending on which way the political winds blow.)
As such, neither King nor Cutler are truly good examples of third-party candidates, which traditionally have operated outside both the two-party structure, and its corporatist ideology.
That said, Cutler is by all indications not as extreme as LePage. He is clearly an intelligent, articulate adult, unlike the bullish, tantrum-inclined man-child currently representing the state. I do not think we would need to worry about a Gov. Cutler telling the NAACP to "kiss my butt," or making vulgar jokes about Vaseline to his opponents.
But I prefer to stick to the issues. Character traits and personality differences are best left to the cable-news networks to quibble over. While Cutler--and Michaud, for that matter--may not be as openly rude and hostile to the poor, welfare recipients or the unemployed as LePage has been, the two of them would pursue the same corporatist policies.
To that end, it is largely irrelevant who is elected governor in November. Strange as it is to be quoting George Will, the conservative syndicated columnist was correct when he claimed, in 2008, that elections are not about "whether elites shall rule, but which elite."
So, why am I standing up for Eliot Cutler if I do not even really support him, you ask? Because, unlike most liberals, I believe in every candidate's constitutional right to run for office--whether or not I agree with them ideologically. That is kinda the whole point of free speech, in fact.
Beyond that, I have this crazy idea that more candidates--and, thus, a wider range of discussion, debate, and choice--is actually a good thing for democracy. And why stop with just three candidates? I would like to see four, five, six...hell, ten, 15 or even 25 candidates from different parties on the ballot. Indeed, the U.S. remains stubbornly antiquated as the only industrialized democracy in the world that restricts its political choices to two parties. The fact that those two parties have become virtually indistinguishable in recent decades does not help matters.
If we utilized a ranked-choice or instant runoff voting system as many other countries do, not only would it create more room for a wider diversity of candidates, it would also negate the absurd "spoiler" argument as it would level the political playing-field. Such a system is not as "impossible" to achieve as one may think. Portland already elects its mayor via a ranked-choice ballot. Why not merely expand the procedure to Maine's statewide and Legislative elections?
Maine Democrats are, naturally, not too enthused about this idea. When I contacted Maine Speaker of the House Mark Eves earlier this year about the issue of ranked-choice voting, his assistant was adamant it is not something his party intends to pursue. In fact, the minute I said the words, "ranked-choice" she began yelling, "No! No! No!"
Adopting a ranked-choice voting system, Eves's spokesperson told me, would "ultimately be up to the people."
"But," she added, "it would never work if you didn't have a viable candidate."
Ummm... OK...
Whether the people the Speaker has answering the phones truly understand how ranked-choice voting works or have simply been instructed to stick to tired talking points of "viable" candidates, is not entirely clear.
I had a much less hostile--albeit briefer--conversation with Michaud's Communications Coordinator, Lizzy Reinholt. While she assured me Michaud, as governor, would remain invested in "opening Maine's electoral system to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents," restructuring the state's election system is, nonetheless, something he would approach with caution. Reinholt said Michaud would be particularly concerned about "the price-tag" such a restructuring would entail. She repeatedly stated such a "conversation" about IRV would have to be "serious," as if suggesting there is something inherently "non-serious" about the subject.
Clearly, the biggest hurdle to any sort of electoral reform in Maine--or nationally--is the Democratic Party.
This is ironic, given that it was the Dems' own candidate, milquetoast Libby Mitchell, who "spoiled" the race--to use their own word--in 2010 and got LePage elected in the first place. She received 19 percent of the vote. All the accusations that Cutler is "washed-up," and "incompetent" ignore the fact that he came within 200 votes of becoming governor.
Here is the takeaway: If Michaud is threatened by Cutler's campaign, the solution is not to disparage, demean, and otherwise denounce him into dropping out of the race. Rather, it means Michaud has to work all that much harder to convince voters that he--and not Cutler--is truly the best person to represent Maine.
But the Democrats are not interested in hard work. They think they are entitled to government office simply by virtue of being an Establishment party. Case in point is Nation reporter and standard-bearer liberal, Eric Alterman. In the Nader documentary, An Unreasonable Man, he derides third-party voters as "stupid," and "people who know nothing about politics."
But until we truly open our electoral system to a range of candidates and parties, I tip my hat to anybody who attempts to challenge that Establishment.
Send love letters, advice, hate mail, or other correspondence to firstname.lastname@example.com, or via carrier pigeon. If you like what you read here on Guerrilla Press, make a donation via the "Donate" button. Any amount is greatly appreciated. I realize people get sick of being hit up for donations on the Internet. But such is capitalism...


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John Panzer wrote: > That is, if my review the content of a blog entry, and my entry's > title > is my blog entry's title, do I need to repeat it? Or can readers use > "headline" for whatever they'd normally use "summary" for? > > Since "summary" is optional, this isn't as critical as "author", > but it > would be nice to know what the best thing to do is where you really do > want to supply it, but want to avoid duplication. In hAtom, we could just use multiple class names, e.g.:

Review of Something
 But when that gets converted into Atom (or read directly by an aggregator), it will no longer be recognizable as an hReview, because it's not part of the content. To have it included in the content, it would need to be like:

Review of Something

Review of Something
 So how would we use hAtom to syndicate microformatted data without such redundancy? Or is that a 20% case? Peace, Scott