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As the upper school librarian at the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., a northwest suburb of Washington, D.C., I'm viewed as a valued resource by teachers who are preparing to embark on research projects with their students. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of spending more than a single class period with students, so it is important that I use the time well. Toward that end, I have developed a set of tools that allows me to optimize my time with them by "flipping" what are traditionally viewed as classroom tasks (lectures) with what are traditionally viewed as homework tasks (researching and writing). I give them information about conducting library research before we ever meet, and I use the time in the classroom to help them digest and use that information to complete their work. A great deal of flipped learning is occurring in classrooms, but it's clear to me that the library or media center is a perfect place for flipping. (See the sidebar on p. 10 for more information on flipped learning.)
While assignments vary, and, therefore, so do my presentations, I typically have no more than 50 minutes to lay out everything to students. Still, I always try to cover all of the following: how to locate encyclopedias and books on their topics, how to construct effective search expressions, which databases to use, where to find copyright-free images for multimedia presentations, how to power search in Google for primary source documents and authoritative sources, and how to use our citation software (NoodleTools) to generate an acceptable MLA-style works cited page. How do I do this, plus leave time for students to log on and start researching? I lay groundwork ahead of time and leave them with loads of online help for the days that lie ahead. Throw into the mix the fact that I often have new students in the class, or a handful are on a field trip or out sick, and the benefits of flipping the presentation become even more apparent.
I have found that by relegating the nuts and bolts of the library to videos, project pages (webpages), and screen shots, I can use my limited time more efficiently with students because I am freed up to give them help that is personalized to their assignment and their topic.
Having spent the past few years as both middle school and upper school librarian, I have been invited into a wide variety of classrooms—not only English, history, geography, math, biology, and chemistry but also the more atypical classes of psychology, Latin, Spanish, and even choir. Working with each teacher, I create a project webpage, which is an online pathfinder ("pathfinders" being what we used to call the printed handout that would guide patrons to the library resources on a given topic). Many libraries use LibGuides (http://springshare.com/libguides) to create online pathfinders, but a while ago, I learned some rudimentary HTML, which I use to make my own library guides. With the help of TechSmith's excellent screen capture software, Snagit (www.techsmith.com/snagit.html), and its screen recording and video editing software, Camtasia (www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html), I am able to provide 24/7 support to my students.
Tips and How-To's
Over the past few years, I've come up with a short list of suggestions to assist others who are beginning to add some flipped learning elements to their practice. Here are a few tips for "flipping your library":
• Off-load the teaching of library skills: There is no getting around the fact that students need to know their way around the library and the various databases if they want to be successful. It's important that I be the one to teach that, but it's inefficient for me to repeatedly explain classification schemes, Boolean searching, and setting up their MLA works cited page in NoodleTools. If I have six or seven classes of 10th-grade history students, it is far better that I teach those things once through a screen cast (lecture capture) or with a webpage that they view at home ahead of time and, instead, spend my limited time in class providing one-on-one or small-group help. For example, I used to have to spend time explaining how to decipher the index entry of our science encyclopedias when preparing chemistry students for their Founding Fathers of Chemistry project. Now, thanks to a simple graphic that I've put online for students to review as needed, I can spend my time addressing the more important issue of why using entries in print encyclopedias published by credentialed teams of editors is usually a safer bet than using Wikipedia's articles (see the graphic in Figure 1 and online at http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/_chemistry_10_bones_founding_fathers.html).
Similarly, rather than take up valuable class time explaining the finer points about conducting an advanced search in a particular database that some of them may already know, or some of them won't need to know, why not take some screen shots and put them on a webpage for students to view as needed? (See Figure 2 and online at http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/jstor_advanced_search.html.)
• The librarian's prime directive—meet their information needs and answer their questions: For me, that means giving them just what they need to complete the assignment, no more and no less. My students are generally not librarians-in-training, so I try to avoid bogging them down with anything beyond exactly what they need; even though I am fascinated by the possibilities of Boolean operators and truncation symbols, they most likely are not. And most of the time they need quick reminders, not full-blown tutorials. For instance, when the English department discovered too late that its books were not going to arrive in time at the school store, I was able to make a 2-minute screen cast showing students how to download the title from our collection of ebooks to their Kindles, tablets, or computers. Experienced students could view it and then turn to the task of downloading; new or less-experienced students could use the pause button to follow my instructions and visuals step by step. The teacher posted the link on his website (we use Haiku), and students were able to have the first chapter read in time for class the next day. Watch the screen cast at http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/camtasia/kinder/ragged_dick.html.
• The 80/20 rule: With experienced upper school students, my goal is to spend no more than 20% of the class time talking and 80% of the time letting them research independently while I walk around the room and look over their shoulders, answer questions, and help them craft better search expressions. With middle school students or freshmen and sophomores, my percentage drops to 60/40 or even 50/50. To address the greater need they have for building solid library skills, I created a more polished video on how to cite an article from a print encyclopedia using an online citation software program. Unlike the video mentioned above that was made on-the-fly for a one-time use, for this video I used PowerPoint, wrote out a script, practiced, and made a few edits, knowing that it would have a longer shelf life and be viewed over and over again. Take a look at http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/camtasia/noodlebib_mla_starter_03_print_encyclopedia.htm.
While I don't make videos like that for every class, I do create what I call a "project page" for each class I work with. Everything I reviewed with students in the classroom is repeated on this page, complete with reminders, graphics, and my contact information. You can view a project page for a seventh-grade Spanish class at http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/_spanish_1a_spanish_speaking_country_barbieri.html.
A project page for ninth-grade world history students who were using Weebly to create a website specific to a country and a problem related to development can be seen at http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/_history_chellman_09_dev_world_weebly.html.
And here is one for AP U.S. History students who were using Facebook to create fan pages for their favorite 19th-century reformer: http://ecbiz108.inmotionhosting.com/~ineedg5/_history_apush_romeyn_19thc_facebook.html.
• Point of need: Students need the help of the librarian most when they have left school for the day and are sitting at home trying to wade through all the information in our online databases. To help them at this juncture, I will sometimes work with the classroom teacher to pick a strategic date or two for a scheduled online chat session. I will quickly install a chat window on my webpage (Meebo, until it was recently bought by Google) and keep it open for a few hours in the evening, allowing me to help students on a one-to-one basis. Again, that's a better use of my time—let them learn how to look up a book in the catalog by reviewing a screen shot but come to me directly with the more important problems, such as trying to decide whether or not they can cite the manuscript reproduced within the article as a primary source. I've found that a fairly small percentage of the students will actually use the chat box, but those who do are so appreciative that it is clearly worth my time to offer this kind of help.
• Get out of the office and rethink your space: As I walk through the hallways and observe flipped learning classes, I often see what might be described as chaos. Chairs are not in neat and tidy rows, the teacher is not at the head of the room, and some students are conferring while others work independently. The physical space of a flipped class is different, and consequently, so is the physical space of our library. First, we gave less priority to the storing of books and greater priority to the meeting of minds; by tightening up our shelving, taking a long hard look at some the books that had been languishing on our shelves for years, and increasing the portion of our budget that goes to digital resources, we found that we were able to triple the space devoted to tables and chairs. Second, the two librarians reprioritized their work areas, opting to make the shared office a secondary space and the desks out on the floor our primary spaces. Finally, we are not always a "quiet" library, realizing that the group work and collaboration that comes with a flipped classroom often necessitates animated discussions among students.
As you consider flipping your media center, know that you don't have to do this alone. Work with your colleagues to capture lectures, directions, and assignments in a digital format. Keep them short and sweet. My personal goal is to never go beyond 3 minutes; if I do, odds are that I am covering too much and should break it into two or three discrete screen casts. And while my first videos tended to be more elaborate, I soon decided that my approach was in conflict with my goal of increased efficiency, as the time spent with retakes and editing started to exceed the time I would have spent preparing and presenting an entire lecture on the subject. I've gotten better with practice, and so will you. I've also found that students appreciate having control over their learning. Posting webpages and videos allows them greater control over choosing the time, pace, place, and path of their library instruction. As Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams, authors of Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day (ISTE/ASCD, 2012), like to say, "Do you need it perfect or by Tuesday?" Go ahead and try, I think you'll find that the effort is well worth it!
Pat Semple is the upper school librarian at the Bullis School in Potomac, Md. Email her at email@example.com.
The Flipped Learning Network
Kari M. Arfstrom
Executive Director of Flipped Learning Network
Providing a national network for emerging and established flipped educators was important to Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams, the pioneers of this growing educational ideology. Thus, the Flipped Learning Network (FLN) was formed in early 2012. The mission for this new nonprofit is to provide educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources to successfully implement flipped learning.
The goals of the FLN are to provide professional learning opportunities on flipped learning; to conduct, collaborate, and disseminate relevant research on flipped learning; and to act as the clearinghouse for distributing best and promising practices for current and future flipped educators.
Educators, including teachers, media specialists, and administrators, in K–12 and higher education are encouraged to join Ning, a free online community of learning. With more than 50 groups to join, including one for librarians, users will find peer assistance on a variety of related topics. Questions can also be posted in the discussion forums. Sample videos can be posted and viewed. More than 10,000 flipped educators have already joined and actively participating in this free forum.
The FLN is hosting the 2012–2013 Flipped Learning Network Webinar Series, which started last October. The series, called The Many Subjects of Flipped Learning, is free and comprises eight subject-specific webinars, continuing until May. Past events are archived. Topics include English/language arts, math, foreign languages, science, administrator's role and PD, social studies/history, and elementary grades.
The FLN also invites you to attend the Annual Flipped Conference June 17–19, 2013, in Stillwater, Minn., a charming suburban town on the St. Croix River, about 30 minutes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. The Monday preconference is an all-day, hands-on training workshop to learn how to capture video lectures. The 2-day conference will immerse practitioners in the pedagogy of flipped learning with three plenary sessions and dozens of concurrent sessions to pick from.
For more information about the Flipped Learning Network and any of the programs listed above, visit www.flippedlearning.org or contact Kari Arfstrom at email@example.com.


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ClinkedIn is a group of young advertising and marketing professionals within The Ad Club. Membership in ClinkedIn is by invitation only.
The purpose of the group is to engage and involve the next generation of Boston's marketing and advertising leaders. The group meets for regular networking events around the city every other month.
For more information please contact Kate McCabe

subset: commoncrawl


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Topic 24
• International Monetary Fund
The IMF provides definitions, guidelines for compiling data, and statistics about remittances as part of its keeping track of balance of payments between nations. This page provides a link to the IMF's Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, which defines remittances and provides guidelines for collecting and preparing remittances statistics.
- World Bank Group
Various departments and programs of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation provide data, analysis, and policy regarding remittances and their impact on development.
- The Development Prospects Group seeks to monitor and forecast remittance and migration flows and to provide timely analysis on topics such as remittances, migration, and diaspora issues related to general global economic trends, The webpage links to the Migration and Remittances Factbook, which has been updated to 2011 and provides annual remittance data beginning in 1997 for 210 countries, regions, and income groups of the world and to other resources and publications related to remittances.
- The Poverty Reduction and Equity Group's webpage on Migration and Development links to a publication on the International Migration of Women and to other reports and data related to remittances.
This group prepares two of the bank's "flagship" publications:
- Global Development Finance. Chapter of the 2003 issue is widely credited with having brought public attention to remittances and development: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRGDF/Resources/GDF2003-Chapter7.pdf
- Global Economic Prospects. The 2006 issue focuses on the economic implications of remittances and the bank's policy to reduce remittance transaction costs: http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTDECPROSPECTS/GEPEXT/EXTGEP2006/0,,contentMDK:20709766~menuPK:1026823~pagePK:64167689~piPK:64167673~theSitePK:1026804,00.html
- The Development Research Program on International Migration and Development gathers data and conducts analysis the Determinants and Impact of Migration and Remittances. This site describes the methods and findings of household survey research about the impact of remittances on poverty and inequality related to health, education, housing, and entrepreneurship for Guatemala, Mexico, Ghana, New Zealand and Samoa:
- Financial and Private Sector webpage on Payment Systems and Remittances provides documents describing the bank's research and policy to reduce costs and increase the efficiency, reliability, and security of remittance transfers:
- The Gender and Development webpage provides access to research publications that address gender and remittances, which can be found by searching for "remittances" on this website:
- People Move: A Blog about Migration, Remittances, and Development
Initiated by lead economist Dilip Ratha, this blog provides access to data, analysis, and commentary on current trends related to remittances and development as written by six regular bloggers and eight guest bloggers, all of whom work for the bank:
- Inter-American Development Bank
The IDB's Multilateral Investment Fund (FOMIN) reports on its policies toward enhancing remittance flows and their development impacts and provides data and research reports about remittances and their impact to Latin American and the Caribbean from all parts of the world.
- Department for International Development (UK)
The DfID Remittance Information Library, which is called "Money Move," provides comprehensive thematic and geographically categorized links to publications on remittances.
Searching the DfID website for "remittances" turns up additional DfID studies, reports, news and resources:
DfID's strategy toward migration and development, including remittances, is described in a policy paper, "Moving Out of Poverty, Making Migration Work Better for Poor People": http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/migration-policy-paper-draft.pdf
- United States Agency for International Development
The USAID's Global Development Partnership program, which links public and private enterprise, has launched a Diaspora Networks Alliance (DNA) to leverage migrant resources, including remittances, for development.
A "PDF Full Text Search" for "remittances" in the USAID publications library, Development Experience Clearing House, provides access to many research and policy publications related to remittances.
- International Organization on Migration
The IOM supports policy and research activities related to migration and development. A search for "remittances" yields many of IOM's publications on the topic generally and in numerous countries.
- Overseas Development Institute
ODI is a research and policy organization that has focused on international and internal migration and development, including remittances:
ODI has examined remittances during crises: implications for humanitarian response
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
A search for remittances on the UNECE homepage provides access to numerous research and policy documents of interest.
http://www.unece.org/unece/welcome.htmlFor researchers interested in household surveys, a joint meeting of the UNECE, World Bank, and US Census Bureau on January 14-15, 2008 examined the use of household surveys in measuring remittances in sending and receiving countries. The agenda of the meeting and conference papers can be found at:
- United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division
Searching for "remittances" at this website yields numerous reports on the definition, measurement, research publications, and policy activities related to the United Nations.
- United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division organized for state members of the UN a High Level Dialogue for on Migration and Develoment, which took place 14-15 September 2006 in Turin. A second High Level Dialogue is expected to assess the recommendations of the meetings of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (see below) Some of papers prepared for this meeting covered remittances.
- United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW).
Initiated in 2004 the UN-INSTRAW project on Gender, Migration, Remittances, and Development provides access to data, research reports (remittances to Lesotho, Dominican Republic, Senegal, Philippines), publications, news, and other resources with a gender perspective.
- • Institute for Development Studies, University of Sussex
The IDS website "Livelihoods Connect" provides a general overview of remittance and development issues and links to international conference agendas and papers and publications on the role that remittances play in the livelihoods of people during emergencies. There are also links to a large number of organizations researching remittances.
- • Institute for the Study of International Migration
ISIM has organized a Research Consortium on Remittances in Conflicts and Crises, which coordinates between international researchers and provides links to studies by some of it members.
- • Financial Action Task Force
The FATF is an inter-governmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
- • Global Forum on Migration and Development
Created by state members of the United Nations to promote positive relations between migration and development, the Global Forum on Migration and Development has met three times – in Brussels 9-11 July 2007, in Manila 27-30 October and in Athens 2-5 November 2009. On the GFMD website, a reader can search for "remittances" which will provide access to 29 or more documents on remittances in relation to various topics and countries.
- Migrant Remittances Newsletter
Migrant Remittances is a quarterly e-newsletter providing information about news and trends in migrant remittances, the latest in remittances research, and links to valuable publications and events. The newsletter is a co-publication of USAID and DFID. It is aimed at USAID staff, donors, financial service providers, and other interested parties. Subscriptions and back issues are available.
- Migration Policy Institute
The organization's Global Remittances Guide provides data on remittances as they are linked to both international migration and development. To provide a portrait of global remittance flows, the guide leverages remittance data compiled by the World Bank's Development Prospects Groupon more than 150 countries.The regional and country profiles displayed through the Global Remittances Guide:
– Provide time series of formal remittance flows;
– Compare remittances to GDP and critical financial flows including foreign direct investment,
commercial service exports, merchandise exports, agricultural exports, and official
development assistance;
– Provide relevant international migration and socio-economic development data;
– Display estimates of informal remittances from various sources;
– Identify national economic and demographic sources relevant to remittances; and,
– Suggest references for further research.To provide a portrait of global remittance flows, the guide leverages remittance data compiled by the World Bank's Development Prospects Groupon more than 150 countries.A full Remittances Glossary is available along with Further Readings on Migration and Development topics.
This data tool is a project of the Migration Policy Institute's Migrants, Migration, and Development program.
The organization's Migration Information Source provides policy analysis, reporting, and summaries of findings by leading researchers. A search for "remittances" yields over 35 publications on various aspects of remittance flows, their impact on development, and policies for development.
- Red Internacional de Migracion y Desarrollo/International Network on Migration and Development
This organization promotes research and practice that document and support positive relations between development and migration. With individual and institutional members the organization organizes an international conference every two years and publishes a bi-annual journal, Migraciones y Desarrollo, which is available on line. A search for "remesas" and "remittances" pulls up book, reports, and research articles by members of the red/network in Spanish and English.
- Centro de Investigación y Cooperación Especializado en Remesas de Emigrants
This organization provides Spanish-language access to news, research, and other web resources particularly related to the organization's activities in Spain — capacity building, investigations, and cooperation, which are organized to enhance the development contributions of remittances http://www.remesas.org


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As the sun set and I gathered with the crowd of more than 150 young Nigerians to watch the premiere of the short film, "My Vote Fit Change Naija" ("My Vote Can Change Nigeria"), at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Abuja, I couldn't help but feel energized.
I had just finished listening to dynamic and energetic young leaders from across Nigeria. They told me dozens of inspirational stories about how young people understand the power of the vote, and are taking action to promote free, fair and credible elections in the run-up to Nigeria's critical presidential election in April.
Youth in the the YoungStars Development Initiative work with USAID's "U Can't Swag My Vote" program and developed the film, "My Vote Fit Change Naija," with Nollywood stars like Julius Agwu, Jenifar Akerele, and Chidi Mokeme. These actors and youth all donated their time to produce the film and participate in critical voter education projects.
I also met a number of "Corpers" -- members of the National Youth Service Corps. These college graduates perform a year of national service outside their home states. Over 300,000 Corpers worked with the Independent National Electoral Commission to register millions of voters and will also staff voting booths on election day. For many Corpers this was the first time they traveled outside their home regions, and they spoke eloquently about their commitment to building a single Nigerian identity amid the country's extraordinary diversity.
Another young leader spoke about her Vote or Quench project -- a youth driven, social media-enabled organization that is shedding light on Nigeria's complex political arena, giving young people an entry point into political engagement. She called for presidential candidates to hold a first ever debate based on youth questions, already securing the commitment of at least one candidate.
These young Nigerians know that the integrity of elections is pivotal to the stability and progress of the nation. Although Nigeria celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, Nigeria lacks public confidence in democratic institutions and governance. Corrupt, mismanaged and fraudulent elections undermine faith in democratic values and can generate instability and violence.
With 80 percent of Nigeria's population under the age of 40, the youth population clearly has the numbers to drive progress and help ensure more stable and transparent elections. Each one of the young people I met last night, and many others around the country, are part of that momentum. Whether it is waiting all day in the hot sun to register to vote, working at the polls on Election Day, or sending texts to remind others to cast their ballots, these young people understand that they can be ambassadors of political change. As one young woman said, "We are not apathetic; we believe in our ability to change." I couldn't agree more.
P.O. in Nigeria writes:
the meeting was timely and the comment of all participant were encouraging. But the problem with Nigeria Election is most of us are in town preaching credible election and great number of our youth are recruiting young people who carry out rigging for them. Some youth need to rigg election because their life depend on it, some rigg to keep their job. for example most people who made up committee members in most state of Nigeria are thugs leaders who use their boys to rigg elections and they are so compensated with positions and old jobs.
if we want change we need to see how many members parliament the youth will have as their canditate and this will help us create a better electoral law that will improve our election and make it credible
Oni in Nigeria writes:
Hi, Madam secretary it was great chating with you. am also happy seeing your blog about our collective strive to bring change by the power of the thumb, not by guns or violence. we trust God to bless our collective desire and work towards a successful general election come April 2011 and even beyound that to begin to imbibe democratic values, the citizens becoming more patriotic while the leadership create the conducive environment. thanks once again for the time you shared with us at residence of US Ambassador.
Philip D. in Nigeria writes:
Thanks to the revolution now going on among the youths. With the magnitude of awareness being created, I believe a new Nigeria is possible... A new Nigeria that youths will take over the responsibility of leadership by making wise decision in electing credible people to position of power.
CAT in Nigeria writes:
The much anticipated CHANGE,must happen,now.'One man,One vote,is indispensable to give the breakthrough and,work the wonders.


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Terminator: Genesis has 'hardcore action'
- Bang Showbiz
- 18 March 2014
Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed the forthcoming 'Terminator: Genesis' has "hardcore action", "great visual effects", and shares similarities with 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'
Arnold Schwarzenegger says 'Terminator: Genesis' has the "same feel" as the second film in the franchise.
The 66-year-old star - who was forced to step down from participating in the films while he was the Governor of California between 2003 and 2011 - returns as the titular cyborg in the latest installment, and insists the movie shares similarities with 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'.
Talking to collider.com, he said: "The way it reads, it has the same feel of 'Terminator 2'. It's big. There's hardcore action and it has some really great visual effects in there, but not over the top. It's not a Thor type of movie, even though it's the same director. It has good special effects, but just enough to say, "Wow, where did that come from? How did they do that?"
Schwarzenegger is thrilled to reprise the role he first played in 1984's 'The Terminator', and doesn't think there are many opportunities to play the same character time and time again in the film industry.
The hunk added: "I think that it's just so wild to have a franchise that has been around for that long, and then after 30 years, to get asked again to be the only character in a movie that is the same character is unheard of, in movie history. You always switch out, like with James Bond and Batman. They have new characters there. But, not here. That, to me, is an extraordinary situation and a great opportunity."


text:
Forex Economic Calendar for April 6, 2019
Dollar Ticks Up Following U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index05/17/2019 - 10:09 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - Following the release of University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment i ...Full Story>>
U.S. Dollar Higher Amid Mounting Trade Worries05/17/2019 - 10:00 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - The U.S. dollar gained ground against its most major counterparts in the European sess ...Full Story>>
Euro Slides Amid Risk Aversion On China's Trade Rhetoric05/17/2019 - 08:19 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - The euro drifted lower against its most major counterparts in the European session on ...Full Story>>
Pound Drops As May To Reveal Departure Date After Brexit Vote05/17/2019 - 06:07 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - The pound came under pressure against its major counterparts in early European deals o ...Full Story>>
Euro Little Changed Following Eurozone Inflation05/17/2019 - 05:05 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - After the release of Eurozone inflation for April at 5:00 am ET Friday, the euro chang ...Full Story>>
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Shows Substantial Improvement In May05/17/2019 - 10:43 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - Reflecting a spike in consumer expectations, the University of Michigan released a rep ...Full Story>>
U.S. Leading Economic Index Rises Less Than Expected In April05/17/2019 - 10:35 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - A reading on leading U.S. economic indicators rose by slightly less than expected in t ...Full Story>>
Russia Economic Growth Sharply Slows In Q105/17/2019 - 10:22 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - Russia's economic growth slowed sharply in the first three months of the year to t ...Full Story>>
Hong Kong Maintains Slower Growth Forecast05/17/2019 - 08:31 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - The Hong Kong government on Friday maintained its weaker growth projection for this ye ...Full Story>>
Singapore Exports Slump Further In April05/17/2019 - 07:35 AM (RTTNews)
(RTTNews) - Singapore's non-oil domestic exports declined sharply in April, albeit at a slower ...Full Story>>
Copyright © 2019. All market data is provided by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided "as is" and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. To see all exchange delays and terms of use, please see disclaimer.


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There are few birds in the American West that know how to party like sage-grouse. Oh sure, you've got your hummingbirds with their swooping and diving and your huge, gawky sandhill cranes with their flamboyant, noisy mating rituals. But for sheer spectacle, nothing beats the sage-grouse and now is the perfect time to see them strut their stuff because it's mating season out West.
Sage-grouse dancing occurs from March to May. In early spring at dawn, and often at dusk, sage-grouse congregate on "leks"— ancestral strutting grounds to which the birds return year after year. To attract a hen, males jockey for position, fan their tail feathers and swell their breasts to reveal yellow air sacs, and then, just as quickly, deflate them to make an utterly unique "swish-swish-coooopoink!" sound that can be heard from over a mile away. Scientists aren't certain what about this flamboyant display is attractive to females, but it works. You can watch it here.
Sage-grouse are the charismatic ambassador of the "Sagebrush Sea," a term given to the vast sagebrush prairie that once sprawled across thirteen western states and three Canadian provinces. Lewis and Clarkdescribed the grouse in their journal as the "cock of the plains", and nineteenth century travelers reported seeing huge flocks of sage-grouse that darkened the sky as they lifted from valley floors. Native Americans emulated sage-grouse in ceremonial dress and dance. Settlers hunted the bird for food, and even collected sage-grouse eggs in spring for table use. Centuries of westerners have admired sage-grouse as fellow dwellers of the high desert, and birders travel from around the world to see sage-grouse in the wild.
Unfortunately, like too many other iconic western wildlife species, sage-grouse are in trouble. Sagebrush grasslands are a heavily used landscape. Humans have plowed, sprayed, burned, drilled, developed, mined and grazed millions of acres of sagebrush habitat. The remaining habitat is fragmented and degraded by weeds, wildfire, juniper encroachment, utility corridors, roads and fences. Sage-grouse range has been reduced by almost half with the loss of sagebrush steppe and grouse populations have declined to just ten percent of their historic numbers.
William Hornaday of the New York Zoological Society was among the first to express concern for sage-grouse in 1916, publishing a pamphlet titled "Save the Sage Grouse from Extinction: A Demand from Civilization to the Western States." Conservationists have heeded his call and launched a west-wide campaign to protect the grouse and the Sagebrush Sea. After struggling for more than a decade, we finally got a break in 2011 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed to review sage-grouse for listing under the Endangered Species Act by 2015. The date certain for a range-wide sage-grouse listing decision has compelled a multitude of federal and state agencies and local entities to finally develop conservation strategies to protect and recover sage-grouse and their habitat.
Defenders of Wildlife is heavily engaged in these planning processes. We are analyzing thousands of pages of documents and working to improve federal and state conservation strategies. In Washington, DC, we are urging the Obama administration and Congressional representatives to strengthen conservation initiatives for sage-grouse, and out West we are diligently working to ensure that new development won't harm the species.
But sometimes you've just got to make time to enjoy these spectacular birds. We invite you attend a show at a sage-grouse lek this spring. Dress warmly, bring binoculars and coffee, and be ready for fun. And then join Defenders to conserve sage-grouse so that they may continue to impress for generations to come.


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Anita Tempia (Williams) Herzberger, age 85, of Sebring, passed away, at 4:28 p.m. Sunday December 23, 2012, at Crandall Medical Center. She was born September 18, 1927, in Power, (near Follansbee) W. Va., to Edward A. and Gertrude Louise (Durbin) Williams.
Anita was a graduate of Wintersville High School and Steubenville Business College. She was a member and attended the Union Avenue United Methodist Church. In her youth, she was an active 4H member. When she was a Maid of Honor for a wedding in 1946, she met Vergil Herzberger. He had an engagement ring on her finger within 3 months. They were married June 5, 1948, in the First United Presbyterian Church in Steubenville. They always felt the Lord brought them together. While attending Buena Vista United Methodist Church and being married for 9 years, Anita and Vergil had a "special calling" from the Lord and they made the decision together to enter the ministry and with guidance from Rev. Forrest Nees, they began a new and wonderful adventure. Anita was an active Minister's wife and enjoyed working with the women of the churches she and her husband served in the East Ohio United Methodist Conference. Vergil and Anita put great emphasis with "youth work" and "youth camping". She was instrumental in local and conference "canoe camps" into the Canadian Wilderness waters. Anita also got involved into organizing the "Lighthouse Youth Center" in New Philadelphia First United Methodist Church; it was 25 years old in 2012. Anita and her husband, Vergil, always considered their time in the Christian Ministry as exceptionally rewarding. One of their main joys together was collecting friends. She especially enjoyed being a homemaker, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband, Vergil; two sons, Terry (Stephanie) Herzberger of Solon and Kurt (Andrea) Herzberger of Masury; one daughter, Tina (Jeffrey) Horne of Streetsboro; nine grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; brother, Larry (Blanche) Williams of Wintersville and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Ralph; her sister, Carol Widick and her namesake, Anita Pitzele.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society/Stark Co., 525 N. Broad St., Canfield, OH 44406. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home.
(Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 330-823-1050, RC 12-26-12)


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In a very late breaking story, the site WinP.cn is reporting that a new ad from China Mobile shows the soon-to-be-announced Huawei Ascend W2 in video. The image appears to match up with those shown by @evleaks
The ad itself is not for the W2 itself, as numerous other Samsung phones are shown too. Instead, this appears to be an ad for the TD-SCDMA based China Mobile, which then uses several smartphones to bolster its image as leading network provider.
Though not confirmed, the Ascend W2 is expected to feature a 1280x720, 4.3" IPS display, 8MP camera and 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, making it an ideal mid-range device for emerging markets. No firm date has been given for its announcement or sale date, but we're expecting it to be soon.
Source: WinP.cn; Thanks, hengxiang32401, for the tip!


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A group of community members recently remembered the struggles of the American Civil Rights Movement nationally and locally, and celebrated area high school seniors for their achievements.
A group of community members recently remembered the struggles of the American Civil Rights Movement nationally and locally, and celebrated area high school seniors for their achievements.
Southwest High School senior Malique Judd won first place and $1,000 scholarship in an essay contest put on annually by the Georgetown High School National Alumni Association Inc. North Carolina Chapter during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Scholarship Celebration.
Per tradition, Judd read his words to the gathering Jan. 11, in the Infant of Prague Parish Hall. Judd�s winning essay discussed how both Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama overcame adversity to accomplish great things. He said when he got up to speak, he got nervous.
�I started sweating a little,� he laughed.
Judd plans to attend a four-year university and major in business management. He is active in the jazz, concert, marching, symphonic, All County and All District High School bands; Students Against Destructive Decisions, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, varsity basketball and track.
Judd said he is going to use the scholarship money he earned from the essay contest toward school. He also said that the experience has motivated him to apply for more scholarships.
Judd said he would like to see more people participate in the future � only seven people applied for the scholarship when so many students are eligible.
Maurice Campbell II, a senior at Jacksonville High School, won second place and $750 scholarship with an essay focusing on how the early lives of both Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr. shaped the men they became. Campbell plans to attend North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte or East Carolina University and major in engineering or physics.
Kirtlon Sanders, a senior at Northside High School, won third and $300 scholarship. Sanders plans to attend North Carolina State University or East Carolina University and major in engineering.
The Georgetown High School National Alumni Association Inc. is a group dedicated to remembering Georgetown High School, the only black school for kids in Onslow County, which closed after a fire destroyed the gym and seriously damaged the rest of the school in 1966.
There are chapters all over the country, but the North Carolina Chapter based in Onslow County is the largest with approximately 200 members, according to Barbara Baggett, financial secretary and public relations person for the North Carolina Chapter.
Ron Dortch, a professional actor and an educator in the arts, was the main speaker at the lunch. Dortch performed Dr. King�s most famous speech �I Have a Dream,� which was introduced to the world in 1963 at the March on Washington.
�It was interesting to hear it in person rather than reading it,� Judd said.
Baggett said the speech had an emotional effect to those in attendance.
�If you closed your eyes, you could almost imagine Martin Luther King saying it,� Baggett said of Dortch�s performance.
Judd said the scholarship celebration has reminded him of his advantage in this generation after hearing from people who lived in the era of Civil Rights.
�It makes you think of all the struggles,� he said. �It just shows how far we�ve come.�
The annual lunch also included performances by the Saint Julia African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Praise Dancers, spoken word including poetry revisiting the struggles of the African American community, and a violin performance by Devin Brown, a junior from North Point High School in Waldorf, Md.
Contact Daily News reporter Kathryn Hansen at email@example.com.


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How can conservatives connect with Hispanics? What exactly is religious liberty? These are just two of the many questions answered in this month's installment of The Heritage Libertad podcast.
We've asked Brittney Morrett of the Libre Initiative and Kristina Arriaga of the Becket Fund to join us. The English version of the podcast can be found here. For the Spanish half of the program, click here.
You won't want to miss this podcast as we discuss how conservatives can better communicate our policies and ideas to the fastest-growing demographic in the country with Israel Ortega, editor of Libertad.org, The Heritage Foundation's Spanish-language website.
Brittney Morrett of the Libre Initiative offers a fresh perspective on this topic, including how grassroots organizing played a major role in the President's campaign to persuade Hispanic voters to support him and his policies.
Following the President's re-election, threats to religious liberty will only continue to encroach on the rights of Americans. The recent actions by the U.N., the Obamacare mandate, and attempts to redefine marriage have contributed to attacks not only on religious liberty but also freedom of conscience. As the Supreme Court takes up the cases regarding the Defense of Marriage Act, we invite Kristina Arriaga, executive director of the Becket Fund, to discuss the current threats to the freedom of conscience and religious liberty in the Spanish half of the program.


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Each week, we'll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the three most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.
Week 18: Do more teams have a chance? | No. 1 yo-yo guy | Who believes in the Grizzlies?
Who is the one player who alternately infuriates you with boneheaded plays and thrills you with the occasional good ones.
Steve Aschburner: Can I answer Tim Duncan and call it good? Y'know, yo-yo … No? OK, my 2012-13 winner of the Nate Robinson Award would be … yeah, Nate Robinson. Let's face it, they could name the trophy after him, awarded annually to the player who drives his coach the battiest. Robinson has been a necessary evil for Tom Thibodeau in Chicago, gobbling minutes that would normally go to rehabbing Derrick Rose and chronically dinged Kirk Hinrich. All his charms and all his flaws have been on display in large helpings — reeling off eight points in a row one moment, firing up his turnover machine the next. He's always Ornette Coleman, stubborn free-jazz improviser miscast in whichever of the 30 Duke Ellington orchestras employs him. A careful study of November video will reveal that, yes, Thibodeau did have more hair back then.
Fran Blinebury: Josh Smith, Josh Smith and Josh Smith.
Jeff Caplan: Considering Nuggets coach George Karl can't bring himself to play JaVale McGee enough so that the 7-footer can average more than 18.8 mpg, I'd have to say McGee owns this category. Despite being remarkably athletic with all kind of potential and flashes of brilliance at both ends, the fact is that Kosta Koufos has started all 57 games he's played and averages four more minutes a game than McGee.
Scott Howard-Cooper: Josh Smith. Shot selection, defense. Shot selection, occasional rebounding. Quite the weighted scales back and forth. That's a yo-yo guy.
John Schuhmann: This is a difficult question to answer, because, by principle, I don't like guys who make "boneheaded plays." Marcus Thornton certainly made a case for this distinction with his performance in Miami on Tuesday. And he's more efficient than similar gunners like Jordan Crawford and Nick Young. But my answer is Andre Drummond. He can play out of control and has had some JaVale-esque moments this season, but, as a pretty raw rookie, he's proven to be an impact player on both ends of the floor for Detroit. He could be a monster within the next couple of years and I think there are probably already a few teams that regret letting him slip to No. 9 in last year's Draft.
Sekou Smith: You obviously haven't watched Shaqtin' A Fool lately. Nuggets center JaVale McGee is the runaway winner in this category. Few players in the league are capable of making as many jaw-dropping plays, both good and bad, as McGee. The Nuggets have gotten more of the good out of him, which bodes well for them come playoff time. A shot-blocker and shot-maker of his size in a postseason scenario, when games inevitably slow down and turn into half court battles, can be invaluable.


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Packers Too Good For Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings gave fans an exciting year but the Green Bay Packers proved they were just a better team as they dominated in the 24-10 win Saturday night.
About 90 minutes before kick-off, the Vikings announced they were starting back up Joe Webb at quarterback when starter Christian Ponder's elbow didn't respond to rest and treatment. Webb was not good.
Webb completed just 11 of 30 passes for 180 yards and looked lost most of the night until blown coverage allowed Michael Jenkins to get behind the defense for a 50-yard TD score with 3:39 left in the game. Webb threw one interception and nearly threw several more.
Aaron Rodgers was efficient throwing 23 of 33 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown. They also got short running scores from John Kuhn and DuJuan Harris in the easy win.
Green Bay will travel to San Francisco next Saturday at 7pm.
Houston downed Cincinnati in the other Saturday play-off game and will travel to New England next Sunday.
For the Vikings, it's time to focus on the draft and as always, building for next year.


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Jay Mohler creates intricate, textile designs, weaving different colored yarns to create brilliant Mandalas. His geometric patterns create Ojos de Dios, Spanish for eyes of God, that are either eight sided of twelve sides, spanning up to over a foot. Mohler began hand-making his Ojos de Dios over 40 years ago, after he traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico in 1965. At a marketplace there is where he first saw these fantastic, small-scale weavings. He was extremely impressed by the complex patterns and how often they would be created from a single strand of yarn, crossing and looping over the wooden sticks that hold it all together. The beautiful Ojos de Dios can be found in many cultures, traditionally in Native American and Mexican as well as Tibetan, where they can hold spiritual elements. They are also a symbol of a physical eye, as the designs of the weavings revolve around the center "eye."
Based out of North Caroline, Jay Mohler uses wool yarn in all types of colors, including metallics, to carefully weave his vibrant creations. You can buy an Ojos de Dios for your own on his Etsy page, where you can also order custom made patterns and even buy a DIY kit to make your own. Make sure to check out more of his weavings to see the scale and size of his many creations. (via The Jealous Curator)


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HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — The 15 players selected to the All-NBA team every season earn a place in NBA lore that is rarely celebrated the way fans do All-Star bids.
Weighing the two, however, is a battle that shouldn't be a fair fight. An All-star nod is often based on reputation and how well someone is playing early in a given season. The All-NBA team measures the best of the very best the league has to offer in a season. The team consists of the 15 best players (by position) in the league.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Thursday, the NBA released this year's squad. But what about the future? What might that team look like in say, three seasons, when Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, stalwarts on All-NBA teams the past two decades, are no longer active?
What is the makeup of the All-NBA team in the future? What does the league look like three seasons from now?
We take a look, courtesy of the HT (Hang Time) Time Machine, at the future All-NBA Teams …
All-NBA First Team
F LeBron James, Miami Heat: No one was sure if LeBron would stick around South Beach after the Heat won those back-to titles in 2014 and 2015. But he watched his good friend Dwyane Wade retire after the last one and vowed to finish his career in a Heat uniform as well. There are no signs of his skills diminishing either. He bounced back masterfully after the Heat were beaten soundly by the Memphis Grizzlies in The Finals in 2013. James has reinvented himself as the epitome of a point forward during the second act of his Hall-of-Fame career, leading the league in assists this season with 12.7 per game. He's still chasing Michael Jordan's six championships standard, though the comparisons to Magic Johnson are much more appropriate, and at 32 he still has plenty of time left.
F Paul George, Indiana Pacers: Three straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals without a breakthrough performance would be a mental and emotional setback for most stars, but not George. He's done nothing but build on that All-Star berth in his third NBA season. George has blossomed into the closest thing to a legitimate challenger to LeBron's throne. He interrupted LeBron's MVP flow in 2015, when he stunned the hoops world by averaging a triple-double (24.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 10.0 assists) while leading the Pacers to a franchise-record 63 wins and finished as the MVP runner-up this season. The only threshold left for George to cross is to lead the Pacers past LeBron and the Heat into The 2016 Finals.
C Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: Gasol served as the backbone for the Grizzlies' 2013 championship team, though Zach Randolph walked away with Finals MVP honors, and solidified his status as the most complete big man in the game with his performance each season since. While he's never piled up the kind of impressive numbers that would allow him to stick out historically among players at his position, Gasol does have three Kia Defensive Player of the Year awards on his mantle and a championship on his resume. If Ed Davis can replace Randolph as Gasol's tag-team partner in the low post, the Grizzlies could have another run or two in them before it's time to break this veteran crew up and start over.
G James Harden, Houston Rockets: The two-time (and counting) scoring champ, Harden has supplanted his former teammate and friend Kevin Durant as the league's most prolific scorer. He's averaged 30 or more points in three straight seasons, including this one (31.7) and has led the Rockets to the playoffs in each of his four seasons in Houston. Harden has evolved into more than just a scorer, too, leading the Rockets in assists (7.6) and steals (2.3) while adjusting to playing alongside Patrick Beverly in the starting lineup instead of sixth man Jeremy Lin. Harden's career went to another level since he radically changed his look in training camp before the 2013-14 season by shaving off his trademark beard and mohawk in favor of a bald head and clean-shaven face. Who knew?
G Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: With his ankle injuries behind him, the sweet-shooting Curry finally claims the first-team spot from Chris Paul and a crowded, star-studded point guard field. Curry's work as a shooter — he's shot 45 percent or better from beyond the 3-point line every season since 2011-12 — overshadows the fact that he's become the consummate playmaker and leader for the league's most exciting team. Curry put together a 20-10 season at the point (23.6 points and 10.4 assists), the only point guard to do so in the past three seasons, while leading the Warriors to a top four finish in the Western Conference playoff chase for the third straight season. With Curry and Klay Thompson (still the league's best-shooting backcourt) as the catalysts, the Warriors are trying to crash the conference finals party.
All-NBA Second Team
F Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: Durant and the Thunder never have recovered from that deflating 2013 playoff fizzle after Russell Westbrook went down with a knee injury. Durant and Westbrook remain two of the league's most striking talents and they've been super productive. But the supporting cast issues have continued to be an issue in Oklahoma City. The Thunder haven't advanced beyond the conference semifinals since then. Durant has finished in the top three in the scoring race in each of the past seven seasons, losing out this year in a tight race with his friend and ex-Thunder teammate, Harden. Durant's famous "I'm tired of finishing second" diatribe from a few years ago won't go away this season.
F Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers: Maybe it wasn't all Chris Paul after all. Griffin's continued work on his low-post game has paid serious dividends for the Clippers since they made that blockbuster deal with the Boston Celtics for Rajon Rondo and the now-retired warriors Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce at the trade deadline in 2014. Griffin refocused himself defensively and as a rebounder, averaging 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and a surprising 2.1. blocks in earning another All-Star nod. Clippers coach Brian Shaw (as well as team president Phil Jackson) have had a huge impact on Griffin's reconstruction of his game. Garnett's influence certainly helped, too. Griffin learned some lessons from his playoff battles the past five years with the Grizzlies as well.
C DeMarcus Cousins, Boston Celtics: Cousins is the latest in a long line of big men whose careers have been bolstered by playing alongside the maestro, Paul, one of the greatest point guards and leaders of his generation. Cousins was in danger of playing himself out of the league in Sacramento, where his attitude and antics overshadowed his All-Star talent and potential. But joining forces with Paul and Celtics coach Doc Rivers on a revamped Celtics roster after the Big 3 era ended saved him. Cousins has been a (mostly) model citizen in Boston, bruising his way to a 20.9-point, 13.4-rebounds, 2.1-block season for a team that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
G Chris Paul, Boston Celtics: Wherever Paul goes, the fortunes of his team seem to rise. He did it in New Orleans … and with the Clippers … and is doing it with the Celtics, who stopped their decline with that blockbuster trade with the Clippers at the trade deadline two and a half years ago. Paul has avoided the nagging injury issues that plagued him earlier in his career and has helped rescuscitate the careers of both Cousins and former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani, who have formed a dynamic inside-out big man duo for one of the best teams in the league. Paul did it all for the Celtics this season, averaging 18.4 points, 9.3 assists and 2.3 steals, while also shooting a career-best 44.2 percent from 3-point range.
G Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers: That extra help Irving and the Cavaliers hoped would come in the free-agent summer of 2014 never came. LeBron decided to stay in Miami and the Cavaliers were forced to forge ahead with a backcourt of Irving and Dion Waiters and All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge, who demanded that trade from Portland two years ago and got it. Irving is still fighting the injury issues that cost him all but a few games at Duke and more in his first few seasons in the league. In fact, he's played just 68.5 games per season in his career. But when he's out there, it's an absolute showcase. He captured MVP honors in the 2016 All-Star Game, dazzling the crowd in Paris the same way he does crowds in NBA arenas. The next step? Taking the Cavaliers into the league's elite.
All-NBA Third Team
F Kevin Love, Los Angeles Lakers: Love wasn't the big man Lakers fans had in mind to bridge the gap between the Kobe Bryant era and the future. But no one's complaining now. Love is in the middle of the storm for a team that surprised everyone this season by making the playoffs with a young point guard, Trey Burke, and a high-flying future All-Star in Andrew Wiggins assuming huge roles on a rebuilt team. The Love-for-Pau Gasol trade was a gamble for the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, as both teams were in need of the right fit for their respective needs. The ex-UCLA star Love is averaging 24.3 points and 13.6 rebounds for the Lakers, who have slugged their way back into the playoffs. The Timberwolves are still in Lottery-land.
F Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz: Favors has been on a steady climb since moving into a starting role for the Jazz after Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap departed the premises during the free-agent summer of 2013. A no-frills performer who avoids the media glare at every turn, Favors has a hard time doing the same on the court. The league's leading rebounder in each of the past two seasons (15.3 this season), Favors also averaged 16.3 points, 3.4 blocks and 1.9 steals for a Jazz team that battled all the way down to the last week of the season for the eighth and final spot in the West. He finished third in the voting for the Kia Defensive Player of the Year award and is living up to the hype that suggests he might be a young Dwight Howard.
C Dwight Howard, Dallas Mavericks: Howard got what he wanted in free agency in 2013 — a fresh start in Dallas. Playing alongside a slowing Dirk Nowitzki has forced Howard into a leadership role for the Mavericks that he struggled with in his one season with the Lakers and at the end of his tenure with the Magic. There are those who will argue that Howard is still the best big man in the game when healthy, but he has never quite regained the edge he had before that back surgery that marked the end of his time in Orlando. And truth be told, he has simply been passed up by Gasol and Cousins. Still, he averaged 18.7 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks for a Mavericks team that won 50 games for the first time since their 2010-11 championship season.
G Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers: Holiday's work as both a scorer and facilitator helped separate him from a crowded field of point guards. The Sixers All-Star is also a relentless defender, arguably the best defensive point guard in the league, and has matured considerably since making his first All-Star team in 2013. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Holiday has evolved into one of the best physical specimens in the league at any position. Unlike almost every other player on this list, Holiday doesn't have the luxury of playing alongside another (former or current) All-Star. He averaged 23.2 points, 9.5 assists and 5.6 rebounds this season, leading the Sixers in the first two categories and finishing third in rebounds. The quintessential combo-guard, Holiday can thrive at either spot.
G Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: Lillard, the 2013 Kia Rookie of the Year award winner, has only gotten better since then. He's averaged 19 or more points in every season and watched his scoring average rise with every new campaign. He averaged 24.7 points, 8.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds this year. Most impressive, however, is Lillard's improved shooting stroke. A 43 percent shooter as a rookie, 36.8 percent from beyond the 3-point line, Lillard shot 49 percent this season, including 43 percent from deep. Mature beyond his years, even as a rookie, Lillard is the face of a Trail Blazers franchise that got back in the thick of the playoff chase again this season after a four-year hiatus. Where they go from here will depend heavily on where Lillard can take them.


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TRACY STERN'S "TEA PARTY" with Artist Damon Johnson at the National Arts Club
NEW YORK- MAY 25: Tracy Stern SalonTEA TM present TEATIME with Forbes Magazine "hot artist" DAMON JOHNSON on Thursday May 25, 2006 at The National Arts Club,15 Grammercy Park South: hosted by Tracy Stern, Susan Shin, Marie Samuels & Heidi Lee. Guests included designer Coralie Charriol, designer Anait Bian, artist Allison Goldenstein, Lisa Anastos, stylist Montgomery Frazier and Elena Stephanopoulos among others. View more of Damon Johnson's work at Mark Murray Fine Paintings at 39 East 72nd Street, New York City. "Enjoy Life. Drink Tea. Celebrate Often."-- Tracy Stern PHOTO CREDIT: ©Manhattan Society.com 2006 by Gregory Partanio |tel:718.614.7740 |e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com More


text: Derby, UK – WordSearch Rush 1.1 has been released for iPhone and iPod touch devices. We Are Colin provides a different experience to ordinary wordsearch puzzles by removing the word list and presenting the user with one topic. Using this topic they must find words related to it within a specified time limit. This gameplay mechanic brings a fresh and fun new way to play wordsearch puzzles.


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When Dolphins running back Reggie Bush said in the offseason that he wants to lead the league in rushing, we scoffed for two reasons. First, new coach Joe Philbin likely won't rely on one running back. Second, Reggie likely won't stay healthy.
The first injury came in Week Three.
According to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, a helmet that Bush took to the left knee could cause him to miss a few weeks. Consistent with other reports (including ours), it's not believed to be a season-ending injury.
Bush had 61 yards rushing before exiting the game, and he tried to return after halftime but the knee stiffened.
He has twice injured his left knee in the past, including a partially torn PCL in 2007 and a sprained MCL and torn meniscus the following year.
Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller will carry the load in Bush's absence.


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That quote is actualy very witty, Celdur. I suggest you use that in your signature.
**EDIT**I bought Borderlands.
Hell, Skyward Descent is pure win!
I kill you in the name of DELICIOUS!
Then you must have pre-ordered, right?Or does it just come out on steam late?
No, no, he did. In the everything else section, at least. Officially, this makes him king.
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Senator Finds Government-Funded Food Waste Far Beyond The Compost Bin
As Eater reported this week, some politicians believe this country is awash in food waste. But this isn't the stuff in the garbage — it's the way we pour money into building restaurants, promoting American food products abroad, and encouraging the purchase of local foods.
Every December, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) puts a Wastebook together to highlight 100 examples of the government's most profligate and unnecessary spending initiatives. This year, the spending that Coburn deemed unworthy amounts to $6.9 billion. And there are a surprisingly large number of food-related projects on the list — dozens by our count.
You can take Coburn's word that the government is heavily involved in the food sector. As for whether all these projects are really all that harebrained — well, your view may be colored by your politics.
The list, whether it proves waste or not, is also an interesting window into all the different ways the government partners with restaurant chains and agricultural producers. Big subsidies to the corn and soybean industries — the kind of spending many critics of the food system frequently mention — are conspicuously absent from this list. But the list shows that the government is supporting a lot of smaller producers, too.
Here are some of the projects that appear on Coburn's 2011 list of initiatives that the senator says should not be national priorities.
- Near the top of the list is mention of a project to support the Pakistani mango industry. Apparently, the U.S. Agency for International Development didn't get very far in its attempt to get Pakistan's mango growers up and running. The USAID Inspector General reported earlier this year that the program had led to no measurable increases in sales or employment.
- Almost $800,000 of federal taxpayer funds went to subsidize "pancakes for yuppies" in Washington, D.C. — an IHOP branch inside a new shopping mall in the Columbia Heights neighborhood.
- In other so-called restaurant fiascos, Coburn notes that a private developer received nearly $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to build an outlet for Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, a nationwide pizza chain, in Arlington, Tex.
- Coburn also isn't sure we need to be pushing American products overseas. He notes that the Washington State Fruit Commission received $100,000 in federal money to promote cherries, apples and pears in Indonesia. Hop growers also got some dough to push beer in China. And American brands like Welch's and Sunkist received support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Market Access Program to pedal food products in foreign markets.
- Chocolate from Hawaii? We don't need it, says Coburn. Nearly $50,000 was awarded to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to help support the ―emerging Hawaiian cacao industry and provide outreach during the 2nd annual Hawaiian Chocolate Festival.
- The Washington State wine industry also got a boost from the feds. Coburn reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce gave $2 million to help build the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center. Ohio wine producers also did well by the government — they got money to promote the industry in the state.
- Local food may be all the rage in some circles, but Coburn thinks there are some instances where it's not worthy of our tax dollars. Take, for example, a plan to develop and market a food hub in Vermont involving local farms and restaurants. Or a plan to advertise farmers' markets in Oklahoma.
As NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce has reported, Coburn has also gone after scientists. One year, Coburn blasted the National Science Foundation, a major government funder of research, saying it squandered taxpayer money on projects he called questionable, including one that involved putting shrimp on a tiny treadmill.


text:
Cancer is a disease in which cells grow in an abnormal way. Normally, the cells divide in a controlled manner to replace old or damaged cells. If the cells keep dividing when new ones are not needed, a mass of tissue called a tumor forms.
Not all tumors are cancer, those that are cancer are called malignant. Cancer tumors invade and damage tissue around them. The cancer cells can also enter the lymph and blood streams, spreading to other parts of the body. Melanoma is skin cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that produce skin color and give moles their dark color. Melanoma tends to be an aggressive type of skin cancer. It is also more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Normal Anatomy and the Development of Melanoma
There are 2 main layers of the skin:
- Epidermis—The thinnest, outermost layer. The epidermis is made of different cell types and has 5 separate layers. There are no blood vessels or nerves directly in the epidermis. Melanocytes can be found in the deepest layer of the epidermis all over the body.
- Dermis—The dermis is a layer of connective tissue under the epidermis. It is thicker and contains blood vessels, nerves, immune cells, hair follicles, and sweat and oil glands. The dermis is made up of 2 layers of different cell types.
Melanocytes appear on the surface of the skin as moles. Most moles are harmless but some may be develop into melanoma. Because melanomas are the bottom layer of the epidermis they can quickly grow down into the dermis. In the dermis the cancer has access to lymph nodes and blood vessels, which then carry cancer cells to other parts of the body. The most common sites for melanoma to spread to are the lungs, liver, brain, bones, and intestinal tract.
Males tend to get melanoma on the torso, the area between the shoulders and hips. Women are more likely to find melanoma on the arms or legs. It is important to note that melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, even those not regularly exposed to the sun, like the genitals, anal area, eyes, or mouth.
Types of Melanoma
Melanoma is categorized by where tumors start, how they grow, and their appearance under a microscope. Four basic types of melanoma include:
- Superficial spreading—This is the most common type of melanoma. Grows on superficial layers of skin for an period of time before it gets deeper. Appears as discolored patch, may develop in previously benign mole. Most common in young people.
- Nodular—Usually invasive at diagnosis. Often noticed as a bump that is often black, but may be other colors or skin tone.
- Acral lentiginous—This is the most common type found in those of Asian, Hispanic, or African descent. Most often appears as discoloration under fingernail or toenail, on palms of the hands, or soles of the feet.
- Lentigo maligna—Also starts as superficial. Often starts as flat or mildly raised discolored patch. More common in older adults on frequently sun exposed skin.
This fact sheet focuses on melanomas that affect the skin.
This fact sheet focuses on melanomas that affect the skin.What are the risk factors for melanoma?What are the symptoms of melanoma?How is melanoma diagnosed?What are the treatments for melanoma?Are there screening tests for melanoma?How can I reduce my risk of melanoma?What questions should I ask my doctor?What is it like to live with melanoma?Where can I get more information about melanoma?
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
- Review Date: 03/2017 -
- Update Date: 10/17/2016 -


text:
scagliolanoun, often attributive
Definition of scagliola
: an imitation marble used for floors, columns, and ornamental interior work
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a strong desire or propensity
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