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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — In Kentucky's fourth-largest city, there's no instant access to an interstate seen as a magnet for job growth, but officials in Owensboro are riding hopes that a new study will put them on a path toward becoming aligned with a highway running from Tennessee to Michigan.
The report found that a proposed Interstate 67 would attract anywhere from 16,000 to 30,000 vehicles daily along most of its length in 2035 if the corridor is built without tolls. Projected traffic volumes are higher along its possible path through Kentucky.
The corridor is envisioned to stretch from I-65 at Nashville, Tenn., to I-196 in western Michigan.
Transportation benefits and savings for businesses and households are pegged at $3.2 billion for the region of southern Indiana and central Kentucky over 20 years in a no-toll scenario, according to the feasibility study, bankrolled by public and private groups in the region.
"Having an interstate go through this community would be a tremendous boon," said Daviess County, Ky., Judge-Executive Al Mattingly.
The corridor would mean more spending on gas, food and lodging in Owensboro, the seat of Daviess County, and it would make the city of 57,000 more attractive to business and industry looking for quick interstate access, he said.
The city is more than a half-hour drive from I-64 in southern Indiana and an hour from I-65 at Bowling Green in southern Kentucky. That inaccessibility to an interstate has been his area's biggest economic-development obstacle, Mattingly said.
But the I-67 proposal appears stuck in the slow lane for the foreseeable future as Kentucky and Indiana transportation officials focus on completing the long-planned Interstate 69 project under development in both states.
"Our priority in that region is I-69, and it will be our priority in that region for some time," said Chuck Wolfe, a spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Any work on building an I-67 "would be on a very distant horizon," he said. But he added that state transportation officials recognize there's support, especially in the Owensboro area, for another interstate route through the Bluegrass state.
I-69 eventually will stretch from Henderson to Fulton in western Kentucky. A 55-mile stretch has already gotten I-69 designation.
The Indiana portion of the highway will run from Evansville to Indianapolis. A 67-mile stretch will open ahead of schedule yet this year, and work on another 27-mile leg will be under contract by year's end, said Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Will Wingfield.
With considerable work left on Indiana's part of I-69, the other proposed interstate isn't a blip on the map at this point.
"Interstate 67, as currently envisioned, has not been part of INDOT's previous short- or long-term transportation plans," Wingfield said. "INDOT has met with the group that funded the feasibility study, and was pleased they are considering partnerships with the private sector at this early stage."
A specific route for an I-67 has not been determined. But the study assumed a route in Kentucky and Indiana that would span the Natcher Parkway from Bowling Green to Owensboro, with improvements to upgrade it to interstate standards. It would then run along the four-lane U.S. 231 from Owensboro, across the William H. Natcher Bridge, to I-64, with more improvements necessary along that stretch. Some new construction would be needed to the north from I-64 in Indiana, bypassing Huntingburg and Jasper to the east and tying into I-69 at Washington, Ind.
An I-67 would give travelers a less congested route from Nashville to Indianapolis, bypassing the busy I-65 route through Louisville.
The study projected traffic volumes ranging from 24,900 to 32,000 vehicles daily on the Kentucky section of I-67 if the corridor is built without tolls. The daily volume would be 21,200 to 28,500 with tolls, it said. Mattingly said he doesn't see much support for tolls in Kentucky.
He said he sees an I-67 as complimentary to I-69, but he's under no illusions that an I-67 will be built anytime soon.
"I suspect that it will take 20 years. But that doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing. We think this one makes so much sense that they really should take a hard look," he said of transportation officials in Kentucky and Indiana.
Regional officials pushing for an I-67 are awaiting more reviews of the projected costs and funding options as they try to make their case to Kentucky and Indiana transportation leaders.
The $250,000 study was done by Massachusetts-based Cambridge Systematics.
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Music Hack Day Reykjavik took place this weekend. We weren't there, but we have been inspecting the creations that emerged from the event, and wow, are we ever impressed — not only by Infinite Gangnam Style, but by other stuff too.
These people made some truly weird things, like Horsify, which contains some of the most hilarious in-app dialogue we have ever seen (example: "Ooh niiice! a hip hop horse! On an average a horse lays 19 dozen eggs in a year.")
Is it something in the water? Were those Icelandic elves involved? Who knows.
The wittiest entry from this friendly music-hacking competition was arguably OMGig, by developers Johannes Wagener and Lee Martin, which recreates the thrill of ruining a concert for everyone else by holding up a smartphone and filming the whole thing.
Why experience something, when you can document it? And why watch something, when you can pretend to be filming it? We are not prepared to address these questions at the moment, but instead, encourage you to try OMGig, perhaps by sharing a show video with your friends.
To use it, simply grab any live music YouTube URL and swap "omgig.com" where "youtube.com" normally lives in the URL. I did so for footage I actually shot, and it works like a charm.
Not only do you see the video displayed in the smartphone, but you see the blurred out action behind the phone too, allowing you to, in the words of the developers, "watch any concert through the eyes of the bootlegger who sacrificed his own concert experience for all humanity."

subset: commoncrawl


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A land of beauty and adventure, New Zealand is home to incredible activities worthy of a place on anyone's bucket list.
Just outside of the Waikato town of Matamata, Sir Peter Jackson discovered the perfect place to create The Shire and village of Hobbiton. To this day, the movie set remains and is a spectacular place to visit, and it's not just for fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.
Off the North Island's Bay of Plenty, White Island appears on the horizon as a thick plume of smoke rising from the Pacific Ocean, the first visible sign of one of New Zealand's most fascinating natural attractions. From Whakatane, just south of Tauranga, take a boat trip or helicopter out to the island for an otherworldly experience.
At Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, in the North Island of New Zealand, visitors can create their own natural jacuzzi in the wet sand during low tide. Purchase a spade at the nearby shop or bring your own and build a private hot pool with a stunning ocean view.
New Zealand's most famous day walk, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing takes in incredible scenery over a nine-hour trek. The Crossing is a 19.4km one-day hike, past Mt Ngauruhoe and over Mt Tongariro, with panoramic views of active volcanic areas and colourful crater lakes in the UNESCO Dual Heritage area.
Kaikoura is a year-round whale-watching destination and also renowned for its scenic location - a rugged coastline between the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, which provides a dramatic background for the marine life that is often seen close to shore.
Twenty-three kilometres off New Zealand's Tutukaka Coast, the Poor Knights Islands are an international diving icon. Described by Jacques Cousteau as the best dive spot in subtropical temperate waters, the Poor Knights is part of a marine reserve creating a remarkably varied ecosystem.
Fiordland National Park's jewel in the crown, Milford Sound was once described as the eighth wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling. Towering peaks, hundreds of waterfalls, quirky wildlife and glassy waters combine to create one of the most breath-taking places on the planet. An overnight experience in Milford Sound is the time to embrace an absolute silence after the day's visitors have left.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to commercialise bungy jumping at the site of the Kawarau Suspension Bridge just outside of Queenstown. Take the plunge overlooking the stunning Kawarau River or tackle the Nevis - 134 metres over the valley floor.
While the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis, is a famous and beloved bucket list item for night sky watchers, the lesser known Aurora Australis or Southern Lights is no less spectacular. From Dunedin, the Southern Lights appear just over the southern horizon creating remarkable reflections in the water and delighting photographers.
An ancient subterranean world in the heart of New Zealand's central North Island, the Waitomo Cave system is a series of fascinating and dramatic natural wonders. The glow-worm grotto is one of the most popular attractions where visitors travel by boat into the spectacular cave guided by the light of thousands of unique New Zealand glow worms.


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Grand County transportation authority forms
A group of community leaders has appointed an unofficial transportation authority to work on improving transportation in Grand County.
Representatives from both the public and private sectors convened at the Grand County Transportation Stakeholders Summit on Monday, Aug. 18, in the Mountain Parks Electric Community Meeting Room to discuss new possibilities for transportation throughout the county.
Leaders chose five focus areas in which to move forward: resurrecting the now defunct "ski train" from Denver to Grand County, upgrading Grand County's current transportation system, establishing a cross county transportation system between Kremmling and Winter Park, identifying funding alternatives for transportation, and developing transportation to and from county airports.
Participants discussed the importance of having a transportation "spine" in Grand County, which would connect smaller, community-based transportation systems.
"Not having a strong transportation system is deterring us from being sustainable as a county," said Catherine Ross, director of the Winter Park-Fraser Chamber of Commerce.
The group elected representatives from both sides of the county, from both government and private entities, to form a task force to decide how the county can pursue its transportation goals.
Jane Hickey with the Colorado Department of Transportation, said she thought the cohesiveness of those at the meeting would move any county proposals forward in the queue for CDOT funding.
"You have all the pieces that you need, and you're living in a jewel of a county, and you're all willing to share it with people from the outside," said Hickey.
Lance Gutersohn, who was selected for the new committee, said he wasn't sure yet when the first meeting would take place.
The county is conducting community assessments to determine where the county's transportation needs lie, though during the meeting, attendants identified health care users, daycare users, schools, tourists and lodging consumers as major stakeholders in county transportation.
Local leaders are also working with Downtown Colorado Inc., a Denver-based non-profit, to determine what the county needs to move forward with transportation improvement and reform.
The business will hold a "citizens academy" in the spring to educate local leaders on engaging citizens to affect change.
Hank Shell can be reached at 970-887-3334 ext. 19610.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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Pistachio Almond Recipes
Galette Des Rois a la Pistache (Pistachio Kings Cake)
This Galette des Rois (Kings' cake) is filled with a sweet pistachio mixture. The traditional Epiphany dessert is made with almond cream, called frangipane, so this was an obvious substitution. The green pistachios give the treats a nice color contrast, and work well with the flaky crust.
I got some Harry Potter fèves last time I went to Paris, which you can see in these pictures. The girls are obsessed with the series, so when I brought them out for the photos they went nuts. If you were to serve individual sized galettes, as I have done here, you should hide a fève in one of the dishes and let each person choose a plate at random. Just make sure to hide the fève well so that the naughty ones who peek can't figure out where you hid it. Whoever finds the fève is Queen or King for the day!
Full Recipe...


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Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West
Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West
400 2nd Avenue SW
400 2nd Avenue SW
Charleston, West Virginia
United States
Check In: 3PM
Check Out: 12PM
Check-in Age: 21
Book With Us Advantage
- Best Price Guarantee
We promise you access to the guaranteed best available prices, or your first night is free.
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Your room is guaranteed.
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We do not charge any booking fees for making reservations directly with us.
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IHG takes your privacy seriously and works to protect you. All personal information you provide is encrypted and secure.
Welcome to Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West
Welcome to the Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West, the perfect hotel solution for business and leisure travel to West Virginia's capital city. Conveniently located near downtown Charleston and the WV State Capitol Complex, our hotel is easily accessible from I-64, I- 77 and I-79.
Located at the Charleston Conference Center, the Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West provides guests and meeting planners with everything needed for a quality event. Our Convention Services team is ready to assist with catering needs, meeting space requirements and hotel arrangements for meetings, conferences, weddings and much more!
Our new indoor recreation complex provides hotel guests with a luxurious indoor pool and hot tub, state-of-the-art fitness center and sundeck with outdoor fireplace and grill. Our restaurant and lounge is a relaxing choice after a day of work or play and be sure to catch our Comedy Zone comedy club each weekend for on-site entertainment.
The Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West offers free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel's public spaces as well as guest rooms and a 24-hour business center for keeping in touch with family and friends or work needs. With a complimentary shuttle to/from the hotel to Charlestons Yeager Airport (CRW) and to local dining and shopping, our hotel provides all the services and amenities for the perfect stay.Let the Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West show you everything the Mountain State has to offer!
Kids Stay and Eat Free
Kids ages 18 and under stay for free when sharing their parents' room. Up to four kids ages 11 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn® on-site restaurant.
|Kids Stay Free
|Kids Eat Free
|United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Mexico, Caribbean
|18 and Under
|11 and Under
Free High-Speed Internet
Standard Wireless Internet service is included for all guests.
Shuttle/ Parking
- Car Parking Available
- Complimentary Daily Self-Parking is available
- Free Ground Level Parking for guests of hotel.
Pet Policy
- Pets allowed
- Service Animals Allowed
- Pets Walking Area Available
- Pet Fee per Night: 25 USD
- We welcome your pets under 50 lbs, there will be a fee of 25 USD, per pet, per night. You may not leave your pet unattended at any time except when in the dining room for breakfast or dinner Housekeeping services will not be available with pet in room.
Languages Spoken by Staff
Credit Cards
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 6
- Total Number of Rooms: 149
- Number of Suites: 20
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 150
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 7
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Public Spaces Renovated in: 2012
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2011
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
- Registration Desk
- Exercise Facility
- Business Center
- Pool
- Number of Accessible Meeting Rooms: 10
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Registration Area
- Accessible Guest Rooms
- Business Center
- Meeting Room
- Exercise Facility
- Pool
Hotel Areas with Accessible Routes from Accessible Public Entrance
- Accessible Self-Parking
- Van Accessible Self Parking
- Ramp Access
- Portable Bathtub Seats
- Closed Caption TVs
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Guest Rooms
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Public Spaces
Provided by Hotel


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MTI specializes single crystal cubic (5x5x5mm, as cut) for evaporation materials. These single crystal cubic feature with 100% density and ultra-high purity, and excellent for epitaxial film and coating.
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Copyright © 2012 - 2015 Premier Solutions Pte. Ltd. All Rights Resrved | Address: 100 Tras Street, 100 AM, #16-01, Singapore 079027. Tel: (65)62843818


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Posted: Jan 05, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Seven Birmingham-Southern student athletes were recently inducted into BSC's chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa.
The initiates are Jennifer Commander (women's golf), Christine Denning (volleyball), Will Gurley (cross country/track & field), Caitlin Hodges (cross country/track & field), Brittany Soto (women's soccer), Richard Tsao (cross country/track & field), and Mary Elaine Williamson (cross country/track & field).
ODK is an academic honor society that elects its members from men and women in the junior and senior classes, recognizes leadership in scholarship, athletics, student government, social and religious affairs, publications, music, speech, and dramatic arts.


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savski wrote:Hi all,
I recently built a tour using Panotour Pro 1.8, which worked fine, but when I added a Bing map it wouldn't show the map, just a blank area where the map should be. I then looked back at a past virtual tour that did once work and this also showed a blank area (See below for this example). Does anybody know why this is happening and how I can fix it?? Many thanks in advance.
http://www.caritas-zuerich.ch/virtuelle ... rthur.html
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Download the audio of Yard & Garden News: MP3, WMV.
Out of Your Gourd!
It's that time of year when visions of Halloween conjure up all kinds of ghoulish-looking gourds! While they are traditional decor at Halloween and Thanksgiving, gourds aren't just for decoration. Gourds date back to 2200 B.C., making them among the oldest cultivated plants in history. They have been used as dippers or containers for grain storage, and other types are edible when young and tender.
The term "gourd" is most correctly applied to several species of hard-shelled members of the vine crops known as cucurbits. Today, gourds can still be used as functional tools, such as birdhouses, dippers , lanterns and storage bins. Although each gourd may have its own characteristics, in general, most are ready to harvest when the rinds are firm and the stem of the plant begins to turn brown and dry. Gourds should be harvested when they are fully mature but before frost.
After harvest, gourds should be "cured" or air-dried prior to processing. First, wash them with warm, soapy water and then place on layers of newspaper to dry for about a week. During this time, the outer skin hardens and surface color sets. Replace the newspaper with fresh sheets, and allow the gourds to dry for an additional 3-4 weeks in a warm, dry, dark area, such as a closet or under a bed.
Decorative gourds can be displayed in their natural state for 3-4 months. Applying wax, shellac or varnish can prolong shelf life for several more months and will lend a shiny coat to the exterior.
The luffa gourd, also known as loofah , the vegetable sponge, or dishrag gourd, is handled a bit different than other gourds.
Young fruits of a few inches can actually be harvested for eating and are popular in oriental cooking. However, once the fruit enlarge, tough fibers are produced throughout the pulp. It is these fibers that form the sponge. Luffa requires a long growing season, and fruit usually need to be left on the vines until killing frost takes the plants. The longer they mature on the vine, the sturdier the sponge. But they do not need to be left on the vine until completely mature.
Prepare the sponge by peeling the outer layers of tissue away (no small task!) to reveal the inner fibrous mass. Use one of the following pre-treatments to soften the outer rind, making the sponge easier to peel.
1. Soak the gourd in a tub of water until the outer covering softens.
2. Boil the gourds in water for about 15 minutes, allow to cool, then peel. Finding a kettle large enough to accommodate the entire sponge is not practical, but fruit can be cut in half or quarters.
3. Freeze the gourd for 2 hours, then thaw and peel.
4. Microwave the sponge for 5-10 minutes on high power. Cutting the sponge in half will speed processing and make it easier to fit in the oven.
The plant's seeds are within the fibers of the sponge and must be removed by shaking and pulling them out with your fingers. Then, wash the sponge in mild, soapy water and rinse several times to remove soap residue. Allow the sponge to dry to a dull beige color. If a whiter sponge is desired, soak it in a solution of household bleach and water.
The finished sponge can be used as a bath sponge, backscratcher, dishrag or scouring pad. A sponge can last for years, depending on how it is used. Don't be afraid to put it to hard work; you can always grow more next year!


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When Illinois Governor Pat Quinn congratulated a dozen companies with the 2013 Governor's Export Awards, Lamboo, Inc., of Springfield was one of three businesses cited in the New Exporter of the Year category. The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville played a significant role in the young company's success.
The Governor's annual awards, which were handed out in late July in Chicago, are for outstanding accomplishments in the export of Illinois goods and services. The ITC at SIUE has served Lamboo since 2007 and has its own award-winning history. The ITC was named 2011 International Trade Center of the Year and also received the Governor's Export Award that same year.
Lamboo manufactures performance-based engineered bamboo for structural, architectural and industrial applications worldwide. Products include structural components, beams, window and door components, panels and veneer.
Lamboo began exporting in 2009. During 2012, the company increased its export sales 63 percent over 2011. Primary international markets include Europe, Africa/Middle East, Canada and Latin America/Caribbean.
"Lamboo has maintained a dynamic relationship with the International Trade Center that has proven to be extremely fruitful over the last few years," said Lamboo, Inc., President Luke Schuette. "It began with an international market research project utilizing the aggressive and thorough skills of graduate students from the SIUE School of Business.
"That research, as well as the ongoing and guidance from the ITC, has helped Lamboo to solidify countless business relationships worldwide. As a result, we've established the Lamboo brand in innovative markets globally."
Director Silvia Torres points to many ITC success stories:
The Illinois International Trade Center at SIUE has been in operation since 1984 providing trade assistance and resources to Illinois exporters. The ITC reported over $186 million in economic activity for the southwestern region as a result of the export assistance provided in the last two years, having contributed to the creation of 117 jobs and over 400 jobs have been retained. Learn more by visiting the ITC website.
Photo: Iwona Bochenska (Illinois Trade Office), Luke Schuette (Lamboo, Inc.) and Silvia Torres (International Trade Center at SIUE).


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Industry News for Meditrac
53 Pinkas St
Tel Aviv, 62261
Mobility during traction - A new approach
Our mission is to bring to the sufferers of spinal disorders and back pain an effective, inexpensive, non-invasive treatment to improve their quality of life.
Meditrac Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of innovative, portable, traction devices for rehabilitation, physiotherapy and home-care use that upgrades the traditional concept of traction. Simplicity and ease of use, combined with low cost and low maintenance requirements, provide you, your clients, your clinic, and third party reimbursers with enormous added value. Meditrac's products can help you provide a valuable service to your patients while growing your practice and your profits.
The Vertetrac® is a lumbar traction device that performs active physical therapy for lower back pain and sciatica. The device is portable and simple to use, and carries out three-dimensional traction - a feature not offered by other traction devices! It also allows the patient freedom to move and perform light rehabilitation activity. The patient may walk, stand or sit during treatment as desired, and even perform active exercise on a treadmill during the treatment.
The CerviCo 2000® has been developed specifically as a dynamic traction unit for the cervical spine. The unit applies powerful yet controlled symmetrical or asymmetrical traction and can apply adjustable horizontal pressure if required. The CerviCo 2000 is compact, portable, robust and easy to use. It is also designed to perform low-load traction while the spine is in its natural upright position, allowing the patient freedom to move and to perform active rehabilitation procedures during treatment.
Join the thousands of satisfied professionals who have already upgraded their facilities with Meditrac devices
For more information contact Meditrac at 1-866-732-0170 or in CA 1-800-459-8085
Visit the company website for full product information at www.meditrac.co.il
Chiropractic Events


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The Basics
What is cellulite, exactly?
A. It's basically pockets of excess fat that have squeezed between the bands of tissue connecting muscle to skin. Unfortunately, we don't know why it happens or how to stop it before it starts.
Why do women get cellulite more frequently than men?
A. Estrogen plays a role, plus women typically have more body fat than men. But the main reason is that the bands connecting skin and muscle are different on men than they are on women. Men have thicker bands, there are more of them, and they form a crisscross pattern (as opposed to the vertical pattern on women's bodies). That keeps the fat in place so it doesn't pucker.
Why do even skinny women have it?
A. Unfortunately, you don't need a lot of body fat to have cellulite. Even the thinnest women have some layer of fat between their muscles and skin, and everybody has the bands that the fat can push through.
Why is it mostly on the legs and butt?
A. That's where most women store fat!
The Genetics
Does cellulite increase with age?
A. Not necessarily. After puberty, anyone can get cellulite. But as you age your skin loses elasticity and you're likely to reduce muscle and gain fat, all of which will increase cellulite.
If your mom has it, are you doomed as well?
A. Genetics definitely plays a role, both in how likely your body is to store fat and how much the bands of tissue pull down on the fat. If you stay fit, you're more likely to have less fat on your body and more muscle, which means you'll develop less cellulite.
Getting Rid of It
Can the foods you eat decrease or increase cellulite?
A. Diet plays a role only in affecting how much fat you carry around, so avoiding high-calorie foods will prevent weight gain, which means you'll have less body fat and therefore less cellulite. But there are no magic foods that will banish cellulite once you have it.
If you lose weight, will you automatically lose cellulite?
A. Dropping pounds will make your fat cells shrink but not disappear. So while your cellulite may look better, it won't vanish completely. And if you gain the weight back, expect those dimples to reappear in the same spot.
Does the supplement CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) reduce cellulite as claimed?
A. No. Despite some animal studies showing that CLA-a supplement derived from trans fats found in grass-fed beef and dairy-can minimize body fat and probably cellulite, the only thing it will likely slenderize is your wallet. In human studies, results have been inconclusive. Many people not only saw little or no weight loss, they also reported adverse health effects, such as insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and a decrease in HDL (good) cholesterol. The danger: CLA destroys fat-storing cells; this can cause fat droplets to circulate in the blood and end up in vital organs such as the heart and liver.
However, new research indicates that a diet high in soy protein and the amino acid L-leucine may play a key role in the fight against cellulite by stimulating fat burning and maintaining lean muscle mass during weight loss. You're much better off getting these nutrients through foods such as tofu, lean meats, beans, and nuts than in a pill; and you need to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to achieve lasting results.
What Really Works
Products and potions aside, exercise is the most effective way to reduce the appearance of cellulite. We put together the perfect 30-minute workout to target your most common problem areas and help you banish cellulite for good.
Sources: Cheryl Karcher, MD, an assistant clinical professor at New York University Medical Center and an associate at Sadick Dermatology in New York City; Matt C. Cave, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky (for CLA information).


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Netflix Roku – Streaming Content as It Should Be
Netflix Roku – Streaming Content as It Should Be
Roku Video Recorder/Player is one of the most desirable devices at this
moment. The Roku for Netflix is so simple and easy to use, we could only play for a few minutes and we were watching a movie.
The Market
To start, we have to understand why it is important for a company that rents videos to be selling boxes for members to instantly watch videos on their televisions. Currently, Netflix has 8 million subscribers, 21% more than last year. The business is based on renting movies by mail, such … Read more at Netflix Free TrialsRead the rest of this entry »


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Date: Every Thursday, year around!
Hours: 10am-4pm
Cost: Free!
The Nature Museum is open year around on Thursdays! Make a day of it by coming to visit us and exploring our curated collection of hands-on exhibits. Afterwards, head outside and take a walk in the woods behind the museum or on one of three Village Park trails. There are plenty of opportunities to connect with nature and learn something new.


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While no one seems to know when the current economic recession will hit bottom and begin the slow bounce back, indications are that when it happens, it will be a vastly different landscape.
According to a report Wednesday (April 22) in Automotive News, Michael Robinet, vice president for global vehicle forecasts at CSM Worldwide, Detroit, Mich., said it will take three to four years for North American auto production to recover to pre-recession levels. And when it does, Detroit automakers will only be filling 45% of the total. As recently as 2000, the "Detroit 3" – General Motors Corp., Ford and Chrysler – produced more than 75% of all vehicles built in North America.
The "Asian 4," Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai, are seen as likely beneficiaries of the change in production from traditional domestic OEMs.
Robinet's comments were voiced during a meeting of the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership.
The executive also noted that the industry will downsize its offerings in order to meet federal fuel-economy requirements, with the strongest product segments forecast to be subcompacts, compacts and mid-sized vehicles.
"We are going to start driving more appropriately sized vehicles," he said.
While much of Robinet's statements were directed at the North American market, he also noted that the current recession is having a worldwide impact. According to Robinet, automakers built vehicles at an annualized rate of 74 million units in January 2008; in January 2009, that rate fell 42%, to 43 million units. The dramatic decline has led to an industry capacity utilization rate of approximately 60%, far below the 80% to 85% rate Robinet said was required for automakers to operate profitably.
Nearly one-quarter of the way through the 2009 year, North American production (U.S., Canada, Mexico) has fared even worse. Through April 18, North American car and truck production totaled 2,237,575 units; through April 19, 2008, that year-to-date figure was 4,345,178 vehicles. Total U.S. production is down by more than 54%, 1,401,424 versus 3,051,203 units.


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Poll warns GOP of focus on deficit
An outside group aligned with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has commissioned a report that warns conservatives against adopting an all-spending cuts, all-the-time message, and suggests that leaders on the right put a heavier emphasis on less abstract issues such as education and gas prices.
The poll, commissioned by the nonprofit YG Network and obtained by POLITICO, shows that even Americans concerned about deficits and debt are far more concerned with their own personal economic well-being.
Story Continued Below
The YG Network polling, conducted by the GOP firm McLaughlin & Associates, found that 38 percent of Americans name the "economy and jobs" as the issue of greatest importance to them. Twenty percent named "deficit and debt" as their top concern, and 16 percent pointed to health care.
"It is important to note that 'economy and jobs' is almost twice that of 'deficit and debt,'" pollster John McLaughlin notes in the report.
The polling questions related to entitlements are just as bracing. Voters are willing to consider some changes to the Medicare system – raising the eligibility age to 67 and means-testing benefits – but less than half are enthusiastic about changing the system immediately in order to balance the budget over a decade.
Asked to choose one government program they would be willing to cut, only 14 percent of respondents named Social Security or Medicare. Just over three quarters – 76 percent – picked military spending or other, unspecified "welfare programs."
The survey represents the latest prominent attempt by center-right leaders in Washington to nudge Republicans toward adopting a comprehensive political agenda that appeals to the middle class.
While public polls have shown the GOP continues to perform well on questions related to spending, the outcome of the 2012 election raised serious questions about the political potency of a message overwhelmingly anchored in hawkishness on the national debt. There are persistent doubts, even among foes of public spending, that a majority of the electorate is prepared to reward legislators for implementing deep cuts to government.
( WATCH: RNC report: Priebus sits down with POLITICO)
John Murray, who heads the YG Network, confirmed that the poll was "specifically designed to challenge the assumption that spending cuts as a central theme is sufficient."
It's not that spending restraint is a bad issue for conservatives, according to Murray; it's just not enough, on its own, to drive middle-class support for a center-right policy vision.
"It doesn't feel aspirational and it doesn't feel like a message of the future," said Murray, who suggested conservatives need an agenda "broad enough so [Americans] feel like it impacts them in a real way."
The poll points specifically toward education and energy as areas where politicians on the right can better connect with voters. Eighty-eight percent of respondents in the poll said that energy prices hurt their personal finances, including 56 percent who said they hurt "a lot." That's considerably more than the percentage naming debt or government regulation as a personal financial problem.
McLaughlin's report also found strong support for incremental proposals to create greater transparency in higher education; for example, 88 percent said they'd favor a measure requiring schools to give parents a full breakdown of tuition costs.


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Rebels give Boehner another chance
The past two years haven't been easy for House Speaker John Boehner.
As he led the lone Republican branch of government against President Barack Obama and the Democratic Senate, he has also had to deal with a frequently unruly group of tough conservatives within his own party: twelve who voted against him for speaker and many more who have bucked party leadership on key votes.
Story Continued Below
( PHOTOS: 12 lawmakers who didn't back John Boehner)
The conventional wisdom is that Boehner is now in a weakened position, kneecapped by his own conference — especially as House Republicans prepare for the battles over the debt ceiling, automatic spending cuts and government funding. But some of the dozen — who either voted for someone else as speaker or abstained from voting at all — say their votes against Boehner have given him more leverage and emboldened him to stand firm against Obama and Harry Reid's Senate.
Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), who supported former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) for speaker, says he now has "full confidence" the speaker will be "very tough" on the president in the coming months.
"Boehner has been too nice of a guy, frankly. The president has not been coming to the table. … He's the one who's out to lunch and John Boehner has been too nice," Broun said.
The group of conservatives that has most publicly split with the speaker has had mixed effectiveness — so far.
( PHOTOS: 12 times John Boehner cried)
It remains to be seen just how much damage its members can wreak in the 113th Congress and whether they'll cooperate with the House leadership or flout it. One early signal that they may be brought into the fold was Boehner's announcement on Friday that he would proceed with a vote this week on a short-term debt ceiling hike — coupled with a requirement that the Senate pass a budget or there would be no pay for lawmakers in either chamber.
The plan, announced by leadership, was endorsed by influential House conservatives including Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, and three former RSC chairmen — Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Tom Price of Georgia and Jeb Hensarling of Texas. All of the men supported Boehner for speaker, but some have taken issue with his leadership style over the past few years.
The rebels were able to thwart Boehner's strategic tax vote dubbed Plan B. They've been united against spending bills, including aid and emergency flood insurance for states affected by Hurricane Sandy, but that aid package ultimately passed the House easily.
The conservatives' effort to oust Boehner failed to come to fruition — although it did grab headlines — with some of Boehner's fiercest critics ultimately supporting him. Some of the members who opposed Boehner felt burned by him, including Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, one of a quartet of congressmen booted from committee posts at the end of the 112th Congress. Others — like Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who arrived in Congress in November — said the vote was simply a desire to signal he'd like to see a "change in direction."
"I think it will strengthen [Boehner]. I think he has the opportunity now to sit down with a lot of the members who are upset and concerned," said Amash. "I think if he takes it as a constructive criticism and finds ways to improve conference unity, I think it gives him an advantage against the president going forward."


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Vice President Joe Biden made another verbal faux pas at the historic signing of President Obama's much-championed health care plan, dropping an f-bomb on-air just before Obama spoke to celebrate the passing of the bill.
Biden's profane slip is the latest in a string of gaffes that have made his foot and mouth a legendary pairing: but is this the most egregious to date? Experts weigh in:
- The Biden brouhaha marred an otherwise historic day and "sullied" the passing of landmark health legislation, the editorial staff at the Hartford Courant blogs. Biden's remark deflated "a significant moment for the president," the Courant staff writes. "Oh, Joe. Way to mark the occasion," they blog. "That quote may be forever linked with the Obama administration's finest moment."
- The VP's battle with foot-in-mouth disease could mean he'll go down in the history books as another bumbling second-in-command, Richard Adams writes for the UK's Guardian. "Biden should remember the words of John Nance Garner, vice-president under Franklin Roosevelt," Adams writes, "who said: 'The vice-presidency isn't worth a pitcher of warm piss.'"
- Biden's mishap might have been inappropriate for TV audiences -- but it was an accurate assessment of the monumental health bill's passage, John Feeney blogs for Gather. No one "has summed up the recent events in the health care saga as eloquently as Joe Biden did this morning," Feeney writes: "Whether you are for or against the health care bill, I bet that you would agree with the vice president. The health care bill is a big f****ing deal."
- He may be the most recent VP to make a verbal blunder, but Biden is continuing a long tradition of top political dogs using four-letter words in public, John Dickerson blogs for Slate. Teddy Roosevelt, Nixon, Clinton and JFK were all known for their potty mouths, Dickerson writes, but argues Biden is more susceptible to blame because technology can capture more of his speech. "People of a more sensitive nature might disapprove of this nature, but it is a fact of politics. At times, it is necessary," Dickerson writes.
- What blunder? Jason Tanamor blogs for Zoinks! Online. Sure, the FCC may not approve of Biden's emotional outburst, but the f-bomb was a natural, human reaction to achieving a historic goal, Tanamor writes. Not only are swear words a part of nearly every American's vocabulary, but this isn't even the first time Biden has publicly uttered the f-word, Tanamor argues. "I'm going to reiterate this crazy news story by echoing VP Biden," he writes. "Gimme a f****ng break."


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The FL Studio 9.6 (beta) 'What's New?' video is out. Also check out the video on transitioning From Blocks to Clips this explains some of the new Playlist features to help people who use Pattern Blocks to move to Pattern Cips.
Notable fixes/changes in FL Studio 9.6
- PitCHER (Beta) - Pitch correction and harmonization plugin.
- Horizontal zoom - Improved Playlist, Piano roll & Event Editor.
- Piano roll - Vertical zoom now possible & notes include properties view.
- Note handle - On note selection to rescale length
- Piano roll wave-display - Align notes to audio events.
- Magic lasso - Circle mouse around Notes or Clips to make a selection.
- Autosave / Autobackup - See F10 File options.
- Browser Autohide - See the Browser menu options.
- Lock Playlist tracks to clips - Right-click on Playlist tracks to lock and mimic Bock-tracks.
- Shift + Mouse Wheel - Move Channels, Mixer Tracks, Playlist Tracks & Patterns
Notable fixes/changes in FL Studio 9.5
- Larger mixer view & waveform metering - The Mixer View options include 'Wide tracks' and 'Waveforms'.
- Individually sizable Playlist tracks - Any or all Playlist tracks can now be resized by dragging on the divider between the name areas. Individual tracks can also be locked at a desired size.
- Live Playlist marker types - Playlist markers can be set to Loop, Pause or Skip for innovative live performances.
- 64 bit plugin support - The Wrapper now automatically detects 64 bit plugins and opens them in 64 Bit 'Bridged' mode.
- Improved memory management- Two changes have been made to lower demands on FL Studio's memory allocation.
- 1. 32 & 64 Bit VST plugins can be opened in 'Bridged' mode that runs the plugin and its memory allocation in a separate process.
- 2. Audio Clips & Sampler Channels Keep on disk option now opens the sample in a separate memory allocation.
- Improved audio options - ASIO: 'Mix in bufferswitch' and 'Triple buffer' may improve performance with some ASIO drivers. ASIO/Primary Sound: Revised 'Playback tracking' options to help with alignment of visual & recorded events where soundcard problems exist.
- Fully automatic PDC - The default for new projects, automatic Plugin Delay Compensation updates the PDC settings when changes are detected.
- Piano roll transport control - Editing in the Piano roll while in Song mode will now move the Playlist transport in sync with the Piano roll.
- Ctrl+B (Clips & Notes) - Duplicates selection, zoom-range, all (no selection).
- Piano roll - Rounded notes view.
- Left-Shift resize splits - Works on Clips in the Playlist or notes/chords in the Piano roll.
Enjoy! We did :)


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5302 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85712
8455 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85710
4443 W Ina Rd, Suite 141
Tucson, AZ 85741
Trickle Down TechnologyPosted October 27, 2019 12:03 PM
Recently, Nissan introduced the latest version of its Leaf, the company's electric car. It has many new features, including something called e-Pedal. It allows the driver to let up on the accelerator and, unlike a gasoline engine car, the Leaf doesn't just slowly lose speed; letting off the throttle pedal brakes the car in a very controlled way, using regenerative and sometimes friction brakes. With practice, a driver can go for a fairly long time without touching the brake pedal.
Another system, similar to those found in self-driving vehicles, can steer the car to keep it in the center of the lane using a camera and radar. It literally watches the lane markers and, of course, doesn't work well in snow that obliterates those markers. But the technology is impressive and can greatly reduce fatigue on long trips.
In fact, much of this technology has "trickled down" from research on autonomous vehicles, such as adaptive cruise control that slows down your vehicle (even to a stop) if the vehicle in front of you decelerates or stops. And we can expect these features will eventually find their way into all price levels of vehicles if the past is any indication.
There was a time anti-lock brakes were only found on premium vehicles; now they are on nearly all new vehicles. Traction and stability control are also prevalent, helping drivers reduce slippage and maintain control, thanks to computers.
With SUVs and trucks so popular, rear backup cameras help drivers see behind their tall back ends, reducing injuries, deaths and property damage. Bumper sensors and cameras allow drivers to be visually and aurally aware of their surroundings with 360° protection.
Many of these features improve our vehicle's safety and efficiency, and we can expect new technologies to crop up in the future. But just like the mechanical systems in your vehicle, it's important to maintain the electronic and computerized systems. Technicians at AASTRO Transmission & Auto Repair constantly train to keep up on these latest developments. Make sure all your vehicle's components are maintained in top condition.
AASTRO Transmission & Auto Repair
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Hey Tucson believe me when I tell you the customer service I received at Astro on speedway was tiptop amazing! Isabell Victor and Ryan did an outstanding job servicing my 2010 genesis coupe their prices are terrific and their customer service left me beyond satisfied so here?s to you guys great job keep up the good work!! ???
Usually I'm not one to leave reviews but I want to let everyone know that my experience at Aastro on Broadway location did an amazing job on my vehicle Victor Isabell and Ryan were great with customer service very friendly and even stayed after hours to make sure that I received my vehicle in top condition along with amazing gift bag to show their support in customer appreciation. I definitely recommend the shop 10 out of 10 I will certainly be back for another Service! I drive a 2010 genesis coupe and my car feels amazing their transmission fluid and oil change went smoothly and the price is terrific! Here's to you guys, good job!! ??
Aastro Transmission & Repair on Speedway is the only place I'll take my trucks. It takes me an hour to get there and it's worth the drive. Jimmy and the techs all know what they're doing. They're respectful, they show you & explain whats wrong and they warranty their work.
My son had vehicle trouble with his 2002 GMC Envoy. Jeremy the Service Advisor located on 4443 W. Ina Road came out and spotted the problem quickly (a loose battery connection). He was great and very helpful. He also gave us some good automotive advice (no charge). Jeremy's example of excellent service lets me know that AASTRO is a company I would like doing business with. Thanks Jeremy, you've got my business in the future.
This team provided excellent customer service with their communication on my son's car throughout the entire process. While traveling across country we were faced with a broken down a/c in 100+ degree temperatures. The price was comparable with other quotes, but came in cheaper with an extended warranty. No one likes unplanned expenses, but overall this team was great and I'd recommend them to others in my same situation. Thank you!
The technician and staff were all wonderful!
Patrick, Paul, and Isabelle are the best. I recently had major repair done to the drive train on my 2008 Jeep Commander. Having taken it to two other establishments previously, including a Jeep dealer with no success, I decided to give Aastro a try. We experienced some difficulty with a parts supplier which caused some delay, but Patrick was on top of it and got things back on track as quickly as possible. I am so pleased with the results. Paul seems to know his stuff, Isabelle is a pleasure to work with, and Patrick is a perfectionist who will not sign off on a job until it is perfect. I'd give them 10 stars if I could.
I was visiting my son in Tucson when my air conditioner went out. I stopped in to have it diagnosed. They young lady at the desk was so nice, friendly, and helpful. They were able to look at it and diagnose the problem. I didn't get it fixed there because I needed to get back to NM today. They were very professional and I would had it fixed there if not for that. Positive experience.
Excellent service
Vehicle was brought in for a road safety check at 89 K miles on it. Many things were found to be in need of repair, but at this high mileage I wasn't surprised. All services needed were explained in advance, and all work was done to my satisfaction. Now, four months later, vehicle is running great. I have been taking my vehicles to AASTRO for years, and have found that they are fair, friendly and professional. My "go to" place for automotive repair on the far East Side of Tucson.
Jimmy and everyone at Aastro on Speedway are wonderful.. They are reliable and do a great job!!! Thank you so much.
As always they provide very good service and make sure that we are taking care of very personable and they talk to you on a personal level instead of a mechanic's level where we don't understand anything
Finally got my old 2001 Car running smooth thanks to Aastro transmission. Good at getting to the crust of issues to keep us on the road, which is a great American freedom way of life. Thank you George Susan and everyone at Aastro Transmission. Good job
The repair took a long time to complete, but with extenuating situation I am aware it is sometimes above control. Aastro did complete the service requested. Happy with and after 2 weeks it will be warranty and guaranteed which will be good. The cost and time of use is always compared of having good quality work done. Good job Aastro Eastside. I will see you next time I need your service.
Monica and Jimmy are awesome. Very friendly easy to work with. Working with them in a car trouble situation made it so much easier!! Thank you both
First time customer that is really impressed with the service and stick-to-itiveness. I brought a complex issue to Jimmy and his team and they stayed with it communicating to me their process each step of the way.
Excellent, knowledgeable service for a complicated mechanical problem, as well as problems with door latch mechanisms that other service centers were not willing to even take a look at.
Very competent team at this Broadway location. They consistently solve very difficult repair problems. They never give up. I had an intermittent electrical/computer issue that was very hard to find. George and his team found it and fixed it. They even searched for the best price on all the parts and passed on substantial savings to me. They are the "go-to" experts for vehicle repairs and always have a great positive attitude. Highly recommended.
Excellent service. They solved a very difficult intermittent electrical/computer problem. This is the "go-to" team for many vehicle repairs. They never give up and have always solved the toughest problems and always have a great positive attitude. Reasonably priced. Highly recommended.
Have used this location for years I had not been in in a long time then I got a call from Jimmy I had lost my keys about a month earlier with 2 key fobs for the handicap ramp about 200 dollars to replace. Someone brought them to him and he called me. They saved me a lot of money and have always been fair and honest. You have to remember if it sounds too high or you think it's not fair talk to them, ask for options or get another opinion. But it does no good to complain afterwards. Never have they done anything without calling me ahead of time and getting approval. There is value in using the same garage. They appreciate customer loyalty and get to know your vehicle better.
Just wanted to say how wonderful and happy I am with the service you did on my vehicle!!! George and the team are honest and trusting and do the job right!!!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!! ALWAYS SATISFIED WITH THE WORK AND WILL ALWAYS COME BACK!!!
I was impressed with the patience and time Jimmy showed in explaining the work my car needed. He walked me to my car and took the time to explain the part it needed and why. I was convinced I was at the right repair shop in AASTRO Transmission central location and highly recommend as conscientious and trust worthy.
After a vet appointment my dog and I were stranded on the west side after my SUV would not start. We were towed to AASTRO on Speedway and then shuttled home. By 4:00 I was home after getting a new Starter put in. Super quick same day service and hopefully over a year with this starting problem will be gone!! Yippee!
Great service
George really took the time to explain my best options and the work was exceptional. They have followed up with me on the repairs several times. Great place to have any work done.
I don't normally go out of my way to write reviews but the team James has built over at your Speedway location has always treated me very well, seriously knowledgeable and honest on whether a repair needs to be done immediately or can wait...it's honesty and service like that, that has made me tell my friends and family to get all repairs done there! Thanks for taking care of my car quickly and at a good price !!
My friend advised that I go the AASTRO Transmission on East Broadway and ask for John. He is a Master Mechanic and I was told he would run a diagnostic on my 2004 Lexus 330ES. I have 108K miles on it. When I brought it in I was thinking my transmission might be the problem (Sluggish, skipping during acceleration). Gloria was the gal at the front desk and actually asked John to come up front to meet me. She is an excellent representative and face for the business in meeting with the customers. I use Lexus of Tucson and also used a Mom and Pop shop for my 3K oil change. When I asked them about the sluggish performance they recommended that I use Premium gas. So, I have been doing that for a year but still couldn't out run my girlfriend's Prius. John has the capability and owns his own very expensive equipment to diagnose just about any car and along with that a very large TV screen to view the results. To make a long story short, John ran the diagnostics. He said I had a very well-maintained car but made a couple of changes and recommendations: He put back standard motor oil, he said based on the schematics and OEM recommendations of the 2004 Lexus to not use synthetic. In looking at my invoice the services provided: Motor Vac Fuel Injection & Decarb, which included: clean fuel injector, fuel rail, throttle body, combustion chamber and exhaust system all in compliance with OEM recommended maintenance. AASTRO did the 3K mile maintenance and I believe this shop automatically does a 41-point Inspection. I personally went back to see John's work station, tools and diagnostics area. Very impressive and clean. My invoice was around $300. So, now my car performs like never before, I find myself getting to the speed limit faster and getting to that speed without it skipping and not sluggish. I am so happy with my car and will continue to use AASTRO. I live by Ina Road and knew they had a shop there but my friend insisted I see John. My 3K mile oil changes will be done at this company but I will go to the Ina Rd shop. Anything major? Back to John. Oh, and on that note John also advised me that I could use regular as opposed to premium gasoline as per the Manufacturers' recommendation. I will save at the pump and I am grateful to my friend for the recommendation and appreciate John's incredible knowledge and passion for wanting to get things done correctly.
Patrick and his team jumped on an unexpected problem with our Chrysler 300. The radiator cracked and we had just enough time to get it replaced. Between price, service and attitude I can't say which was better.
I took my car in for a problem. It was quickly diagnosed & the cost was minimal. The guys really know their stuff.
Just the usual great service.
I have always received great service & great advice. My questions are always answered honestly.
Your staff were very courteous & professional. They explained everything in detail and were exceptional in helping keep the repair affordable. They were honest & up front about everything. I came away feeling my repair needs were given the highest priority. Thanks.
Thank you for showing me my serpentine belt. I was told by others it needed replacing and you showed me that the belt was still O.K. - appreciate your honesty.
Your staff is always very accommodating & go out of their way to help you.
I am very happy because I have less worries about my car.
Thank you for all the personal attention - I hope I can find as trustworthy & conscientious group of mechanics where I live now.
They have been good people to deal with.
Very courteous staff, I was taken care of right away. Staff went above & beyond.
I was treated with care and given detailed explanations for everything.
I have been using AASTRO to service my cars for about 10 years. I have always received great service.
Your staff was awesome. Very professional, courteous, friendly & helpful.
Excellent repair personnel - nice people to deal with.
So thankful for their assistance while traveling! Exceptional service by caring folks. Highly recommend!


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September 29, 2010: Omaha, NE — With the addition of four new distributors, the Avaire porcelain tile system is now available across the entire northern tier of the United States as well as Canada...
Read more >
Omaha, NE (May 2010) — COMC, LLC received the Emerging Business of the Year Award from the Greater Omaha Chamber at the 2010 Omaha 25 Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center.
May 13, 2010: Omaha, Nebraska — JJ Haines & Company, Inc., headquartered in Glen Burnie, Maryland, is the latest major distributor to partner with COMC, LLC, makers of Avaire porcelain tile...
Dec 21, 2009: by Annette M. Callari, Allied ASID, CMG: I've always loved the term "floating floors". It conjures up magical images of products that have hidden powers. Well, there are no magic carpets except in the cartoons, but there is some magic in a new flooring system from Avaire Floors that offers consumers an interlocking, floating, porcelain floor..."
Read full article here (PDF) >
Dec 1, 2009: Gary Sullivan interviewed Avaire's Matt Lessman on his NPR radio show "At Home with Gary Sullivan".
Click here to listen (quicktime required)
September 4, 2009
Omaha, Nebraska — CoMc LLC is pleased to announce US Patent 7,543,417 has been granted for Avaire's SnapSys Interloc interlocking porcelain tile system.
August 24, 2009
Omaha, Nebraska — Omaha's Open Door Mission currently is in the process of expanding its facility with a 65,000 square foot addition that includes cutting-edge technology. Much of the floor space and some walls are covered with Avaire, an innovative
commercial porcelain floating tile system that provides the value-added features of speedy installation and low life cycle maintenance cost.
July 6, 2009
Omaha, Nebraska - In its first appearance at the NeoCon World's Trade Fair 2009 held June 15-17, Avaire Commercial came away with one of the coveted top awards given out at the show—a Best of NeoCon Innovation Award in the hard surface category.
May 12, 2009
Omaha, Nebraska - Three of the country's leading flooring distributors, BR Funsten & Company, Midwest Floor Coverings and Lumbermen's, Inc., have joined with CoMc LLC to distribute the Avaire porcelain floating tile system.
Avaire is an exciting new product that you can install over existing floors without adhesive and then grout the same day because of its state-of-the-art interlocking floating non-skid base.
May 11, 2009
Omaha, Nebraska - An exciting new porcelain floor tile system that you can install over existing floors without adhesive and then grout the same day sounds almost too good to be true. But Avaire porcelain tile makes all this possible with its state-of-the-art interlocking floating non-skid base.
Questions? Customer support is available 7 days a week. Call (877) 263-5861
M-F 8am-8pm CST, Sat 10am-6pm CST, Sun 12pm-4pm CST • Text (402) 305-1961 • Email us


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Mountain Travel Symposium: Facebook as an advertising, marketing machine
Colorado Mountain News Media
BRECKENRIDGE — When Facebook's United States Group Leader Erik Hawkins came to the Mountain Travel Symposium last year, Facebook was arguably just a social media platform.
But something has happened since then, both with the company and with digital consumption as a whole, that is turning Facebook into a mega marketing machine.
Hawkins told hundreds of Symposium attendees Sunday that Facebook saw a 90 percent increase in time spent on its mobile application last year — 90 percent in one year.
"The internet is shifting to mobile," he said, adding that the travel industry is the No. 1 thing people engage in while on Facebook.
With 60 percent of Facebook's total activity coming from mobile devices, there's an opportunity to target advertising like never before.
"We all look at Facebook from two lenses — user and marketer," he told Evan Reece, co-founder and CEO of Liftopia, during a question-and-answer session at the first day of the conference's forum presentations. "Our lens as a marketer, traditionally we see Facebook as a place where we make connections and we have an audience and we have to publish to it. What it's become is really, really, highly efficient, highly targeted media platform. What I don't think everyone has done yet is reconciled that it can be both things."
Data shows Facebook is an undeniably effective advertising tool, especially for the travel industry, but Ski.com's vice president of marketing Dan Sherman wanted to know just how much companies should spend on Facebook as a percentage of total digital spend.
"I think people should spend as much as is effective," Hawkins said. "Are you spending and are you seeing results? Then you should probably keep spending."
But at the local level, marketers and tourism industry professionals don't always agree that digital advertising is always the best way to reach customers. At a discussion about visitor services Saturday, Aspen Chamber Resort Association president and CEO Debbie Braun said Facebook is great and so are sites like Yelp where customers post reviews of their experiences.
"But the 60-year-old walking in (to the visitor's center) has a visitor's guide in his back pocket," she said. "You can't be a one-trip pony."
That's why so many mountain travel destinations like Aspen still invest and believe in bricks and mortar efforts like visitors centers. However, digital technology is a way to augment all of those other efforts, said Douglas Ralston, of the mobile marketing company mobiManage.
"Digital is part of it," he said. "There's nothing you can take away from that personal touch."
Facebook is a key digital marketing tool, but it also has its challenges, Jackson Hole Chief Marketing Officer Adam Sutner said after the forum. Facebook's ability to segment markets is "top notch," but some of the strengths Hawkins mentioned are perceived as potential weaknesses by marketers as the platform evolves.
"What marketers worry about I think is that as Facebook continues to grow, its constituent brands' content become increasingly diluted and much more difficult for us, the brands, to get our own content viewed," Sutner said. "Facebook, of course, likes this as their business model includes growing their advertising business. So the old virtuous reasons for marketers to want to lean into Facebook, forming an engaged relationship with a passionate set of like-minded fans in and around your brand experience, is perversely diminishing. Seeing that scenario all the way through, Facebook would just become another media vehicle, subject to (cost-per-thousand) and other (return-on-investment) scrutiny."
Facebook conducted research with British consultant company Sparkler last year that revealed some staggering numbers for travel professionals — numbers that prove its place within the digital advertising marketplace.
"Ninety-nine percent (of the Facebook users who engage in travel on the site, which is nearly half of all users) share something on Facebook when they get back from a vacation," Hawkins said. "Thirty-two percent do it before they even get home from the airport. That sparks the next set of dreamers to think about a vacation."
Dreaming is the first phase in the travel journey, he said. After dreaming, marketers hope and expect potential customers to then plan and book. After they experience the vacation, they then reflect on it — likely on Facebook.
"(Facebook) and Google will be the biggest players, and they're figuring out how to leverage their reach for marketers," Vail Valley Partnership president and CEO Chris Romer said after the forum. "It's the Wild West and they are hyper-innovative — creates a huge opportunity."
Recognizing that Facebook has come a long way in terms of targeted reach in the last year, Hawkins expects a lot more to happen before next year's symposium.
"Facebook will get progressively more efficient at driving transactions that are profitable for travel," he predicts. "I hope you see better and clearer ways to measure the value of Facebook advertising so it's very simple to activate, convert and track that return, and makes it really easy for you guys to make the investment in Facebook."
Editorial Projects Manager Lauren Glendenning is covering the Mountain Travel Symposium in Breckenridge for Colorado Mountain News Media. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 970-777-3125.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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Based on classical ballet, BarreFusion will cater to all levels. Be prepared to sweat, listen to great music, and feel muscles you didn't know you have working! Class will begin with a quick warm up followed by sequences of barre exercises and stretches. Utilizing your own body weight, this class will incorporate elements of pilates and yoga fused with ballet barre for a total body workout.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: February 14Jazz Fit at Interfusion Fitness
Later Event: February 19Ballet Fit Fusion at Interfusion Fitness


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REVIEW: Hockey Comedy Goon Doesn't Sermonize About Violence, And That's a Good Thing
Michael Dowse's hockey comedy Goon is crude, violent and deeply enjoyable. It also offers the chance to see Liev Schreiber — a guy who's played Hamlet, ferchrissakes — living it up as a bloodthirsty minor-league thug in the kind of '70s eight-track-guy mustache that only hockey players, bless their hearts, still try to get away with. That, to me, is catnip in the form of a hockey puck.
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I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul,
The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are
with me,
The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I
translate into a new tongue.
—Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
This is perhaps the most appropriate introduction to Christopher Merrill, the award-winning poet and translator from Slovenian and Korean who directs the International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa. Gifted with a style that frequently combines, as Kirkus Reviews called it, "Merrill-the-poet's gorgeous writing, and Merrill-the-reporter's sharp eye," he has risen to greater international prominence in part through his involvement with the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO and extensive cultural diplomacy engagement all over the world.
In his recent memoir Self-Portrait with Dogwood, Merrill writes: "The invention of language made possible what we imagine to comprise human experience, for good or ill—agriculture, warfare, religion, government, poetry, philosophy, art, and science, not to mention the emotions that drive individuals, societies, and civilizations. Long ago, under a tree, we learned to express ourselves in a new key, building structures of meaning word by word, phrase by phrase, alert to the necessities of living, to the varieties of love and grief, to the mysteries of faith, quirks of nature, and consolations of storytelling… The musical possibilities encoded in language expanded our understanding of the worlds without and within, giving birth to poetry—and so much more."
Claire Jacobson: Can you tell me how you got started writing poetry, and translating, and being involved in the international writing community? Basically, what is the origin story of Christopher Merrill?
Christopher Merrill: A writer's origin story may change over time, especially if the writer's life takes many forms, as mine has. Thus at different points along the way I have dated the beginning of my literary vocation to a love affair; a serious illness at the age of twenty-four; working as a war correspondent in the Balkans; making pilgrimages on the Holy Mountain of Athos; and so on. But the most enduring story is that as a teenager in New Jersey I wanted to be a soccer player and a poet: two career paths that did not sit well with my parents—which only enhanced their appeal. When I matriculated at Middlebury College, where I was recruited to play soccer and intended to be a French major, I had the good luck to take a poetry workshop with the novelist Thomas Gavin, who became a lifelong friend; his encouragement inspired me to serve what turned into an unusual literary apprenticeship, which included stints as a graduate student, nurseryman, college soccer coach, caretaker, bookstore clerk, director of writers' conferences, and freelance journalist. What persists through every job I have held, each of which I viewed as a gift regardless of the pay or working conditions, is my love of reading and writing, which at every turn has helped me to navigate my time here below.


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R.I.P: Amy Winehouse Found Dead
"Singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in Camden, north London, at the age of 27, police have confirmed. Officers were called by the ambulance service to an address in NW1 just after 4pm today. "On arrival, officers found the body of a 27-year- old female who was pronounced dead at the scene," a police statement said. Her death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries are continuing into the circumstances,"
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In which issues concerning the profession of philosophy are
bitched griped about
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Teaching Demonstrations
I've never done a teaching demo, but I've witnessed a few. My sense is that sending a reading may not hurt you, but conducting your demo in a manner that presupposes that they have done the reading will definitely hurt you, and not sending a reading will definitely not hurt you. So I think the safe play is not to send one. It's okay to base your demo around a particular reading; just don't base your demo on the premise that the students have read it.
It also seems to me that it would be a profound mistake to devote 12 minutes of your demo to a discussion in small-groups. What would such a discussion demonstrate? That you can effectively break students into small groups and let them discuss the material on your own? It will demonstrate that you were not prepared to give a teaching demonstration. Am I wrong?
The best teaching demo I have witnessed was on a historical topic, which was to be the candidate's primary upper-division teaching responsibility. The candidate had a particular issue to discuss, set out the issue in a clear way, explained how the relevant historical figures solved the problem, and explained the difficulties associated with these proposed solutions. He solicited student participation (one of the main difficulties was proposed by a student), made us feel comfortable, and was funny and engaging. In the final section of the demo, he connected the historical topic to a closely-related current debate. This candidate got the job.
--Mr. Zero
34 comments:
I suggested small groups because getting students to discuss productively in small groups is a difficult thing to do and, if one can do it (and then make use of it in a large group discussion), it's excellent teaching. Of course, if the small groups are being productive then end them.
But the big BIG caveat is to make sure this sort of thing is valued at the particular institution. If the folks there think that small groups are what you fall back on when you aren't prepared, then don't do it.
But the point is well-taken that doing what's typical (lecture while eliciting student participation) is a relatively risk free approach.
Perhaps, asking what sort of teaching style the students are used to might be a worthwhile question to ask prior to going to the on-campus interview. This way one wouldn't inadvertently do that which is viewed as poor teaching despite being perfectly capable of doing what they view as being excellent teaching.
- January 7, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Having been involved in a few TT hires in one department, I can say that if a candidate divided students into discussion groups, that would be a deal-breaker for me. That said, I once taught at a place where I was judged a very poor teacher (in a peer review) for not using small discussion groups. Yet, other members of that department found the peer reviewer's comments biased. The idea that a candidate could figure out what the preferred teaching style of a department happens to be is ludicrous, given that there might be disagreement over pedagogy. The general rule here is, as with other aspects of interviewing, BE YOURSELF. Granted that right now you would rather be hired even if you have to bullshit yourself into a position, ask yourself whether you would rather be rejected for being yourself or for wrongly guessing what a SC or department is "looking for" (when they were actually looking for someone who teaches just as you REALLY prefer to teach).
- January 7, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Saith the fat man to the cannibal: "Just be yourself!"
- January 7, 2010 at 12:47 PM
One of the joys of my previous job was that I was not hired on the TT but applied for TT jobs the department advertised on a few occasions. The department chair made us attend the day that there were candidates teaching our sections so we could introduce the candidate. It was a complete farce. I saw one good teaching demonstration. Actually, it was a great teaching demonstration. I was really, really into the lecture. As soon as the candidate left, the queen of the sorority girls pronounced that she was not cute at all. The department decided to offer the position to those who offered objectively the worst teaching demonstrations. My advice is to be first on the secret list prior to the fly out, blow off the teaching demonstration entirely, and turn down the offer for something better.
Oh, and watch out for questions from members of the committee in class. I got hit with one of those. Try not to make the member of the committee look dumb, which is hard because they are asking you questions during your teaching demonstration.
- January 7, 2010 at 12:53 PM
A close friend of mine starts his discussion on animal rights/welfare by confessing to his students that he fucks a lot of sheep. They are shocked. He then reminds them that he only fucks the sheep, they eat them. Teaching demonstration gold!
- January 7, 2010 at 12:54 PM
I think breaking the students into small groups during the teaching demonstration is a horrible idea. If this is something that you sometimes do go ahead and mention that this is something you sometimes do. I think we all sometimes lecture and the committee most likely wants to see what it is like when that happens.
- January 7, 2010 at 2:54 PM
I agree with JMc that facilitating small group discussion is an excellent skill -- but it seems very risky to try for an extended discussion during a teaching demo. The committee might be impressed, but even a teaching-focused committee might think that that's not a good use of your demo time. Give the committee 12 minutes to think about other things and they probably will.
I'd try something simpler: plan for a few very short discussions (1-2 minutes) between neighbors or in very small groups. During your interview, you can always tell the committee about how you normally use more extended discussions in class, etc.
- January 7, 2010 at 3:41 PM
- Inside the Philosophy Factory said...
I tend to agree that small group discussions are a bad idea-- the shorter "think-pair-share" model is much better -- if only because you aren't taking a risk by using so much time with students who many not be good in small groups. I know, at my CC, I've had to train classes in the small group process -- they don't seem to get it on their own. A teaching demo isn't the right place to do that.
Also, the small group thing can come off as lazy / non-rigorous..
Having been on a few hiring committees myself, my best advice is to make sure you tackle a topic that fits the time frame you have available. If you need to spend a few minutes at the beginning explaining the context or the gist of the reading, then fine -- but make sure the demo fits the time frame.
- January 7, 2010 at 6:37 PM
Also, see Ralston, "An Outline for a Brief Teaching Demonstration: On the Distinction between Morality and Ethics," Teaching Philosophy, forthcoming (March 2010). A few months ago, a link was posted to an earlier version of this paper.
- January 8, 2010 at 4:25 AM
Can I ask for advice for fly-outs at good/top research schools? I'm not from the US, and don't even have the faintest idea what's involved. Is it usually one day, or several? Who attends the job talk - faculty, grads, undergrads? Is there usually any teaching component? Sorry to be so ignorant...
- January 8, 2010 at 4:36 AM
Blame it on the cold temperatures.
I'm the one who foolishly suggested group work. Mea culpa. I'm convinced it's a thoroughly bad idea (and if I'd thought about it for a bit, I'd have realized this on my own) for a teaching demo insofar as devoting as much time during a teaching demo as one might during an actual class is not a good idea. It might work well at some places, but is probably to more likely not go over well. Again, mea culpa.
I do think that doing *something* interactive (e.g., quick 'talk to your neighbor') would be good.
I do think you can, at least sometimes, get a sense of what kind of teaching is typical in a department by asking or by thinking about the sorts of questions you were asked about teaching.
Again, the most important thing is to engage the students as best you can. For us, we take student feedback very seriously; so the more the students are engaged, want to talk more with the candidate, the better.
So, again, I suggest finding out what else the students are taking so that you can connect what's happening in their others classes to your teaching demo.
- January 8, 2010 at 5:37 AM
I am _so_ using the sheep-fucker case the next time I teach animal welfare.
- January 8, 2010 at 8:08 AM
I find Anon 12:30's anecdotes quite disturbing. I use small groups in my teaching, when it's called for, but expecting candidates to do this (particularly if they aren't told that's expected) is bizarre. Small groups are excellent for some purposes, and lousy for others. To think they should always be used is simply naive pedagogy. If "deal breaker" means he would reject any candidate who used this method, that's also disturbing, for just the same reason.
For what it's worth, I learn nothing when someone just lectures during a teaching demo. You've got to get students involved, as far as I'm concerned, but how that's done is almost irrelevant. How you do it depends on your goals, and on the nature of the material and the intended audience. Here's why: lecturing is performing, not teaching, but all teaching necessarily includes performances of various types.
"Give the committee 12 minutes to think about other things and they probably will." (Anon 3:41) If you use small groups during your demo, you've got to get the committee to form their own group(s) and treat them the same as the students. Don't just let them watch students talk to each other.
- January 8, 2010 at 9:30 AM
I'm Anonymous 12:30. In reply to Xenophon's being disturbed by my anecdotes, let me say: Yes, it would be a deal breaker for me if a candidate divided students into groups during a demo. This is because I would be afraid that anyone who did this during a demo would have a very strong bias towards this particular method and against other methods. My judgment on this is informed by a former chair who tried to "standardize" philosophy courses by imposing this single method department-wide. I don't have the luxury of guessing whether candidate X who uses it during a demo is more moderate about the issue. There are simply too many good candidates for me to risk it. One take-away lesson from my disturbing anecdotes might be that, usually unknown to the candidate, departmental history can sometimes be a strong factor in hiring decisions.
- January 8, 2010 at 10:54 AM
I don't want to get into a flame war with Anon 12:30/10:54, honest, but shit, man. Are you going to blackball any candidate with a blue shirt because some chick you were sweet on in high school went to the prom with a guy in a blue shirt?
If the moral is that some people are unprofessional *#%%^&*s, and if you inadvertently cross them, you'll never get a job in their department, yeah, you've illustrated the point.
If you want to know whether a candidate uses one method all the time, why don't you ask him?
- January 8, 2010 at 1:48 PM
Can I ask for advice for fly-outs at good/top research schools? I'm not from the US, and don't even have the faintest idea what's involved. Is it usually one day, or several? Who attends the job talk - faculty, grads, undergrads? Is there usually any teaching component? Sorry to be so ignorant...
I was a grad student at a once-ranked research university. It had a ph.d. program, w/ about 50 grad students, and a fairly robust undergraduate major. Around 15 tt/tenured profs, and lots of adjuncts, and some more-or-less permanent "senior lecturers" (i.e., s.o.'s of faculty members w/ ph.d.'s in phil). We had several searches. In each case, the job was a 2/2, primarily a research position. Profs usually taught 1-2 grad courses a year, and 2-3 undergrad courses.
Campus visits. Two days of stuff, spread over two or three days, depending on how it's organized (i.e., could start late on Monday, go through Tuesday, and end early Wed.).
(a) Someone picks you up at the airport, and the visit starts. Don't think what you say on the ride to the hotel doesn't count. It will be repeated, if it's deemed stupid or scandalous enough.
(b) Lots of meetings; some w/ individual profs, some w/ groups of profs; one w/ dean; one w/ vp; some prof may drive you around town, talking about property values; sprinkled throughout visit.
(c) Lunch meeting with grad students. Usually ask you how you feel about grad classes (duh!). Dismissing them makes them mad, but profs didn't generally care. Nevertheless, what you say to grad students does get back to profs. Can color their perception of you when you start teaching them.
(d) Give a 1-hour presentation on current research, followed by 1-hour discussion.
(e) Teach one meeting of some grad student's Intro to Phil or something similar. Several profs sit in on session. Usually up to you what you talk about in my dept.
(f) dinner at some prof's house, w/ several other profs and their s.o.'s.
(g) breakfast/lunch w/ someone, often a grad student, who'd drive candidate to airport for flight home.
The research talk audience consists of all phil profs, lots of grad students, some undergrads, interested non-phil profs (depends on your aos). Crowd would number anywhere from 40-65, depending on your reputation among our faculty (which determined how much they hyped your visit outside of Phi Dept).
I don't know if this is typical, though I suspect it goes something like this everywhere. Anyway, one person's observation, based on several dept searches. (We had a bunch while I was a grad student there.)
- January 8, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Anonymous 12:30 again. I'm just trying to be helpful in giving some information about what faculty care about. Unlike blue shirts, pedagogical methods are clearly relevant to hiring decisions. That's one reason for the teaching demo (and teaching statement, etc.) It's not unprofessional to care about the makeup of your department, and, like it or not, TT hires are often battles for the soul of a department. That's why some departments will never in a million years hire a continental philosopher (and some never an analytic one). I agree that it is unfortunate that there are some faculty members out there who will rule you out for irrelevant reasons.
- January 8, 2010 at 3:58 PM
Anon 341 here - @Xenophon, I don't think there's a big prejudice against small group discussions in general -- I use them all the time. It's the use of them in a teaching demo I'd advise against.
And sure, you'd want to involve the committee members in your groups - but that's very tough to pull off. Trust me, we might be interested in you as a candidate, but we're not there to participate in your class - if I end up in a group with other committee members, we'll just talk about your (lack of) performance, and if I end up in a group with students, I'll wonder why I'm explaining animal ethics to your demo class.
Another general point: in a teaching demo, you'll be teaching someone else's class. Treat that person with respect: it's their class your interrupting and, in my experience, hiring committees typically consult with them about your performance. It's unlikely that their input would be decisive, but you need all the help you can get.
- January 9, 2010 at 1:30 AM
Xenophon, I typically find your comments very sensible. I say this because your remark at 1:48 seems uncharacteristically unfair and extreme. I think it might be excessive for a certain pedagogical style to be a deal-breaker, but nevertheless Anon 12:30/10:54's general point is, I believe, a sound one: The inner make-up of the department--something mostly invisible to an interviewing candidate--goes a LONG way towards determining the outcome of the hiring process. With that in mind, sticking to a more standard teaching approach might be in order.
- January 9, 2010 at 12:16 PM
For what it's worth, I wouldn't use small group work in a teaching demo, for precisely the reasons that Inside the Philosophy Factory mentioned: it takes practice for students to perform well in such a class, and you can't teach that in one day. So doing that in a teaching demo may illustrate a lack of understanding of the method on the part of the candidate -- unless you're specifically told students can handle it, or you're really good and can pull it off anyway. I can also envision limited circumstances, like a business ethics class, where it would be a sensible approach.
I just find the prejudice against this method unfortunate, especially given all of the people who seem to equate teaching with lecturing. Last I'll say on the topic. . . .
- January 9, 2010 at 3:58 PM
I'm the poster who asked for the research fly-out advice - Thank you to a-158 - that's extremely helpful, if utterly terrifying!
- January 10, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Dear Schools: If you want me to fill out your affirmative action crap, at least send it to me before you send the PFO letter.
- January 11, 2010 at 5:43 PM
And the job market reaches a new low. Can't get a TT job? I bet you can get this one! http://chronicle.com/jobs/0000619833-01
- January 11, 2010 at 10:24 PM
BTW, I've had three flyouts at SLACs. At each place, I didn't get to choose the topic for my teaching demonstration. I taught real classes populated by paying students and was told what to teach. There wasn't any choice to be made, by me. In all three cases, I was given an introductory philosophy class. Maybe this is the difference between research institutions and slacs, but I thought it bore mentioning that, in my experience, I didn't get to choose what to teach or have the option of sending readings ahead. There's only one right answer to 'Can you teach the Meditations for your teaching demonstration?'
- January 11, 2010 at 10:45 PM
@utterly terrified:
True! But keep in mind that schools generally do two things during these visits: evaluate you and court you. By the time on campus visits came around, we had set aside many, many applications. So when someone got an on campus invite, it meant the dept liked them a lot already. So, while they were trying to evaluate the candidate, they were also trying to convince her to take a job with them (if offered). Since we were hiring for a research position, the dept almost always suspected and worried that the candidate would have other opportunities too. (If they were good enough for our school, they were deemed good enough for others.) So, in most cases, all of the profs were on their best behavior. Doesn't mean they didn't challenge candidates, especially philosophically, but it did mean they tried to make candidates feel welcome.
Again, this just reflects my experience at one once-ranked research U. But I'd guess it's not a whole lot different elsewhere.
- January 12, 2010 at 5:25 AM
Anon wrote, "And the job market reaches a new low. Can't get a TT job? I bet you can get this one! "
Sadly, I bet you cannot. From the ad:
Essential Job Specifications
- MA or PhD from an accredited institution of higher education in the discipline for which you are applying.
- At least three years of teaching experience at the postsecondary level.
- Professional/industry experience related to the preferred discipline.
- Fluency in spoken and written English is a must.
- Proven ability to teach across two or more of the disciplines above preferred.
Yes, that's how bad it is. Even jobs where you have a non-negligible chance of being decapitated or killed by a car bomb know that in this market they don't have to settle for those of us who lack teaching experience and cannot be counted on to teach both in philosophy and some other discipline (e.g., English Language and Composition, Comparative Religion, Art History and Music Appreciation.).
Fucked much?
- January 12, 2010 at 6:50 AM
Anon 10:45--
In defense of the assigned topic, my experience on SCs is that this makes it much easier to compare performances. Putting everyone in the same boat provides a better sense of who rows best. But it does put one onus on the SC--be damned sure that the topic is a good and fair one. I have seen SCs pick very poor topics--usually way too general or too narrow.
And good luck on your search for a position.
- January 12, 2010 at 7:28 AM
Does anyone have a link to the Marymount job ad that was posted on the wiki? I can't find it on the JFP, HEJ.com or the Chronicle. Thanks in advance.
- January 12, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Ha! That made my day. My grim, depressing, other-career-contemplating day.
P.S.--Philosophy Smoker staff, how about a new post?
- January 12, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Check out #306 on the APA web adds. I think a few years on the market should easily qualify one for a positon in counseling. Lord knows I've given myself copious amounts.
- January 12, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Thanks. I just realized this was an old ad. For some reason, the status got changed on the Wiki and I thought it was a new position that had just gotten advertised.
- January 13, 2010 at 5:39 AM
- Will Philosophize For Food said...
"Check out #306 on the APA web adds."
Yeah, every year one or two of these jobs pop up. Wrong APA, people!!
- January 13, 2010 at 6:00 AM
How should one dress for a campus interview?
More casual than for the APA? (For guys, slacks and a nice shirt instead of a suit? Jacket but no tie?) Does this change if you know that you will be meeting with people from the dean's office?
Any advice is much appreciated!
- January 13, 2010 at 2:39 PM
re: campus interview attire.
It's unlikely that your choice in clothes is going to hurt your chances directly - though it's conceivable that a poor choice could leave you feeling overly self-conscious and that (could) hurt.
APA-attire would be fine: you're never going to look overdressed (well, unless you wore a tux or a gown to the APA, I suppose). Most male candidates I've seen have worn jackets, if not ties, for their visits -- female candidates have dressed similarly (either skirts or pant-suits, or that sort of thing). But I'm sure I've seen candidates dress more casually, too. And one candidate I saw had to borrow a full set of clothes -- everything had been lost by the airline. (The candidate told us this. We would never have noticed otherwise -- after all, we're philosophers.)
Apparently, some institutions discourage faculty from wearing jeans (?), so you might want to play it safe there and avoid jeans. But I'm pretty sure that most places wouldn't care either way.
- January 13, 2010 at 3:40 PM


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