text:
Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz? Which pitcher do you go with in Game 1 of the playoffs?
Lester has pitched very well for the past two months and has worked more than 200 innings. He deserves it, doesn't he?
Then there's Buchholz. Talk about a shutdown pitcher . . . he missed three months of the season and then had two starts in which he didn't allow an earned run in 11 innings. He's 11-0 with a 1.51 ERA. In his next start, on Sunday, he'll be free to pitch deep into the game. Given the absolute dominance of his season, shouldn't Buchholz be the No. 1 starter?
Yes, he should.
Manager John Farrell won't even discuss who might be the top starter in the playoffs until the Red Sox officially clinch the American League East. He announced that John Lackey, Buchholz, and Lester will pitch in the final-weekend series, but he did not disclose the order.
"We haven't mapped it out as to who will start Friday, Saturday, or Sunday," Farrell said. "We have to factor in off days next week and the potential for those four days off [before the playoffs start]. We don't want to get guys too far away from a start. What rotation they fall under has yet to be determined."
When asked if the Game 1 starter will be determined by who deserves it or by matchups, Farrell said, "I'm not trying to dodge the question. We haven't looked at it that close. It can't be matchups at this point. We're just going on those three guys who will be rested enough to pitch in Baltimore. And we'll be sure we get everybody to the mound before that weekend to get the most recent action leading into what might be following that. We'll delve into that more when we get closer."
We're going to assume the Game 1 starter won't be Lackey. We know the first two games will be at Fenway and the potential teams are Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Texas, Kansas City, Baltimore, and New York. I reluctantly included the Yankees, because I don't think they're going to get there.
Lester was the Opening Day starter and he's gone an impressive 14-8 this season, including 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in his last three starts. He's eclipsed 200 innings for fifth time in six years and should be well-rested before he enters the playoffs.
Lester has had his worst record against the contenders. Against the Orioles, he's 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA, although that's not horrible. He's 1-0 vs. the Indians with a 3.86 ERA; 0-1 against the Royals; 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA in four starts against the Yankees; 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA in four starts against the Rays; and 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts vs. the Rangers.
Buchholz's numbers are certainly going to look good against anyone's. He's pitched 95⅓ innings, half as many as Lester, and you could make the case he's fresher and better. He's 6-0 at Fenway with a 1.88 ERA and a 1.064 WHIP compared with Lester's 6-1 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.170 WHIP.
Buchholz's numbers against the contenders are impressive. He's 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA in one start vs. the Orioles; 1-0, 2.25 in one start vs. Kansas City; 3-0, 0.50 in three starts vs. the Yankees; and 2-0, 0.00 with 13 scoreless innings in two starts vs. the Rays.
The other theory is whether the Sox want their "shutdown" pitcher setting the tone for Game 1. What Farrell has to decide is whether there's even much difference between Lester and Buchholz in that regard.
Before he got hurt, Buchholz had overtaken Lester as the No. 1 pitcher on the staff, as he was on his way to having a Cy Young Award season.
Lester had a good start to the season but then went through a six-start malaise during which he lost the mechanics of his delivery and couldn't get his cutter over the plate.
Both were a huge reason for the 20-8 start that kicked off this successful campaign.
Is it as simple as Lester gets it automatically for being there all year? Is it flip a coin? Is it matchups? Is it which pitcher gives us the best chance to go up 1-0 at Fenway?
If you're facing Baltimore, do you think the lefthanded Lester can offset lefthanded hitters Chris Davis and Nick Markakis, or are you more worried about righthanded hitters Adam Jones (4 for 8 vs. Lester this season) and Manny Machado (3 for 8)? If it's Cleveland, you'd be trying to offset Asdrubal Cabrera (a switch hitter; 4 for 7 vs. Lester).
You can go right down each lineup and see who you want to offset, and really, you're not going to go wrong with Buchholz or Lester. When it comes down to it, there's no hitter among the wild-card contenders who have absolutely lit up either pitcher except for the couple we've mentioned.
Lester and Buchholz will pitch the first two games, anyway; it's whatever preference you have for the order in which they appear. If Lester can win Game 1, it would be comforting to know Buchholz could put you ahead two games to none. If Lester were to lose, you'd know you had Buchholz pitching Game 2 to hopefully even things up.
Since it's so close, and since matchups won't be a huge factor, don't you reward the guy who has been there all season? That would be Lester.
Everyone on the team would understand that. It would cause no friction or hard feelings or raised eyebrows.
The simple solution — Lester would be the best choice.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.


text:
Adding a Logo to Access 2007 Reports
If you want to add a nice touch of class to your Access 2007 reports, why not add your own logo? Most companies and organizations have logos they use to add an official-looking appearance to letterheads, business cards, and so on, so why not use your logo on your reports, too?
Using a logo on an Access report is pretty easy, but there are a few little ways that Access might try to trip you up. Here's how to add a logo that you've stored in an image file:
1. Open your report in Design View.
2. Click in the Report Header section of the report.
Make sure that you click the report section where you want to add the image before continuing; otherwise, Access adds the image in whichever report section was last selected (probably the Detail section) and expands the height of the section to fit the image size.
3. In the Design section of the Ribbon, choose the Logo option.
4. Select the image file you want to use and click OK to close the dialog box and insert the picture.
5. Make certain that the image is selected and click the Properties button to display the Properties dialog box for the image.
6. On the Format tab, select Stretch from the drop-down Size Mode list box.
This option enables you to resize the image without cropping it. The default setting for this property, Clip, crops the image when you attempt to resize it. The Zoom setting is similar to Stretch, but it's a little harder to control.
7. Use the resizing handles along the sides and corners of the image to resize it as necessary.
You may also have to resize the Report Header to eliminate any extra height that Access added when you inserted the picture, and you may need to move some other objects, such as the report title, to get the appearance you desire.
In most cases, the Report Header section is the appropriate place to add a logo because you use a logo for visual impact. Including a large logo on every page or alongside every record dilutes its impact. On the other hand, if you have a very small version of your logo, you could include that small version in the Page Header section.
Any image that you add to a report as a logo is an example of an unbound control because the image isn't associated with the data in one of the database tables. Images that are stored in fields as either linked or embedded objects can also appear in a report by including a bound control in the Detail section of the report. There's no special technique required to add these types of bound image controls to your reports, but the same Size Mode property considerations in Step 6 of the previous list also apply to bound image controls.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
PRIVACY POLICY We take your electronic privacy seriously. Questions regarding this statement or our practices should be directed to the MoviesTVNetwork.com Privacy Coordinator by email at email@example.com. You may also send inquiries by mail to:Movies! / MoviesTVNetwork.com
We reserve the right to change our policy from time to time as we deem appropriate in our sole discretion.
There are two kinds of information web sites can obtain about you:
We collect Aggregate Information - such as your IP address (a number that's automatically assigned to your computer whenever you're surfing the Internet), browser type (e.g., Netscape or Internet Explorer), and domain (e.g., "XYZ.com"). We do this in the background so it does not interrupt your cruising speed. We use this information to help diagnose problems with our servers, to administer our site, and to gather broad demographic information. We share Aggregate Information with third parties for advertising and promotional purposes. None of this information is connected with Personally Identifiable Information. So, when you enter our site, you are anonymous and will remain that way unless you choose otherwise.
Sometimes handitvnetwork.com posts surveys and registration forms in which we ask for Personally Identifiable Information. Here are some ways we might use that information:
The choice is yours - you do not have to answer surveys or register for newsletters or service. If you choose to answer the survey or complete the registration, we will tell you on the survey or registration form how we will use the Personally Identifiable Information. If we are asking for optional information, we will mark it with an asterisk (*) so you know you can skip it if you want. And on that same page we will give you a way to "opt out" of being contacted by handitvnetwork.com and any third parties.
From time to time we run contests and sweepstakes in which we ask for Personally Identifiable Information such as your name, email address or telephone number. That's so we can let you know if you win. Sometimes we request additional Personally Identifiable Information such as your age, gender, and income level. And once in a while - though not often - we require this additional information in exchange for allowing you to enter the contest. Here are some of the ways we might use the information that we collect:
We may share Aggregate Information with our partners and advertisers. We will not share your Personally Identifiable Information with third parties unless we tell you otherwise when asking for it. We will give you a way to "opt out" of being contacted by handitvnetwork.com and any third parties.
If you win one of our contests or sweepstakes, we will not publish your name, hometown, or other Personally Identifiable Information on the Site unless you give us your permission.
If we ask you for Personally Identifiable Information, we will tell you if we intend to share it with others. We will provide you with a way to tell us that you don't want us to share the information or if you don't want to receive promotional and/or marketing information about products, services, and offerings from handitvnetwork.com and/or any third parties. Let us know and we will use your name and address only to tell you if you win a contest.
We authorize select suppliers of advertisements to place cookies on MoviesTVNetwork.com. The purpose of the cookies is to re/target users of our website to display personalized advertisements in their future navigation. The following platforms - IAB opt-out platform, Network Advertising Initiative opt-out platform, and Digital Advertising Alliance platform provide options to express opt-out choices for all companies that are registered in the respective platform. Please note that if you disable the display of personalized ads and other advertising partners, you will continue to receive ads that are less relevant to your interests/browsing behavior.
Here is a list of suppliers authorized to place cookies on MoviesTVNetwork.com and information on how to opt-out through their privacy policy.
We reserve the right to cooperate with government and law enforcement agencies engaged in investigations of activities that are, or are believed to be, illegal. Further, we may share your Personally Identifiable Information with such agencies if we believe that a crime or any act that endangers the health and safety of others may have been or may be committed. We may also share your Personally Identifiable Information in response to an appropriate subpoena.
Information posted to message boards or chat areas is available to the general public. Please use caution when posting any such information. Users under the age of 18 should be particularly careful not to provide any personally identifying information while using chat rooms or message boards. We reserve the right to, but are not obligated to, refuse or delete any content that in our sole discretion is considered inappropriate. Please see our Terms of Service for additional information.
On every page at handitvnetwork.com there is a link to a Contact Us email form so you can comment, complain, make suggestions, and ask questions. Your email address is required on this form so we can answer your questions, and we want your name, too, so we can address our answer in a mannerly way. We may also track your browser type and referring URL to better diagnose technical issues you may be having. We do not share this information with third parties and we will use it only to answer your correspondence.
When you visit our site, you may be directed to other sites outside our service. For example, if you click on a banner advertisement, you will leave our site. This includes links to sites operated by advertisers, sponsors and partners that may use our logo as part of an agreement with us. These other sites may send their own cookies to users, collect data, or solicit personal information. These other sites are not subject to our privacy policy and we are not responsible for the privacy policies for these other sites, nor for the use of any information that these sites may collect.
DELETING OR MODIFYING YOUR INFORMATION If you've given us personally identifiable information in the past and then have second thoughts or want to update it, here are your choices:Email to:
Although it is not always possible to remove or modify information in the databases, we will make reasonable efforts to do so. If you've given us information for one of those third parties we mentioned above and we've already passed it on, we cannot delete or change the information.
Any personal information you give us is kept in secure files. Access is limited to the few employees who have a need to know. We would like to tell you that your information is as safe with us as it is in your head, but, as hackers have proved worldwide, no computer security system is entirely foolproof. The most any Web site can do is make reasonable efforts, which is what we do at handitvnetwork.com, to protect your information from theft, misuse and alteration.


text:
Come hang out with the folks at Boomtown BBQ
Ignite your taste buds at Boomtown BBQ, traditional Texas barbeque with a Tex Mex twist.
At the curve of Old Calder before it empties onto Phelan Boulevard, turn in at the antique Plymouth truck at 5555 Calder, and then follow the smell of smoked meats to a casual eatery with a tin-covered ceiling, order bar and self-serve seating inside or on an expansive enclosed front porch.
You're now ready for the Smoked Meat Explosion, Boomtown's sampler. Like all menu items, this pound of meat combining brisket, pork loin, turkey and sausage is served on butcher paper making serving, clean up and take out quick and easy. Dip your brisket in one of Boomtown's four specialty homemade sauces, including Queso Blanco or Chipotle Mayo. Pork loin and turkey taste tangier doused in Orange Jalapeno Mustard or Salsa Verde.
"We serve on butcher paper instead of plates because it's quick and easy for everyone," said Emily Swanson, co-owner with her husband, Chris. "We smoke everything but our sausage here on our pits, weigh the meat and charge by the quarter pound. People can either eat it in or we can quickly wrap it up and they can take out."
Wanna really spice things up? Just grab the hard liquor bottle from the center of your table and smother your pork spare ribs, sold by the half and whole rack, in Boomtown's Carolina-style barbeque sauce. It's a little bit tangy with a hint of sweet and dispensed in Jim Beam, Jack Daniel's and McCormick Vodka bottles, imported from the Ship's Wheel in Crystal Beach. Go ahead, sop up what's left with your bread and then lick your fingers. But a roll of paper towels is available on every table.Buy meat platters by the quarter pound with sides like pinto beans, coleslaw, potato salad or Boomtown's version of french fries, cheesy potatoes, which are potatoes diced, seasoned, fried and covered in melted cheese. Why eat a plain ole french fry when you can have cheesy potatoes? Just doesn't make sense.
But if you want to experience the Tex Mex twist concept to barbeque, order one of Boomtown's Taco Bombs or BBQ Nachos. Your mouth will explode with the combination of flavors served in this barbeque taco — a flour tortilla stuffed with pulled pork, cheesy potatoes, onions, jalapenos and barbeque sauce.
This barbeque burrito of sorts is truly "the bomb," but the nachos are charged with mouth-watering flavors, too. Try the stack of tortilla chips covered with pulled pork, queso blanco, jalapenos and onions.
Weekly specials at this fun, family-friendly eatery include a sandwich night on Mondays when all meat sandwiches are $5. Tuesday night is rib night — half racks are $7 and full is $14; Wednesday night, get a Potato Boomer for $5, and every day quash your hunger for fiery flavors with Boomtown's Torpedo – a sausage link wrapped in a tortilla and covered in orange jalapeno mustard sauce for only $3.
Kids are catered to at Boomtown. Young'uns can fill up on a meat, chips and a drink for only $4.50 and then charge the enclosed side porch, just perfect for expending energy but in eyesight of adults.
Cleanse your palette with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages or throw back beer, wine or a frozen margarita and then launch the grand finale by ordering the cobbler of the day (peach, blackberry, cherry or apple), a la carte or a la mode with a cup of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla.
On weekends, savor the flavors while you sway to the beat of local favorites who play live music including Thomas Cokinos, David Lee Kaiser, Spencer Marks and Jerry Mullins.
"It feels like family," said Chris. "We just want people to come and hang out with us here."


text:
Phil Rogers
Square Enix aiming for "openness and transparency"
Square Enix went through some major restructuring in the wake of a disappointing FY2013, and European CEO Phil Rogers says more has changed than a few job titles.
Phil Rogers headlines
Tomb Raider sequel for next-gen is "well into development"
A Tomb Raider sequel for next-gen is "well into development" as part of its re-commitment to triple-A development, according to Square Enix .
CoreOnline is Square's way of coping with industry's "transformational period," says Wada
Square Enix president and CEO Yoichi Wada has a digital plan in place with CoreOnline should consoles become a thing of the past "in the next five years or so."
Square to open new Montreal studio, first project is Hitman
Square Enix has announced it's to open a brand new studio in Montreal alongside the currently-existing Eidos Montreal.
Sony: Vita could be used as PS3 controller
PlayStation Vita could be used to become a Wii U-like controller for PlayStation 3 content, Sony said recently at Develop.
Sony explains PS Vita's online features
Sony has unleashed lots of new information regarding Playstation Vita's online modes Near, Party, LiveArea and Activity.
Battlestations dev Eidos Hungary shut down last year, says Square Enix
Square Enix Europe CEO Phil Rogers has confirmed that it shut down the developer of the Battlestations series Eidos Hungary.
Batman ships 2.5 million units
Square said today that Batman: Arkham Asylum has so far shipped 2.5 million copies. The company, understandably, is pleased. "Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the stand-out games this year," said Eidos CEO Phil Rogers. "I've been following the great reviews and consumer blogs and I'm delighted that gamers everywhere love playing this game as […]
Former Eidos execs to lead Square Enix Europe
Square Enix and Eidos announced that former Square Enix executive Doug Bone is the new sales director at Square Europe and Eidos' Jon Brooke is now the marketing director. Larry Sparks, still VP of Eidos, will handle Square's Japanese titles in Europe while Mike Sherlock, co-Chief Executive Officer, will handle marketing, pubic relations ans sales […]
Eidos name dropped from publishing, Square pulls rank in Europe and US
It was bound to happen sometime. Eidos owner Square Enix has decided to form a new European entity in Square Enix Europe, to be headed up by current Eidos CEO Phil Rogers – a move which will result in the Eidos publishing brand being "vapourised". The amalgamation will result in job losses although precise numbers […]
Wada - Square to be top 10 "player" in global entertainment
Square Enix super-chief Yoichi Wada has dreams. Big dreams. Forget games: he wants the publisher to be one of the biggest names in global entertainment. "Our goal is to become one of the top ten players in the world's media and entertainment industry," he said, talking in an interview on the firm's site. "Since the […]
Eidos six-month financials show dramatic cut in losses
Eidos showed heartening results for the six months ending December today, with revenues increased 26 percent and losses dramatically reduced compared to the previous period. Sales were up to £80.3 million for the half-year period, compared to £63.4 million the previous year Losses fell from £81.4 million in 2007 to just £1 million in 2008. […]
SCi "ready to talk" on new IP
New SCi CEO Phil Rogers reckons Eidos is on the look-out for new IP – despite having just binned 14 games. "We have a full complement; we have fantastic franchises, next-gen titles, Wii and DS titles, casual and mobile games and we are developing some incredible game technology," he said in an interview with MCV. […]
Phil Rogers latest
CoreOnline is Square's way of coping with industry's "transformational period," says Wada
Battlestations dev Eidos Hungary shut down last year, says Square Enix
Eidos name dropped from publishing, Square pulls rank in Europe and US


text:
One of the main themes at Computex this year will be mobile computing and how connected consumer electronics devices will be the future of computing. Digitimes spoke with Qualcomm's Steve Mollenkopf, president and chief operating officer, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies about how the company has been planning for these events for several years. The following are excerpts from the interview.
Changes in mobile computing
If you look at the current market, most people access the Internet on their mobile phone or PC. However, the trend in the market is that users will begin to have access to a number of other devices that look less and less like a traditional PC and increasingly more like a combination of a PC and a phone. The success of what you see in tablets today with companies like Apple is undeniable, and with the expected release of Microsoft RT later this year, the trend will continue.
We think this trend plays very nicely to our set of technologies as well as those of our customers. Qualcomm has seen a lot of success in the handset business and that success transitioned into smartphones. So the move toward mobile computing is another exciting opportunity for us. Just the number of partners that we have been able to engage with on this new platform has really been impressive. Not only do you get different OEMs but you get different types of use cases that really define a new category of products. And we have been very pleased with our traction in the big PC accounts, because for us, we've been coming at computing from the mobile side and this provides us with new opportunities to sell our chipsets.
Steps in the journey
If you go back 10 years and look at what was driving Qualcomm's business, it was very much voice and text centric devices, and we delivered primarily into the CDMA space. But we had this vision of the phone as a mini computer, where you could run all different types of operating systems and access data no matter where you were.
So we started to invest pretty heavily with the goal of achieving this vision. We invested in connectivity, in developing very powerful and efficient mobile processors as well as graphics engines. We had to invest early on because these are 5-8 year cycles from a technology perspective. We have been doing this upstream for quite some time so we are happy to be in a position where these products are starting to be launched. For us, it feels like our view of the industry was pretty much dead on.
Moreover, in our opinion, the fact that the largest PC software provider has embraced the same view of the industry is incredibly significant. If you look at the key messages of Microsoft for Windows RT, such as devices being always on, always connected and in a thin form factor. All of the things that define the experience are similar to what we are doing with smartphones, only now it will be within the traditional PC ecosystem.
Computex products
At the Computex show, we will be highlighting our Snapdragon S4 class of products, such as the 8960 featuring integrated LTE on a next-generation ARM processor, with integrated connectivity and brand new graphics. We will also be highlighting our 8640 quad-core as well as lower-tier products that are coming out at the end of the year.
The other interesting thing on the connectivity side is we will continue to show Qualcomm Atheros products. We also recently launched our first Snapdragon connected TV.
Differentiated design of Snapdragon
ARM has been a great partner of ours and we expect to continue that relationship for a long time. However, we don't simply license ARM processors. Qualcomm has an architecture license, which allows us to adapt our implementation of the ARM instruction to our particular needs. So because our microarchitecture is adapted for our particular use cases, we can design products that achieve the highest performance at the lowest power.
For example, if you look at our quad-core products, they are designed so they run faster and at lower power than any competing processor that can be licensed from ARM. This is because we customize it for our individual use. Even our dual-core solutions outperform other people's quad-core solutions and our quad core design, because it achieve its high performance at such low power, can sit in a thermal envelope that enables the ability for OEMs to create extremely thin products.
Then there are competing solutions. Some of them were originally designed for use in a PC but are now being put in a phone. But there is just not enough surface area in there for these devices to dissipate the heat. So you end up with hot spots and undesirable power performance. These competing solutions have to turn off much quicker and essentially, even though the ability is supposed to be there, you run into a thermal window.
We design our products from the ground up for our particular use cases. And this strategy has been very helpful for us. If you look back, we were the first company to come out with a GHz processor in the phone space and we did that about two years before anyone had anything close. Today we are the first to come out with production devices for the next generation ARM architecture. By the time competing devices are available, we will have a full range of products, from the high-end to entry level that support our custom built architecture.
Enabling partners, a business model
We are unique in the industry in that we invest upstream across multiple technology vectors. We are a leading technology provider for modems, connectivity, GPU and processors, and all of these technologies are integrated on a platform level. This enables our OEM partners to spend most of their time figuring out how to differentiate their products from each other. They don't have to spend a lot of time trying to put together multiple chips to create a smartphone and they can offer very attractive IDs because of our integration abilities. Basically we support a number of OEMs through a horizontal business model where we create a platform that enables them to go to market with very little R&D investment.
However, we purposely do not do the entire product. We leave room in order to let partners differentiate their products in the market. Although it does not get a lot of external discussion, there is a whole ecosystem that surrounds Qualcomm-based products. You see that in the games that are optimized for our products, or in whole suite of software that support very differentiated audio, camera, or video features, as well as peer-to-peer technology. This is all available to OEMs so they have the ability to differentiate as much as they possibly can.
In addition, at the company level we work very hard to open up new markets for cellular and connectivity. You'll see initiatives from us into the health care market or into visual computing areas, such as augmented reality.
It should be noted though that although we are involved in a horizontal business model, we are not in conflict with vendors who have embraced a vertical model. Some of them are our best customers. The reason is we have the ability to produce leading-edge technology and the way you become a leading OEM is to embrace technology. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find any smartphone in the market that didn't have Qualcomm technology inside.
Android vs. Windows
When there are big changes in an industry, like the one we are undergoing in mobile computing, it tends to open up many areas for innovation. Qualcomm views our role as being there to provide technology at scale to various ecosystems. We don't expect that there will be conflict for someone like us because we think there will be growth in the overall pie that Android and Windows want a slice of. There definitely will be multiple ecosystems and if we can provide the right technology, basically we can all grow together.
We are unique as a silicon provider in that we cover all market segments but it should be noted that there is incredible demand worldwide to have the latest and greatest technology, If you look back eight years or so ago, we'd launch a product primarily in Japan and about one year later it would start showing up in North American and then seep into other markets. But now there is no more spreading out of technology. At the high-end of the smartphone market, the thirst for the latest technology immediately runs across all tiers so the latest technologies roll out very rapidly. Just look at the incredible demand worldwide for our 8960.
However, there is also enormous growth in the mass-market tier for phones that can access the Internet, particularly in emerging markets. The current situation is a coincident where the cost of smartphones is coming down while at the same time these geographies are transitioning to 3G. In these emerging markets, the way people are experiencing the Internet, and many of them are experiencing it for the first time, is increasingly through a smartphone.
What is making this mass market growth possible is that we can supply affordable price points through our integration and scale.
You have to be very flexible in this industry or else you disappear. If you look at the transition from feature phones to smartphones, for example, you see some changes in the OEM landscape. Some made the transition and increased their market share while others lost share or simply disappeared. For us, the number of OEMs we've had to deal with hasn't really changed though the faces and needs of our partners may have.
For example, as we transition to more emerging markets, there is a new class of OEM that we have had to adapt our business model to. These OEMs may require a more complete reference designs and more support. However, our job is to be the technology enabler, not an end market consumer player.
Steve Mollenkopf, president and chief operating officer, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies
Photo: Company


text:
- Rent For Home
Home Catalog
Accent FurnitureAccent ChairsOccasional TablesAccent TablesOttomans & BenchesAccent Chests & Cabinets
Move-In Ready™ Packages
Designer-curated furniture collections, configured to your style and budget.
For Your Home
Furnish your entire home with a few easy clicks.
Student Package Specials
Starting at $99
Military Package Specials
Starting at $99
- Rent For Office
Office CatalogOffice SeatingOffice DesksPanel SystemsOffice TablesOffice CollectionsAccessoriesShelves & StorageLounge Seating DecorOutdoorCafe
- Events
- Furniture Outlet
- Relocate
Pinery Dining Chair
Item: #WP4035337


text:
Alim Qasimov Ensemble
Kronos Quartet and Alim Qasimov Ensemble
The pieces that Kronos and the Qasimov Ensemble perform together are drawn from the repertoire of Azerbaijani ashiqs – oral-tradition singer-songwriters whose song texts portray, often with wry humor and searing irony, the power of love and the pain of separation.
The song arrangements developed in two separate stages. First, Alim Qasimov arranged the original melodies and texts, traditionally performed by a solo ashiq, for vocal duo accompanied by his four-piece ensemble. Then, arranger Jacob Garchik transcribed the Qasimov Ensemble's performance of the songs and arranged them for Kronos.
During a week-long rehearsal period in San Francisco in the summer of 2008, the two groups put their arrangements together. The challenge of these rehearsals was not only to polish the collective sound, but to meld two different approaches to music-making: on the one hand, extemporization and spontaneous improvisation rooted in the process of oral transmission, and on the other, notation-based performance shaped by a musical score. The search for common ground between these musical antipodes proved illuminating for members of both ensembles, who presented the world premiere performance of these arrangements at the Barbican in September 2008, which can be heard in part on Kronos' 2009 album Floodplain and the 2010 album Rainbow: Music Of Central Asia Vol. 8.
Artistic Statements:
When Ken Hunt first introduced me to the amazing voice of Alim Qasimov 15 years ago, I was magnetized. His voice drew me so close that it has become part of my own inner singing. Since that night, it has been my hope that Kronos could one day be able to perform with a singer of such passion and mastery. With the addition of Fargana Qasimova to this ecstatic musical landscape, things could not be more perfect. For Kronos, this is a dream come true.
—David Harrington
Artistic Director
Kronos Quartet
Since childhood, I've seen people performing mugham with kamancha, tar, and daf. The tar opens up the world of mugham and expresses its mood and character. So does the kamancha. These instruments are alive. They breathe.
When I started my own ensemble, I began to think that it would be interesting to add more rhythm. If you look at photos from 70 years ago, you also see gosha naghara and balaban. I wanted to use those instruments. A lot of people told me it wasn't a good idea. But I had a feeling that I wanted it this way. Now I'm working with young musicians in my ensemble. Then my daughter, Fargana, joined me; she became a part of my art. With this our ensemble is extended even further, with the addition of the Kronos Quartet.
Imagine something that's dead and motionless. You can't sing it. All you can do is wrap it up and throw it away. But spiritual music is able to touch people's souls. It's not dead material. This music should be brought to life and make us think why it touches our soul and speaks to us.
To make it come alive and breathe, it has to be sung. To make this happen you should burn; you should sacrifice yourself. Imagine that there is another world up in the heavens: when I sing, my feelings come into contact with that world. God doesn't allow just anyone to bring something to life. It's like a burden. I took it on, so I carry it, and after me someone else will take it on his shoulders, and so on. It's a world with its own spiritual problems and spiritual nourishment.
Thank God Fargana is passing on this tradition. In the future I don't know to whom among my kin this talent will be transmitted. My responsibility is to pass on this tradition and knowledge.
—Alim Qasimov
Program Note:
Jahangir Jahangirov
Köhlen Atim (My spirited horse)
Peyman Ettik (I gave my word)
Shafiga Okhundova
Mehriban Olaq (Let's be kind)
Said Rustamov
Getme, Getme (Don't leave, don't leave)
Qashlarin Kamandir (Your eyebrows are bow-like)
These vibrant performances of five songs from Azerbaijan fuse multiple layers—both old and new—of composition, arrangement, and improvisation. In each case, the oldest layer is a strophic song composed during the mid-20th century, when Azerbaijan, like other Soviet republics, cultivated an active tradition of popular songwriting that blended local and European musical instruments and styles. Though the composers of four of the five songs are known, their works became a part of oral musical tradition, with the result that performers came up with their own arrangements. For "Getme, Getme" and "Qashlarin Kamandir," Alim Qasimov's arrangements include, in addition to the original strophic melody and lyrics, improvised vocal and instrumental interludes featuring couplets from classical Azerbaijani poetry (ghazals) performed in the style of mugham, the art music tradition of Azerbaijan.
The Alim Qasimov Ensemble recorded performances of these arrangements and sent them to Kronos arranger Jacob Garchik, who built on Qasimov's elaborations in scoring the songs for quartet. Garchik's scores not only skillfully meld the four Western and four Azerbaijani instruments into an integral octet that accompanies the singers, but the scores also depart from the script provided by the songs to offer short compositions for Kronos—instrumental intermezzos that evoke the signature styles of other composers who have represented the East: the lush harmonic textures of Rimsky-Korsakov; the brooding modal melodies of Bartók; the motoric ostinato patterns of Philip Glass.
In the end, of course, it is not only a score that melds together different musical instruments and traditions but the empathy that develops among the music's performers. Speaking of the Alim Qasimov Ensemble, David Harrington said, "They're tremendously generous musicians and people, and you really feel that in playing with them." The ebullient results of the Kronos-Qasimov collaboration confirm that the feeling expressed by Harrington is surely mutual.
Program note by Theodore Levin, adapted from liner notes to Rainbow: Music of Central Asia, Vol. 8 (Smithsonian Folkways).
" There was high emotion from the start, as furious arm gestures matched his high, compelling voice for a story of love, pain and non-communication. "
- Robin Denselow, The Guardian
" His voice...pierced like a dart, high and etherial, and then interwove with Fargana's as if intoxicated with unrequited longing. "
- Simon Broughton, Evening Standard
These arrangements by Alim Qasimov, with string quartet parts arranged by Jacob Garchik, were commissioned for the Kronos Quartet and the Alim Qasimov Ensemble by the Aga Khan Music Initiative, a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the Columbia Foundation. Recordings are available on Rainbow: Music of Central Asia, Vol. 8.
|College Park, Maryland
|Dekelboum Concert Hall - Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
|University of Maryland
|Atlanta, Georgia
|Emerson Concert Hall - Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts
|Emory University
|Stanford, California
|Dinkelspiel Auditorium
|Stanford Lively Arts
|Berkeley, California
|Hertz Hall
|Cal Performances
|Toronto, Canada
|Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre
|Luminato Festival
|Glasgow, Scotland
|The Old Fruitmarket
|Glasgow's Concert Halls
|Berlin, Germany
|Berliner Philharmoniker
|Lyon, France
|Odéon de Fourvière
|Les Nuits de Fourvière
|Cartagena, Spain
|Auditorio Parque Torres
|La Mar de Músicas
|Rome, Italy
|Sala Sinopoli
|Auditorium Parco della Musica
Email Newsletter
Concert Schedule
Kronos tours often! View all of our venues and dates.


text:
ECLECTIC RANT: Is Pope Francis the Right Choice to Fix a Church in Disarray?
As the whole world now knows, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope (Pope Francis). Clearly, the cardinals saw him as a safe, compromise choice. In other words, a keeper of the status quo. He holds traditional Catholic Church views. Otherwise he would not have been elected. He opposes abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, adoption by gays and lesbians, and contraception.
He was criticized by human rights activists for not openly confronting the terrorism by the Argentine dictatorship in the 1970s that was kidnapping and killing thousands of people as it sought to eliminate "subversive elements." In fact, a human rights lawyer has filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, accusing him of involvement in the 1976 kidnappings of two priests. At the time, he was the superior in the Society of Jesus of Argentina.
How will he deal with the various scandals facing the Catholic Church? The most pressing, of course, is the widespread allegations of sexual child abuse by Catholic clergy and the coverup by church officials. A study conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice found that 10,669 allegations of child sexual abuse were reported to church officials in the U.S. alone between 1950 and 2002.
Similar crimes have occurred in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and elsewhere. And according to a complaint filed by The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) before the International Criminal Court, between 1981 and 2005, there are more than 100,000 sexual abuse victims.
The CCR complaint alleges that Vatican officials, including then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, ignored information that subordinates were committing these crimes and engaged in a widespread coverup of such abuse. The complaint alleges that since 1981, when Ratzinger headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he had primary responsibility for dealing with the clergy sex crimes. His refusal to decisively address the epidemic – and discipline Church officials who protected predator priests – was exacerbated when he became Pope. The Pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested and charged with stealing and leaking papal correspondence revealing how the Vatican was a centre of intrigue and infighting.
And then there is the "Vatileaks" incident. Supposedly there is a secret "dossier" alleging the existence of a gay lobby within the Church, who had some sort of control on the careers of those in the Vatican. And further, the dossier alleges that members of this group were blackmailed by laymen with whom they entertained relationships of a "worldly nature."
There is some speculation that these scandals caused Pope Benedict to resign.
Will Pope Francis "fix" these scandals by sweeping them under the rug or institute real reform? I suspect the former, but only time will tell.
The larger question is whether the Catholic Church has become too rich, powerful, and corrupt to continue. If so, perhaps the Pope should cede all the church holdings to the poor and resume the church's mission in poverty.
Is this likely? A emphatic "no."


text:
I have set a goal to exercise my creative muscles more often this year. Therefore, I've been spending more time with my bead boxes and pliers lately.
These are the results just from yesterday!! I got into a serious groove for a couple hours.
I took brand new photos of most of my Etsy items, which you can view here at my shop. There's chainmaille, there's wire-wrapping, there's even regular beaded stuff. Check it out! And rest assured that supporting my shop doesn't just support me: every dime I take in gets spent at other Etsy shops!


text:
The Bucks triumphed for the ninth time in a row over the Rams after Kelvin Curtis broke open a tie ball game in the second half by returning a kickoff 83 yards to paydirt. Curtis, a senior, emerged as the go-to-guy on the night for the Bucks, picking up 152 all purpose yards, including the return, 64 rushing yards and five yards pass receiving.
The Bucks moved the ball fairly successfully using the new veer offense, but had trouble punching it in to the endzone. Curtis ripped off a 19 yard run from scrimmage for the longest run on the night while senior Cory Eardley and junior Ashton Whipple both had catches that went for 32 yards each.
On the night, junior quarterback Daniel Torres connected on six of 15 passes for 70 yards. The Bucks also rushed for 86 yards.
On defense, Kevin Anderson proved tough to handle for the Rams. He spent much of the night in the Ram backfield, wrecking enough havoc that "Bobby Bowden wouldn't know how to handle him," according to the radio guys.
Anderson, a senior, recorded 15 tackles on the night, proving my and the radio guys point. Junior Joseph Weatherford pitched in with six tackles of his own. The Bucks as a whole put heavy pressure on the Ram QB who was able to connect on only one of 15 pass attempts.
Overall, the Buckaroos have won 10 of 11 contests with the Rams. This week is a different story, with the Bucks traveling to Moab for a 56th meeting with the Grand Red Devils. The Red Devils lead the series 39-12 with four ties. Last year Grand won the most lopsided game of the series ever, 53-0.
Conversely, the Broncos took a hard hit from the Cowboys of Kanab. Kanab took the opening kickoff and scored in five plays, making it look a little too easy. But the Broncos came right back and put together an extended drive that consumed over nine minutes on the clock, but which yielded no points when the Broncos turned the ball over on downs inside the 10 yard line.
A 65 yard TD run by Kohler Black was called back and seemed to take a little of the life out of the Broncos. Black had to leave the game after the play complaining of shortness of breath and didn't return for some time.
Another drive, this one just before halftime, ended with the Broncos again inside the Cowboys 10 yard line, but the Broncos couldn't punch it in leaving the Cowboys ahead 12-0 at halftime.
The second half yielded much of the same with the Cowboys scoring twice more before the Broncos finally put up a score in the fourth quarter. San Juan has defeated Kanab nine of the 15 times they've battled since 1982- they last met in 2004-but this night belonged to the Cowboys.
The loss, which was the tenth opening night loss for the Broncos in the past 30 years, was reminiscent of last year's opening loss to Grand. Last year the Broncos righted the ship quickly, winning seven straight after that loss.
Says Bronco Head Coach Monty Lee, "Kanab was good and we have a lot to work on. We are still varsity-experience-young and have lots to learn. At the moment I am not sure where we are headed, but my coaches will work it out and I still wouldn't bet against us. We [might not] reel off seven straight wins but we will get better."
Lucky for San Juan they continue their season this week in Blanding against the Cortez Panthers, whom they beat 21-0 last year after that opening Red Devil loss to turn the season around. San Juan leads the 17 game series with Cortez that began in 1958, with 10 victories.
200 games for
San Juan alum
Former San Juan football and basketball star Jimmy Jones coached his 200th football game for the Emery Spartans in an emotional evening in Castle Dale last Friday. Of course, we all know of the ongoing tragedy folks from Emery County are enduring.
Emery lost the game to Duchesne, who won their 14th game in a row, the second longest current streak in the state. But the Duchesne players, in a show of support, presented nearly $1,600 they raised to the families of the victims of the Crandall Canyon mine disaster.
Both the Monticello and San Juan volleyball teams open play this week. Look for previews in future issues.


text:
Find or submit a site
Links to Women's History Resources
Adobe Reader, or equivalent, is required to view PDF files. Click the "Get Adobe Reader" image to get a free download of the reader from Adobe.
Are you sure you would like to leave?
You are currently running an old version of IE, please upgrade for better performance.


text:
Good for web and apps, Good battery life
Excellent value, Reasonable screen
Outperformed everything in its price range
Sensibly priced, solidly built
Stylish design, Sturdy build
Solid and stylish design
Cheap, nicely designed
Decent all-round performance
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,474 products.
© 2019 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Jensen Ackles born March 1, 1978, is popularly known as the character Dean Winchester from the long-running CW TV series, Supernatural. Adding to his talents, he has directed three of the Supernatural episodes. Let me know what you think of this tut by commenting, faving or clicking on "Love It"! Peace n love to ya!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


text:
When the gods close a door, they open a window. And in the case of Tom Hardy, the door is "Mad Max: Fury Road" and the window is the next Batman film.
Hardy will reunite with "Inception" director Chris Nolan with a "lead role" in the upcoming chapter of the Batman saga, according to Deadline. This, quite simply, is great news.
We were saddened when news broke that shooting on "Mad Max: Fury Road" was being delayed (because of "Happy Feet 2"? Really?). But if the upside is that it's freed Hardy up for "Batman 3" or whatever it's gonna be called, we can live with it.
Better still is the idea that Hardy would presumably play the villain. If you saw Hardy's breakout performance in "Bronson," you know he's more than up to the task, and could easily nail the part of The Riddler, which was rumored to be going to fellow "Inception" alum Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Hardy is currently working on both "This Means War" an action-romcom with Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon, and "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong.


text:
50.55 - Writing Results-Oriented Job Descriptions
Last updated November 7, 2006
A. General. Results-oriented job descriptions are written statements of the results that must be accomplished, the duties that must be performed in order to accomplish the results, and the minimum qualifications needed to perform those duties. Job descriptions provide a base to which management and employees can refer when questions arise. They provide the employee with a clear definition of the skills needed, the duties expected to be performed, the relative importance of priority of duties and responsibilities, the results that are expected, and the criteria to be considered in evaluation of performance.
B. Process. Job descriptions for new positions are prepared prior to recruitment by the administrator responsible for hiring, with assistance from Employment Services in Human Resources. Job descriptions are the "measuring stick" by which employee performance is evaluated; therefore, job descriptions for continuing employees are reviewed annually by the supervisor, with the employee, and revised if necessary.
C. Procedures. To prepare a results-oriented job description (or to convert an existing job description to the results-oriented format), the administrator determines the desired results and identifies representative duties which will accomplish each result. Included are examples of specific tasks, types of equipment that must be operated and the frequency of operation; potential exposure to chemicals, human or animal fluids or secretions, vapors, dust or hazardous materials; educational requirements, certificates or licenses; work schedules; skill requirements, and necessary physical abilities. Essential and marginal functions, and the approximate percent of time allocated to each process, are identified. All job descriptions should contain the following specific elements of information:
C-1. Job Title. Use the official title of the position. Each title has a title number. Employment Services maintains the university's title table and this information is available by contacting Employment Services at (208) 885-3611.
C-2. Job Summary. A statement that highlights the major purpose and functions of the position. The purpose of the job summary is to give the employee an overall impression of the scope of work.
C-3. Reporting Relationship. Include an organization chart which shows where the position fits into the department or unit. The chart should show the title to which the position reports and the titles of employees supervised, if any.
C-4. Responsibilities. Identify the results to be accomplished and provide examples of major duties and responsibilities which will accomplish those results, listing them in order of importance. Also include the percentage of time to accomplish each result. The sum of the percentages must equal 100%. Identify each duty or result as essential or marginal. Essential elements of a position identify the need for the position, i.e., the reason the position exists. Marginal elements are required to be performed, but are not the reason for which this particular position exists and usually require a small percentage of time.
C-5. Minimum Qualifications. Summarize the knowledge required, the experience and education, the physical demands, any licenses or certificates required, and the equipment to be used on the job. Minimum qualifications must be tied to the essential duties and responsibilities. Applicants who do not meet minimum qualifications cannot be forwarded to the search committee.
C-6. Additional Desirable Qualifications. Education or experience that is desired but not required. Examples might include specific scores on clerical exams, typing speed, knowledge of a particular software product.
D. Information.
D-1. Equal Opportunity Employer. The University of Idaho follows federal and state regulations in the employment process. These include but are not limited to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, Americans With Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act, State of Idaho Codes affecting employment and other applicable regulations. Employment Services, the Affirmative Action Office, and Auditing Services assure that the University of Idaho is in compliance with these regulations. Questions about any of these codes, regulations or procedures may be addressed to the compensation and classification analyst in Employment Services.D-2. Preparation of Results-Oriented Job Descriptions. The Employment Services analyst is available to offer assistance in the development or revision of the results-oriented job descriptions. Forms are available on the HR website to help organize the material in the standard UI format. Contact Employment Services at (208) 885-3611 or Employment Email.


text:
There are new developments in the case of Tommy Bennett, the gay former staffer in Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition who filed a stunning complaint last year alleging anti-gay discrimination and sexual harassment. Bennett later filed a lawsuit alleging similar claims.
The lawsuit and investigation continues, and, a settlement has been rejected in the case, an attorney tells Chicago's Windy City Times. Another former employee's harassment lawsuit filed against Rainbow PUSH reportedly supports some of Bennett's claims.
The initial charge filed with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations was revealed last April. Bennett claimed that he experienced ongoing harassment soon after he was hired in 2007. Bennett says that he was later demoted to Jackson's travel assistant, asked to escort women to Jackson's room and "clean up after sexual intercourse", and that the reverend demanded oral sex.
Bennett's attorney, Thomas Leverso, told Windy City Times that rumors that the case had been settled are far from true—but did say his client received an offer. "In terms of disclosure about the amount of money, I can't tell you the figure," he said. "However, I can tell you that it was so far below any of our demands that it was insulting. As to the process, the case is alive and well in Cook County [regarding] the IDHR [Illinois Department of Human Rights] claims. As for the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations [CCHR], they haven't communicated anything except that they're moving forward with the investigation."
Regarding the court case, Leverso said, "We're headed to a judgment quite soon because they're not even showing up to court."
Meanwhile, Candice Brown—another former PUSH employee—has filed three IDHR cases against Rainbow PUSH, Marshette Turner (with PUSH's Trade Bureau) and Chief of Staff John Mitchell, and one CCHR case against all the defendants together. Among other things, Brown alleges harassment.
At one point in the supplement to the complaints, Brown stated "how any time an employee 'was not liked' by the Rainbow PUSH any longer, she was to terminate the employee and draft a letter" that cited "either 'economic downturn' or 'lack of funding' as the reason for the termination, despite funding either remaining constant or increasing during the times of the terminations." She also said she "drafted one such letter to a Mr. Tommy Bennett, stating inter alia lack of funding as [the] reason for layoff."
Leverso also represents Brown. Bennett is seeking at least $98,300 in lost income and benefits and "$350,000 for emotional distress and other damages."
Bennett was a member of President Obama's LGBT leadership council. Bennett was also known for being a gay-themed gossip personality on The Tom Joyner Morning Show.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rainbow PUSH have denied the allegations. Jackson and PUSH have a long record of support for LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues, dating back to Jackson's presidential bids in the 1980s. This is believed to be the first time he has been accused of harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Read the full story at the Windy City TImes ...
You May Have Missed:
Gay Sexual Harassment Complaint Against Jackson
Jackson Denies Gay Harassment Claims
Former Gay Staffer Files Lawsuit Against Jackson
VIDEO: Jackson's Gay Harassment Suit is Animated


text:
Utah's Transportation Authority is tired of scraping pedestrians off the sides of its trains, deposited there on account of the person's "distracted walking." So, the UTA is taking the only logical step—imposing fines!
The UTA voted 11-3 today to ban "distracted walking" near train tracks. This includes activities such as talking on a cell, using headphones, texting, and reading. Offenders will be subject to a $50 fine for the first incident and $100 for repeats. They are civil fines, which means you won't face jail time if you don't pay but you could still be banned from riding buses.
In opposition of the measure, board member Troy Walker said, "I struggle with criminalizing everyday conduct. We're going to make it a crime to have your headphones in walking along crossing the tracks. Does it really make us safer?"
However, board member Robert Hunter countered with, "two of the most recent UTA accidents were people walking into our vehicles. They actually walked into them. That shows you how much attention has been paid." The board did eventually side with Hunter and so the fines will go into effect.
So the next time you come upon train tracks in Utah remember—shoulders back, head up, eyes and ears perked, and be glad you don't also have to wear a helmet when crossing. [Salt Lake Tribune - Image: Al Hartmann - Salt Lake Tribune]


text:
Temple Baptist Learning Center Ministry is a licensed child care... center in Selma, NC. We participate in a subsidized child care program. To learn more about us, please send us an email.
Wilson's Mills Baptist Child Care Center is a licensed child care... center in Smithfield, NC. To learn more about us, please send us an email.
9am - 12pm
8am - 5pm
6:30am - 6:30pm
Opens Before 6:30am
Opens Past 6:30pm
0 - 1 Years
1 - 2 Years
2 - 3 Years
3 - 4 Years
4 - 5 Years
Before/After School
Summer Camp
$0 - $100
$100 - $200
$200 - $300
$300 - $400
Accepts Vouchers
Video Cameras
Indoor Gym
Live Video Streaming
When I needed a daycare and a preschool for my girls, I spent days on Google, phone, and visiting in person. I toured 16 centers before settling for the one that felt right for us. Here are 10 tips to help you find quality child care more easily.Here are 10 tips to help you find affordable and quality child care. See More
The daycare and preschool tour is a (maybe even the) key moment in the decision making process, so it's important that you make the most of your daycare tour. Here's how to evaluate the child care program before your child enrolls.Make the most of your daycare tour, here's how to evaluate the program before your child enrolls. See More
During a child care seminar for parents and parents-to-be, I realized the differences between child care centers and home-based daycares were unclear to a lot of families. I was asked which environment was the best, center or home. My answer was simple...Which environment is better, a child care center or a home-based daycare? The answer is simple... See More
How much does full time daycare cost? Is home daycare near me more affordable than a center? Use our Daycare Tuition Calculator to find out average daycare tuition rates in your zip code.How much does full time daycare near me cost? Is home daycare more affordable than a center? See More
For most families, child care is the highest single household expense. But, there's good news! Uncle Sam is here to help and can offset some of your daycare costs. Here are 10 things you need to know to claim your Child and Dependent Care Credit...Here are 10 things you need to know to claim your Child and Dependent Care Credit... See More
For Parents
For Child Care Providers
Are you sure?
If you see any errors or encounter any problems while using our site, please let us know. Thanks!
Contact Email:
Your Feedback:


text: WRVU is not operated by Vanderbilt University. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Vanderbilt University or its official representatives. Vanderbilt® and the Vanderbilt logos are registered trademarks of The Vanderbilt University. © 2019 Vanderbilt University


text:
Steven Spielberg has a giant rabbit on his mind for his next film.
Spielberg is directing a new take on "Harvey," the story of a big-hearted eccentric who's branded a crackpot for claiming to have a 6-foot tall invisible rabbit buddy.
James Stewart starred in the classic 1950 version of "Harvey," which was based on Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Novelist Jonathan Tropper adapted Chase's play for Spielberg's version, an update set in contemporary times.
Casting is just starting, with production expected to begin early next year.
The film is a co-production between Spielberg's DreamWorks Studio and 20th Century Fox. A release date hasn't been announced, but a Fox spokesman said the studio is looking to have the film in theaters late next year.


text:
Check FortiVoice product availability in your country
A new look and more capacity than ever before. See the new FortiVoice Enterprise phone systems.
FortiVoice phone systems and phones are available online and from a network of Fortinet resellers. How to buy FortiVoice.
FortiVoice phone systems and phones deliver intelligent call handling in a simple, affordable and user-friendly package. FortiVoice products are easy to install, easy to configure and easy to use, and come complete with everything a business needs to handle calls professionally, control costs and stay connected everywhere.


text:
A friend of mine knows that I like handwork, so she sent me some pictures that I am sharing with you. They all depict Mary at different times in her life, but all have to do with sewing or weaving. I will include the artist information that was sent along with the pictures.
The Young Virgin, ca. 1632-33, Francisco de Zurbarán
This is Saint Anne and the young Virgin Mary sewing,
fresco by the Master of the Bambino Vispo, Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce
"I have represented the future Mother of Our Lord as occupied in embroidering a lily,-always under the direction of St. Anne; the flower she is copying being held by two little angels." Dante Gabriel Rosetti, mid 1800's
Mary In the House Of Elizabeth (1917)
Robert Anning Bell (sewing baby clothes for John the Baptist)
The Virgin at the Spinning Wheel
Hungarian (unknown artist)
Mary Spinning with Joseph before the Birth of Jesus,
Strasbourg, Musee de Notre-Dame I'Oeuvre, inv 1482
After seeing these pictures, it reiminded me of one of my favorite pictures that I took when I was in Madeira several years ago. We were invited by the agent to visit and she had invited her embroideresses to her home to stitch with us.
One of the ladies brought her young daughter (about 5 or 6) and she sat (literally) at her mother's knee and stitched.
One of the ladies brought her young daughter (about 5 or 6) and she sat (literally) at her mother's knee and stitched.You can see here that it is not just her mother that she is sewing with.
I will try to dig up some more Madeira pictures to share with you. I have been twice and have wonderful memories!
Happy Stitching!


text:
- Engagement RingsEngagement Rings
- Wedding RingsWedding Rings
- DiamondsDiamonds
- Complete Diamond RingsComplete Diamond Rings
- Try At HomeTry At Home
- Fashion JewelryFashion Jewelry
Secure Shopping Cart
- Payment
- Secure
- Coupon
Subtotal: $3469.00 Total Tax: $0.00 Total Discount: -$0.00 Total Order Amount: $3469.00
Kimberly Process Policy - No Conflict Diamonds
Our diamonds are purchased from well known and respected suppliers. Each of these suppliers has agreed to the standards established by the Kimberley Process, which is an international system for assuring that diamonds come from sources that are conflict free.
Shipping Information
We're proud to FREE insured shipping via UPS or DHL on all orders; carrier determined by the order total. If you have any questions, please feel free to call +1-888-623-8662.
Shipping Methods : After your item has been processed it will be delivered by UPS or DHL. Delivery times may vary based on service selected and availability of UPS or DHL services to your area.
Please Note - Adult Signature is required on ALL packages and packages are fully insured to your door.
*to see our list of shipping options, please Click Here.
Use this space to compare the products you like. To add a product here, simply click the icon.
- Wedding RingsWedding Rings


text:
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and begin stretching your stomach in anticipation of Thanksgiving. I, for one, am eating all the beer-soaked bread dough I can. The expansion should allow me to fit in at least seven drumsticks and a pie. LET'S GO!
TOWN HALL ON IMMIGRATION – 10:00PM (MSNBC) You've had a long day at work. Why not unwind this evening by flipping over to MSNBC and watching people argue about immigration until your head explodes? I think you'll find it an unreasonably relaxing two hours. Your hosts are Lawrence O'Donnell and Maria Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino. Also there to sex things up will be Hollywood starlet Rosario Dawson. Oh, yes. Tell me you can resist a serious discussion of a troubling issue that has no one clear solution. You cannot. ANTICIPATION: STERN!
HOUSE – 8:00PM (FOX)Dylan Baker guest stars tonight as a CDC doctor who locks down the hospital out of concern about a potential smallpox outbreak. Now, Dylan Baker is a fine actor, but if you've ever seen "Happiness," chances are you have a hard time envisioning him as anything other than a terrifying pederast. I know that isn't fair, but that's just how it is. If I ever saw Dylan Baker in a Gymboree shop, I'd call the FBI instantly. ANTICIPATION: CREEPY!
ONE ANGRY JUROR – 9:00PM (Lifetime) Jessica Capshaw stars in this Lifetime movie about a lawyer who serves on a jury, thinks the defendant was framed, and then becomes that defendant's lawyer when he gets a second trial. It's based on a true story, and I must say it's quite a juicy one. Isn't it illegal for a lawyer to represent someone they were on a jury for? Isn't that a massive conflict of interest? Lemme check with my lawyer, who was also once my OB-GYN. ANTICIPATION: DRAMA!
HOARDERS – 10:00PM (A&E) A man threatens his wife with divorce if she doesn't clean. Oh, I see. Another sexist PIG who thinks his wife should also be his maid! How dare you,sir? It's 2010, and if your wife wants to live underneath a pile of newspapers and dead cats, that is her right. Marriage is not slavery! ANTICIPATION: YUCKY!
CHUCK – 8:00PM (NBC) Tonight's geektastic guest star is… (spins wheel)… Summer Glau! Congrats, Summer. You win a lifetime supply of emailed marriage proposals. ANTICIPATION: MEOW GLAU!


text:
Global West's Front Subframe Kit - Speed Shop
What It Is: Kendall's new liquid titanium motor oil
Why You Care: Kendall is rolling out this new technology in a big way. The company's engineers have figured out a way to blend liquefied titanium into its synthetic and synthetic-blend base stocks. The result is three new formulations in its product line: a 5W-30 synthetic blend, a 10W-30 synthetic blend for high-mileage engines, and a 5W-20 full synthetic oil. The titanium bonds to the moving engine parts and forms a barrier against wear.
How Much: Look for quarts in your local parts stores priced around $5.00 each.
We Say: "Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal." Actually, a Kendall engineer said that.
Learn More: ConocoPhillips Lubricants; Houston (where else?), TX; 877/445-9198; conocophillips.com
We Read It!
Crazy Horses: The History of British Drag Racing
Here in America, we often forget that there are nearly 200 other countries on this planet, and some of them have residents who are just as passionate about motorsports as we are. Author Brian Taylor's book describes the challenges event organizers faced when trying to promote what was seen by many in the early '60s as strictly an American sport. It did catch on in England, however, and the country's first permanent dragstrip, Santa Pod, opened on Easter in 1966 on the grounds of the WWII airstrip, RAF Podington. Its name is a reference to Santa Ana dragstrip and is a nod to the sport's Southern California roots. In the decades since, drag racing in England has seen many ups and downs, but it has remained, thanks to its devoted followers. This book chronicles those triumphs and tragedies in a decade-by-decade account, complete with stunning color photography. It's a cool look at how they do things across the pond.
Get Yours: Crazy Horses: The History of British Drag Racing; published by Haynes Publishing; available online for 25.00 ($42.95) at haynes.co.uk
Camaro Clips
What It Is: A complete frontend for first-gen F-cars
Why You Care: Like them or not, first-gen Camaros are hugely popular cars. The demand for them has grown so large that you can now build your very own Camaro (given a large bank account) without using a single original GM part. Global West has been making suspension pieces for these cars for decades, so its not a new player to this market-but this is a new venture for the company. Global West is now selling a complete front subframe kit fully loaded with QA1 coilovers, a sway bar, trick control arms, a new steering linkage with a quick-ratio 12.0:1 steering box, and a wicked Wilwood braking package that will pull the body off the frame mounts if you stop too fast.
How Much: To get everything in the picture, you'll have to spend $6,699.00. The bare subframe is $1,799.00, and Global will build it to suit your needs.
We Say: Camaro Craft FTW!
Learn More: Global West Performance; San Bernardino, CA; 877/873-2975; globalwest performance.com
First-Gen Handlebars
What It Is: Chassis-stiffening braces for '67 to '69 F-cars
Why You Care: Hotchkis designed these braces to triangulate the area between the cowl and the subframe of first-generation Camaros and Firebirds. Because the subframes bolt to the body through rubber bushings, a certain amount of flexing between the subframe and body is inevitable. This flexing can manifest itself as soft or sluggish handling, since alignment specs change during hard cornering. The Hotchkis handlebars are a total bolt-in affair, attaching at a fender mounting bolt near the windshield and at the upper control arms' cross-shaft, creating a rigid connection between the body and frame. We've said it before, but the more precisely you control your suspension, the more consistent and predictable your handling will be.
How Much: $550.95
We Say: In addition to all the handling benefits, we'll bet they're a great conversation starter.
Learn More: Hotchkis Performance; Santa Fe Springs, CA; 888/735-6425; hotchkis.net
Maximum Displacement
What It Is: Lunati stroker crankshafts for Chevrolet LS engines
Why You Care: Keep your competition guessing with a stroker crank. With the right block, you could build a 500-inch LS engine. Lunati's cranks are forged from 4340 steel and will easily handle 1,000 hp. You can specify a stroke from 4.250 up to 4.625. The journals are polished and gun-drilled. The counterweights are specially designed to reduce windage. Custom strokes are available, too.
How Much: Look to spend about $2,000.00 for one of these.
We Say: Jeff Smith should drop one in his Lester Scruggs motor.
Learn More: Lunati; Olive Branch, MS; 682/892-1500; lunatipower.com
GM Tuner
What It Is: SCT's X3 handheld programmer for GM cars
Why You Care: SCT has expanded its coverage of GM's product line to include the '10 Camaro. Like X3 programmers, you can use this handheld device to reprogram the car's ECM with a preloaded or a custom program written by your local tuner. It also interfaces with a laptop, and you can datalog your car using SCT's Live Link software.
How Much: Pricing is to be determined, but the similarly featured Ford programmers cost just under $400.00.
We Say: You'll need one eventually. Even bolt-on parts will require the ECM to be reflashed for the engine to run correctly.
Learn More: SCT Performance; Longwood, FL; 407/774-2447; sctflash.com
Gear Oil Pump
What It Is: Weldon's 9200 oil pump
Why You Care: If you have a race car, you are always fighting heat, and your drivetrain can generate oil temperatures hotter than the oil in your crankcase in some circumstances. Weldon's new pump is designed to move gear oil and automatic transmission fluid through auxiliary coolers to keep your transmission or rearend oil happy. It is able to pump 300-degree, 80W-90 gear lube at a rate of 300 gallons per hour, yet it only weighs 3 pounds and draws 5.5 amps.
How Much: $390.00
We Say: Another cool feature: These are 100 percent serviceable and rebuildable.
Learn More: Weldon Racing Pumps; Oakwood Village, OH; 440/232-2282; weldonracing.com


text:
Radiotherapy (also known as radiation therapy) has two equally important goals: to control the growth of the tumor and to do so while minimizing exposure to the surrounding normal, healthy tissue. Used typically as a curative treatment, either alone or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy, the aim of radiation therapy has always been to eradicate a patient's cancer. Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation, usually x-rays, to damage cancer cells and treat tumors in the breast, prostate, head and neck, lung and anywhere in the body where radiation treatment is indicated. Advances in radiotherapy have been made in the past two decades, as improvements in imaging modalities, powerful computers and software and delivery systems have enabled technologies such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) to be used in routine clinical practice.
The high precision and power possible with Varian systems helps evolve radiotherapy and expand patient treatment options. Varian radiotherapy systems help provide more paths to treatment and more paths to growth.


text:
AMHERST, MA 5/11/11– After advancing to the second-round of last year's NCAA tournament, Keene State men's lacrosse coach Mark Theriault was hoping that his Owls would have a nice run in this year's championship. However, the Lord Jeffs of Amherst College, who were making their first-ever NCAA appearance in the men's lacrosse championships, abruptly cut short Keene State's potential run, defeating the Owls 12-8 in the opening round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament on Gooding Field in Amherst, MA. on Wednesday.
Junior attack Evan Redwood paced the Amherst offense with a game-high four goals as the Lord Jeffs used a 4-0 fourth quarter run to pull away from the visiting Owls.
The Lord Jeffs, snapped the Owls' 11-game win-streak, improving to 14-2 overall on the season, while the Keene St. fell to 14-3 overall and 2-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
With the win, Amherst moves on to face fellow NESCAC rival Middlebury College, which defeated Castleton College 24-7 in its opening round match-up. The Jeffs defeated the Panthers 9-7 in a conference showdown on Apr. 6, marking the program's first win over Middlebury since 1989.
First-year Devin Acton (Sudbury, MA) finished with a game-high five points on a goal and four assists, while junior attack Cole Cherney (Chappaqua, NY) chipped in with a hat-trick. Sophomore midfielder Ramsey Bates (McLean, VA) added a pair of scores, while junior Alex Fox (Garden City, NY) and sophomore Jeff Izzo (Plandome, NY) combined for two goals and three assists.
Lord Jeffs junior goalkeeper Sam Jakimo (Woodbury, NY) made eight saves and tracked down a team-high seven ground balls in the win, while first-year Duncan Morrissey (Ridgefield, CT) scooped up six ground balls, going 11-for-20 from the 'X'.
Keene St. junior attackmen Griffin Meehan (Simsbury, Conn.) and Matt Schairer (Wrentham, Mass.) and sophomore midfielder Ian Hart (Richmond, N.H.) each netted a pair of goals to pace the Owls, with the trio also combining for five assists. Senior Warren Dill (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and junior Chris Mallon (New Fairfield, Conn.) each got on the board for Keene with a goal apiece. Sophomore netminder Jason Leser (Brewster, N.Y.) made 17 stops in the loss.
Amherst, which went 21-for-22 on clears, held a decisive 50-24 shot advantage, while holding a 44-22 edge in ground balls and slim 12-10 advantage in face-offs.
Looking to take an early edge Keene St. took advantage of an Amherst tripping penalty just after the face-off as Hart took a pass from on the left side before firing a shot into the Lord Jeffs' netting at 13:54.
Hoping to keep pace, Amherst wasted no time getting on the board as Fox found an open Bates at 11:06 for the home team's first score. Undaunted, the Owls went back on the offensive, as Hart fed Schairer, who promptly ripped a tracer past Jakimo less than three and a half minutes after Bates' tally.
Needing to respond, Acton made a run down the right side toward the Keene St. net before finding a cutting Redwood in front of the goal for the Purple and White's second goal. Minutes later, Redwood spotted an open Cherney, but the junior attack sent the ensuing shot off the right post as both teams entered the second knotted at two.
Continuing to stay aggressive, Redwood spared little time breaking the deadlock, ripping a hard shot past Leser just 1:05 into the second period. Moments later, Keene St. would draw a 30-second pushing penalty, opening the door for the Owls man-up offense. With time winding down on the penalty, Hart connected with Meehan, who pulled Keene even with the squad's third score of the afternoon.
Wanting to stem the surging Owls tide, Amherst quickly got back on track, burying consecutive goals just 35 seconds apart to take a 5-3 lead. Izzo got the Lord Jeffs spurt started at 9:18, sneaking a low, bouncing shot just inside the left post before Acton turned a Cherney pass into Amherst's fifth tally.
With momentum swinging toward the Jeffs, Keene pushed the pace, quickly switching the field and going on the break, as sophomore attack Taylor Jette dumped it to a trailing Dill, who raced to the front of the Amherst goal, putting away the Owls fourth score with 6:21 left in the half. The Lord Jeffs responded by outshooting Keene 5-1 for the remainder of the quarter, but could not add to their cushion as Amherst headed into the intermission with a slim 5-4 margin.
The Lord Jeffs took advantage of a tiring Keene State defense is the second half.
Looking to add to his teams' lead coming out of the break, an opportunistic Redwood picked off an Alex Cuomo pass just in front of the Keene goal before flipping it over his shoulder into an open Owls' net just 1:10 into the third.
Searching for more, Izzo made a move down the right side just under the seven minute mark before finding Cherney alone in the middle of the field, as the Chappaqua, NY native put away a high shot while falling to the ground to extend the margin to three. Just over a minute and a half later, Fox buried Amherst's third-consecutive goal, dodging a couple of Keene St. defenders while moving toward his left before ripping a shot across his body to put the Lord Jeffs up 8-4.
Looking to slow Amherst, Hart made a nice cut toward the goal before finishing with a shot to the right side of the Lord Jeffs netting with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Continuing to push forward, Keene St. junior Matt Crimmins got a wide open look from the front of the Amherst goal, but sent the shot off the post to keep it at 8-5.
Still down three entering the final period, Keene got a chance to cut into the Amherst cushion thanks to a pair of quick penalties, but Jakimo and the Lord Jeff defense held the visitors at bay, protecting the lead. Hoping to put the game away, Amherst answered by mounting a 4-0 run over the next 3:08 of action to extend their lead to six.
Redwood got things started, scoring on an Acton assist at 10:30 to make it 9-5. Acton then combined with Cherney for a pair of scores just 48 seconds apart, while Bates capped off the Lord Jeffs decisive run, taking a Fox pass before spinning and rifling the squad's 12th goal past Lesser at 7:22.
With under a minute to go, Keene St. first-year midfielder Andrew Fazio found a streaking Mallon on a fast-break, ending Amherst's streak of four-consecutive goals with their first score of the fourth period coming at the 43 second mark. Meehan and Schairer each tacked on a goal down the stretch but it proved to be too little too late as Amherst hung on for the 12-8 victory.
(Portions courtesy Amherst Sports Information)


text:
Showing: 1 to 5 of 5
If you add a little water to your whisky, then do it in style with one of our stylish water jugs. We have a wide range of distillery-branded versions – pick your favourite! We also have other memorabilia, including mirrors.
Enjoy responsibly
Copyright © The Whisky Exchange 1999-2019. All Rights Reserved.
The Whisky Exchange is the registered trademark of Speciality Drinks Limited.
Registered in England and Wales (Company No. 4449145). Registered Office: Elixir House, Whitby Avenue, Park Royal, London NW10 7SF, UK.


text:
Lamar U. students heading to Rayburn for FLW bass tourney
Lamar University students Danny Iles of Hemphill and Justin Royal of Vidor will be fishing in the National Guard FLW College Fishing tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir on Feb. 26 for the second of four stops in the Southern Conference. Forty college teams will be competing for a top award of $5,000 and a berth in the Southern Regional Championship tournament.
FLW College Fishing teams compete in four qualifying events in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top five teams from each regular-season tournament will qualify for one of five regional championships. The top five teams from each regional championship will advance to the national championship.
What's going to be the top tactic?
"I'll make it real simple for you and give you two words," said bass pro Jim Tutt of Longview. "A Rat-L-Trap and jig. That's it. That's all you need to know."
Due to a prolonged drought in Texas, Sam Rayburn was extremely low for quite some time. Thanks to recent rains, conditions on the lake have improved and water levels have now risen about 6 feet, making the lake safe to navigate. According to Tutt, the lake had been hard to navigate and even dangerous in some areas. Warming weather will help push the bass shallow, making them easier to target.
"This is going to be a typical pre-spawn tournament," said Tut. "FLW is hitting the lake at the perfect time of year to catch the big bass. I wouldn't be surprised if someone caught a 9-pounder, but you will definitely see an 8-pounder caught. I think it is going to take about 25 pounds to win on Sunday. Watch out for Danny Iles of Lamar University, he is going to be tough to beat.
"Anglers should target submerged hydrilla. I would concentrate on drains, ditches and points that lead to spawning areas. There won't be a lot of spawning bass, but they will be real close."
Anglers will take off and weigh-in at Cassels-Boykin Park in Lufkin. Takeoff is slated for 7 a.m. on Sunday and weigh-in will begin at 1 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.
College Fishing is free to enter and FLW Outdoors provides boats and drivers for each competing team along with travel allowances. All participants must be registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.
In the world of bass fishing the hottest big bass ticket in Texas is on Lake Austin. This lake has produced three 13-pound-plus bass this year.
So far five fish have been entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program for the 2011-12 season, and Lake Austin has produced three of them.
Wesley Hayden of Round Rock caught Toyota ShareLunker 527 from Lake Austin on Feb. 11. Landon Glass of Jarrell caught No. 528 from the lake Feb. 14. Brett Ketchum caught No. 526 from Lake Austin on Jan. 29, starting the three-fish streak.
Hayden was fishing in 4 feet of 57-degree water about 2 p.m. using a jig when he hooked the 13.22-pound fish. It was 26 inches long and 21.25 inches in girth.
Glass caught his 13.03-pound Toyota ShareLunker while fishing in 10 feet of 58-degree water with a Sixth Sense football jig. A scan of the fish revealed it is the same fish caught Feb. 27, 2010, by Carl Adkins of Austin. At that time the fish weighed 13.1 pounds. DNA testing at the time revealed the fish to be a pure Florida strain largemouth.The explosion of big fish from Lake Austin has its roots in years past.
"I believe a combination of our Florida bass stocking program and good habitat have led to great production over the years," said Marcos DeJesus, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's fisheries biologist in charge of managing the lake's fishery. "There were probably a couple of good year classes several years ago, and some of those individuals are now breaking that ShareLunker barrier."
Every fish entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program has a passive integrated transponder tag injected into its body cavity for tracking and can be identified if recaught. One fish from Lake Alan Henry was caught and entered into the program three years in a row.
Both Lake Austin fish were picked up by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries staff member from the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery in San Marcos. Since the Glass fish is a pure Florida largemouth, it will be taken to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens for the duration of the spawning period. DNA testing showed ShareLunker 527 to be an intergrade. Intergrades, mixtures of Florida and northern largemouth, are returned to the lake where caught as soon as possible.
Lake Austin will receive a portion of any Toyota ShareLunker fingerlings produced during the current season. Any lake that produces a ShareLunker receives a share of the season's fingerlings, whether any of the fish from that lake are spawned or not. These fingerlings will be the offspring of pure Florida females paired with pure Florida males that are themselves the offspring of ShareLunkers.


text:
Public schools have seen a dramatic increase in standardized testing as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and, more generally, public acceptance of testing as an equitable way to make schools "accountable." The new tests invariably carry high stakes--that is, the results are linked to serious consequences for students, teachers, and schools. Most Americans believe that linking test results to rewards and punishments is an effective way to force schools to improve, even though research indicates that using tests in this way has the opposite effect, worsening academic performance and increasing dropout rates.
NCLB currently requires tests starting in third grade. But the latest research (see Crisis in the Kindergarten, below) indicates that standardized testing has become a major activity in the earliest grades, including kindergarten, in spite of serious doubts about its validity.
Health-care professionals and parents report that test-related stress is literally making many children sick. The Alliance for Childhood has called for a rethinking of the current emphasis on standardized testing in a statement signed by, among others, four of the country's leading child psychiatrists -- Robert Coles and Alvin Poussaint of Harvard Medical School; Marilyn Benoit, past president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and Stanley Greenspan, author of "Playground Politics: Understanding the Emotional Life of the School-Age Child."
Harvard Professor Howard Gardner has said that "what started as a well motivated process to improve student learning has become an increasingly irrational high-stakes endeavor. Politicians may show short-term gains, but students, teachers, and the learning process are becoming casualties." Samuel J. Meisels, president of the Erikson Institute and a leading scholar in the assessment of young children, says, "High-stakes tests brings out the worst in everyone."
NEW: Fact sheet on kindergarten testing, with advice especially for parents.
NEW: Fact sheet on kindergarten testing, with advice especially for parents.