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The little schools that dominate the top of The Washington Post's 2012 high school rankings confirm an accelerating trend in American education: We are moving away from the something-for-everyone shopping mall campuses that were once a national model.
Instead of big schools that offer football, auto shop and a wide choice of easy courses, the schools that lead the new list are small magnets and charters that focus on college-level courses and tests.
There are hints of the same change in The Post's local high school rankings, led by small schools seeking rigor for average students. They include Saint Anselm's Abbey and Washington International, among the first private schools to appear on The Post's list. These small, intense schools reflect a movement to apply international standards to American education, using programs like Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and the Advanced International Educational Certificate.
The Post's full High School Challenge list of more than 1,800 schools, the national top 9 percent, plus local school rankings, can be found online at www.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge.
Up to now most American high-schoolers have shown a tendency to slide through courses that demand little attention or homework. The past 30 years have seen no significant gains in reading or math among 17-year-olds.
I started the Challenge Index ratings of public high schools in 1998 after I watched teachers like Jaime Escalante in East Los Angeles prove that average students could thrive in AP, IB and AICE courses if given extra time and encouragement. The top school on that first ranked list was Stanton College Prep in Jacksonville, Fla., a magnet funneling a large number of minority as well as white children into demanding courses. The other schools at the top of that first list were mostly suburban schools whose strong AP programs were the result of having affluent, college-oriented parents, not any great plan for social change.
Fourteen years later, Stanton remains in the top 10, but this time, Stanton is joined by many schools like it, although much smaller. Science and Engineering Magnet in Dallas, ranked third, draws 63 percent of its students from low-income families. At the sixth-ranked School for the Talented and Gifted, located in the same building in Dallas, 33 percent come from low-income homes.
For the first time, The Post list includes a sampling of private schools as a way to compare private to public schools, and private to private schools. Most private schools appear not to like such comparisons. On Monday, I will explore their traditional resistance to releasing much data, and why a few have decided to be more open, in part because they think their efforts to strengthen courses for all merit attention.
(I should note here that I am continuing my long-standing practice of keeping certain elite public schools, such as Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, on a separate list because they have few or no average students.)
The Challenge Index uses a measure of college-level test participation simple enough for readers to calculate the ratings of their neighborhood schools. The complex weightings that characterize many other school rankings are not a factor.
I divide the number of AP, IB and AICE exams at each school by the number of graduating seniors. A rural Oregon school like Corbett Charter, which gave only 334 AP tests in 2011, can outrank a big magnet school like Suncoast in Florida, which gave 2,523 AP exams and 1,069 IB exams, because Corbett had only 19 graduates in 2011 and Suncoast had 317.
High school rankings by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek have appeared in the past few years that adopted a similar methodology. Sadly, in my view, they have mucked it up by adding test-score measures that say more about a school's average family income than its efforts to raise the level of instruction for average students.
AP, IB and AICE provide introductory college-level tests for high school students that can earn college credit. The exams are much longer than high school finals and rely more on essay questions, requiring teachers to spend more time teaching critical thinking and analytical writing.
When I began writing about AP 30 years ago, educators agreed that such courses should begin no earlier than junior year. That has changed. The two BASIS schools in the national top 10 have ninth-graders taking AP.
A BASIS charter school will open in the District this summer. How it does with urban students who are not used to such demands will be a key indicator of how far small schools pushing international standards might go.
To read previous columns, go to washingtonpost.com/jaymathews.


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New gun law offers reply to mass killings
State becomes the first in the nation to act after horror of Newtown, Conn.
ALBANY — "We are fighting back," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said before signing a sweeping gun control bill at the Capitol just an hour after the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act was approved by the state Assembly.
The measure expands the definition of banned assault weapons, creates a state database for pistol permits, reduces the maximum number of rounds in a magazine and requires background checks on all gun sales, including those between individuals.
"You can overpower the extremists with intelligence and with reason and with common sense," Cuomo said Tuesday afternoon in the Red Room, which was filled with reporters as well as law enforcement officials, including Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple and city of Albany Police Chief Steven Krokoff.
The governor expressed regret that it "required tragedies and loss of life to actually spur the political process to action," a reference to the Dec. 14 school shootings in Newtown, Conn., and the killings of two firefighters in the Rochester suburb of Webster 10 days later.
After passing the state Senate 43-18 late Monday night, the bill cleared the Democrat-dominated Assembly 104-43 at the end of an almost-five-hour debate Tuesday.
"Let us be perfectly clear: This bill is about protecting people — protecting our children, protecting our families, protecting first responders, police officers and firefighters," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said at the signing ceremony, which was also attended by two of the state Senate's three conference leaders: Jeff Klein of the five-member Independent Democratic Conference and Andrea Stewart-Cousins of the main Democratic body.
Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, who controls the chamber jointly with Klein, did not attend. A dozen members of the GOP conference voted in favor of the measure.
Also not celebrating was the National Rifle Association, which released a statement saying it was "outraged at the draconian gun control bill that was rushed through the process late Monday evening." The powerful gun lobbying organization called it "a secretive end run around the legislative and democratic process ... with no committee hearings and no public input."
While the Senate moved directly to the roll call of votes on the measure, Tuesday's Assembly debate saw Republicans peppering Democrats for details of the bill's provisions.
Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, R-Schenectady, held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution that the lawmaker said he never leaves home without. "Amendment Two — you're going to turn that into Amendment 1.5 today," Tedisco said of what he described as the diminishment of gun rights.
Others called out Cuomo for what they accused was an overweening desire to pass the nation's first legislative response to the recent spate of shootings. Assemblyman Steve Katz, R-Westchester County, knocked what he called Cuomo's "misguided, egotistical" attempt to boost his presidential prospects in 2016.
Others expressed concern over the bill's expansion of mental health providers' ability to commit those found to be a danger to the public under what's known as Kendra's Law. The SAFE Act also requires mental health professionals to report to local officials if they think a patient could prove to be a danger to himself or the general public, and empowers local law enforcement to collect the patient's guns and suspend firearms permits.
"I think many of us object to the connection between violence and mental illness ... that seems to inform these new policies," said Harvey Rosenthal, executive director of the state Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, which represents mental health care consumers and providers. " ... You get this kind of round-'em-up mentality that I think will only deter care."
Newtown shooter Adam Lanza, Rosenthal pointed out, was apparently never diagnosed with the sort of mental illness that would have triggered the provisions of the new law.
"Whether it's Adam Lanza or any number of people who are at risk, I think the system in New York for too long has been unresponsive," said Rosenthal, who served as a member of Cuomo's Medicaid Redesign Team. " ... I don't think Kendra's Law, which depends on cops and courts, does that."
Glenmont's Michael Carey, whose 13-year-old autistic son Jonathan died in 2007 at the hands of a health care worker who was trying to restrain him, said he was less bothered by the chance the bill would stigmatize the mentally ill than with what he described as the state's inadequate resources to serve them.
"If there are families in trouble but no crisis care to take them to, what do you do?" said Carey, a vocal critic of Cuomo's mental hygiene reforms.
In another sign of guns' diminished status in state government, New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on Tuesday announced that the state's vast Common Retirement Fund will freeze its investments in publicly traded commercial firearm manufacturers.
The freeze affects the pension fund's holdings in an index fund of 45,325 shares of Sturm, Ruger and Company valued at approximately $2.2 million — pin money compared with the fund's full value of $153 billion.
The pension fund's holdings in Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation were sold in December, just four days after the shootings in Connecticut.
In a statement, DiNapoli — like Cuomo a Democrat — insisted that the decision was not political, but strictly business.
"After the terrible events in Newtown," he said, "it is clear that the national movement toward greater regulation of firearms manufacturers will impose significant reputational, regulatory and statutory hurdles that may affect shareholder value."
firstname.lastname@example.com • 518-454-5619 • @CaseySeiler

subset: commoncrawl


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Based on years of experience, observing what makes a candidate successful,the QuickPass developers created software that works the very same way. Theinformation built into every QuickPass product the practice questions andtheir answers is taken from current exams and it's kept up-to-date, so whenyou buy a QuickPass package, you're getting the latest collection of questionspossible. QuickPass Study Tools are Windows-compatible CD-ROM packages that helpyou prepare for your California State Contractor's License Examination. Toinstall and use QuickPass Study Tools, you'll need a computer with a CD-ROMdrive, at least 40 MB of available hard disk space, running Windows 98/2000/XP.The main objective and central purpose of the CD-ROM is to provide a concisepresentation of the examination.
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text: Sure, one could build it.. but one can probably buy it cheaper/easier Omega: http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=HHF82&Nav=grec06 $89 They have others. Similar devices abound: http://www.nkhome.com/ww/1000/1000.html http://www.windandweather.com/store/Weather_Instruments___Wind_Gauges?Args=& page_number=1 (check out the first one.. $49) Your local sporting goods place (REI, Sport Chalet, Big 5) might have something like this too. So might Sharper Image or Brookstone, or one of those gadget stores Heck, Harbor Freight Salvage, a big retailer of inexpensive moderate quality imported stuff might have them..next time you're down buying cheap imported Chinese machine tools...check that bargain bin next to the register. Other approaches..small propellor on a small DC motor run as a generator (only works for fairly fast flows >several m/sec) run to a DVM. Small propellor and magnet/reedswitch driving a counter (as in your inexpensive DMM). (this is what the commercial units are) The challenge in home fabrication of such devices is getting it to be reasonably orientation insensitive, which implies pretty good balance, and to work in very low flows (<1 m/sec), which implies fairly low friction. I imagine, if you had a LOT of time on your hands, you could probably modify the heated film/wire sensor from an automotive mass air flow sensor for this purpose. (I spent the better part of a year trying to come up with a low budget way to measure velocity profiles across large (decameter scale) artificial tornadoes.. We eventually settled on a pitot tube rake with water manometers using video to do data logging.) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert G. Brown" <rgb at phy.duke.edu> To: "Mark Hahn" <hahn at physics.mcmaster.ca> Cc: "David Mathog" <mathog at mendel.bio.caltech.edu>; <beowulf at beowulf.org> Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 6:49 AM Subject: Re: [Beowulf] cooling question: cfm per rack? > > if your pressure is reasonably even, the same tiles should flow the > > same CFM. I'd LOVE to find some way to measure airflow, since I'd > > actually consider doing things like adding patches of duct tape to > > the underside of too-high-flow tiles. I suppose that the empiricist > > approach is just to sample all your system temperatures, and if some > > are too high, reduce the airflow to racks which are "too cool". > > Relative airflow can probably be measured with a kid's toy -- one of the > little pinwheels -- and counting revolutions with a stopwatch. > Normalizing that to absolute airflow in CFM is a bit tricky (since the > result depends to some extent on the resistance imposed by the measuring > apparatus) but somebody out there may have designed a version of this > with a real fan and magnets set so that the counting is done > electronically. In fact, I could build something to do this out of OTC > parts if I had any way to normalize the count. > > rgb


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Fulham 0 - Sheffield United 1 (AET): Blades clinch narrow victory at the death
FULHAM'S miserable season reached a new low this evening as they suffered an embarrassing last-minute FA Cup exit at home to embattled League One side Sheffield United.
Bottom of the Premier League and four points adrift of safety after a 3-0 home defeat to Southampton, Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen spoke in the programme of using the fourth-round replay as a chance to "garner some confidence".
If all else failed, the Fulham head coach asked for "togetherness and desire" - something lacking for the most part as Nigel Clough's visitors forgot their own relegation worries to reach the fifth round with a 1-0 extra-time victory.
Substitute Shaun Miller stooped to score the last-gasp winner for a side sitting 23rd in League One, setting up a home clash with the winners of the replay between Preston and Nottingham Forest.
This was by no means as impressive as the third-round win at Aston Villa, but one which the vocal Blades support will hope can spur them onto better things in the league.
The first half was a turgid affair in which few chances were created, with the main talking point referee Neil Swarbrick's decision not to send off Bob Harris despite a late tackle on Josh Passley shortly after being booked for a foul on the same player.
Harris, whose loan move from Blackpool was made permanent on transfer deadline day, was back at the heart of things when play resumed for the second half, curling a free-kick wide before hitting a powerful effort at David Stockdale.
The natives were getting restless as Fulham's disjointed performance continued, rounding on Hugo Rodallega when the ineffective striker was taken off with 30 minutes remaining.
The Colombia international appeared to take the reception personally as he sat head-in-hands on the bench - a stance many inside Craven Cottage copied when the match went into extra time.
John Brayford and Pajtim Kasami came close as play swung from end-to-end, with the match decided in the 120th minute as Miller glanced home Harry Maguire's header back across goal in front of the away fans.


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so i made it to 'the shed' yesterday to try out some of last weeks new additions to my art supplies.
i really wanted to get back there today - but suddenly i was spraying surfaces like a woman possessed when the dr told my husband he had flu. (yes, then i did/am having to play nurse a while).
But this is what happened before i came over all antibacterial..
|My new geli plate ready to be imprinted
|Using a plastic mould and the geli print
|testing overlaying colours + textures
|overlaying the geli print and then just the mould
|Adding my hand carved rubber stamps on top of 3 other layers
|Adding some distress inks as well, this stitching is flouro lime - which
actually looks better than the scan
|Cutting out the pattern from above and adding it to some paper that has been
distressed inked and printed on.
|Distressed ink on paper, with alcohol inks as well!
i liked the 'print maker' kind of look to the background.
|Mucking around with some felt tip pens i bought which let you blend them with water
oh, and some 'art bar' crayons, and distressed inks.
So what is your approach to trying out new stuff? I was getting a little confused with 'just go for it" versus "but what kind of look/feel" do i want. As you can see this is a mixed bag - the more i keep experimenting - perhaps I'll find my feet? I so find all the options tricky - on one hand i like the simplicity, but then i keep adding and adding and 'what if i just do this?'.
Maybe next time i'll do several and keep the steps/out takes - so i can peruse the history.
What do you do?


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I'm giving up on looking back"
Group Love
"Shine, Shine, Shine On
Won't you shine, shine, shine on"
-The Kooks
Most of the 70's Skate photos are from the book Locals Only by Hugh Holland.
I love the 70's and the Southern California culture of that time. The Iconic first photo of Stacy Peralta was shot by Craig Stecyk during the infamous Z Boys days.
That whole era has always been an inspiration to me. The carefree lifestyle, the clothes, the beach...need I go on?
"June Gloom"
as we Californians call it.
June is notoriously not the nicest of summer months and can be gloomy at the beach.
But, for the past few days it's been quite beautiful and also quite breezy.
A few days back we just did another fun shoot for Lori's Shoes which we will post soon.
It was Inspired by the 70's and So Cal.
We just discovered this young band and are loving their sound.
Check them out.
Group Love
Grouplove - Itchin' on a Photograph from Toy Human on Vimeo.
Hope you enjoy!
Valerie and Camilla


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Tis the season to give thanks and give back! There's a box at the gym for food donations for the CFA. Visit cfanj.org to see what items they need most. Please make donations by 11/22. Your community thanks you!
MERCH SALE! Lots of goodies for 50% off: socks, seasonal jackets, lightweight sweatshirts, t-shirts (skull designs ONLY), and shorts. Limited sizes, get 'em before they're GONE!
The Christmas Crippler is back! Check the Events page for details.
Click for the WOD (workout of the day).
Check out what athletes are saying about Aero Athletics CrossFit Mahwah!
**Curious if CrossFit is right for you? Come take a FREE trial class! Offered every Saturday at 9am, or email [email protected].com NOW to schedule!**


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On her visit to India for a two-part Oprah's Next Chapter episode that aired in the country over the weekend, Winfrey rubbed many viewers the wrong way with her treatment of the country's culture and customs.
Segments featuring lavish parties with Bollywood stars and Indian royalty, a visit to a Mumbai slum and a sari fitting with a top designer have been called "myopic, unaware, ignorant and gauche" for their focus as well as for specific comments made by the host, ABC reports:
"Watching the Oprah in India thing on TLC and getting more and more irritated by the minute," one viewer in India tweeted …
"It's all the stereotypes and all the clichés the West has, between the elephants and the palaces and the snake charmers and cows," Aseem Chhabra, a freelance journalist and columnist for the Mumbai Mirror, told ABC News. "That exists in India, but it's this imagery of India that some people seem to have, and I think I expected a lot more from somebody like Oprah Winfrey."
A spokeswoman for Harpo, the company that produces "Oprah's Next Chapter," said in a statement, "The intention of the program was to explore the beautiful culture and spirit of the country. We enjoyed the time we spent there and were touched by the people who so generously shared their stories for the show."
Chhabra was not alone in his skepticism, however.
"Myopic, unaware, ignorant and gauche. This was Middle America at its best worst," a review of the show on Firstpost.com, an online news site based in Mumbai, said.
After being advised to eat with only her right hand, she uses both.
"Oprah, your comment about eating with the hand is really not that big a deal to us; we are used to gross Western ignorance regarding our ancient country," according to "An open letter to Oprah Winfrey from an Indian who eats with her hand" on the CNN-IBN website.
"But as a responsible public figure about to air a show that will be beamed across the world, you should have done your homework. Using our hands to eat is a well established tradition and a fact none of us are ashamed of. Our economic distinction has nothing to do with it. A millionaire here eats the same way a pauper does. You have been to Asian nations. You should know that."
Read more at ABC News.
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Shero Honored as GM of the Yearby Sam Kasan / Pittsburgh Penguins
During his seven-year tenure as Penguins general manager, Ray Shero has crafted a team that won a Stanley Cup, played in two Cup Finals, played in three Eastern Conference Finals, won two Atlantic Division titles and made seven straight playoff berths.
Now he has another accomplishment to add to his growing list of accolades. On Friday evening, Shero was named the 2013 NHL General Manager of the Year.
"It's a great honor," Shero said. "It's not something you set out to do. Any general manager's mandate is to place the best team possible and have a successful franchise, running that accordingly.
"It's a great honor, but it's a reflection of our ownership group, our coaching staff led by Dan Bylsma, my assistants, (assistant general manager) Jason Botterill. I'm very proud of it and happy to accept that."
Shero, 50, was certainly the most active general manager this season – particularly at the NHL's trade deadline.
Shero made early moves in the offseason that changed the dynamic of the team. He acquired Tomas Vokoun from the Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals for a 2012 seventh-round draft pick, and then signed the netminder to a two-year contract, on June 4.
Vokoun was the Penguins' playoff hero, entering Game 5 of the first round series against the Islanders and leading the team to the Eastern Conference Final, posting a 6-5 record, 2.01 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.
Shero was also was busy at the 2012 NHL Draft. He started by shipping center Jordan Staal – Shero's first-ever draft pick with the Penguins in 2006 – to Carolina in exchange for Brandon Sutter, prospect Brian Dumoulin and the eighth-overall pick (Derrick Pouliot). He finished the day by sending defenseman Zbynek Michalek to Phoenix for prospect Harrison Ruopp, a goalie prospect and third-round draft pick (Oskar Sundqvist).
But this season will most likely be remembered most for Shero's big splash in the week leading into the NHL's annual trading deadline. In a 10-day span, Shero pulled the trigger on four trades that brought captain Brenden Morrow, Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, physical blueliner Douglas Murray and versatile winger Jussi Jokinen to Pittsburgh.
"When you have the assets that we had and the cap space that we had, the ability to add and try to win, build those expectations was exciting," Shero said. "It didn't end the way we had hoped, that's why it's disappointing.
"We try to put ourselves in a position to win every year if we can. It was an exciting week for us."
Shero's award is the second NHL award for the Shero family. His father, Fred, led the Philadelphia Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and '75 and was named the first-ever recipient of the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year. Now father and son have their names enshrined on several pieces of hockey hardware.
"He was a great influence on my upbringing, being around the game all my life, and instilled the passion I have for the game," Ray said. "Whether it was going to practice with him when I was 5 years old, being around hockey all my life.
"To have your name on the Stanley Cup along with your father and to have awards likes this is really special. That's a great thing for the family."
Shero has accomplished a lot during his reign with the Penguins, transforming a franchise that finished near the bottom of the standings in four straight seasons to a perennial championship contender every year. Of all of his accomplishments, Shero is most proud of how far the team has come since he was hired in May of 2006.
"I look back to my first year in '06-07 and where we are now, to see what we've been able to build here from our ownership group on down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, our coaching staffs, training staffs, that's what I'm proud of," Shero said. "People enjoy working here, playing here, are motivated by their jobs. That's a foundation I'm real proud of. We have a good future ahead of us.
"As a manager that is the mandate you have, outside of trying to win a Stanley Cup every year, is put yourself in a position to build a team or franchise that you can be proud of. I think we've done that."


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Everybody is an Innovator
Join Thrishantha and other experts on the World Bank Sri Lanka Facebook page on April 2nd at at 4PM Colombo Time for a live chat on innovation!
One day, I was driving in a remote town in Sri Lanka, when I saw this encouraging scene. A few school kids were playing cricket on a rainy day, and they had made a wicket out of three umbrellas. It might look simple, but a very powerful message about innovation is hidden right there. An innovator in my view is somebody who practices to ask two simple questions: 1) is there a better way to do this, or simply, is there a way to do this? 2) why did it happen that way? The second question is driven by the curiosity to learn the rules of nature, while the first question is driven by a very healthy attitude to get things done by exploiting the rules of nature. The kids who used the three umbrellas for a wicket simply asked if they could find something in their environment to serve the purpose of a wicket. Quite subconsciously, these kids, by embedding in nature, by walking barefooted on mud, grass, and sand, have mirrored natural laws of nature in their brains, that provided them with the basis to change the utility of an umbrella to a stump of a wicket. Therefore, in my view, best innovators are those who are active outside the classroom as well as in the classroom and laboratories.


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Well, as it turned out, Ms. Super-Organized, Type A Personality screwed up her calendar. The appointment with the shoulder doc was Tuesday morning, not Thursday morning. Good thing their office calls and leaves reminder messages.
It wasn't a good appointment.
They X-rayed, they poked, they prodded, they manipulated, then they injected. The issue is I'm not getting my range of motion back. They're sending me back to physical therapy. I go back to see them again in February and if things aren't better, I suspect we're looking at more surgery to relieve the scar tissue.
This morning it was my rheumatologist appoint. I really do like my rheumatologist, but she just changed practices so today it was fill out all the new-patient paperwork again. I got there early because I felt like I needed to get to the office (I took off yesterday after the shoulder surgeon adventure). I got toher office early, and normally she is right on time with her appointments, but after getting the paperwork filled out, I finally got to see her at 9:30 instead of my expected 8:30 appointment.
Anyone following this blog knows how thrilled I am with the immediate results of Simponi. However, it just doesn't last for me. After the first week, things start going downhill. So the doc decided to change my medication again. She has now switched me to Enbrel. I wasn't expecting this and haven't done any research on the drug, so if any of you have any experience with it, please let me know. Since I was due for my Simponi shot today, they went ahead and gave me an injection while I was at the office. The injection site is very red and angry, but from what little research I've been able to find, that's a common reaction and should clear up in a day or so.
So now I go from one a month to once a week. Since the Simponi only lasted for about a week, maybe this will work. I certainly hope so.
But now I have two, brand new, unopened Simponi injections that I don't know what to do with. I go back for a nurse visit after four weeks of Enbrel. I think I'll take them with me and maybe they can use them. That's about $3600 worth of drugs that shouldn't go to waste.
I get a day off tomorrow from doctor appointments, then Friday go back for some more work on the root canal situation, then next Tuesday I see my PCP for my regular six-month check up and more lab work.
Sheesh, what a week. I liked the week in London lots, lots, lots better.
Thanks for checking in.


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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary nominee Jacob Lew is facing sharp questions from Republicans over his tenure at Citigroup (NYSE:C) during the financial crisis and a nearly $1 million bonus he received while the bank was being bailed out by taxpayers.
Lew joined Citi in 2006 and became chief operating officer for its alternative investments unit in January 2008. He held the position during the peak of the financial crisis, when Citi received a $45 billion bailout from the federal government.
Lew's unit had been criticized for making risky investments that imploded during the crisis. But Lew said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing that he did not make investment decisions in his job.
He received a $940,000 bonus in early 2009, shortly before he left to join the Obama administration.


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Message Board
Charles Willeford Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Willeford has written!
Author Willeford's Book Reviews
The Woman Chaser
Richard Hudson is a used car salesman in love with himself and his ability to sell. His boss sends him to Los Angeles from San Francisco to start a new car dealership. Instead of getting a place of his own he takes up residence with his family. There's Mother; his mother, a gorgeously preserved woman and former ballerina. Leo, his stepfather, a once great director now out of work and only eight years older than Richard, and Leo's daughter. One night ...


text: Hi When trying to tune transponders on Thor 1.0 W I get no lock on channels transmitted by DVB-S2 / 8PSK. I get lock on DVB-S channels and when using scan I find 301 services, so it's seems to work with DVB-S. The only tip I found when searching was in Hauppauge forum (for another OS though...) that you should use auto mode on FEC to get lock on 8PSK but that's not supported in hvr4000 tree. I have a Hauppauge HVR4000 and a Nova-HD-S2 to play with and I'm willing to make tests to take driver further... Thanks in advance. / Jyrki


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Would it be an unforgivable pun to call "Baggage Claim" a mixed bag?
This breezy, cheesy, wildly uneven romantic comedy, directed by David E. Talbert and adapted from his novel, stars the gorgeous Paula Patton as Montana, a flight attendant who's staring at the big 3-0 and is desperate to get married. And from that offensive premise, "Baggage Claim" only gets more retro: In her ridiculously strenuous efforts to get a ring on it, she puts herself through all manner of pain, humiliation and illegality in order to accidentally-on-purpose bump into a series of ex-boyfriends as they take holiday flights between Thanksgiving and Christmas. (The illegality comes in when Montana's besties, played by Adam Brody and Jill Scott, access the unwitting gentlemen's flight information, the better for Montana to ambush them while looking her best.)
There's so much wrong with "Baggage Claim" — from its outdated story line and similarities to the dreadful "What's Your Number" to Talbert's clumsy, flat-screen directing — that it's all the more surprising when things go right. But it would be unfair to deny that it doesn't provide its own modest, sometimes outright hilarious, pleasures.
Patton, who starred in the rom-com "Jumping the Broom" a few years ago, here adopts an annoyingly wispy, little-girl persona. But she's sensational to look at, as are the scrumptious actors who play her line of leading men, an ensemble that includes no less than Taye Diggs, Djimon Hounsou, Boris Kodjoe and Derek Luke, who delivers an appealingly low-key performance as Montana's childhood friend and current neighbor, William.
Anyone with a heartbeat will know where "Baggage Claim" will end up (or, more precisely, with whom). Anyone with a brain won't believe a word of it. Still, there are some genuinely amusing moments along the way, most of them courtesy of Brody and Scott, who add spicy dollops of naughty humor to the otherwise gratifyingly un-raunchy proceedings. And Patton gets at least two fabulous jokes in, one regarding Tiger Woods, the other having to do with partisan politics.
By the time "Baggage Claim" arrives at the final set piece — an antic, harried chase to the Baltimore airport — even the most cynical and discerning viewers may well find themselves fighting every fiber of their being and still succumbing to the movie's infectious sense of airheaded fun.
Glossy, flossy and blithely secure in its own cheerfully fake worldview, "Baggage Claim" bypasses the intellect entirely, happy to satisfy on a silly, screwball, wish-fulfillment level. It could have been so much better, but for racking up undemanding escapist flyer miles, it'll do.
PG-13. At area theaters. Contains sexual content and some profanity. 93 minutes.


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Feasterville, PA — B&R Family Fitness Center in Feasterville, PA, is suing LA Fitness in Huntingdon Valley, PA, claiming that LA Fitness employees are dissuading prospective members from joining B&R by telling them that the company is on the verge of bankruptcy, closing or has other financial problems.
B&R filed a complaint in the Bucks County (PA) Court of Common Pleas last month, alleging claims against LA Fitness, based in Irvine, CA, for intentional interference with prospective business relationships, defamation, commercial disparagement, unfair competition and violations of the federal Lanham Act, which prohibits false advertising, among other activities.
Michael Eidel, an attorney for B&R, says that claims about these tactics began seven months ago. In response, B&R hired a former FBI investigator to pose as a potential customer at LA Fitness. The investigator came back to B&R with similar claims to those made previously.
Eidel says B&R is not filing for bankruptcy, is not closing and is relatively healthy. Since the lawsuit was announced, Eidel says other prospective members have come forward with similar claims about LA Fitness employees.
"It's a very damaging message to put out there about a local health club," Eidel says. "It's one thing for a national chain to put out a national media blitz and have a huge advertising budget. When you're picking on a local club, that's a little bit different. They don't have a lot of remedies to get back their reputation in the local community."
Last year, the 80,000-square-foot B&R, which opened more than 30 years ago, received the "Best in Bucks" Philadelphia Inquirer Readers' Choice Award.
LA Fitness avoided a hearing scheduled for Dec. 31 by stipulating to B&R's request for an injunction. A trial could begin in the fall, Eidel says.
The attorney representing LA Fitness could not be reached for comment.


text: Quoting Linus Harling <linus at ussarna.se>, on Mon 16 Jun 2008 04:31:56 PM PDT: > Vincent Diepeveen skrev: > <snip> >> >> Then instead of a $200 pci-e card, we needed to buy expensive Tesla's >> for that, without getting >> very relevant indepth technical information on how to program for that >> type of hardware. >> >> The few trying on those Tesla's, though they won't ever post this as >> their job is fulltime GPU programming, >> report so far very dissappointing numbers for applications that really >> matter for our nations. > </snip> > > Tomography is kind of important to a lot of people: > > http://tech.slashdot.org/tech/08/05/31/1633214.shtml > http://www.dvhardware.net/article27538.html > http://fastra.ua.ac.be/en/index.html > > But of course, that was done with regular $500 cards, not Teslas. Mind you, if you go and get a tomographic scan today, they already use fast hardware to do it. Only researchers on limited budgets tolerate taking days to reduce the data on a desktop PC. And, while the concept of doing faster processing with a <10KEuro box is attractive in that environment, I suspect it's a long way from being commercially viable in that role. The current tomographic technology (e.g. GE Lightspeed) is pretty impressive. They slide you in, and 10-15 seconds later, there's 3 d rendered models and slices on the screen. The equipment is pretty hassle free, the UI straightforward from what I could see, etc. And, of course, people are willing (currently) to pay many millions for a machine to do this. I suspect that the other costs of running a CT scanner (both capital and operating) overwhelm the cost of the computing power, so going from a $100K box to a $20K box is a drop in the bucket. When you're talking MRI, for instance, there's the cost of the liquid helium for the magnets. That's a long way from a bunch of grad students racking up a bunch of PCs.


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Just when you thought it was safe to look at children's-TV news again, here comes this: Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who has animated Elmo on Sesame Street for 28 years, has resigned from Sesame Workshop because of the "distraction" of underage-sex charges against him.
This comes a week after one young man made, then recanted, accusations that Clash began a sexual relationship with him when he was 16. (Clash acknowledged the relationship but said it took place later, when his accuser was of the age of consent.) Now a second accuser has reportedly come forth, saying Clash had sex with him in the early '90s when he was 15.
Sesame Workshop released a statement Tuesday:
Sesame Workshop's mission is to harness the educational power of media to help all children the world over reach their highest potential. Kevin Clash has helped us achieve that mission for 28 years, and none of us, especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. This is a sad day for Sesame Street.
With the charges last week, I wrote that the case "is, as sex scandals sometimes are, poised on the cusp of legally actionable and none of our damn business… If his lover was under the age of consent, that's a matter for the law. If he was over—whatever you personally think of middle-aged guys dating young men (or women)—it's between them." With another accusation in the news, I can only say that the same goes double. Someone who's been having illegal sex with underage lovers shouldn't be working on a children's program (and can't reasonably expect to keep any job as a public TV figure). And for someone who's innocent to have to resign because the accusations are just too "distracting"–or damaging for p.r. and business–is an injustice.
Not knowing which is the truth, I can only say that this is, for certain, really depressing.
Well, that, and one more thing: Elmo, unsurprisingly, will continue on as a Sesame Street character (Clash was not the first Elmo and replacing puppet or animation voices is not a new practice). But I've already been seeing speculation that sales of Elmo-related merchandise may suffer from the controversy. That idea only makes this more depressing.
As a parent, I get that the connection between a small child and the voice and image of a beloved character is intimate. (Conversely, I know from experience there are many, many reasons to avoid the loud, baby-talking furball that have nothing to do with anyone's sex life.) But the operative word here is character. Small kids have a relationship with Elmo, not his unseen puppeteer. And parents, as grown-ups, should be able to distinguish between actor and character, reality and fiction, just as we do all the time with movie actors. The idea that parents would deprive their kids of a character because it now makes them feel icky—anymore than they would boycott Alice in Wonderland because of past allegations about Lewis Carroll, say—boggles my mind. (Likewise the idea that an Elmo toy or video suddenly becomes more or less wholesome depending on the employment status of the person moving his mouth.)
Think what you want about this whole sordid, sad situation. But come on, people; let's leave the Muppet out of it.


text: These fresh raw shrimp are large in size, taste and flavor. Their succulent white meat is low in fat and calories, and high in protein. Harvested from the cold waters of South America, these deliciously crisp shrimp are also a good source of selenium and the vitamins D and B12. These large shrimp are already cleaned and gives a tasty statement at any gathering. Try them with our spicy homemade cocktail sauce for an extra-tasty kick.


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Sprint Corp promised to pay Clearwire Corp a $120 million breakup fee if its $2.2 billion purchase of roughly half of the smaller wireless service provider does not go ahead but it restricted Clearwire's ability to entertain other offers.
Sprint, the majority owner of Clearwire, announced details of its purchase agreement in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, the day after it said it would buy out the rest of Clearwire for $2.97 per share.
Continue Reading Below
Clearwire shares were below the offer price at $2.88 in morning trade.
Some shareholders said they were disappointed by the price, which requires approval from a majority of Clearwire's minority shareholders. While one shareholder is looking for support for a class action lawsuit against the deal, another is still holding out hope for a higher bid.
But Sprint said in the filing that Clearwire had agreed to a no-shop restriction of its ability to solicit other offers.
It also said that Clearwire would be restricted from providing information to or engaging in discussions or negotiations with third parties regarding an acquisition proposal, subject to certain exceptions.
It did not disclose the potential exceptions to the rule.
The Clearwire deal is conditional on the sale of a 70 percent stake in Sprint to Japan's SoftBank Corp for $20 billion, which is expected to close around mid-2013.
Sprint would have to pay the breakup fee if the SoftBank deal does not happen, if it or Clearwire terminates the agreement, or if their deal has not been consummated on or before October 15, 2013, according to the filing.
The merger agreement also includes a "no-shop" restriction on Clearwire's ability to solicit acquisition proposals.
Sprint has support for the deal from at least three Clearwire shareholders owning 13 percent of the company - Intel Corp, Comcast Corp and cable company Bright House.
Clearwire shares were down 3 cents or 1 percent at $2.88 in morning trade on Nasdaq. Sprint stock was down 8 cents or 1.4 percent at $5.48 on New York Stock Exchange.


text:
International Women's Tribune Centre records
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UFO Digest Newsletter December 21, 2012
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Well if you are reading this you survived the end of the Mayan Calendar intact. Congratulations! Apparently this is not the end of the world as we know it! Let's begin with Mary Alice Bennett, who connects the mysteries of Mt. Bugarach, 2012, the Galamus Sator Square, Mayans and the Southern Cross. Next, Diane Tessman, examines the Sri Lanka UFO Flap and more. Then, Pat Regan revises his article on Nostradamus, the Mayan calendar or Revelations, next, Louis Hart writes about today. I am very happy to have an article by Brad Steiger about Angels and Aliens. Peter Fotis Kapnistos contributes Super-Strings and Homeric Style. Doc vega writes about the US Military Response to UFOs and more. Christian Macé draws our attention to more anomalies on Mars. Next, Jon Kelly contributes articles on UFOs in Argentina hynotic OOBEs! Finally, Roger Marsh writes about more black triangles. Have a Merry Christimas from the staff of UFO Digest Enjoy Dirk
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Mt. Bugarach and 12/21/12 - The Galamus Sator Square, the Ancient Mayans, and the Southern Cross by Mary Alice Bennett. This chanting head figure combined with a unique configuration of the ancient Sator square still puzzels visitors to the cavern sanctuary in Galamus Gorge. The word square is in the shape of a cross and in the center are four "T" shapes which face the four directions. So many Templar artifacts have nautical origins, was this carving made by them? More...
Sri Lanka UFO Flap – Air Force Sent Up! Have Aliens Chosen Sri Lanka for Landings? by Diane Tessman. Sri Lanka is involved in one huge UFO flap! It began around November 27th! and as of December 14, 2012, the Sri Lanka Air Force has been ordered into the skies to keep a 24 hour vigil for unidentified flying objects. http://www.latest-ufo-sightings.net/2012/12/ufo-alert-over-sri-lanka-december-2012.html More...
Nostradamus, the Mayan calendar or Revelations – is doom around the corner? (REVISED) by Pat Regan. Today we hear a great deal about the forthcoming year 2012 and I predict that chatter will increase as it did in a similar fashion towards the run up to the Millennium. Principally, the latest panic is based on a primordial Mayan "long count" calendar, engraved on stone. This according to 'some' calculations ends on December 21, 2012 and marks the conclusion of a 5,126-year epoch. More...
2012...The Morning After by Louis Hart. We're almost there. The end of the Mayan calendar, that super, hyped-up date is only a few days away. Are you ready for it? Some are having their hair done and getting manicures and pedicures in preparation for what's to come. They want to look their best for whatever is to happen. More... Also read: Previous Me
Aliens We Have Heard On High by Brad Steiger. It seems that every year at the Christmas season some noteworthy scientist or brilliant observer of contemporary culture comes forward with an opinion that the reported actions of aliens and angels are very similar. On December 2, 2012, The Guardian newspaper carried a provocative headline declaring that neurologist Oliver Sacks had commented that today people are more likely to see UFOs and aliens when our ancestors would see angels. More...
Nostradamus, the Mayan calendar or Revelations – is doom around the corner? (REVISED) by Pat Regan. Today we hear a great deal about the forthcoming year 2012 and I predict that chatter will increase as it did in a similar fashion towards the run up to the Millennium. Principally, the latest panic is based on a primordial Mayan "long count" calendar, engraved on stone. This according to 'some' calculations ends on December 21, 2012 and marks the conclusion of a 5,126-year epoch. More...
Super-Strings and Homeric Style by Peter Fotis Kapnistos. Homer is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, established in Western customs and acknowledged as the best of ancient Greek epic poets. Most historians place Homer in the 7th or 8th centuries BC. His epics instituted the standard for inspired verse, and have had a huge impact on the history of Western literature. More...
Historic US Military Response To UFO: How Did It Affect Technology? by Doc Vega. You would think that in our modern day variety of vast conveniences supported by the massive technical steps that science has taken that we might know what events influenced our meteoric development. I have spoken to many of those involved in the advancement of telecommunications, electronics, and military weapons who are quite sure that the evolution of human development was not based upon our merits alone. More...
Concrete Block On Mars: Curiosity by Christian Macé. Strange stone sphere photographed on Mars Curiosity December 7, 2012. Above, I indicated by a white arrow where you see this stone sphere is the photo taken by Curiosity December 7, 2012. And I enlarged. More... Also read: Curiosity Photos Strange Stone Sphere on Mars
Argentine UFO at the ethical crossroads in time by Jon Kelly. On December 18, 2012, the Argentine Carlos Paz Vivo reported how a photographer documenting a group of students standing on the waterfront of San Roque Lake in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina unknowingly lensed a flying saucer that appeared overhead in the background. More... Also read: UFO hacker will not face British trial - Mother relieved Also read: ET contactee describes ecstatic hypnotic OOBE
Black Triangle Lacked Normal Lights! by Roger Marsh. A Pennsylvania witness reported watching a black triangle with five white lights moving low and slow over Phoenixville about 6:30 p.m. on December 19, 2012, according to testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database. More...
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Matthew Schwimmer
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Fantasy Football Edge: Fantasy MVPs And LVPsAs many fantasy seasons come to a close this weekend, we at RotoAnalysis wanted to take a look at some of the biggest performances this season and the players who carried you to the championship or left you in the cellar.
Fantasy Football Edge: Breakout SeasonsTo win any fantasy football league, you need players that are able to outperform where you drafted them.
Fantasy Football Edge: Late-Season OptionsGoing into the last few weeks of the season, lineup decisions are as crucial as ever. This week, we at RotoAnalysis are going to break down some of the players we like for the last few weeks who you might not expect
Fantasy Football Edge: Ranking the Tight EndsAfter re-ranking the quarterbacks last week the guys from RotoAnalysis are back to tackle the tight end position.
Fantasy Football Edge: Ranking The QuarterbacksThis week we at RotoAnalysis are re-ranking the quarterbacks for the rest of the season. There's still time left for your fantasy team to turn it around with some great play from the QB position.
Fantasy Football Edge: Bounce Back PerformersWhen a highly drafted player struggles to start the year, it's always tough to know what to do. Do you continue to start them off of pedigree or do you bench them for the hot hand? What can be even more confusing is when those same players finally bounce back. This week we're going to focus on four players who started off slow, but may finally be back on track.
Fantasy Football Edge: Dealing With Midseason StrugglesWe're officially eight weeks in, and hopefully your fantasy team hasn't hit a midseason swoon like the Eagles
Fantasy Football Edge: Reacting To InjuriesWeek 7 around the NFL was as brutal as ever, and led to a ton of injuries. With two starting QBs and various other fantasy studs now out, the way you react could end up shaping your season. We at RotoAnalysis are breaking down some of the key situations and what you can do as an owner to improve your team the rest of the way.
Fantasy Football Edge: Players Who Will Rebound
Fantasy Football Edge: Breakout PerformersWhen it comes down to it, breakout players end up deciding the fate of most fantasy football leagues. Who was able to snag them first? Who found that diamond in the rough? These players end up swinging the balance of the league and can carry a team to a championship
Fantasy Football Edge: Running Back Time SharesMost of the time, positional battles become more and more distinct as the season progresses. Usually, one talent emerges over the rest, one guy gets most of the playing time, or the starter gets hurt leaving the backup as the only usable option.
Fantasy Football Edge: Sell High Candidates After breaking down some buy lows last week, this week it's time to focus on some guys to sell high.


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Although Israel and Indonesia do not hold diplomatic relations, reaching a population of 200,000,000 Muslims in their own language might be a good step towards understanding and future hopes for relations and cooperation.
The website (found at http://jakarta.mfa.gov.il) will not only cover political and diplomatic issues, but will also deal with areas such as culture, science, economics, and education - areas which there is very little information about Israel.
One of the major problems the website will deal with is the fact that for many years the local population has been only informed by media sources hostile to Israel which did not paint an objective and whole picture about the situation in the region.
The website will now allow Indonesian internet surfers to receive direct information from and about Israel. The hope is that the new website will contribute to reducing the misconceptions against Israel among the Indonesian public and will allow for a real dialogue with a large and important population which is an important part of the Muslim world.
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
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One day as I was multi-tasking (making dinner, washing dishes, supervising my daughter, returning phone calls), I suddenly grew very annoyed at the music we were listening to. I had recently purchased a children's CD for my daughter, and it hit me that all the songs sounded the same. What a waste of twelve dollars, I thought, as I headed toward the CD player to shut it off. As I reached down to hit the "off" button, I noticed a small, unfamiliar icon on the display screen. I crouched down to further examine and then laughed aloud.
The repeat button had been pushed. We were, in fact, listening to the same song over and over and over. In the midst of my preoccupation with everyday tasks, I had subjected myself to nearly an hour of the same tune.
This incident reminds me of the commonly understood definition of insanity: doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. And although I generally consider myself to be an educated and dedicated patient, I realize that I am not immune to the mundane, everyday routine of managing my diabetes.
The problem, of course, is that average diabetes management is hardly enough. Over time, elevated blood sugars lead to a myriad of issues, including kidney failure, blindness, neuropathy, depression, heart disease, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, infertility, dental problems, and many, many more. These complications are life-altering and sometimes, life-ending.
I remember a few months after my type 1 diabetes diagnosis, when my first endocrinologist told me that in a year or so, diabetes would become normal to me. I didn't believe him. In fact, I had to hold myself back from laughing aloud. How could vials of insulin, needles, test strips, carbohydrate counting, and calculated exercise become normal?
He was right. Four years later, diabetes is normal to me. But it's also never ceased to be difficult and tiring. When everyone else around the dinner table can dive into the steaming meal, I'm checking my blood sugar, taking insulin, and carefully choosing each food and the amount of food I'm putting on my plate. Instead of having a piece of each dessert, I'm choosing a small serving of one or two. I'm drinking water instead of a tall glass of sweetened tea or lemonade. Every dining experience is a chore and the practice of self-denial.
People with diabetes are told to attempt normal, average lives, yet at the same time we are told that we must follow a gazillion rules every waking minute of the day. And, in fact, many of us set our alarms in the middle of the night (sometimes multiple times) to check our blood sugars. We don't get a break or a time out.
Because of the demands of our disease, most of us, or perhaps all of us, slip into what we want to be our normal lives. This might mean checking our sugars less often, skipping medications, eating too much of the wrong foods, neglecting workouts, putting off a doctor's appointment, sleeping too little, and letting stress govern our decisions. Unfortunately, these choices mean that something has got to give. That something, of course, is our health.
If you, like me, have found yourself slipping into the belief that diabetes can be paused while life continues, consider the following tips on how you can recommit to healthy diabetes management:
1: Get in to see your doctor. Tell him or her that you are losing your motivation and give specific reasons. Sometimes all it takes for me to get back into the game is to call my dietitian and tell her what is holding me back. Encouraging words, some simple reminders, and a few fresh ideas from a medical professional can be helpful.
2: Keep records. I haven't met a person with diabetes who hasn't told me how time-consuming and tedious it is to follow the doctor's orders to record blood sugars, exercise, and food intake. I do not keep records every day, but when I find myself in a serious and neglectful rut, I pull out a notebook and start writing. A few days or weeks of record-keeping can reveal trends that are easily correctable.You might be consistently eating too many carbohydrates at your afternoon snack, for example, or seeing high blood sugars at ten in the morning. You can then take corrective action.
3: Do what you love. Whatever it is that's taking your focus off your diabetes is probably also taking your focus off the activities you most enjoy. What is a healthy outlet for you? I enjoy writing, reading, and working out. Each of these activities eases my mind, helps me escape from everyday stresses, and rejuvenates me. Consider physical activities (swimming, hiking, golfing, yoga) or hobbies (woodworking, photography, knitting). Perhaps you've stopped being as social as you once were, so call a friend and get a lunch date on the calendar.
4: Get and give support. Depending on where I am with my diabetes, I need different types of support. Sometimes I seek answers to my questions or confer with other diabetes patients. Other times, I find ways to give to the diabetes community. For example, I recently started volunteering at a local hospital where I communicate with diabetes patients. Both of these give-and-take methods, seeking advice from others and volunteering, keep me focused on my disease and encourage me to model good diabetes management for others.
5: Stop and focus. Silence is precious in today's society, and the only way a person finds it is if he or she creates it. Take some time to be by yourself and reflect on your life. What is going well? What is frustrating you? And, most importantly, what practical steps can you take to make your life better? Some ideas include eliminating activities that aren't bringing you fulfillment, changing jobs if the one you have is too stressful, distancing yourself from toxic individuals, and scheduling time for yourself.
6: Finally, remind yourself that going through seasons of hardship is normal, but that lingering in those seasons is not acceptable or healthy. You must choose to be worthy of good health. Sometimes I find myself weighed down by guilt because I neglected my disease for a few days or slacked off for a few weeks, but then I realize that each day and really, each minute, I have the choice in what I will do next. May you choose health and, in doing so, happiness.


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courtesy company necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 53 diseños de 16 diseñadores freelance.
Precision Tax Recovery
About Us
Precision Tax Recovery is a consulting company that engages 33+yr tax specialists to recover overpaid federal taxes for companies. We take advantage of the latest court ruling, tax laws, and IRS positions to retroactively recover overpaid tax money for companies. We find the money that the Big 4 leaves behind.
We're a mixture of young progressive and aged experienced, knowledgeable, professional, and courteous.
Our mission = We established Precision Tax Recovery to help businesses recover their hard earned money that was overpaid to the Federal Government. Our mission is to understand our clients' business and help them with all issues pertaining to Federal tax. We conduct business ethically and in an environmentally friendly manner. We are a minority owned business and we support programs that empower minorities and the disadvantaged.
Our business = With over 33 years experience our goal is to focus on simplifying federal tax for companies and recovering their hard earned money for their stakeholders
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Please provide a logo option with and without the slogan, in case we decide to amend our slogan at a later date.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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March 06, 2011 10:01 ET
HELI-EXPO, ORLANDO, FLORIDA--(Marketwire - March 6, 2011) - PHI Inc (NASDAQ: PHII, PHIIK), a leading provider of helicopter transportation and related services to a diverse customer group that includes the oil and gas industries, has purchased 10 AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada's (P&WC's) PT6C-67C engines. As well, PHI has signed a long-term Engine Service Agreement for the repair and overhaul of the PT6C-67C engines. The announcement was made today at Heli-Expo 2011, which is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from March 5 to 8. Pratt & Whitney Canada is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.
"These aircraft will be used specifically for oil and gas customers who require highly reliable transportation among their various sites, including their off-shore facilities around the world," said Tony Gonzales, Director of Maintenance, PHI. "We took delivery of our first engine in November 2010, and through 2012 we will have received 10 aircraft. PHI has been a Pratt & Whitney Canada customer since the 1960s, and we place great trust and reliance in the organization. Signing up for a P&WC Engine Service Agreement for these engines was a logical extension of the faith we have in their products and their people."
"P&WC's PT6C-67C engines carry an enviable pedigree within the aviation industry," said Raffaele Virgili, Vice President, Customer Service, P&WC. "While the original PT6 engine made its debut almost 50 years ago, regular technology upgrades have kept it current. It's viewed as a reliable powerhouse in its class and continues to set the standard in terms of innovative design and operational and environmental performance. The Engine Service Agreement PHI signed with us covers the repair and overhaul of the engines."
As a leading helicopter engine manufacturer, P&WC has developed solid relationships with a multitude of OEMs in the market. The company offers a product line that is broad, targeted and tailored. In the last eight years alone, there has been a threefold increase in the number of P&WC helicopter engines delivered annually.
P&WC customer service
P&WC is celebrating the 22nd anniversary of its ESP® plan this year, with more than 1,000 operators and 3,000 engines enjoying the benefits of membership.
In addition to the most advanced engine technology available, Pratt & Whitney Canada brings world-class customer service backed by a worldwide network of more than 100 field support representatives (FSRs), distribution centres in key locations around the world and more than 80 mobile repair technicians; a broad pool of rental and exchange engines; a customized Fleet Management Program (FMP®) and Eagle Service™ Plan (ESP); comprehensive warranty coverage; as well as an extensive Customer Service Network with more than 30 facilities around the world.
P&WC and the helicopter industry
Since the 1970s, P&WC has produced more than 12,000 engines for the helicopter market, accumulating more than 43 million flying hours. The company has certified 31 models for more than 25 applications and engines destined for the helicopter industry.
We continue to make significant investment in our market-leading PW200 and PT6 turboshaft families of engines. Our outlook remains strong and we continue to direct our R&D investments toward customer-driven initiatives that target outstanding performance and reliability, optimal power-to-weight ratio, fuel burn, operating economics and environmental performance.
Come see us at Heli-Expo: Booth 421, Orange County Convention Center
Interested operators are invited to drop by P&WC's booth (421) to speak with a customer service representative.
About Pratt & Whitney Canada
Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada is shaping the future of business aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Every second, a Pratt & Whitney Canada-powered aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world. Pratt & Whitney Canada's engines, with more than 500 million hours in the air, are the industry benchmark for innovative design, dispatch reliability, operating economics and easy maintenance. Pratt & Whitney Canada is firmly committed to ensuring that its products are designed, produced and operated while minimizing environmental impacts throughout their life cycle.
There are currently more than 47,000 engines in service on over 25,000 aircraft operated by some 10,000 operators in 198 countries. The most extensive support network in the industry, which includes more than 30 company-owned and designated service facilities, supports this global fleet.
P&WC has been taking front-line services to the next level ever since it launched its Customer First Centre (CFirst) in 2007. CFirst brings together a multidisciplinary and multilingual support team to resolve issues so that customers can return to service quickly. CFirst handles more than 100,000 contacts every year.
Based in Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), Pratt & Whitney Canada is a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE:UTX). UTC is a diversified company providing high-technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
About PHI
PHI is a world leading helicopter services companies supporting the Offshore Oil and Gas, International, Air Medical, and Technical Services industries. The Company's core business consists of offshore operations in the energy basins around the world. PHI has a long history of operating in the Global Marketplace, in addition to operations in the United States, the company has operated in 43 foreign countries and continues to operate for customers across the globe. PHI's Headquarters are in Lafayette, Louisiana USA, where daily operations are conducted in conjunction with 45 other PHI heliports nationwide.
Pratt & Whitney Canada
Anna di Giorgio
Heli-Expo 2011, Orlando, Florida, Booth 421
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iceBike 2011: Picture round-up from season's final trade show
Now updated with full stories!
After Interbike, Eurobike, Cycle 2010, The London Bike Show, Core Bike and countless others, we're nearing the end of trade show season. So iceBike, hosted by UK distributors Madison, is one of the final chances to see this year's shiny new bike bits before they hit the shops.
This year's show saw the launch of the new Madison Saracen downhill squad, a development team headed by Manon Carpenter and Harry Malloy, and the unveiling of a load of new and revised models from Genesis, including a great-looking £500 hardtail. Here's a round-up of the best of the rest…
Pride of place on Commencal's stand went to the new Supreme DHv3 downhill bike. Its predecessor, the Supreme DH, is a hard act to follow, having been piloted to World Championship and World Cup glory by the Athertons. But the new bike sits lower to the ground, for improved cornering, and uses a revised version of the Andorran company's Contact System suspension platform, called Contact System Evo.
Commencal's new Supreme DHv3 has a refined suspension design and lower centre of gravity
Made from triple-butted 7005 aluminium, the DHv3 has 200mm (7.9in) of rear travel, a three-position adjustable head tube (-1, 0, +1°) up front, a press-fit bottom bracket and internal cable and brake hose routing. There's also an adjustable wheelbase version that uses replaceable inserts at the rear axle to lengthen or shorten the bike's back end (437mm/444.5mm/452mm).
The DHv3 is available as a frame only (without shock, unusually – you'll have to supply your own 241x76mm unit) in three sizes for £1,599.99, or as a complete bike. The standard full build is £3,499.99 while the Atherton spec seen here is £6,499.99. For that price you get a wishlist spec including a Fox 40 RC2 FIT fork and RC4 shock, Shimano Saint kit, PRO Atherton Series components, an e*thirteen SRS chainguide, Mavic EX 721 rims and Maxxis Minion tyres.
The Supreme DHv3 has internal cable/hose routing and an adjustable head angle
Profile are best known for their aero bars, and they do have a couple of new models for 2011. However, the big story is their new wheel range, which has been in development for the past two years. On show at iceBike were two carbon fibre models – the Altair 52 and Altair 80.
As the names suggest, the difference between the two wheels is rim depth – 52mm and 80mm (actually 80.5mm), respectively. The rims are manufactured using a proprietary carbon layup and high temperature resin, and the wheels are then hand built. Both come with the same CNC machined, sealed cartridge bearing alloy hubs and Sapim CX Sprint spokes with hidden nipples (20, radial front; 24, two-cross rear).
Profile's Altair 52 semi-carbon wheel subs in an alloy braking surface
Both Altair models are available in three versions – full-carbon clincher, full-carbon tubular or semi-carbon clincher. (The semi-carbon wheels have aluminium beads and braking surfaces.) The wheels are supplied with a 'goody bag' containing quick-release skewers, brake pads, valve extenders, a spoke tool, plus some spare spokes and nipples. Each comes with a two-year worldwide warranty
Prices and claimed weights (without QR) are as follows: Altair 52 tubular, £1,100, 1,443g; 52 full-carbon clincher, £1,200, 1,683g; 52 semi-carbon clincher, £1,000, 1,756g; Altair 80 tubular, £1,200, 1,624g; 80 full-carbon clincher, £1,300, 1,906g; 80 semi-carbon clincher, £1,100, 2,088g. Profile also have a range of Armada aluminium wheels.
The full-carbon Profile Altair 80 is available in clincher and tubular versions
Those of you continually frustrated in your attempts to open gel sachets while riding at speed would be well advised to have a look at Hydrapak's Gel-Bot. It's been on the market for a while now, but the new clear design makes it easier to keep a close watch on carb intake during your rides.
For those not familiar with the way it works, prior to setting off on a ride, you empty your gel into a chamber contained within the bottle, plug it into the lid and then fill the rest of the bottle with water. To drink water, the cap pulls up as with any standard bottle. But if you leave the cap closed and instead suck and squeeze the bottle, the water pressure drives up a piston within the chamber and squirts gel into your mouth.
Hydrapak's Gel-Bot is worth a look if you don't like stopping to eat during rides
There's enough room in the chamber for two servings of gel, while the bottle holds 711ml of water. The cap and chamber are compatible with any Specialized water bottle, which may interest those unwilling to part with their trusty bottle.
The Gel-Bot's main downfall is that the piston is much easier to drive up using water pressure than using air pressure – so if you drink too much of the water before deciding to have some gel it doesn't work as well. Still, we think it's a product that will certainly have fans. RRP is £20.
Water pressure is used to push a piston that squirts energy gel into your mouth
German brand SKS had some effective looking mudguards and neat side- and top-access bottle mounts on their stand, but it was the Diago pump that caught our eye. Pumps aren't generally things of beauty but the Diago's sleek lines give it a really classy look and would blend in well on any bike. It's just won an iF product design award.
At 109g and 24cm in length the Diago is certainly a lightweight piece of kit, but it also packs a punch to reach a maximum pressure of 144psi with its Presta/Schrader valve combo. RRP is £24.99. It's available in black or white.
The SKS Diago pump won an iF design award, and we can see why
Blackburn had several new lights on display, including the tiny Flea 2.0 USB front light which offers computer charging via its USB connector. With four LEDs and a 40-lumen output, it weighs just 17g. Claimed run time is three hours on steady and five hours on flash, and it has a brighter overdrive mode too. The backlit on button doubles as a charge indicator. A solar charge option is available separately. RRP is £24.99.
The company were also showing off Mars and Voyager LEDs in a massive range of colours, plus new seatpacks with carbon-friendly rubber seatpost straps. However, the standout product was probably the new 17-function Toolmanator 3 multi-tool. Along with the usual Allen and Torx keys, screwdrivers and chain tool, this also packs in a tiny shock pump. Blackburn admit you're unlikely to get more than a couple of psi out of it, but that could be enough if all you want to do is remove a little sag. RRP TBC.
Blackburn's Toolmanator 3 is the first multi-tool we've come across that packs in a mini shock pump
Light & Motion
We showed you Light & Motion's first foray into the commuter market, the Vis 360 integrated lightset, late last year. Well, the company are also now selling a standalone rear light, the Vis 180. This combines a super-bright 35-lumen main beam with flashing amber side lights for improved night-time visibility.
Claimed run time is 2.5-24 hours depending on mode. Claimed weight is 131g and it can be mounted on your helmet or seatpost using the supplied lockable mount. The Li-ion battery can be charged in 4.5 hours from your computer via a micro-USB cable. RRP is £100/US$99.
Light & Motion reckon the Vis 180 is the most powerful tail light on the market; Hope beg to differ
Light & Motion were also displaying a prototype front commuter light, the Urban. Due out in August, this self contained (ie. there's no separate battery pack) lamp will come in 150- (£100) and 250-lumen (£130) versions.
Again, charging will be via a micro-USB cable and there'll be amber side lights and flashing modes in addition to the full beam. In other L&M news, the Stella 400 D is to get a boost in power from 400 to 600 lumens for 2011, and the Seca 700 will go from 700 to 800 lumens.
This prototype Urban front light is due out in August


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Nano-Utica Response Team
With the construction of Quad C at SUNY IT and the newly announced design plans for the Nano Marcy site announced last week, Nano-Utica is becoming a reality. Quad-C at SUNY IT is scheduled to open its doors in December 2014 bringing along with it 1,500 jobs to the Mohawk Valley. The reality of Nano Utica means getting ahead of the game and preparing students for exciting and well paying careers locally.
The workforce for Quad C will not only be comprised of those with advanced degrees in STEM, but also those who have technical training and Associate Degrees obtained from MVCC. To help respond to the need of creating a workforce ready for these jobs, MVCC has already secured funds through grants such as the Trade Act Adjustment and Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant. The TAACCCT grant has provided $400,000 for the college to develop and bolster nano/semiconductor manufacturing curriculum.
For several years, the STEM Center Faculty have worked with National Science Foundation grants in highly automated manufacturing, nanomanufacturing, and atomic force microscopy. MVCC is a partner in the Northeast Advanced Technological Education Center (NEATEC) along with CNSE, HVCC and RPI. As a result of these activities, we have been incorporating the work into our curriculum to update it and develop labs and facilities to anticipate some of the needs. Without a customer, we have been doing this in a limited way up until now, but, with the new emerging needs, we will be working on these efforts in full force.
Additionally, MVCC has also formed the Nano Utica Response Team (NURT) to increase the level of readiness of the college to prepare students for these new career opportunities. NURT will collect and disseminate information from parties involved in Nano Utica to the college community. They will also identify immediate and long term opportunities for MVCC regarding Nano Utica.
Members of NURT include Seyed Akhavi, Dean of the STEM Center; Bob Decker, Engineering Technologies Program Director; Franca Armstrong, Executive Director of Community and Workforce Development; and John Nehme, Career and Employer Relations Specialist.
Contact the NURT Team for more information at:


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Techline - June 2014Posted in How To: Tech Qa on May 8, 2014
4x4 Cars
How would one go about converting a compact car (Beetle, Yugo, Hyundai, etc.) to a 4x4? Is that even possible?
George Holler
Via email
Since there are a few companies that offer all-wheel-drive cars (Audi, Subaru, Mini, and so on), I am assuming you are thinking more along the lines of a robust wheeler- sort of a Beetle with Wrangler underpinnings. Converting a compact car to four-wheel drive, while retaining as much of the original powertrain as possible, would be incredibly difficult for many reasons. One of the major challenges of attempting to convert a compact car, such as a Beetle or Hyundai, would mean having to overcome the front-wheel-drive architecture of the car. Unlike a 4x4, there is not room underneath the small car platform for things like a rear driveline or transfer case. This is why most people looking to accomplish the car-to-4x4 merger choose to transplant a compact car body onto a 4x4 chassis.
Jokingly, these mergers of metal are often referred to as Trars. Most of the time, people all but abandon the car's powertrain and frame (in cases where one even exists). Being that the majority of two- and four-door passenger cars are unibody, most Trar builders will bolt or sometimes weld the car body to the 4x4 donor frame. As unconventional as it may sound, there are some very clean examples of how to blend a car body onto a truck chassis. So, is it possible? Sure. I imagine with enough time, money, and fabrication skills, you could make any compact car a useable 4x4, but it's not going to be easy.
Ratio Range
Can differential gear ratios be different from front to rear? I have been told yes and no. Some of the guys say you can get away with a slight ratio difference if you are only driving in mud.
Tomas March
Via email
The basic answer is no. You always want your gear ratios to match front to rear. A 4.88:1 up front and a 4.86:1 out back isn't going to make enough difference to matter, but a 5.13:1 in one diff and 4.10:1 in the other is a sure way to break parts (generally your transfer case will be the first to go). Mud racers that use heavily-staggered tire sizes front and rear sometimes run different gear ratios to make up for the difference. That works OK in the low traction, fast-tire-spinning mud world, but it is not something you want on your trail rig.
Toy Shop
I'm looking for an off-road/fab shop near Miami, Florida. I am new to the area and need a few items welded on my Tacoma. Any help would be great.
Carmine Richards
Via email
Roco Performance is a great 4x4 and fabrication shop that I've worked with in the past. The shop is located at 1781 NW 79 Avenue, Miami, Florida. You can also contact the company by phone at 305/392-6808 or online at rocoperformance.com.
New Explorer
I have an '01 Ford Explorer Sport. It's my first car and I want to make it trailworthy. I plan to spend most of my time on-road and won't do any serious rockcrawling or mudding. Currently, the only thing that's not stock is a K&N Performance air intake. I have no idea where to start with getting parts for it. If I do a lift on it, it would only be one or two inches.
Daniel Murray
Via email
When I was your age (geez that really makes me sound like an old man), I wheeled an '87 Isuzu Trooper II. It had highway radials, (which were terrible off-road), hardly any power, and virtually no aftermarket support. Regardless, I had an absolute blast. Having a subpar machine taught me to be a better driver, and my early trail mistakes gave me insight into the tools one should always have with them on the trail.
The aftermarket for your Ford Explorer is more limited than the earlier generations. Despite that, there is a community of Ford Explorer enthusiasts just like you. Online sites, such as explorerforum.com, are great places to check out tips and tricks for modifying the Explorer platform. As far as lift options go, Performance Accessories (performanceaccessories.com) lists a 3-inch body lift (part#70023) and Superlift Suspension (superlift.com) shows a 4-inch system (K494).
"Since it is your first 4x4, I would start slow and get used to using the vehicle off-road. Spend some time in low range in the dirt."
Both kits may be larger and more involved than you want to go at this time. Since it is your first 4x4, I would start slow and get used to using the vehicle off-road. Spend some time in low range in the dirt. Get to know how the vehicle reacts over different terrain. A set of mud-terrain tires, a tow strap, a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, and a tire plug kit should be on your purchase radar. If your Ford Explorer doesn't have front tow and rear towhooks, I would put those on the list as well. A receiver hitch out back can work as a tow point if your Ford Explorer already happens to be equipped. If you don't have a local 4x4 shop, then you can get much of what you need from online retailers, such as 4Wheel Parts (4wheelparts.com).
Crawling under your rig will also lead you to be a better off-road driver. Look for what hangs low and is exposed (e.g., oil pans, transfer case, shocks). This will give you a better idea of what could be easily damaged when wheeling. As your wheeling progresses, you may find that a rear locker would be a great performance upgrade. Luckily, your Explorer's 8.8 rear differential has a wide array of aftermarket support. This means you can easily outfit it with a rear differential locker and stronger axleshafts when you are ready.
Seat time is the best investment you can possibly make. I would grab a couple buddies (preferably ones with 4x4s!), pick a wheeling destination, and go. With the interwebs and texting-bookfaces, you should be able to research a nearby place to wheel that is suited for stock or lightly modified 4x4s.
Ram Fans
I have a '96 Ram 1500 with the 5.2L engine. I am trying to get more power from it and have been looking at replacing my stock mechanical fan with a set of electric fans. I don't do a lot of rockcrawling, mainly just a little trail riding and occasional mud wheeling. I am worried about the reliability of the electric fans but have heard it's a good way to pick up power. What are your thoughts?
Brendon Laird
Via email
Anything you can do to reduce drag on your engine will help free up power and increase efficiency. This is one of the reasons you'll see most late-model ½-ton trucks and SUVs moving away from traditional mechanical fans and hydraulically-driven power steering pumps in favor of electric-powered components. Companies such as Flex-a-lite (flex-a-lite.com) offer a wide range of puller- and pusher-style electric fans that could easily be adapted to your Ram. Electric fans can be very reliable, but mechanical fans are slightly more durable. If power is what you are after, electric is definitely a great option.
Tracking True
I drive a mostly stock '97 Land Rover Discovery Series I. It's main uses are getting my wife (who is a doctor) to the hospital for her shift in the worst possible weather, and getting through some steep ex-logging "roads" that are frequently slippery with snow, slush, and shallow mud during hunting season. The majority of the time, the Rover comes through like a champion with the center diff lock engaged (thanks also to quality tires), but on occasion, I manage to get one tire in the front and one tire in the rear spinning simultaneously.
I think lockers would mostly be wasted on me, and I'd like to avoid the expense and complication. My thought is to install a set of Truetrac limited-slip differentials. It appears to me that those would go unnoticed most of the time, provide just enough assist on those rare occasions that I need it, and sometimes eliminate the need to lock the center diff. I get conflicting advice, however, on whether to install them both front and rear or only in the rear. A couple of people, whose opinions I trust, swear that having one out front will render the vehicle all but uncontrollable, but what they describe sounds more like the problems with a Detroit Locker. Others, whom I also respect, say you never notice the Truetracs kicking in until the traction loss is serious enough that it already has your full attention. What are your thoughts?
Max S.
Via email
I've always been a firm believer that limited-slips are great for sports cars, but typically not worth the investment for wheeling. They will never be a locker when you need them, and while the Eaton Truetrac (eaton.com) is one of the finest examples of an effective and reliable limited-slip differential, you could still find yourself pulling a one-wheel-peel off-road. Driving on-road in snow and slush with an automatic-locker or aggressive limited-slip isn't something that I would want my wife doing and I don't believe yours would like the added handling quirks. Sure, a selectable locker may seem like a hefty investment, but for what you would spend on two limited-slips, I would gladly pay for one ARB Air Locker (arbusa.com) to be placed in the rear differential.
The ARB will act as a completely open differential when not engaged, so it won't change any of the on-road handling of the vehicle, which I am sure you and your wife will appreciate. When you are ready to go off-road, simply engage the locker switch, and the rear will be 100 percent locked. Unlike a limited slip, which requires a certain amount of wheel-slippage before it engages, the Air Locker locks both axleshafts in as soon as you flip the switch. This allows you to take a slower, more controlled approach off-road. If you want the off-road performance, minus any new on-road handling nuances, you really can't beat the ARB Air Locker.
Where To Write
Address your correspondence to: Four Wheeler, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 or send an email to email@example.com. All letters become the property of Four Wheeler, and we reserve the right to edit them for length, accuracy, and clarity. The editorial department can also be reached through the website at www.fourwheeler.com. Due to the volume of mail, electronic and otherwise, we cannot respond to every reader, but we do read everything.


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Note on the photo at right: Moments after it was taken, two bears on unicycles were seen riding the trail in the opposite direction, one of them wearing a purple jacket. But anyway, that's not why we showed you this. The 13th Unicycle World Championships are being held right now and run through Aug. 2 in Switzerland. So we'd be totally surprised if you weren't scurrying to to the nearest airport with passport in hand, to witness this sweet action in person. From Fringe Sports Central:
If you don't have a favorite, I recommend the always entertaining downhill competitions. Oh yeah, you read that correctly — down hill unicycling. Just imagine the near fatal accidents waiting to happen. There is a legitimate chance of seeing decapitation, impalement or disembowelment by unicycle. Maybe all three. Name me another sport that can boast that potential. You can't do it.
He's right! We can't. Although this comes close.
13th Unicycle World Championships [Unicon XIII]
Real Men Only Need One Wheel [Fringe Sports Central]


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Nine-time Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed is coming off a season in which he earned $7.2 million from the Baltimore Ravens.
Whether it comes from the Ravens, Houston Texans or another team, Reed wants a similar annual figure in his next deal, according to The Baltimore Sun. Reed's inability to find that explains why he's still on the market one full week into free agency.
The Sun also reported Tuesday that the Texans' offer to Reed last week was in the three-year, $4 million annual range. The Houston Chronicle reported the Texans and Reed's agent remain in contact at the NFL Annual Meeting, but a deal is not close.
The Ravens have an offer out to Reed, but like the Texans, it's one that's kept earthbound by their tight salary-cap situation. Both teams continue to wait on Reed, but his time to decide isn't infinite.
Eventually one team, or both, will simply move on.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.