text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
One Israeli family suffered the ultimate tragedy on Monday when beloved husband and father Baruch Mizrahi was gunned down by Palestinian terrorists while driving his family to their Passover Seder.
The attack occurred not far from the Hebron suburb of Kiryat Arba, where the Mizrahi family was to celebrate the biblical feast.
The terrorist sprayed numerous rounds from an automatic assault rifle at passing Israeli vehicles. At least two cars were hit, both of them transporting members of the Mizrahi family. Baruch was killed by the gunfire and his pregnant wife, Hadas (pictured), suffered minor gunshot wounds and broken bones. One of the family's five children, a nine-year-old boy, was also injured by shrapnel.
Hadas Mizrahi later recounted the harrowing incident for Israel's Channel 2 News:
"We were driving from Modi'in to Kiryat Arba. At the Tarkumia checkpoint, we said hello to the soldiers, and kept going. After the first roundabout, a terrorist was standing at the roadside. Baruch shouted 'A terrorist! Shooting!' and pressed the gas pedal. Then I took a bullet. Baruch's foot was still on the gas. The vehicle started to zigzag. I took the wheel and kept driving, away from the terrorists. …Meanwhile, the bullets were still flying by us and I told the children 'duck down, duck down. Everything is OK.' Once I saw that we were far away from the terrorist…I called [police hotline] 100 and informed them that there had been a terror attack."
Meanwhile, Hadas realized that her husband had died. When soldiers arrived, she quickly instructed them, "Take the children so they won't see their father is dead."
Besides being an insurmountable personal tragedy, Baruch Mizrahi's death was also a blow to the nation's security forces. Over the past 25 years, Mizrahi had filled numerous high-ranking positions in military and police intelligence units.
"We found him while he was in the military; he was considered a genius in his field. He held knowledge that few others in Israel did," a senior police official told Israel's Ynet news portal.
Mizrahi's last position was as head of the technology department in SIGINT, the intelligence division of the police investigations department.
An official police statement noted that Mizrahi had "contributed substantially to the police forces' efforts against serious and organized crime, as well as all cyber-related crime."
While no groups claimed credit for the attack, Gaza-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh hailed it as a great act of "resistance" that had breathed new life into the Palestinian "struggle" against Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released the following statement blaming rampant anti-Israel incitement in the Palestinian Authority for such acts of terror:
"This reprehensible murder of a man who was traveling with his family to a meal for the Festival of Freedom is the result of the incitement for which the Palestinian Authority is responsible. The Palestinian Authority continues to constantly broadcast – in its official media – programs that incite against the existence of the State of Israel. Last night this incitement was translated into the murder of a father who was traveling with his family to celebrate the first night of Passover."
Netanyahu further noted that as of Wednesday morning, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had failed to condemn the murder of Baruch Mizrahi and the targeting of his wife and small children.
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Israel Today
Free to Your Inbox


text:
HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker Cobras women soccer team took on Converse College Saturday evening in a Conference Carolinas match. Both teams were looking for their first win of the season. The fixture was a defensive battle that ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Valkyries offense managed eight shots and one goal. The lone Converse goal was scored by sophomore forward Jana Gentry (51:31, A: Ryan). Senior keeper Ashley Mercuri made eight saves and was instrumental in the match.
The Cobras offense took a total of 16 shots on the day, putting nine on frame. The lone Coker goal was scored by sophomore Sarah Kinsey (Windermere, Fla.) (68:15, A: Rachel Solomon). Cobra senior keeper Carrie Hudnell (Goose Creek, SC) made three saves.
The next match for the Cobras will be October 2, at 4:00 p.m. against Chowan University. The match will be part of Coker's 2010 homecoming weekend.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Kernel Build
First get Linux/MIPS kernel sources, for example from the git archive. In the next step we need to configure the kernel sources by running make config, make menuconfig, make xconfig
- 1 Build Requirements
- 2 Common problems
- 3 References
Build Requirements
The following is about building vanilla linux-mips.org kernels using unmodified GNU toolchains. Further requirements are documented in Documentation/Changes. Below are additional MIPS-specific requirements. If you're trying to build a vendor kernel, please consider the vendor supplied or recommended toolchain.
Linux 2.4
The recommended compiler for building Linux 2.4 is gcc 2.95 however the large majority of developers is probably user a more modern GCC. New compilers up to gcc 3.3 have been used successfully to build the kernel and only the latest 2.4 kernels have fixed the issues with gcc 3.4. GCC 4.x can not be used and with Linux 2.4 being in deep freeze mode we generally don't intend to fix such problems but rather recommend to use an older compiler for the kernel.
The latest official GCC 2 is version 2.95.3[1]. GCC 2.96[2] is an unofficial, massively patched version. It provides more efficient optimization with -O2, more strict syntax checking and supports more recent C++ standards. Unfortunately the C++ ABI is not fully compatible[3] with the official 2.95.3 nor 3.0. This is not a concern for building the kernel or modules as those are written in plain C but is a consideration if using a single toolchain for an entire distribution or product.
Linux 2.6
Platform specific constraints
- O2 with an R10000 or R12000 and Indigo² with R10000 processors need GCC 4.4 or a patched older version.
- The Lemote 2F defconfig build requires binutils 2.20.2 or binutils 2.21 which at the time of this writing are both still unreleased. It is not clear when they will be released. Alternatively a recent binutils CVS version[4].
Restrictions of particular GCC versions
- GCC 3.2 is a lost cause for building 64-bit kernels
- GCC 3.3 is broken for 64-bit kernels but can just about be kludged to build a 64-bit kernel.
- GCC 3.2 used to work for the rest but it's a very long time since I tested this for a modern kernel.
Restrictions of particular Linux versions
- Linux 2.6 up to 2.6.15 need a gcc 2.95..4.0.
- Linux 2.6.16 and older need a GCC older than 4.3.0 to compile.
- Linux 2.6.29 and older need a GCC older than 4.4.0 to compile. This dependency is being fixed on 2010-05-29 while writing this so you may have to update your kernel to get rid of this dependency.
Common problems
Problems caused by non-Linux/MIPS toolchain
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-mips/arch/mips/kernel' mips_4KC-gcc -D__ASSEMBLY__ -D__KERNEL__ -I/usr/eldk/usr/src/linux-mips/include -D_MIPS_SZLONG=32 -D_MIPS_SZPTR=32 -D_MIPS_SZINT=32 -g -G 0 -mno-abicalls -fno-pic -pipe -c -o entry.o entry.S entry.S: Assembler messages: entry.S:225: Error: unrecognized opcode `reg_s $8,164($29)' entry.S:226: Error: unrecognized opcode `reg_s $8,164($29)'
_MIPS_SZLONG etc. are normally defined by the gcc compiler driver. That is they should never be defined by the application itself. The precense of such kludgery usually indicates the use of a toolchain that wasn't configured for a Linux/MIPS target.
ld dies with signal 6
collect2: ld terminated with signal 6 [Aborted]
This is a known bug in some very old binutils versions. You will have to upgrade to at least binutils 2.8.1 plus very current patches. With Linux 2.4 or newer binutils 220.127.116.11 or newer is probably recommended.
Linux 2.6 build fails early
$ make
CHK include/linux/version.h
HOSTCC scripts/basic/fixdep
HOSTCC scripts/basic/split-include
HOSTCC scripts/basic/docproc
CC scripts/mod/empty.o
gcc: cannot specify -o with -c or -S and multiple compilations
make[2]: *** [scripts/mod/empty.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [scripts/mod] Error 2
make: *** [scripts] Error 2
There are two possible causes for this failure known:
- Make sure you have set CONFIG_CROSSCOMPILE or add
CROSS_COMPILE=<target>to the make invocation.
- A few early Linux 2.6 kernels had a bug which would always result in this error message. In this case you really should upgrade.
Linux 2.6 build fails with "ld: final link failed: Bad value"
This is caused by a linker bug that exists in at least binutils 2.15. If you hit it you should upgrade to binutils 2.16.
- ↑ http://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-2.95/ GCC 2.95 release notes
- ↑ http://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-2.96.html GCC steering committee on GCC 2.96
- ↑ http://www.redhat.com/advice/speaks_gcc.html Red Hat Speaks on gcc 2.96-RH
- ↑ http://www.gnu.org/software/binutils/


text:
Earth impact hazard, the danger of collision posed by astronomical small bodies whose orbits around the Sun carry them near Earth. These objects include the rocky asteroids and their larger fragments and the icy nuclei of comets.
Space in the vicinity of Earth contains a great number of solid objects in a range of sizes. The tiniest (millimetre-size and smaller) and by far most abundant ones, called micrometeroids or interplanetary dust particles, hit Earth's atmosphere continually. They are also the least dangerous; they either burn up in the atmosphere or settle to the surface as dust. Of the somewhat larger objects—i.e., mostly asteroidal in origin—the great majority that reach the ground as meteorites are too small to endanger human life or property on a significant scale. However, there are occasional reports of roughly softball-sized meteorite fragments damaging houses or cars, and in 2013 more than 1,500 people in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia were injured, mostly by flying glass, when a meteorite 17 metres (56 feet) wide broke up in the atmosphere. (The apparently only verified case of a meteorite hitting and injuring a human being occurred in 1954.) Reports of falls of meteorites with masses in the one-ton range are less frequent; when these objects strike the ground, they can excavate craters a few metres across.
It is only the biggest projectiles, those that collide with Earth very infrequently on average, that are acknowledged to pose a great potential danger to human beings and possibly to all life on the planet. Recognition that such a danger might exist dates back at least to the English astronomers Edmond Halley and Isaac Newton and their work on the Great Comet of 1680, whose orbit they showed crossed that of Earth. Modern interest was rekindled in 1980 when the experimental physicist Luis Alvarez of the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues presented evidence that the impact of an asteroid or comet having a diameter of about 10 km (6 miles) was responsible for the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period (65.5 million years ago), in which most species of dinosaurs and much of the marine life of the day perished.
Since that time scientists have identified the probable site of the impact, called the Chicxulub crater, off Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and have come to suspect that similar catastrophic impacts may have triggered other mass extinctions as well. In addition to causing tremendous immediate devastation and ensuing earthquakes, firestorms, and giant sea waves (tsunamis), collisions of such magnitude are believed to be capable of perturbing Earth's environment globally by throwing large quantities of fine debris high into the atmosphere. The consequences would include a decrease in the amount of sunlight reaching the surface and a prolonged depression of surface temperatures—a so-called impact winter—leading to loss of photosynthesizing plant life and worldwide starvation and disease.
In the early 1980s astronomers in the United States, followed by those in several other countries, began studies aimed at better defining the risk posed by cosmic impacts, developing programs to detect threatening objects, and determining if anything could be done to protect Earth from the most devastating impacts. One outgrowth of these efforts was the development of a scale for categorizing the potential impact hazard of objects newly discovered to be orbiting near Earth.
Objects that pose a threat
All objects that can someday cross Earth's orbit have the potential to collide with the planet. This includes not only objects that regularly approach Earth but also others whose paths may change over time in a way that would make them cross Earth's orbit. The objects that fall into this category are asteroids and comets in short-period orbits—together called near-Earth objects (NEOs)—and those long-period comets that make their closest approach to the Sun inside Earth's orbit. Short-period comets complete their orbits in less than 200 years and so likely have been observed before; they generally approach along the plane of the solar system, near which lie the orbits of most of the planets, including Earth. Like short-period comets, most known Earth-approaching asteroids have orbits tilted by less than 20° to the plane of the solar system and periods of less than about three years. Long-period comets have orbital periods greater than 200 years and usually much greater; they can approach from any direction.
The amount of damage caused by the impact of an object with Earth is determined primarily by two factors: the object's mass and its relative velocity. These determine the total kinetic energy released. A typical NEO would strike Earth with a velocity of about 20 km (12 miles) per second and a typical long-period comet with a greater velocity, 50 km (30 miles) per second or higher. For objects with diameters less than a few hundred metres, their physical properties are important in calculating how much destruction would result, but for larger bodies only the total energy of the impact is important. Hence, most damage assessments are based on the kinetic energy of an impact rather than the diameter or mass of the projectile. This energy is expressed in millions of tons (megatons) of TNT, the same units used to quantify the energy released by thermonuclear bombs.
The energy released by an impact falls between about 10 megatons and 1 billion megatons—i.e., between 700 and 70 billion times the energy of the 15-kiloton atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. This very wide range corresponds to NEOs with diameters from about 50 metres (164 feet) to 20 km (12 miles) or to long-period comets with diameters about half as large. (Objects smaller than about 50 metres would break up high in the atmosphere; the damage would be limited to less than a few hundred square kilometres around the impact point.) For an object at the lower end of this size range, an ocean impact could cause more damage than one on land because it would result in large tsunamis that would devastate coastal areas for many kilometres inland. The last destructive impact known, called the Tunguska event, occurred at the low end of this range over land. On June 30, 1908, an object thought to be as much as 50 metres (164 feet) in diameter exploded over central Siberia, leveling about 2,000 square km (500,000 acres) of pine forest.
Frequency of impacts
Because there are far fewer large NEOs and long-period comets in space than smaller ones, the chances of a collision decrease rapidly with increasing size. The impact-hazard community—primarily scientists with an interest in the issue—has defined a global catastrophe to be an impact that leads to the death of one-fourth or more of the world's population. An impact by a 1-km- (0.6-mile-) diameter NEO, the smallest believed capable of causing such a catastrophe, is estimated to occur about once per 100,000 years on average, based on the assumed population in space of such objects. On the other hand, an impact by a 100-metre (328-foot) NEO, the smallest believed capable of causing regional devastation, is estimated to occur about once every 1,000 years on average. (An impact from a body the size of the Chelyabinsk meteorite of 2013 [17 metres (56 feet)] is expected to occur once per century.) The hazard posed by long-period comets is less certain because fairly few such objects are known, but it is thought to be perhaps as high as 25 percent of that for NEOs.
The major difference between the threat posed by the impact of an asteroid or comet and that posed by other natural disasters is the extent of the damage that could be done. In some parts of the world at high risk for floods or earthquakes, the chances of dying in such an event are 100–200 times greater than the risk of dying from a cosmic impact. What distinguishes the impact hazard, however, is that it is the only known natural disaster, with the possible exception of an exceedingly large volcanic eruption, that could result in the death of a significant fraction of Earth's population and, in the most extreme case, the extinction of the human species.
NEO search programs
The outlook for detecting long-period comets that are specifically on a collision course with Earth is poor. Long-period comets, by definition, would likely be discovered on their way into the inner solar system only a few months—or, at best, a few years—before impact. (It is possible that an NEO destined for a collision with Earth also might not be discovered until the "last minute," but the probability of finding it many years before impact is much higher because NEOs make frequent passages near Earth before colliding with it.) Although it might be feasible to detect long-period comets as early as about six months before impact, this knowledge would be useful only if a practical technology were already in place for preventing the collision. And if the comet is not on a collision course, then it is of little immediate concern, because it will not return for at least 200 years and perhaps not for millennia.
In principle, the outlook for identifying the larger NEOs is more promising. Using current technology, it is possible to find virtually all NEOs with diameters greater than 1 km (0.6 mile) and most of those half as large.
A number of loosely coordinated programs to search for NEOs have been instituted. Among them are several sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States and others in China, Japan, and Italy (as a joint Italian-German project). Their objective is to find objects capable of causing global catastrophe were they to hit Earth. In 1998 NASA stated its official program goal to be the "detection of 90 percent of the NEO population larger than 1 km within a decade." As of 2013, more than 800 NEOs at least a kilometre in size were known.
These search programs use charge-coupled-diode (CCD) sensors, similar to those in digital cameras, on reflecting telescopes with primary mirrors in the 1-metre- (40-inch-) diameter range to obtain three or more images of the same region of the sky over a short period of time, generally some tens of minutes. The images are then compared with one another to find objects that have moved rapidly. The distance that the object has moved between images and its brightness provide clues to its distance and size. For example, fast-traveling, bright objects are almost certainly very close to Earth. A definitive orbit, however, is required before an accurate prediction can be made of the object's true distance and future path through space. This generally requires several days to acquire an "arc" of sufficient length to allow computation of an accurate orbit.
For every NEO a kilometre or larger in size, there are thousands more as small as about 100 metres (328 feet). An impact by a 100-metre object has the explosive power of about 100 megatons of TNT, roughly equivalent to the largest man-made nuclear explosions. (If the blast of the Tunguska event had an energy of 15 megatons, as some damage-based estimates have placed it, then the colliding object likely had a diameter of about 30–50 metres [100–164 feet].) Search programs in the 1990s discovered several NEOs in this smaller size range passing close enough to Earth to attract attention in the popular press. In fact, for each one detected, hundreds of unobserved objects passed just as close or closer. Dozens in this range were larger than 100 metres and thus large enough to cause a devastating tsunami or, if one were to hit land, to destroy an area the size of a small country. The chance of an impact by a 100-metre NEO is about 1 in 10 per century. For each actual impact, however, there will be numerous near misses. Many of these NEOs are certain to be detected as a by-product of searches for the larger objects capable of causing global catastrophes.
Determining the hazard potential of an NEO
When an NEO is first discovered, its orbit and size are uncertain. If sufficient observations are made during its discovery apparition, a fairly good orbit can be computed. In practice, however, few orbits are reliably determined during the first apparition, and later observations of the object are required to learn how its position has changed in the interim. Observations to determine its size are rarely made (perhaps several in 100 are so observed), because they require specialized techniques such as radar or thermal infrared radiometry; rather, the size of an NEO is estimated from its brightness. Sizes estimated this way are uncertain by about a factor of 2—that is, an object reported as being 1 km (0.6 mile) in diameter could have a diameter between 0.5 and 2 km (0.3 and 1.2 miles).
In most cases, sufficient observation of an object will establish that the chances of its colliding with Earth are negligible. In some cases, however, there is no opportunity for additional observation. This happens, for example, when the object is small and discovered while passing very close to Earth; it quickly becomes too faint to observe further. Even a larger and more distant object can be lost because of poor weather (a factor taken into account in choosing observing sites for search programs). Without the observations needed to compute a reliable orbit, prediction of the object's future close approaches to Earth is highly uncertain.
When computations indicate that a NEO estimated to be larger than about 200 metres (656 feet) could strike Earth during the next century or two, the object is called a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA). As of 2013 there were more than 1,000 identified PHAs. Observations of PHAs are continued until their orbits are refined to the point where their future positions can be reliably predicted.
While an object remains on the PHA list, its hazard potential is described by the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, an indicator named after the city of Turin (Italian: Torino), Italy, where it was presented at an international NEO conference in 1999. The purpose of the scale is to quantify the level of public concern warranted. The scale's values, which are integers between 0 and 10, are based on both an object's collision probability and its estimated kinetic energy. The value for a given object can change as probability and energy estimates are refined by additional observations.
On the Torino scale, a value of 0 indicates that the likelihood of a collision is zero or well below the chance that a random object of the same size will strike Earth within the next few decades. This designation also applies to any small object that, should it collide, is unlikely to reach Earth's surface intact. A value of 10 indicates that a collision is certain to occur and is capable of causing a global climatic catastrophe; such events occur on timescales of 100,000 years or longer (the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous Period falls here). Intermediate values categorize impacts according to various levels of probability and destructiveness. A Torino scale value is always reported together with the predicted date of the close encounter to convey further the level of urgency that is warranted. Since the implementation of the Torino scale, there has been only one NEO with a final value greater than 0. For asteroid 2007 VK184, there is a 1 in 3,030 chance that it will strike Earth on June 3, 2048; this asteroid ranks as a 1 on the Torino scale. Other objects often have received higher initial values, but these values have proved fictitious once the needed additional observations have been made and more accurate orbits have been calculated.
Defending Earth from a colliding object
Even with the best of search programs, whether anything can be done about an object found to be on a collision course with Earth depends on many factors. The most important are the amount of lead time and the physical properties of the object—its size, shape, spin rate, density, strength, and other characteristics. Scientists believe that kinetic energy interception is adequate for the majority of objects, including those of intermediate size and most likely to cause destructive tsunamis. Such a strategy would involve the use of a nonexplosive projectile sent to strike the object in a particular location at high speed to change its orbit and possibly to fragment it. For the remainder, more aggressive measures, likely involving the use of powerful thermonuclear devices, are thought to be necessary to achieve the same results. Because the physical properties of NEOs are so poorly known, however, it is possible that such measures could do more harm than good—e.g., by breaking a large object into numerous smaller, but still potentially destructive, pieces without deflecting them enough to miss Earth. Validating these options requires additional theory, laboratory experiments, and safe experiments involving actual NEOs in space. In the early years of the 21st century, few, if any, such efforts were being made.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Orbit, in astronomy, path of a body revolving around an attracting centre of mass, as a planet around the Sun or a satellite around a planet. In the 17th century, Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton discovered the basic physical laws governing orbits; in the 20th century, Albert Einstein's general theory…
Earth, third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest planet in the solar system in terms of size and mass. Its single most outstanding feature is that its near-surface environments are the only places in the universe known to harbour life. It is designated by the symbol ♁. Earth's…
Asteroid, any of a host of small bodies, about 1,000 km (600 miles) or less in diameter, that orbit the Sun primarily between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in a nearly flat ring called the asteroid belt. It is because of their small…
Comet, a small body orbiting the Sun with a substantial fraction of its composition made up of volatile ices. When a comet comes close to the Sun, the ices sublimate (go directly from the solid to the gas phase) and form, along with entrained dust particles, a bright outflowing atmosphere…
interplanetary dust particle
Interplanetary dust particle (IDP), a small grain, generally less than a few hundred micrometres in size and composed of silicate minerals and glassy nodules but sometimes including sulfides, metals, other minerals, and carbonaceous material, in orbit around the Sun. The existence of…


text:
CHANHASSEN, MN -- The Life Time Fitness Triathlon will be held Saturday in Minneapolis and will include 11 triathletes who have qualified for next month's Summer Olympics in Beijing. The event marks the start of the 2008 Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup, which offers a $1.45 million purse.
The female and male division winners of the Life Time Fitness Triathlon will each take home $60,000. The remaining top nine female and male finishers each will claim a portion of the remaining cash purse. The top finishers also will earn 15,000 points toward the Race to the Toyota Cup.
In addition to the more than 40 professional triathletes competing, 89 elite amateur triathletes will compete in Saturday's triathlon, which will begin and end at Minneapolis' Lake Nokomis.
The official race starter will be 90-year-old Mary Stroebe of Madison, WI. Stroebe has completed the Life Time Fitness Triathlon five times, including last year at the age of 89.
The rest of the triathlon series consists of the Nautica New York City Triathlon on July 20, the Accenture Chicago Triathlon on Aug. 24, the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon on Sept. 7 and the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon Championship Event on Oct. 5 in Dallas. Competitors will by vying for one of only 20 spots for the championship triathlon.
More information about Saturday's event and the triathlon series can be found at www.ltftriathlon.com.


text:
Thornwood, NY - Raccoon Removal & Raccoon Control
Westchester Raccoon Removal is the leading Wildlife Removal company in Thornwood, NY. We specialize in Humane Raccoon Trapping, Raccoon Removal and Wildlife Exclusion Services. For over 18 years, we've proudly delivered lasting solutions, to an ever growing base of satisfied customers. We are fully licensed and insured and we service both Residential and Commercial properties, in the Westchester County area of New York.
24/7 Emergency Raccoon Removal in Thornwood, NY - Call 914.816.3008
At Westchester Raccoon Removal, our Wildlife Removal experts are extensively trained to humanely trap and remove any size Raccoon Infestation. Whether you have a family of raccoons living in your attic, or a Sick Raccoon* stumbling around your yard, we can help. We provide same day service calls to our customers in Thornwood, NY. Our goal is to provide expedient and reliable solutions, at reasonable service rates. We come from a background in finish carpentry, giving us the unique ability to provide custom repairs and exclusion techniques. After a successful Raccoon Trapping Program, we can secure your home, ensuring you remain Raccoon Free! All of our repair work is backed by an industry leading warranty. We've built our stellar reputation on the satisfaction of our customers!
We believe in the ethical and humane treatment of all animals we encounter. Under no circumstances are poisons or chemicals ever used (or needed) to properly eliminate a Raccoon Infestation.
It's Raccoon Trapping Season! If you hear Noises in the Attic, or see evidence of wildlife living in your Thornwood, NY home, Call Westchester Raccoon Removal Today! 914.816.3008
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
***If a Raccoon is seen stumbling around your property during the day, there's a good chance that it's Sick with Rabies. Retreat to a safe distance and Call Us Immediately! 914.816.3008Even if the raccoon has already passed away, call a professional to care for the Raccoon Removal in the safest way possible.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Raccoon Damage Repair & Attic Decontamination
Noises in the Attic? In Thornwood, NY, and all across the Westchester County area of New York, Raccoons have been causing big problems for homeowners. Raccoons are incredibly strong animals, capable of causing significant damage to the structure of your home, in order to gain access. They often pull away attic and soffit venting, climb down unprotected chimneys and even tear away at roofing, when they're especially motivated. With Raccoon Breeding Season beginning, Raccoons have begun making their way into attics. They look for the warmth and safety that your home can provide them. The problem is that the damage they cause accumulates very quickly and becomes more and more expensive to correct as time goes on.
Raccoons rip and shred insulation for warmth and nesting in your attic. Raccoons also urinate and defecate where they nest, leading to serious contamination hazards, destroyed insulation and fecal and urine staining on ceilings and walls. The odor from a Raccoon infestation is unmistakable. It will saturate and permeate everything, until the contamination is removed and the space cleaned. Our technicians can often diagnose a raccoon infestation by scent alone, while walking around the exterior of a home.
Don't leave a Raccoon Infestation Untreated. Call Us Today! 914.816.3008
Don't let Raccoons take over your Thornwood, New York attic. As the season continues and their family groups grow, so will the damage accumulating in your attic. Raccoons are the number one carriers of rabies in the animal kingdom. We've seen sick raccoons die time and time again inside the attics they were living in. The subsequent decomposition leads to flies, maggots and one of the worst lingering smells imaginable. Raccoons are also known carriers of several disease vectors, including ticks, mites and fleas, and their fecal matter is associated with a deadly parasite called Roundworm.
Decontamination and Restoration is necessary whenever a Raccoon Infestation has occurred inside your home. This process is very hazardous and should always be carried out by a trained professional, with proper safety equipment and containment procedures! This should never be attempted by a homeowner.
Keep the Raccoons out for good! Every onsite inspection comes with a written estimate for all damage repairs and exclusion work necessary. All entry points into your building will be located and properly sealed, providing effective measures for rodents, bats, raccoons, snakes, birds and other unwelcome wildlife.
Thornwood, NY Raccoons in the Attic? Schedule a Consultation Today! 914.816.3008
Raccoon Trapping, Raccoon Removal & Raccoon Control Services
Westchester Raccoon Removal provides a custom Raccoon Trapping Program for each raccoon issue we encounter. Humane trapping techniques are employed to ensure that each exclusion service is carried out in an ethical and environmentally friendly manner. We adhere to all regulations set forth by The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
For Thornwood, NY Raccoon Removal & Raccoon Control - Call 914.816.3008
Customer Testimonials - Raccoon Removal & Exclusions
"Westchester Raccoon Removal is the only 24/7 wildlife company out there. We heard baby raccoons crying in our walls in the middle of the night. Westchester Raccoon Removal actually answered the phone when we called, even though it was about 2am. They dispatched their overnight technician, who rescued 3 baby raccoons by hand and set traps up on our roof. The following afternoon, they returned to retrieve the mother raccoon they'd trapped. They even sent me pictured that night, of the raccoon family reunited at their raccoon rehabilitation facility. They are an excellent company. We'll absolutely use them in the future if needed."
January 5, 2014 – Jodi S. Wolfe, Thornwood, NY
"Westchester Raccoon Removal is an honest and professional wildlife removal company. They're excellent at what they do. They were very kind and humane in their treatment of the raccoons they trapped. Their prices also seemed very reasonable. I would definitely recommend them to anyone."
December 28, 2013 – Dolores Horton, Hawthorne, NY
"We called Westchester Raccoon Removal, when we saw a sickly raccoon walking in circles in our back yard. The poor thing was foaming from the mouth and stumbling over itself. They arrived at our house in about an hour and promptly snared the poor thing. They informed us that the rabid raccoon would be humanely euthanized and have its remains cremated. They were so respectful and kind. We were incredibly impressed."
December 16, 2013 – James Sweitzer, Armonk, NY


text:
Our Website Uses Cookies
We and the third parties that provide content, functionality, or business services on our website may use cookies to collect information about your browsing activities in order to provide you with more relevant content and promotional materials, on and off the website, and help us understand your interests and improve the website.
For more information, please contact us or consult our Privacy Notice.
Your binder contains too many pages, the maximum is 40.
We are unable to add this page to your binder, please try again later.
This page has been added to your binder.
- Home
- News and Insights
- Insights
- Structuring Sales Arrangements for Branded Goods in an Enlarged Europe
Structuring Sales Arrangements for Branded Goods in an Enlarged Europe
May 2003, presentation at Laurence Simons' The General Counsel Dinner & Seminar - Consumer, Retail & Branded Goods
February 26, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, February 26, 2013 — The BTI Consulting Group has named Covington & Burling partners David Martin and Henriette Tielemans to its 2013 "Client Service All-Stars" list. The BTI "Client Service All-Stars" were singled out by general counsel and direct reports at large and Fortune 1000 organizations in one-on-one interviews. Mr. Martin, based in ...
Covington's Tielemans to IAPP Executive Committee
February 5, 2013
BRUSSELS, 5 February, 2013 — The International Association of Privacy Professionals, the world's largest association of privacy professionals, has appointed Covington & Burling's Henriette ("Jetty") Tielemans to its executive committee. "I am thrilled to welcome Jetty to our executive committee," said J. Trevor Hughes, president and CEO of IAPP. "Her expertise ...
January 22, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, January 22, 2013 — For the second straight year, Law360 named Covington & Burling's global privacy and data security practice as one of the top five "Privacy & Consumer Protection Practice Groups of the Year." In a profile highlighting the firm's privacy-related work, Law360 noted the group's recent litigation win for LinkedIn Corp. In that case, ...


text:
Boys' Scuderia Ferrari Drift Cat 7 sneakers
Designed to follow young Scuderia Ferrari fans wherever they go, the Drift Cat 7 sneakers offer a new interpretation of a classic design.
The new Drift Cat 7 sports shoes are distinguished by a technical fabric upper, guaranteeing greater comfort, and the Puma logo on the toe. They offer a reinterpretation of the simple yet timeless design of the classic Drift Cat model for Spring/Summer 2018. Complete with a practical Velcro fastener, these sneakers are made in the iconic Scuderia Ferrari colours and are perfect for the first strolls and games of tomorrow's fans.
- Techno fabric
- Logo
- Rubber sole
- Round toeline
- Velcro closure
- Composition: 100% Cowhide
We offer Standard, Express and Next Day shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at Checkout.
We also provide free pick up for your returns: you have 15 days from delivery to follow our quick and easy return procedure.


text:
The Old Timer of Royal Oak, Mich., was a regular contributor to H&P years before we ever even heard of the internet. But most of his advice is just as ueful — and interesting — today.
So rather than leave his wisdom printed on pages archived in our storage room, I pulled out issues from the late 1980s and early 1990s and have been reproducing relevant entries in this blog. Here is my ninth entry, which was originally published in the June 1988 issue:
Pump arrangement turns into torture test
If you take a 90-gpm, variable-displacement, pressure-compensated vane pump that has a 100-ms recovery rate, short-couple it with heavy-duty pipe to a fast-acting (20 to 50 msec) blocked-center 4-way valve, then run it on a high-cycle application, you can get some unhappy results. When we tried to operate some equipment with such a combination, we suffered poor performance, heavy leakage, cracked and blown line fittings, a sheared coupling, warped bearings, chewed-up vanes and rotors, a distorted pump case, and short pump life.
Obviously, we had a problem, and a little thought identified it. When the control valve centered while the pump was running full tilt, we could have about 0.15 gal [(90 gpm)/(60 sec/min) (0.0 sec)] of high-pressure oil that had to go somewhere, but there was no place in the circuit for it to go.
To take care of this fluid, we found a fancy, nitrogen-charged, bladder-type surge suppressor that could handle an almost-instant inrush of 0.5 gal of oil. This suppressor then slowly bled the fluid back during the next cycle. With the suppressor teed into the line between pump and valve, pump life went from weeks to years on the half-dozen machines with the original problem.
Then the suppressor manufacturer merged into another company and dropped the product from their line. We needed a replacement, and a bladder-type accumulator with a flow control valve looked like a good candidate. Unfortunately, we discovered that we couldn't keep the flow control adjusted properly. We eventually cured this situation by substituting a simple ball-check valve with an orifice drilled through the ball for the flow control. Sometimes it took several tries to get the orifice just right, but once we had it, it never got out of adjustment.


text:
Choral Ensembles
Welcome to the Home of the Grand Valley State University Choral Ensembles!
Grand Valley State University has a proud tradition of excellence and leadership in choral music in Michigan and across the United States. Choral ensembles at GVSU perform the finest in choral literature spanning various musical periods and a range of musical styles.
In the Music Department, we strive to create a positive learning environment that challenges students to continue their musical development. In addition, our choral ensembles provide new and interesting approaches to the choral arts. While developing a broad musical foundation in the creative aspects of choral music, singers participate with other young musicians working toward a common goal. Through this shared musical experience, friendships that last a lifetime are often forged.
Ensembles are open to students from all majors and are selected by audition. Placement in ensembles is made according to level of experience and interest. Typically, singers are expected to make a year-long commitment to ensembles and many participate for several years and in multiple ensembles. Participation in a choral ensemble earns one academic credit each semester.
We invite you to learn more about the choral program, our upcoming activities and each of our ensembles by exploring this website. We enthusiastically invite you to join us! For more information on choral studies, click here to email Professor Ellen Pool or call at (616) 331-2572.
Ellen Pool
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities
Find out more about each ensemble by clicking the buttons below:


text:
From a birthday party to a family dinner, clothes from 612 League & Baby League can be a perfect pick for any occasion which desires your kid to look dashing.Give a stylish look to your little one.
Read More
28 May 2018
5Jul 2017
57th EXCLUSIVE STORE
Parent Reviews
"Awesome collection, bright colours and style are in perfect combination." - Neha Singh
"Literally the best brand for kids. Their collection is stylish yet comfortable and affordable." - Teena Kiaan Samrat
"Won Reliance kid's icon award. I was wearing 612 league clothes. Since then I prefer wearing this brand." - Ryan Chhokar
"612 is literally the best brand for kids. Their collection is stylish yet comfortable. " - Teena Sharma
"Brilliant colors and amazing designs." - Ms. Sunanda Garg
"Best place and awsome dress for kids. it's fabulous" - Minakshi Verma
All major credit & debit cards accepted
100% MoneyBack Guarantee & 7 Days Return Policy
About us – 612 league is the first Indian clothing brand focusing on pre-teen children. It has recently launched Spring Soul - Ethnic wear for the same segment and 612 Fearless - Fashion apparel for Teenage girls. The brand, launched through a pilot design studio facility in year 2009, has within a short period of 8 years, been able to penetrate the entire Indian market, being available at close to 500 stores across 150 cities of India.
The brand offers a complete range of trendy, high quality, affordable and comfortable apparel for boys and girls, in knits and woven, for both summer and winter season. At the core of 612 League is the belief that a 'tween' i.e. a child who is not yet a teenager, is aware of many adult issues and aspires to a teenager lifestyle. It promotes and encourages an active lifestyle by offering products with suitable fabrics, and strictly adhering to quality where every button, zip and other accessory undergoes stringent tests to ensure that the products remain hassle free for a long time.


text:
Day 1
Today was exciting to say the least. I slept terrifically simply because I had been awake 3 hours more than I thought due to being on the west coast. I was in mid conversation with my hotel roommate Kyle Cofield when I fell asleep unannounced at around 10 pm west coast time. I woke up around 6 am. I woke up, showered and ate a good breakfast consisting of a bowl of frosted flakes, brown sugar and maple oatmeal, banana and a small cup of quasi-decent coffee.
The Braves invitees all took an early Best Western van to the field at 7am. We were the first to get to the field and it took some time to find our way into the field and find the clubhouse. After a nice walk around the perimeter of Phoenix Municipal Stadium we weaseled our way into the clubhouse, with a little help from the guy who was trimming the shrubbery. Once we found our way in we walked into the extremely large clubhouse with about 2/3rds of lockers being unoccupied. I found my locker and immediately checked out the gear we had been supplied- 4 pair of big league pants (two gray and two white). We also got a spring training blue top, home white and away gray jersey top. While digging into our lockers, none other than ex Yankee great and childhood idol Don Mattingly walked into the clubhouse and introduced himself to us! Being a fan of the Yankees growing up it was an understatement to say I was happy to meet a man of his stature. We exchanged pleasantries and I tried to act as professional as possible considering I haven't met a person I grew up watching and idolizing in my youth like Donnie Baseball.
We had a team meeting at 9am where we went over team rules and all that jazz. Also Don sort of set the guidelines for how he wants us to play. Just how I imagined, he wants us to have fun and joke around (because that's how baseball should be played), but when it's game time we are expected to get after it and play hard!
1 Comment
Hey Cory….
I am a friend of your Dad…My nameis Donald…
I am proud of you ! ! ! … Hang in there ! ! !
I came to see you play in Burlington,NC….I was trying to meet you but I had to leave early….
Just hang in there ! ! !
I have a relative that's quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars … D.. Garrad …. and he worked hard to get there….but….believe me….it paid off ! ! ! ! … LOL ! ! !


text:
The product of a health club business is the member's experience, just like the product of a restaurant is not only the food but also the overall experience. Say this in a group of club owners and operators, and most will agree.
Ask this same group if they deliver an excellent, average or poor member experience, and I bet at least 80 percent will say "excellent." However, I bet that 80 percent of their members would say "poor to average."
This indicates a gap in the owner's strategy and the ability to deliver on it. If your strategy includes the intent to delight your members, then you need to design your business to deliver it. This requires more than telling staff to be nice and say "hello" and "goodbye." Whether you are a full-service, multi-sport club or a low-cost, fitness-only facility, you have no excuse for poor service.
Great customer service that builds loyalty begins with two rules: create no unpleasant surprises and create lots of pleasant surprises. If you can avoid any of the former and create several of the latter, members will have an excellent experience. Many businesses fail at this because policies are set and the staff is trained, primarily, to protect and benefit the company, not the customers.
The member experience is defined by the member, not by the operator. Club operators create policies and strategies, launch initiatives and train the staff. The effects of those decisions will be positive, neutral or negative for members, but only members can make that determination.
How many policies and procedures are created with an individual member's experience in mind? Members' club experiences are disrupted by policies that make no sense to them, cost them money or even make them angry. Then, the frontline staff is left to mutter the most aggravating words in customer-service history: "That's our policy." Members don't care if that is your policy — they want to know how your policies are designed to bring them value.
It is important to differentiate between the intent of a policy, process or procedure, and the feeling that the policy, process or procedure creates for a member. Intent means nothing. Feeling is everything. Design your systems with the end feelings of the member in mind.
In addition to burdening frontline staff with too many company-centric policies and procedures, the time spent training staff to enforce those policies becomes disproportionate to the time spent teaching values, connectivity, complaint resolution and delivering pleasant surprises.
I would go one step further and argue that an over-regulated service environment with disempowered staff does not attract the best employees. In my experience, service environments that allow the frontline staff the authority and, in fact, the directive to do whatever it takes to make members happy will attract employees that love helping people.
A key word (albeit a grossly misused word) is "empower." I say misused because many who claim to have empowered their frontline employees have done no such thing. They give them the power to say "no" but not the power to say "yes." If you truly empower your service staff to deliver great service, you bestow on them the authority to say "yes" as well as "no."
Years ago, we did an experiment with our front desk staff in an effort to improve our member service. We empowered them to do whatever it took to make members happy. Next, we told them that they had to ask for manager permission to tell a member "no." We cringed and waited for them to give everything away. They didn't.
Four things happened: members were happier, the staff was happier, they did a great job and we discovered their limits of comfort when they asked us for permission to tell a member "no."
If your strategy is differentiation and not commoditization, then this method of staff empowerment could point you in the right direction. Few club operators have the courage and the patience to deliver on a true customer-centric care strategy. Chances are, you will be the only one in your market offering this type of service, and that is true differentiation.
Blair McHaney is CEO of Confluence Fitness Partners Inc., which does business as Gold's Gym of the Wenatchee Valley in Wenatchee, WA. He also is president of the Gold's Gym Franchisee Association.


text:
Bring out the wrestling puns!
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. shares are taking a bonafide beating Friday morning — last down 48% in premarket trade — as shareholders knocked the sports entertainment company\'s new contract with NBCUniversal.
The announcement over future TV rights fees for WWE\'s Raw and Smackdown shows late Thursday didn\'t disclose the terms of the deal, but it comes after months of talks. Analysts at research firm Benchmark estimated the average annual value of the television agreements at about $200 million, which they say is a 50% increase in domestic TV rights fees for NBC Universal. The guided multiple had been two to three times.
(Source: giphy.com)
Why the stock-price smackdown? Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey, who downgraded shares to hold from buy, explains:
\"The Company's valuation could take a heavy beating this morning, as the new domestic TV deal with NBCu likely disappointed investors over limited visibility / believability on the ultimate success of the Network …
\"The initial subscriber number from the Network disappointed investors, and we have received limited visibility to where subscribers are currently tracking or where churn will ultimately settle; an uncomfortable silence that will likely extend until early August. We remain optimistic for the global success of the WWE Network, but consider the OIBDA growth shift to the Network as an unfavorable risk rebalance over the near term.\"
There are a lot of unknowns, so for now, it looks like investors are taking advice from The Undertaker, one of WWE\'s wrestling stars: \"You shouldn\'t be afraid. You should be terrified!\"
What is clear is that the TV rights are important to shareholders. The stock hit a 14-year high earlier this year, which The Wall Street Journal chalked up in part to optimism over the contract negotiations.
The mean average of eight analyst ratings on WWE tracked by FactSet was a buy rating, with a target share price of $32.19. The shares were last quoted at $10.
– Ben Eisen
More from The Tell:
Bill Gross: 2.5% Treasury yield 'seems fair'


text:
Friday, July 19, 2013
Follow Friday - Favorites for July 19, 2013
6 comments:
- Jacqi Stevens said...
After a cross-country move, I salute you for your fortitude, Heather! Surprised to see your Follow Friday post up today! Looks like a lot of great suggestions, as always.
- July 19, 2013 at 4:38 PM
- Heather Kuhn Roelker said...
Thank you, Jacqi! I must admit the trip across the country was fun! And another secret...we don't move in to our house for another three weeks. I have nothing but time on my hands until then!
- July 19, 2013 at 4:43 PM
- Lara's Genealogy Blog said...
Thanks so much Heather! :)
- July 19, 2013 at 5:39 PM
- Heather Kuhn Roelker said...
You are welcome, Lara. Thank you for the great prompt idea!
- July 19, 2013 at 7:05 PM
- Nancy Hurley said...
I've been meaning to tell you that your Follow Friday prompts are exceptional! I end up with several ideas for historical research or just fun stuff from the variety of suggestions you find to pass along. Thanks.
- July 20, 2013 at 6:42 PM
- Heather Kuhn Roelker said...
Thank you so much, Nancy! I really enjoy pulling together the links and it's so nice to hear you enjoy them, too!
- July 20, 2013 at 10:57 PM


text:
Police say they're investigating threatening graffiti scrawled on a bathroom wall at a New York high school as a bomb threat.
A student found the note on a tile wall in a boys bathroom at Nanuet Senior High School in Rockland County Friday afternoon, police said.
The message written in ink states: "When the third period bell rings, this school will blow up and everyone will remember 9-23."
Clarkstown police and school district officials said additional officers are being stationed at the school.
In a statement, superintendent Mark McNeill said "the district takes all threats seriously and considers this a punishable offense."
Police searched the area Friday but didn't find anything suspicious.
Still, some parents are alarmed by the threat and were considering keeping their children home Monday.
"I'm very upset about this, and I'm worried for them," said mother Laurie Delbiondo.
Alison Lachiana said she had not decided whether she wanted to send her daughter to school.
"It depends on how scared she's going to be," she said. "I'm a little nervous, to tell you the truth."
Students said the police presence at the school Friday was reassuring.
"I'm kind of frightened about it, but they said a whole bunch of teachers and police officers scanned the bathroom, and on Monday, they said there's going to be a whole bunch of police officers in the alleys and bathrooms," said Joe Diaferia.


text:
Inside every person's heart is love, goodness and kindness.
We are created in the image of God and God is unconditional love.
This is our true blessing and divine heritage.
It is time to acknowledge this.
This is what matters most, unconditional love.
Seeing good in each others, helping each other, giving to each other.
This is what our world truly needs now.
This is what we all need, kindness.
It is time for us to discover and understand why we are alive.
It is time for us to live following proper principles.
And the most important principle is to love God with all our heart.
This means to love each other, as we all are created by God and his glorious energy and love.
"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough.
We have a higher mission – to be of service to them whenever they require it."
St. Francis of Assisi
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
🙂 Lee
The Mega Coach


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Moyes denies Coentrao deal is done
Manchester United boss David Moyes has denied claims the club are on the brink of signing Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao.
Reports from the continent have suggested that terms have been agreed to transfer the 25-year-old Portugal international to Old Trafford.
But speaking after Tuesday night's 2-1 Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg defeat at Sunderland, Moyes said: "No, that's not true."
Opposite number Gus Poyet was even more reticent when asked about Brighton midfielder Liam Bridcutt's decision to hand in a transfer request.
The 24-year-old Scot is understood to have submitted his request with the Black Cats having been engaged in talks over he and winger Will Buckley for several days, but without making a breakthrough to date.
But asked about the situation, Poyet replied: "That's nothing to do with me."


text:
Share the Holidays with events and celebrations in every corner of Utah…
In Utah's Southwest, be sure to catch "Christmas In the Canyon" presented by the Tuachan Center for The Arts, in Ivins , UT, north west of St. George. The Festival of Lights is not to be missed – thousands of light glowing in the red rock canyon – spectacular. Also presented is a live a Nativity. Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through December 23.
Check out Tuachan.org for details
Of course, St. George city has lots of Holiday events, too. Check out the Events Calendar
In Salt Lake City, share in the 2013 Festival of Lights. Included are the spectacle at Temple Square, a Winter Wonderland at The new City Creek Center, The Gateway's Celebration, plus This is The Place Heritage Park, Red Butte Gardens, Utah's Hogel Zoo, The Gallivan Center, And MORE… For details go to www.VistiSaltLake.com
East of Salt Lake in Park City, on December 14, catch Santa riding the chairlift down into the Town LIft Plaza in Old Town. Weekends through Christmas, Park City's Historic Main Street will host carolers, strolling "Mr. and Mrs. Santas", musical entertainment and FREE PARKING!
East of Park City, In the pastoral Heber Valley, the Historic Heber Valley Railroad presents the North Pole Express. Hot drinks, treats, carols, and SANTA! All aboard for this 90 minute ride that will delight the whole family.
In Utah's North, Logan city 14th annual Parade of Gingerbread Houses is a real treat! From December 7-31, visit the businesses along Logan's Downtown and see these yummy creations.
And when visiting ANY of these events, a stay at a Bed and Breakfast Inns of Utah Member Inn adds to the experience. The Innkeepers are knowledgeable and will often share their own special Holiday tradition – AND treats – with you.


text:
You remember that whole debate over Amy Chua's "Tiger Mom" book, when folks in the West were wondering whether their kids were losing their competitive edge to academic grinds from Asia? One aspect of the so-called Asian approach, we were told, is to de-emphasize physical education. Whether that has any basis in fact is debatable, but it is a great segue to this bit of sad news:
The cancellation of long-distance races at university games has highlighted the issue of declining physical fitness among college students. Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, canceled the women's 3,000-meter race and men's 5,000-meter race in its university games held over the weekend. Organizers from the university's physical education department said the races were scrapped because most students lack the stamina to finish the demanding course, and ill-prepared runners may injure themselves. (China Daily)
That's a huge bummer, not to mention a surprise. I have to admit that when I first glanced at the news feed headline "'Deadly' Long Runs Dropped At College Track Competitions," I just assumed that the reason was air pollution. I didn't expect an article on distance running that described how a lack of fitness was causing injuries and, since 2002, over 40 deaths of minors. (Of course, given the population of China, incidence of heart defects, etc., that low number is probably meaningless.)
But anyway, WTF? How does this sort of thing happen? I understand that some parents, Tiger Moms or otherwise, don't always push their kids to stay in shape. I was raised by Jewish parents — I am only too aware of this problem. But what about the schools?
I'm no expert in Chinese high schools, but don't they have teachers whose job it is to coach students who participate in athletics? Does the basketball coach simply show the kids where the court is and throw 'em a basketball? Does the badminton instructor lob a few shuttlecocks at the net and tell the kids to get to work?
I'd expect that any kid who was participating in a long-distance event would have been training for a long time and had been supervised by the coach for months, if not longer. And if weather conditions were adverse to competition on a given day, wouldn't the coach say something like "Hey, Xiao Wang, get the hell off the track, it's snowing. Maybe we'll give it another shot next week."
So let me get this straight. The kids are in bad shape and are getting injured, so instead of helping them to get healthy with, you know, exercise and shit, the schools simply cancel the programs. Perhaps this is my cynical nature talking here, but it almost sounds like the schools are more interested in covering their asses in terms of liability and bad publicity than they are in helping these students. Nah, couldn't be.
Someone please explain this to me. My head hurts.


text:
The Road [Movie Trailer]
The official trailer for The Road, which is an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's book. It stars Viggo Moretensen and Charlize Theron.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
stevencseidel needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 56 designs submitted by 22 freelance designers.
High energy, enthusiastic personal trainer/happy living expert is wanting a logo that can be used in multiple ways... website design, cards, packaging etc... The logo is just a start, there are plans to launch more things down the road, i just want to start establishing an identity.
steven seidel
I want to brand mySELF basically. i want something that can be used in a very versatile way... like Martha Stewart or Oprah... I am a personal trainer as well as what I like to call a Happy Living Expert. I like to help people transform their lives not just physically, but spiritually and mentally as well... encouraging people to not just exist, but to find a whole new way to LIVE!
- Item 1...I'm pretty open to color schemes, although i actually am kind of partial to that green and brown that i see around but that may be played out...what do i know? ummm, other than that I like simple designs, minimalistic and modern. clean uncluttered lines without being cold and uninviting... is that too much of a paradox? I am open to having help with a 'tagline' that could sort of encompass my philosphy of transforming lives.
- Item 1...clutter!cutesy things... i don't do cutesy.crosses or jesus fish... not after that market.kittens or puppies...LOVE EM...just not on my logo. (just seeing if you're still reading)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Exciting Hope College home sports action was again a crowd pleaser in 2010-11.
The NCAA has announced that in Hope led all Division III women's basketball programs in average home attendance during the 2010-11 season.
Hope also topped Division III during 2010-11 in attendance at its home volleyball (802 average) and men's basketball (2,8218 average) contests. No Division III member has ever accomplished this fete. Hope was also second nationally in men's soccer home attendance (983 average).
It marks the third straight year that Hope has been the leader in women's basketball attendance. This past season the team averaged 1,546 fans over 17 home dates. The average home game attendance among all 426 Division III basketball programs in 10-11 was 231 fans.
It is the fourth time since moving to DeVos Fieldhouse that Hope has been the DIII leader in women's basketball attendance. In 2005-06, the first year at DeVos, the team averaged 1,329 fans per game. In 2008-09 the team averaged 1,269 and in 2009-10 it was 1,138.
The Flying Dutch, who posted an overall 27-3 record, were 16-1 on their home court. The February 5th game against rival Calvin attracted the largest crowd, 3,433..
Hope five-season record at DeVos Fieldhouse in 96-2. A 77-game home floor winning streak came to an end on March 5th in an NCAA tournament game against Washington, Mo., 56-52. In 15 seasons under coach Morehouse, the Flying Dutch are 209-21 (.909) on their home floor.
The conference Hopes belongs to, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), finished second among NCAA Division III conferences in attendance. A total of 50,493 fans, or an average of 463 per contest, attended games hosted by MIAA schools during the season, ranking behind only the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which led Division III in attendance at 507 fans per contest.
The 2011-12 season will begin on November 15 against Rochester. It will be the first of 12 regular season home games. A season highlight will be hosting the NCAA Division III Final Four on March 16-17.


text:
Virtual Assistant (long-term, 10-20 hours / week)
Presupuesto $2-8 USD / hora
Hi there!
My name is Cédric Waldburger and I'm a technology entrepreneur based in Zurich/Berlin/Miami. I have various active roles in growing technology companies. I'm also an investor in several companies at an early stage.
I'm looking for a virtual assistant who can help me during the week for an average of a few hours per day. I'm looking to build a long-term relationship and the amount of work will likely increase over time.
- Great conversational and written English skills; Basic German knowledge is a plus but not needed
- In-depth knowledge of Google products (Gmail, Drive, Hangout, etc.)
- Reachable via email, Whatsapp and phone, quick turnaround time
- Good planning and organizational skills
- Basic understanding of the IT landscape and venture capital
You'll be doing a variety of tasks, including:
- Schedule meetings and calls on my behalf; manage my calendars
- Participate in and transcribe calls
- Write and respond to emails on my behalf; Summarize and prioritize the emails I need to answer
- Research / data gathering on companies and/or industries
- Categorise and sanitise expenses in Expensify; send expense reports
- Create and send out invoices
- Write blog posts and social media posts on my behalf, based on my notes
- Book and arrange travel
- Test websites / apps and create reviews for me
- Eventually pay and manage bills and accounts on my behalf
- A variety of smaller tasks (must be comfortable to try and learn new things)
If you are a good fit, there is room to grow in the position.
I'm looking for someone detail-oriented, reliable and positive. Big bonus if you consider yourself an optimist. I'm looking for someone with the right attitude, who hold themselves to a high standard with deadlines. You don't have to have perfect skills, there is an opportunity to learn along the way – your attitude and desire to learn is going to be what turns this job into a long-term fit.
I'm looking for someone who's available to start within the next 1-2 weeks.
I'd like to work together for a trial period of about 5 hours (paid of course) to see if it's a good fit before committing to anything long term.
Interested in this job? Please start your bid with: "Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for!"
Big thanks!
38 freelancers están ofertando el promedio de $6/hora para este trabajo
Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for! Hi, After reviewing the project description I know that I'm an excellent fit for this [login to view URL]'s discuss and start right now. Awaiting for your positive re Más
"Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for!" Hope you are doing well. I have reviewed the requirements and interested in offering my virtual assistance. Being one of the Top rated service provider on Más
Hello I'm creative with superb writing skills and a passion for the job. I don't just get over projects but I always effort to deliver the best as per clients' requirements and leave them satisfied. Kindly give me more Más
"Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for!" "Rate and duration will be fixed on discussion" Dear Hiring Manager, Cédric I have gone through your job posting and become very much interested to Más
Dear Cedric, This is Tanbir Ahmed an expert virtual assistant from Bangladesh. As a virtual Assistant I've already finish some big project here in freelancer.com with excellent feedback. See my profile below. htt Más
"Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for!" Hi: Can you tell me more details about it please?....... Have a nice day!...............................................................................
Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for! I am a well-educated, bright, and experienced assistant with 5+ years of expertise and flawless English (I am a native speaker). I have experience working as Más
"Hey Cédric! I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for!" I am an experienced Administrative Specialist with more than five years working in this field. Given the opportunity to work for you I will bring in creati Más
"Hey Cedric, I'm the Virtual Assistant you're looking for!" I am definitely optimistic and positive, I am fifty-six years old, married for thirty-three years, three of my kids are gone, one is married and finished scho Más
Hey Cédric! I can be the Virtual Assistant that you're looking for, if you want! I have been working as an engineering project manager for several years and beginning from the last year i have been a technology entr Más


text: List's in the header, but I'm not sure John Gilmore is subscribed; sorry for eventual doublettes. (This is the last one, for real now). ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:25:41 -0800 From: John Gilmore <gnu at toad.com> To: Jim Lux <James.P.Lux at jpl.nasa.gov> Cc: Eugen Leitl <eugen at leitl.org>, beowulf at beowulf.org, discuss-gnuradio at gnu.org Subject: Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] Re: synchronizing sound cards in a cluster > Better than that, one doesn't need absolute sync for this application, so a > common signal distributed to all nodes might work. A lot of the NTP > "clients" can take a "tick" on one of the serial port lines (like CD or > DTR), but I was wondering if anyone had actually done this on a cluster. One way to deal with this is to sample the real signal on one channel of a sound card, and sample a locally generated time reference on the other channel. Use a distribution amplifier to feed the same time reference audio signal to each sound card in the cluster. For the accuracies you're worried about (1 us) you don't even have to cut the wires to the same lengths. Then process both the time reference samples AND the real data samples, to determine how to sync up the real data that you care about. This will take twice as many sound cards than a scheme that would actually synchronize the sample clocks on the sound cards, but then again, this is easy to build out of cheap parts, and that is not. The time reference signal can be the WWV audio signal: http://tf.nist.gov/stations/iform.html To hear this signal, dial +1 303 499-7111 (or 2.5, 5, 10, 15, or 20 MHz). GNU Radio code for interpreting it should be a simple and useful contribution. Or it can be something even simpler that you generate locally, like a 1kHz tone lasting 0.1 second, which recurs every second. The basic idea is that the same "tick" signal shows up on one channel, e.g. the left channel, of EVERY sound card, synchronized to within tens of nanoseconds. Here's another way to think about this. If you merely recorded all the left-channels, you'd get a multitude of recordings of the same simple "tick" signal. Each of them will be recorded with a different sound card, with crystals that have slightly different frequencies and are drifting, with different interrupt latencies, etc. Then process all these left-channel samples in such a way that you learn exactly how much drift and precision each of the sound cards has (relative to each other, and relative to long term stable realtime as obtained from NTP or a GPS clock). Knowing how your predictable signal was mutilated by your various sound cards will tell you how your unpredictable signal was also mangled. Then you can apply the right corrective transformation to the real signal data that you've obtained on the corresponding right-channels. (If you want to be absolutely sure that the left- and the right-channels are sampled at the same times and with the same clock distortions, then try feeding the same "tick" signal to BOTH sides of all the sound cards. After doing the above processing, the corrected right-channel data should consist of nothing but utterly solidly synchronous ticking. Replace any sound cards or CPUs that can't reliably do this, THEN run your real data through those right-channels.) John Gilmore PS: Can you tell us what your application is? E.g. what real-world problem you're trying to solve? PPS: If you're only pulling in 35 or 40 Mbits/sec total, why not just frequency-multiplex the signals in analog, and sample the entire thing on a single wideband ADC card, rather than on 16 or 32 sound cards? Then you're guaranteed to be using the same clock for all the signals.


text:
U.S. Military Considers Its Options In Syria
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Pentagon has consistently updated its options for using the U.S. military in Syria, as conditions on the ground have changed. But these are only options at this point, and senior military officials say President Barack Obama has not yet asked to see a potential plan of action.
NATO commander Adm. James Stavridis said Tuesday, "The Syrian situation continues to become worse and worse and worse."
Stavridis said several NATO countries are working on contingency plans for military action in Syria, including imposing a no-fly zone, providing lethal military assistance to rebel groups and imposing an arms embargo on the Syrian government. Stavridis said these are being discussed on an individual level among these nations, and have not been brought up to NATO as a whole.
A senior U.S. official says American military commanders continue to advocate strongly for a diplomatic solution rather than a military strike. The top U.S. military officer said this week that Syria posed the most complex set of issues he could conceive. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said, "About six months ago we had a very opaque understanding of the opposition. And now I would say it's even more opaque."
Dempsey has said he favored arming the rebels last year, when the Pentagon had discussions on the subject with the White House. But Obama decided to limit U.S. assistance to nonlethal aid, and Dempsey now seems more adverse to arming groups that may be influenced by extremist elements: "I don't think at this point I can see a military option that would create an understandable outcome. And until I do, it would be my advice to proceed cautiously."
Stavridis said there has been consideration of targeting Syria's air defenses. NATO has installed Patriot missile batteries in Turkey, near its border with Syria. Stavridis said those Patriots could be aimed to potentially shoot down Syria's aircraft. But Turkey only allowed the missile batteries to be placed there for defensive purposes, and NATO nations would have to agree to use them for offensive strikes against Syria. Stavridis indicated that is not something under immediate consideration. U.S. military and Intelligence officials have been consulting with Israel, Jordan and Turkey about potential options should Bashar al-Assad launch a chemical attack on the Syrian people.
U.S. officials say the military has enough firepower in the region to take action against Syria, if needed. That includes fighter jets and bombers, spread out across land bases in the Middle East and nearby aircraft carriers at sea. The Navy also has warships equipped with precision-guided Tomahawk missiles, which could be used to strike chemical weapons supplies. But the officials say there is a danger that any strike would release the chemical agents into the air around civilian populations in Syria. Other options include bombing runways to prevent Syrian aircraft from taking off, or disrupting communication between the regime leaders giving the orders and the commanders on the ground who would have to carry them out.
Obama has not asked the Pentagon to present specific military options, and there are no plans to put "boots on the ground" in Syria. But last year the Defense Department came up with a military analysis for the president, should he request it. It calculated that it could take up to 75,000 troops to secure Syria's chemical weapons facilities, if they were in danger of being looted. An actual deployment would likely involve far fewer ground troops, and from various nations, but it underscores the scope of the challenge. Any introduction of ground forces would have to be preceded by airstrikes to destroy Syria's air defenses, an operation which could take weeks or longer. The military assesses that Syria has about 50 production sites around the country, as well as some storage areas and research centers.


text:
From posh to just unique, deer stands vary greatly
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. - Minnesota is smack dab in the middle of the 2009 deer hunting season. For many hunters, that means perching precariously on a small, cold seat high in the trees waiting for a big buck to stroll by.
But that won't be Dave Boman of Twin Valley this year: He will be deer hunting, but he won't be cold. More than likely, he'll sit on a couch or La-Z-Boy while drinking a cup of coffee on his deer stand.
Boman, a welder and farmer by trade, built the ultimate deer stand this summer near Flom, Minn. It can only be described as a small house for deer hunting.
Boman said he built the stand mostly for his uncles, Ray and Clarence Buschette of Detroit Lakes, who didn't want to hunt anymore.
"I figured if he had a nice place where he's comfortable and if he wants to take a nap he can; there's a bathroom; everything's here," he said. "This will be perfect for them."
The stand overlooks a large feed plot, where most of the trees were cleared this summer. The plot is planted with clover, turnips and soybeans. Boman even dug a watering hole in the middle of the field to attract the deer.
The 21-foot-by-15-foot stand, when finished, will feature a refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee pot, floor heat, flush toilet, sleeping loft, mossy oak exterior metal siding and knotty pine interior siding.
Boman said he will probably still get out in the woods to hunt this year, but was thinking of his hunting future -- when he gets too old to walk or deal with the cold -- when building the stand.
"When I'm 70 or 80 years old, this is where I want to be," he said. "I'm too young to be sitting in here, yet."
But Boman is not alone when it comes to owning a unique deer stand. Going from the lap of luxury to a fertilizer tank, hunters will come up with just about anything to keep out the November cold when deer hunting.
Rick Swenson of Fergus Falls built his deer stand out of an old nitrogen fertilizer tank on his hunting grounds near the Canadian border.
Swenson, originally from Detroit Lakes, cut a door and several windows into the tank, put hinged Plexiglas over the window holes, and lifted it onto a platform. Inside, he is planning on putting carpet down and bringing up a pivoting recliner to sit in so he can listen to the Vikings game in warmth.
"If I could sleep in it, I would," he said.
Swenson said he doesn't handle the cold very well and, working with farmers, found the tank to be the perfect solution to his problem. He acquired two cracked tanks, which when new sell for about $2,000, from a potato farmer he worked with.
"It's free for a cracked one," he said.
The stand is about 8-and-a-half feet off the ground and is supported by old telephone poles. Swenson said he plans to side the bottom of the stand for a place to put his four-wheeler.
And then there's Travis Wilke's deer stand: The rural Detroit Lakes resident put a 1995 Dodge Caravan on a platform last fall to hunt deer from.
"I hate sitting out in the cold," he said.
Yes, hunting from a vehicle is still illegal in Minnesota, so luckily, Wilke's car stand isn't road worthy anymore.
Last fall he bought the van from a junkyard for $50, took the engine, transmission, axels -- just about everything that is heavy -- out of it, put it on the platform and promptly shot a 10-point buck from it.
When a battery is hooked up, the electronics -- heater, power windows, radio, windshield wipers -- all still work.
Elevating the car was a dicey matter. Wilke lifted the car up to the platform, about nine feet off the ground, with a Bobcat skid steer, which was a bit front-heavy on a windy day, he said. He was nervous the whole time until he got the vehicle bolted down.
Wilke has the intention of putting up another van, "or maybe a Bronco" for a hunting partner on another portion of his 127 acres.
His car stand affords Wilke the opportunity to bring his wife and son out with him while he hunts.
"We sit in there and talk, eat and listen to the game and whatever else and it doesn't even bother the deer," he said. "The hardest part is not falling asleep."
Brian Basham is a reporter for the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.


text:
Home » Religion » Baha'i » Here
|Engaged projects in religion and ecology refers to the activities of community organizations and religious institutions that are inspiring and grounding environmental concerns in practical programs, outreach, and education. These projects generally incorporate religious traditions as part of their environmental philosophy drawing on particular scriptures, symbols, and rituals. Engaged projects range from Learning Centers and Retreat Centers to Organic Farms and Alternative Energy Communities.
|Engaged Projects in Africa
|South African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI)


text:
NCVMA: The topic of overweight pets
This week's offering to the Cape Fear Critters blog from the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association covers the issue weight gain in pets. Overweight Pets By the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association "" "" No doubt you are aware that weight problems are rampant in the United States. But did you know this trend is extending to our pets as well? A 2012 study shows that 56 percent of household cats and dogs are overweight or obese. Though tubby pets… Read More »


text:
Trond, 54 y.o.
Norway, Porsgrunn
Jan Inge, 60 y.o.
Norway, Oslo
Jan, 61 y.o.
Norway, Oslo
Odd, 42 y.o.
Norway, Fredrikstad
Jan, 39 y.o.
Norway, Harstad
Sorentinas, 34 y.o.
Norway, Bergen
Leif Magne, 43 y.o.
Norway, Trondheim
Jan Roger, 51 y.o.
Norway, Oslo
Christer, 38 y.o.
Olga, 36 y.o.
Russia, Novosibirsk
Terje, 54 y.o.
Norway, Sandefjord
Jeg har funnet en dame, og vi har opprettet kontakt og treffes med jevne mellomrom.
Please leave your feedback here (if you do not remember your login, then insert "-" in the login field and put your email address at the end of your feedback). It would be great to receive photos of your marriage or just some photos where you are with your partner.
If you have already given us your feedback and just want to add photos or provide some information then feel free to write it here. We reply to all feedback we receive and will respond to you promptly.


text:
'Torture Centers' Stretch Across Syria, Human Rights Watch Reports
Syrian intelligence agencies have established at least 27 detention facilities — an "archipelago of torture centers scattered across the country" — according to a report released today by Human Rights Watch.
The international watchdog group says it has documented "systematic patterns of ill-treatment and torture that ... clearly point to a state policy of torture and ill-treatment and therefore constitute a crime against humanity."
It bases that allegation on information obtained during more than 200 interviews with "former detainees and defectors [who] have identified the locations, agencies responsible, torture methods used, and, in many cases, the commanders in charge."
"By publishing their locations, describing the torture methods, and identifying those in charge we are putting those responsible on notice that they will have to answer for these horrific crimes," Ole Solvang, emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch, says in a statement released with the group's report.
According to Human Rights Watch, former detainees say:
"Interrogators, guards, and officers used a broad range of torture methods, including prolonged beatings, often with objects such as batons and cables, holding the detainees in painful stress positions for prolonged periods of time, the use of electricity, burning with acid, sexual assault and humiliation, the pulling of fingernails, and mock execution."
United Nations officials, watchdog groups and activists inside Syria have estimated that more than 10,000 people — most of them civilians — have been killed in Syria since protests against President Bashar Assad's regime began there in March 2011. For its part, the Assad regime has blamed most of the deaths on "terrorists" and has denied it is torturing Syrian citizens.
In other news related to the unrest in Syria:
-- Assad has "said he regrets the shooting down of a Turkish jet by his forces, and that he will not allow tensions between the two neighbors to deteriorate into an 'armed conflict,' " The Associated Press reports, citing a Turkish newspaper.
-- But for the third consecutive day, Turkey has "scrambled F-16 fighter jets ... after Syrian transport helicopters were spotted flying near to the Turkey-Syrian border," Reuters says.


text:
After seemingly long weeks and short days full of shoveling, snow-blowing, icy cold and blustery winds, many of us are ready to complain and dream of summer. But there is hope for happiness during the dark winter season.
On this segment of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe talks with two Danish visitors working at the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa. They share the Danish secret to winter happiness - it's called "hygge." There is no direct translation, but it is often described as a feeling of coziness... a homey feeling, often with candle light, family, and friends.


text:
This article was also posted on the kinderchat blog.
More and more primary teachers now have access to technology in their classroom. Whether it is an iPad or an iPod touch, a desktop or a laptop, a growing number of teachers are either being given access to this technology by their school boards or bringing their own devices to class to help students to learn. Because of the multitude of choices and opportunities that technology enables, this is a positive development.
I have been concerned, though, by some of the ways that I see technology being used. Technology should not just allow us to do things in a more engaging way; it should allow us to do new things that we thought were not possible. It is those new things that are the real value technology provides. It is not enough to USE technology. You must use it well.
Having access to books does not mean that the students in my classroom will learn to read. I need to make careful pedagogical choices and use those books in a way that will gently and purposefully help those children to become independent readers. Very few children can make this leap themselves. Most need a thoughtful teacher to guide them.
In the same way, having technology in my classroom does not mean that my students will discover how to use it as a learning tool. I have to carefully select and structure what it is used for so that it becomes truly educational. As with reading books, should not our goal be to develop independent learners? Here are my personal abuse and use lists for the handling of devices in the classroom.
Technology Abuses
Technology should not be used as simply a digital worksheet. There are many apps and Internet sites available that are simply a technological version of a paper task, forcing students to practice over and over a skill that they may already have mastered. Don't get me wrong. Skills do need to be practiced. I just happen to think that students should spend most of their time using technology for more creative purposes.
Technology should not be used as a way to keep students occupied. A small number of computers or devices in a classroom can be an inviting center, whether it is an assigned or a self-chosen one. If you use technology in this way, choose wisely when you decide what the students will do with the technology. There are many, many creative options available. It should not be just to keep students busy while you work with small groups of children. (They're working on mouse skills? Really?)
Technology should not be used to do what can be done without it. Drawing a picture on an app or a computer program and labeling it is a worthwhile activity, but why bother if that activity is an end in itself? It may as well have been done on paper. Technology should allow you to do something new with that picture, such as sharing/publishing it in some way.
The good news is that there are other, better options for using technology. My heart does a happy dance when I see these.
Technology Uses
Technology should be for accessing what was inaccessible. In the past, my teaching materials were limited to what was in my classroom and in the school's library. Now there are a plethora of materials available online to fill any teaching need I have, limited only by my online search skills. From classroom-ready videos such as those of Mercer Mayer and Dr. Jean to sharing and learning with other teachers on Pinterest or Twitter to accessing the creative commons photos of thousands of photographers—well, let's just say there is no longer an excuse for not having appropriate resources.
Technology should be for doing good things in better ways. For example, hearing books being read aloud is an important part of primary literacy. Long ago, listening to books on a cassette tape became listening to books on a CD. Now, there are online books and apps that do a much better job of this, highlighting the words as they are read aloud.
Technology should be for sharing with the world. The environment that our students are growing up in is wired for sharing. The hardware and the software that is available make it easier every day for children to share what they are learning with the world. Even young children can share their learning using drawings, images, blogs, video and digital portfolios. By sharing their artifacts digitally, students invite the involvement and support of their parents, grandparents and anyone who sees their work.
Technology should be for connecting. Before the advent of the Internet, classrooms were forced to be isolated learning hives. Now, those hives can all be interconnected as classrooms can easily link with other classrooms and experts to ask questions, compare experiences and learn together. Tools such as Skype, Twitter and blogs make connecting and collaborating with classrooms from anywhere a possibility.
Technology should give choices. We are blessed to have a lot of technology in my classroom and my favourite part of that is the choice it gives my students in both their learning style and in sharing what they have learned. When allowed to choose, some students prefer to read on iPads or computers. Others choose paper books. I think choice is important as we accommodate the variety of needs our learners have.
Technology should not just allow us to do traditional in a different way; it should allow us to do things that we thought were not possible.


text:
The books behind The Supersizers
One of my favourite, televised guilty pleasures is the BBC's The Supersizers Go…, which was rebroadcast on The Food Network in Canada.
The show combines my love of cooking, history, and humour into several episodes of gastronomical adventure and hilarity.
In the spirit of Morgan Spurlock's 'Supersize Me', the two hosts immerse themselves in the spirit of a particular era for one week, and then analyze the effect on their health.
Hosts Giles Coren and Sue Perkins dress and try to act the part as they eat their way through different eras from Elizabethan to 1970s England.
Many fascinating and rare reference books and manuals are used for the research behind these episodes.
One of my favourite episodes features the diet and lifestyle of 'homefront' England during World War II with food prepared by Chef Allegra McEvedy.
The stark differences between the average person's rations and Winston Churchill's feasts are highlighted. Staples such as National Loaf, Special Margarine, Woolton Pie, Skilly, and Ersatz Coffee are also discussed.
Pamphlets and books on the importance of eating well and exercise to maintain health were made readily available to the general public. One of the main references was Eating For Victory.
Another entertaining episode featured 1970s England. Alcohol appears to be a key factor in almost every era featured, none more so than in the 1970s. In his Action Cook Book, novelist Len Deighton gives instruction for liquor dispensation and consumption at a standard cocktail party. The host was meant to ensure that enough hard liquor was available so that each person might have half a bottle for the first two hours and three quarters of a bottle for each subsequent two-hour period.
Of course, a trip back to the 1970s would not have been complete without many references to TV chef Fanny Cradock and her culinary influence during that time.
Each time I watch an episode, I can't help but find myself drawn in to the romance of each period, the charm of the hosts, and the interesting differences and surprising similarities between these culinary eras and modern times.