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Capacitance touch slider
A device for detecting the position of a human finger or other object on a touch-sensitive scrolling pad. Dual independent oscillators may be used to generate two pulse trains at frequencies dependent upon the capacitance of two conductors resulting from the position of the finger on the conductors. The pulses from each oscillator may be counted over a time interval. A ratio-metric measurement may be taken by calculating the ratio of the two counts, and a sum may also be calculated. The ratio of the two counts relates to finger position on the device, and their sum relates to finger pressure upon the device.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/820,747, entitled "Capacitance Touch Slider," filed Mar. 30, 2001.
The present invention is directed generally to touch-sensitive pads and associated devices, and more particularly to capacitance touch sliders and methods for detection of the position of a pointing member thereon.
Personal computers and other similar devices have a multitude of possibilities for providing user input. For instance, most computers today are used in conjunction with a mouse or similar pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display. The mouse is also often used for scrolling in, e.g., word processing applications or other similar applications.
However, the mouse is not always an optimal device for controlling scrolling. Although some mice have scroll wheels, these wheels are also not ideal for some users, as they require substantial manual dexterity to be able to control the mouse, mouse wheel, and mouse buttons simultaneously. Another reason a mouse is not necessarily optimal for scrolling is that it requires a user who is typing on a keyboard to remove one of his or her hands from the keyboard to the mouse, and then back to the keyboard to continue typing.
There is therefore a need for an alternative device for controlling scrolling. To address the above problems, others have attempted to provide scrolling via the use of a two-dimensional touch pad such as that found on a typical laptop computer. For instance, the user can scroll by dragging a finger along an edge of the touch pad. However, the two-dimensional touch pad is not always convenient because of the tendency to not be able to place the finger accurately on the edge of the touch pad. Further, inaccurate touching of the touch pad will move the cursor instead of scrolling, causing frustration to the user.
There is also a need for a better way to sense the position of a finger on a touch sensitive position sensor that corrects for common-mode errors such as variations in finger pressure, fingertip size, moistness of the finger caused by hand lotion, and other factors.
An aspect of the present invention is directed to a device for detecting the position of a pointing member such as a human finger or other object on a touch-sensitive scrolling pad. The device may include a frequency ratio determinator, such as in the form of an electronic circuit, coupled to an arrangement of capacitive nodes such as conductive plates and/or conductive traces of a printed circuit board. The frequency ratio determinator may include dual independent oscillators used to generate pulses at frequencies dependent upon the capacitance of the conductors resulting from the position of the finger on the conductors. The frequency ratio determinator may count the pulses from each oscillator over a time interval and/or determine the finger position from the ratio of the number of pulses counted from each oscillator. Measuring the ratio (i.e., a "ratio-metric" design) of the pulse counts results in the rejection of common-mode errors and drift that may be caused by, e.g., ambient temperature fluctuations, damage to the surface of the scrolling pad (caused, for example, by hand lotion or spilled beverages), finger size, and manufacturing tolerances.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the device may determine the relative pressure applied by the finger or other object according to the sum or average of the pulse counts from the two oscillators.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the conductors, which sense the finger or other object, may be of various shapes, preferably wedge-shaped such as triangular, and disposed in the touch pad of the device such that the finger covers both traces simultaneously when used properly. Moreover, more than two conductors may be used, such as by using multiple interdigitated conductors, to eliminate errors caused by the finger moving in a direction transverse to the intended axis of motion along the scrolling pad. By interdigitating the traces, potential errors caused when a finger is rolled in a direction transverse from movable axis can be minimized.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the measuring portion may include a counting mechanism for counting the number of pulses generated by the oscillators. The counting mechanism may include a high frequency counter so that the pulses may be read quickly. This is helpful in reducing the effects of the environmental 60 Hz hum generated by the alternating current power source.
These and other features of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. Although the invention has been defined using the appended claims, these claims are exemplary in that the invention is intended to include the elements and steps described herein in any combination or subcombination. Accordingly, there are any number of alternative combinations for defining the invention, which incorporate one or more elements from the specification, including the description, claims, and drawings, in various combinations or subcombinations. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant technology, in light of the present specification, that alternate combinations of aspects of the invention, either alone or in combination with one or more elements or steps defined herein, may be utilized as modifications or alterations of the invention or as part of the invention. It is intended that the written description of the invention contained herein covers all such modifications and alterations.
The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference number in different drawings refers to the same element.
Referring to
To allow the position of the finger to be sensed, each conductive plate 101, 102 may be a capacitive part of a respective different oscillator. In the present embodiment, a first digital resistor-capacitor (RC) oscillator (hereafter called "oscillator A" in this embodiment) includes conductive plate 101 (which provides capacitance), a resistance RA such as from a simple resistor, and an inverter 103 preferably of the Schmitt type. Also, a second digital RC oscillator (hereafter called "oscillator B" in this embodiment) includes conductive plate 102 (which provides capacitance), a resistance RB such as from a simple resistor, and an inverter 104 preferably of the Schmitt type.
Inverters 103, 104 are preferably Schmitt inverters to ensure stability. However, any type of inverter may be used. Also, although simple digital oscillators are shown in this embodiment, any oscillator circuits may be used, whether they be digital or analog. For instance, a conventional analog RC oscillator circuit may be used in conjunction with an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) to produce an output similar to a digital oscillator circuit. In this regard, the term "pulse" as used herein refers to any type of periodic signal wave feature, such as a digital bit or a peak portion of an analog sine wave. The term "pulse" as used herein also encompasses a negative pulse or other negative wave feature.
Each of the two oscillators A and B generates a respective output signal ClkA and ClkB. The ClkA and ClkB signals each include a train of pulses with a frequency that depends upon the capacitance and resistance used in the respective oscillator. More particularly, the capacitance (represented as CA) between conductive plate 101 and ground, along with RA, determines the frequency of the pulses of ClkA. The capacitance (represented as CB) between conductive plate 102 and ground, along with RB, determines the frequency of the pulses of ClkB. Since the conductive plates 101, 102 are not rectangular in this embodiment, the amount of surface area between a human finger and each individual conductive plate 101, 102 varies depending upon the position of the finger along the axial direction d. This varying surface area thereby causes each of CA and CB to also vary depending upon the position of a human finger. In turn, the pulse frequencies of ClkA and ClkB also depend upon the position of the finger along the axial direction d.
Two oscillators are used in the present embodiment so that a ratio-metric output may be calculated to ensure a more stable measurement. Such a ratio-metric output is preferably the ratio between the frequencies fA of ClkA and fB of ClkB, such as fA/fB or fB/fA. If desired, the ratio-metric output may be scaled, such as by multiplying the ratio-metric output by and/or summing it with another factor. Thus the ratio-metric output includes the ratio of two different pulse frequencies each dependent upon the position of the finger along d.
A significant advantage of such ratio-metric measurement is that common-mode errors are diminished if not fully removed. In an example, the user's finger is at a first position along the axial direction d and depressed with a first pressure against a thin insulating surface (not shown in
By way of contrast, if a single conductive plate were used, the frequency of the signal generated by the single associated oscillator would be greatly determined not only by the finger position along d but also the pressure of the finger. For example, assume that the finger is at the first position at the first pressure such that the single output pulse train frequency is f1=100. Now assume that the finger pressure has increased, but the finger is still at the first position, such that the frequency is now f2=120 (a 20% increase). Now, since the frequency has changed by 20%, the position of the finger is difficult to measure unless the finger pressure is also known. This is because a change in finger position along the axial direction could also have produced the same 20% difference in output frequency. In other words, such a single-conductor design cannot distinguish between a change in finger position and a change in finger pressure.
Returning to the example where two conductive plates 101, 102 are used to produce ratio-metric measurements, both the finger position and the finger pressure may be independently determined and distinguished. In general, the finger pressure is related to the sum (or average) of the two frequencies from oscillator A and oscillator B. Thus, while finger position may be determined from the ratio fA/fB, finger pressure may be determined from the sum fA+fB. Thus, not only does ratio-metric measurement decrease sensitivity to common-mode errors such as increased pressure for both conductive plates 101, 102, but also allows the finger pressure to be determined independently from the finger position. The ability to sense both finger position and finger pressure is useful for many purposes such as in a system where the finger position controls a scrolling direction on a display screen and the finger pressure controls another factor such as scrolling speed.
The conductive plates 101, 102 may be variously shaped, such as is shown in
More than two conductive plates may be used, such as is shown in
In other embodiments, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more interdigitated capacitive nodes may be used. Preferably, an even number of interdigitated capacitive nodes are used (e.g., eight) so that each oscillator has an equal number of conductors associated therewith. As shown in
An interdigitated arrangement solves the potential problem where, when only two conductive plates are used, movement of the finger in a non-axial direction (e.g., perpendicular to d) could cause a change in the ratio-metric output (since such a movement could cause a non-common-modal error), even where there is no movement of the finger at all in the axial direction d. In other words, such an interdigitated configuration reduces the effect of non-axial movement of the finger such that the interdigitated configuration effectively sensed finger movement substantially only in the axial direction, while ignoring movement perpendicular to the axial direction.
For example, assume that the finger is disposed at a first position along the axial direction d and centered precisely over the group of conductive plates 205-212 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction d. Now assume that the finger is moved perpendicular to the axial direction d while remaining at the same first position along the axial direction d. In the interdigitated embodiment shown in
In the circuit of
In an alternative embodiment, a single oscillator may be analog switched between the two conductive plates, yielding frequency differences primarily from the conductive plate capacitances rather than from variations in parts. An example of such an embodiment 150 is shown in
In a further embodiment, the touch slider may utilize other methods for determining the capacitance of the capacitive nodes (and thus the finger position) by, e.g., generating signals whose amplitudes (instead of frequencies) are related to the capacitances of the capacitive nodes. In such a case, the ratio of the amplitudes may be used instead of the ratio of the frequencies or the pulse counts. In further embodiments, a charge transfer method may be employed to determine the respective capacitances of the individual capacitive nodes.
Referring to
The number of pulses of ClkA (the output of a first oscillator, which may preferably average about 2 MHz) is accumulated over a short interval (e.g., approximately 1 millisecond) while OscB is disabled. Immediately afterward, ClkB (the output of a second oscillator) is accumulated over another interval of the same length. Preferably, these two intervals are non-overlapping. The PIC microprocessor IC1 then derives a finger position which is a function of the ratio of accumulated ClkA and ClkB pulses. A kind of "pressure" indication may also be derived and used to determine the threshold for finger contact from the sum of accumulated pulses of ClkA and ClkB.
A voltage regulator such as a 78L05 device IC2 provides a regulated 5 volts for the circuit power. The PIC 16C73 CMOS microcontroller IC1 provides control signals, data read and serial output for operation. Schmitt inverters for the two oscillators and for other portions of the circuit may be embodied in a 74HCT14 device IC3, which is a CMOS hex Schmitt inverter. A counter may also be used, such as a 74HC590 device IC4, which is a CMOS 8 bit counter with output latches, output tristate enable, and a counter clear. Since this embodiment measures capacitances on the order of a few picofarads, it is preferable that the RC oscillators (74HCT14) be disposed near the PC traces.
Referring to the timing diagram of
It is possible that external noise may be present on the power pins to the hex Schmitt inverter IC1, which may cause small uncompensated variations in the processed output. Filtering beyond the usual bypass capacitor may accordingly be required. A temporary RC filter may be added to the power input pin of the 74HCT14 to correct this problem. Also, where an additional control signal is derived from the local microprocessor, the counter clear pulse generator may be eliminated. As for critical timing, reading the counter's D7 bit preferably should not begin until after more than 1 micro-second has passed after the leading edge of En*Clr* signal, due to the initial clearing of the counter with ClrPuls*. With an approximately 2.5 MHz clock frequency (for example) for oscillators A and B, the pulse accumulation may be approximately 2,500 (over a 1 millisecond period) and may provide an observed count range of approximately 150 on each accumulator within the normal finger position range.
Once the counts are accumulated and read by the microprocessor IC1, the microprocessor IC1 may take a ratio of the counts, which entails either dividing the count of ClkA by the count of ClkB or vice versa. The microprocessor IC1 may further add the two counts together and/or average them. Data representing the ratio and/or the sum/average may then be sent via the SerOut line to the interface 350.
The count periods for both oscillators A and B, as well as the period between the count periods, may preferably be as short as possible to minimize any ambient 60 Hz interference (e.g., due to 60 Hz a-c power sources) that may be capacitively introduced through the finger. At 60 Hz, the period of the power source is {fraction (1/60 )}second, or about 16.7 milliseconds. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the total count cycle for both oscillators A and B takes about 2.25 milliseconds, which is substantially less than 16.7 milliseconds. Thus, the power signal does not change substantially during the entire count period, thereby reducing the ambient noise caused by the power signal. If it is desired to update at 60 Hz, the overhead for controlling and reading the touch slider may in this case be about 14%. In other embodiments, the count cycle for both oscillators A and B may take from about 0.5 millisecond to about 2 milliseconds, or less than about 5 milliseconds. In other countries, where another frequency of power source is used, the total count time for both oscillators A and B may be adjusted so as to be substantially less than the period of the power source. For instance, the total count time for both oscillators A and B may be less than about 15% of the power source period, or even less than about 10% of the power source period.
In an alternative embodiment, instead of using a counter the frequencies of ClkA and ClkB may be measured by other means, including by direct frequency measurement. In such a case, a ratio may be taken of the frequencies themselves, instead of the pulse count. However, the two resulting ratios are mathematically identical.
If it is desired to include additional touch buttons beyond the normal axial finger range, say for page up and page down, a trace consisting of only A or B capacitive input can be used under this area and uniquely identify this state from a normal finger slider position.
Near or beyond each of the ends of the finger groove 553, depressions 560, 561 may be formed in the insulating material 550 to allow for access to buttons 501, 502. These button depressions 560, 561 may be of any shape such as round, oval, rectangular, or arrow-shaped. As in the case of the finger groove 553, the button depressions 560, 561 may also be formed in the insulating material such that only a thin amount of the insulating material remains between the finger and the conductive plates 551, such as about 0.5 millimeters of insulating material. In further embodiments, there may exist one or more button depressions that may be disposed anywhere near the finger groove, such as at the ends or along the lengthwise sides of the finger groove. The finger groove 553, depressions 560, 561, and/or the buttons 501, 502 may be used in conjunction with any of the other features and embodiments of the present invention.
Referring to
Table 1 below shows the accumulated or counted values for ClkA and ClkB under different finger pressures and different finger positions P1-P5 along the axial direction of the finger groove as actually measured from a prototype of the embodiment of
As can be seen from Table 1, the ratio-metric measurement varies depending upon finger position, but is not much affected by changes in finger pressure. For example, at position P3, the ratio-metric measurement is 1.13 at light pressure and 1.12 at heavy pressure, and at position P4, the ratio-metric measurement remains a constant 1.07. The sum of the pulse counts, however, does change dramatically depending upon pressure. For example, at position P3, the sum is 5047 at light pressure and 4998 at heavy pressure, and at P4 the sum is 5107 at light pressure and 5019 at heavy pressure. Thus, the finger position can accurately be determined by the ratio of the pulse counts, and the pressure can be determined by the sum of the pulse counts or, still better, by both the sum and ratio.
A lookup table or database may be stored in a memory (for instance, coupled to the microprocessor IC1 in
In further embodiments, the touch slider may enter a calibration phase utilizing known auto-calibration features such as a leaky integrator. Also, the touch slider may default at power-up to the assumption that no touch is being applied by a finger anywhere on the finger groove. Where the microprocessor stores peak values of ClkA and ClkB over some time period (e.g., approximately 30 minutes), a continuous or periodic calibration may be realized. In such a configuration, it may be reasonably assumed that sometime during this time period no finger was present. In the present embodiment, the values of ClkA and ClkB would peak at the moment that no finger was present. In this way, the zero-finger-pressure ClkA and ClkB values may be continuously regenerated during touch slider use.
Further techniques may be implemented to reduce any remaining effects of finger pressure on the reported finger position along the touch slider. Such techniques may preferably compensate for the effects of finger pressure in real time. An example of such a technique is as follows. In this exemplary embodiment, the following constants may be defined:
The following calibration values may be determined at startup/power-up of the touch slider, during an explicit calibration phase, or constantly during use:
SumMax=ClkA+ClkB with no finger present
RatioMax=Ratio with finger in top-most finger position of slider
RatioMin=Ratio with finger in bottom-most finger position of slider
MidSliderValue=value of RawSlideValue with finger at midpoint of slider (probably a constant)
Using the above calculations, the following algorithm may be implemented in the following order during use of the touch slider:
Thus, using the above technique, which may be repeated in real time, any interaction between finger pressure and finger location as determined by the touch slider may be further reduced. Of course, the above technique is only exemplary, and variations on this technique may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.
The conductors 101, 102, 201-212, 301, 302 may be embodied as conductive plates, foils, layers, sheets, or members, and/or may be etched as tracings on a circuit board or other substrate. The conductors may be made of any suitable conductive material such as metal. The conductors preferably may be covered, coated, or encased with a thin plastic or other insulating material for protection of the conductors from a human finger or contact with other elements. Preferably the insulating material should be thin enough at the area defined by the conductors such that the finger position may be sensed. For instance, as discussed above, the insulating material may be LEXAN or any other insulating material and may be between approximately 0.001 to 0.01 mm thick, approximately 0.01 to 0.1 mm thick, approximately 0.1 to 0.5 mm thick, or approximately 0.5 to 1 mm thick, over the area defined by the capacitive nodes. The insulating material may be formed from a strong non-flexible material or may be a flexible material in the form of a sheet or layer. The finger groove and/or insulating layer may be directly incorporated into the shell or housing material of a device such as a keyboard or mouse. Further, although finger grooves are preferable and are discussed herein as to certain exemplary embodiments, a finger groove is not necessary in all aspects of the present invention.
In further exemplary embodiments, the touch slider may be of any size. For instance, the touch slider may be of a size suitable for a finger to slide along. At the other extreme, the touch slider may be of a much larger size, such as large enough for a human hand to slide along. Such a larger configuration may be, e.g., 6 foot by 3 foot and/or incorporated into a table such as by being mounted on the underside surface of a table, thereby being configured to sense the presence and 1-dimensional position of a hand lying on or closely above the table. Larger configurations may use the same or similar algorithms as discussed herein but may require different oscillator hardware values depending upon the size. As another example, the touch slider may even be of such size as to detect the location of a person or other object within a room or other similar area. Such a touch slider may be incorporated into the floor of a room to detect the presence and position of persons walking within the room. Accordingly, the term "pointing member" as used herein may, as is appropriate for the particular configuration and size of the touch slider, include objects larger than a human finger, such as a human hand, a human body, and/or other small or large object.
While exemplary systems and methods embodying the present invention are shown by way of example, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination with elements of the other embodiments.
1. A device for measuring a position of a pointing member, comprising:
- a first capacitive node and a second capacitive node each commonly coupled to a first circuit node; and
- a third capacitive node and a fourth capacitive node each commonly coupled to a second circuit node,
- the first, second, third, and fourth capacitive nodes being disposed so as to be adjacent and interdigitated.
2. The device of claim 1, further including:
- a fifth capacitive node and a sixth capacitive node each commonly coupled to the first circuit node; and
- a seventh capacitive node and an eighth capacitive node each commonly coupled to the second circuit node,
- the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighths capacitive nodes being disposed so as to be interdigitated.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth capacitive nodes each comprises an etched conductive tracing on a substrate.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth capacitive nodes are substantially wedge shaped.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth capacitive nodes extend in an axial direction and are interdigitated with each other in the following order along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction: first capacitive node, then third capacitive node, then second capacitive node, then fourth capacitive node.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit node is coupled to a first oscillator and the second circuit node is coupled to a second oscillator.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first and second oscillators are each configured to be disabled while the other oscillator is enabled.
8. A device for measuring a position of a pointing member, comprising:
- a first capacitive node and a second capacitive node each commonly coupled to a first circuit node;
- a third capacitive node and a fourth capacitive node each commonly coupled to a second circuit node,
- the first, second, third, and fourth capacitive nodes being disposed so as to be interdigitated;
- an insulating material disposed over the first and second circuit nodes; and
- a groove formed in the insulating material and running axially in an axial direction, the first, second, third, and fourth capacitive nodes also extending in the axial direction.
9. A device for measuring a position of a pointing member, comprising:
- a first capacitive node, a capacitance of the first capacitive node depending upon the position of the finger;
- a second capacitive node, a capacitance of the second capacitive node depending upon the position of the finger;
- an oscillator;
- a switch coupled between the first capacitive node, the second capacitive node, and the oscillator, the switch being configured to connect either the first capacitive node or the second capacitive node with the oscillator, the oscillator being configured to generate, depending upon a state of the switch, either a first signal having a characteristic depending upon the capacitance of the first capacitive node or a second signal having a characteristic depending upon the capacitance of the second capacitive node; and
- a frequency ratio determinator determining a ratio of the characteristics of the first and second signals.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the frequency ratio determinator includes a counter configured to count a number of pulses in the first and second signals over a known time interval in order to determine first and second frequencies.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the counter is configured to count the number of pulses in the first signal over a first portion of the time interval and the number of pulses in the second signal over a second non-overlapping portion of the time interval.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the time interval is substantially less than a period of ambient alternating current power.
13. The device of claim 10, wherein the frequency ratio determinator is further configured to determine a sum of the pulses counted from both the first and second signals.
14. A method for measuring a pressure of a pointing member, comprising the steps of:
- determining a first capacitance of a first capacitive node, the first capacitance depending upon the position of the pointing member;
- determining a second capacitance of a second capacitive node, the second capacitance depending upon the position of the pointing member; and
- generating a first signal having a first frequency depending upon the first capacitance;
- generating a second signal having a second frequency depending upon the second capacitance; and
- determining a sum corresponding to a sum of the first and second frequencies, the pressure of the pointing member being indicated by the determined sum.
Patent History
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 21, 2004
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2005
Patent Grant number: 7158125
Applicant: Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
Inventors: Michael Sinclair (Kirkland, WA), Kenneth Hinckley (Seattle, WA), James Kajiya (Duvall, WA), Nathan Sherman (Sammamish, WA)
Application Number: 10/895,103


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This driver is also compatible with the following products:
Intel 82541GI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
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Available exclusively at Nordstrom, Leith provides sleek, of-the-moment pieces with a downtown-girl edge for every occasion on your calendar. Feminine pieces are designed with versatility in mind, so they can be mixed and matched to showcase personal style. Leith jewelry and accessories complement the clothing collection for head-to-toe, on-trend looks.


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This is not as bad as everyone is making it seem. You know A.I is a Pinocchio story, sort of, that movie has some good moments in it. I was re watching some of it the other day, its such a tragedy that Kubrick did not make that movie, it would of been probably his magnum opus. I was yearning for the Kubrick's darkness and lightness, can you imagine how Kubrick would of shot the stuff with G. Joe. It would of been epic. Anyway it will be interesting to see what P.T Anderson cooks up, I have faith in him, its RDJ and the studios who I lack faith in. Anderson could write a brilliant script but in the end if another director is tasked with directing the movie, like a Marc Forester or Webb or one of these guys who has recent success, like the guy who did Jurassic World, or the guy who did District 9, all lame directors who just turn out products for the studio. It is pretty sad to see that in 2015 the most edgy director working within the studio system is in his 70s and his name is Scorsese, it only took decades for him to be accepted into that world, oh and working with a matinee idol like DiCaprio, he is basically locked into DiCaprio because working with him ensures box office success, young men will always go see a Scorsese movie but woman esp in the 18-30 range were not always his biggest audience, ever since Gangs of New York, he found a new audience and reaped the financial success a director always wants. I digress but it all kinda of ties together, P.T Anderson honestly needs to make a movie that also makes money, Inherent Vice was awful, and i love P.T Anderson, but as an adaption it fails, and as a P.T Anderson movie it fails, so what your left with is nothing. Visually it was semi-interesting to see Paul shoot in 1:85 with spherical lenses. I think Paul should work with DiCaprio and hopefully he will garner box office success. One thing I can say is that once a director has a smash success @ the box office, its is ADDICTIVE, and a domino effect could happen. Its interesting to see Woody Allen and the Coen Brothers achieve great box office numbers and maintain their integrity as filmmakers. Especially Woody Allen. I was watching Blue Jasmine the other day and I was like this is such a good fucking movie, but i am a New Yorker so I am probably biased, a lot of those themes in the movie are relevant to today, not with everybody, Allen has a way of depicting the affluent Upper West Side/ East Side/ Central Park west + east lifestyle well and his attempts at doing bridge and tunnel are funny if not somewhat cliched and ha-misted he gets away with it because he always makes those latter characters goofy with hearts of gold Again I digress.Basically Anderson has to work with an actor that has the ability to pull in a large audience, his skills as a director are ACE but he needs to maneuver himself so that he can make money so that he can continually be in the driver's seat ( meaning in the position having the opportunity to make a movie, he basically rides on that fact the he is an auteur, and that he is "an artist" filmmaker, its like the kid that doesn't work cause his folks earn and make a lot of money, and the kid is now 25, its like are you ever gonna go out and get a job or will you continue to bank on the fact the your folks are the breadwinners.)


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This sentence is just to get to the 25 character limit.
xspeedballx wrote:This is going to seem hugely off topic, but I actually think it is relevant and would love to hear opinions and actual facts:
Can every dungeon be completed purist every time?(Let's ignore bugs for now, the screwed thread highlights those nicely). Meaning, if a person played perfectly but without additional knowledge could every dungeon achieve a purist win? Similarly can every badge/class/race have a strategy created that will guarantee a win for a given dungeon?
The Avatar wrote:I'm not surprised there is one set of winning directions for anything purist. But consider how hard it is to come to that (or even one of the 30. You make a ton of moves with a ton of other things you could do. The chance of hitting the one of 30 solutions acting randomly, or even non-randomly, is tiny. So yes they can be all won purist always. But it will take a lot of tries to even pull that off once in a harder dungeon.
xspeedballx wrote:Can every dungeon be completed purist every time?(Let's ignore bugs for now, the screwed thread highlights those nicely).
dislekcia wrote:And we're saying that any resource cost placed on a locker system, be it time, gold, real cash money or sloth pictures, is going to become a "fun tax" for players over time.
dislekcia wrote:The current "fun tax" is a lot less time consuming and taxing than any of the previous "fun taxes".
xspeedballx wrote:I doubt they apply sigma's but if the game was at 4-5 sigma for "solvable vs unsolvable" that would be less than I believe .0001% failure rate. Acceptable by a lot of standards as "working."
xspeedballx wrote:...What I am seeing is that by offering more control with locker slots and preps in general you reduced the random and replaced it with constants. Now players can SEE clear efficient paths but not always reach them(though they are obtainable) which feels painful. Those players this effect are demanding for a solidifying of the constants. When the reality is the removal of them altogether(locker slots not being restorable going in that direction) would have a similar comforting effect by moving towards what the Devs are describing as playing a run for fun, and getting what you can out of it...
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What makes Father René Fumoleau's photography worth looking at is just where the missionary priest from France took his photos.
Fumoleau showed up in the Dene lands straddling the Arctic Circle in 1953. He bought his first Pentax 35 mm camera in 1956. Without training or direction, he created a body of images that document the land and its people over 40 critical years of history for the Dene, all captured in a new book.
In her introduction to Fumoleau's Way Down North: Dene Life — Dene Land, Bernadette Gasslein claims "Beauty is the raison d'etre of this book."
The pictures, many shot under a high sun and infused with deeply saturated colours, are beautiful. But there's more to it than pretty pictures.
There are better landscape photographers and better portraitists than Fumoleau. Fumoleau documents dog sled teams, cultural festivals, elders and family life among the Dene in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. It's all framed in the context of the land — its forests, its lakes, its tundra and the elusive sun.
In each photograph Fumoleau is inviting us to be present, just as he was present, in the land. This is incarnational photography, from a man who gave his life to the idea that a Christian is called to incarnate Christ in every place, in every culture and in every time. That's what missionaries do.
It's also what photographers do when their lens searches for the soul of the scene.
When Gasslein says, "beauty is the raison d'etre" she states the obvious. We should ask, "Why? What makes these photographs beautiful?"
He never perfected the million techniques and tricks of professional photographers. His job as a missionary was to be present as a Christian and to make Christ present among the Dene people. It's thanks to his ability to be truly present in the land and to the people that Fumoleau's photographs work.
Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins always claimed Christ was the "instress" — the secret, sub-atomic stuff — that bound creation and beauty together.
In Way Down North Fumoleau shows us what Hopkins might have done with a camera.


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I like SAARs, those awkwardly named Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Selling Rates the U.S. auto industry uses to compare the relative strengths of various months of light vehicle sales.
I prefer SAARs over actual units to compare, say, May of this year against June of 2010. We all know that some years are simply better than others. And in the same way, some months of any year are usually better than others. April is almost always better than any January, for example.
Units have precision. SAARs have flavor. They give us a feel for how a month went.
SAARs are the preferred tool for comparisons and most of the auto industry, including the Automotive News Data Center, uses the same mathematical model as the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis does, as a shared standard.
But like any tool, there's maintenance. Especially one that is based on a moving multi-year average of monthly sales.
I mean, we've had a pretty volatile sales climate these past five years.
And every July, the BEA recalculates the seasonal factors, and everybody updates their model. And recalculates past monthly SAARs, this time back to January 2009.
What's all this mean?
Not that much in practical terms, even for the biggest revisions. Most times, it smoothes out the jagged parts of the line charts.
Remember our hot-hot-hot February, the one with the 15.1 million SAAR? Well, the industry still sold 1,149,470 light vehicles. But the new SAAR for February is 14.5 million.
That's still a half-million higher than in January (now recalculated downward to 14.0 million from 14.2 million), a big jump. But not almost a million higher.
Yeah, that kind of change is annoying for an industry that loves absolute values. But it's still only a tool to make comparisons.


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Maine West Golden Apple winner puts students first
The murals on the walls of Maine West High School bear witness to Gregory Regalado's contributions to the Des Plaines school's art program.
Those, along with many other contributions, were rewarded Wednesday when Regalado was surprised in his classroom with the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, bestowed on only 10 teachers statewide.
The 2013 honorees -- all high school teachers -- were selected from a pool of 510 nominees from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Regalado, who teaches photo, art, advanced digital imaging and Advanced Placement art studio, is only the second teacher in the history of Maine Township High School District 207 to receive the coveted Golden Apple. The first recipient also was from Maine West: English teacher Ruth Nicholson, who earned the award in 1987.
"It's an honor to be in the same category as her and all the other Golden Apple Fellows," Regalado said, adding that he was overwhelmed by the attention Wednesday.
Regalado's wife, Sue; his four children, Jax, Isabel, Kayci, and Luke; and mother, Beverly Regalado, joined in the surprise.
"I'm in awe," said Beverly, who came from Park Forest to witness her son's recognition.
Maine West Principal Audrey Haugan said Regalado always puts his students first.
"All of his projects are geared toward student interest," Haugan said.
Regalado's murals grace the walls of the school, and his art pieces are scattered throughout the building. He also is a cross-country coach, the head girls track coach, and the building technology coordinator.
The award was cause for celebration at a school that has been the focus of much negative attention due to recent hazing scandals.
"It's good to bring some good news to Maine West," said Jim Sorensen, a Maine West alum and former Golden Apple winner who now serves as director of Golden Apple Scholars. "My children had him, and he was exceptional. My daughter became a graphic arts teacher inspired by him."
Regalado was nominated for the award by Mike Smith, a Maine West mathematics teacher who was impressed with Regalado's involvement in the school beyond the classroom.
"I saw what kind of an impact he had on my math students and also the impact he was having on all aspects of our culture here at Maine West," Smith said. "The students would always come to my class excited if they came from Mr. Regalado's class. Everybody knows 'Regs.' I would venture to say that he's impacted every department of the school."
District 207 Superintendent Ken Wallace said Regalado has had a huge impact on the entire district.
"The thing that stands out for me, every week, literally, Greg is doing some kind of teacher leadership," Wallace said.
Regalado has taught faculty members at all three district high schools how to implement technology in the classroom.
"It was a natural role for him," Wallace said. "He's always been innovative in his use of technology as a teacher."
Regalado will receive a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University and a $3,000 cash award.
"This is the tip of the iceberg," Regalado said. "I'm just so excited to go to Northwestern for classes. I'm open for anything. I would definitely take art classes."
Golden Apple Fellows are required to participate in ongoing professional development and engagement in education reform. They also provide instruction and mentoring of future teachers through the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program, which has prepared 1,400 college students to teach in high-need schools for a minimum of five years.
Award recipients will be honored at a black-tie event Oct. 25 at WTTW/Channel 11 Studios in Chicago. The ceremony will be broadcast on WTTW in a one-hour program.


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SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean military officials used a stand-in to portray a captured runaway soldier to deceive journalists as the real fugitive was taken to a hospital following a failed suicide attempt, a Defense Ministry official said Tuesday.
The ploy was used because the fugitive needed swift medical treatment and the media could have caused a delay, said a ministry official who requested anonymity citing department rules.
He said two ambulances were used, one carrying the injured fugitive and the other with another soldier whose body and face were covered by a blanket. The decoy was carried into the hospital in the eastern city of Gangneung as photographers snapped pictures.
The official said the ambulance carrying the real fugitive entered the hospital through its basement.
He said it wasn't clear if military personnel at the hospital had directly lied to dozens of journalists waiting there. But he said the personnel apparently deceived journalists into mistaking the stand-in for the fugitive.
The ministry made the acknowledgment following speculation from South Korean media that a stand-in had been used.
The official said the decoy had been requested by personnel sent from the hospital. However, a public affairs official at GangNeung Asan Hospital denied that, saying a hospital official only asked about using a decoy ambulance and the hospital wasn't aware that a stand-in was being used. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with office policy.
The 22-year-old sergeant surnamed Yim fled after allegedly killing five colleagues and wounding seven others Saturday. He is accused of firing at troops chasing him on Sunday, injuring a platoon leader. He shot himself on Monday before being captured, according to the Defense Ministry.
It's not known what caused Yim to go on the alleged shooting spree. He was to finish his mandatory military duty in September. Initial personality tests in April of last year put him within a group of soldiers who need special attention and are unfit for frontline duty, according to the Defense Ministry. But tests last November concluded he had improved and could serve in frontline areas, defense officials said.
Shooting rampages against fellow soldiers happen occasionally in South Korea's military. The country maintains a conscription system that requires all able-bodied men to serve about two years because of threats from North Korea.


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What's New in Cha-Ching
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The harvest in Canada's famed Okanagan Valley and across BC is coming to a close for the wine business. Virtually all that remains are the vines designated for ice wine or late harvest wines.
It has been a truly exceptional year with a number of weather anomalies that kept wine growers guessing right to the end. Punishing winter temperatures last year resulted in smaller crops for many varietals. A late spring left growers wondering when they'd get a break. The summer growing season was long and warm. September, the month we must have perform, was beyond optimistic desires. And then, just a few days ago, the temperature plunged to record lows and abruptly slammed the door on the season. Milder weather is in-bound, but the vines are finished for the year and the crop is being pulled in.
Black Cloud Pinot Noir fared extremely well. A slightly smaller crop resulted in remarkable flavours. At this time, the Pinot is residing in French oak. It's finished alcoholic fermentation and is just beginning malo-lactic fermentation.
A more detailed report will follow in a few weeks.


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Department of Treasury Fisker-GM Plant Deal Documents
Documents produced by the Department of the Treasury in response to a Judicial Watch Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding the purchase of a former General Motors plant in Wilmington, Delaware by automotive start-up Fisker.
Judicial Watch Sues Obama Department of Energy for Records Detailing $529 Million Loan to Failing Green Energy Car Manufacturer
Is the Fisker Automotive Loan Another Solyndra? (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch, the organization that investigates and fights government corruption, announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit on February 1, 2012, against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to obtain records regarding a $529 million…


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The practice of these eight limbs can take up a copious amount of time of one's daily life. Since yoga and the Vedas out of which it grew are life affirmative, the Vedic Seer Vamana presented Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a practice for householders-people with family and a job or business-in which the eight limbs were practiced simultaneously, not sequentially. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a presentation of Ashtanga Yoga, designed for urban people with time constraints.
Ashtanga Yoga employs a multitude of techniques, such as postures, breathing, concentration and meditation exercises. We could call it the yoga of techniques.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga differs from other forms of yoga in that it is dynamic, whereas most forms are static.
The benefits may be grouped into four categories: physical, emotional, mental and intellectual benefits. The physical benefits consist of making the body free of disease, making it light and strong so that it can be a suitable vehicle on the path to freedom. Through yoga the body is made to absorb and retain prana, which extends the life span.
The emotional benefits consist briefly in being able to not be a slave to one's emotions but to remain the witness. Most of our suffering is caused by emotions. These emotions may become unbearable by identifying with them and often may cause negative results if we follow their urge. It's important to know the difference between emotions and feelings. A feeling is an authentic sensation arising in the present moment such as love. An emotion is a reliving of a previously imprinted condition. For example because we have been hurt in the past we are acting in the present moment not out of love but out of jealousy or fear. Whenever we are emoting, we are in the past; whenever we are feeling, we are in the present. Yoga makes you feel more intensely because it removes layers of old conditioning.
The mind is seen in yoga as a computer, which analyses sensory data. It projects all objects cognised in the past onto a present object that needs to be identified. If it achieves what it believes to be sufficient congruency it signals that it has 're-cognized' the object as one of the objects previously cognised. This is the whole tragedy of the human being. Mind is an application, which projects past onto the future. As long as one is in the sway of the mind, one is, according to yoga, a living corpse. … Recognizing oneself as the immortal, infinite consciousness is to be alive for the first time.
Intellect, similar to the egoic body/mind and the world of objects, is something that grows and evolves as opposed to consciousness/awareness/self, which exists in an eternal state of perfection. Everything that grows and evolves however is, according to yoga, made up of the various combinations of the three elementary particles (guna) of nature (prakrti), which we may call mass (tamas), energy (rajas) and information/intelligence (sattva). An intellect with a preponderance to tamas is too dull to recognize the truth, whereas the intellect with a preponderance to rajas contains to much frenzy to penetrate to the truth. It is only the intellect, which has been made sattvic through the practice of higher yoga, visualization, meditation and samadhi that is capable of seeing the world as it really is (prajna).


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In recent weeks, we've instituted a few relatively small changes to our content that we hope you have enjoyed.
But another change, that might not be as welcome, is coming.
On March 23, the Local's website, www.hclocal.com will become a subscription-based news and information source.
We will still print our weekly edition, which you still can subscribe to and pick up at multiple locations in the county.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Henry County Local, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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In March 1981, Kay Williams, Swiss Bear�s first executive director, was hired and Swiss Bear�s first official office (417A Tryon Palace Drive in a commercial space donated for six months by Earl Finch) opened in a space shared with the Arts Council. Office furniture/equipment was donated by local banks, businesses and citizens.
Part of a continuing series that appears every other week.
In March 1981, Kay Williams, Swiss Bear�s first executive director, was hired and Swiss Bear�s first official office (417A Tryon Palace Drive in a commercial space donated for six months by Earl Finch) opened in a space shared with the Arts Council. Office furniture/equipment was donated by local banks, businesses and citizens.
With a new director and assistant in place, and the adoption in April of the Main Street Program�s Four Point Approach (promotions, design, organization and economic re-structuring), Swiss Bear was off and running at full swing. Committees were appointed to develop a program of work for each element to begin implementing the Main Street objectives.
The Promotion Committee�s charge (Chairman Martha Smith, Charles Blythe, Gordon Parrott and Ted Hanes) was to expand Swiss Bear�s role in developing quality joint marketing promotions, special events and advertising packages in conjunction with the Chamber, Tryon Palace and the Downtown Merchant Association. The goal was to provide entertainment with enough community-wide impact and excitement to draw crowds to the downtown area that would encourage people to spend more time downtown, increase the pedestrian traffic and enhance retail revenues.
Taking the Main Street Resource Team�s recommendations to heart, numerous new events and promotions were developed and existing ones expanded to attract larger numbers.
Swiss Bear held Couture D� Antan, a fashion show, in March. In April, the 2nd Annual Swiss Bear Princess Contest brought a capacity crowd of about 500 people to the Saax Bradbury Theatre. Two Swiss Bear costumes were purchased; one given to the high school and one for appearances at promotional events.
Swiss Bear accepted the Arts Council�s request to help generate a large turnout at their May Spring Arts Festival by launching balloons the Saturday before filled with coupons from downtown shops that could be redeemed on the day of the festival.
A Fourth of July Celebration, jointly coordinated by County and City Recreation Departments, Swiss Bear, Agriculture Extension Service, Jaycees, Ladies of the Craven Civitan Club and Merchants Association began with Mayor Leander Morgan proclaiming it was New Bern�s 204th Independence Day Celebration. The day included a parade, numerous activities in downtown and Bicentennial Park (urban renewal land) including helicopter and pony rides and concluded with a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band followed by a fireworks display attended by 10,000 spectators.
A Swiss Bear Antique Car Show in August, held in various downtown parking lots, was funded by various concessions and the raffle of a mini Model T Ford.
The Swiss Bear Festival included Tryon Palace�s Chrysanthemum Sunday as a part of the weekend festivities and the Rescue Squad held a barbeque pig cooking contest.
Kay worked with the Masonic Order, Footlight/Lollipop Theatres and Pro Musica negotiating the opening of the ca. 1808 Masonic Theatre (closed to the public since the early 1970s) to be available to group�s for family entertainment.
For the first time, many merchants joined together to do a joint advertising Christmas campaign (radio, TV and ads) promoting downtown as a shopping center. They sponsored a Christmas parade and for the three weeks prior to Christmas, hired a Santa for the Santa House. Downtown street lights were decorated with lighted lanterns and red ribbon bows. Stores stayed open with lighted candle lanterns in front of their shops offering candlelight shopping. The Harvey Mansion Restaurant (recently rehabbed) held a special evening of 19th Century English entertainment and food in the spirit of a Dickens Christmas.
All the joint marketing efforts paid off. The Sun Journal published its second downtown tabloid highlighting downtown�s fall and winter events. The Gazette devoted an issue to the Main Street project and the importance of public/private partnerships. New Bern was featured as an NC Main Street city in Southern Living�s October issue. Three local hotels worked with New Bern Guided Tours and Tryon Palace to package special escape week-ends for the January-March off season. Swiss Bear worked on a proposal to market New Bern as the �Southern Surprise� with a tie to Pepsi and its downtown birthplace.
The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va., provided consultation services to assist Swiss Bear�s promotion program and Harry Jacobs (native New Bernian and owner of the agency) met with Kay and the Chamber�s Tourism Task Force with recommendations on developing a strategy to market downtown�s historic district. Swiss Bear worked with various groups developing a unified calendar of events and began promoting them through the N.C. Department of Travel and Tourism.
In the mid-1990s, Swiss Bear�s antique show and Coastal Christmas Celebration and Flotilla (created in 1985) were spun off to other organizations as the growth of the Swiss Bear/Mumfest required a year round time commitment. In the meantime, the number of groups sponsoring events and promotions has steadily increased playing a vital role in bringing new life, sparkle and activity to downtown.
The call to action initiated by the 1977 Central Business District Revitalization Plan and the Main Street Program for Swiss Bear and the public and private sectors to work together in a cooperative spirit continues to serve as an important catalyst for investment in our historic downtown.
Susan Moffat-Thomas is executive director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation. Her column appears every other week.


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Student Loan Access
Using Technology
NCLB Update
Funding Opportunities
Survey Data
USA Learns
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Student Loan Access
With lenders currently committing loan volume to colleges and universities for the upcoming school year, Secretary Spellings and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson detailed their experience and success at improving the functioning of the loan marketplace and providing liquidity and stability in the near term under the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA) and outlined additional action to implement the extended ECASLA. For the current school year, the law's programs have been largely successful. Loan originations are exceeding last year's pace: in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), there have been $41.8 billion in originations through October 31, compared to $39 billion at this time last year, while in the federal Direct Loan program, there have been $17.9 billion in originations, versus $12 billion at this time last year. Also, lenders are strongly utilizing the Education Department's participation interest and loan purchase programs: 19 lenders have been approved for the Purchase of Participation Interests program, in which the agency purchases a 100% interest in pools of loans held by a custodian, providing near-term liquidity to lenders; 12 lenders have made use of this program and have, through October 31, received $8.7 billion in payments, representing 50% of current disbursements; and, under the separate loan purchase program, two lenders have sold $62 million in loans to the agency. For the upcoming school year, the Department will replicate the participation interest and loan purchase programs. Terms and conditions are anticipated to be largely consistent with the prior year's programs, although the Administration may need to refine the pricing and terms of these programs to ensure that they result in no net cost to the federal government. Also, the Administration intends to provide liquidity support to one or more conforming Asset-Backed Commercial Paper conduits. These conduits will purchase FFELP loans, supplying longer-term stability in the marketplace. The Department intends to make all fully distributed, non-consolidated FFELP loans awarded between October 1, 2003, and July 1, 2009, eligible for this program. (Update: Until these conduits are operational, or until February 28, 2009, whichever comes first, the Department will also purchase certain 2007-08 FFELP loans, to minimize disruptions in the interim periodsee http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11202008.html.) Meanwhile, the agency has taken the steps necessary to ensure the Lender of Last Resort program is ready, should it be needed. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11082008.html.
Other student loan news:
- Secretary Spellings and Undersecretary Sara Martinez Tucker (see below) recently presented to Congress the Department's plan for a "rational approach to federal student aid." It includes: a simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); a federal student aid target that sets the maximum amount of federal subsidized aid (grants and subsidized loans) the neediest student could receive; a federal student aid commitment that determines a specific student's eligibility; and the consolidation of programs into single grant (Pell), loan (subsidized loan, unsubsidized loan, and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students in both the FFELP and Direct Loan programs), and work-study (Federal Work-Study) programs. For more information, please go to http://www.newamerica.net/blog/files/A%20Rational%20
- Undersecretary Tucker announced she was leaving her position to return home to California. The Department's General Counsel, Kent Talbert, will be delegated the responsibilities of the Undersecretary. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/
- The latest Education News Parents Can Use broadcast (archived at http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/) explored the issue of paying for college and advocated using federal aid first.
Using Technology
The Secretary's new white paper about technology, "Harnessing Innovation to Support Student Success: Using Technology to Personalize Education," gives the "lessons learned" from three roundtable discussions (held over the past 18 months) with representatives from across the education and technology landscape, from teachers to executives, and a roundtable discussion with students. The conversations were frank and informative, with a view into the potential and the challenges of employing technology to help transform education. Participants identified five key areas where federal, state, and local governments can better collaborate: (1) online learning and virtual schools, (2) transforming data into knowledge and action, (3) broadband connectivity, (4) research efficacy and impact, and (5) school leadership and professional preparation. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/
NCLB Update
On November 19, the Secretary announced the release of the "Reading First Impact Study: Final Report." This report, a follow-up to April's interim study, presents an additional year of data (from 2006-07) on student reading comprehension and classroom instruction in 248 schools (125 Reading First schools and 123 non-Reading First schools) and information on the impact of the program on first-grade students' decoding skills. While the report found no statistically significant difference in reading comprehension, Reading First had a significant impact on students' decoding, phonics, and fluency skillsthree of the five basic components of reading. For more information, please go to http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20094038.asp and http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/reading/readingfirst-report.html.
The Department has unveiled the full slate of 2008 American Stars of Teaching award winnersone from each state and the District of Columbia. These outstanding classroom teachers, across all disciplines and grade levels, were honored this fall with special assemblies for improving student achievement and using innovative strategies to make a difference in the lives of their students. For more information, please go to http://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/Prior.asp.
The Achiever newsletter (http://www.ed.gov/achiever/), now available solely online, focuses on how successful schools across the U.S. are working toward the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act: to have every student reading and doing math at grade-level by 2014. The latest story spotlights a Philadelphia magnet middle schoolone of 320 schools honored with a Blue Ribbon School awardwhere eighth-grade performance at the "advanced" level (the highest of four levels on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) has increased from 29% in 2004 to 77% in 2008 in reading and from 13% in 2004 to 67% in 2008 in math.
Funding Opportunities
Although the Department is operating under a continuing resolution, several new grant competitions are in progress. For example, the Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program awards grants to states to enable them to pay all or a portion of AP test fees on behalf of eligible low-income students who are enrolled in an AP course and intend to take an AP exam. Only states are eligible to apply. Applications are due December 15. And, the Transition to Teaching Grant Program funds the development and expansion of alternative routes to full state teacher certification and the recruitment and retention of highly qualified mid-career professionals, recent college graduates who have not majored in education, and paraprofessionals to teach in high-need schools operated by high-need school districts. States, high-need districts, and partnerships of states, districts, and for- and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. A notice of intent to apply is due December 15. Applications are due January 21, 2009. http://www.ed.gov/GrantApps/ lists all competitions that are currently underway, with links to electronic application packages, forms, and other information.
Survey Data
Don't miss these insightful reports, based on survey data:
"Community Service and Service-Learning in America's Schools 2008" (http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/role_impact/
performance_research.asp#LSA_2008), from the Corporation for National and Community Service, finds 68% of all K-12 schools offered or recognized service opportunities for their students, up from 64% in a similar study conducted in 1999. High schools are especially supportive of community service, with a whopping 86% recognizing student service, up from 83% in 1999. However, while school-based community service has remained robust, the percentage of schools with service learning has declined from 32% in 1999 to 24% in 2008.
"National Survey of Student Engagement: 2008 Results" (http://nsse.iub.edu/NSSE_2008_Results/), from Indiana University's Center for Postsecondary Research, summarizes the views of 380,000 first-year and senior students at 722 four-year colleges and universities on five benchmarks: (1) level of academic challenge, (2) active and collaborative learning, (3) student-faculty interaction, (4) enriching education experiences, and (5) supportive campus environment. A primary conclusion? The quality of undergraduate education varies far more within institutions than between them.
"Open Doors 2008" (http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/), published annually by the Institute of International Education, reports on Americans studying abroad and international students in the U.S. During the 2006-07 school year, 241,791 Americans studied abroadan increase of 8.5% from 2005-06. The leading destinations were the United Kingdom (14.6% of total), Italy (12.5%), and Spain (10.7%). Ecuador (+29.6% change from previous year), South Africa (+28%), and Argentina (+26.2%) reported the largest percentage increases. On the other hand, during the 2007-08 school year, 623,805 international students studied in the U.S.an increase of 7% from 2006-07. The top sending countries of origin were India (15.2% of total), China (13%), and South Korea (11.1%), while Vietnam (+45.3% change from previous year), Saudi Arabia (+25.2%), and China (+19.8%) reported the largest percentage increases.
USA Learns
On November 7, the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) officially launched USA Learns (http://www.usalearns.org/), a web site providing the approximately 11 million adults who have low levels of English proficiency with accessible and free English language training. The launch of the site completes one of the goals in President Bush's August 2007 announcement of 26 immigration reforms his Administration would pursue within existing law, including the assimilation of new citizens and helping immigrants learn English to expand their opportunities in America. Upon entering the site, users can choose directions in either English or Spanish and then pick which level they need: beginner or immediate. Once inside the modules, the instruction is almost exclusively in English. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/11/11072008.html.
Quote to Note
"Today, no group is embracing new technologies more than our young people. More than eight out of 10 teenagers, including my own daughters, report having helped a struggling adult to do something online that the adult could not do for him or herself. But, many students will tell you that when it comes to technology, school is the least advanced part of their day. Our country has done a great job of wiring our classrooms, but we have yet to realize technology's potential to transform the way education is defined and delivered.... Harvard economists Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz note in their recent book, The Race Between Education and Technology, that 'in the first half of the century, education raced ahead of technology, but, later in the century, technology raced ahead of educational gains.' It's high time to balance the equation by using technology to amplify educational opportunity."
|Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings (11/14/08), announcing a new white paper on technology on the blog Eduwonk.com
Upcoming Events
December 5 is International Volunteer Day, an opportunity for individual volunteers and volunteer organizations to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Among those goals are combating disease, hunger, illiteracy, poverty, discrimination against women, and environmental degradation. For more information, please go to http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/.
In December, the Department will be exhibiting at the Association for Career and Technical Education's Annual Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (December 4-6). If you are attending this event, please stop by the Department's booth.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
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Oh Canada! Oh Quebec!: requiem for a divided country
Penguin Books, 1992 - History - 277 pages
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LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - weakley - LibraryThing
While I have to admit that this book presents a biased point of view on the issue of the french language and seperation issues, it is not a bias I disagree with for the most part. Richler is true to ... Read full review
OH CANADA! OH QUEBEC!: Requiem for a Divided CountryUser Review - Kirkus
Quebec-born Richler (Solomon Gursky Was Here, 1990, etc.) undertakes a backgrounder to that province's independence movement, with several large flashes of illuminating absurdity about the passionate ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
Abbe Groulx American Anglophone anti-Semitism Bergeron bilingual signs Bill Bouchard British called Camille Laurin Charter Claude Ryan Commission Court culture deal Devoir distinct society Drapeau Duplessis Eastern Townships editorial election English Canada English-speaking Quebecers fact favor federal Francophone French Canadian French language French-speaking Globe and Mail Hydro-Quebec Ibid immigrants independantistes independent Quebec Jacques Parizeau Jean Jewish Jews June langue franchise later Laurendeau Laurin leader Liberal majority Meech Lake Accord ment Mohawk Montreal Gazette Mulroney National Assembly never once Ontario Ottawa Outremont Parti quebecois Pierre political politicians poll population Premier Bourassa Presse prime minister problem protest province province's published Quebec City RCMP referendum Rene Levesque rest of Canada Richler Sept Sherbrooke sign law sovereignty sovereignty-association speak Street text in French things tion told Tories Toronto Globe Trudeau vote Westmount Woody's Pub wrote


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The recipe is rather approximate, as such things tend to be.
The dough:
2 cups flour
1 cup water
pinch of salt
The filling:
1 cup kasza
a bunch of dried mushrooms (I used the gourmet blend from Costco)
1 onion
5+ strips of bacon?
(I actually made a vegetarian version as well, so you might want to halve the kasza?)
Step one, which is probably best done a few hours in advance? is to rehydrate the mushrooms in warm water.
Then, bring 2 cups mushroom water to a boil (adding regular water if needed to make 2 cups) with salt and pepper. Add the kasza, stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes, fluff, and set aside.
As its cooking, chop the bacon (finer is better) and fry it in a large, deep pan. As it fries, chop the onion, and once the bacon is browned, add it to the pan. Then chop the mushrooms (squeeze out the excess water, but don't worry about it too much) and add them to the pan. Saute for 5 minutes or so? Or until the flavors combine, then add the cooked kasza and stir. Let it cook a minute or two to combine the flavors, adding salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Now, the dough. According to what I've read, you want to use hot - even boiling - water. Add it to the flour and salt (you want a decent amount of salt here - I think I used too little), stirring with a wooden spoon. Then knead it with your hands (let it cool if need be) until it forms an elastic dough. Cover your "work surface" (ie clean table) with some flour, grab a hunk of dough and roll it out. You want it about 2mm thick - thin, but not so thin that it becomes porous or breaks. Use a glass to cut out circles, put a spoonful of filling in the center (you always need less than you think) and pinch shut.
This is the most labor intensive part of the process. I underestimated just how much work it involved. By the end, it had turned into an 8 person operation (though I made a seriously ridiculous amount of pierogi, with several other fillings too).
When you're about halfway through or so, set a large pot of water to boil with plenty of salt. Once it's boiling, drop in about 6 pierogi at a time, or however many the pot seems to hold comfortably (there should be room for them to form a single layer, with some space). Boil 2-3 minutes, or until they float to the surface.
Garnish with fried bacon and onions, and enjoy!
(We also did a potato and cheese filling, which just involved boiling some potatoes and mashing them with grated cheddar, salt, and pepper. I might have to try doing those again with some bacon bits folded in...)


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Oct. 26, 2003
The women's crew team finished in second place in the Princeton 3-Mile Chase Eights race out of 39 teams with a time of 15:25.99. The team also came in sixth in the Fours category.
The Yale A boat finished sixth in the 51-boat Fours race with a time of 17:58.24, while Yale B came in 11th place with a time of 18:10.39. Also participating were three other Yale crews, which finished in 19th, 25th, and 34th places.
In the Eights, Yale A finished second with a time of 15:25.99, with Yale B following in 8th place with a time of 16:13.82. Yale C stroked to a 17th place finish.
With respective times of 17:25.17 and 15:16.59, Princeton A won both the Fours and the Eights contests.
The Bulldogs will return to Princeton on November 13th to race in the Belly of the Carnegie.


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SOUTHGATE, Mich. -
Superintendent William Grusecki said another student found the boy in a bathroom. He had died from a gunshot wound.
Director of Public Safety Thomas Coombs said investigators are still looking into who owned the handgun. He couldn't answer whether any charges would be filed.
Local 4 later learned the gun belonged to a family member.
School was locked down, students sent home
Grusecki said the school was put on lock down while emergency crews responded.
Students were put in the gym and auditorium and parents were called to come pick up their children about 9 a.m. The school also arranged for transportation for students to get home.
Hundreds turned out for the vigil Thursday night at Southgate Anderson High School.
Watch: Southgate community shocked by student's suicide
"I feel so horrible for the family of the child. I can't even imagine," said parent Sherri Zacharski
Grusecki said out of respect for the family, the boy's name wouldn't be released. But he said the boy was known as a good student, somewhat popular and had never gone to school officials with any problems he was experiencing.
Watch: Southgate superintendent: Counselors will be available
School was canceled for the day Thursday and will be closed Friday. Counselors are being provided for the community, some coming from surrounding districts.
"We're just going to do our best to help our kids out and our staff," Grusecki said.
He said all of the teachers and staff met together after the students had gone home.
"It got pretty emotional with the adults. They need a lot of support right now," he said. "We could see it in their faces. It was difficult for all of us."
When asked about how a gun got into the school, Grusecki said there are no metal detectors in the building. He said school officials will review and look into what they can do in the future.
The school is located at 15800 Trenton Road.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Electronic cigarettes - embraced by users as a healthier alternative to smoking or a good way to quit - are picking up steam.
There's little research on how safe they might be or whether they're an effective strategy for kicking the habit, but more people are giving e-cigarettes a try every day.
About one in five adult cigarette smokers in the U.S. had tried electronic cigarettes in 2011, nearly twice as many as in 2010. Sales reached nearly $500 million in 2012 and are expected to double to $1 billion this year. As the market grows, even tobacco companies are jumping on board.
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. launched its Vuse electronic cigarette this summer in Colorado. Altria Group Inc., parent company of the nation's largest cigarette maker, Philip Morris USA, will soon debut its product, MarkTen, in Indiana.
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are a smoke-free alternative to the traditional paper cigarette. The most basic version, one that could be mistaken for an actual cigarette, is comprised of a liquid cartridge attached to a white cylinder containing a battery.
The battery heats the liquid into a vapor that the user inhales. Instead of smoking, it's come to be called "vaping."
The liquid is a mixture of propylene glycol (a common chemical used in many in food products), vegetable glycerin, flavoring and nicotine. The composition can vary greatly by manufacturer.
Typical electronic cigarettes range from around $10 for a standard e-cigarette that requires replacement liquid cartridges to as much as $70 for a polished wooden model that can be refilled.
Although prices vary, pre-filled liquid cartridges, each lasting about as long as a pack of cigarettes, usually cost a few dollars, and bottles of flavored e-liquid range from a few dollars to more than $10 depending on size.
But as the market grows, little conclusive research has been done to determine the health effects of inhaling a nicotine-laced vapor.
The e-liquids themselves are not required to meet any federal standards, although the FDA is expected to exercise its regulatory authority over the products later this year.
Approval by the FDA means that a nicotine product, such as a patch or gum, has met standards of safety and effectiveness, said Dr. Anne Joseph, a tobacco researcher at the University of Minnesota. For now, e-cigarettes are in a gray area and are not regulated as tobacco products or medical devices, even though they share similarities with both product categories.
Joseph adds that electronic cigarettes may not be all bad for current tobacco users, with a couple of important caveats: Nonsmokers shouldn't start, and e-cigarette consumers should use them only with the goal of quitting.
There's a lot scientists still don't know. That includes the actual chemical exposure that users receive compared with traditional smokers' intake; the way vaporized nicotine is absorbed by the body; and the effects of secondhand vapor.
"States and local governments are having to revisit clean indoor air laws, and that's important for a couple reasons," Joseph said. "One, we don't know what they are emitting into the air."
Also, she worries that use of e-cigarettes will undermine years of antismoking campaigns that have taken cigarettes out of public places.
Compared with traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes appear to have fewer toxins, but the impact of e-cigarettes on long-term health must be studied, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in February.
"E-cigarette use is growing rapidly," Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said in a statement at the time. "There is still a lot we don't know about these products, including whether they will decrease or increase use of traditional cigarettes."
Katie Forster, who had tried to quit smoking with nicotine gum and patches, recently bought an e-cigarette.
"I did a lot of research" about the safety, said Forster, 26, who works for an accounting firm uptown. "And if I'm picking between a cigarette and an (e-cigarette), it's the lesser of the two evils for me."
Forster, who said she'll stick with it until she can quit smoking completely, chose a more elaborate device with a rechargeable battery and a refillable liquid cartridge.
The liquid is available in hundreds of flavors with varying levels of nicotine. It's those flavors, with appealing names such as Mocha Madness, Cotton Candy, Bourbon, Cowboy and Cuban Supreme, that have been a point of contention for some who worry that teenagers may be enticed. And for now, there is no federal restriction on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.
Cindy Armstrong, 57, of east Charlotte, smoked for more than 30 years. She tried to quit smoking many times, and had gotten down to about five cigarettes per day, but couldn't give them up completely.
"I analyzed when I liked to smoke, and I realized that it wasn't the nicotine so much as having the cigarette in my hand," she said.
When her boyfriend gave her an e-cigarette starter kit for Christmas, she never went back to smoking traditional cigarettes, and now, she only uses a disposable e-cigarette occasionally.
John Toohey, 45, of Ballantyne, quit smoking cigarettes within a few weeks of ordering an electronic cigarette.
"One of the great things with the e-cig is that you can gauge the nicotine," he said. "Even when I go to zero (nicotine), I'll probably still use it because it satisfies the hand-to-mouth craving."
Scientists and medical professionals, meanwhile, continue to offer the following caution: Long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes are unknown, and it could be years before consensus is reached about their safety.
Electronic cigarettes feature flavored nicotine vapor instead of smoke. They appeal to smokers who want to kick the habit, but have struggled with gums or patches.
The current iteration of the e-cigarette is credited to a Chinese pharmacist named Hon Lik, who patented his product in 2003. Researchers urge caution because little is known about the long-term effects, but concede that e-cigarettes may be better for current smokers than traditional cigarettes.
An estimated 43.8 million people, or 19 percent of adults, in the United States smoke cigarettes.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., accounting for more than 440,000 deaths annually.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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I was so fortunate to have my friend Esperanza of Pluck and Feather volunteer to help me with the digging. Yes, you heard me right, she OFFERED to dig a hole in my backyard for free, which, in my book, makes her one of the most awesomest people in my world. When I questioned her motives, she said "How is this any different than if we were friends that liked to run together or play sports? This is the stuff we like to do so why wouldn't we do it while hanging out." God, I'm so glad we're farming buddies and not running buddies. I HATE running.
Here I am looking a little spent.
I assure you it's all for show. While I was out at the store picking up some more filter fabric, Esperanza had moved all 900 pounds of drain rock from my truck to the backyard. Damn, that girl can hustle. I told my husband that he should hire her for construction jobs. Most of the guys I've worked with in our construction business couldn't hold a candle to her. Her breakneck productivity left me in the dust feeling more than a little guilty for not being as industrious - you know, like when a guest comes over and does the dishes that you've been meaning to get to all day. What? That's never happened to you? Looks like I could use some more urban farm workouts.
After we dug the trench, we laid filter fabric (landscaping fabric) and then a 20 foot length of 4" perforated pipe in the hole.
We then covered the pipe with drain rock.
After the drain rock, we wrapped the filter fabric around the whole thing as if we were putting a baby to bed or wrapping a burrito. Rocks were placed on top to hold the fabric in place.
At one end of the pipe, I installed a small sump pump, which I placed in a five gallon bucket. I don't think we'll need it, but the husband wants to make sure we don't flood in the animal pen again.
The bucket was attached to the perf pipe and then buried only to the lid so that we can still access it in case of mechanical problems.
I put a small square of ply over it, keeping it from being crushed by curious animals.
I suppose the pump is in no danger of damage by Fruit Loop.
And here's the finished product! We're going with bark mulch for bedding, since the hay seemed to prevent water from draining into the soil. I'll keep you posted as to how that ends up working out.


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Inspiration, ideas and information to help women build public speaking content, confidence and credibility. Denise Graveline is a Washington, DC-based speaker coach who has coached nearly 200 TEDMED and TEDx speakers--including one of 2016's most popular TED talks. She also has prepared speakers for presentations, testimony, and keynotes. She offers 1:1 coaching and group workshops in public speaking, presentation and media interview skills to both men and women.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Starting up again in public speaking: Advice from the experts
But before you talk yourself out of trying to speak again, I've rounded up some expert advice from around the world--four perspectives from speaking coaches, each of whom has a different take, resources and inspiration for the would-be revived speaker. As a bonus, I'll add my advice at the end. Enjoy this dense-packed consultation:
Feeling rusty? Wobbly? Speaking really is like riding a bicycle--you'll remember plenty about how to do it. But you still may want to grab some training wheels if you've been off the bike for a while. Maryland-based coach Kathy Reiffenstein offers 7 steps you can take to manage that balancing act and refresh your skills, with links to 10 books, blogs, recordings and other resources you can use to feel comfortable riding that bike again.
Manage your mindset and frame your perspective. You've got to remember it's not about you, but about your audience, counsels Cynthia Zhai, a speaker trainer in Singapore. She advises you to ask the right questions (and do your homework if you don't come up with answers), anticipate a positive outcome, and accept imperfection. She reminds us to remember that "There are three types of speakers: those who have bombed; those who will bomb; and those who will bomb again."
Find your voice and get to know it again. California vocal coach Kate Peters tells you how to regenerate your voice when you're rusty...and you're ON! It's all about reestablishing your relationship with your voice, through warm-ups, vocal exercises, practicing out loud, and, perhaps most importantly, thinking about your intention and how and whether your voice is conveying that to your audience. (You may find that's changed since the last time you spoke.) Kate offers lots of concrete exercises, ideas and inspiration to help you get reacquainted with the instrument that will help you most in speaking. Her email signature includes this convincing quote from Maya Angelou: "Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning."
Get help with what seems like heavy lifting: Sydney, Australia-based speaking and presentation coach Claire Duffy likened starting up again to strength training, offering three steps to prepare yourself and two more "when you're ready for the real thing." Check out her great brainstorming on how to get yourself a live audience in front of whom you can rehearse, culled from the workplace, your friends, or a group of teenagers. Yes, teenagers. (Duffy, in addition to coaching adults, trains student speakers and debaters and convenes Sydney's Archdale Debating Competition for girls, so she knows their potential to help you get back on your feet.)
I say you should start small and build up to bigger speaking gigs as your confidence grows. Try these four stepping stones to get speaking practice, all of which stop short of a full-blown speech. In many of them--such as moderating or being a panelist--an experienced speaker is sought-after. A speaker looking to break out of a hiatus also has the ideal framework for focused training. You can tell the public speaking coach exactly what it is you want to change, relearn or update, and get feedback in a private or small-group setting before you set foot on a stage. And if you want a refresher on certain skills, you may have it.
If you have a story to tell or a tip to share on restarting your speaking, share it in the comments. Thanks to all the coaches who contributed to this blog carnival--I appreciate your insights and contributions!
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McALLEN � Sara Elicia Garza, 55, and Valerie Jean Flores 38, both of Mission, have been arrested on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced Friday along with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
A federal grand jury in McAllen returned the 15-count sealed indictment on Nov. 15, 2011. In it, Garza is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the Texas Medicaid/Vendor Drug program, one count of conspiracy a defraud Humana Insurance, seven counts of submitting false and fraudulent claims to the Texas Medicaid/Vendor Drug program and five counts of submitting false and fraudulent claims to Humana Insurance.
The indictment also charges Flores with one count of conspiracy a defraud the Texas Medicaid/Vendor Drug program and seven counts of submitting false and fraudulent claims to the Texas Medicaid/Vendor Drug program. The indictment was unsealed Friday after the pair was taken into custody by federal and state authorities. Both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos Friday for an initial appearance on the charges and a detention hearing.
Judge Ramos ordered that Garza be released on a $100,000 bond with a 10 percent cash deposit and that Flores be released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Garza and Flores are scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 23, 2011, at 11:00 a.m.
Garza is a pharmacist and the owner and operator of Sara's Pharmacy and Gift Corner located in Mission, while Flores was formerly employed by Garza as the senior pharmacist technician at Sara's Pharmacy. In July 2011, agents from the FBI and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Texas Attorney General's Office executed a federal search warrant and seized documents and computers at Sara's Pharmacy and Gift Store. The pharmacy closed on or about Oct. 28, 2011, while the gift store remains operational.
The indictment alleges that Garza and Flores conspired to send false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid/Vendor Drug program and to Humana Insurance and that they submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicaid/Vendor Drug and to Humana for prescription medications that were never dispensed or provided to the Medicaid beneficiaries or the persons insured by Humana.
The indictment alleges that false and fraudulent claims for prescription medication were also submitted to other health care benefit programs such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Caremark. Not only were the false and fraudulent claims submitted for prescription medications that were never dispensed but some of the claims were for prescription medications used to treat medical conditions that the "patients" never had, according to the indictment.
In some cases, the doctors whose names were used on the prescriptions had never seen the "patients." To cover up their fraudulent scheme and billings, the pair forged prescriptions, forged doctors' signatures on prescriptions, forged patients' signatures on logs that purportedly indicated that the patient had received medications and altered pharmacy records.
According to the indictment, Garza and Flores caused the Medicaid/Vendor Drug program to pay more than $461,951 for fraudulent claims for medications that never dispensed to patients. Humana is alleged to have paid Garza an excess of $78,711 for similar fraudulent claims. As a result of this fraudulent scheme, an excess of $540,663 was to paid to Sara's Pharmacy from on or about Nov. 15, 2006, through on or about June 17, 2011.
Each of the 15 counts of the indictment carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine plus up to three years of post prison supervised release. The investigation leading to the charges in this case was conducted by the FBI and the Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Casey N. MacDonald and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rex G. Beasley are prosecuting the case.