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Photo By: Ebby Halliday Realtors, a member of Luxury Portfolio International ; Photos by Realty Pro Shots
Photo By: PopFizz | Bryan Allen
Photo By: DISTRICT DESIGN
Photo By: Kevin Alter
Photo By: Alexey Gold-Dvoryadkin
Photo By: Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: Meybohm Real Estate, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: John R. Wood Properties, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: Parks Realty, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: Joe Fletcher Photography
Traditional, Gothic-Inspired House in Texas
A long driveway creates a dramatic entrance to this Gothic-inspired, luxurious estate in Colleyville, Texas. The landscaped property features a pond with a water feature and multiple outdoor entertaining areas.
Visit Original Photo
Potted Plants Hang From DIY Living Wall
An integral part of any outdoor room, greenery adds a vibrancy that you just can't get from anything else. Bring color and texture to your patio with a variety of potted plants.
Transitional Blue Master Bedroom With Fireplace
This transitional blue master bedroom utilizes a lot of layers to create a one-of-a-kind look. Plush fabrics paired with worn woods give the room a cozy feel while a simple fireplace acts as a focal point.
Cozy Midcentury Modern Living Room With Two-Sided Fireplace
Large floor-to-ceiling windows provide an immense amount of light to this cozy, midcentury modern living room. Black leather armchairs with matching ottomans circle around the two-sided fireplace, which features a collection of art with Southwestern flair. A white shag rug and yellow throw add extra coziness to the space.
Flat Light and Fun Rug in Hallway Leading to Little Girl's Nursery
The hallway that enters this nursery is not exempt from the elegant design. A flat light fixture is used in this space to minimize the effect of the low ceiling and allow for plenty of room to open the closet doors. A hop scotch rug leading from the heart of the nursery to the door adds a fun little touch to this space.
Back Patio and Pool With Red Chairs
The difference between indoor and outdoor spaces is minimal at this home, with most rooms opening directly onto the large patio and covered porch.
Historic Home With A Formal Backyard Garden
Listed on the National Historic Register, this home in South Carolina features a beautifully landscaped formal backyard garden, with low hedges, trees and potted plants.
Tropical Bedroom With Red Bed
Staying in bed all day is extra tempting when a bedroom comes with as spectacular views as this one does.
Ocean View and Infinity Pool
It's a little hard to tell where the infinity pool leaves off and the ocean begins out back of this home, right near Anini Beach on the north shore of Kauai.
Large Living Room with Calming Neutral Colors
This spacious living room features calming neutral colors, a large sofa with decorative pillows, and an oversized potted plant between two floor-to-ceiling windows.
Luxury Cabin and Grass at Night
This grassy backyard is only a part of the home's 2,600 square feet of outdoor space.
Balcony With River and Mountain View
Step out onto the wraparound balcony belonging to the home's upper floor and take in endless vistas of mountains, river and golf course's rich green.
Tropical Courtyard with Fountain, Lush Landscaping
This luxurious courtyard features an inlaid floor, center fountain and arched architectural details that mimic the lines of the courtyard floor. Lush plantings take advantage of the tropical setting in Naples, Florida.
White Cottage Pantry With Cookbook
Small appliances and large serving pieces are easily stashed in the pantry. And there's plenty of extra countertop space, too.
Tropical Backyard Pool and Lanai in Florida
Luxury reins in this Naples, Florida, backyard, which features a lushly landscaped pool and hot tub. A water feature provides tranquil sound for guests to enjoy while they lounge on the lanai. Stately architecture with Classical details and a pink stucco facade fits the Florida setting.
Open Plan Kitchen With White Island
The ceiling in the kitchen and family room soars up 18 feet high and is punctuated by exposed wood beams.
Modern Home Blends Into Rugged, Hillside Site
Stone and glass blend on the facade of this modern home, which connects to its rugged, secluded site through its generous use of natural and organic materials, as well as broad expanses of glass that open the interiors to sweeping views. A stone fence creates a sinuous line that draws the eye to the clean, modern structure.
Neutral Contemporary Bedroom Features Colorful Art and Accents
A pair of colorful paintings over the fireplace add welcome color to this neutral contemporary bedroom. A yellow ottoman and matching pillow echo the color in the one of the paintings.
Backyard and Sky in Windows
Walls made of nearly solid glass have the neat effect of reflecting the sky on a sunny day, adding to the beauty of the backyard.


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SoftZone® Butterfly Stool Set, 6 Pieces, Earthtone Colors
Create a comfortable and attractive seating space for kids with the 6-Piece SoftZone Butterfly Stool Set from ECR4Kids. The soft foam seats fit together in multiple configurations to create a custom seating space for toddlers and kids. Create a sitting circle, a central table with floating chairs, a long bench and more by rearranging the modular stools. This versatile seating set is perfect for story time and group activites in daycares, preschools, classrooms and homes. The soft, colorful polyurethane cover is durable and easy to maintain—just wipe clean with mild soap and water solution. Available in assorted colors from your choice of attractive color palette: Primary, Contemporary or Earthtone. Recommended for children 2 years - 5 years. No assembly required. Butterfly stools are phthalate-free and have achieved GREENGUARD [GOLD] Certification, are CPSIA-compliant for safety and adhere to CA-117 requirements for fire retardancy. With a concentration on the Pre K-12 sector, ECR4Kids offers a wide range of products including classroom tables and chairs, preschool rest time solutions, hardwood storage cases, blocks and manipulative, mobile organizers and a variety of indoor and outdoor play structures.
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Lee Odden CEO at Toprankblog interviewed 10 thought leaders on content marketing and curation over a year ago, but it is still timely and relevant today. They share their insights, questions and observations.
****One thing is for sure, 2012 is the year for content curation!
Companies are realizing the value in brands as publishers and are making real commitments to the creation of content in their online marketing mix. Content curation is going to be an equally important element in their content strategy.
Here are just a few things that caught my attention:
Paul Gillin - @pgillin
Consultant, Author of "The New Influencers & Secrets of Social Media Marketing"
**Marketers can build trust with their constituencies by providing focused curation in areas that matter to their constituents.
**Original content will always have value, but curation is coming to have nearly equal value.
**The key is to stake out unique topic areas and to become the most trusted source in those areas.
**You don't need a lot of money to do this. You just need to know the subject matter very well.
Erik Qualman @equalman
Author of Socialnomics:
**Today, everyone is a potential media outlet.
**A curator understands their audience and is able to package created content in a digestible manner for them.
**Creators need to view curators as distribution points for their content rather than as pirates.
**Content creators and curators that will thrive in this new world understand the importance of this symbiotic relationship. But is it symbiotic?
**In the end, almost every person is a little of both (creator & curator).
After all, there is no such thing as a new idea and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
**These clichés symbolize the irony of the topic being discussed.
Curated by Jan Gordon covering "Content Curation, Social Media and Beyond"
Read full article here: [http://bit.ly/v03JVh]
Via janlgordon


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A slice of history in Oamaru
On the Beautiful Otago coastline, lies Oamaru - a town bursting with history and things to do.
Things to do
There's endless things to do in Oamaru, with many attractions, restaurants and outdoor activities.
Moeraki Boulders: Just a 30min drive from Oamaru are the famous Moeraki Boulders. Formed 60 million years ago, these fascinating spherical rock formations make for a great day trip. Drive 5 min further into Moeraki's tiny seaside village and have lunch at the award winning Fleurs Place – specialising in freshly caught seafood and local produce.
Blue Penguin Colony: Oamaru is home to the world's smallest penguins. You can watch the penguins waddle ashore at dusk or take a behind the scenes tour around their nests during the day. Along with a special conservation program, a visit to the Colony is a worthwhile activity and great for kids.
Victorian Precinct: Oamaru is lucky to be home to a wonderful area of historic buildings and lanes. There's a wide selection of entertainment and attractions on offer, all with quirky, historic interest. If you're a Steampunk enthusiast or antique collector, you will find lots of treasures on offer. The precinct is also full of transport, maritime and industrial history, with displays of bicycles, trains and railways, boats, cars, machinery and much more. Along with unique selection of restaurants, cafés and bars, you can easily spend half a day here.
Explore the Outdoors: Oamaru is located in the scenic province of Otago, offering spectacular beaches, walks, mountains and stunning plateus. Spend a day driving inland up the Waitaki River, and check out the various hydro-dams that power thousands of homes. The lakes created from the dams are popular holiday spots, especially for water-sports fanatics.
Restaurants and cafes
Oamaru has many award winning restaurants, with a variety of eateries to suit everyone. Ranging from cheap and cheerful Asian takeaways and great fish & chips to fine dining, top quality restaurants. Otago has a delicious range of local cheeses, wines and produce, topped off with a few cafes that make a great coffee, there's surely something to satisfy your appetite.
If you're after central Oamaru accommodation, choose Bella Vista Motel Oamaru. Recently awarded "Best in District" by Travelbug, this is the perfect place to rest your head. Book today to begin your Otago escape.


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In the Blog
Leveraging Women's Leadership for the 21st Century: Changing the Game
In celebration of its tenth anniversary and the global centenary of International Women's Day, Equal Voice, an organization dedicated to promoting the election of women in Canada, is holding a summit. Students and young women under 25 can register for free! Here are some of the details:
What: Leveraging Women's Leadership for the 21st Century: Changing the Game summit
When: Thursday March 10, 2011 & Friday March 11, 2011
Where: Government Conference Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Cost: One day: $37.50 Two days: $75.00 Recognitions Reception: $25.00 ($10 for students and young women) Students/Seniors and Young women (under 25): Free
Registration includes breakfast and lunch on both days.
In addition to a series of plenary panels/conversations, Equal Voice will take the opportunity on the evening of Thursday, March 10th, 2011 to honour ten esteemed women and men who have paved the way for women's current political engagement in Canada.
A youth forum on Friday afternoon featuring some young women leaders will close the event.
For more information–including panel details and a list of speakers–or to register, visit http://www.equalvoice.ca/events.cfm


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A lovely shiny black volume of Ulf Buxrud`s "Japanese Whisky - Facts, Figures and Taste" arrived on my doorstep yesterday. I sat down with a glass of Karuizawa and read it in a single sitting.
The book is in a lavish hardback format on lovely thick glossy paper. Much of its photography is of the highest quality. The imagery for the main distilleries is particularly good and the spreads for the Fuji-Gotemba, Karuizawa and Yoichi distilleries are the best you are going to get anywhere. Some of the smaller, now defunct distilleries inevitably suffer from a scarcity of imagery and there are a couple of sections (Shirakawa and Hanyu) where the available photographs have been stretched to resolutions beyond their capabilities, resulting in a slightly off-putting pixelation. However, the overall design of the book is both beautiful and a joy to read.
The overall impression is of an extensively researched work which significantly expands the available information in English on its subject. Ulf Buxrud is formidably well informed about whisky and the real engine rooms of "Japanese Whisky - Facts, Figures and Taste" for me were the technical chapters "On Fermentation Practice", "On Distillation Practice", "On Filtration Practice" and "On Wood Policy". Specifically, I was fascinated by Ulf`s exploration of the Japanese distillers` highly controlled use yeasts and his comparisons with Scottish practice.
Predictably for such an experienced whisky aficionado, the whisky tasting is presented in a highly systematic and clearly explained way and the numerous whisky reviews are always interesting and sometimes mouth watering.
The entries on each distillery provide historical context as well as extensive technical information about the current facilities. I particularly enjoyed the "Other Things to do in the area" sections which give hints to prospective travellers on attractions beyond the whisky world. Many of these distilleries are set in really beautiful and interesting parts of Japan. It would be a pity to be wearing whisky blinkers when you visit them. The suggested itinerary for a whisky tour of Japan is also a very pleasant addition to the book. It is detailed and well researched.
This would not be Nonjatta if I didn't indulge in some nerdy quibbles over small factual issues. Overall, it is fair to say that Ulf's work would have benefited from a good proof read but there are some more substantive weaknesses. I have thought carefully about whether to include these issues in this review. It seems a little churlish to load down coverage on a book that I liked in this way. On the other hand there are passages which may mislead people trying to use the book as a guide, so I have come to a compromise by posting all my nit picking on a separate page.
There is one additional negative that I feel I need to mention in the main review and which puts me in a somewhat difficult position. There is wording in this book that is uncomfortably close to that on Nonjatta. I thought about letting this pass without comment but doing so would lay me open, perhaps more than the author of the book, to accusations of using someone else`s work. The normal assumption is that the content of a website is likely to have been lifted from a more "authoritative" looking printed book, rather than the other way around. I am a professional writer and that sort of impression would be highly damaging to me. So, I am going to briefly state the problem and move on.
Ulf has credited Nonjatta as a source of images in his book but in a number of places, especially in the history sections, he has, perfectly legitimately, leaned fairly heavily on Nonjatta for some of his content. I appreciate that it is difficult in a non-academic work to properly reference. (I don`t apply academic reference formats on Nonjatta either but I always, perhaps rather tediously, try to make my sources clear at the end of every post). However, I would ask readers to peruse the following passages:
Nonjatta (Published July 1, 2007), link here: "On Thursday April 17, 1919, Masataka Taketsuru walked into the ramshackle wooden buildings of Glasgow's Buchanan Street Station and boarded the Caledonian Railway train going north. ... He changed at Perth onto the North Highland railway and finally made it to Elgin at the heart of the famous Speyside whisky region. He put up at the Station Hotel."The "..." in the Nonjatta passage indicates that there were some extra sentences in the middle of my original but I think you will agree there is an unreferenced echo bouncing around there somewhere. My own source for much of the information in those two sentences was Japanese Whisky, Scotch Blend by Olive Checkland (1998), which Nonjatta's format allowed me to reference at the bottom of my original post. Checkland in turn references Taketsuru's "Elgin Diary" in the Glasgow University Archives. Unfortunately, Ulf`s only referencing in his whole book is a seven entry bibliography on page 148, which lists Checkland and a three word mention of the "Nonjatta web site". However, the wording is so hauntingly similar to Nonjatta's here (and my phrasing and organisation of the information quite dissimilar to Checkland's) that I worry a little if Ulf has leaned similarly heavily on other sources in other parts of the book. There are other passages where (how shall I put it?) Nonjatta readers might feel a certain sense of "unreferenced déjà vu" and I comment in the factual correction post on similarities with some Wikipedia text at another point in the book. However, I have already spent too much space on this rather egotistical issue. Most readers probably do not give a monkeys about where the information/phrasing comes from.
Japanese Whisky - Facts, Figures and Taste (Published September 2008), page 19: "On Thursday April 17, 1919, Masataka Taketsuru walked into Glasgow's Buchanan Street Station and boarded the Caledonian Railway train going north. He changed at Perth onto the North Highland railway and finally made it to Elgin, at the heart of the famous Speyside whisky region. He put up at the Station Hotel."
Returning to the positives, Ulf's book, particularly the technical sections, taught me a great deal that I did not know about whisky in general and about Japanese whisky in particular. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Japanese Whisky - Facts, Figures and Taste" and I think we all need to thank Ulf for the hard work that went into this significant addition to English information about Japanese whisky.
The hardback can be obtained via various sources listed on Ulf`s website for 60 Dollars/30 Pounds/40 Euros.


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In response to worry about identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other government agencies now require hospitals and other organizations that issue "credit" by providing services in advance of payment to have an Identity Theft Prevention Program.
To make the program work, Lourdes will ask you to show us a photo identification, or two other forms of identification and your insurance information. We will ask for this each time you come to the Hospital or any of our clinics for services. Patient care will not be delayed due to lack of identification. (Note: This does not apply to visitors.)
The new system will be implemented on August 1, 2009. We hope that this new process will be easy for you.
If you have any questions or concerns
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Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta taught a history class and talked about public service with students at John L. Chapin High School here today as part his visit to nearby Fort Bliss.
Roughly half of the student body of this school comes from military families, and the school honors the men of the 36th Infantry Division's Company E, 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry, a local Texas National Guard unit that fought across Europe in World War II.
Panetta taught Kristina Mills' 11th grade U.S. history class. He spoke about the opportunity that America offered his family when his parents arrived in the United States from Italy in the 1930s.
"My father and mother made clear that my brother and I owed something back to the country that had given us so much," Panetta said.
He said his parents were his greatest influence in pursuing a life of public service, and his second inspiration was the time he spent as a military intelligence officer in the early 1960s.
"When you are in the military, you understand the importance of working together for a common mission," he said. "It reinforced to me how important it is to work together."
Panetta said his third inspiration came from President John F. Kennedy, who called on Americans in January 1961 to "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
All this inspired him to service, the secretary said.
Panetta thanked the military family members for their service and their sacrifices. Roughly 45 percent of the school's 1,900 students come from Fort Bliss or William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
Richard Tellez, a retired soldier, is the school's military family liaison. He works with parents, post officials and the school district to ensure the needs of military families are met.
Many service members at the post have deployed numerous times, and that brings its own set of problems and challenges, said Carla Gonzales, Chapin's principal. "But the cooperation between Fort Bliss and the school has been exceptional," she said.
Many students who graduate from Chapin go into the military, Gonzales said, adding that she is particularly proud of the number of students who go on to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.
"We have had one student who went to the Naval Academy prep school, too," she added.


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ALEXANDER WANG DEVON ESPADRILLE SNEAKERSCategories:Designer Shoes
An amazing combination
Who could have thought about this idea – blending Espadrille with Sneakers. And it's another addition to Alexander Wang's vision in fashion, sporty and chic.
But anyways, please meet Alexander Wang Devon Espadrille Sneakers.
We all know that Sneakers are comfortable shoes, but not everyone love to wear sneakers. Of course apart from going to the Gym, ya know.
Don't forget to tie your laces.
But Espadrilles? Everyone love Espadrilles, they are the hottest shoes for this season (and perhaps in the next and also the next…and so on).
And so, why not blend them together.
These shoes are the proof of Alexander Wang's vision of Sporty-Chic. The Devon Espadrille Sneakers shoes will match to your modernity and daytime outfits.
About the construction and the design. These shoes are made from traditional espadrille construction with rope fiber midsole and hand-stitched finishing. It features a rubberized leather sole and interior leather trim detailing.
And the upper part is made form calf-leather. The front of the shoes are finished with chic metal zipper.
Run with these shoes, priced at $505 USD via Mytheresa.
Tags: Alexander Wang Sneakers Espadrille DEVON


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The Cult of Relevance and the Management of Need
Irony, ironically, is a profoundly biblical theme that does not figure strongly in the thinking of most Christians. Yet no other religion rivals the Christian faith in providing such a foundation for a strong view of irony. Because human unbelief …Read More
Dearest Murktooth, We are happy to charge you with the present task for your assigned patient. We are happy because it is a rather easy task, evidence of your still remedial aptitude for temptations, which is itself evidence of your …Read More
Pleasures Forevermore
"Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be …Read More
Prayer and Its Discontents
Prayer is many things to many people. To the Muslim it is a daily ritual, to the Catholic it is a work that helps merit salvation, and to the evangelical Christian it is often a struggle. Books are written, classes …Read More
Rest for Restless Hearts
Stroll into a bookstore these days and you will likely find a large area labeled "Self-Help," "Motivation," or "Personal Transformation." Go ahead, browse the volumes found here. Some are curiously interesting, and some will just make you laugh. Several books …Read More


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Or find a doctor at another Johns Hopkins Medicine Member Hospital:
Irene C Kuo, M.D.
Chief, Wilmer Eye Institute - White Marsh
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Languages: English, Chinese, Mandarin
Expertise: Cornea/Anterior Segment Disease, Corneal Diseases, Ophthalmology, Refractive Surgery
Research Interests: antibiotics in corneal storage medium; corneal wound-healing after laser refractive surgery; clinical outcomes after refractive surgery; wound-healing after infectious keratitis ...read more
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4924 Campbell Boulevard Nottingham, MD 21236
Phone: 443-442-2020
Irene C. Kuo, M.D., is an associate professor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, and medical director of the Wilmer's White Marsh location. A corneal specialist and board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Kuo has clinical expertise in laser refractive surgery (LASIK PRK, femtosecond laser surgery), corneal disease and surgery, corneal transplant and cataract surgery, and uveitis. She is certified to implant newer lens implants, including multifocal and astigmatism-correcting lenses.
Dr. Kuo has received the designation of one of America's "Top Ophthalmologists" and was chosen for the Patients' Choice Award in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. In addition to being certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, she is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of the Cornea Society, an honorary society to which membership is based on a thesis and publications. Her research activities include clinical outcomes of laser refractive surgery, wound healing after keratorefractive procedures and the evaluation and treatment of infectious keratitis. She is well-published in the peer-review literature and presents her work at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meetings. She has received awards from the Heed Foundation and from the Eye Bank Association of America for her research.
Dr. Kuo received her M.D. degree from the University of California, San Francisco and completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Southern California's Doheny Eye Institute. She then completed a fellowship in cornea, refractive surgery and uveitis at the University of California, San Francisco. As chief of infection control for the Wilmer Eye Institute, Dr. Kuo worked with Occupational Health, Virology and Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control to develop a new policy to quickly diagnose empolyees with a highly contagious and damaging form of viral conjunctivitis ("pink eye") so that they can be sent home and not spread disease to patients and other employees.
- Chief, Wilmer Eye Institute - White Marsh
- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Departments / Divisions
- Ophthalmology - Cornea and Anterior Segment
Centers & Institutes
- MD, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (1994)
- LAC + USC Medical Center / Ophthalmology (1998)
- Proctor Foundation / Cornea and Refractive Surgery (2000)
Board Certifications
- American Board of Ophthalmology / Ophthalmology (2000)
Research & Publications
Selected PublicationsView all on Pubmed
3. Kuo IC, Seitz B, LaBree L, McDonnell P. Can zinc prevent apoptosis of anterior keratocytes after superficial keratectomy? Cornea 1997;16(5):550-555.
4. Kuo IC, Kapusta MA, Rao NA. Vitritis as the primary manifestation of syphilis in HIV patients. American Journal of Ophthalmology 1998;125(3):306-311.
5. Grossniklaus H, Martin DF, Avery R, Shields JA, Shields CL, Kuo IC, Green RL, Rao NA. Uveal lymphoid infiltration: Report of four cases and clinicopathologic review. Ophthalmology 1998;105(7):1265-1273.
6. Kuo IC, Cunningham ET. Ocular neovascularization in patients with uveitis. International Ophthalmology Clinics 2000;40(2):111-26.
7. Kuo IC, Rechdouni A, Rao NA, Johnston RH, Margolis TP, Cunningham ET. Subretinal fibrosis in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Ophthalmology 2000;107:1721-1728.
8. Kuo IC,* Cunningham ET, Fan J. Ophthalmic manifestations of NOMID syndrome. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2000;130(6):856-858. (*corresponding author)
9. Kuo IC, Ou R, Hwang DG. Flap haze after epithelial debridement and flap hydration for treatment of post-LASIK striae. Cornea 2001;20(3):339-341.
10. Kuo IC, Hwang DG. Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis following laser in situ keratomileusis. Cornea 2001;20(3):342-344.
11. Kuo IC, Liu WQ, Kuppermann B, Martin D, Margolis TP. Genotypic analysis of cytomegalovirus retinitis poorly responsive to intravenous ganciclovir but responsive to the ganciclovir implant. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2003;135(1):20-25.
12. Kuo IC, Cevallos V, Troyer R, Lietman T, McLeod SD. Efficacy of transport media use vs. direct inoculation of blood agar plates in the microbiologic evaluation of experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae keratitis. Cornea 2003;22(3):249-53.
13. Kuo IC,* Lee SM, Soya K, Holsclaw DS, Hwang, DG. Late onset haze and myopic regression after PRK. Cornea 2004;23:350-5. (*corresponding author)
14. Kuo IC. Corneal wound healing. Current Opinion of Ophthalmolmology 2004;15(4):311-5.
15. Kuo IC. Bernice Zimmer Brown. Archives of Ophthalmology 2004;122:939.
16. Jabbur NS, Chicani CF, Kuo IC, OBrien TP. Risk factors in interface epithelialization after laser in situ keratomileusis. Journal of Refractive Surgery 2004;20(4):343-348.
17. Kuo IC,* Kempen JH, Jabs DA. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of cytomegalovirus retinitis in persons without human immunodeficiency virus infection. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2004;138:338-346. (*corresponding author)
18. Kuo IC,* Ghajarnia M, OBrien TP, Jabbur NS. Excimer laser surgery for correction of ametropia after cataract surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg 2005;31(11):2104-10. (*corresponding author)
19. Kuo IC,* Broman AT, Pirouzmanesh A, Melia M. Is there an association between diabetes and keratoconus? Ophthalmology 2006; 113(2):184-90. (*corresponding author)
20. Kuo IC,*OBrien TP, Haller JA, Jabbur NS. Complications of sequential keratorefractive and vitreoretinal surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg 2006;32:2146-8. (*corresponding author)
21. Reviglio VE, Kuo IC, Gramajo L, Olmedo MA, Falco M, Juarez CP. Acute rhegmatogenous retinal detachment immediately following laser in situ keratomileusis. J Cataract Refract Surg 2007; 33:536-9.
22. Kuo IC. Response to Letter to the Editor, "Is There an Association between Diabetes and Keratoconus. Ophthalmology 2007; 114:1034-5.
23. Ramulu P, Green WR, Kuo IC. * Conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia. Cornea 2007;26:484-6 (*corresponding author).
24. Reviglio VE, Sambuelli R, Olmedo A, Falco M, Echenique, OBrien TP, Kuo IC. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor is an inducible antimicrobial peptide expressed in Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis, Mediators of Inflamm 2007; 2007:93857-93966 (senior author).
25. Kuo IC,* Jabbur NS, OBrien TP. Photorefractive keratectomy for refractory LASIK flap striae. J Cataract Refract Surg 2008; 34:330-3. (* corresponding author).
26. Kuo IC, Falco M, Olmedo A, Misani L, O''Brien TP, Reviglio VE. Corneal tattoo with tea infusion. Food Chem Toxicol 2008; 46:2303-5. Feb 12, 2008 E-pub ahead of print.
27. Kuo IC, Haller JA, Reviglio VE. Intravitreal bevacizumab for a subfoveal choroidal metastasis of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2008;126(9):1311-3.
28. Kuo IC,* Reviglio VE. Wavefront-guided refractive surgery after multifocal lens implantation. In press Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 2009 Apr 24. [Epub ahead of print] (* corresponding author)
29. Kuo IC, Myrowitz E, Chuck R, Schein O. Wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy to correct ametropia following aspheric ReSTOR implantation (provisionally accepted by J Refract Surg, pending revision 3/18/2009).
30. Kuo IC. Secretory leukoprotease inhibitor: a native antimicrobial protein in the innate immune response in a rat model of S. aureus keratitis. J Ophthalmol 2009;2009:259393 (senior author).
31. Kuo IC, Pellegrino F, Fornero P, Britos L, Pedetta G, Reviglio VE. H1N1 pandemic and ophthalmology. Ophthalmology 2010; 117(2):405.
32. Kuo IC. Trends in refractive surgery at an academic center: 2007 to 2009. BMC Ophthalmol. 2011 May 14;11(1):11. [Epub ahead of print]
33. Kuo IC,Reviglio VE. Aggressive pterygium growth and corneal scarring after hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy. Cornea.2011;30(7):832-4.
34. Kuo IC,Broman AT, Massof R, Park W. The impact of cataract surgery on patients from a low vision clinic. Can J Ophthalmol. 2011; 46(5):391-398.
35. Smith RJ, Kuo IC, Reviglio VE. Multiple apocrine hidrocystomas of the eyelids. Orbit. 2012; 31(2):140-2.
36. Casparis H, Lindsley K, Kuo IC, Sikder S, Bressler NB.Surgery for cataracts in people with age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Jun 13;6:CD006757.
37. Kuo IC, Sambuelli RH, Bono J, Smith RJ, Reviglio VE. Progression of choroidal metastasis of ovarian serous cystoadenocarcinoma after intravitreal bevacizumab treatment. Rare Tumors 2013; 4:5(1).
38. Kuo IC. Satellite clinics in academic ophthalmology programs: an exploratory study of successes and challenges.BMC Ophthalmol. 2013; 13(1):79.
Activities & Honors
- Heed Fellowship Award in Ophthalmology
- Scientific Award, Eye Bank Association of America
- American Board of Ophthalmology
- American Board of Ophthalmology
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
- Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology
- Castroviejo Cornea Society
Member - based on thesis and publications
- Women in Ophthalmology
Patient Ratings & Comments
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
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Brass sleeve buttons were used on the sleeves of men's shirts and women's shifts and are often confused with cuff links which were used later in the late 19th century. People of all social classes wore them; they were also issued to soldiers of several military regiments including the 17th of Foot in 1776 and the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment in 1778.
These sleeve buttons are 1/2" buttons copied from an original in a private collection. We sell these buttons by the set which includes enough buttons for one shirt. In other words two pairs of buttons each pair connected by a soldered oval attachment.
This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 05 October, 2016.


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Mellow Moods Candellight Yoga with Nacole
Name: Mellow Moods Candellight Yoga with Nacole
Date: February 27, 2019
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST
Website: Facebook
Event Description:
Mellow Moods by Nacole - PERFECT for BEGINNERS!!! a 90-minute warm, slow flow class, mellow music. Learn to link your breath with movement, connecting body and mind. Restorative yet strengthening class, great for yogis of all levels. Please visit Facebook for a complete list of classes.


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Track conditions were the talk of the paddock this weekend at the Indianapolis GP, as riders battled the changing tarmac surfaces, and undulating bumps of the Indy infield. Perhaps most vocal of his displeasure with the course was Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who called the Indianapolis Motor Speedway not a world class track, and specifically complained about plastic drains that would catch riders as the ventured in towards the edge of the track (Rossi also complained of these drains).
Teammate Nicky Hayden was less critical before Sunday's race though, saying that Stoner's comments could be applied to many of the courses on the MotoGP calendar. However after losing a knee puck to one of the drainage grates that Stoner criticized earlier, Hayden may be re-thinking his tune.
The loss of his left-side knee puck meant that Hayden could not drag a knee for many of the course's turns, which favors left-handers heavily. Obviously dragging his leathers despite the loss of the puck, Hayden says he could have made a better showing if it wasn't for the knee puck becoming detached from his suit. Warning: If you don't like seeing road rash, avoid the picts after the jump.


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An excellent lubricant, it will not attract wood dust or chips as an oil-based lubricant can. It is an ideal treatment for tools intended for storage, particularly in damp conditions.
The 29.5ml (1 oz) bottle is perfect for keeping in a tool box or shop to maintain easily accessed tool mechanisms (e.g., handplane adjusters, chuck mechanisms), while the 340g (12 oz) aerosol is for larger surfaces and areas that are difficult to reach (such as the blade height and pitch mechanisms on a table saw).
Ironically enough, we can't ship these by air; shipped by ground only.
Made in USA.


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The official Hesketh Bank AFC app
Centenary Sports Ground Station Road, Hesketh Bank Preston Lancashire PR4 6SR View with Google Maps
This website is part of the Pitchero Football network. Create your own free Football club website with Pitchero.
Digital advertising by Minute Media
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Pitch Hero Ltd Registered in ENGLAND | WF3 1DR | Company Number - 636 1033


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CHICAGO – Phil Emery is a list man.
Go ahead and memorize everything you need to accomplish at work. Take an order without writing down a single thing. Store away all of those promises that you made about doing household chores in some corner of your brain.
That's not Emery's style.
Emery has made a list, checked it twice, and checked it many more times after that. If you were in his shoes, you also would be more meticulous than Santa Claus.
The NFL draft begins Thursday with Round 1, continues Friday with Rounds 2 and 3, and wraps up Saturday with Rounds 4 through 7. The Bears have five picks heading into the draft, starting with their first-round selection at No. 20 overall.
All kinds of surprises happen during the draft. Some players go higher than expected while others wait in stunned silence as they slide down the board. Teams jockey for position with draft-day deals. Millions of dollars are at stake with every top selection.
No wonder Emery wants a list nearby.
The Bears' second-year general manager has mentioned "flexibility" countless times as he prepares to handpick a handful of rookies for the roster. To remain flexible in the face of surprises, Emery has compiled a list of players he would trade up to select, players he expects to be able to select at No. 20, and players he expects to be able to select later in the draft in case he decides to trade down for extra picks.
"We're not averse to any scenario as long as we see positive value out of it," Emery said.
Of course, Emery won't reveal his list to anyone outside of the organization. He hinted that his target list at No. 20 would include five to seven players, likely from both sides of the ball.
What we do know for certain is the Bears' 74-man roster heading into the draft. That roster – which will increase to as many as 90 players by training camp and narrow to 53 by the regular-season opener – should offer the greatest clue as to Emery's list.
Quarterbacks (3)
Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Matt Blanchard
Analysis: Emery would like to draft a young quarterback for Marc Trestman to develop. Look for a pick in the middle rounds (say, Rounds 4-6), where a player such as Landry Jones from Oklahoma or Matt Scott from Arizona might be available.
Running backs (4)
Matt Forte, Michael Bush, Armando Allen, Harvey Unga
Analysis: It's possible that the Bears could look for a pass-catching running back late, but Allen played well (27 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD) in limited time in 2012. Forte and Bush provide an excellent one-two punch in the backfield.
Receivers (8)
Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Earl Bennett, Eric Weems, Joe Anderson, Brittan Golden, Dale Moss, Terrence Toliver
Analysis: Devin Hester has become a full-time special teams player and Johnny Knox has retired, which could open up a spot for Emery to select a speed burner in the middle rounds. One idea is Texas wideout Marquise Goodwin, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds.
Tight ends (7)
Martellus Bennett, Steve Maneri, Evan Rodriguez, Kyle Adams, Brody Eldridge, Gabe Miller, Fendi Onobun
Analysis: Emery has a lot riding on Trestman, and he could help the new coach diversify his playbook by providing him with another top-notch tight end. Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, Stanford's Zach Ertz and San Diego State's Gavin Escobar could be gone in the first two rounds, so the Bears must act fast if they want another talent to join Bennett.
Offensive linemen (12)
Jermon Bushrod, J'Marcus Webb, Roberto Garza, Matt Slauson, Jonathan Scott, Gabe Carimi, James Brown, Eben Britton, Edwin Williams, Cory Brandon, Taylor Boggs, Derek Dennis
Analysis: Free-agent additions such as Bushrod and Slauson should help protect Cutler, but the Bears need more after giving up 44 sacks a year ago. Several top linemen could be available at No. 20, including Alabama's D.J. Fluker and North Carolina's Jonathan Cooper.
Defensive tackles (4)
Henry Melton, Stephen Paea, Nate Collins, Andre Fluellen
Analysis: The Bears need to add depth on the defensive interior, but they should be able to accomplish that in the later rounds. Melton and Paea are entrenched as the starters, while Amobi Okoye remains available as a free agent for possible backup duty.
Defensive ends (7)
Julius Peppers, Corey Wootton, Shea McClellin, Turk McBride, Kyle Moore, Cheta Ozougwu, Aston Whiteside
Analysis: Emery selected a versatile pass rusher (McClellin) with his first pick last season, and he likely will look at other positions in the first few rounds this year.
Linebackers (9)
Lance Briggs, D.J. Williams, James Anderson, Blake Costanzo, J.T. Thomas, Dom DeCicco, Patrick Trahan, Jerry Franklin, Lawrence Wilson
Analysis: Emery's mission, should he choose to accept it, is to provide the Bears with a younger, faster linebacker who can become a mainstay on defense in the years ahead. Georgia's Alec Ogletree is the best athlete and the best option. Others include Kansas State's Arthur Brown, LSU's Kevin Minter and maybe, just maybe, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o.
Cornerbacks (7)
Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Kelvin Hayden, Zack Bowman, Sherrick McManis, LeQuan Lewis, Isaiah Frey
Analysis: Tillman is 32, Jennings is 29 and Hayden will turn 30 in July, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to add youth here. Some have suggested that Washington's Desmond Trufant is a good fit at No. 20, but linebacker and offensive line are bigger priorities.
Safeties (8)
Major Wright, Chris Conte, Craig Steltz, Tom Zbikowski, Brandon Hardin, Anthony Walters, Tom Nelson, Cyhl Quarles
Analysis: The Bears have drafted a safety every year since 1842 (OK, we made that up), but they have bigger needs elsewhere. Hardin will have a chance to contribute after spending his rookie season on injured reserve.
Specialists (5)
Robbie Gould, Austin Signor, Adam Podlesh, Patrick Mannelly, Devin Hester
Analysis: Nothing to see here. Move right along.
• Northwest Herald sports columnist Tom Musick can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com and on Twitter @tcmusick.


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We couldn't help but wonder on the latest podcast what was up with Frank Gore in Sunday's NFC title game loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers running back sat for stretches of time during a second half that saw San Francisco lose a 10-point lead for the first time in the Colin Kaepernick era.
Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reported Tuesday that Gore will undergo "minor finger surgery" after rushing for just 14 yards on 11 attempts against Seattle's top-ranked defense. Ugly numbers for a bruiser who averaged 70.5 yards per game over 16 starts for the run-heavy Niners.
Gore lost carries to a combination of Kendall Hunter, Anthony Dixon and LaMichael James, who teamed for a whopping 17 yards off six totes. Despite Kaepernick's success on the ground, San Francisco struggled down the stretch without Gore blasting away at Seattle as he did one week earlier against the Carolina Panthers.
The only upside for the 49ers after getting bounced from the party? Their underrated foundation back has plenty of time to heal.
UPDATE: Coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday that Gore broke his right ring finger against Seattle.
The "Around The League Podcast" recapped all the Conference Championship week action.


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One of three Southern California men accused of planning to join a mentor in Afghanistan to commit "violent jihad" had undergone a major transformation in the past two years, two people who knew him said.
Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales, 21, of Upland, had been a religious Catholic before turning to extremist Islamic views, according to a friend and a neighbor.
Along with Ralph Deleon, 23, of Ontario, and 21-year-old Arifeen David Gojali of Riverside, Santana is accused of plotting to join the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan. The three men – who were arrested in Chino Friday – were under the guidance of 34-year-old Sohiel Omar Kabir of Pomona, who was being detained in Afghanistan.
A complaint and affidavit that details the four men's plans – allegedly to target American soldiers and government facilities abroad – was unsealed late Monday. FBI officials discussed the case Tuesday.
Santana, who was born in Mexico and had a pending U.S. citizenship application, said that he had always looked for violence and sought to fit in with groups, according to the affidavit.
Santana allegedly said he hoped Islam would let him "fit in and actually be able to fight for something that's right."
A man who described himself as a friend of Santana's but did not want to be identified said that Santana had changed.
"He was a really good kid. He was like a brother to me," said the man, who had gone to Upland High School with Santana.
The friend said that Santana had in the past two years begun going to mosque three times per day and discussing extremist ideas. The friend said Santana had tried to convert him to Islam.
"I feel like maybe he started turning to the Muslim religion because those guys who were converting him were there for him," the friend said. "So he felt like 'Oh, well, these are my brothers,' when in reality they were just brainwashing him."
Another woman, Morgan Ivara, who identified herself as a friend also said Santana had begun to act differently within the past year or so.
"He'd say something about God and it would be awful," Ivara said.
He had been a "hard-core Catholic" previously, she said. He began to post "weird stuff" on Facebook, she said. Ivara stopped talking to Santana six months ago, she said.
Santana's apartment in Upland was raided by FBI agents Friday, according to nearby residents.
If convicted on all counts, he faces 15 years in prison.


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Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Volume 34
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, 1963 - Physical education and training
From inside the book
78 pages matching Committee in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
Results 1-3 of 78
What people are saying - Write a review
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How to lose weight fast ?
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Some excerpts from my diary:
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Good Luck!


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Polo S Navy Pro Bc
Care: Wash Cold, Lay Flat to Dry, Don't Tumble Dry
Country: Italian Fabrics/German Thread/Made In Turkey
Material: 100% Luxury Egyptian Cotton
Color: Blue
Detail: Shirt Collar - Luxury Fine Jersey- Hand Made - German Stitching - Inside Trim - Unique Interlining - Hip Trim - Engraved Logo on Button - Bi Button - Breathable Cotton - Soft Hand - Maceoo Luxury Collection
If your Maceoo purchase does not meet your expectations or if you change your mind, you may return original condition items (purchased at full price) within 30 days from the date of delivery for a full refund, exchange, or store credit. Sale items may be returned within 30 days from the date of delivery for an exchange or store credit.
Returned items must be received as they were originally shipped, with all tags attached and in the original packaging.
Underwear & socks are final sale.
Shaped Fit - The Model in the highlighted picture is 6 Ft / Size 40"" Chest / 31"" Waist / 15"" Neck. He wears a size 3 = Medium
1-If you are used to wearing a straight cut shirt and looking for the extra movement, we strongly advise to size up.(ex: If you are a size Large, upsize to an XL).
2- If you are used to wearing a slim fit or a shaped fit, please select your actual size in our engineering fit.
This short-sleeve polo shirt by MACEOO is crafted from stretch-cotton mesh and features, a stiff dress shirt collar, and reversible button tab sleeve. This contemporary fit polo shirt offers the ultimate in refined comfort. Maceoo's polo will add a burst of texture to any look. Emblazoned in a speckled printed finish, this contemporary top is sure to standout in your daily acitivities. This elegant top is sure to be a return visitor to your weekend look. Team with a bomber and you'll always arrive in style.


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A national conservative leader thinks that yesterday's Politico story headlined "Is Rick Perry Dumb?" is really, really dumb.
And biased. That old liberal media bias that you've heard so much about.
Penny Nance, the CEO of Concerned Women for America, an organization of social conservatives, reacted furiously to the Politico story, saying it was the latest in a long line of negative media stereotypes of right-of-center politicians.
"Is Ronald Reagan electable? Is George Bush a wimp? Is Michele Bachmann crazy? Is Rick Perry dumb?" asked Nance, citing famous — or infamous — media headlines about conservative candidates.
"It's bad enough to raise these questions but the pathetic mainstream media only asks them about conservatives. Today's Politico story about Rick Perry is just the latest example. Where was the 2007 Politico lead story raising questions about whether or not Barack Obama was all style, no substance and just might be in over his head? That might have saved us from a presidency that is defined as a miserable failure with every passing day. Where was the 1991 Newsweek cover asking 'Does Bill Clinton have a problem with the truth?' Such a story could have certainly spared this nation in ways too many to count, and there was plenty of evidence of such a problem while he was running."
Nance says these stories (or lack of them) lead to an inescapable query: "Perhaps the American people should be asking: 'Does an unbiased mainstream media really exist, or is it just an extension of the Democratic National Committee?"


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December 2008
"We can be proud of this record of bipartisan accomplishment. Expectations were raised for what our students can achieve and what our government can get done."
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
As Americans prepare for a change in government, one thing that must not change is the remarkable progress being made by our nation's schools. Schools are expecting more from students. And our students are meeting the challenge.
Test Scores Are Higher:
- Math scores for 4th- and 8th-graders rose to record highs in 2007, according to the Nation's Report Card (NAEP);
- Reading scores for 4th-graders rose to record highs in 2007;
- Writing scores increased for 8th and 12th-graders in 2007;
- History scores increased in all three grade levels tested4th, 8th, and 12thin 2006.
The Achievement Gap Is Narrowing:
- African-American 4th-graders (in reading and math) and 8th-graders (in math) achieved their highest scores in the history of the Nation's Report Card in 2007;
- Hispanic 4th-graders (in reading and math) and 8th-graders (in math) achieved their highest scores in history;
- The achievement gap in math between white and Hispanic 8th-graders, and white and African-American 8th graders, narrowed by three points between 2003-2007.
Children Once "Left Behind" Have Made Great Strides Forward:
- Average reading scores for 4th-grade students with disabilities improved by 23 points between 2000 and 2007;
- Average reading scores for limited-English proficient 4th-graders improved by 21 points between 2000 to 2007;
- Children in large urban school districts have made faster academic gains than the nation as a whole.
Progress Is Being Made Compared To Other Nations:
- U.S. students in grades four and eight showed steady improvements in mathematics since 1995, according to the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS);
- U.S. 4th-graders (11 points higher) and 8th-graders (four points higher) improved in math from 2003 to 2007;
- U.S. 8th-graders improved by 16 points in math since 1995.
A Quality Education for All: The No Child Left Behind Act
President Bush set the tone for this progress. Upon taking office, he challenged schools to hold all students, regardless of race, income level, background, or zip code, to the same high standards. He vowed to end the "soft bigotry of low expectations" that plagued many schools.
Promises became action with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act [NCLB]. President Bush reached across the aisle, working with Democrats and Republicans as Congress passed the bill by an overwhelmingly bipartisan margin.
Signed into law in 2002, No Child Left Behind set a goal of all children learning to read and do math at grade level or better by 2014, with our schools held accountable for meeting it. While much work remains, we are on the right track.
Under NCLB:
- Schools test all students annually in grades 3-8 and once in high school;
- Data are disaggregated so the progress of all students can be measured and improved;
- States and districts have freedom to use federal education funds on top priorities; and
- Parents of children in poorly performing schools have new options, including free tutoring or the choice to enroll in another public or public charter school.
Doing What Works: What Gets Measured Gets Done
No Child Left Behind has spurred a nationwide accountability movement. It has focused our national conversation on education on results. Before NCLB, few states had complete assessment plans in place, and some did not even participate in the Nation's Report Card. We had little objective data to prove whether students were acquiring at least grade-level skills. Today:
- All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have accountability plans in place;
- All 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico test public school students annually to measure progress toward grade-level proficiency;
- All 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico offer parents "report cards" on their public schools; and
- All 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico participate in the Nation's Report Card.
To enhance states' ability to use test score data to drive student improvement, the Statewide Longitudinal Data System Grant Program was authorized in 2002. The program is already helping 27 states develop and implement improved data systems, through 3-year grants ranging from $1.5 to $6 million per state.
In addition, federal funding for K-12 education has risen 39 percent since 2001. This includes:
- A 59 percent increase (to $13.9 billion) for disadvantaged students in Title I schools;
- Almost $3 billion to help states strengthen their assessments; and
- A $491 million School Improvement Fund to reform and restructure chronically underperforming schools.
Federal education funds are now focused on what works. The Reading First program is a prime example. More than $6 billion has been invested in proven, research-based strategies to help students learn to read by grade three. Over 1.8 million children, many from low-income families, have been served. In addition:
- The Striving Readers program provides intensive instruction to help older students catch up;
- The President created the National Mathematics Advisory Panel in 2006 to review the best available scientific research on the teaching and learning of math;
- The What Works Clearinghouse and Doing What Works Web site are providing information on effective instructional strategies and examples of how to apply them to the classroom;
- In January 2008, the Department launched its educational "dashboard" Web site, Mapping Educational Progress, enabling parents to quickly learn how their states compare on key educational indicators; and
- A growth model program and a pilot "differentiated accountability" program are promoting innovation and flexibility while meeting the "bright line" requirements of NCLB.
Recognizing and Rewarding Teachers
Progress is made possible by great teachers. NCLB calls for a highly qualified teacher in every classroom. The Department has invested nearly $3 billion each year to help states meet the requirements, which include state certification and subject-matter knowledge. The percentage of highly qualified teachers rose from 87 percent to 94 percent between the 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 school years.
Continued academic improvement depends on teachers who are highly effective as well as highly qualified. The best teachers must be encouraged to work in the most challenging educational environments. This is key to closing the achievement gap and preparing all students for the demands of the 21st century.
President Bush's groundbreaking Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) is the first federally funded program geared toward rewarding great teachers and principals for outstanding performance. The program also aligns teacher hiring with NCLB's academic achievement goals. Since 2006, nearly $200 million has been awarded to 34 grantees. In addition:
- Loan forgiveness has been expanded from $5,000 to $17,500 per teacher, for highly qualified math, science, and special education teachers who choose to work in high-poverty communities;
- More than 300,000 teachers have been trained through the Department's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative and e-Learning professional development Web site;
- Congress enacted (but did not fund) the President's Adjunct Teacher Corps to encourage thousands of qualified professionals in mathematical, scientific, and other fields to become adjunct high school teachers; and
- The President's Troops-to-Teachers program is enabling our veterans to make a difference in the classroom.
Higher Education That Aims Higher
America's system of higher education has long been recognized as the finest in the world. But our colleges and universities face twin challenges: freshmen unprepared for postsecondary coursework and students unable to afford or gain access to college.
In 2005, Secretary Spellings formed the Commission on the Future of Higher Education. Its report, A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, called for improved access, particularly for low-income and minority students; affordability, by putting a check on rising tuition costs and making the financial aid system more user-friendly; and accountability, by providing consumers with clear and reliable information about cost and quality.
In September 2006, Secretary Spellings launched the Action Plan for Higher Education. She proposed a number of reforms, including aligning high school standards with college expectations, using the Internet to help families compare schools and receive financial aid, and modernizing state information systems without compromising student privacy.
Two years later, progress has been made on each of these goals:
- About 1.5 million more students are receiving Pell Grants than in 2001, while the maximum Pell Grant award has risen from about $3,700 per person in 2001 to $4,731 in 2008-09, a significant increase;
- The President's Academic Competitiveness Grants and SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grants encourage schools to offer and students to take more challenging course work; and
- The Department supports redesigning and simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and launched College.gov and the College Navigator Web site to help educate consumers.
President Bush has also taken steps to protect student aid from the financial crisis. In 2008, the President signed the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act into law, followed by a one-year extension.
New Choices for a New Century
In many ways, our public education system is trapped in the industrial age. The old, agrarian six-hours-a-day, 180-days-a-year model must be updated for the 21st century. We must use time more efficiently, and use data to customize instruction for individual students. And we must give parents more choices and control over their children's education.
Charter Schools:
- More than $1.8 billion in start-up funding has been invested since 2001 through the Charter Schools Program.
- The Department has leveraged nearly $740 million in financing for construction and renovation of charter schools.
- More than 120,000 students took advantage of NCLB's choice provision in 2006-07, transferring from an underperforming public school to another public school in the district.
- In October 2008, the Department announced final Title I regulations to require schools to notify parents in a timely manner about their choice options.
Supplemental Educational Services (SES):
- More than 530,000 students received free tutoring or afterschool help under NCLB's SES provision in 2006-07.
- The Department has launched SES pilot programs aimed at increasing the number of students receiving services.
D.C. Opportunity Scholarships:
- In 2004, President Bush signed the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program into law, the nation's first federally funded voucher program. It offers low-income parents scholarships worth up to $7,500 toward tuition and fees at the private school of their choice.
- Independent studies of the scholarship program have shown academic gains and parental satisfaction.


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Aftermarket exhaust kits and mufflers have been developed for several reasons. Most of the performance guys will add these kits to their vehicles to gain horsepower, usually adding 5-15 additional horses. Another good reason to upgrade an exhaust system is to increase your gas mileage, as your engine tends to breathe a little bit better with a new exhaust. With gas prices reaching new highs this summer, that alone is a good reason to upgrade your exhaust. One more reason why guys change out their exhaust is to have that cool growling sound when driving.
When it comes to exhaust systems, people tend to have different tastes. Most owners of classic bombs love the glass-packs. The guys with the classic Chevy Impalas like to go with the Flowmaster mufflers, so it was a natural that Flowmaster developed an exhaust kit for '58-'64 Impalas. Rumor has it that they're already working on the next generation of Impala kits, so watch out for those.
For this article, we caught up with The Muffler Man in Placentia, California, who was installing a Flowmaster mandrel-bent exhaust kit on a "first generation" Impala. This kit was a long time in the making and comes with a few muffler choices, including a short version and a complete tube kit. For this install, we opted to use a complete system with two Hush Power 2-inch mufflers. You've seen them advertised in Lowrider as the "Sound of Lowrider," and Flowmaster has pretty much hit it on the dot with their all-steel mufflers and exhaust kits. Now follow along as Josh of The Muffler Man installs this mandrel-bent Flowmaster exhaust kit on a classic '63 Impala.


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Thursday, May 17, 2007
On the Street…Just Off Fifth Ave, New York
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56 comments
Blue and yellow – a lovely mix. Dresses can be so pretty – exposed skin and fresh patterns – bring on the warmer weather!
That's a beautiful dress — I love the print.
Is she sitting or what?
Wow, what a fantastic dress! It looks a little out of place, though..
What a GORGEOUS dress! And the necklace sets it off perfectly.
I like how she's wearing this as a more casual style, but you could always dress it up. Ya-Ya's has a cute casual dress too that could work for both day and night, check it out at
Somewhat sad/sullen expression and the sunnies are a little too big, but that is an absolutely rockin' dress! Does anyone know where it's from?
what an amazing dress! I love it… Not super sure about the sunnies though – a bit heavy maybe?
Love the print on her maxi-dress, and the pretty necklace!
oh i hope she's sitting on some kind of suitcase. wouldn't that be loverly? she looks like she's about to take a trip,
that's summer. what a print. i admire the boldness of the necklace too. she's really great.
As much as I don't like the actual pattern, blue and yellow are wonderful together and here they highlight her beautiful skin and hair. I adore well cut long dresses and the way that good ones can highlight long legs, as this does. It's a shame the expression on her face distracts the attention from a well chosen dress.
LOVE her dress! It is gorgeous!
Love that she is sitting so casually by the sub stairs. It makes the dress look like everyday wear.
OMG she's floating.
I love blue and yellow together!
…the necklace makes it
The dress is ok, her snarly " nasty/ hip" look and attitude is really NOT ok, it is so much more tiresome and less lovely than the sweet and open
" librarian" just below her… I get tired of the snarlyness that I deal with every day here in NYC, I feel like it is what unsophisticated people think is a
" real NYC' attuitude when with a softer feeling she – and all the other " Im snarly becasue its cool girls" could be much prettier.. and happier..( and better to deal with) and so much more chic, no?
This dress, these glasses – daytime, on the street, that's awesome
Absolutely lovely. It's a perfect combination of ethnic design and Mediterranean flair. I love the dress. It's perfect for hanging out in India, Provence or NYC. I also love the pendant she's wearing.
I love the minimalist look. She has is a gorgeous dress, a beautiful pendant, sunglasses and sandals. Little make-up, nothing else. Perfect!
nice dress
5th ave uptown or downtown???– this looks more NYU than UES to me…
lovely dress
sitting on the stand pipe adds a little extra wit to this one. love it.
she's sitting on a stand pipe (there's a sign to the left of her) …think of a fire hydrant…gross & her dress is dragging on the ground…otherwise, it's cool
Wow! Great print. She is gorgeous in that dress.
blue and yellow is my second favorite color combination, i love it. i love everything about the dress, the girl. a+ from me.
I can't help but feel that the dress and the sunglasses are wearing her. She sort of just disappears… never mind the fact that she looks as though she is about to, um… fall over?
WOW for the dress. But I am not quite sure I like the size of the necklace. It seems to be competing for attention. I would have preferred something a little smaller. But WOW!
gorgeousness! anyone have a clue where that dress can be found?
The print, blue and yellow a definite hit. I wish I could see her shoes. . .
Nice Dress- FABULOUS Necklace! Though her overall appearance would be improved by a smile…
Hot town! Summer in the city.
– desertwind
This does look kinda surreal
Sitting on a Stand pipe
I usually hate blue and yellow combos
They remind me of bad 80′s
Laura Ashley
But this does work well on this yellow haired beauty
seriously paris hilton stopped dressing like this years ago and she is the poster girl for tired fashion
This is a story waiting to be told
There's currently no escaping yellow, is there?! But I think this is a good way to do it – more subtle and less immediately date-able.
Hot! I want the dress!!
oh my god.
wow, the dress is already super but her posing.. I could put her in a contemporary painting.. Where'd she get that dress? Where I can get similar dresses?? I'm so frustrated..
Beautiful dress on a beautiful woman. Too bad she looks so bored and jaded.
Every single girl in Rio de Janeiro has at least one dress like this one.
She looks like she could be walking down the streets of Leblon.
That print reminds me of Gustav Klimt..it's a lovely take on the maxidress trend.
yes, that dress is gorgeous but i wish that she was wearing a different necklace and shades. they both seem too fussy for this gorgeous dress (which really does not need accessories at all). also, would make a lovely cover-up for the beach or something to wear in a bright happy distant place.
LOL, to the poster who said it's like worn in Provence. No way!!!
Much more consrvative than you think.
Stunning!!! The best part of spring/summer are the dresses. It's coming to winter here in Western Australia :o(
Anyone notice the yellow walls inside the store she's infront of and the upward transition of the blue blobs on the window to frame her? Background compliments her dress perfectly, nice shot!
great display of a fit woman showing skin but still maintaining class. colours are brilliant, the yellow isn't too overwhelming.
where can i get this dress…i want to go there right now!
Gorgeous print.
That dress is amazing! So bohemian chic with a modern pop art pattern. I love your blog, the pictures are inspiring!
I just love this dress.
The dress is by Tricia Fix. Saw it in the store just this weekend, so I had to go back to this post. Seeing the dress was a reminder for me to see the potential in a garment as it hangs lifeless in the shop. I wouldn't have given this dress a second look as it seemed rather uninspiring on the rack, but then I remembered this photo and how this great looking woman rocked it!
looks like a TOPSHOP dress!! lovely it is! Can I have it.. pleezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……
beautiful women in blue looks beautiful to get married to!
looks very African-inspired….bow down to where it all started!


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selfinflikted wrote:Circa 1985. (Casio PT-82. Yes, it is a children's synth)
AH! I forgot the Casio SK-5
Moderators: MetroSonus, Plink Floyd
selfinflikted wrote:Circa 1985. (Casio PT-82. Yes, it is a children's synth)
ElectricPuppy wrote:ClavAnother wrote:Cool guys! Also, what year did you get your first synth/board?
That Wurly is actually the very first keyboard I ever bought for myself, in spring of 1984, for $50. The Juno 106 (and a Korg EX800, now part of Metro's collection) was bought a year later.
selfinflikted wrote:ClavAnother wrote:Holy cow, I just glanced at my OP, that list is scary long. I should reformat it like sir soundwave did
Nah man. The bigger the list, the cooler you appear.
selfinflikted wrote:Christ, Clav. That's a shit ton.
(in order of appearance) (keys and modules/racks/desktops)
Casio PT-82 (current)
Casio SK-1 (current)
Kimball Spinet Piano (current)
Yamaha PSR-540 (current)
Korg MicroKorg (sold)
Alesis Micron (sold)
Korg MS2000br (current)
Clavia Nord Lead 2x (sold)
Waldorf Blofeld (sold)
Roland Gaia (FUCKING RETURNED TO SENDER)
Roland SH-201 (current)
Kurzweil K2000 (current)
Korg KingKORG (current)
Korg Minilogue (sold)
Roland JU-06 (sold)
Roland System 8 (current)
ClavAnother wrote:I wanted to do chronological, but I'm not certain I can..It's almost thirty years, and twice as many items
ClavAnother wrote:Cool guys! Also, what year did you get your first synth/board?
ElectricPuppy wrote:I've always been intrigued by the additive harmonic Kawais. It seems like they ought to be capable of some nearly realistic or unearthly sounds. What say you, SWave?
Yes, the hardest step is admitting you have a problem. Of course, deep down you know the only cure is GIVE THEM ALL TO ME! AT ONCE, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!ClavAnother wrote:I wanted to start this thread to put my synth addiction into perspective. I knew I had a problem, I just had no idea how seriously bad it was. You guys probably already knew.
Plink Floyd wrote:There there.
ClavAnother wrote:New plan. I'm going to feed the addiction whatever it wants
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is closing in on history.
Witten has hauled 97 passes this season for the Cowboys. He is now just five catches behind Tony Gonzalez for the single-season record for catches by a tight end. Gonzalez set the record by compiling 102 catches for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.
It's a pretty incredible performance by Witten seeing that the start of his season was nearly delayed due to a lacerated spleen suffered in the preseason. Witten already set an NFL record this season by catching 18 passes in a loss to the New York Giants in October. It was the most catches by a tight end in league history and set a Cowboys' record for most catches by a player at any position.
"He just goes about it the right way," head coach Jason Garrett said of Witten, via Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning-News. "You hear me say this a lot about guys, but he's the best example of it. He loves the game, and he works so hard at it…I think he's had a remarkable year."


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The Scientific Approach to Teaching: Research as a Basis for Course Design
Eric Mazur, Area Dean of Applied Physics, Balkanski Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics, Harvard University
Friday, September 21, 2012, 3:30pm
Spanos Auditorium
This seminar is part of the Jones Seminars on Science, Technology, and Society series.
Discussions of teaching — even some publications — abound with anecdotal evidence. Our intuition often supplants a systematic, scientific approach to finding out what works and what doesn't work. Yet, research is increasingly demonstrating that our gut feelings about teaching are often wrong. In this talk I will discuss some research my group has done on gender issues in science courses and on the effectiveness of classroom demonstrations.
About the Speaker
Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Area Dean of Applied Physics. An internationally recognized scientist, he leads a vigorous research program in optical physics and supervises one of the largest research groups in the Physics Department at Harvard. Dr. Mazur, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Leiden, has made important contributions to spectroscopy, light scattering, the interaction of ultra short laser pulses with materials, and nanophotonics. Dr. Mazur also devotes part of his research group's effort to education research and finding verifiable ways to improve science education. In 1990 he began developing Peer Instruction, a method for teaching large lecture classes interactively. Dr. Mazur is author or co-author of 249 scientific publications and 12 patents. He has also written on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively. In 2006 he helped produce the award-winning DVD Interactive Teaching. In addition, he is the founder of SiOnyx, a company that is commercializing black silicon, a new form developed in Mazur's laboratory, and of Learning Catalytics, a company that uses data analytics to improve learning in the classroom.


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Two undercurrents of the Republican Convention jumped from the stage so blatantly they became the white elephant in the room: the irony that the Republicans were running as a party of change, and the championing of bubba-hood over intelligence as qualifications to lead this nation.
Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and the subsequent convention rhetoric used to promote her nomination and lash out at the Democrats with partisan rancor, showed just how far the G.O.P. has sunk in its election strategy.
In a country that used to seek "the best and the brightest" to lead our nation, Republicans recently have chosen candidates who have ranked at the bottom of their classes academically (Bush and McCain) and rely frequently on personal beliefs, rather than accepted facts or critical review of performance, to make decisions that are crucial for the nation's future.
Bush's appointment of Donald Rumsfeld as head of the Defense Department and his willingness to keep him in place in the face of abysmal failure and a ruinous foreign policy for the first five years of his presidency, for example, were disastrous. Similarly, his decision to ignore the evidence that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction and instead invade Iraq, while taking the focus off of capturing Osama bin Laden and defeating the Taliban, has been costly and counterproductive.
History will show that Bush was ill-informed on numerous issues and slow to make corrections because of his lack of intellectual curiosity and his detachment from the details. If he had a preconceived notion on an issue, according to several books on his presidency, he simply didn't want to hear contradictory information. McCain and Palin, each in their respective ways, show similar inclinations. Equally disconcerting, even as Bush, McCain and the Republicans denounce elitism in the campaign, for the six years they controlled Congress and the White House they showered the rich with tax loopholes and tax cuts while tossing crumbs to the middleclass and poor.
The hypocrisy between the Republicans' actions and their campaign rhetoric is so blatant that it is almost inconceivable the American voter would not immediately see they were being played as fools and reject the party in a landslide. And, yet, the public has been quick to identify with their stated goals and objectives. They like the sound of what the Republicans claim, even if those policies go against what they believe.
What the Republicans have counted on is a bubba-mentality that dismisses policy and hones in on character assassination as the meat and potatoes of their strategy. Forget policy, just demean the opposition; don't worry about the truth — during the campaign and while in office — voters won't pursue right from wrong and the rightwing media will repeat it often enough that some of the mistruths will stick.
This anti-intellectual backlash feeds a national resentment — primarily among Republicans and conservatives — toward those who are the best and brightest of our presidential candidates. It's a cultural trait that has been developing since Spiro Agnew's nonsensical attacks on Democrats during Richard Nixon's discredited presidency, and is heard repeatedly on today's right-wing broadcasts. The political comments in this vein are nasty, vicious and appealing to those Americans who have the perception, as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said in a recent column, that "Democrats look down their noses at regular people."
This perception is based on no evidence (and is contrary to what the Democratic Party works toward), but is fueled by the Republican Party's caustic rhetoric. (A quick read of the speeches of the Republican Convention versus the speeches of the Democratic Convention — easily found at www.addisonindependent.com — says much of each party's character. Without a doubt, the G.O.P. was far more partisan, angry, demeaning and derisive of the opposite party; but don't take our word on this, read the speeches yourself.)
"What the G.O.P. is selling, in other words, is the pure politics of resentment; you're supposed to vote Republican to stick it to an elite (class) that thinks it's better than you." That same attitude became a personal cult around George W. Bush, Krugman continued, that "celebrated his anti-intellectualism and made much of the supposed fact that the 'misunderestimated' C-average student had proved himself smarter than all the fancy-pants experts. And when Mr. Bush turned out not to be so smart after all, and his presidency crashed and burned, the angry right… became, if anything, even angrier."
What's so outrageous is that McCain — a wealthy Washington insider whose family has been part of the elite for decades — is pretending he isn't part of the privileged establishment and that Obama is.
Outrageous, that is, until you understand that words don't mean anything to this party of Bush and McCain. Words are simply used to mislead and confuse, to cover-up mistakes and attack others by being dismissive. It is the opposite of McCain's promise of 'straight talk' and makes one think that whatever the G.O.P. is selling — peace, unity, more jobs or cheap gasoline — will be the opposite of what their policies will deliver. That, at least, is how it's been these past eight years and there's no credible evidence to think it would be different under McCain.
Angelo S. Lynn


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This past weekend, CODEPINK took part in the Social Forum of the countries of Mercosul in Curitiba, Brazil. (Mercosul refers to the southern common market of South America: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.) Sponsored by CASLA, Casa Latinoamericana through the efforts of Gladys and Dimas De Souza who founded the cultural institute. Gladys, a retired pediatrician and Dimas a tenured sociology professor at the state university provided wonderful support and encouragement to Simone and I. They had planned a full agenda of speaking engagements at the forum and area universities.
At this event, Simone Delgado (NY) and I also participated on the Peace panel and the Women's panels.
http://www.forumsocialdomercosul.org/modules/galeria/fotos.php?evento=12 We talked about CODEPINK work and how we need the support of women in Latin America to bring about an end to the violence in Iraq. At the women's panel we shared the beautiful slideshow that Rae put together and presented a very brief history of CP and our creative tactics.
The event also invited popular progressive politicians Cuellar Araujo and the governor of the State of Parana, where Curitiba was held, Roberto uião.
The president of FDIM, the International Democratic Federation of Women, Marcia Campos put out the call to each of the participating women's groups to be more active. She said and I paraphrase, "If they can protest in the belly of the beast, (referring to the land of the imperialist Bush) then why can't they?
We were so proud and pleased that a Junior High school teacher and her students whose mothers were so inspired the day before by the CODEPINK slide show that they sent their daughters the next day to meet us at the forum.
Simone and I were overwhelmed by the support and encouragement provided by all. We recruited around 50 people to CODEPINK from our signup sheets at the event over the weekend and spoke to over 500 from events outside the forum! (Thanks to Simone who picked up where I left off after coming home for my trial.)


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Swimming Pool Blog
by Rob Cox May 16, 2014
Automatic Inground Pool Vacuum Cleaners: A Buyer's Guide
This guide is for the inground pool owner who has never owned an automatic pool cleaner, and is in the discovery, information gathering and research phase of possibly someday - buying a pool cleaner.
Selecting the best automatic pool cleaner sounds easy enough, how hard could it be? Well, I just did a count of the number of pool cleaner models for inground pools in our pool store, and we have 75 inground pool cleaners to choose from.
75?!? Hence the obvious need for a blog post to explain some differences between inground pool cleaners -specifically, in the levels of control, convenience and cost.
Within the category of pool cleaners, there are some maxims to observe, or things to keep in mind:
- Robot, Suction or Pressure? Your pool type and plumbing may dictate.
- You get what you pay for. The best pool cleaners are more expensive.
- Pool cleaners need occasional repairs, some more than others.
Pool Cleaner Types
Your Pool Plumbing: If you have a dedicated cleaner line, or a pipe underground that is used specifically for a pool cleaner, this makes the choice easier. A cleaner line can be either suction or pressure, or one that pulls water from the pool, or one that pushes water to the pool. With plumbing modifications, suction cleaner lines, aka vacuum lines, can be converted to a pressure line, by moving the pipe from the suction side manifold, to the return side manifold. This allows the line to be used with a pressure cleaner.
If your pool does not have a dedicated cleaner line, you can connect a suction cleaner into a skimmer, but if you have only one skimmer, you lose all surface cleaning while the cleaner is connected. For a pool that has limited plumbing options, such as one skimmer and two returns - a robotic pool cleaner may be the best choice, especially for a pool with a heavy debris load.
Suction cleaners are those that attach to the pool skimmer line, or a dedicated suction line (vacuum line). They are designed to operate (move and vacuum) with the suction created by your filter pump. Good: suction cleaners are easy to buy and easy to install. Bad: Clean slowly, the cleaner throat clogs easily and compromises filtering, as it brings all of the debris into the pump basket, which clogs up fast.
Pressure cleaners are those that attach to the pool return line, or a dedicated pressure line. The most popular (and efficient) models operate with the pressure created by a booster pump. Good: Fastest cleaners you can buy, and very effective on all types of debris, which it traps in it's own bag. Completely independent of the filter system. Bad: Expensive to buy, and very expensive to install, if you don't already have a dedicated cleaner line. There is a sub-group of pressure cleaners (Polaris 165 and Polaris 360, Legend II) that can connect to a regular wall return fitting, no booster pump required. They don't move as fast, aren't on their own timeclock, and they add resistance to the filtration, when connected to a regular wall return. However, low-pressure cleaners do big work for a small price.
Robot cleaners don't attach to any pipe, they are completely self-contained. Just plug in the power supply (low-voltage transformer), drop the cleaner in the pool, and plug the floating power cord into the power supply. Good: Medium speed cleaner has excellent coverage, and traps debris in its own bag, which also filters the water. Auto timer and shut-off features. Bad: Price used to be a factor, but robots have come way down in price over the years. Repairs can be costly if damage occurs to the onboard motors.
Debris Handling Ability: The best cleaners for heavy leaf debris, including acorns, twigs and large leaves are pressure side cleaners, which have the largest throats. Robotic cleaners tend to be next best in terms of handling lots of debris, but can become clogged more easily. Suction cleaners can also become clogged at the cleaner head, and because debris is brought into the pump basket, can quickly clog at the pump, unless an inline debris trap is used.
Pool Cleaner Prices
Prices for Inground Pool Cleaners? All over the place. I just sorted our 75 pool cleaners by price, and excluding commercial cleaners, inground pool cleaners range in price from $99 to $1599! Huge price range.
Suction cleaners are on the lower end of the price range, from $99 for the Mamba to $499 for the Baracuda MX8. The more expensive suction cleaners have features like greater speed, agility and vacuum power. The more expensive cleaners are built to be more durable, and last longer.
Pressure cleaners, like the Polaris 380 cost $699 and the Polaris 3900 Sport will set you back $899, plus you need the booster pump, timeclock, breaker and wiring - tack on another $500. With installation of a dedicated cleaner line, a pressure-side cleaner could certainly be the most expensive pool cleaner to own, unless installed by the homeowner.
Robot cleaners range from $399 for the SmartKleen, $599 for the Aquabot and $799 for the Breeze. But they go up from there, all the way to $1599 for turbo speed pool robots with remote control operation or underwater lights. No installation is the best part about a robotic pool cleaner. Drop it in and go!
Pool Cleaner Maintenance
All Pool Cleaners are Fragile. They can all be damaged if left in the pool while swimming or shocking the water. Leave it out of the pool, under the hot sun for too long, and plastic parts begin to break down and weaken. Pull it out of the pool without gentle care, and expensive parts can snap or twist. Place it in the traffic pattern of kids and dogs, and it's sure to be trampled.
Suction cleaners usually require very few repairs. At least one touts that their cleaner has 'Only One moving part!', which is notable. They can clog often in pools with large debris, but are easily unclogged, when you notice it's not moving. Replacing the skirt and footpad may be needed every few years, expect about $20 in annual repair costs.
Pressure cleaners probably require the most repairs and maintenance. Definitely more than one moving part, there are many wearable parts in contact with the pool, or internal parts that can stretch or wear themselves thin. New tires, wheels, belts and debris bag are common every few years, expect about $50 in annual repair costs.
Robot cleaners are just as complicated as pressure cleaners, and may require just as much maintenance or repair - or not. It depends on how well they are treated, and how often they are used. There are belts and tracks and pulleys and pins that can come loose, and this can cause damage if the cleaner is dragging itself around the pool. Expect about $50 in annual repair costs.
- Rob