text:
U21 top targets
Jon Holmes selects his top 10 transfer targets from the U21 Euro and concludes his Israel blogs.
By Jon Holmes - Follow @jonboy79
Last Updated: 21/06/13 12:57pm
Never mind UEFA's slogan of 'stars of today, superstars of tomorrow' - the starkest measurements of fame, talent and potential come with currency symbols attached. That was apparent from Matchday One here in Israel, when a list of over 40 top clubs who had sent scouts to the European U21 Championship appeared in the media zones (on official UEFA notepaper, no less).
So which players would have put themselves on the scouts' radars with impressive performances? Who might be best suited to a switch to the Premier League? Some names will have been familiar before we kicked off a fortnight ago, others less so - but you can guarantee you'll be hearing plenty more of this lot, and in most cases before the summer is out.
10. Nathan Redmond (England)
Redmond was thrown in at the deep end in England's tournament opener against Italy in Tel Aviv, but drew plenty of admiring glances for his application, willingness to run at defenders and general enthusiasm over 90 minutes. He was less useful in the two defeats that followed, making abbreviated appearances in both games, but that hasn't stopped the likes of Swansea, Norwich and Fulham earmarking him as a potential addition for next season. Birmingham need the money and want around £4million for the teenage winger.
9. Nir Biton (Israel)
Beanpole midfielder Biton was already being talked about at several Premier League clubs having played on trial for Manchester City in pre-season less than a year ago, but he successfully enhanced his burgeoning reputation by being the stand-out player for the hosts over the course of their Group A challenge. With Israel U21 coach Guy Luzon leaving his post to take the Standard Liege job, it's thought Biton could follow him to Belgium - but there might yet be bids from the other side of the Channel. His man-of-the-match display in the 1-0 win over England, in which he hit the crossbar from 30 yards, should have made the rest sit up and take notice, at any rate.
8. Sebastian Rudy (Germany)
Having made noises that he's happy at Hoffenheim, there's currently no great fuss over the future of Rudy but he must be among the most marketable of the Germans whose U21 Euro ended disappointingly early. But although they, like England, were sent packing after two defeats, Germany looked a good side in spells, especially in midfield. Rudy and his almost-namesake Sebastian Rode patrolled the centre with confidence, a blend of breezy efficiency and bulldog spirit respectively, allowing skipper Lewis Holtby to push forward. Rudy's calmness under pressure suggested he would adapt well to the helter-skelter nature of the Premier League.
7. Orjan Nyland (Norway)
Arguably the best goalkeeper on show at the tournament (on account of being busier than either Spain's David De Gea or Italy's Francesco Bardi), Nyland has only been with reigning Norwegian champions Molde a few months after moving on a free transfer. Whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's club would be interested in making a fast krone on him remains to be seen, but Molde's current Tippeligaen struggles (they are 15th out of 16 teams at the time of writing, after 12 games) coupled with firmed-up interest from an English club in need of a young keeper with quick reactions might result in a transfer. Nyland may have conceded three goals in the semi-final against Spain, but it could have been twice that were it not for his athleticism.
6. Asier Illaramendi (Spain)
The Real Sociedad midfielder was on course to be my player of the tournament before Thiago's hat-trick in the final, having oozed class as the fulcrum in Spain's central trio. With a passing accuracy of 95.8% - the best of any player who made more than one appearance in Israel - he is clearly the heir apparent to Xabi Alonso (a fellow Basque) and if Arsenal could land him for £10million, it would represent a significant coup. However, Real Madrid still seems a more likely destination for Illaramendi and with his San Sebastián employers set for UEFA Champions League football, a sale this summer is probably not necessary.
5. Giulio Donati (Italy)
Bayer Leverkusen head the queue for Azzurrini right-back Donati, whose Inter Milan future looks decidedly uncertain. He spent last season on loan at Grosseto in Serie B, but must now be considered top-flight class after a series of excellent displays in the Italian defence in Israel, most notably in the narrow semi-final victory over Holland. Keen to get forward, he helped launch a series of attacks and set up Ciro Immobile for Italy's first goal against Spain in the final in Jerusalem. Leverkusen are understood to have only offered around £2million for Donati at this stage so if any Premier League clubs are in the market for a right-back, they could tempt Inter with a bigger bid.
4. Marco van Ginkel (Holland)
Despite my best efforts in the mixed zone after the Jong Oranje fixtures, I couldn't get a definitive answer out of Van Ginkel on his future - but he at least always answered my questions with a smile and a laugh! Chelsea's close ties with Vitesse surely puts them ahead of Manchester United in the race for his signature, despite Red Devils scout Jim Lawlor travelling to the U21 Euro to see him and Kevin Strootman close up. Van Ginkel's height gives him a distinct advantage over similar box-to-box types - he won the most aerial duels of any midfielder at the tournament - and he is said to be valued at around £15million by his Arnhem club.
3. Kevin Strootman (Holland)
The PSV Eindhoven midfielder has his heart set on a move to England, according to his agent - and the player himself didn't contradict that view whenever he spoke to the media at the U21 Euro. Further along in his development than his colleague Van Ginkel due to the number of senior caps and UEFA club competition experience he has accrued, there is talk that a transfer to Manchester United has already been arranged. The tantalising prospect of Strootman teaming up with Thiago in the Old Trafford engine room should be enough to whet the appetites of those who want to see more young blood in the team under David Moyes.
2. Thiago Alcantara (Spain)
After improving upon his man-of-the-final display at Denmark 2011 by becoming the hat-trick hero in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Thiago underlined that he is still the cream of the Spanish crop at Under-21 level. However, he could leave Barcelona with a bitter after-taste due to the news that he is apparently available for just £18million this summer, having made less first-team club appearances at this stage of his career than he had hoped for. Manchester United lead the race for the coveted midfielder, whose all-round game and achievements at the age of just 22 are probably eyed enviously by Jack Wilshere - eight months younger and surely the closest English football has to Thiago's class.
1. Isco (Spain)
Will Isco follow Manuel Pellegrini from Malaga to Manchester City? It was probably the biggest transfer line in Israel, and it seemed that every journalist attempted at one point to get an answer out of the attacking midfielder on the topic. Eventually he was quoted by Madrid-based sports daily AS as saying that there is an offer on the table from the Etihad - but also one from the Bernabeu. Whether you admire him most for his dribbling, his eye for a key pass or his ability to draw fouls in dangerous positions around the box, there's no denying that he is already a player with significant stature in European football and worth every penny of his £30million release clause.
With the tournament now over, my U21 Euro escapades also come to a close. I've felt privileged to have witnessed such an exciting tournament which has once again showcased the next generation of European football talent (even if England didn't exactly come to the party). Those of you who have been following my adventures via social media may have seen some of the video blogs I've posted - the final offering is above and includes some of our activities in the week leading up to and including the final.
Closing credits now... you'll have to allow me to extend my thanks and appreciation to all the members of the Sky Sports broadcast team sent out here to Israel - a lot of hard work was done in very hot conditions, and they were all generous with their time to "the blogger" following them around! And finally, to Israel itself - a country of enormous hospitality, diverse cities (Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in particular could not feel more different, despite being less than an hour's drive apart!) and bountiful breakfasts. A bowl of Cheerios back home is going to look pretty tame in comparison to the morning banquets presented by the hotels here...


text:
It is with great pleasure that I read of the accomplishments of Queens Quiet Skies and other entities in convincing Governor Andrew Cuomo to advocate for mitigation of the noise and pollution problems of aircraft flying over our communities.
This is just the beginning of the process to mitigate the noise issue involving aircraft flying over our communities. Those involved in this fight must monitor that all of the conditions and requests ordered by the governor are followed through with and appropriate action is taken by the powers that be.
In the meantime, the residents of our area owe a great deal of thanks for the work and effort put forth so far. Janet McEneaney, Bob Whitehair and all of the people involved with Queens Quiet Skies have been extraordinary. Visit their website at queensquietskies.org to see what you can do to aid in their efforts.
On May 3, the Bayside Historical Society will be celebrating its 50th anniversary by hosting a gala at Fort Totten honoring several people who have served our communities well, including McEneaney. You can call (718) 352-1548 or visit baysidehistorical.org for more information.
Henry Euler

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Communication Aids for Children with Autism
Your ads will be inserted here by
Easy Plugin for AdSense.
Please go to the plugin admin page to
Paste your ad code OR
Suppress this ad slot.
Communication Aids for Children with Autism
Autism is a developmental disability which affects the way an individual is able to communicate with and understand other people and the world around them. There are varying degrees of autism, which is why the condition is considered spectral with individuals diagnosed with the condition to a particular degree. Individuals with an autistic spectrum disorder will all share similar qualities but they may be more or less pronounced depending on the severity of the condition. There are individuals with autism who can communicate verbally with no significant difficulties whilst there are others with no verbal communication whatsoever, as well as many in between.
There are over half a million people in the UK who have autism and many of these are children. Developing communication methods with children with autism is key to ensuring they enter adulthood with the tools required to head towards independence. Below are some key communication aids you can use with children with autism, but first this video gives some tips and ideas with regard to choosing communication devices:
Low-Tech Communication Devices
Makaton is a simple form of sign language which combines signs, images and speech. My First Makaton Symbols and Signs Book is the ideal place to start when introducing Makaton to your child. It includes all essential symbols and helps with the initial process of expressing basic needs, wants and feelings, as well as encouraging interaction.
We've looked at these before on this blog but Picture Exchange Communication Keyrings are a great portable method of communication for children with autism who can become non-verbal in situations where they become anxious and find verbalising their feelings difficult. They're also useful for those who are permanently non-verbal. They come in a wide range covering food and drink, instructions and behaviour and much more, allowing for all needs to be quickly put across and met, as with standard speech.
High-Tech Communication Devices
Tobii produce a range of high-tech communication devices which are tailored to support the needs of children with autism and also adults who have the condition. The Tobii S32 for example plays back pre-recorded messages or sounds which can be activated by simply touching a printed sheet including symbols relating to the devices' sounds. It's a technological step up from picture cards and signs and gives users a voice when they are unable to find their own.
The Toby Lightwriter Range
Similarly, the Lightwriter range of products is a great option for those with high-functioning Autism who sometimes require assistance with their speech. Lightwriters allows for keyboard based text-to-speech ideal for when an older child with autism loses their ability to communicate verbally but wants to put across their needs through text.
Accessories for Communication
All of these communication devices require a flat surface to be used, to ensure they are easy to access and communication doesn't get confused. A Trabasack lap tray is ideal for providing a sturdy and secure surface for all communication devices in use by children with autism. Keyrings can be clipped to the side of the Trabasack when it's used as a bag and other devices can be safely stored in the bag compartment when not in use on the tray surface.
The tray is lightweight and can be rested upon any lap without causing any discomfort and the communication device, whether it's a simple book being read with a parent or a high-tech Tobii AAC device, can be put on top of the tray and easily accessed.


text:
AT&T Could Strike $50 Billion Deal for DirecTV
Two Sides Could Reach Deal as Soon as Two Weeks
AT&T Inc. is close to sealing a takeover of DirecTV that could put a value of nearly $50 billion on the satellite-television provider, people familiar with the matter said.
The two sides are discussing a deal that would involve a mix of cash and AT&T stock, these people said. Dallas-based AT&T would likely pay a premium to DirecTV's share price Monday, one of the people said. An agreement could be reached in two weeks if not sooner, according to the people....


text:
All Le Creuset
Le Creuset Stainless Steel Sauté Pan, 4.5 qt.
A revolution in cookware began in 1925 when Armand Desaegher, a casting specialist, and Octave Aubecq, an enameling expert, recognized an opportunity to improve the versatility of cast iron cookware by coating it in a porcelain enamel glaze. They established the Le Creuset factory in Fresnoy Le-Grand, France, where ...


text:
Time: 45 min
Students will be able to:
3-5 minutes 1. Ask students what is the first thing they think of when they hear the word "wart." 2. Ask the same thing for the word "fungus." 3. Explain, "Today we are going to be learning about both warts and fungus and that they are, in fact, common conditions."
15-20 minutes Materials:
1. Tell students, "We are going to play a quick game of True or False. Ready?" a. Depending on group, have students raise hands or have students call out whether they think it's true or false. 2. Read statements below and, after each one, gives a brief explanation. a. You can get warts from toads. (False) i. This is what they call an "old wives tale." They say this because toads have bumps on their backs that look like warts. b. Skin can get fungus. (True) i. Yes! We can get infections and fungus, but we can also prevent it with the right steps. c. Ringworms are little worms that crawl in your skin. (False) i. Ringworm is a fungus, and it is called "ringworm" because of its ring–like shape on the skin. d. Someone with warts or fungus is dirty. (False) i. Not at all! Anyone can get a fungus or wart, especially if they are contagious! Fungus and warts affect people in clean and dirty environments. e. Warts can go away by themselves. (True) i. True! We can speed up the process, but eventually warts will go away. 3. Say, "So what if we think we have a wart? How do we know? What do we do?" 4. Pass out Wart Wisdom handout and goes through each fact: a. When talking about where warts form, here is information you can say about characteristics of warts on face, bottom of feet, and fingers: i. Warts on your face are generally flat, or long and skinny like fingers. ii. Warts on the bottom of your feet are generally large, flat bumps. They are actually called "plantar warts" and might hurt when you walk on them. iii. Warts on your fingers look like blisters, but are harder. They can also make your nails look weird. 5. Reinforce material by asking students, "So if you have a wart, does that mean you're dirty?" a. Students should respond, "No." b. If students respond incorrectly, go over the fact that warts can spread from anyone or anything to anyone. You can get out of the shower and touch something with the wart virus and get one! 6. Say, "But what about fungus? Usually when we think about fungus, we think of icky stuff that grows on old food. One of the most common places to get fungus, though, is on your feet and nails." 7. Pass out Fungus Facts handout to students. 8. Go through each fact. 9. After Fungus Facts, explain that even though, yes, fungus can be gross, it's not weird or strange. And really, it's not THAT gross. Just sounds worse than it is! It's very normal for kids, teenagers, and adults to get fungal infections.
15-20 minutes
1. Say, "We are now going to play a game. Take five minutes to review some of the information we went over today, either by yourself, or with a partner." 2. After five minutes is up, have them either turn-over the handout, or put them away. 3. Say that they will be playing "Wisdom or Fact." 4. Explain: a. In this game, there will be two (or more) teams. b. One person from each will play at the same time. i. If you think students feel comfortable, have one person from each team come up to the front instead. ii. Have students in each team count starting at "1" so it is easy to match-up students from each team on their turns. OR c. Read a statement that is either a "Fungus Fact" or "Wart Wisdom," and the student has to decide whether it has to do with warts or fungus. i. Use Wisdom or Fact Info Sheet, which has the facts from the two handouts condensed on one so it is easier to read for the game. d. The first person to raise their hand (or slap the desk, or say "Skin!"—any variety of things could work here) gets to answer by saying either "Wart Wisdom!" or "Fungus Fact!" depending on if s/he thinks it is a fact about warts or fungus, respectively. e. Then the next student from each team goes. f. Points are optional.
1-2 minutes 1. Ask, "So who can get warts or fungus?" (Anyone.) 2. Ask, "Do warts or fungus mean you are dirty?" (No.)


text:
HONOLULU -- Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to give an update on the state's efforts to meet the requirements of President Barack Obama's federal health care overhaul.
Abercrombie planned a news conference Monday at the State Capitol. The governor says he will announce a major milestone in the process of making sure Hawaii residents have access to good healthcare and insurance.
Hawaii is among the states that bet correctly that the U.S. Supreme Court would uphold Obama's law. The high court ruled in favor of the law in June.
U.S. Census data from 2010 show 7.7 percent of Hawaii residents are without health insurance. That's the second-lowest rate in the country behind Massachusetts at 5.5 percent.


text:
Located in Chandler, AZ. We have been servicing the local community as a family owned, home based federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) since 2018. We have a wide variety of business relationships within the firearms industry which enables us to offer highly competitive prices. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your next firearms related purchase or transfer from an out of state dealer.
Mfg Item #: 00666
Patriot Ordnance Factory Selector Switch, Ambidextrous, Black 00666


text:
The staff has started a feature highlighting some of the best tutorials we have in the Tutorials and Tips section. (Okay, I admit it: It was my idea.) The Tutorial of the Week thread is here, with a separate discussion thread here.
The idea is that the quality of the tutorials might improve if we can highlight some of the best ones. Not that there are many bad ones (there are some I'd call "substandard," but that's the way it happens), but the good ones can stand as examples for future ones.
As a side note, the staff is drafting some "criteria" for tutorials. It's nothing particularly tangible yet, but I have a feeling at some time in the future there will be better guidance for authors.


text:
Jane Glover
Music Director of Chicago's Music of the Baroque since 2002, JANE GLOVER made her professional debut at the Wexford Festival in 1975, conducting her own edition of Cavalli's L'Eritrea. She joined Glyndebourne in 1979 and was Music Director of the Glyndebourne Touring Opera from 1981 to 1985; and she was Artistic Director of the London Mozart Players from 1984 to 1991.
In continual demand on the international opera stage, Ms Glover has appeared with numerous companies including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Berlin Staatsoper, Royal Danish Opera, Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Australia, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Known chiefly as a Mozart specialist, she has conducted all the Mozart operas regularly, all over the world, since her initial performances of them in Glyndebourne in the 1980's. (Highlights include the Da Ponte trilogy in Chicago, with the director Diane Paulus; Die Entführung at the Royal Opera, Cosi fan tutte in Berlin, etc.) But her core repertoire also includes Monteverdi (she and Paulus also performed his three operas in Chicago, in 2000, 2003 and 2006), Handel (many operas including Giulio Cesare, Alcina, Agrippina, Tamerlano, Acis and Galatea, Ariodante and Theodora), and Britten, who indeed personally influenced and guided Jane Glover when she was 16, and to whose music she constantly returns. Her operatic repertoire also regularly includes Purcell, Gluck, Beethoven, Rossini, Donizetti, Humperdinck (she performed Hansel and Gretel at the BBC Proms) and Knussen. In addition she collaborates closely with the Mark Morris Dance Group, for whom she has conducted major productions of Purcell (King Arthur), Handel (L'Allegro) and Mozart.
Ms Glover's concert engagements similarly take her all over the world. She has performed with all the major symphony and chamber orchestras in Britain, repeatedly at the BBC Proms (another highlight was Britten's War Requiem), as well as with orchestras in Europe, the US, the Far East and Australasia. In recent seasons she has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the St Louis Symphony, the Orchestra of St Luke's (Carnegie Hall), the Philharmonia, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the London Mozart Players and the City of London Sinfonia, as well as the period orchestras the Philharmonia Baroque, and the Handel & Haydn Society. She has appeared at the Mostly Mozart Festivals in both New York and London. She is also especially known for her experience in the choral repertoire, and was Music Director of both the London and the Huddersfield Choral Societies.
Jane Glover's many recordings feature a series of Mozart and Haydn symphonies for ASV, and arias with Felicity Lott, all with the London Mozart Players, plus other recordings of Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Britten and Walton with the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic, and the BBC Singers. Her extensive broadcasting career includes the television series Orchestra and Mozart, and the radio series Opera House and Musical Dynasties, all for the BBC.
Her book, Mozart's Women, was published, to great critical acclaim, in September 2005. It was nominated for both the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Non-Fiction. She is currently writing a book on Handel.
Highlights in the 2008-9 season include the operas The Turn of the Screw (Bordeaux), Semele (Milwaukee), La Clemenza di Tito (Chicago) and The Rape of Lucretia (Aspen); concerts with Music of the Baroque (including Handel's Hercules), the London Mozart Players (including The Creation), the Orchestre Nationale de Bordeaux et Aquitaine, and the Philharmonia Baroque. She will be recording a series of Haydn Masses, for Naxos, in New York.
Jane Glover studied at the University of Oxford, where, after graduation, she did her D.Phil. on 17th-century Venetian opera. She holds honorary degrees from several other universities, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music. She was created a CBE in the 2003 New Year's Honours.


text:
|January 2010
|OKLAHOMA'S eGOV NEWS REPORT
Welcome to Oklahoma's eGovernment News Report. We hope you enjoy the monthly report providing you with up-to-date information on Oklahoma's eGovernment achievements.
Get and Share Oklahoma Government on Social Platforms at http://Widgets.OK.gov
OK.gov, Oklahoma's Official Web site, has recently launched Oklahoma Widgets which gives visitors the ability to quickly and easily provide Oklahoma government real-time alerts, dynamic information and extra functionality on web pages, blogs, and social platforms.
Visitors can easily add an Oklahoma Widget to any Web site or social profile by visiting http://Widgets.OK.gov. The visitors can click on the associated "Get & Share" button, and follow the prompted instructions. At this time, Oklahoma Widgets include:
• Oklahoma Government News Headlines
• Oklahoma & National Threat Level Alerts
• Oklahoma Government Calendar
• Oklahoma State Agency Search
• Shop State Surplus Auction
• Governor's Bill Tracker
• Photo Gallery
• Fast Find
"The addition of widgets to the portal provides another opportunity for the public to connect closer to their government," said Mark Mitchell, General Manager of OK.gov. "We encourage the public to take advantage of this free service and 'Get and Share' Oklahoma government services on their web pages, blogs, and social networks."
In the future, additional widgets will be available on OK.gov to increase the 'Get and Share' value to Oklahomans.
8 Reasons to Visit Oklahoma's New Tourism Web Site
The state's newly launched tourism Web site, TravelOK.com, is loaded with colorful photos and videos, insightful info and all the tools you'll need to plan the perfect trip. Plus, TravelOK.com is full of exciting new features designed to make planning easier than ever before. Here are the highlights:
• DEALS: Add Value to Your Vacation - Save on attractions, activities, dining and accommodations by cashing in on money-saving deals, packages and coupons. From romantic inns to family-friendly attractions, these deals will help you make the most of your travel budget.
Visit the New Tourism Site Now
For Fall Financial Aid, Students Should Complete FAFSA Now
College-bound students looking for federal and state financial aid to attend school this fall should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible, according to the Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program (OGSLP).
"Many financial aid programs are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes may not begin until fall, but the distribution of money to pay for college starts much earlier," said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson.
Billions of dollars in financial aid, including federal and state grants and federal student loans, are available for those who complete the FAFSA. The quickest and easiest way to complete the application is online at www.fafsa.gov. Students and parents can apply for a personal identification number (PIN), which allows required signatures to be made electronically.
"Students should complete the FAFSA even if they think they won't qualify for financial aid," said Rick Edington, OGSLP interim executive director. "Many students underestimate their financial need or don't realize they may qualify for federal work-study or other helpful programs."
The U.S. Department of Education estimates the form will take less than an hour to complete if all necessary paperwork, including tax records, bank statements and Social Security cards, is in hand when the application is initiated. In addition, significant changes were recently made to the application to make it easier for families to understand and complete, including updated logic for the online FAFSA, which eliminates questions not relevant to the applicant, based on previous answers.
For help during the process and to ensure campus-specific deadlines are met, students can contact their financial aid office. The FAFSA is free, so students should be cautious if an organization charges a fee to complete the application.
In an effort to promote early awareness to students on campuses and in area high schools, Gov. Brad Henry proclaimed February as Financial Aid Awareness Month. In celebration, OGSLP is offering free publications and assisting campuses across the state in hosting events to educate families about the FAFSA.
To learn more about the financial aid process, request publications or find out about OGSLP-sponsored campus events, call OGSLP toll free at (800) 442-8642 or
What's Inside
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
- Victor N. Bird,
Oklahoma Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Jeanie Wall,
Oklahoma State Accrediting Agency Web Site
Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy Online License Renewal
How Do I Help Victims of the Haiti Earthquake?
Visit the US Aid Site to Learn More
How Do I Find My Legislator?
Visit the DDC Legislator Search Center
Monday, February 15
View Upcoming 2010 State Holidays
2nd Session - 52nd Legislature Begins
Rose Day at the Capitol
Water Day at the Capitol
Share Your eGov Story
Have an Oklahoma eGovernment story to tell? Want to give us feedback?
About OK.gov
OK.gov is the official Web site of the state of Oklahoma and a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Office of State Finance (OSF) and Oklahoma Interactive, LLC to help Oklahoma government entities Web-enable their information services. OSF is responsible for OK.gov. Oklahoma Interactive operates, maintains, and markets OK.gov and is part of eGovernment firm NIC's (NASDAQ: EGOV) family of companies.
Learn more about Oklahoma's eGov News Report and view past issues
4234 North Santa Fe | Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.524.3468 or Toll Free at 1.800.955.3468


text:
Threads 1 to 25 of 1260
Forum: Success Stories
This is a forum where people, with the help of this board, are about to enter the academy or have received some kind of job offer.
Forum: Success Stories
Moderators of this Forum
Users Browsing this Forum
There are currently 1 users browsing this forum. (0 members & 1 guests)


text:
The Elixir Theme uses CSS 3 in finest ways. See the demo to view the great animations and transitions. If a Browser doesn't support needed CSS 3 functions, Elixir automatically uses a still beautiful designed fallback effect.
Included template files:
- Frontpage
- Alternative slider
- Columning page
- The unique Blog
- A single Blog post
- Contact page
- Portfolio (ajaxified)
- Single Work
All files are well commented of course. Also coming with a documentation
We would love to hear Your feature requests and improvement suggestions. If you can't find something what you think this theme really needs or you spot that something is wrong, please leave a comment and we will do some magic!
Do You want a WordPress version? There might be a free one next time Please do not forget to rate us if You're satisfied by our Theme or / and our Support!
- Images for demo pruposes by Martin Grohs (Behance)


text:
Posted by Olivia on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013
Gabi Moskowitz, author of the popular blog and recent cookbook The BrokeAss Gourmet, is all about good eating on the cheap—without sacrificing flavor or quality. Here's an exclusive recipe not included in the book: Blueberry-Ginger Granita. Granitas, if you're new to them, are frozen Italian desserts, similar to sorbet but handmade and easy to whip up. They're wonderfully light and refreshing!
Blueberry-Ginger Granita


text:
This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
The spirit of adventure isn't just alive. It's built into every single component of the new XCx. Fully equipped for long adventures with technology that adds improved handling and opens up whole new horizons, this is the Tiger taken to a different level.
Selecting between three different riding modes, Road, Off-road and programmable Rider Mode, you can configure your preferred throttle map, ABS and Triumph Traction Control, for a completely tailored and thrilling adventure ride.
The dedicated trip computer and the cruise control enable you to amass miles with complete confidence. The off-road soul of the bike is emphasized by the adventure pack including hand guards, aluminum sump guard, center stand, additional power socket and engine protection bars.
Front - Twin 308 mm floating discs, Nissin 2-piston sliding calipers, switchable ABS
Rear - Single 255 mm disc, Nissin 1-piston sliding caliper, switchable ABS
Front - 21 x 2.5 in. aluminum rim, 36-spoke
Rear - 17 x 4.25 in. aluminum rim, 32-spoke
Front - 90/90-21
Rear - 150/70 R17
Urban - 48.7 mpg (4.8 L/100 km)
Constant Speed 56 mph (90 km/h) - 64.5 mpg (3.6 L/100 km)
Constant Speed 75 mph (120 km/h) - 44.6 mpg (5.3 L/100 km)
Tubular steel trellis
Swingarm - Twin-sided, cast aluminum alloy
Front - WP 43 mm upside down forks, adjustable rebound and compression damping; 8.7 in. (220 mm) travel
Rear - WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir, hydraulically adjustable preload, rebound damping adjustment; 8.5 in. (215 mm) travel


text:
NHL enforcers are disappearing, and it doesn't have to be easy
PITTSBURGH—In 270 games split between the NHL and AHL, Steve MacIntyre has served 810 penalty minutes. The vast majority of those came in five-minute increments after he'd been punched in the face several times by another person.
MacIntyre's next fight as a Pittsburgh Penguin could cost him seven minutes, though, should he deliberately take off his helmet beforehand. It's not something MacIntyre does typically—"helmets are there for a reason," he said—but he rightfully wonders what the new rule means on a small scale, like when one fighter wears a visor and the other the does not, and on a larger, more existential level.
MORE: Goodbye, jersey tucks | Goalie wants even smaller pads
"It's so wishy-washy," MacIntyre, who hadn't heard about the change until Wednesday, told Sporting News. "I can go and on and on about the shenanigans that I don't agree with."
And he's right, for at least one reason. The coupling of the rules—mandatory visors for all players entering the league, plus the helmet rule—is a clear attempt by the league to cut back on fighting without banning it outright. Years of concussion-research data will have that effect, as will the threat of class-action lawsuits. If everyone wears a visor and nobody can take it off for a fight, the logical progression is fewer fights.
There's a loophole, though, and Deryk Engelland has noticed it. He's a legitimate NHL defenseman who theoretically adds to his value by fighting people.
"Eventually you'll start seeing guys come in (and) take each others' off and not really waste any time," Engelland told SN.
"It's still gonna happen. I think the guy that has the visor on might just come in and start throwing, and he might have a little bit of an advantage. But they pop off pretty easy, and the visor doesn't really hurt too bad."
That's actually by design of the NHLPA. The union wants to protect the role of the fighter—guys like MacIntyre, specifically—which is why the penalty for taking off helmets is minimal and will be, according to Engelland, mutual in most cases.
It's not quite that simple, though. MacIntyre called it "the age-old question." Fighting is, for better or worse, part of hockey. It's an even bigger part of MacIntyre's identity. And to go back to our logical progression, fewer fights leads to fewer fighters. For guys like MacIntyre, the issue is personal, and understandably so.
"(Anti-fighting advocates) never been in our shoes," MacIntyre said. "They've never played the way we play. They've never done the things that we've done. But they're the first guys to jump on the bandwagon and (say), 'Oh, well, these guys are useless,' or 'They're goons and thugs.' "
In MacIntyre's eyes—and the eyes of his teammates—he serves a purpose. It's less tangible than it used to be, for certain. What's not in doubt, though, is how difficult the job can be, and the toll it takes it on the guys who fill it. It's impossible to talk (or think) about fighting in hockey without mentioning Derek Boogaard, who died in 2011 after a battle with prescription drugs that started as a means of treating injuries stemming from fights.
It was a tough road, too, for MacIntyre, who started his junior career in the now-defunct CEHL. After that league banned him for his role in a nasty brawl, he played in the UHL before hooking on with the New York Rangers organization in 2003. He spent time in the WHA2, ECHL, AHL and UHL (again) before making his NHL debut in 2008 with the Edmonton Oilers. He was there because of his fists.
"I know what's gotten me here. Guys have asked me if I could change it. You know what, probably not. I'd be a different guy. If I came up a different way, I might not be here," MacIntyre said.
Now 33 years old, the 6-5, 270-pound Saskatchewan native generally bides his time with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Remember those 270 NHL games? He's played 13 of them in the last two seasons, and whether he returns is an open question. At the moment, it seems less than likely.
That underlying reality makes its way, deliberately or not, into most conversations you could have about him. Engelland's true worth is as a blue liner. MacIntyre has to make himself valuable in other ways.
"Mac's a great guy," Penguins center Joe Vitale, a teammate of McIntyre's in both Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh, told SN. "I don't think he would last as long in this league if he didn't have the other element of being a good locker-room guy, a good off-ice guy. He's full-package when it comes to that."
Guys like Vitale will also talk about the diversionary role MacIntyre plays. Whether it's logically true or not is debatable—the instigator rule confined fights, in almost all cases, to fighters. But the players believe, and so do many front-office executives. The Toronto Maple Leafs, on some nights this season, will ice two fighters. The Edmonton Oilers, run by the generally progressive Craig MacTavish, are in the market for one.
"You've got Steve MacIntyre in the lineup? He literally makes every other player feel more comfortable on the ice," Vitale said. "Not just (Sidney Crosby). When I'm playing with him, I feel like I can do anything."
But the pendulum is still swinging in the opposite direction. Science doesn't lie, and neither does the NHL rulebook. What makes it tough, though, is that jobs, livelihoods, identities are at stake. That doesn't change what's right, or what's smart—it just makes it more difficult.
It's easy to laugh at the old Brian Burke press conference, when he was forced to demote Colton Orr and talked about "rats" ruining the game. In context, though, Burke was just as upset at the prospect of getting rid of a good person.
Progress is difficult, though, and the overall goal is keeping guys—good people, respected teammates—like MacIntyre safe. It has to be. Counterintuitively, that progress could well force those same people out of the game. Talking more about his role, MacIntyre picks an interesting analogy.
"That's the thing a lot of guys forget, everybody's a different cog in the wheel," he said. "Those cogs make up the gear, and that's what eventually runs the engine."
Eventually, though, it's time for a new car. That doesn't mean saying goodbye to the old one is easy.


text:
Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez are ready to come back in action for Manchester City with next Sunday's Premier League match against Sunderland. However, both the players would miss their international duties as they are recovering from their respective injuries.
Defensive midfielder Toure pulled himself out of Ivory Coast's match against Benin in a qualifying match of African Nations Cup due to an ankle injury picked up during City's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. However, he can come back at training after resting for four days.
Argentine striker Tevez missed the Chelsea match due to a groin injury which he is now recovering very well and is expected to return in action with the Sunderland match. However, he would miss Argentina's two friendly matches before the Sunderland encounter.
Related article:


text:
Men's Basketball
|Associate Coach
|Winston-Salem, N.C.
|Alma Mater:
|Duke, '80
|18 Years
JIM CORRIGAN Interim Head Coach
Became ODU's interim head coach on Feb. 5, 2013. The Monarchs went 3-5, averaging 73.5 points per game and defeating the CAA's regular season champions Northeastern in Boxton, 81-74, as well as beating Drexel in Philadelphia, 78-66.
The consistent rise of the Monarch program has been due in large part to the tireless efforts of veteran Jim Corrigan who is in his 19th year on the Monarchs staff and his 25th overall on the collegiate level. During that stretch, Corrigan has been a part of five CAA Championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances as well as the last eight straight seasons of national post season play.
In 2012,Bleacher Report named Corrigan as one of the nation's top 15 assistant coaches.
Fox Sports Jeff Goodman recently named Corrigan as the top assistant in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Jim is involved in every aspect of the Monarch program including recruiting, scouting, scheduling, player development, and academic monitoring of the team members. In all, his extensive experience has helped lead the Monarchs to eight straight post season tournaments. Collegeinsider.com rated Corrigan as one of the five top Mid-Major Assistant Coaches in the nation.
During his tenure, Corrigan has helped the Monarchs win five CAA championships, make four trips to the NCAA Tournament as well as two NIT tournament appearances, and a CBI post season appearance. Last year, the Monarchs captured the inaugural College Basketball Insider.com title. The 2006 Monarchs reached the NIT semi-finals with a trip to Madison Square Garden. In the last eight years, ODU has won more games than (195) any Virginia Division I program for an average of 24.3 wins per year.
Under Corrigan's leadership 19 Monarchs have been named All-Conference, two were Rookies of the Year, three players of the year, three defensive players of the year and ten to the CAA All-Defensive squad. Nine freshman were named to the CAA All-Rookie team.
Corrigan put together a schedule that allowed Old Dominion to receive an at-large bid to the 2007 NCAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years.
Corrigan has an extensive international recruiting experience, with players from Australia, Lithuania, The Ivory Coast, Canada, Finland and Denmark. Four of those student athletes earned All-Conference honors and one was the CAA Player of the Year and Tournament MVP.
The student athletes he has recruited have also been outstanding in the classroom as two were named CAA Scholar Athletes of the Year.
Jim began his coaching career at Northern High School in Durham, NC., where he served as an assistant for two years under head coach Kevin Billerman. From there he moved to his alma mater, Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem, NC. After one season as the junior varsity and varsity assistant, Jim was elevated to head coach.
During his four years as head coach at McGuinness, he achieved several milestones. His teams compiled a record of 90-42, and reached the North Carolina State Finals each of the last three years he was the head coach, culminating in the 1987 state championship. During that run, McGuinness twice set school records for wins in a season with 26 in 1984-85, and 27 in 1985-86. Twice his teams were invited to the prestigious Alhambra Invitational Tournament, and finished with a 77-25 record those last three seasons.
Corrigan was named Coach of the Year in the conference and on the state level in North Carolina three times. From there, Jim moved to William and Mary where he was an assistant coach from 1987-94.
In high school, Jim was named All-City and All-County as a senior at McGuinness and led the city in scoring at 26 points per game. He turned down numerous scholarships to attend Duke University where he walked on to the team and earned a scholarship under head coach Bill Foster. While at Duke, the Blue Devils won two Atlantic Coast Tournament championships and played in three NCAA tournaments, including the 1978 A Final Four.
As a senior at Duke, the Blue Devils were ranked number one in the country as well as the number one amateur team in the world. That year, Corrigan received the Ted Mann award as the non-starter who contributed the most to team morale. Duke reached the NCAA quarterfinals.
Jim is currently president of the assistant coaches committee of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Jim and has a daughter, Keenan (23), a graduate of Duke, and sons Cole (19), a sophomore at ODU and Drew (17). Jim graduated from Duke in 1980 with a degree in management science.


text:
Refrigerator Magnets 3.5x8
Select Options
|Art Requirements
We can accept your art in virtually any format. The following is a guideline for customers with prepared art -if you'd like to take advantage of our free art service simply provide design instructions during checkout and we'll create a design to your exact specifications.
Whatever format you send us, please follow these guidelines:
-The preferred file type is .AI, .PS, PDF, .EPS or any other editable format. JPEG's are acceptable but must be 300 dpi and fit to our printing specifications.
- Please ensure that no text, logos or essential images are placed within 1/8 of an inch from the cut edge of your magnet.
- Please convert all colors to CMYK
- Please convert all fonts to curves/outlines
- All bitmaps (JPG etc.) should be supplied at a resolution of no less than 300 dpi to achieve the best print quality.
- We prefer that there are no borders around the edge of the magnet
You'll receive a design proof for approval before your magnets go into production, and we'll be happy to work with you until you get exactly what you want.
|Custom magnets are a cost effective and proven way to keep your message in front of your customers and clients. What's more, we want you to order in absolute complete confidence with our 100% low price guarantee. These quality 3.5x6 magnets are printed on high gloss paper and finished with a UV laminate film to ensure they have the impact you need. Minimum Quantity - 100; Material Thickness - 25 mil; Production Time - Allow 8 days after approval of artwork; Weight - 58 lb per 1,000


text:
The Federal Communications Commission has moved to keep Internet service providers from limiting or unreasonably discriminating against content provided by competing services
The regulations are designed to keep telephone and cable companies that provide phone services from using their Internet services to limit use of Skype and other online telephone services. It is also intended to halt them from making content provided by audio and video service providers they do not own less desirable by limiting downloads from firms such as Netflix or Hulu or providing faster service only for their own content.
The rules are designed to maintain a level competitive position on the Internet and to restrict the abilities of companies that dominate access to the Internet from using oligopolistic control of the service points to harm content competitors.
The regulations require that services allow their customers equal access to all online content and services, but allow the services some flexibility to management network congestion and spam as long as the rules are clear and not anti-competitive.
The rules apply to fixed line services, but do not apply equally to wireless telephony which is becoming the primary means of Internet access though smart phones and electronic tablets and e-reader. Mobile phone providers are permitted to provide preferential access to their services or selected partners, but the rules forbid mobile providers from blocking access to competing sites and services. Mobile services are given more leeway to manage their networks because capacity is more limited than on the Internet.
The regulations are an important step in ensuring that major service providers such as Comcast and Verizon are not allowed to use their dominance in service provision to harm other companies and the FCC should be applauded for its efforts. Such companies have in the past shown their willingness to take advantage of their monopoloy power and are not widely noted for their consumer friendliness.
Major service providers and Republicans are vowing to fight the move, arguing that the FCC does not have the authority to issue such regulations. If the courts side with them on the issue, Congress should explicitly give it the authority or empower the Federal Trade Commission to ensure competivieneess online.


text:
Faster needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 158 designs submitted by 67 freelance designers.
The logo must use the full word Faster.com, it must fit into a space 125 pixels wide by 30 pixels high. It is going to be placed onto a grey toolbar. You will need to see this grey background to know what the logo will be placed on. Please go to http://www.faster.com/background.html to get the background, so that you can use it when designing the logo.
The site Faster.com is going to be a completely revolutionary way to surf the web. I can't explain at the moment how it will work for confidentiality reasons, but check out the site in 3 months and you will be totally blown away! It is an application to help you when searching on Google, yahoo msn or ask.com
I can also pay extra money to the winner for different sized versions of the logo, website designs and for a favicon.
- Must be in the space 30 pixels high by 125 pixels wide
- Preferably smaller than this as I don't want it to take up too much space and must fit onto the toolbar
- IT MUST BE THE CORRECT SIZE. Don't send logos that are bigger than this.
- Must use the full word Faster.com, and must be visible and easy to read
- Can use all capitals FASTER.COM, or Faster.com or all lower case faster.com. I'm not sure which is better
- Theme is obviously "faster", "fast", "rapid" etc
- Very important: Please show the logo on top of the background supplied at http://www.faster.com/background.html so that it can be seen completely in it's context. This will place all designs on an equal footing also as they will all be similar sized and on the same background.
- Also when delivering the logo but not when displaying it for the competition, please deliver another larger version on a white background.
- Simple is better, not too complex or ornate
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
The Perl Foundation is looking at giving some grants ranging from $500 to $3000 in May 2009.
In the past, we've supported Adam Kennedy's PPI, Strawberry Perl and Perl on a Stick, Nicholas Clark's work on Perl internals, Jouke Visser's pVoice, Chris Dolan on Perl::Critic and many others (just check http://www.perlfoundation.org/grants for more references).
You don't have to have a large, complex, or lengthy project. You don't even have to be a Perl master or guru. If you have a good idea and the means and ability to accomplish it, we want to hear from you!
Do you have something that could benefit the Perl community but just need that little extra help? Submit a grant proposal by May 31.
As a general rule, a properly formatted grant proposal is more likely to be approved if it meets the following criteria
- It has widespread benefit to the Perl community or a large segment of it.
- We have reasons to believe that you can accomplish your goals.
- We can afford it (please, respect the limits or your proposal should be rejected immediately).
To submit a proposal see the guidelines at http://www.perlfoundation.org/how_to_write_a_proposal and TPF rules of operation at http://www.perlfoundation.org/rules_of_operation. Then send your proposal to [email protected] Note that starting with this round, proposals should be properly formatted accordingly with our POD template.
On June 1st, proposals will be made available publicly (on this blog) for public discussion, as it happened in the previous round. So, please make it clear in your proposal if it should not be public.
Note that accepted but not funded proposals in the previous round do not need to be re-submitted.


text:
Group Tool
While Blackboard offers a variety of collaborative Web 2.0 tools in its "Groups" environment, we know that group project success depends on more than just good technology. Students fare best when they're taught how to successfully work together in groups. On this page, you'll find resources for how to create group areas in Blackboard as well as practical tips for helping student be successful with group work.
Overview of the Technology:
Blackboard allows you to create groups, which are essentially areas in the course that provide collaborative tools to discrete groups of students. Instructors can create single groups or group sets and select which tools to make available in them, such as a discussion board, blog, wiki, and journal, a file exchange area and email functionality. Instructors and TAs can choose to place students in particular groups (manual enrollment), have them enrolled randomly by Blackboard, or allow them to self-enroll. Instructors and TAs also have access to all groups for oversight or assessment.
Resources — the Nuts and Bolts of Creating Groups in Bb:
Considerations for Collaborative Assignments:
While collaborative work has great potential to engage students more actively in the learning process, we know that sometimes group work assignments end in frustration for students. Providing them with strategies, structure and skills for working together will mitigate the problems they encounter. And while assessment of group work can be challenging if student contributions are grossly unequal, Blackboard tools can help to make fair assessment easier.
First, consider whether there is a clear value added by making the work group-based. Do the goals or objectives for your course include learning teamwork skills?
Below are some ideas for teaching students how to do team-based work.
It can be helpful to devote class time to the following preparation activities:
- Using a prototype, model for them how to plan backwards from the final outcome and deadline, to plot out the milestone goals for the project. Then, show them how to break down these milestone goals into identifiable tasks to create a project schedule. Provide them with a handout of this project schedule prototype for reference.
- Define the potential roles and the skills and responsibilities associated with them. Some examples are leader (or coordinator), editor, secretary, researcher, interviewer, writer(s), designer or webmaster, and public presenter(s). Students may have multiple roles or rotate some of them for each task.
- Set clear expectations for how or where you want their final work to be produced—e.g. Oral presentation, Word document, Powerpoint, Website, or Blackboard Wiki—and make sure they define amongst themselves where, in their Blackboard group space, they will share their work and collaborate with each other.
- For accountability, set up a "progress journal" in each group space and require students to make a brief weekly entry documenting their project-related work for that week, including goals, efforts, and accomplishments, as well as time on task. Tell them you will be reviewing them and factoring them into the grading.
- Considering holding a class brainstorm session about why group work skills matter and what makes for good collaboration. Together, create a list that should ultimately stress respect, reliability and timeliness.
Resources on Best Practices: