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The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is designed to safeguard Earth's biologically richest and most threatened regions, known as biodiversity hotspots. CEPF is a joint initiative of l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its role as the Regional Implementation Team (RIT), and CEPF invite Letters of Inquiry (LoIs) from non-government organisations, community groups, private companies and other civil society organisations for biodiversity conservation projects in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
The Indo-Burma Hotspot comprises all non-marine parts of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, plus parts of southern China. With its high levels of plant and animal endemism, and limited remaining natural habitat, Indo-Burma ranks among the top 10 biodiversity hotspots for irreplaceability and the top five for threat. Indo-Burma holds more people than any other hotspot, and its remaining natural ecosystems, already greatly reduced in extent, are subject to intense and growing pressure from habitat loss and over-exploitation of natural resources.
In 2013, CEPF will complete its first five-year investment phase in the hotspot and launch a second phase. The second phase of CEPF investment will focus on the highest priorities for conservation in four priority corridors plus Myanmar, and address threats to 151 priority species. The CEPF investment strategy will attempt to bridge the gap between development and conservation needs, improve protection and management of priority sites and species, and support the development of the civil society component of the hotspot's conservation community.
This is the first call for LoIs issued by IUCN and CEPF for the Indo-Burma Hotspot under the second phase of investment (2013-2018). The deadline for receipt of LoIs is 17:30 (Bangkok time) on Monday 9th September 2013 but applicants are encouraged to submit prior to the deadline, in order that review and processing of their applications can begin sooner. This call for LoIs covers Strategic Directions 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 in the ecosystem profile, and covers projects in Cambodia, China, Lao PDR and Thailand.
It is important that applicants familiarise themselves with the investment strategy for the Indo-Burma Hotspot, which is summarised in Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese and available in full in English as part of the ecosystem profile for the hotspot.
Please note that preference will be given to projects that are the closest fit to the investment strategy and demonstrate a leading role for local civil society organizations. IUCN and CEPF welcome applications from grantees under the first phase, as well as organizations that have not yet received CEPF funding.
Strategic Direction 1. Safeguard priority globally threatened species by mitigating major threats
IUCN and CEPF invite proposals that address one or more of the following investment priorities:
1.1 Transform pilot interventions for core populations of priority species into long-term conservation programs
1.2 Develop best-practice approaches for conservation of highly threatened and endemic freshwater species
1.3 Conduct research on globally threatened species for which there is a need for greatly improved information on status and distribution
1.4 Support existing funds to become effective tools for the conservation of priority species in the hotspot
Strategic Direction 2. Demonstrate innovative responses to illegal trafficking and consumption of wildlife
IUCN and CEPF invite proposals that address one or more of the following investment priorities:
2.1 Support enforcement agencies to unravel high-level wildlife trade networks by introducing them to global best practice with investigations and informants
2.2 Facilitate collaboration among enforcement agencies and non-traditional actors to reduce cross-border trafficking of wildlife
2.3 Work with selected private sector companies to promote the adoption of voluntary restrictions on the international transportation, sale and consumption of wildlife
2.4 Support campaigns, social marketing, hotlines and other long-term communication programs to reduce consumer demand for wildlife and build public support for wildlife law enforcement
Strategic Direction 4. Empower local communities to engage in conservation and management of priority key biodiversity areas
IUCN and CEPF invite proposals that address one or more of the following investment priorities:
4.1 Raise awareness about biodiversity conservation legislation among target groups at priority sites
4.2 Pilot and amplify community forests, community fisheries and community-managed protected areas
4.3 Develop co-management mechanisms for formal protected areas that enable community participation in all levels of management
4.4 Conduct a gap analysis of key biodiversity areas in Myanmar and support expansion of the protected area network using community-based models
Strategic Direction 6. Engage key actors in mainstreaming biodiversity, communities and livelihoods into development planning in the priority corridors
IUCN and CEPF invite proposals that address one or more of the following investment priorities:
6.1 Support civil society efforts to analyze development policies, plans and programs, evaluate their impact on biodiversity, communities and livelihoods and propose alternative development scenarios and appropriate mitigating measures where needed
6.2 Integrate the biodiversity and ecosystem service values of priority corridors into land-use and development planning at all levels
6.3 Develop protocols and demonstration projects for ecological restoration that improve the biodiversity performance of national forestry programs
6.4 Engage the media as a tool to increase awareness and inform public debate of environmental issues
Strategic Direction 8. Strengthen the capacity of civil society to work on biodiversity, communities and livelihoods at regional, national, local and grassroots levels
IUCN and CEPF invite proposals that address one or more of the following investment priorities:
8.1 Support networking activities that enable collective civil society responses to priority and emerging threats
8.2 Provide core support for the organizational development of domestic civil society organizations
8.3 Establish clearing house mechanisms to match volunteers to civil society organizations' training needs
Within the broad swathe of non-governmental entities active in the hotspot, those that best exemplify civil society and can build local civil society capacity are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications that engage civil society actors that may not otherwise be eligible or able to apply (for example, community groups) are also encouraged. Further, individuals are encouraged to work with civil society organisations to develop applications, rather than to apply directly. Anyone who is uncertain of their eligibility to apply for CEPF funding should contact the RIT at [email protected]
Grants cannot be used for: (i) purchase of land; (ii) removal or alteration of any physical cultural property (including those with archaeological, palaeontological, historical, religious or unique natural values); (iii) relocation of people or any other form of involuntary resettlement; or (iv) capitalizing a trust fund. All activities must comply with CEPF's social and environmental safeguard policies, which can be found at http://www.cepf.net/grants/Pages/safeguard_policies.aspx
CEPF supports biodiversity conservation through two types of grants: large grants of over US$20,000 and small grants of US$20,000 or less. All applicants must submit an LoI. Applications for small grants can be made in local languages, currently Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Mandarin, Thai and Vietnamese. The LoI form is available at http://www.cepf.net/grants/apply/Pages/default.aspx. Before submitting formal LoIs, applicants are encouraged to discuss proposal ideas and eligibility with the RIT at [email protected]
Completed LoIs for large grant projects over US$20,000 should be sent as an e-mail attachment to [email protected] Receipt of the application will be acknowledged by e-mail, and it will be forwarded to the appropriate team member. Applicants will be contacted thereafter as to how to proceed. Questions or concerns during this process can be sent to [email protected]
Completed LoIs for small grant projects of US$20,000 or less should be sent as an e-mail attachment to [email protected] Receipt of the application will be acknowledged by e-mail, and it will be forwarded to the appropriate team member. Applicants will be contacted thereafter as to how to proceed. Questions or concerns during this process can be sent to [email protected]
Please note that hardcopy LoIs are not acceptable.
Further information and assistance can be obtained from:
CEPF Regional Implementation Team
IUCN Asia Regional Office,
63 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +66 2 662 4029 (Ext 152)
Fax: +66 2 662 4387


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When trials come, don't forget there is someone who can bring you peace.
After a long day of teaching, Jesus Christ boarded a ship with His Apostles. They were going across the Sea of Galilee to teach the people on the other side. Christ was asleep when a storm came upon them.
The Apostles began to fear the storm as they were tossed by the winds and water filled their boat. They awoke Jesus, crying, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38).
Christ arose and calmed the winds and waves with His power, saying"Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39). He turned to His Apostles and asked, "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25). Christ gently chastised them for being fearful and not remembering that He can calm the tossing seas during a storm.
I recently heard a friend say that "life is a storm sometimes." How true that is! Life can be tempestuous, tossing us with winds of misfortune, grief, shame, or stress.
In a hymn based on the experience on the Sea of Galilee, we sing:
Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o'er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
("Master, the Tempest Is Raging," Hymns, no. 105)
Christ not only calms the physical seas, but He can also calm the seas within our minds and souls.
Christ not only calms the physical seas, but He can also calm the seas within our minds and souls. Do we call on Heavenly Father and His Son when the waters of anguish begin to fill our ship? Do we have the faith to trust in Christ?
It's hard to remember there is someone who can bring peace when we are being tossed so hard that we feel like we can barely hang on. Sometimes in life we just try to outlast the storm, forgetting to call on the One who can calm it.
Peace may not always come as it did that long-ago day on Galilee—the storms and winds may not be replaced by perfect calm. Instead, when we hasten to call on the Master and allow Him to bear our burdens, our peace may come in small reminders of His love and care, giving us strength to get through the storm.
That is what happened to me one April. The end of another school year was fast approaching—and with it came the cares, worries, and work I had experienced during the past nine months. I was exhausted, emotional, and lonely. I felt like I was being tossed by the storms of life. General conference was coming up, and I looked forward to hearing the prophets of God speak to me, hoping to feel a calmness enter my "sinking soul."
A closing hymn brought great peace. As the choir sang the third verse, I felt the Spirit calm the seas inside me:
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, …
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
("How Firm a Foundation," Hymns, no. 85)
It is our faith in Christ's calming power and our hastening to call for His help that allows Him to calm our hearts during life's storms.
My storm may not have been as tempestuous as the storms others face, but it is not the velocity of the storm that makes our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ willing to help us. It is our faith in Christ's calming power and our hastening to call for His help that allows Him to calm our hearts during life's storms.
Joy Can Be Ours
"My brothers and sisters, however dark conditions may seem in this world today, whatever the storms we are facing personally, in our homes and our families, this joy can be ours now. …
"… Our faith in Him and obedience to His commandments will bring 'a perfect brightness of hope' [2 Nephi 31:20] and dispel the darkness and gloom of despair in these troubled times. The One who had power to calm the elements of earth has power to calm our souls, to give us refuge from the storm" (Robert D. Hales, "Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy," Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 18).

subset: commoncrawl


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Fair trade? Coffee debate winds up in cup
Tall or grande? Regular or decaf? Free trade or fair trade? Once again, coffee questions are multiplying– only this time some questions involve a major global debate.
It's being played out locally at UVA. Starting in November, students at Newcomb, O-Hill, and Runk dining halls will be sipping 100 percent organic, shade-grown "Fair Trade"-certified coffee. (Fair Trade is already an option at Java City, the new espresso bar in the university bookstore.)
What is Fair Trade? Over the past three years, the wholesale price of coffee has fallen almost 50 percent, bringing global prices to a 30-year low. This price collapse has resulted in a humanitarian crisis for as many as 25 million coffee-growing families in more than 50 developing countries. Unable to cover their costs of production, small farmers cannot earn enough to feed their families, send their children to school, or purchase essential medicines. Many have been forced to leave their land.
The primary goal of the Fair Trade coffee movement is to ensure that the majority of the world's coffee farmers get a "fair price" for their product. This translates into $1.26 per pound, regardless of market fluctuations.
One of the national group's most recent victories came September 15, when mega-corp Procter and Gamble, the largest coffee seller in the U.S., announced it would begin offering FT-certified coffee through its specialty coffee division, Millstone.
The UVA move came earlier this month, backed by a newly formed UVA student organization, Students Promoting Fair Trade, headed by 4th years Mike Figura and Chris Antoun.
Antoun, an economics major, became active after spending a semester abroad in Nicaragua. "Many other, perhaps more socially active, universities were making the switch to Fair Trade, so I thought we had a good chance," he says.
While some free-marketeers applaud the Fair Trade concept as a voluntary way to vote with one's purchases, Charlottesville journalist Ronald Bailey worries that because it delays the shift of the coffee workers to other jobs, the Juan Valdezes might be locked into subsistence farming.
"Fair trade may temporarily boost the incomes of a small number of the world's poor," writes Bailey in the September Reason magazine, "but it definitely will not lift hundreds of millions out of the desperate poverty in which they live."
UVA decision-maker Eddie Whedbee cast his vote for Fair Trade coffee– specifically beans from a firm called Pura Vida of Seattle. Even though they cost twice as much as previous beans?
"It was an easy decision," says Whedbee, associate director of UVA dining services. "Fair Trade coffee is a socially responsible choice to make, and we fully support the students' efforts."
Pura Vida is used by many universities across the country, and, Whedbee notes, "They give 100 percent of profits after operating costs to the Fair Trade farmers."
"By choosing Fair Trade, you can affect a lot of people's lives and get a better product," says Figura, an Environmental Thought and Practice major who's been drinking coffee since sixth grade (his parents are coffee activists).
Accustomed as they are to the richer roasts available at local cafés and stores, students will surely be satisfied by the dining hall change. (Whether they will opt for better quality in their beer- Starr Hill over Natural Light remains to be seen.)
Encouraged by their victory, Students Promoting Fair Trade is now gathering members and getting to work on its two-fold mission: promoting the buying- and selling– of more "fairly traded" coffee in town, and educating people about the complex farm-to-cup process.
In addition to UVA dining, java activists can sip their conscience at several area cafés: Higher Grounds offers a FT coffee of the day, Java Java sells only FT coffees, and Starbucks brews FT coffee on the 20th of each month.
Chris Antoun and Mike Figura


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When insects visit flowers to lap up a meal, they contaminate the nectar with bacteria and yeast.Cotinine BSA conjugant Those microbes then gobble sugars and amino acids or convert them into other compounds, which could change the nectar's appeal for pest-controlling bugs, according to a study in Basic and Applied Ecology.Anti-ALOX15B/15 Lipoxygenase 2 Researchers grew three flower species—borage (pictured above), common comfrey, and cornflower—that farmers use to attract predatory and parasitic insects, including wasps, flies, lady beetles, and lacewings. They covered some of the plants with bags and allowed others to bloom freely.Human Apelin 13 (APLN13) ELISA Kit The scientists counted the insect species visiting the flowers, then used genetic analysis to identify the microorganisms deposited. They found that open flowers had nectar full of microbes, and the sugars glucose and fructose.Cotinine HRP conjugant In nectar from the pristine bagged flowers, sucrose was much more common, and total sugar concentration was higher.Human Proinsulin,PI ELISA Kit Amino acids also varied, changing the nectar's taste. Insects deal with this contamination in a wide range of ways, often with species-specific responses to microorganisms and plants: Honey bees avoid flowers spiked with specific bacteria, whereas some wasps feed on orchid nectar fermented by bacteria and fungi.Human Procalcitonin (PCT) ELISA Kit Farmers and horticulturalists should consider these tight relationships to maximize the benefits of insect-attracting plants, the researchers say. www.glorybios.com
Contaminated nectar may change behavior of pest-controlling insects
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BOILING SPRINGS � New Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray led his team onto the practice fields for the first time Tuesday afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs officially opened preseason camp.
"This is a day we all look forward to. It's just a lot of fun to get out here on the surface with the young men and get started," said McCray. "Energy is something you look for when camp opens, and our kids were sharp there. We have a good group. Our older kids are hungry to succeed and we can work with that."
The Runnin' Bulldogs practiced in helmets only as part of the first day of the NCAA-mandated acclimatization period, which transitions teams into full pads by the fifth preseason practice. Tuesday's weather was cloudy and damp from heavy morning rains, but temperatures in the mid-70s made for a comfortable first day compared to the traditional sweltering conditions in early August.
Quick-paced drills were the order of the afternoon, as an energetic Gardner-Webb staff worked the Runnin' Bulldogs through a number of scenarios. Slower-paced teaching periods were interlaced, allowing work on technique and polishing of fundamentals.
GWU closed the action with 20 minutes of team work and a very strong round of conditioning work. The team will return to the field on Wednesday at 3:15 pm for its second practice.
Gardner-Webb has three team scrimmages planned for August, currently scheduled for August 13, August 17 and August 20. The final scrimmage will be a scripted/situational event in preparation for the season opener. Times are to be determined.
Tight end Seth Cranfill, who established a new standard for his position in the Big South Conference and at GWU last season, has packed on solid weight since 2012. The former Bandys (N.C.) High star weighed in at 239 pounds on Tuesday, up nearly 10 from the end of last season.
Gardner-Webb's offensive line will be one of its largest in recent memory. The projected five of David McConnell (6-5, 310, RJr.), Jeff Harris (6-2, 295, RSr.), Ashanti McPhee (6-3, 314, RSo.), Dylan Hopper (6-4, 302, So.) and Matt McAlvin (6-5, 287, RSo.) averages a solid 6-4 3/4, 301.6 pounds per man. McConnell and Hopper started all 11 games last season, and Harris started at guard in 2011.
Gardner-Webb had 11 men weigh in at 290 pounds or heavier on Tuesday, and seven in the 300-pound range.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had four quarterbacks dressed and working with the offense on Tuesday � returning starter Lucas Beatty (6-2, 212, RJr.), former starter Chandler Browning (6-3, 245, RSr.), Nat Dunlap (6-2, 185, RSo.) and newcomer Chase Arrington (6-0, 204, Fr.).


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Aggravated assault in Port Arthur
Port Arthur Police took four men into custody as suspects in an aggravated assault in the 1300 block of Delaware Drive Saturday night, August 17.
According to a news release from PAPD, officers were dispatched to Delaware Drive at approximately 9:35 p.m. in reference to an assault victim. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located the male victim who had sustained "several injuries," police reported. Witnesses advised police the man was assaulted by several armed suspects.
Shortly after the incident, police located four suspects they believe were involved in the assault. The four suspects were arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and taken to the Jefferson County Jail. The victim was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont for treatment.


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President Barack Obama on Wednesday picked Indiana University to win the NCAA annual men's college basketball tournament, joining in the "March Madness" office pool craze that sweeps America every spring.
The president, an avid sports fan, forecast that Indiana would defeat the widely favored University of Louisville in the championship game.
"I think this is Indiana's year," he said in an interview on ESPN, the sports cable network.
Obama, who began a three day trip to the Middle East on Wednesday, taped the interview on Tuesday.
Millions of Americans are obsessed with the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament, which pits the nation's top teams against one another in 67 games over several weeks.
Betting in office pools is widespread, and celebrities and analysts share and discuss their picks, known as brackets.
The national champion will be crowned on April 8 in Atlanta.
The president was a backup player on a high school basketball team that won a state championship and continues to play in reportedly vigorous games of pickup basketball. He has shown a detailed knowledge of college basketball players, coaches and teams in explaining his picks.
Last year, Obama missed picking the winner, the University of Kentucky, which he predicted would advance to the final but would lose to the University of North Carolina.
However, UNC lost in an earlier round.
In a reflection of the bitter fight between the president and congressional Republicans over spending and taxes, a leading Republican criticized the president for devoting energy to basketball even though the Obama administration has yet to release its budget and unemployment remains high.
"American families want the president to focus on the economy and controlling spending, and it's time for the president to get to work by spending a little less time preparing his brackets and a little more time doing his job of preparing a budget," said Representative Steve Scalise, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the conservative caucus of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
The White House has said its budget submission is expected the week of April 8 and is delayed because of uncertainty over the outcomes of negotiations between the administration and Congress over tax increases and budget cuts that were scheduled for Jan. 1 and March 1.
(Editing by Vicki Allen and Paul Simao)


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Oklahoma getaways for couples
Oklahoma getaways for couples
Great reviews about these Oklahoma couple getaway cabins!
We thank you so much for your hospitality. The paradise that you have built here was the perfect spot for my husband's 41st birthday. We are hoping to come back in July for my 40th birthday <ughhh> on the age. My husband and I both have really demanding careers with hectic schedules. It's wonderful to know that there is an Oklahoma couple getaway that's not too far from the homestead. Scott said to tell your masseuse that he feel a million times better. From the bottom of our hearts thanks for everything.
Tammy and Scott Oklahoma City Oklahoma
This place is amazing and the perfect location for our first anniversary. The champagne and the card were very sweet. The relaxing sounds of nature and the hot tub were awesome. We really can't say enough about this Oklahoma couple getaway cabin.
Randy and Kelly- Mustang Oklahoma
This is a wonderful place to be! Sorry about leaving late, we haven't slept that sound in years. The Jacuzzi was so good for all of our aches and pains. We enjoyed setting outside drinking our morning coffee and watching all the different birds and bunnies. The cheese and fruit tray was greatly appreciated and we will spread the word about these Oklahoma couple getaway cabins.
Heidi and David- Moore Oklahoma
River of Love; Oklahoma couple getaway
Great reviews about these Oklahoma getaways.
There is something different about these relaxing Oklahoma getaways. We had a marvelous time. It was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary. I surprised my Husband Bill by reserving the Love Train Caboose. He is retired from the Rail Road. (He absolutely loves trains). I couldn't think of a better way for him to really enjoy, or be more excited about our anniversary. I was right, he couldn't believe his eyes. The expression on his face was priceless when I pulled our pick-up truck near the front door of the Love Train Caboose. He said "This is one of those Oklahoma getaways that won't be forgotten." We latter built a cozy fire and roasted marsh-mellows. I think the last time we roasted marsh-mellows was several years ago when our two boys were still living at home. This is truly an amazing place. The hot-tub was so relaxing and felt really good on our aching bones. Bill and I even slow danced on the huge open deck. Bill said this place made him feel 20 years younger. He was so happy. I can honestly say this was our best anniversary celebration ever. We loved everything including, the privacy and open sky. We will be recommending to all of Bill's train enthusiastic friends as well as others.
Thanks again for these wonderful Oklahoma getaways.
Bill and Susan – Norman, Oklahoma
We love this place! This is the third visit for us in these wonderful Oklahoma getaways. We have so much fun here. We adore the Green-Briar cabin and it's the super-sized Jacuzzi. The last time we visited we had an unexpected emergency and had to leave a day early. This time was much more relaxing and we got to unwind. We both work high demanding jobs that require hands on people skills. Here the only people we see are each-other. That's my favorite part ALONE TIME! Not the kind of alone where you can hear others going up and down the stairs or banging something against the wall. No loud music blasting, no screaming kids, just peace and quiet with the natural sounds of nature. That's why we come back. That's why we will continue coming to these beautiful Oklahoma getaways .
See ya on our fourth trip.
The Gaston's Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
I'm so glad we discovered this place. We have laughed, cried, danced, ate, drank, and slept. As a matter of a fact we slept better than we have in months. We are both early birds and normally wake up before the sun rises. Here we slept in later than we ever have. I think we were both so relaxed after our hot-tub excursion, that we sawed some major logs. This is defiantly one of the best Oklahoma getaways that we've ever experienced. We loved our long evening walks and building a fire in the fire-pit near the creek. Shelly said she's never seen as many stars anytime in her life. Somehow, I did manage to locate the Big and Little Dipper's. The cheese tray was delicious and the flowers were delightful. We will surely share our experience of these Oklahoma getaways with others and highly recommend this place.
Duane & Shelly-OK.
Wow! These Oklahoma getaways were very warm and cozy. We had a blast ridding our four-wheeler at the local Dust 2 Dust ATV track. Although we couldn't wait to get back and relax in the hot tub. We truly had a wonderful three day getaway. Maybe next time we can stay longer. We'll be back and we will share our photo's and our experiences of these Oklahoma getaways with our friends on Facebook.
The Nelsons of Duncan, Oklahoma
You have a great thing going with these amazing Oklahoma getaways! W'ell be back.
Sherry and James of Elmore City, Oklahoma
River of Love Cabins; Oklahoma getaways.
Tags: Aching Bones, Amazing Place, Anniversary Celebration, Cozy Fire, Enthusiastic Friends, fire, Great, Green Briar, High Demanding Jobs, Hot Tub, Husband Bill, Living At Home, Love, Love Cabins, Love Train Caboose, Marsh Mellows, Marvelous Time, Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp, Norman Oklahoma, Oklahoma, open, Open Deck, Open Sky, Pick Up Truck, Rail Road, Susan Norman, Time Bill, Train Caboose, Two Boys, Unexpected Emergency, Wonderful Time
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Print, Share, or View Spanish version of this article
ADHD is short for
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (uh-TEN-shun
DEF-uh-sit HYE-pur-ak-TIV-uh-tee dis-ORD-ur). ADHD makes it hard to sit still,
pay attention, take turns, and finish things. It is one of the most common
chronic (long-term) problems of childhood.
All children have problems behaving sometimes.
Children with ADHD have a very hard time behaving a
lot of the time. They usually have problems behaving in
school and at home.
The cause of ADHD is not clear. We know the brain
works a little differently in a child with ADHD. We also know it runs in
families. There is no cure, but we are learning more every day. Children who get
treatment can do very well.
A child with ADHD may have one or more of these
Inattention (IN-uh-TEN-shin)
Has trouble paying attention
Daydreams and is easily distracted
Can't get organized and forgets
Is moving almost all the time
Has trouble sitting still, squirms, and
talks too much
Impulsivity (IM-puhl-SIV-uh-tee)
Acts and talks without thinking
Has trouble taking turns and interrupts a
Hyperactivity and impulsivity go together. Or maybe
the child just has trouble paying attention. Most children with ADHD have all
the problems above.
If your child has ADHD, the symptoms will:
Happen in more than one place, like home,
school, team sports, and camps.
Be worse than in other children the same
Start before your child is 7 years old.
Last more than 6 months.
Make it hard for your child to do well at
school and in other group activities.
Call your child's doctor if you think your
child may have ADHD. The doctor will talk with you both and check your
You should know:
It is hard to diagnose ADHD in children
younger than 6 years.
The doctor will ask about how your child
behaves at home, school, and other places. The doctor may have you or
your child's teacher fill out a form to learn about your
child's behavior.
There are other problems that have the same
symptoms as ADHD. And some children have ADHD with other behavior
problems, like not obeying, anxiety, learning problems, or
There is no proven medical test for ADHD at this
time. Blood tests; computer tests; x-rays, like MRIs or CAT scans; or brain-wave
tests don't help diagnose ADHD. Your child's doctor may have other
reasons for ordering these tests. Ask the doctor if you have questions.
There is no cure for ADHD. But there are many good
treatments to help your child. As a parent, you are very important in the
treatment process.
Your child's doctor will help you make a
long-term plan for managing your child's ADHD. The plan will have:
Goals (often called "target
outcomes"). Example: better schoolwork
Activities to help reach your child's
goals. Examples: taking medicine, making changes at school and at
Ways to check your child's progress
toward the goals.
Most ADHD plans include:
Medicine. For most children, drugs
called stimulants (STIM-yuh-lints) are safe and work well. They speed up the
signals in your child's brain. This helps your child focus and can help
other symptoms too. There may be other medicines that the doctor suggests. The
doctor may prescribe these instead of stimulants, or
together with stimulants.
Behavior therapy. This helps parents,
teachers, and other caregivers learn better ways to relate to the child with
ADHD. You will learn how to set and enforce rules. And your child will learn
better ways to control his or her behavior.
Working with the school. Treatment
works best when everyone works as a team. The team should include doctors,
parents, teachers, caregivers, and children themselves. Talk with the teacher or
principal if you think your child needs more help.
By law, public schools must:
Pay for testing for a child with learning
Use teaching methods that meet
children's needs.
Give extra help when needed.
It may take time to find the right treatment for
your child. And treatment may not get rid of all the ADHD problems. But
treatment with both medicine and behavior therapy helps most school-aged
children with ADHD.
You are not alone. There are parent
training and support groups for ADHD. These can be a great help. Being the
parent of a child with ADHD can be hard. Seek counseling if you feel overwhelmed
or hopeless. Ask your child's doctor where you can find this kind of
ADHD usually lasts into adulthood. People with
ADHD can live good, productive lives. Having lots of energy can help in some
Stimulants don't make
children high. They don't make children sleepy or
"dopey" either. But it's important for your child to
get the right kind and amount of medicine for him or her. That's why
regular doctor visits are important.
Sometimes teachers are the first to notice signs
of ADHD. But only a doctor can say whether your child has ADHD and order
medicine for it.


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FHOTD, This One's For You
So my adorable hubby, who pays far more attention to this stuff than I do, tells me that yesterday nearly 5,000 of you were referred to Cake Wrecks from a blog about horses. Which, you know, is a little odd. But hey (or should I say, "hay"?), I'm not complaining. Welcome, horse lovers!! Well, I mean, horse-riding lovers, nothing sick or anything... Wait, horse-riding doesn't sound any better...Geez, uh...
Here's a cake for ya'll, anyway:
In case you're wondering, it's a horse butt. Because, you know, all the cake baby butts were getting SO last week.
I am kind of curious about the "Good luck in life with Lacy & Tina" thing, though. The most charitable route would be to assume Lacy & Tina are themselves horses. If not, whoever commissioned this cake has a whole lotta 'splainin to do.
And Shara S., I agree: the tail IS rather worrisome.


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Phase I Study of West Nile Virus Vaccine
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00300417
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : March 8, 2006
Last Update Posted : July 2, 2017
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This study will test the safety of an experimental vaccine for preventing West Nile virus infection. The virus is spread mainly by mosquito bites. Symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Rarely, infection leads to permanent nerve damage and possibly death. The vaccine used in the study is made from DNA that codes for West Nile virus proteins. Injected into a muscle, the DNA instructs the body to make a small amount of West Nile virus protein. This study will see if the body creates resistance or immunity to these proteins. Participants cannot get West Nile virus from the vaccine.
Healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 65 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, and blood and urine tests for various infections and other medical problems. Women who are able to become pregnant are given a pregnancy test. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not participate. Anyone who has received a vaccination for Yellow Fever or Japanese Encephalitis virus in the past may not participate in this research study.
Participants will receive three injections of the experimental vaccine, the first on the first study day (Day 0), the second on Day 28, and the third on Day 56. The injections are given with a device called Biojector® (Registered Trademark) 2000 that delivers the vaccine through the skin into the muscle without the use of a needle. On the day of each injection, subjects are given a diary card to take home for recording their temperature and any symptoms or side effects for 5 days. They return to the clinic 2 weeks after each injection, bringing the completed card with them at that time. In addition to the injections, subjects have the following tests and procedures during clinic visits:
- Medical history and, if needed, physical examination: Day 0 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 32
- Vital signs and weight: Day 0 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 32
- Lymph node exam: Day 0 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12
- Blood samples: Day 0 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 32
- Pregnancy test (for women): Day 0 and weeks 4, 8 and 32
- Urine sample: Day 0 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10
The blood and urine tests are for health checks. Some blood samples are also used to study the immune response to the vaccine and for gene testing.
|Condition or disease
|West Nile Fever
|Drug: VRC-WNVDNA020-00-VP
|Phase 1
Study Design: This is a Phase I open-label study to evaluate safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a recombinant DNA vaccine, VRC-WNVDNA020-00-VP. The hypothesis is that this regimen will be safe for human administration and elicit a higher titer of neutralizing antibody response than a prior WNV DNA vaccine. The primary objectives are to evaluate the safety and tolerability in humans of the investigational vaccine in healthy young adults and in healthy older adults. Secondary and exploratory objectives are related to the immunogenicity of the study vaccine.
Product Description: VRC-WNVDNA020-00-VP is composed of a single closed-circular DNA plasmid that encodes the WNV viral protein precursor transmembrane (prM) and envelope (E) with a CMV/R promoter. Vaccine vials will be supplied at 4 mg/mL. Each DNA vaccination will be 1 mL of vaccine administered intramuscularly (IM) in the deltoid muscle using the Biojector 2000 Needle-Free Injection Management System (Biojector).
Subjects: A total of 30 healthy adults will be enrolled in two groups: Group 1 will be comprised of 15 healthy adults 18 to 50 years old and Group 2 will be comprised of 15 healthy adults 51 to 65 years old.
Study Plan: All subjects will receive 3 injections on the schedule shown in the schema. The protocol requires nine clinic visits and three telephone follow-up contacts.
Study Duration: 32 weeks of clinical follow up for each participant. A long-term follow-up contact at Week 52 may include interim medical history and research blood draw; or subject may opt for the long-term contact to occur by telephone, e-mail or mail for the interim medical history only.
Study Endpoints: The primary endpoint is safety and tolerability of the regimen. The secondary immunogenicity endpoints are WNV neutralizing antibody, WNV specific antibody as measured by ELISA, WNV-specific T cell responses measured by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay and ELISPOT. Other immunogenicity assays through Week 32 may also be completed as exploratory evaluations, as well as from the Week 52 blood samples if collected.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Enrollment :
|30 participants
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Phase I Study of the Safety and Immunogenicity of a West Nile Virus Recombinant DNA Plasmid Vaccine, VRC-WNVDNA020-00-VP, in Healthy Adult Subjects
|Study Start Date :
|March 3, 2006
|Study Completion Date :
|December 28, 2007
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
A participant must meet all of the following criteria:
- 18 to 65 years old.
- Available for clinical follow-up through Week 32 and contact (correspondence, telephone or e-mail) or clinical visit through Week 52 of the study.
- Able to provide proof of identity to the satisfaction of the study clinician completing the enrollment process.
- Complete an Assessment of Understanding prior to enrollment and verbalize understanding of all questions answered incorrectly.
- Able and willing to complete the informed consent process.
- Willing to receive HIV test results and willing to abide by NIH guidelines for partner notification of positive HIV results.
- Willing to donate blood for sample storage to be used for future research and genetic testing, including HLA analysis.
- In good general health without clinically significant medical history and has satisfactorily completed screening.
Physical examination and laboratory results without clinically significant findings and a body mass index (BMI) less than 40 within the 28 days prior to enrollment.
Laboratory Criteria within 28 days prior to enrollment:
- Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 11.5 g/dL for women; greater than or equal to 13.5 g/dL for men.
- White blood cell (WBC) equal to 3,300-12,000 cells/mm(3).
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) within institutional normal range.
- Total lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 800 cells/mm(3).
- Platelets equal to 125,000 - 400,000/mm(3).
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT; SGPT) less than or equal to 1.25 x upper limit of normal.
- Serum creatinine less than or equal to 1 x upper limit of normal (less than or equal to 1.3 mg/dL for females; less than or equal to 1.4 mg/dL for males).
- Normal urinalysis defined as negative glucose, negative or trace protein, and no clinically significant blood in the urine.
- Negative FDA-approved HIV blood test. [Note: Results of HIV ELISA will be documented, but a negative HIV PCR will be sufficient for eligibility screening of subjects with positive HIV ELISA that is due to prior participation in an HIV vaccine study.]
- Negative hepatitis B surface antigen.
Negative anti-HCV and negative hepatitis C virus (HCV) PCR.
Laboratory Criteria within 12 weeks (84 days) prior to enrollment:
Negative flavivirus serology (in the Focus Technologies WNV antibody ELISA assay) within 84 days prior to enrollment and no history of prior vaccination against yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis virus; and no history of prior vaccination against West Nile virus with an investigational vaccine.
Female-Specific Criteria:
- Negative beta-HCG pregnancy test (urine or serum) on day of enrollment for women presumed to be of reproductive potential.
- A female participant must meet any of the following criteria:
No reproductive potential because of menopause (one year without menses) or because of a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation,
Participant agrees to be heterosexually inactive at least 21 days prior to enrollment and through Week 32 of the study,
Participant agrees to consistently practice contraception at least 21 days prior to enrollment and through Week 32 of the study by one of the following methods:
- condoms, male or female, with or without a spermicide
- diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide
- intrauterine device
- contraceptive pills or patch, Norplant, Depo-Provera or other FDA-approved contraceptive method
- male partner has previously undergone a vasectomy
A volunteer will be excluded if one or more of the following conditions apply.
Breast-feeding or planning to become pregnant during the 32 weeks of study participation.
Volunteer has received any of the following substances:
- Immunosuppressive medications, cytotoxic medications, inhaled corticosteroids, or long-acting beta-agonists within the past six months. (Note that use of corticosteroid nasal spray for allergic rhinitis, topical corticosteroids for an acute uncomplicated dermatitis, or short-acting beta-agonists in controlled asthmatics are not excluded).
- Blood products within 120 days prior to HIV screening.
- Immunoglobulin within 60 days prior to HIV screening.
- Investigational research agents within 30 days prior to initial study vaccine administration.
- Live attenuated vaccines within 30 days prior to initial study vaccine administration.
- Medically indicated subunit or killed vaccines, e.g. influenza, pneumococcal, or allergy treatment with antigen injections, within 14 days of study vaccine administration.
Current anti-TB prophylaxis or therapy.
Volunteer has a history of any of the following clinically significant conditions:
- Serious adverse reactions to vaccines such as anaphylaxis, hives, respiratory difficulty, angioedema, or abdominal pain.
- Autoimmune disease or immunodeficiency.
- Asthma that is unstable or required emergent care, urgent care, hospitalization or intubation during the past two years or that requires the use of oral or intravenous corticosteroids.
- Diabetes mellitus (type I or II), with the exception of gestational diabetes.
- History of thyroidectomy or thyroid disease that required medication within the past 12 months.
- Serious angioedema episodes within the previous 3 years or requiring medication in the previous two years.
- Hypertension that is not well controlled by medication or is more than 145/95 at enrollment.
- Bleeding disorder diagnosed by a doctor (e.g. factor deficiency, coagulopathy, or platelet disorder requiring special precautions) or significant bruising or bleeding difficulties with IM injections or blood draws.
- Malignancy that is active or treated malignancy for which there is not reasonable assurance of sustained cure or malignancy that is likely to recur during the period of the study.
- Seizure disorder other than: 1) febrile seizures under the age of two, 2) seizures secondary to alcohol withdrawal more than 3 years ago, or 3) a singular seizure not requiring treatment within the last 3 years.
- Asplenia, functional asplenia or any condition resulting in the absence or removal of the spleen.
- Allergic reaction to aminoglycoside antibiotics.
- Psychiatric condition that precludes compliance with the protocol; past or present psychoses; past or present bipolar disorder; disorder requiring lithium; or within five years prior to enrollment, a history of suicide plan or attempt.
- Any medical, psychiatric, social condition, occupational reason or other responsibility that, in the judgment of the investigator, is a contraindication to protocol participation or impairs a volunteer's ability to give informed consent.
- Active smoker within the past 5 years AND with 25 pack-years or greater smoking history.
If age 51-65 years and with 3 or more of the 5 health risk factors noted below, the subject will be excluded:
- Current smoker (or quit smoking less than 28 days prior to enrollment)
- BMI greater than 35
- Fasting low density lipoprotein (LDL) greater than 159 mg/dL or fasting cholesterol greater than 239 mg/dL
- Systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg
- Fasting blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dL
Note: The fasting blood tests require 8 hours fast prior to the blood draw. The results used for eligibility screening must be from tests completed no more than 12 weeks (84 days) prior to day of enrollment. The individual criteria for BMI (inclusion item 9), blood pressure (exclusion item 15) and smoking history (exclusion item 23) must also be met.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00300417
|United States, Maryland
|National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
|Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00300417 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|March 8, 2006 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|July 2, 2017
|Last Verified:
|December 28, 2007
West Nile Fever
West Nile Virus
Healthy Volunteer
West Nile Fever
Encephalitis, Arbovirus
Arbovirus Infections
Virus Diseases
Encephalitis, Viral
Central Nervous System Viral Diseases
RNA Virus Infections
Flavivirus Infections
Flaviviridae Infections
Infectious Encephalitis
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Central Nervous System Infections
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs


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San Francisco's Jewish Film Festival, which opens tomorrow night at the Castro with the award-winning family drama Mabul and a post-screening bash at Café du Nord, will present its Freedom of Expression Award to Kirk Douglas on the Castro stage this Sunday in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus and Douglas' proudest professional achievement: breaking the Hollywood blacklist.
Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch) bravely crossed the Hollywood blacklist when he insisted on giving a screen credit to blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo for Spartacus, which Douglas starred in and produced. Though the decision was widely criticized at the time, Douglas, 94, is now celebrated for his role in ending the legacy of the McCarthy era in Hollywood.
"We're extremely proud to present Kirk Douglas with our Freedom of Expression Award not only for his indelible contributions to American cinema as an actor, but also for his courageous actions in support of artistic freedom," San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Executive Director Peter Stein says. "In every way he represents the spirit of the award and this festival."
Douglas will appear Sunday at the Castro to receive the award and to introduce a special screening of Spartacus, Kubrick's epic historical drama about the legendary Thracian slave who leads an uprising against Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus (Laurence Olivier).
Adapted from a novel by fellow blacklisted writer Harold Fast, Trumbo initially wrote Spartacus under the name Sam Jackson, but it was Douglas who insisted against the use of a pseudonym.
Throughout the '50s, McCarthyism and fear of Communism prevailed in America, and the blacklist prevented filmmakers, screenwriters and actors suspected of having ties to the Communist party from working in Hollywood. The blacklist era is now regarded as one of the darkest chapters in American political and media history, one that had a profound impact on the lives and reputations of many Jewish artists, including Douglas, working in cinema.
"We feel that Kirk Douglas is the ideal recipient for this year's award, and we can think of no better film to present in the context of Freedom of Expression," Festival Program Director and former Freedom of Expression Award-winner Jay Rosenblatt says.
"It will also be an interesting experience for our audience to view Spartacus within the context of a Jewish film festival. Spartacus is the story of slaves freeing themselves from the Romans. That has particular reverberations for Jews familiar with the Passover story of deliverance from slavery in Egypt."
Spartacus arrives at the Castro Theatre this Sunday, July 24, at 1 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit the Jewish Film Festival's official site.


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America's largest organization of combat veterans has elected a Vietnam War veteran to head the 1.5 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Richard L. DeNoyer, a resident of Middleton, Massachusetts, was elected VFW Commander-in-Chief on September 1, 2011, during the 112th VFW National Convention, held August 27 – September 1, in San Antonio, Texas.
Click here to read DeNoyer's acceptance speech.
Also elected were John Hamilton, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, of St. Augustine, Florida, and William Thien, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, of Georgetown, Indiana.
Several major measures affecting the operation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars were also approved during the business sesssion. Click here to read a summary by North Carolina VFW Member Ken Sellers. For more information on convention events, visit the VFW.org Summary page.
And finally, watch the slideshow below for some random photos from the convention.


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Jared Alan Johansen
Oct. 14, 1984-Nov. 30, 2011
Pleasanton, California
Contact the submitter
Jared Alan Johansen, beloved son of Alan and Christy Johansen unexpectedly passed away in his sleep early Wednesday morning November 30, 2011 at his home in Pleasanton, California. He was 27 years old. Jared grew up in Pleasanton and loved his many friends and teachers at Walnut Grove Elementary, Harvest Park Middle School, and Amador Valley High School. Jared was well known for his fun sense of humor and wit and his love of learning. He was a great brother, husband, father, son, a gifted athlete, dedicated scholar and respected friend. Jared was an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers, Giants and the Warriors. He spoke Spanish fluently and served a two year voluntary mission for his church in Washington D.C. Jared attended college at both BYU and the University of Utah, earning a degree in Economics in 2009. He was married in the Portland Oregon LDS temple in 2008 to his adoring wife Tiffany Bleak. During the past 2 years, Jared loved his work and associates at the law firm of Gunderson Dettmer in Redwood City. He and Tiffany were happily looking forward to law school next year. Jared is survived by his wife, his 17 month old daughter Reese and another baby daughter Jaclyn (due to arrive in January). Jared is also survived by his parents and his two younger brothers Nick and Nate Johansen. Friends are invited to a memorial service to honor Jared on Tuesday December 6th at 12pm (noon) in the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 6100 Paseo Santa Cruz, Pleasanton California 94566. A viewing for friends and community will be held Monday, December 5th from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Graham-Hitch Mortuary located at 4167 First Street in Pleasanton California 94566. In lieu of flowers and for the benefit of Jared and Tiff?s baby daughters? education, contributions can be sent to: The Jared Johansen Legacy Trust, 405 Boulder Court (Suite 400) Pleasanton, California 94566.


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text:
|February 2009
|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.
Oklahoma Professional Counselors Search Now Available Online
Citizens wanting to confirm the legitimacy of their marital or other professional counselor can now do so quickly online. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) recently launched a public search utility providing immediate access to all professional counselor license holders in the state of Oklahoma.
"We are dedicated to improving customer service and Internet technology provides us with the tools to make it easier and more convenient for citizens to find the information they need," said Rocky McElvany, MS, Interim Commissioner of Health.
The online service provides the public with multiple options to search for professional counselors by name, license number, license type, city, or by a licensees' status. The public can also print detailed information for a professional counselor or multiple counselors including phone number, status, license issue and expiration date, if any disciplinary actions have ever been taken, and what those actions were. License types the public can search for include:
• Licensed Professional Counselor�
• Licensed Marital and Family Therapist�
• Licensed Behavioral Practitioner�
• Licensed Genetic Counselor�
• Applicant
OSDH Professional Counselor Public Search Utility is a product of a partnership between the Oklahoma Office of State Finance and OK.gov, Oklahoma's Official Web site managed by the eGovernment firm, NIC Inc. (NASDAQ: EGOV).
�Visit the Public Search Utility for Professional Counselor Licensing�
City of Nicoma Park Launches Online Bill Pay
City of Nicoma Park, Oklahoma, residents and businesses can now make secure payments online for utility bills and citations. Nicoma Park's online bill pay system is located off the Nicoma Park Homepage under the "Online Bill Pay" tab.
"Our new online bill pay system will provide greater citizen convenience," said Beverly McManus, City Clerk/Treasurer of Nicoma Park. "Instead of calling, mailing, or visiting our offices to pay their bills, individuals can conduct that business easily and securely on our Web site. We also hope to bring more convenience to our citizens with additional payment options in the future."
The city is currently accepting Visa, MasterCard, and checking/savings account payments for monthly utility bills and citations. The payments are processed through a secure payment engine, which abides by rigorous policies and procedures to ensure that citizens and businesses can be confident that their payments are safe, private, and secure.
�Visit the Nicoma Park Online Bill Pay System�
Oklahoma Tax Commission Wants To Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolution
Does saving money, going green and losing weight... wait sound like some of the resolutions you made at the beginning of the year? If so, the Oklahoma Tax Commission wants you to try filing your taxes electronically this year and meet your resolutions.
Electronic filing of tax returns is the quickest and most efficient way to file. There's less paper involved, and taxpayers receiving a refund who file electronically can usually expect their refund in five to seven days. And by choosing to have refunds directly deposited into a checking or savings account, taxpayers can see an even quicker receipt of a refund.�
Go green…consider filing electronically instead of using a paper return. E-filed returns provide the taxpayer with the confidence of an accurate return being processed and a quick turn around time if receiving a refund. Taxpayers that e-file will also receive confirmation approximately 24-48 hours after submission that their return was received and is ready for processing.�
Save money and lose the wait time… Last year approximately 1.7 million tax returns were filed with the State of Oklahoma. Over half of those returns, or more than 932,000, were filed electronically. To date, over 470,000 Oklahoma returns have been filed electronically.�
Taxpayers wanting to prepare their own returns may choose from two electronic filing options when filing their 2008 Oklahoma individual income tax return.�
• Returns, including refunds, balances due, or no balance due, may be filed electronically using the Internet. Taxpayers can visit the Oklahoma Tax Commission web site at www.tax.ok.gov for information on electronic filing programs, some of which taxpayers may qualify to use for free.�
• Taxpayers may also purchase software that will allow them to prepare and file both their federal and state income tax returns electronically. The links offered by the OTC offer taxpayers the ability to prepare and transmit their returns using the same software for a fraction of the price of purchasing the software.�
When filing electronically taxpayers will usually receive their Oklahoma refund within five to seven days. Usually even faster when using direct deposit.�
Need more reasons? The Oklahoma Tax Commission provides many ways for you to file your taxes, including e-file.
Benefits of E-filing:�
What's Inside
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
- Mike Fogarty,�
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
�-�Howard H. Hendrick,
�Oklahoma Department of Health's Professional Counselor Public Search Site�
How Do I�Easily Find Answers to my Tax Questions?
��Visit OK.gov's Tax Resources Site�
How Do I�Easily Find my State Senator and State Representative for my county?�
�Find Your Legislative Officials on OK.gov's County Map�
Monday, May 25
2009 Great American Cleanup in Oklahoma
Communities of Excellence Day at the Capitol
Oklahoma Sustainability Conference
Share Your eGov Story
Have an Oklahoma eGovernment story to tell? Want to give us feedback?
About OK.gov
OK.gov (http://www.ok.gov/) built and manages the official Web site for the state of Oklahoma and partners with state agencies to bring new government services online. OK.gov is managed by the Oklahoma Office of State Finance and eGovernment firm NIC Inc.
Learn more about Oklahoma's eGov News Report and view past issues
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405.524.3468 or Toll Free at 1.800.955.3468


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Police have released two men they were interviewing in connection with the death of David Cassai, who died in hospital on Monday following a brawl in a Victorian seaside town.
A 20-year-old Kilsyth man and a 22-year-old Yarra Junction man were arrested earlier tonight but have since been released without charge, pending further inquiries.
David Cassai was killed after being punched during an altercation at Rye.
Police said investigators still want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Cassai was a "great kid" whose life was taken away for no reason, his uncle says.
Police say the Templestowe lanscaper fell after being assaulted, striking his head on a concrete footpath.
David's uncle Sandro Cassai said his death was devastating.
"They have taken the life of such a great kid," he told radio station 3AW on Tuesday.
"David was just such a gem of a kid and his life has just been taken away for no reason."
Mr Cassai said he understood his nephew and his mates were ambushed.
He said they were not looking for trouble.
"David was just a gift to us all," Mr Cassai said.
"He will be remembered forever. He was just such a great kid and he will be missed by many."
Mr Cassai called on the media and the government to work together to prevent similar incidents happening in the future.
"They just seem so minor, but they are just so devastating and so tragic," he said.
After the assault, David Cassai was flown in a critical condition to The Alfred hospital, where his family stayed by his side, but he died around 4pm on Monday.
Detective Inspector John Potter said CCTV footage captured the brawl, and clearly showed the group of five men as the aggressors.
He said police were confident they would be able to pinpoint those responsible for the violence, and urged them to turn themselves in before they were tracked down.
"Ultimately we're going to be able to identify you and it would be best if you came forward," Detective Inspector Potter said.
The sisters of David Cassai have posted new tributes to their brother on social media, thanking those that have offered the family support.
Both Luisa and Elisa Cassai uploaded new tributes to their brother, who died on Monday afternoon.
Luisa described as Mr Cassai as her "superstar" and "idol".
"Our family is so lucky to have such amazing friends, family and strangers support," she wrote on Facebook.
Elisa Cassai described her brother as a kind and caring joker who "brought a smile to everyones faces".
Luisa Cassai's post, created on Tuesday morning, has already received more than 160 likes.
With Chris Hingston, AAP


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MONTGOMERY — The Legislature will begin working next year on a rewrite of the constitution's education article in a process that almost certainly will involve all three branches of government and powerful lobbying organizations.
MONTGOMERY — The Legislature will begin working next year on a rewrite of the constitution's education article in a process that almost certainly will involve all three branches of government and powerful lobbying organizations.
Republicans who govern the Legislature are embarked on an article-by-article rewrite of the 1901 Constitution that has been amended more than 800 times.
The latest attempt to rewrite a small part ended in failure Nov. 6 when voters refused to remove inoperative poll tax language inserted in the constitution during Jim Crow days.
The amendment was opposed by the powerful Alabama Education Association because of fears that a new amendment would not guarantee a right to an education and preserve any future court challenge to the current system of financing education.
Gov. Robert Bentley supported the attempt to remove racist language called Amendment 4 and said he'll support future attempts.
The 2013 work on the education article could be presented to the full Legislature to consider in the 2014 session.
Before it gets there, the Supreme Court may have to decide what language can be amended, whether it's the original Section 256 from the 1901 Constitution that guarantees a right to an education or Amendment 111 that removed that right to an education in 1956.
Amendment 111 was the reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that segregated schools, which Alabama had, were illegal. The amendment was passed in an atmosphere of defiance and possibly with the intent to do away with public schools and shift education dollars to private schools.
It's the language in Amendment 111 that the Senate author of Amendment 4 ultimately used for the amendment that voters rejected Nov. 6.
Theories abound about why Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, in his attempt to modify the constitution didn't use Section 256 language that guaranteed a right to an education, but used Amendment 111 language that voters had approved in 1956.
Some believe the Alabama Farmers Federation, the defender of low taxes, got to Orr. ALFA spokesman Brian Hardin said yes, the organization talked with Orr.
"That (Section 256) language had already been amended out and we did not focus on that language," Hardin said. "We said let's focus on something we could agree on."
The original Amendment 4 that Orr introduced in 2011 contained the Section 256 language that guaranteed the right to an education. Orr said he got the language from a bill by black lawmaker Rep. James Buskey, D-Mobile, in his previous attempt to amend the constitution.
Craig Baab, an attorney with the Alabama Appleseed organization, got involved. He said he told Orr he couldn't amend inoperative constitutional language and if the amendment passed it probably would be challenged.
"We saw the bill as introduced and went through it and met with him," Baab said in a recent interview. "I said if we tried to go back to what Buskey tried to do before, I figured it would fail again, and that would be awful for (education) support."
The AEA believes Amendment 111 isn't operative because a Montgomery Circuit judge in the equity funding lawsuit in 1993 reinstated Section 256 language.
The Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit in 2002. "The Constitutions of 1875 and 1901, however, placed the power over education in the Legislature (or General Assembly)," the court ruled.
Baab said the Amendment 111 language "is still in there."
He added, "I say look at any copy of the Constitution. I wrote the letter saying this is, of course, the first step and it will lead to an effort to reinstate the right to an education."
Orr explained why he changed his original bill.
"A lawyer came to visit me and said we support the bill, but you're going to create much more problems constitutionally than you're going to solve," Orr said. "You're attempting to amend something that's already gone, old 256, but the current code is 111."
The substitution Orr passed incensed black lawmakers once the AEA entered the picture. "Nobody ever gave an explanation and that's why we backed off," said Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro.
Baab said he was surprised by the AEA's opposition "because nothing (had been) said or done since 2011, when Sen. Orr's bill was approved."
The Alabama Law Institute, the Legislative Reference Service and Samford University law professor Howard Walthall agreed with Orr that his amendment wouldn't affect education."Everyone came back with the conclusion that you have to go what's in the code today and that is 111," Orr said.
AEA lawyers prior to the Amendment 4 vote disagreed, saying Article 256 language is still the law.
A retired University of Alabama law professor, Martha Morgan, told the New York Times a vote for the amendment would affirm there is no constitutional right to a public education. That could jeopardize future legal challenges to school financing, she said.
The Alabama Policy Institute published an editorial titled "The racist results of blind loyalty."
API General Council Cameron Smith wrote, "The AEA wanted to preserve as much of its ability to use racial animus as possible to shape education funding and tax policy through the courts, especially since it no longer has total control over the Alabama Legislature."
AEA Executive Secretary Henry Mabry stuck to his guns. "Our lawyers think we're right, how the bill (was) constructed," he said Thursday.
Orr said opponents had all of the 2012 legislative session to voice objections.
"My goal was to remove the racist language and it's extremely unfortunate that it was attacked like it was," he said. "The law, the assertions that were made the last three weeks, were wrong, were misrepresentations, according to legal scholars."
Before the Legislature's article revision committee can look at whether Amendment 111 superseded Article 256 or whether Montgomery County Circuit Judge Gene Reese's 1993 ruling still stands, someone is going to have to determine the operative language.
And that is probably going to be the Supreme Court.
Bentley or the Legislature can ask the Supreme Court for an opinion. "I'll study it carefully and make a decision that's best for the state," Bentley said.
The Supreme Court in January will be headed by former Chief Justice Roy Moore, who will be sworn just prior to the 2013 legislative session.
When he was chief justice in 2002, Moore concurred in part and dissented in part on the equity funding lawsuit: "I not only agree that this case should be dismissed, but I would go further and say that it should be vacated; the trial court never had subject-matter jurisdiction over the original complaints. Therefore, the circuit court's every act — from the first day —was illegal and is void," he wrote.
The AEA's Mabry said there ultimately may have to be some negotiating.
"I think that the interested parties need to sit down and discuss concerns and have meeting of the minds so we can best address the old racist language," Mabry said. "It needs to be taken out, everybody agrees to that. I guess the question is how do you get to that point."


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So Mitt Romney finally decided to bite the bullet and release his tax returns. They were worse than we could have imagined. He paid just a 14% tax rate on an annual income of 42.5 million dollars. That's less than half of what his primary rival Newt Gengrich says he paid. It is half of what President Barack Obama paid. We could argue how flawed a tax policy needs to be to let something like this happen, but that's not the discussion we need to have right now.
For the last year or so, Willard "Mitt" Romney has been attempting to connect with the average American worker. In June 2011, Mitt spoke with a group of voters in Florida. When told that a few of them were unemployed, he responded that he too was unemployed. Let's think about that for a minute. He made 42.5 million dollars last year and considers himself "unemployed" just like the working folks he was speaking with? That might not be the dumbest thing I've ever heard, but it comes close.
Just for some perspective, let's look at some numbers. The average weekly unemployment benefit in Indiana is about 300 dollars. Mitt made about 817,000 dollars a week in 2011, or 2723 times as much as the average unemployed Hoosier. That means the average Hoosier had 40 dollars a day to live on. Mitt had 116,438 dollars a day to survive on. How did he not starve to death?
Sarcasm aside, Mitt has very little, if anything, in common with the average American and these numbers prove that. His claims of being a successful businessman and honest immigrant are half-hearted and half-honest. Anyone could be a successful businessman if they inherited 450 million dollars, like Mitt did when his father died. And yes, he comes from a Mexican family. Of course, his family was Mexican because they fled the United States years before to avoid anti-polygamy laws.
Mitt should just own who he is and let the chips fall where they may. He's a extraordinarily wealthy man who makes money by buying struggling companies, firing the employees, then parting the company out for scrap. He has very idiosyncratic social views that have been both liberal and conservative depending on what was convenient at the time. He wants to get elected and does what's necessary to meet that goal. His business mind is just like any other mediocre business mind in the United States. They do what's easy and leave the real work for others.
Mitt is a political and financial opportunist. He should own that identity. Republican voters would probably reward him for it.
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Growth forecast for 2012 downgraded by Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to minus 0.1%.
GDP growth has been downgraded for every year of the forecast period to 1.2% in 2013, 2% in 2014, 2.3% in 2015, 2.7% in 2016, and 2.8% in 2017.
Unemployment predicted by OBR to peak at 8.3%, with employment rising every year.
The deficit is forecast to fall from 7.9% last year to 6.9% this year, then 6.1%, 5.2%, 4.2%, and 2.6%, reaching 1.6% in 2017/18.
Borrowing is forecast to fall from £108 billion this year, to £99 billion, £88 billion, £73 billion and £49 billion in later years, reaching £31 billion in 2017/18.
Target of debt falling by 2015/16 is to be missed - this will now happen in 2016/17. The period of austerity has been extended by one year to 2017/18.
Civil service budgets to be cut by 1% next year and 2% in 2014, with NHS and schools exempted. Local government budgets to be cut by 2% in 2014.
Capital investment in infrastructure is to total £5 billion over two years, including £1 billion for roads, upgrading the A1, A30, and M25.
The High Speed 2 rail link is to be extended to the North West and to West Yorkshire. In London, the Northern Line of the Underground is to be extended to Battersea.
£600 million to be invested in science, £270 million in further education colleges, and £1 billion in schools.
Additional spending of £77 million for HM Revenue and Customs to fight tax avoidance expected to increase money collected by £2 billion a year.
There will be no new tax on property.
The overall Isa contribution limit is to be uprated to £11,520 from next April.
Capital gains tax annual exempt amount is to increase by 1% over the same period, reaching £11,100 and inheritance tax nil-band rate to rise from £325,000 now to £329,000 in 2015/16.
There will be consultation on tax incentives for shale gas.
The main rate of corporation tax is to be cut by 1% to 21% in April 2014.
The bank levy rate will be increased to 0.13% next year.
Income tax personal allowance is to increase by £1,335 - £235 more than previously announced - so no tax will be paid on earnings under £9,440.
The threshold for 40% rate of income tax is to rise by 1% in 2014 and 2015 from £41,450 to £41,865 and then £42,285.
Most working age benefits - including Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support - to be uprated by 1% for the next three years.
Child benefit is to rise by 1% for two years from April 2014.
The basic state pension is to rise by 2.5% next year to £110.15 a week.
The tax-free allowance for pensions is to be cut from 2014/15 from £1.5 million to £1.25 million over a lifetime. Annual allowance is to be cut from £50,000 to £40,000, saving £1 billion.
The planned 3p-per-litre planned rise in fuel duty has been cancelled.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. congressional oversight panel asked regulators to delay a multibillion dollar mortgage settlement with 14 large banks so that the lawmakers could review the deal, according to a letter made available on Saturday.
"We would like more information about how the potential settlement amount is to be determined in light of the potential wrongdoing identified to date," said the January 4 letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry.
The top Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the House of Representatives Oversight Committee asked regulators how aid may be distributed and in what form, and what may happen to homeowner files that are still awaiting review.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Federal Reserve was holding up the settlement with banks to resolve allegations that they unlawfully cut corners when foreclosing on delinquent borrowers.
The settlement with five big banks - Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Co, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc and Ally Financial - would be part of a larger deal that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency hopes will include 14 banks and total about $10 billion, a source told Reuters last week.
The deal would potentially compensate borrowers who went through foreclosures in 2009 and 2010, and it was unclear why the Fed had not signed off on it, the Journal said.
The terms under discussion would have 14 large banks pay a total of $3.75 billion in cash and the balance in other forms of borrower relief, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Spokesmen for the Fed and the OCC were not immediately available for comment.
The Fed and the OCC have disagreed about exactly how payments to consumers under the settlement would be determined, the Journal said. Smaller banks that were concerned that the settlement terms favor larger lenders also opposed the deal, the Journal added.
A majority of the 14 servicers have already agreed to the terms of the deal, which would be in jeopardy if it is not completed this weekend, the Journal said.
Reporting By Rachelle Younglai; Editing by Vicki Allen


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Since 1827, the people of Mt. Zion UMC have sought to be God's people, so that God might be a part of the community in which we live.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19
Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." 2 Chronicles 5:13
"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."Joshua 1:9
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."Psalm 96:3
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Limpa is a traditional Swedish rye bread. According to Peter Reinhart in The Bread Baker's Apprentice, what makes it different from German and deli ryes is the use of aniseeds, fennel seeds, orange peel and a touch of cardamom. Recipe I used is from Reinhart's another book Whole Grain Bread which fitted my schedule. Besides the spices and citrus, Reinhart's recipe also has an overnight soaker and rye starter. The bread is moist, rich and heavenly fragrant, and I love it so much!
Some websites also mentioned Swedish Vört Limpa which is offered mainly in Christmas. The difference is the addition of some malt to the dough. I think the taste of limpa is already a wonderful treat for the season, and not as sinful as stollen or panettone.
I used whole rye starter at 83% hydration and whole wheat flour in the final dough. The dough was very sticky. I kneaded it only for 15-20 times and the dough had little strength. However it had very good rise in the oven. Hehehe, seems some luck with this bread. This delightful bread has started my good holiday. 🙂


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When the temperatures dip into sub-zero territory and the salty slush threatens to ruin your favorite flats, it's hard to resist slipping into the same duds every day: a gigantic coat and snow boots. Before you know it, signs of spring will roll around and you'll have spent all winter bundled up in the same boring combo.
But don't let the cold weather keep you from looking chic—whether you're rocking a puffer or a parka, the cute outfit underneath is all about the details and the proportions. Read on for our winter outfit inspirations you'll look forward to wearing, all of which are inclement weather-approved!


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Over the years, the typical facility accumulates the detritus of fast-track projects and various efforts to do more with less. Some misguided attempts at "efficiency" have produced gross inefficiencies, and the place is littered with "Easter eggs" that will eventually result in unplanned downtime. To head off failures (and possible catastrophe), you must make informed decisions on spending limited maintenance resources. You become informed by conducting the proper testing.
Few facilities have the expertise for this testing. However, firms with such expertise are available. How do you go about selecting such a firm and then selling the idea to the bean counters? You won't succeed by merely ordering a bunch of tests and hoping to find something. Instead, you need to make a business case for a specific program of testing.
Pick a major system (e.g., plant power distribution), and obtain the applicable standards. Among the organizations providing authoritative standards for electrical maintenance and testing are IEEE, NFPA, and NETA. Determine what gap exists between the needed tests and your capabilities for doing them. Now you know the delta and can look for a qualified testing firm.


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Spring has been rough this year in New York. No sooner had I written my post last week on the amazing 2 days of warm weather, we got thrown right back into chilliness. And I managed to catch that flu had missed me during the colder months.
It's been over a week now, which is way longer than I've usually out. I've been sick so long I actually don't remember what it's like to not be sick. And because I've (mostly) been too tired to cook, my meals have mainly consisted of takeout fare like pad thai, hummus sandwiches, and banh mi; basically, whatever is within an 8-block radius. But I realized what I really needed was a good homemade soup. And since that meant I had to make that myself, well, that soup better require minimal time in the kitchen.
Which is where this miso soup comes in. With the tofu and kale, it's enough to be a light meal on its own, with maybe some rice or veggie sushi rolls on the side to make it more substantial. I had some vegetable stock saved in the freezer, so all I needed to do was heat it up and toss in some miso paste, ginger, scallions, cubed tofu, chopped kale, and a couple other seasonings.Read More


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Smith brothers to meet in playoffs for 1st time
TORONTO (AP) Growing up in Toronto's Mimico neighborhood, Brendan and Reilly Smith never played organized hockey together. Just everything else.
"We were always playing mini sticks or road hockey or shinny on the ice out on the rink, stuff like that," Brendan Smith said. "We were always playing with or against each other."
Inevitably, one-on-one games in the basement would get heated. If it was last goal wins, Reilly said older brother Brendan would often make sure they kept playing until he scored it.
It won't be that easy when Brendan's Detroit Red Wings take on Reilly's Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They've met in the regular season, but this is a matchup the brothers and their parents hoped to avoid.
"We don't like when they're against each other," Diedre Smith said of her sons on HBO's "24/7" program in December. "We like it when they're against other people."
When the Red Wings were making their wild-card run last month, Reilly told Brendan to keep racking up the points to get the first spot and a matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins instead of his Bruins.
Reilly didn't get his wish and the Bruins and Red Wings are meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1957. Game 1 is Friday night in Boston.
The Red Wings won three of four meetings with the Bruins this season, including April 2 in Detroit to snap Boston's streak of 16 games without a regulation loss. Reilly, a right wing, had an assist in each of those games, while Brendan, a defenseman, went without a point the three times he played against Boston.
"When Boston plays Detroit, we root for both of them to play well," Lester Smith said on "24/7".
The brothers also root for each other and talk every day during the season, sometimes to boost each other's confidence.
"I talk to him about things, things that are going wrong with him, if he's on a cold streak. We can both help each other," Brendan said. "We're always talking. I think it's good for me and I think it's good for both of us. … We're both in the same profession and we know what it's like on a day-in, day-out basis, so we can help each other and maybe if things aren't going well crack a smile on each other. It's a good relationship."
Brendan, at 25 the middle of three brothers with professional lacrosse player Rory the oldest, is Reilly's biggest supporter. He didn't quite agree that Reilly turned out to be the best return from the Bruins' trade that sent Tyler Seguin to the Dallas Stars – because Loui Eriksson is really good – but he expected the 23-year-old forward to thrive.
"I think he's been the most shock-and-awe factor in that trade that nobody saw," Brendan said. "We did as a family, and a lot of people that have seen Reilly in previous years in college and St. Mike's, they knew who Reilly was."
All Reilly needed, his brother says, was an opportunity to play with better linemates. Getting that chance, eventually on a line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, Reilly broke out with 20 goals and 31 assists for a career-high 51 points.
"He never really got that great of a chance with Dallas on the fourth line (where) it's hard to produce when you're a skill player," Brendan said. "Once he got into a system where he's starting to play with high-production players, obviously he jumped off the page."
After just three goals and six assists in 37 games with the Stars last season, Reilly had 30 points in his first 38 games for Boston.
"It's kind of interesting to watch it and for me to follow it. Reilly came out flying, he was really hot and then it became Marchand and now it's Bergeron," Brendan said. "It's like they're all taking their turn to get that limelight. … It's a good line and it's impressive to see that Reilly's done so well."
Even though Reilly went cold late in the season, he still finished sixth on the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins in scoring.
The brothers credit their parents for their success.
"The drive and all they've done for us and how they've brought us up from young guys, I think that's the main reason why we've been successful," he said. "We always wanted to be professional and play in the NHL and we were fortunate to do that. And I think that's something our parents instilled in us was that drive."


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3 U.S. service members dead in second "green-on-blue" attack
(CBS/AP) KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan working on an installation shared by Afghan and foreign forces shot and killed three American service members Friday - raising to six the number of U.S. troops killed by their Afghan partners in 24 hours.
In an earlier attack, an Afghan police officer shot and killed three U.S. Marines after sharing a meal with them before dawn Friday in Sangin district of Helmand province.
Coalition spokeswoman Maj. Lori Hodge said Saturday that the three additional foreign service members were gunned down Friday night. The second incident occurred in Garmser district of Helmland province, according to province spokesman Daud Ahmadi
The Taliban claimed responsibility for both of the attacks in Helmand province, located in southern Afghanistan. The province is an area where Taliban insurgents have wielded their greatest influence.
Hodge says the shooters in both attacks have been detained.
The most recent shooting brings the number of "green-on-blue" incidents - in which Afghan security forces turn on their Western allies - to 26 over the last 12 months. Thirty-four coalition service members have now died this year at the hands of Afghan forces or insurgents disguised in Afghan uniforms, according to NATO - a dramatic rise from previous years.
Gen. John Allen, the commander in Afghanistan, said insider attacks are rare compared to the overall number of troops in what's officially called the International Security Assistance Force - ISAF for short.
"Every case where one of these occurs," said Allen, "that same day there are tens of thousands of interactions between the Afghans and ISAF forces that don't go that way."
While the Taliban often claim they have infiltrated the Afghan security forces and are carrying out these attacks, CBS News reporter John Bentley reported in July that a U.S. Defense Department report maintains the attacks are not carried out by insurgents.
"Investigations have determined that a large majority of green-on-blue attacks are not attributable to insurgent infiltration of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces), but are due to isolated personal grievances against coalition personnel," the report said.


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Following on from my last post: I'm going to assume for now that my great-great-great-grandfather John Blanch (1801-1870) was the son of James and Sophia Blanch. Sophia Atkins was James' second wife: they were married on 21 March 1792 at the church of St Anne, Soho.
James Blanch's first wife was Jane Barlow: their marriage took place at the same church thirteen years earlier, on 5 September 1779. I'm grateful to Jan Addison, my fellow researcher and a descendant of John's brother William Henry Blanch, for sending me some interesting new information about Jane Barlow's family.
The record of her marriage to James Blanch states that Jane was 'of this parish', and it seems likely that she was the daughter born to William and Elizabeth Barlow on 23 January 1752 and christened at St Anne's on 9 February that year.
Some confirmation of this comes in the voting records that Jan has unearthed via the excellent London Lives website. Among the resources that can be searched at this site are pollbooks from Westminster elections between 1749 and 1820. These enable you to see not only which of your London ancestors were able to vote (the franchise was limited to male householders), but also the names of the candidates for whom they voted.
In the General Election of 1774, we read that William Barlow, a patten maker of Compton Street in the parish of St Anne, Soho (see map above), voted for Hervey Redmond, Viscount Mountmorres and Charles Mahon, Earl Stanhope. I understand that both of these men tended towards the liberal, reforming end of the Georgian political spectrum. As for William's occupation, apparently pattens were 'under-shoes of wood and metal which were worn strapped beneath the shoes to raise the wearer out of the mud and effluence of the streets.' However, 'with the advent of paved streets and efficient sewerage and drainage systems in the 19th century, there was no longer any need for pattens and the trade floundered.'
In the election of 1780, James Blanch, also a patten maker of Compton Street, voted for the radical Whig politician Charles James Fox. In 1784, when still at the same address, he hedged his bets and voted for both the Tory Samuel Hood and the Whig Sir Cecil Wray. By the time of the 1790 election, James was living in Cross Lane in the parish of St Martin in the Fields: on this occasion he voted for the controversial politician John Horne Tooke.
Besides providing an insight into their political opinions, these records also tell us that James Blanch and William Barlow followed the same occupation, and that they lived in the same street. This in turn makes it more likely that William was James' father-in-law. I wonder if James was William's apprentice? Apparently about 20 – 30% of apprentices married their master's daughter.
William Barlow, patten maker of St Anne, Soho, died in 1779. Jan Addison has purchased a copy of his will, which she has kindly shared with me. It's a long document that provides a great deal of new information about the Barlow family. I'll reproduce my transcription of the will in my next post.
I find all of this new information extremely interesting, not only for what it tells us about the Blanch and Barlow families. It's also fascinating to see my own family's history intersecting with the wider political and social history of the late eighteenth century, in which I have a particular interest. And I'm also intrigued by the coincidental links with the history of my father's family (I'm descended from John Blanch on my mother's side). My great-great-grandfather, stationer's clerk William Robb, also lived in Compton Street, albeit half a century later than James Blanch, and his son, my great-grandfather Charles Edward Robb was actually born there, in January 1851.