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Midtown: Sports
Millbrook boys basketball works as unit, returns to regionals
Millbrook's 83 points scored in Friday's third-round win over Fayetteville Seventy-First was the team's lowest offensive output of the playoffs.
The team has eclipsed 80 points in more than half of its games this season, reaching 90 seven times and scored more than 100 once. They average 78 points per game, more than any of the other seven teams still standing in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs.
But the No. 4-seed Wildcats (24-4) know that their true success comes on the the other end of the court.
"I think (defense) is more important than offense," senior guard Brandon Goldsmith said. "Defense kind of gets us going. If we get a couple steals and deflections and stops, the offense is going to come. We just need to be able to stop the other team."
Millbrook has held opponents to an average of 54.7 points per game this year.
The defense works as a unit, with each player maintaining a unique role for the entire body to function at its best. The idea behind the Wildcats' defense is also the key for the team as a whole this year.
"This group of guys, I think each of them has a really good feel of what their role is and everybody has accepted their role," coach Scott McInnes said.
"Every piece has a different role and I think this group really understands what their strengths are and what they can try to do to contribute to the team."
When the Wildcats dropped a home conference game to Broughton last month, the team didn't dwell on the fact that the loss snapped a nine-game winning streak and ended Millbrook's chances at an undefeated conference season. They looked forward.
"The biggest difference between us now and three months ago is we're a lot more mentally tough, mentally mature," McInnes said. "Our whole focus is on next – the next play."
Next up for the Wildcats is No. 9 Panther Creek in the state quarterfinals at Fayetteville's Crown Coliseum.
"I think we all have a common goal, and that's to win the state championship, so we're all playing for that," said junior guard Chris Clemons, the Cap Eight player of the year. "I think as long as we play together, we'll be fine."


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Voltage, current and power – our Voltage/Current Sensor measures them all simultaneously, either on a digital display or graphed over time. Overload protection shuts down the sensor (and gives an audible beep to alert the teacher) when the current is too high. Sensor automatically resets after the overload is removed. No smoke, no blown fuses to replace.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Fancy Fun Fairy Homes
6 comments:
- RedTedArt said...
Oh my this is lovely lovely lovely! We are definitely going to make a fairy house this summer! Wonderful!
Thank you for sharing it with us at Kids Get Crafty!!
- April 04, 2011
- Michelle said...
How sweet! I would love if you would link this activity up to my Made by Little Hands Monday linky part!!
Thanks so much!
- April 10, 2011
- Lauralee Moss said...
Hello from We Teach!
Such a pretty idea. I think I will wait a year to this with my daughter, who is only 2. It is a great idea. I'm putting it in my mind bank.
- June 17, 2011
- Debbie said...
What fun.
Makes me want to start a story.... as we now have the perfect setting.
Popping thru from WeTeach.
- June 17, 2011
- Mama Pea Pod said...
This is so lovely, and such sweet pictures, too!
Would love for you to come link this up to the Outdoor Play linky!
- June 18, 2011
- Isa said...
It definately is gorgeous! I'll leave for when my daughter understands what fairies are:)
- July 06, 2011


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Thin client solution for Linux
LTSP is a Thin Client Solution for Linux operating systems. To learn more, browse the resources on this website or click below to see the benefits of LTSP.
LTSP Benefits »
LTSP is used around the world
LTSP is deployed in countries around the world. Browse our success stories to learn more about deployments or share your story with the community.
Success Stories »
Have any questions?
LTSP is backed and supported by an active community. Technical resources include an active chatroom, wiki documentation and a mailing list.
LTSP Support »
The Linux Terminal Server Project adds thin client support to Linux servers. LTSP is a flexible, cost effective solution that is empowering schools, businesses, and organizations all over the world to easily install and deploy thin clients.
New thin clients and legacy PCs alike can be used to browse the web, send e-mail, create documents, and run other desktop applications.
LTSP not only improves Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), but more importantly, provides increased value over traditional computing solutions.
LTSP workstations can run applications from Linux and Windows servers. Linux based thin clients have proven to be extremely reliable because tampering and viruses are virtually non-existent.
The Greek primary and secondary schools that are using Linux Terminal Servers have been added to the LTSP world map! With over 180 different locations and LTSP setups, this is without a doubt one of the largest LTSP implementations in the world.
Following a whole series of meetings for our new homepage and wiki, we decided to have public meetings from now on. To see when and where the next meeting is and what will be discussed, look at the upcoming meeting page.
A StackExchange site has been proposed for LTSP. Please take a look at the proposal and sign up. Please vote for the questions you think should be answered there or add the missing questions.
The new LTSP wiki launches in beta status today. This means we need your help in creating up-to-date content for the wiki. In April 2012 a team of people got together and began a project to refresh the LTSP website. Since then we have created the LTSPedia, a new and very informative wiki.


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Kathryn Tucker, a senior care coordinator for an Arizona insurance company, had just gone to bed when she felt a sharp pain the back of her head on the right side before her vision went out and she went numb.
Her brother was at her Chandler, Ariz., apartment and got her to the hospital where doctors at first dismissed her symptoms as a migraine with aura. But Tucker, only 26, was having a stroke.
"I was absolutely terrified," said Tucker, who was sent home from the emergency room that day in July 2012 without medical intervention.
"I slept for three days straight," she said. "Then, when I woke up, my vision was horrible. Everything was distorted and one-dimensional. I could barely get around."
Her health deteriorated so she ended up going to an urgent care facility. From there, she was referred to a neurologist who diagnosed a stroke.
Nine months later to the day, her twin sister, Kimberly Tucker, suffered a stroke in exactly the same way, except on the left side. Kimberly Tucker had left school in Tucson to take care of her sister after her stroke. Then in April, their roles reversed.
The Tucker girls are fraternal twins and do not share the same DNA. There is a family history of stroke, but doctors are unsure of a genetic link until further testing is done.
Both suffered a stroke on opposite sides of the occipital lobe, which sends visual input from the brain to the retinas.
"Honestly, it's rare for us to actually evaluate two sisters who've had strokes within months of each other," said Dr. Joni Clark, a vascular neurologist at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. "If they had a family history, it would not be a surprise. It's quite uncommon."
Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 130,000 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which observes National Stroke Month in May.
About one-third of strokes are believed to occur in people younger than 65.
For those younger than 45, the stroke risk has jumped 14 to 20 percent, according to Clark.
"We see this mainly among young people who have risk factors that you should see in elderly patients.
"Here at Barrow, we see a huge population of stroke patients -- and, in my own experience, which is anecdotal, I see a fair number of young people with stroke," said Clark. "The majority are spontaneous."
Obesity, which leads to diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, is a risk.
"You'd also be surprised how many young adults don't exercise," said Clark. "It's sad, because the rise is due to good, old stroke risk factors that shouldn't happen when they are young."
Doctors say that lifestyle habits are linked to an increase in the incidence of strokes among young people. Kathryn Tucker was a smoker and had stopped using birth control just weeks before her stroke. She also was a migraine sufferer.
It was discovered later that Kathryn Tucker had a PFO, or patent foramen ovale, a small hole in the heart that may have contributed to her stroke.
"There were several things that probably all together put Kathryn at risk," said Clark, who treated Kathryn Tucker, but not her sister.
Kathryn Tucker said her prognosis is "really good" now that she has stopped smoking and taking the pill.
The twins said they were also worried about their overuse of caffeinated energy drinks -- three to four a week, although there is no medical evidence linking those drinks to stroke.
"Don't think you are impervious to stroke," said Kimberly Tucker, who is still undergoing therapy. "We think we are invincible until we are not. This taught us a huge lesson that we are not guaranteed great health and we need to take care of our bodies."
Kimberly Tucker, unlike her sister, did not have a PFO and was an avid runner.
"On the day of my stroke I did a 5K run," she said. "I was feeling extra thirsty the whole time and went home to take a nap."
When she woke up, Kimberly Tucker felt a sharp pain on the left side of the back of her head.
"My vision closed in almost completely," she said. "I wasn't making a lot of sense and was not able to form complete thoughts. But I knew I was having a stroke."
Remembering what her twin sister had gone though, she immediately called 911, then her sister, who told her to take her blood thinners, a move that might have saved her life.
"I instantly knew I had a stroke because I was suffering from many of the same symptoms as my sister," says Kimberly Tucker. "The EMT's told me that the chance of both me and my sister having a stroke this young was that of being struck by lightning twice. They thought I was suffering from dehydration or heat stroke."
Later, doctors discovered Kimberly Tucker had arrhythmia, which may have been a contributing factor to her stroke.
Today, both girls are doing well after occupational and speech therapy, though they still have some visual deficits and are not allowed to drive.
"I still notice some weakness when I am tired," Kathryn Tucker said. "Otherwise, I am fine, physically back to normal."
"We are super close," said Kimberly Tucker of her twin. "I think we always have been close, but this definitely brought us closer. Honestly, she is the only person who understands because we are going through it together."


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Thrandur necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 19 diseños de 10 diseñadores freelance.
We are one of the most popular 4x4 site and have been online for 7 years. We provide quality articles with engaging photos from off road journeys, 4x4 reviews and more.
Our target audience are English speaking 4x4 owners and off roaders from around the world. They are adventure seekers who love challenges and action and enjoy the great outdoors. Audience is about 80/20 male/female.
We are looking for an overhaul of our website 4x4OffRoads.com. This will involve a general page design that will be used throughout the site for tier 1 and 2 pages (home and category pages), and any article pages (which we have from the current content, we're simply looking for a new cool design).
We will use our current logo and we would like you to use this in the design, but here are a few things to think about:
1. Not cheap or childlike, but cool and refreshing. Please stick to the current colors and tones: dark blue, lighter blue and white - unless you can demonstrate a clear benefit of something else.
2. We're looking for a clean, crisp layout - we do not want to come across as being fancy. We want our readers to feel like they can drop by anytime.
3. The headers should be clear, simple and bold. We want something that stands out. Again being careful not to be too fancy.
4. We want to give the website a friendly easy to navigate feel to it.
5. The main menu should have link tabs for the following: "4x4" "Off Road", "My 4x4", "4x4 Tires", "Extreme 4x4", "4x4 News", "4x4 Market", "4x4 Forum" with sub-menus under each.
6. We will require a layered .psd file as the final product (RGB).
7. The font should be large and readable - sans serif.
8. Space for ads.
The page should have a three column layout (similar to the existing site) with the left column containing the main menu (or the top header), the center containing the main content of the page and and the right displaying ads and extra information.
We really like to change to a drop down menu.


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"Goodbye gray sky, hello blue. There's nothing can hold me, when I hold you."
After using "Rock Around the Clock" as its theme song for a few years, "Happy Days" switched to this tune, with its chorus of "These days are ours." Airing from 1974 to 1984, the series introduced viewers to Richie Cunningham, his friends Ralph, Potsie and Fonzie - oh, and Scott Baio as Chachi.


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Josh Green necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 14 diseños de 7 diseñadores freelance.
Fresh Coat
Fresh Coat is a national franchise painting company with offices throughout North America. We specialize in high-quality and affordable residential and commercial painting. Since our founding in 1996, we have slowly grown to become a recognized name in the painting industry, yet are still small enough that we have the potential to grow even larger. We are currently in the initial steps of re-branding our company with special attention on a new logo and website design. Our current brand image and website although sufficient isn't to the level of class or quality that we would like to portray to our customer base.
We are passionate about the quality of our services and the professionalism we offer our customers. We are a company that represents customer satisfaction, dependability, and professionalism and we want a website that remains consistent with this image.
We are different from a traditional painting contractor because we are a national franchise system. This means that our franchisees own and operate their individual business under the Fresh Coat name and model, local to their territory. The purpose of this website is strictly customer-focused, meaning we are trying to generate painting leads and jobs for our franchisees. We have a separate franchising website so do not worry about incorporating both sides of our business into one design.
We have three main customer segments of which we cater our services to:
-Middle-aged, married women looking to redecorating their homes
-Business owners/office managers looking to freshen up their office or building
-Realtors or related professionals looking to sell or revive properties they own/represent
Again, this is a customer-focused website. Although our business has two concentrations – painting services done by franchisees and franchise sales done by us at the Corporate Office, we already have a franchise sales website so don't worry about incorporating both into the design of this new website.
We are looking for a site that is clean and professional, very bright and fresh, minimalistic (not overwhelming in copy), but still highlights the quality and professionalism of our services. We are looking to showcase our attention to detail and customer satisfaction through an easy-to-navigate and user friendly interface. We want to appear as a large national company with a strong foundation in the painting industry. Again, we are in the initial re-branding phase so don't feel restricted to use our existing brand colors, fonts, etc…get creative.
The design does need to have a few elements to remain consistent with a customer-focused website of a franchising company:
-A zip code locator on the home page (Find Your Local Fresh Coat Painter)
-A franchise information tab separate from the main navigation bar
-A call-to-action button – i.e. Free Quote, Free In-Home Consultation. etc…big & bold
Navigation Menu/Tabs to use:
-Home, Services, Locate Fresh Coat, About Us, Employment, Tools & Tips, Photo Gallery
Check out the attached files for website examples we like as well as graphics to help you get started.
*We are not looking for an upgraded replica design on our existing site. We are looking for a new, more upscale and professional look. Also, please do not use the video from our current home page either in your design as we want to get away from featuring that. Finally, please use our existing logo that has been attached in your designs. Thank you!


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Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
meow wrote:FreeCandy44 wrote:Meh! I don't need no stinking fan card.
My respect for you has gone down. Sorry, it is what it is
Gaucho wrote:Hand in your fan cards, all of you.
Gaucho wrote:Hand in your fan cards, all of you.
meow wrote:Wow, how was that not a hook on Tavaras? Clearly into Martin's hands
brwi wrote:Orpik is having a terrible season and taking some horrid penalties or icing the puck any time the game is close and under 2mins.
Will be glad to see him go next season because he's getting into the territory of spare part.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 52 guests


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Cereal chicken
When my husband was growing up, his mom made "Wheaties chicken" just about every Wednesday, and when Jayson and I started dating, this was one of the first meals he made for me. (The first was his famous lasagne!) I don't make this dish nearly as often as his mom did, but I should make it more often, because it's super easy and really delicious. And best of all, the kids love it!
You can use any cut of chicken, and either leave the skin on or remove it. I thawed out a big bag of frozen hindquarters we got on sale, and made six of them. This was just enough for the five of us, plus enough for my middle son, Luke, who is a chicken aficionado, to take a couple of legs in his lunch the next day.
There isn't a specific recipe, per se, but I'll tell you how I made my mother-in-law's chicken. First, I put about a cup of Miracle Whip (you could use mayo, of course, and I actually used light Miracle Whip) in a dish. Add enough milk (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup) to thin it out to be about the consistency of buttermilk. In fact, you could probably just use buttermilk if you had some sitting around. If you want, you can add a little barbecue sauce to the wet mixture, or a packet of powdered ranch dressing mix.
In another dish, I crushed a bunch of cereal flakes. This is a great job for the kids! You want the flakes to be broken up but not completely crushed. You can use wheat flakes, corn flakes, or bran flakes, which is what I used this time.
Simply coat the chicken pieces in the wet mixture, then dip in the crushed cereal flakes until completely coated. Put pieces on a foil-covered cookie sheet treated with non-stick spray. Glop any leftover cereal flakes with a little of the wet mixture and pile it on top of the chicken. This is the best part!
I baked the hindquarters at 350 degrees F. for about 45 minutes. The time may change a bit depending on your cut of chicken, and how much you are preparing. Just make sure the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F. That was easy!
The mayonnaise/Miracle Whip base gives this chicken a nice tang, and it's crunchy and delicious without being fried. We like ours served with a little stuffing (I actually prefer the stovetop variety) and cheesy cauliflower from the freezer section. This dinner is good enough for Sunday, but fast enough for a school night!


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Police: Middletown mom gave 14-year-old liquor
MIDDLETOWN >> A city mom has been arrested after her 14-year-old daughter told police the mother gives her alcohol for dinner.
Joann Goulet LePage, 51, 9 Barrie Road, was charged with risk of injury to a minor on Feb. 27.
Police were dispatched to 200 Main St. after a report of a highly intoxicated female. The victim, a 14-year-old girl, appeared to be highly intoxicated, police said. When police questioned her, she told them that her mother frequently gives her alcoholic beverages during meal times.
A witness observed the mother giving the 14-year-old several margaritas, police said. The girl was taken to Middlesex Hospital for treatment since she also has a medical condition and it was unknown how much alcohol she had actually had, police said.
The victim's father was contacted and police contacted the state Department of Children and Families.
LePage is scheduled to appear in court on March 13.


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pricelesspayment necesitaba un nuevo diseño de papelería y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 49 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
Priceless Payment Technologies
Priceless Payment Technologies founded in las Vegas, We are a merchant processing company handling electronic payments. We specialize in safe visa and MasterCard transactions for merchants at there place of business or on there web sites threw our payment gateway. Our goal is to Acquire new merchants through BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT Our added benefits include Website Development, SEO optimization, Gift and Loyalty Programs, Atms and terminal placement, as well as security compliance. We are on the professionals that keep our merchants up to date on the ever so changing and confusing electronic transaction industry.
We Target Business of all types From small Coffee shops, restaurants to large hotel chains. Any Business that accepts visa/MasterCard
We also target the e-commerce market and will be running tournaments flowing this one for banners and email campaigns
I'm attaching our logo from our logo tournament. We would like to expand on this look into our business cards and stationary, . Maybe with a little pop, professional black tie feel. The latest newest look for a company trying to identify itself as cutting edge.


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Fake FedEx emails appearing in inboxes
Emails sent to unwary computer users have been causing confusion in the area since January.
According to a notice to Beware of email Scams, it stated:
"If you should get an email from FedEx saying something like, 'Your parcel arrived on February 1. Courier was unable to deliver the parcel to you on February 1 at 05:54 p.m. To receive your parcel please print this receipt and go to the nearest office.'
"It will have a 'Print receipt box.'
"DO NOT print it.
"You can forward the email to email@example.com.
"You can also check the tracking number on the FedEx website to see if it is legitimate.
"To see an example of the email go to http://www.fedex.com/us/update2.html."
"People have driven in from as far away as Bruno," said Verlena Jones, owner of Parcels Shipping in Moose Lake. "They have their printed label in hand."
Jason Haukland, Technical Support Specialist at Moose Tec in Moose Lake, said that the scammers are trying to infect computers with viruses though those kinds of emails.
"There are others out there too," he said. "Some look like they are from UPS and other shipping companies, while others are from banks, such as the Bank of America. They try to make it look as official as possible.
"When you open the emails, they can infect the computer with a virus. I've dealt with a few of those viruses."
Haukland said that both private users and businesses are vulnerable to the scam emails.
"Be very wary of what you open," he warned. "If you receive such an email, delete it. You can also block it in the email program but that doesn't always work. The scammers will change the address."
Haukland said that he can disinfect the computer if it has been infected by a virus. Call Haukland at (218) 485-3573 for more information.


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TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Police in Toledo say they've arrested two people in an apparent gang-related shooting in a large crowd that left one man dead and three other people wounded.
Officers say they arrested 19-year-old Tyler Jones and 18-year-old Areanna Coley in the Sunday afternoon shooting spree. Twenty-two-year-old Sheymarr Noble was shot dead, and three other people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. All were expected to survive.
Jones has been charged with one count of murder and three counts of felonious assault. Coley has been charged with obstruction of justice. They were in jail Tuesday. Online records didn't indicate if they had attorneys.
Witnesses said a large number of people were gathered outside their homes when a fight broke out. That's when the shots were fired.


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July 2008
Building on the Existing Base of Knowledge
Under normal circumstances, evaluators frequently begin their work by reviewing available research literature. They also may search for a conceptual framework among similar studies or look for existing data collection tools, such as surveys and rubrics, that can be borrowed or adapted. Yet, compared to many other topics in K-12 education, the body of research literature on K-12 online learning is relatively new and narrow. Available descriptive studies are often very specific and offer findings that are not easily generalized to other online programs or resources. Empirical studies are few. Other kinds of tools for evaluators are limited, too. Recent efforts have led to multiple sets of standards for K-12 online learning (see Standards for K-12 Online Learning, p. 13). However, there still are no widely accepted education program outcome measures, making it difficult for evaluators to gauge success relative to other online or traditional programs.
Given the existing base of knowledge on K-12 online learning, how should evaluators proceed? Of course, evaluators will first want to consult the K-12 online learning research that does exist. Although the field is comparatively limited, it is growing each year and already has generated a number of significant resources (see appendix A, p. 59). Among other organizations, the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) has developed and collected dozens of publications, research studies, and other resources useful for evaluators of K-12 online learning programs. In some cases, evaluators also may want to look to higher education organizations, which have a richer literature on online learning evaluation, including several publications that identify standards and best practices (see appendix A). In some cases, these resources can be adapted for K-12 settings, but in other cases, researchers have found, they do not translate well.
Another approach is to develop evaluation tools and techniques from scratch. As described below, this may be as simple as defining and standardizing the outcome measures used among multiple schools or vendors, like the evaluators of Digital Learning Commons did. Or it may be a much more ambitious effort, as when Appleton eSchool's leaders developed a new model for evaluating virtual schools with an online system for compiling evaluation data. Finally, some evaluators respond to a limited knowledge base by adding to it. For example, the evaluators of Louisiana's Algebra I Online program have published their evaluation findings for the benefit of other evaluators and program administrators. In a different but equally helpful fashion, the leaders of Appleton eSchool have contributed to the field, by developing a Web site that allows administrators of online programs to share their best practices in a public forum.
|Standards for K-12 Online Learning
As online learning in K-12 education has expanded, there has been an effort to begin to codify current best practices into a set of standards that educators can look to in guiding their own performance. Several organizations have released sets of these emerging standards based on practitioner input to date.
In late 2006, the Educational Technology Cooperative of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) issued Standards for Quality Online Courses. These standards are available along with other key resources from SREB at http://www.sreb.org/programs/EdTech/SVS/index.asp.
A year later, NACOL published National Standards of Quality for Online Courses, which endorsed SREB's standards and added a few others. The national standards cover six broad topic areas: course content, instructional design, student assessment, technology, course evaluation and management, and 21st-century skills.
NACOL also developed National Standards for Quality Online Teaching in 2008 and is currently working on program standards. The standards for online courses and teaching can be found at http://www.nacol.org along with many other resources.
The National Education Association also has published standards for online courses and online teachers, both available at http://www.nea.org.
In a different but equally helpful fashion, the leaders of Appleton eSchool have contributed to the field, by developing a Web site that allows administrators of online programs to share their best practices in a public forum.
Clearly Define Outcome Measures
Evaluators must be able to clearly articulate key program goals, define outcomes that align with them, and then identify specific outcome measures that can be used to track the program's progress in meeting the goals. Presently, however, outcome measures for evaluating online learning programs are not consistently defined, which makes it difficult for stakeholders to gauge a program's success, compare it to other programs, or set improvement goals that are based on the experience of other programs. Furthermore, the lack of consistent outcome measures creates technical headaches for evaluators. A recent article coauthored by Liz Pape, president and chief executive officer of Virtual High School Global Consortium, a nonprofit network of online schools, describes the problem this way:
Although standards for online course and program effectiveness have been identified, data-driven yardsticks for measuring against those standards are not generally agreed upon or in use. There is no general agreement about what to measure and how to measure. Even for measures that most programs use, such as course completion rates, there is variation in the metrics because the online programs that measure course completion rates do not measure in the same manner.3
The evaluators of Washington state's Digital Learning Commons (DLC) encountered just such a problem when attempting to calculate the number of online course-takers served by the program. DLC is a centrally hosted Web portal that offers a wide range of online courses from numerous private vendors. When evaluators from Cohen Research and Evaluation tried to analyze DLC's course-taking and completion rates, they found a range of reporting practices among the vendors: Some tracked student participation throughout the course, while others reported only on the number of students who completed a course and received a final grade. Also, in some cases, vendors did not differentiate between students who withdrew from a course and students who received an F, conflating two different student outcomes that might have distinct implications for program improvement.
Pape et al. note additional problems in the ways that course completion is defined:
When does the measure begin? How is completion defined? Do students have a "no penalty" period of enrollment in the online course during which they may drop from the course and will not be considered when calculating the course completion rate? Is completion defined as a grade of 60 or 65? How are students who withdrew from the course after the "no penalty" period counted, especially if they withdrew with a passing grade?4
Following the recommendations of their evaluators, DLC staff made efforts to communicate definitions of course completion and withdrawal that were internally consistent and made sure each vendor was reporting accurate data based on these conversations. The result was a higher level of consistency and accuracy in data reporting.
There is growing attention to the problem of undefined outcome measures in the field of evaluating online learning. A 2004 report by Cathy Cavanaugh et al., specifically recommended that standards be developed "for reporting the academic and programmatic outcomes of distance learning programs."5 A NACOL effort is under way to develop benchmarks for measuring program effectiveness and overall standards for program quality. Meanwhile, the best evaluators can do is to ensure internal consistency in the outcome measures used across all of their own data sources. Although the research base is limited, evaluators may be able to find similar studies for ideas on how to define outcomes. Moving forward, online program evaluators can proactively find ways to share research methods and definitions and reach a consensus on the best ways to measure program effectiveness.
Work Collaboratively to Develop New Evaluation Tools
In the early years of Appleton eSchool, school leaders became aware that they needed an overall evaluation system to determine the school's strengths and weaknesses. After failing to find an existing comprehensive tool that would fit their needs, Ben Vogel, Appleton's principal and Governance Board chair, and Connie Radtke, Appleton's program leader, began to develop their own evaluation process. Their goal was to design an instrument that would identify the core components necessary for students to be successful in an online program. In addition, they wanted to create a process that could be used to prompt dialogue among program leaders, staff, governance board members, and external colleagues, about the components of a successful online learning experience, in order to provide direction for future growth and enhancement.
Through extensive internal discussions and consultation with external colleagues, including staff from such online programs as Virtual High School and Florida Virtual School, Vogel and Radtke identified eight key program components and developed a rubric for measuring them called the Online Program Perceiver Instrument (OPPI). (See Key Components of Appleton eSchool's Online Program Perceiver Instrument, p. 16.) Vogel says, "[Our goal was] to figure out those universal core components that are necessary in a K-12 online program to allow students to be successful.… We were able to share [our initial thoughts] with other people in the K-12 realm, and say, 'What are we missing? And what other pieces should we add?' It just kind of developed from there."
The core components identified in the OPPI are what Appleton leaders see as the essential building blocks for supporting students in an online environment. The eight components address the online program user's entire experience, from first learning about the course or program to completing it.
When developing the OPPI, Vogel and Radtke researched many existing online program evaluations in higher education, but found them i-nsufficient for building a comprehensive rubric at the K-12 level. Vogel notes, for example, that having face-to-face mentors or coaches for students taking online courses is critical at the K-12 level, whereas it is not considered so important for older students who are studying online in higher education. To capture this program element, Vogel and Radtke included "Program Support" as a key component in the OPPI rubric, focusing on the training given to mentors (usually parents in the Appleton eSchool model) as well as training for local school contacts who support and coordinate local student access to online courses (see table 2, Excerpt from Appleton eSchool's Online Program Perceiver Instrument, p. 17). To assess mentor perception of program quality, the evaluators surveyed them following the completion of each online course.
As part of the OPPI process, Vogel and Radtke developed a three-phase approach to internal evaluation, which they refer to as a "self-discovery" process. In the Discovery Phase, program personnel fill out a report that describes the school's practices in each of the eight areas identified in the OPPI. Then program decision-makers use the rubric to determine what level of program performance is being attained for each element: deficient, developing, proficient, or exemplary. In addition, program leaders e-mail surveys to students, mentors (usually parents), and teachers at the end of each course, giving them an opportunity to comment on the program's performance in each of the eight OPPI areas. In the Outcome Phase, results from the Discovery Phase report and surveys are summarized, generating a numerical rating in each program area. At the same time, information on student outcomes is reviewed, including student grades, grade point averages, and course completion rates. Program decision-makers synthesize all of this data in an outcome sheet and use it to set goals for future growth and development. Finally, in the Sharing of Best Practices Phase, program leaders may select particular practices to share with other programs. Appleton has partnered with other online programs to form the Wisconsin eSchool Network, a consortium of virtual schools that share resources. The Network's Web site includes a Best Practices Portfolio and schools using the OPPI are invited to submit examples from their evaluations.6 Practices that are determined to be in the "proficient" or "exemplary" range are considered for placement in the portfolio, and participating schools are cited for their contributions. The entire evaluation system is Web-based, allowing for streamlined data collection, analysis, and sharing.
|Key Components of Appleton eSchool's Online Program Perceiver Instrument (OPPI)
Practitioners and program administrators use the OPPI to evaluate program performance in eight different areas:
Appleton's decision to develop its own evaluation rubric and process provides several advantages. Besides resulting in a perfectly tailored evaluation process, Appleton leaders also have the ability to evaluate their program at any time without waiting for funding or relying on a third-party evaluator. Still, developing an evaluation process is typically expensive and may not be a practical option for many programs. Appleton's leaders spent many hours researching and developing outcome measures (i.e., the descriptions of practice for each program component under each level of program performance). They also invested about $15,000 of their program grant funds to pay a Web developer to design the online system for compiling and displaying evaluation data. For others attempting to develop this type of tailored rubric and process, accessing outside expertise is critical to fill gaps in knowledge or capacity. Appleton leaders collaborated extensively with experienced colleagues from other virtual schools, particularly as they were developing their rubric.
Share Evaluation Findings With Other Programs and Evaluators
Although the OPPI rubric was developed specifically for Appleton, from the beginning Vogel and Radtke intended to share it with other programs. This rubric is currently accessible free of charge through the Web site of the Wisconsin eSchool Network, described above. Vogel explains that the OPPI and its umbrella evaluation system are readily adaptable to other programs: "Internally, this system doesn't ask people to have an overwhelming amount of knowledge. It allows people to make tweaks as needed for their particular programs, but they don't have to create the whole wheel over again [by designing their own evaluation system]." The OPPI system also allows for aggregation of results across multiple programs-a mechanism that would allow groups of schools in a state, for example, to analyze their combined data. To assist schools using the OPPI for the first time, Appleton offers consultation services to teach other users how to interpret and communicate key findings. Through their efforts to share their evaluation tool and create the online forum, Appleton leaders have developed an efficient and innovative way to build the knowledge base on online learning programs.
Table 2. Excerpt From Appleton eSchool's Online Program Perceiver Instrument
This rubric is currently accessible free of charge through the Web site of the Wisconsin eSchool Network, described above.* Vogel explains that the OPPI and its umbrella evaluation system are readily adaptable to other programs: "Internally, this system doesn't ask people to have an overwhelming amount of knowledge. It allows people to make tweaks as needed for their particular programs, but they don't have to create the whole wheel over again [by designing their own evaluation system]." The OPPI system also allows for aggregation of results across multiple programs- a mechanism that would allow groups of schools in a state, for example, to analyze their combined data. To assist schools using the OPPI for the first time, Appleton offers consultation services to teach other users how to interpret and communicate key findings. Through their efforts to share their evaluation tool and create the online forum, Appleton leaders have developed an efficient and innovative way to build the knowledge base on online learning programs.
In Louisiana, evaluators from Education Development Center (EDC) have used more conventional channels for sharing findings from the evaluation of the state's Algebra I Online program. This program was created by the Louisiana Department of Education to address the state's shortage of highly qualified algebra teachers, especially in urban and rural settings. In addition, districts desiring to provide certified teachers access to pedagogy training and mentoring so they can build capacity for strong mathematics instruction are eligible to participate. In Algebra I Online courses, students physically attend class in a standard bricks-and-mortar classroom at their home school, which is managed by a teacher who may not be certified to deliver algebra instruction. But once in this classroom, each student has his or her own computer and participates in an online class delivered by a highly qualified (i.e., certified) algebra teacher. The in-class teacher gives students face-to-face assistance, oversees lab activities, proctors tests, and is generally responsible for maintaining an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. The online teacher delivers the algebra instruction, answers students' questions via an online discussion board, grades assignments via e-mail, provides students with feedback on homework and tests, and submits grades. The online and in-class teachers communicate frequently with each other to discuss students' progress and collaborate on how to help students learn the particular content being covered. This interaction between teachers not only benefits students; it also serves as a form of professional development for the in-class instructors. In addition to providing all students with high-quality algebra instruction, a secondary goal of the program is to increase the instructional skills of the in-class teachers and support them in earning their mathematics teaching certificate.
Although its founders believed that the Algebra I Online model offered great promise for addressing Louisiana's shortage of mathematics teachers, when the program was launched in 2002 they had no evidence to back up this belief. The key question was whether such a program could provide students with learning opportunities that were as effective as those in traditional settings. If it were as effective, the program could provide a timely and cost-effective solution for the mathematics teacher shortage. Louisiana needed hard evidence to show whether the program was credible.
Following a number of internal evaluation activities during the program's first two years, in 2004 the program's leaders engaged an external evaluation team consisting of Rebecca Carey of EDC, an organization with experience in researching online learning; Laura O'Dwyer of Boston College's Lynch School of Education; and Glenn Kleiman of the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University, College of Education. The evaluators were impressed by the program leaders' willingness to undergo a rigorous evaluation. "We didn't have to do a lot of convincing," says EDC's Carey. "They wanted it to be as rigorous as possible, which was great and, I think, a little bit unusual." The program also was given a boost in the form of a grant from the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), a federally funded education laboratory. The grant funded primary research on the effectiveness of online learning and provided the project with $75,000 beyond its initial $35,000 evaluation budget from the state legislature. The additional funding allowed EDC to add focus groups and in-class observations, as well as to augment its own evaluation capacity by hiring an external consultant with extensive expertise in research methodology and analysis.
The EDC evaluators chose a quasi-experimental design (see Glossary of Common Evaluation Terms, p. 65) to compare students enrolled in the online algebra program with those studying algebra only in a traditional face-to-face classroom format. To examine the impact of the Algebra I Online course, they used hierarchical linear modeling to analyze posttest scores and other data collected from the treatment and control groups. To determine if students in online learning programs engaged in different types of peer-to-peer interactions and if they perceived their learning experiences differently than students in traditional classrooms, the evaluators surveyed students in both environments and conducted observations in half of the treatment classrooms. In total, the evaluators studied Algebra I Online courses and face-to-face courses in six districts.
After completing their assessment, the evaluators produced final reports for the Louisiana Department of Education and NCREL and later wrote two articles about the program for professional journals. The first article, published in the Journal of Research on Technology in Education,7 described Algebra I Online as a viable model for providing effective algebra instruction. In the study, online students showed comparable (and sometimes stronger) test scores, stayed on task, and spent more time interacting with classmates about math content than students in traditional classroom settings. The evaluators speculated that this was a result of the program's unique model, which brings the online students together with their peers at a regularly scheduled time. The evaluators found a few areas for concern as well. For example, a higher percentage of online students reported that they did not have a good learning experience, a finding that is both supported and contradicted by research studies on online learning from higher education. The evaluation also found that the Algebra I Online students felt less confident in their algebra skills than did traditional students, a finding the evaluators feel is particularly ripe for further research efforts. (For additional discussion, see Interpreting the Impact of Program Maturity, p. 40.)
The Algebra I Online evaluators wrote and published a second article in the Journal of Asynchronous Technologies that focused on the program as a professional development model for uncertified or inexperienced math teachers.8 In this piece, the evaluators described the programs' pairing of online and in-class teachers as a "viable online model for providing [the in-class] teachers with an effective model for authentic and embedded professional development that is relevant to their classroom experiences."
Of course, not all programs will have the resources to contribute to the research literature in this manner. In Louisiana's case, the evaluators had extensive expertise in online evaluation and took the time and initiative required for publishing their findings in academic journals. In so doing, they served two purposes: providing the program leaders with the evidence they needed to confidently proceed with Algebra I Online and publishing much-needed research to states that might be considering similar approaches.
The literature on K-12 online learning is growing. Several publications and resources document emerging best practices and policies in online learning (see appendix A). For program leaders and evaluators who are developing an evaluation, the quality standards from SREB and NACOL provide a basic framework for looking at the quality of online courses and teachers. There also is a growing body of studies from which evaluators can draw lessons and adapt methods; evaluators need not reinvent the wheel. At the same time, they must exercise caution when applying findings, assumptions, or methods from other studies, as online programs and resources vary tremendously in whom they serve, what they offer, and how they offer it. What works best for one program evaluation may not be appropriate for another.
Given the lack of commonly used outcome measures for online learning evaluations, individual programs should at least strive for internal consistency, as DLC has. If working with multiple vendors or school sites, online program leaders need to articulate a clear set of business rules for what data are to be collected and how, distributing these guidelines to all parties who are collecting information. Looking ahead, without these common guidelines, evaluators will be hard pressed to compare their program's outcomes with others. Some of the evaluators featured in this guide have made contributions to the field of online learning evaluation, like Appleton's leaders, who developed an evaluation model that can be borrowed or adapted by other programs, and the evaluators of Algebra I Online, who published their study findings in professional journals.
* Registration is required to access the OPPI and some consultation with its developers may be needed to implement the process fully.


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- We can repair your faulty electronics and test it extensively.
- We can search for the product for you. Our Procurement Department looks for new and used industrial electronics daily, and has established a vast supplier network.
Up to 2 years warranty
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ENTER TODAY: Bob Vila's 2nd Annual Great Garden Give-Away
Enter today and every day in June to win one of four weekly garden tool prize packages valued at $1,000 from AMES.
Whether you're an expert gardener or just starting out, June is a great month for growing flowers, planting seasonal vegetables, and beautifying the lawn. And when you garden with the right tools, all of the cultivating, planting, and weeding you do is more effective—and ergonomic. That's why we're teaming up with AMES for this month's Bob Vila's 2nd Annual Great Garden Give-Away to give away gardening tools to four lucky winners—plus a $700 American Express gift card to purchase new plants, pavers, mulch, or anything else you'd like!
This week and every week in June (through 11:59 EST Monday, June 30th), you can enter to win $1,000 in weekly prizes—that's an assortment of AMES garden tools, plus a $700 American Express gift card! (Entry period for WEEK ONE is from noon EST Saturday, May 31st, 2014 through 11:59 am Monday, June 9th, 2014. See Official Rules below.)
AMES, established in 1774, is the United States' most enduring brand of non-powered garden tools. Whether you need a cart or an edger, a hose reel or shovel, AMES has a gardening solution for you. And whether you're a vegetable gardener, a flower cultivator, or a backyard DIYer, you could win a complete gardening tool package that's right for you—plus a $700 American Express gift card—to beautify your yard and garden.
Choose from the following packages:
Vegetable Gardener Essentials: AMES garden cart, hose cabinet, garden hoe, garden spade, and bow rake
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Do-It-Yourselfer Bundle: AMES garden cart, hose cabinet, round point shovel, 26″ rake, 2-prong weeder hoe, and shrub rake
So step away from the flower bed for a few moments and enter to win the complete tool package that could make your gardening experience a whole lot more enjoyable. ENTER TODAY and every day this month (through 11:59 EST Monday, June 30th) to increase your chances of winning one of four weekly prizes valued at $1,000. For more on their full line of lawn and garden tools, visit AMES or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
The "Bob Vila's 2nd Annual Great Garden Give-Away from Ames" is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest Period for WEEK ONE runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) EST Saturday, May 31st, 2014 through 11:59 am Monday, June 9th, 2014. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.


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St. Norbert Hosts Monmouth in Another Big MWC Matchup
From Sports Information Director, October 1, 2013 | Football
by Dan Lukes, email@example.com, (920) 403-4077
DE PERE - For the third consecutive week, St. Norbert College faces another long-time rival in the Midwest Conference football race when it entertains Monmouth College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Schneider Stadium. The two schools have combined to capture at least a share of every MWC title since 1999.
St. Norbert holds a 20-7 series lead over Monmouth in a series that began in 1975. The Green Knights have won 11 of the last 16 games in the series, but Monmouth has won five of the last eight meetings. The Fighting Scots have won their last two visits to De Pere - a 31-22 decision on Oct. 11, 2008 and by a 10-3 score on Oct. 1, 2011.
With the Midwest Conference moving to divisional play starting in 2014, this is Monmouth's last scheduled regular-season visit to De Pere until 2019.
The game will be broadcast live regionally on WACY-TV 32 with Dean Leisgang and John Burton on the call. This is the third consecutive season WACY has live broadcast St. Norbert home football games. WACY-TV can be found on most Time Warner Cable analog systems in the area on Channel 83.
The game will be videostreamed online with Tim Derozier on the call at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/snc.portal#
Click "MORE" for a complete preview of the game. >>MORE


text: "Two-year-old Karl Preusser, Jr. was with his parents and their friends Friday evening, enjoying a night out at the Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, a hibachi style restaurant where the cook prepares the meal in front of a table of guests. ... 'He asked K.J. if he was 21 and K.J. said yes and opened his mouth because, of course, that's what he sees everybody doing,' Winter told Fox 8 News, 'and he squirted a mouthful of sake into his mouth.' Winter said the boy immediately started crying and saying his mouth was burning." [Fox8]


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173 New faculty bring wealth of knowledge, experience to the area
Having 23 new faculty members at UIS this year means that a lot of knowledge and expertise has moved into the area. They will work in all four colleges at UIS and have studies at many, many different universities. Check out their bios and pictures.
Related links:
Academics at UIS
Lan Dong was "University Scholar" last year
Meet our faculty
Posted on September 8, 2013


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Waiting for my flight out of Indianapolis, and after four days of working at the NFL scouting combine, it's clear a lot of people are intrigued to see how the Raiders operate in the post-Al Davis era.
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and and coach Dennis Allen kept a low profile, with McKenzie declining to talk at the podium (although we spoke on the record Thursday night) and Allen speaking at the same time there was a packed house for Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III on the other side of the room.
There's a lot of shop talk and informal conversation that goes on in Indianapolis in the restaurants and watering holes around town, both with fellow media members from other cities as well as scouts, coaches and front office people from other teams _ moreso than at any other NFL event I can think of.
Most everyone is interested to see how the Raiders fare. They've never operated before as a "normal" organization and that is what McKenzie and Allen are attempting to foster.
Regarding McKenzie, seldom is heard a discouraging word. By acclimation, McKenzie is considered a solid talent evaluator, a straight shooter and a person of integrity. It's clear he has a plan, and he's not going to be concerned about making difficult choices on the roster if it means getting the club's financial house in order and changing the chemistry on the team.
Allen is harder to figure, because his track record is so limited with one year as a coordinator.
But there really were only two reactions gathered on the Raiders' new coach during my time here.
Either people know very little about him, or they're very impressed. Almost nothing in between. Some people wonder about the hire simply because of his experience level, but they concede they're speaking from that frame of reference only and know little to nothing about the man.
Those people that have had some experience with Allen almost unanimously think he will be a terrific head coach. I didn't talk to a single person who has dealt with Allen or has some knowledge of how he operates who gave it a thumbs down. Not overly surprising, I guess, considering how fast he climbed the NFL ladder.
In terms of draft buzz, it's hard to generate any of that when barring a trade, the best they can do is No. 97 if they get the best available compensatory pick. Projecting who could be fifth and sixth round picks as a futile exercise, although it should be noted one of McKenzie's strengths _ considering how Green Bay operated _ is finding qualities players in those rounds.
Gotta board now . . . counting on taking a week off next week . . .


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POLICE are appealing for the public's help to trace a dead man who was found in the River Avon in Evesham.
Officers were called to the Weir Meadow Caravan Park in Castle Street just after 10am yesterday (Wednesday) after a member of the public spotted a body in the river that had been caught up on a boat mooring.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent a boat crew to recover the man, which appears to have been in the water for some days.
But detectives have not yet been able to identity him as he had no ID or wallet on him and he does not fit any outstanding missing persons reports in counties upstream from Evesham.
The man was white and aged between 45 and 55 and when he was found, he was wearing a pair of well-used Caterpillar boots, a studded leather belt, a tweed-like Jasper Conran coat worn under a dark blue body warmer and a thick-knit jumper with a zipped collar.
He was also wearing a blue and red-checked shirt, dark blue jeans and in a pocket were a pair of metal-rimmed glasses in a hard, blue case from Boots.
Detective Sergeant Chris Percival, who is leading the search, said: "Usually in such tragic cases, we can quickly identify the person and inform their next of kin, so it is unfortunate that with this man we have so little to go on.
"It is more likely this man is from Worcestershire or Warwickshire, so I would like to appeal to anyone who thinks they recognise the description and the clothes he was wearing, to contact West Mercia Police straightway."
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference number 151s 19/02/14.


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Proposed Minimum Sound Requirement Rule for Hybrids and EVs - Please comment
Proposed Minimum Sound Requirement Rule for Hybrids and EVs - Please comment
While I wouldn't want noise either, is it technically possible to " focus" noise so that it is projected in a very restricted ( collimated) cone and not audible within the vehicle? This can be done with x rays, so why not sound? That way it achieves the stated object, does not contribute to general noise pollution, and keeps the vehicle as is, quiet.
...unless you happen to be on the path of the sound beam.
LRAD does just what you are talking about.
Problem with sound is that once it hits anything it deflects and scatters and in city environment where that would be needed most and where sound pollution as problem is worst you quite fast end up in situation where sound would be coming from all directions anyway.
Ringtone of an ice cream van, no less
"Ringtone of an ice cream van, no less"
Don't want that, disappointed kids will pelt your car with eggs.
Emit Led Zeppelin or maybe Italian Opera :-)?
Maybe the sound of a baseball card on a bicycle wheel anyone :-).
I was walking thru an underground parking garage today and I heard the sound of just tires on pavement approaching me slowly. I turned hoping it saw a Model S but it was a Prius. No engine noise, it was traveling about 5-10 mph, and I had no problem hearing it from behind me.
Good thing I wasn't blind or I'd probably be dead. (Mel, for your information the last bit there was sarcastic and meant to be humor.)
We don't need more noise. We need more quiet electric cars.
I don't know about most people, but I tend to drive around with the stereo bumpin' - so you'd hear me coming anyway...
No, and No! Our State and Federal Government have MUCH bigger fish to fry than worrying how much noise my BEV makes or does not make. I can already make noise if I want to ... it's called a HORN! and has worked for all kinds of vehicles for over a hundred years.
Anecdotally, a guy I work with was just run over (ankle broken) by a Prius running in electric mode which he did not hear. Yes, he was jaywalking, and no he doesn't blame the Prius. But if it had been an ICE he probably would have heard it. Just sayin.
@ stimyg
That's the Fault of the Driver of the Prius. You cannot run into things that appear in your windshield view, especially pedestrians who ALWAYS have the right of way!
It's unfortunate as you say but you can't fix stupid with any noise.
Pedestrians still get hit by trains! And it's not like you can't hear them coming! or expect them to swerve to miss you!
Probably need to add a maximum volume for personal entertainment systems while walking rule to the bill. Or how about a minimum number of times a pedestrian is required to look around per minute rule.
Question, Nick. What noise should my car make to prevent me from running into parked cars? Or is it the responsibility of the driver to not hit parked cars, pedestrians, trees, ect?
Second question, once every car starts making all manner of noises, how do we hearing impaired people sort out the real important stuff from noise. Fyi, for some of us hearing impared, its not soud, but noise, that prevents us from hearing properly.
I noticed something interesting about silence when driving the car. We have several thousand deer on our farm. Our driveway is about a mile long. We encounter deer nearly every night on both the nearby road and our driveway. In all of our ICE vehicles, the deer look up and then scatter. In the Model S, the deer NEVER even flinch. They just keep munching away, and we drive on, with no disturbance. Sometimes I have to beep the horn to get them out of the way. Onthe one hand, I have a new hunting technique. On the other, we are concerned that one day a deer will jump out on a larger road when we are at speed.
I have hit two deer on my motorcycle inthe past three years, one bad enough to put me in the hospital for a few days with a brain bleed. I like that the Model S is nearly silent. However, this may be a legitimate issue - people and animals use all kinds of visual and auditory indicators for self-preservation, and not having the auditory signals may count for more than we want to think.
I don;t like the idea of a government-imposed sound mandate, but this may be a necessary change for our cars, especially in urban areas where the blind depend on sound for mobility.
Whether it's a good idea or not, the regulation will not affect our cars. It is proposed to have a slow phase-in, and it will not be retroactive to cars produced before it takes effect.
Since when do pedestrians always have the right of way when not in a crosswalk? Jaywalking is ticketable for a reason, just barely enforced in most places.
Of course if the Prius had time to AVOID the pedestrian, or stop, then its definitely on the Prius, but if not, then its the pedestrians fault. But that doesnt give the pedestrian a right to cross a street whenever and wherever they like.
@ cloroxbb
IMHO, Pedestrians have the right of way wherever you encounter them (including when they are where they should not be) Don't think so? Try hitting and injuring a few and see what happens.
That said "by letter of the law" Yes a pedestrian CAN be at fault in a car / ped. wreck. but that's a law I personally don't want to test or even flirt with. So "TO ME" the right of way will always belong to the people who are afoot.
Meh, we are only arguing semantics. I wouldn't say they have the "right of way" but of course, I am not going to hit one just because they are in the wrong. I understand where you are coming from, and I agree. I just wouldnt say they have the right of way.
Same page :)
Geek EV;
One of those, huh? Let me get my resolver ...
Here on the Left Coast, pedestrians ALLWAYS have the right of way. Streets, parking lots, crosswalks, whatever.
I understand on the East Coast they are legitimate targets, but not here. You get used to it. I say that as both a driver and a pedesterian.
The Chevrolet Volt has a "pedestrian horn" on the tip of the turn signal. It works fantastic.
I feel like BYT...
This annoys me. How about they mandate eye contact. I see you, you see me. Its as much the drivers responsibility as the pedestrians. If I walk or ride my bike, I've got my head on a swivel looking for clueless drivers. When I drive, I look for dummies on the wrong side of the road buzzing down the street.
The fact it applies to EVs? Has anybody 'heard' a new Jag?
Blood pressure rising...
Rage taking over...
Must exit now!
Aye, cap'n!
I will comment. I just feel these are uphill battles. But fight while you can. Might stave it off for now. Going against groups of politicians that get paid to do these laws. They just push and reword until they get what they want. Saying what I said earlier about silent ICE, doesn't mean I want it applied to them. I think it should be dropped as a whole. But I doubt it will. Like a virus, it'll be back as a different form. But I will fight. >:-/
Most modern vehicles are too quiet to hear anyway. It'd be interesting to see if there are any statistics out that show hybrids as being involved in any more accidents than regular ICE machines. My guess is that there wouldn't be, and if the study were done it would be negligible.
Mark E;
Exactly. I bet there's no data supporting this. Nor even visually impaired association support (they tend to want less auditory "clutter", and this will increase it!)
This proposed rule almost certainly came about as a result of a push from the visually impaired. My friend is national manager for safety for a major car company. Last year he and his other safety engineer peers from other companies were all invited to a meeting with a national organization for blind people, at which time they were presented with information regarding the blind people's concern for silent vehicles and the risk for blind pedestrians due to inability to hear oncoming hybrids and EVs. So it is not surprising to hear that this has become a mandate from NHTSA.
What is being done for the deaf? The sound won't help them. It would be interesting to see statistics about injuries to the deaf vs injuries to the blind.
This is being supported financially and legislatively by the National Federation of the Blind. Many studies have shown that EV and hybrid cars create increased danger to pedestrians with impaired vision. Perhaps we shouldn't have our head in the sand on this issue:
From Wikipedia:
"Research conducted at the University of California, Riverside in 2008 found that hybrid cars are so quiet when operating in electric mode (EV mode) that they may pose a risk to the blind, small children, the elderly, runners, cyclists, and other pedestrians, as they may have only one or two seconds, depending on the context, to audibly detect the location of approaching hybrid cars when the vehicles operate at very slow speeds. This research project was funded by the National Federation of the Blind.
The experiment consisted of making audio recordings of a Toyota Prius and combustion engine Honda Accord approaching from two directions at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) to assure that the hybrid car operated only with its electric motor. Then test subjects in a laboratory listened to the recordings and indicated when they could hear from which direction the cars approached. Subjects could locate the hum of the internal combustion engine car at 36 feet (11 m) away, but could not identify the hybrid running in electric mode until it came within 11 feet (3.4 m), leaving just less than two seconds to react before the vehicle reached their position. In a second trial, the background sounds of two quietly idling combustion engine cars were added to the recordings to simulate the noise of a parking lot. Under this condition, the hybrid needed to be 74 percent closer than the conventional car before the subjects could hear from which direction the cars approached. Subjects could correctly judge the approach of the combustion car when it was about 28 feet (8.5 m) feet away. This result means that under closer to normal environmental noise, a pedestrian would not be able to correctly determine the hybrid's approach until it was one second away."
"After Nissan's new sounds were publicized, the U.S. National Federation of the Blind issued a statement saying that "while it was pleased that the alert existed, it was unhappy that the driver was able to turn it off."[13] The NFB approves the Nissan Leaf's forward motion sound, but it said the forward noise should also be used for reversing because the "intermittent sound is not as effective as a continuous sound" and that the car should emit warning sounds when it is idling, not only when it's moving slowly. Nevertheless, their main complaint is that they don't think the driver should be able to switch the sound off."
@P_D - I'd love to see them do the same test with an executive sedan, Rolls Royce, Bentley, etc. My guess is that a <10 mph they are as quiet as an EV. I posted this on the NHTSA thread.
If this regulation gets passed, then any car that falls below a certain dB level needs to be subject to the rule, not just EVs and hybrids.
Link to Wikipedia article?
Pungoteague_Dave already blew his argument when he mentioned how the deer did not scatter at the lack of sound from his Model S yet he has hit two deer on a motorcycle.... because we all know how quiet motorcycles are.
I can see now that once the cars start making noise the drivers will have an excuse after they run someone over, "Well my car makes a pedestrian warning sound."
Just because I hit two deer on the quietest ICE motorcycle BMW K1600GTL) does not mean that the quiet car issue isn't there with respect to deer. As I described, the deer don't flinch or seem to recognize this car, even when I am within feet - we drive right on buy with no reaction. On all of our other vehicles, including a Prius, tractors, trucks, etc., they look up when we are hundreds of feet away, and then scatter when we are about a hundred feet from them.
The problem with deer is that when they do move, they are unpredicatble. The issue isn't quiet vs noisy. They move BECAUSE of the noise, but often when it is too late to react. MOST of the time, they move out of danger. Some of the time, they move directly into the hit zone. That's what happened to me, both times at highway speeds on interstates - I saw the deer, but when they reacted, it was directly into my path. With the Model S, I can drive right up to them and they don't move at all. I happen to own land with several thousand deer, so experience this all the time, but only when I am driving at driveway speeds of 15 or so, so can stop before hitting them. It will be interesting to see how many peoiple hit imobile deer with these cars - because of LACK of sound.
I am NOT advocating for sound makers on the Model S, just pointing out some facts that we should be alert to.
The same Wiki piece did refer to other quiet ICE cars beginning to have the same issue, and that the blind activists are asking for noisemakers there too.
There is argument on both sides, my point is that contrary to some other posts here, this is being pushed and funded by the National Federation of the Blind, and there have been many studies from several angles.
More commentary form the wiki piece:
"A separate 2008 study from Western Michigan University found that hybrids and conventional vehicles are equally safe when travelling more than about 20 miles per hour (32 km/h), because tire and wind noise generate most of the audible cues at those speeds. Hybrid cars were also tested safe when leaving a stoplight and it was found that under this condition they do not pose a risk to pedestrians. All Prius models used in the study engaged their internal combustion engines when accelerating from a standstill and produced enough noise to be detected.[9]
A 2009 study conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists have higher incidence rates for hybrid electric vehicles than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in certain vehicle maneuvers. These accidents commonly occurred in zones with low speed limits, during daytime and in clear weather. The study found that a HEV was two times more likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash than was a conventional ICE vehicle when a vehicle is slowing or stopping, backing up, or entering or leaving a parking space. Vehicle maneuvers were grouped in one category considering those maneuvers that might have occurred at very low speeds where the difference between the sound levels produced by the hybrid versus ICE vehicle is the greatest. Also the study found that the incidence rate of pedestrian crashes in scenarios when vehicles make a turn was significantly higher for HEVs when compared to ICE vehicles. Similarly, The NHTSA study also concluded that the incidence rate of bicyclist crashes involving HEVs for the same kind of maneuvers was significantly higher when compared to conventional vehicles."
I don't normally view wiki as a good source for anything, but this seems factual. link here:
So my question is:
Is the higher incidence rates for hybrid electric vehicles due to pedestrians expecting to hear a car approaching and as such don't "see" it approaching?
Or is it that hearing takes priority over sight in certain situations?
If the first case is true, as people become more and more aware of silent vehicles (bikes, quiet ICE, and BEV) they will start paying more attention.
I think there is a lot of research too that proves under certain circumstances, if you don't expect to see something, you wont see it, even if you stare straight at it. e.g. This is a significant safety issue in Australia for motorbikes and bikes; drivers, etc, don't expect to see them and as a result don't see them even if they look.
Here is the video that illustrates this point. Make sure you are paying attention before watching it.
Some documentation (watch the video first before looking at this):
And once everything out there is blaring away with alert noises their effectiveness will be diminished. Anyone remember driving before "High Mount Stop/Brake Lights" became a requirement? Once they were required they got everyone's attention for awhile because no one was used to seeing them so for a time the bright red lamp directly in your forward line of sight was effective. But how about now? When is the last time you remember even noticing one? or making a distinction between a high mount or any other brake lights?
A non sighted individual is little different than a seeing individual blasting his/her headsets while walking and looking the other way as it pertains to oncoming traffic.
All accidents cannot be legislated away or every possible eventuality prepared for. Nor can stupid be fixed. As in most cases, no "new" laws or requirements seem in order here. Just "enforcement" of existing laws and for "us" as EV drivers to realize what our choice of transportation beings into the mix in the wild.
@ penguin_brian;
Great Videos,
The gorilla video has been used in awareness training for some time. I remember seeing it "or similar" back in the 80's and could not believe how I could have missed it. Classic not seeing the tree for the forest!
I can vouch for the fact that even with a noisy ICE vehicle, people walk in front. I drive a V8 with a rumbling exhaust. It doesn't stop pedestrians from walking in front without looking - especially at low speed.
Adding noisemakers to EVs won't help, and will just cause noise pollution.
The same arguments were used against seat belts (I will be trapped, I am not stupid enough to hit anything), air bags, crumple zones, rollover standards, side impact standards, elevator announcements, talking crosswalks, helmet use, etc. l won't call naysayers Luddites, but the solution on the Volt appears pretty reasonable and many Volt owners think it is effective. It puts the onus for pedestrian warning on the driver, so as to not automatically pollute with sound, but does it with a sound that is less noxious than a standard horn. If we go in saying "no" like the environmentalists did on Keystone, we will be seen as the crazy fringe that are represented in some of this thread's alarmist responses, and will be steamrolled just like the pipeline naysayers are about to be. It might be better to manage this process than to end up under the bus entirely.
The Volt's pedestrian alert system is demonstrated here:
Seems reasonable.
Yes, but is irrelevant to a mandate for a continuous warning tone, which is the subject of the legislation. Every EV, noise-making, all the time.
If you're going so slow that you don't make a sound, it doesn't look like the setup for a very violent accident now does it? Seems to me that some people are looking for any way possible to lower the appeal of electric cars and hopefully (to them) delay their supremacy.
Buy a cowbell, lower your window and shake it. Use little or a lot of force, depending on need. |:-p


text:
Old pro Biden hits his marks
It seems a fair bet at this point in time that neither Ted Cruz or Joe Biden will be the next presidential standard-bearer for their party.
So why the hoorah over dueling, cross-town speeches Cruz and Biden gave in Columbia, S.C. Friday night?
Story Continued Below
Because the Cruz-Biden talk-a-thon does mark a kind of unofficial start to the 2016 rubber chicken circuit. And, more importantly, both men currently have the best claim on their party's id, if not its nomination.
Wildly different in style and separated by a generation in age, Cruz and Biden share a gift for the stump speech and for knowing what their side wants to hear. Under a different sort of "Friday Night Lights," they give us the mood of the party bases in May 2013.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Vice President Joe Biden promised near the start of his remarks to Democrats here Friday evening that he was going to be on his good behavior. And he mostly kept to that pledge. At least until he left the convention hall.
Following a relatively restrained, by Biden standards, 36-minute address to the state party's Jefferson Jackson dinner, the vice president took off his suit coat, crossed town and took to the podium with gusto at Rep. Jim Clyburn's late-night fish fry.
Before a heavily African-American crowd, Biden seized on a deeply polarizing issue in this state: voting rights.
( Also on POLITICO: Cruz: Red meat for GOP)
Invoking a 106-year-old lady who cast a ballot last year, Biden claimed she waited seven hours to vote.
"She said, 'I tell you what, I didn't fight this hard, this long, for anybody to deny me the right to vote,' " thundered the vice president.
It wasn't clear if Biden was alluding to the 106-year-old South Carolina woman who voted for the first time last year or the 102-year-old Florida lady who famously had to wait for over three hours to cast her ballot and attended President Obama's State of the Union address in February. Or, Biden being Biden, he might have unintentionally rolled the two anecdotes together and come up with his own version.
Either way, the roar of the crowd to Biden's comment underlined how contentious voting issues have become in South Carolina. To the loud objections of Democrats, South Carolina's Republican governor and legislature have pushed through voter new identification laws.
The moment, and Biden's evident joy at being at the type of event he's probably done hundreds of time in his 40-plus years in public life, also says something about the mood of the vice president's party and the kick people get from just watching an old master strut his stuff. If Democrats generally feel they are in a good place as 2016 draws nearer, no one seems happier than Biden, who makes no secret that he may have one more presidential run left in him.
"Vice President Biden is the quintessential 'old school' politician," explained Jaime Harrison who this weekend will become the South Carolina Democratic Chairman. "He is beloved by grassroots Democrats because he still kisses the babies and charms grandmas rather than simply rely on Twitter, Facebook, etc."
Biden isn't just Irish charm and funny stories, however. His riff on voting rights was followed by another racially-charged issue that is vital to the rainbow-hued coalition Democrats are trying to stitch together.
( Also on POLITICO: Obama in dark on Biden gun plan)
Calling for a "rational immigration policy [to] get 11 million people out of the shadows," Biden said Republicans feared the political impact of conferring citizenship on illegal immigrants.
"There's a reason why they're concerned — when they're out we win, we win" he bellowed. "Because we represent ordinary, hard-working people."


text: 36 Crazyfists are a four-piece metal band originating from Kenai, Alaska. They are now based in Portland, Oregon. The band's name comes from a Jackie Chan movie, The 36 Crazy Fists. They have released five albums, In the Skin, Bitterness the Star, A Snow Capped Romance, Rest Inside the Flames, and their fifth The Tide And Its Takers was released on May 27, 2008.


text:
Ferri Lighting Design & Associates (FLDA) is a leading creator of broadcast and cable network studio lighting designs that emphasize efficient and effective filmic lighting. The company's designs accentuate lighting regardless of video format output, and are developed in conjunction with producers, directors, and production designers.
The FLDA look is well-recognized in the industry as a warm, pleasing filmic lighting that is optimized for complex multi-camera productions. The FLDA team's work is optimized for high-definition television, and can be applied to all television formats.
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text:
Feldstein hugely overstated current tax rate, then called for tax cut
On FOX News' Special Report with Brit Hume, conservative economist Martin Feldstein argued that marginal tax rates -- i.e., the tax rate paid on the last dollar of income -- are too high because "when you earn an extra $100, if you're the typical taxpayer, about 40 of those dollars go in taxes." In fact, this statistic is false. Even the group Feldstein leads, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), has calculated that the average combined marginal tax rates for federal and state taxes in 2004 are 25 percent for wages; 26 percent for interest income; 22 percent for dividends; and 26 percent for pensions.
On the December 15 edition of Special Report, Hume asked Feldstein what changes were necessary in the tax code. Feldstein called for a tax cut:
HUME: Now, part of the discussion at today's event [a White House economic conference] was the tax code and what to do about the tax code. What in your view as an economist, looking at the economy as a whole, needs to be cured about the tax code as it affects the economy overall?
FELDSTEIN: Well, of course the most fundamental problems are high marginal tax rates.
HUME: That means what?
FELDSTEIN: That when you earn an extra $100, if you're the typical taxpayer, about 40 of those dollars go in taxes.
In addition to being president of NBER, Feldstein is an economics professor at Harvard University, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors in the Reagan administration (1982-84), and one of the original proponents of supply-side economics.


text:
Facebook, With a Focus on Mobile, Works on Project for News Via Users
Facebook Inc. is aiming to become a newspaper for mobile devices.
The social network has been quietly working on a service, internally called Reader, that displays content from Facebook users and publishers in a new visual format tailored for mobile devices, people with knowledge of the matter said.
The project, which the company has been...


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a little bit of leaping is good for the soul. really. trust me...i've noticed lately that i seem to keep leaping and jumping in all of the recent pics my hubs or anyone takes of me. i think it's funny and also a sign of my personality. i don't enjoy being photographed so i think it is also my way of relaxing when i have to pose for a bit of time and am feeling uncomfortable. i feel a strong urge to just let loose and then wham! i'm leaping. it feels good though. i highly recommend you try it...haha. just throw a little leap in there next time you need to loosen up or have some fun.
my girlies are growing up so fast and have been keeping this momma more than busy and also challenged. my oldest is as strong as ever and tests me at every turn but we're surviving and will hopefully make it through this phase. if any of you have tips on dealing with a "strong willled child" i'd love to hear them. harper is just a doll. the kid can get away with anything i tell you. she just smiles at me a tad and i melt like butter on a hot pan. i'm going to pay for it later...lol. in the meantime i've just taken to well......leaping :) blows the stress right off....lmao.
so whatdoyasay? you want to leap with me? c'mon...i know you wanna....
wishing you all a leaping, jumping, frolicking, laughing and overall good time kinda weekend! what are your weekend plans? what did you make this week? any projects you want to share? come chat with me!
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