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Anonymous on 01/19/2016
Oct 23rd 2015. Stayed at the ace in a room in the back on the second floor next to the elevators and across from a room being remodeled.
Brought home bed bugs and have been treating apartment for two months now. Hotel would not admit to anything after I brought it up with them.
born new yorker on 01/19/2016
Welcome to my city.
It wasn't always this bad, but with every movie and tv show making it seem like a fireman or a maid can afford to not only support their family but live in the center of Manhattan in a 5 Bedroom and enjoy ALL New York has to offer...
this city has become so overpopulated and yes, bed bugs are here to stay since landlords and building owners could care less or use the excuse "we are doing everything and have a 5 step..." or "but in my country, India, we all have bugs, I just
squish them with my hand!"-Direct quote from former landlord.
Sorry your hopes and dreams were squashed, but at least now you know the real New York, the one that New Yorkers deal with daily. Yes, I have seen bed bugs at this hotel, while eating there. I have also seen them at Macy's on 34th st, H&M, had them three times, once requiring me to move-and all were caused by negligent owners and luckily the next two times after my first which required me to move and spend thousands were early detectors-I still moved.
I don't live in New York city anymore. I haven't had bed bugs since, it has been years. I see these bugs every time I go back to visit yearly...on the subway, on mattresses on the street..just stay in your car.
Anonymous on 06/23/2015
i've stayed at the Ace 3 times now. Always clean and lovely and had a problem til this last stay. Was on 9th floor which i've never been on before. Came home with bites all over both feet.
Babs on 02/08/2014
Stayed at The Ace Hotel in January, nice room on the 19th floor. No bed bugs, clen and great service at the desk.
Anonymous on 06/18/2013
I stayed on the 10th floor at the Ace Hotel last month (May 2013) and had bed bug bites on my legs (20 total bites). To be fair, the hotel is stunning, clean, and the service was great, but the bites were not fun to deal with. This was my first BB experience so I didn't realize what they were until I left the next day and was too embarrassed to show anyone, let alone the Ace staff. I did call after I returned home and let them know and they were understanding and sympathetic. As much as I loved
my stay there, I don't think it's worth taking the risk of getting eaten again. Perhaps I'll just hang out in the lobby next time.
CanadianBizTraveler on 07/22/2012
I've stayed at the ACE at least 7 nights between June 22 and July 20th, 2012. I did not experience any bed bugs whatsoever. It was a great stay.
Anonymous on 11/23/2011
Just stayed at ACE and did experience a bed bug but the staff were amazing. They relocated us, laundered all of our clothes including the ones we stood up in, and upgraded us. I have confidence in their eradication efforts and despite our encounter, I would stay there again. My sense is they are doing the best they can.
Anonymous on 07/10/2011
Stayed for 3 days/4 nights in July of 2011. Had no problems at all. Very clean and bug free in my experience.
Is from Canada on 03/22/2011
I stayed for 3 nights in Oct 2010, room 1015. It was clean and there were no bed bugs. Excellent stay, awesome hotel!
I stayed again 3 nights in March 2011, room 1203. Again, it was spotless with no bedbugs. I highly recommend this place.
Anonymous on 01/26/2011
All I can say is, AVOID floor 10 of the Ace Hotel (and the floors above and below, from my research).
I stayed in Room 1024, October 3-6, and progressively got more bites (I didn't know what they were at the time).
The bedbugs came home with me (bites started 2 days after we got back - standard timing)...
2 chemical and 1 heat treatment later, we still have them, now almost 4 months and $3,000 later (Not to mention the countless sleepless nights, and exhaustion from moving all the fur
niture and the family out for each treatment).
Ace staff were nice to me (and said they will treat me well on my next visit). However, they clammed up when I asked if they'd help with the bills...
We're still not done - about to book a second $1500 heat treatment. If this doesn't work, maybe we need to move out for a year to let the bugs die off?!?
Read bedbugregistry.com before staying anywhere. If I had, I would have seen the reports for adjacent rooms at the Ace, on the same floor, just a few weeks before my visit.
The Ace may be TREATING for bedbugs, but they are certainly not managing to eradicate them!
(Full disclosure - I am a HUGE fan of the Ace Hotel chain. Before this experience, I was thinking this hotel would be my hotel of choice whenever I visit NYC...I just realize it's important people get full warning of the hazards - I wish I had known...)
GiveMeABreak,EyesRolling,GetALifeand StopLying on 01/22/2011
I believe that the manager speaks the truth on this matter, especially after reading a comment by a one "Tenant LLC".
Coincidentally, the term "Tenant LLC" happens to be part of the corporation name that strictly oversees the long-term tenant custodianship, and the author of the post reports a contradiction in the script that gives one pause to the credibility, and even motive, of the content within the post.
Residential tenants are well aware that if they experience any such problems,
that they are to report it directly to the LLC management office, and there problem is addressed both punctually and effectively. No tenant who was really experiencing such a problem would bring it to the hotel management, as they clearly have there own avenue of effective resolution.
Jan Rozenveld on 01/17/2011
I want to begin by thanking those of you who have called us regarding postings on this website to hear our side of the story prior to booking. Ace does not have a bed bug problem – on the contrary Ace has preventative measures and protocol which are proactive and exceed what most other hotels are doing in the city. Our strategy continues to grow as new ideas are brought to the table. Ace made bed bug education and early detection a priority in early 2010 when news regarding the epidemic began
appearing. In addition to staff educational seminars, we wish to share some of the practices we have implemented in our prevention program. We hope that knowing how diligent we are will ease your mind. We perform in-depth preventative inspections daily, weekly and monthly. Daily by our trained housekeepers who check the rooms in key areas such as under furniture, behind headboards, cushions, and nooks in furniture to name a few; Weekly, by our preventative licensed exterminator visits; and then bi-monthly, by licensed dogs brought in to spot check rooms per month as well as public and back of house spaces. In addition to that:
• We wash all bedding regularly in hot water. The water is at least 120 degrees.
• We vacuum floors regularly, using the brush tool to vacuum the mattress and the narrow tool to vacuum crevices in the mattress and baseboards.
• Our new steam cleaner heats water to 340 degrees and is used on carpets and upholstery.
• CO2 chambers are used to test unoccupied rooms
• Our Suite Sleep organic latex mattresses are hypoallergenic, Bed-Bug resistant, and amazingly comfortable.
• Staff training takes place monthly by licensed exterminators, helping us identify what to look for and where to look.
• Finally, we have Heat Chambers which are available to guests who wish to treat their belongings at arrival or prior to departure
We want to be honest with you, our procedures took time and effort to develop and although we cannot guarantee we will never have an issue, we take this matter very seriously…as we do everything that involves guests of ACE, and that we can guarantee!
If you have any questions, or if I can be of further assistance please don't hesitate to contact me.
Jan Rozenveld
Managing Director
[email protected]
Anonymous on 12/15/2010
We stayed at the Ace Hotel in NY December 13 & 14, 2010. The first nite was okay - didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Second day both myself and my husband woke up with bites all over our feet and legs. My husband even had 3 bites on his neck. When we raised the issue with the staff, they didn't seem at all surprised. We have filed a formal complaint with the management and have yet to hear back.
This place is atrocious. Ignoring an infestationn like this is supremely irrespons
ible. STAY AWAY FROM THE ACE HOTEL!!!
bessie on 11/16/2010
I stayed at the Ace on 12 November 2010 and had NO problems with bedbugs at all. I was in room 1020. It was a clean as a whistle and had a wonderful view as well! No bugs!
Anonymous on 11/13/2010
I stayed in Room 522 at the end of September, 2010 and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I found a few bites on my feet the second day I was there that looked like mosquito bites. On my last day I had bites all over my legs, neck and arms.
The hotel told me that they would inspect the room, but they couldn't get anyone to inspect it for 3 days. I insisted that they remove any current guests in that room so they don't get bites. A week later I had to call and ask what came of th
e "incident" (their name for it) and all they could do was tell me that they do monthly checks and are sure there weren't any bugs.
I would not go back to this hotel if someone paid me to spend a night there again.
1186 Tenant LLC on 11/12/2010
Do you want bedbugs? Yes? then stay at the ACE NYC. There are a hand full of tenants who live in the ACE hotel 20 West 29th Street. This evening it was brought to the hotel managers attention that the 9th floor has a room with bed bugs. He told us that he was not concerned with tenant issues and that he would not forward my message to anyone in the hotel (we asked that he pass this on to Jan Rozenveld - GM).
Why would tourists want to stay at the Ace hotel NYC when managers don't care about b
ed bugs in the hotel? It is just a matter of time for all the rooms to be riddled with bedbugs with this kind of attitude. There have been other rooms with bedbugs too.
Bedbugs were the first guests to stay at the Ace and they may be the last.
DB on 09/08/2010
Last summer (July 2009), I stayed at the Ace Hotel and was eaten up by bedbugs. During my stay, I stayed in rooms 415 and 525. I never saw a bed bug in either room, but I didn't need to...my bites were all the convincing I needed. I had bites on the back of my right knee, inside of my left leg (from mid thigh to top of my calf), left forearm, and back of my right hand.
When I informed the hotel that I had been bitten by bed bugs, they seemed incredulous and bitter...as if I was insulting the
m. Then they said they would look into it. A few days later, they emailed me "letters" from an exterminator saying that no bed bug activity had been found in either room (the "letters" looked a little suspicious/doctored, if you ask me). But since I had no evidence of the infestation, there was nothing I could do. So I dropped the matter. But now that I read that someone else had a similar experience at Ace, it pisses me off.
Another thing that ticked me off is the fact that the hotel rep I spoke to tried to convince me that, perhaps, my bites were mosquito bites. Um, first of all, I know what mosquito bites look/feel like - especially because I am highly allergic. And second of all, even if the mosquito bite theory made any sense, I would have had to slather myself in sugar water and go stand outside for a good length of time to rack up as many bites as I had on my body.
Maybe if the Ace Hotel spent less time trying to be "hip," they could spend more time trying to correct their bed bug infestation...and improve their customer service skills.
Do NOT stay here.
Joe on 07/02/2010
Ace Hotel - June 22- 25, 2010 - Room 1015
Had one bite on my hand after the first night. Second bite, same hand after the second night there. (I sleep with my left hand on the pillow near the headboard, that's the hand with the first two bites)
Third and final night there, woke up with 5 bites in a row up my left leg, across my knee.
Yes, there are bedbugs in the Ace Hotel.
But the worst part is that when I called management to let them know about the problem, they tried to convince
me that they didn't have a problem. I never asked for any compensation, only called to let them know there way an issue. Why they got so defensive is a mystery - perhaps the problem is widespread and they don't want it to get public???
Whatever. I don't really care what they do or how they plan to fix it. Fact remains that I was eaten up there and had to 'fumigate' all my luggage when I returned home.
No, I will not stay at the Ace Hotel again...
No nearby bug reports


text:
BRISTOL — Tax rates in some Addison Northeast Supervisory Union towns likely will increase in the coming year by a penny more than they otherwise would have as school directors, on the advice of supervisory union officials, try to rein in operating deficits for all six district schools.
ANeSU interim business manager Susan Jefferies shifted into high gear early this month to quickly draw up fiscal action plans for each of the schools after audits released at that time showed the official cumulative deficits that the schools had run.
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury volunteer and activist Dottie Neuberger might be one of the six recent recipients of honorary degrees from Middlebury College, but before the May 22 commencement ceremony she would never have dreamed about sharing the stage with a U.S. senator or an internationally recognized geneticist.
"I don't see myself in the same category as most of the honorary degree recipients," Neuberger said last week.
VERGENNES — Vergennes aldermen at their May 24 meeting got their first look at a draft 2011-2012 budget that City Manager Mel Hawley said should mean no increase in the municipal portion of the city tax rate if they adopt it as proposed in the weeks to come.
And Vergennes homeowners might be looking at a lower tax rate overall.
The current municipal tax rate rounds to 60.3 cents. The city's full 2011 residential rate including school taxes is $1.8895, and the non-residential rate is $1.9641.
MIDDLEBURY — Emergency response officials from throughout the region turned out in full uniform on Thursday to celebrate the life of Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association (MVAA) founding member George "Wedge" Murdoch, who died May 22 after a long illness.
Murdoch, 76, was recalled by his colleagues as a dedicated and caring man with a wry sense of humor.
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MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury has already carved out a niche as the state's premier chili destination, drawing upwards of 3,000 people to its annual winter carnival and chili festival.
Now the town is looking to expand its gastronomic reputation into the warmer months: The Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP) is looking this August to launch the first annual Midd Summer Festival to showcase the best cheese, wine and beer the state has to offer
BRIDPORT — The town of Bridport will be throwing itself a big birthday party in June, and everyone is invited.
Bridport is one of 10 Addison County communities that will be marking the 250th anniversary of their town charters this year. Many towns will mark the occasion with special ceremonies, potluck dinners and displays of old photos and other historical memorabilia.
BRISTOL — A tavern called ND's, named after proprietors Nina Badger and David Bannister, is set to replace the bar formerly known as Dan's Place on the east end of Main Street in Bristol by mid June.
After Dan Palmer closed his bar in February, he was unable to reopen as planned in April.
Fortunately for the loyal following of Dan's Place frequenters, Badger (who helped Palmer initially decorate and set up his spot) and Bannister (one of Palmer's investors) are promising a bar very reminiscent of its former self.
BRISTOL — Addison Northeast Supervisory Union recently hired seasoned school finance veteran Edward Gomeau to take over as its business manager. In July, Gomeau will take over an operation that has been plagued with deficits over the past two years.
Presently in his fourth year as director of finance and operations for New Haven Public Schools in Connecticut, the new business manager touts a hefty history in the field of fiscal management.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Vincent Ricciardi is the technical lead at Vokal Interactive, a mobile application development shop. He recently spoke with Dr. Dobb's editor-in-chief Jonathan Erickson.
Dr. Dobb's: Are all mobile apps the same?
Ricciardi: There are two types of mobile apps: "ground apps" and "cloud apps." Ground apps never communicate over the cell network to retrieve or manipulate data. Cloud apps, which we focus on, connect to remote sources of data for the content and configuration of the application. The development challenges of cloud apps relate to the density of the technology stack necessary to support them. Data sources hosted remotely require a host, server-side programming knowledge, relational database management system knowledge, Web-service development knowledge, and server administration knowledge. On top of this is the client-side component that has an application and database tier itself. Throw in a UI, and you have a 4-tier application.
Dr. Dobb's: Are tools emerging that make iPhone application development easier?
Ricciardi: Yes, Joe Hewitt's Three20 library (Facebook App) has been a great resource for the iPhone development community. The Three20 library is loaded with sample code and an API of resources that quickly equip an individual developer with powerful tools, UI and otherwise. The more open source code out there, the easier app development will get. Also, the vast network of forums and iPhone dev communities helps support a shared knowledge bank with regards to debugging and optimizing code.
Dr. Dobb's: Is cross-platform possible?
Ricciardi: Cross-platform competency, strategy, and development are vital to a successful mobile strategy. The iPhone is cool, but it doesn't have the lion's-share of the market just yet. Blackberry and the Android OS are big contenders in the market. Vokal has successfully launched cross-platform Apps for iPhone and BlackBerry and is looking forward to our first wave of Android Apps, so this is not just a notion I play with, it is an approach I advocate to each of our customers.
Dr. Dobb's: How has mobile changed IT?
Ricciardi: For one thing, mobile has introduced heightened security risks. From the company's standpoint, highly sensitive intellectual property is now floating around, constantly under the risk of being lost or stolen. From a productivity standpoint, at Vokal we have noticed that having an entire team deployed on a device like the iPhone allows us to stay in close communication no matter our location or time of day. This is but one example of how mobile has liberated and empowered today's workforce.


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Woody Allen once said, "Showing up is 80 percent of life." It seems to be 100 percent of new Xbox 360 game Joy Ride.
Developed by Big Park Studios, Kinect Joy Ride is a launch title for Microsoft's new motion peripheral. The game is one of the weaker titles in the Kinect retail launch line-up and was originally slated as an Xbox Live Arcade release.
YouTube user GELTONZ apparently plays through this particular Joy Ride track without moving his hands — and ends up in third place! Other YouTube users report that it is possible to play Joy Ride without moving one's hands, but only while sitting.
Read our Joy Ride review here.
Thanks, Burgerk1ng for the tip!


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Opera In Parks; IT Comes To Ren; Ready for Blueberry Fest?
- Chelley Kemper
- Local News
A 40-year-old man was arrested in the shooting death of a 33-year- old woman at the Stony Creek Apartments in Ashland shortly early Monday morning. Ashland Police say officers were dispatched to apartment B at 230 Mathews Avenue at 1:49 a.m.. Police say residents were hearing gunshots coming from the inside of an adjacent apartment and the bullets were coming through the walls. As police officers and an Ashland County Sheriff's deputy entered the building, they heard gun hots coming from inside apartment A. The officers found the entry door barricaded so they provided cover as the occupants of apartment B evacuated, as well as the building's other residents. A cell phone dialogue was established with the 40-year-old man. At 3:49 a.m., he removed the barricade, exited the apartment unarmed, and was taken into custody. The body of the 33-year-old woman was located inside apartment A and a cause of death has not been determined, although she had a visible gunshot wound. The 40-year-old man is in custody at the Ashland County Jail but no charges have been filed as an investigation continues. Officers from the Ashland County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol provided perimeter security at the scene.
Three children have died after a house fire occurred Monday morning in Jeromesville.
The Jeromesville community is coming together to support a family after the loss of three of their children in a deadly house fire early Monday morning.


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Speaking out for the first time since a massacre left 27 dead, Newtown, Conn. Police Chief Michael Kehoe says it's time for a big change.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Kehoe urges lawmakers to ban assault weapons and recounts what it was like to walk into Sandy Hook Elementary School immediately after the shooting.
Armed with a Bushmaster .223 semiautomatic rifle and other weapons, Adam Lanza killed 26 people at the school and his mother before fatally shooting himself.
"We never like to think we're going to be outgunned in any situation we're dealing with,' Kehoe told NBC News. "We do a good job of securing dynamite in our society. … (Assault rifles) are another form of dynamite. … I think they should ban them."
Kehoe's plea comes as Vice President Joe Biden prepares to give President Barack Obama a list of recommendations on what should be done to fight gun violence in the country.
Biden met with interested groups last week but failed to make any headway with the National Rifle Association, a group that often opposes sweeping gun-law reform. The organization has blasted the White House for having an "agenda to attack the Second Amendment."
NRA President Davide Keene has predicted an assault weapons ban won't pass Congress.
DON'T MISS: The Number Of Groups Lobbying On Gun Issues Actually Dropped In 2012 >


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ROCKFORD - Rockford School District had no problem allocating $32 million in construction contracts this year, the first steps in an ambitious 10-year plan to upgrade school buildings.
INSIDE: We break down finished projects, upcoming projects, companies that won bids and more.
BELOW: We broke down finished projects, upcoming projects, companies that won bids and more.
ROCKFORD - Rockford School District had no problem allocating $32 million in construction contracts this year, the first steps in an ambitious 10-year plan to upgrade school buildings.
From May 14 to Sept. 24, district leaders nearly unanimously approved 12 projects, awarding the work to nine contractors, eight of which are local firms, all lowest bidders.
Of the 12 projects, the books are closed on two - new flooring at Jefferson High School, which was completed as part of this summer's Sharefest project, and paving improvements at eight schools.
While last summer's paving projects weren't as eye-catching or exciting as the new building additions, the work was vital, said Chief Operations Officer Todd Schmidt.
"It may not be glamorous work, but it was absolutely necessary work," Schmidt said. "Some of these parking lots were pothole galore. There were drainage issues. ... We put in some new parking lots and designated bus lanes. That's creating safer passage for our students."
District leaders plan to spend $311 million in all, pledging last year to perform some work at each of the district's 46 school buildings through 2023.
They need to spend at least $85 million by 2016 under the financing rules of the district's $100 million bond sale earlier this year. Two more years of spending similar to 2013 will more than surpass that goal.
When schools reopen Jan. 6, students and teachers at Conklin, Johnson and Lathrop elementary schools will celebrate the official completions of their new building additions, which include cafeterias, kitchens and resource rooms.
A few weeks later, they'll do the same at Froberg, McIntosh and Spring Creek schools.
The expansion couldn't be coming at a better time at Froberg.
Principal Christina Ulferts has big plans for the extra room. They include art, music and physical education, tutoring, kindergarten programming and extracurricular activities, many of which have been offered in overcrowded spaces or hallways until now.
"It's always been important to the staff at Froberg that space not limit what we offer to our students," Ulferts said. "Just imagine what we will do with more space."
The school plans to start work on a library and computer lab redesign this spring and hopes to open a science lab where students can do hands-on lessons.
Facilities plan: Year in review
The Rockford School Board kicked off its $311 million, 10-year facilities-improvement plan this year by awarding 12 contracts worth a little more than $32 million.
May 14
East High School windows: Purchase and installation of new energy efficient windows.
Six bids ranging from $1,655,560 to $2,170,504
Low bid: Cardinal Glass Company
Conklin, Johnson and Lathrop (a.k.a "the sister schools"): Construction of a new cafeteria, kitchen, resource rooms and security vestibule.
Seven bids ranging from $4,010,243 to $4,375,000
Low bid: Cord Construction Co.
May 28
Jefferson High School flooring: Installation of new hallway flooring on all three floors.
Three bids ranging from $79,500 to $89,275
Low bid: Fridh Construction Services
East High School windows: Window removal, asbestos abatement and lintel removal/replacement.
Two bids ranging from $391,638 to $498,950
Low bid: Colfax Corporation
June 11
Froberg, McIntosh and Spring Creek: New gym at Froberg, new cafeterias at McIntosh and Spring Creek, new classrooms at Froberg and McIntosh, parking lot expansions at Froberg and Spring Creek, security vestibule at Spring Creek.
Three bids ranging from $3,120,600 to $3,315,000
Low bid: Stenstrom General Contractor
Five bids ranging from $1,844,000 to $1,910,825
Low bid: Fridh Construction Services
Spring Creek
Five bids ranging from $2,742,460 to $2,952,500
Low bid: Rockford Structures Construction Company
June 25
Paving: Parking lot, walkway and driveway upgrades at Brookview, Rolling Green, Whitehead elementary schools; Flinn, Kennedy, Thurgood Marshall, West middle schools and Jefferson High School.
Number of bids received: 4 for each school
Brookview: Fischer Excavating Inc., $275,347.07
Rolling Green: Fischer Excavating Inc., $825,336.59
Whitehead: Northern Illinois Service Co., $278,964.30
Flinn: Stenstrom Excavating and Blacktop Group, $546,340.25
Kennedy: Fischer Excavating Inc., $844,431.58
Thurgood Marshall: Fischer Excavating Inc., $670,883.31
West: Northern Illinois Service Co., $527,083.95
Jefferson: Northern Illinois Service Co., 844,170.70
July 9
Auburn High School field house: 100,000-square-foot field house addition including eight new classrooms, 200-meter track, basketball and volleyball courts, cafeteria expansion, storage and multi-purpose space.
Six bids ranging from $13,089,000 to $14,155,468
Low bid: Stenstrom
Sept. 24
Guilford High School field house prep: Relocation of water, storm sewer and sanitary sewer lines, site prep and building sub grade installation.
Three bids ranging from $475,000 to $639,000
Low bid: N-Trak Group
Corina Curry: 815-987-1371; email@example.com; @corinacurry
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Jackson questioned Stenstrom award
The Rockford School Board cast six nearly unanimous votes between May and September for the new facilities plan.
Only one dissenting vote — Lisa Jackson's against the Auburn High School project — was recorded. Jackson, the board's secretary, refused to elaborate on her vote after the meeting, but before she cast it, she asked several questions about the bid process and fairness.
The motion on the floor was to award $13 million in construction work to Stenstrom, a company founded by the family of Rockford School Superintendent Ehren Jarrett's wife.
General Counsel Lori Hoadley addressed Jackson's concerns saying there's no conflict of interest because Jarrett does not have a financial interest or hold office in Stenstrom's organization.
It was the third contract awarded to Stenstrom last year, the most awarded to any single contractor. The company was the lowest bidder on all three occasions.
Illinois law dictates that work awarded through a competitive bid process go to the lowest responsible bidder.
Closing the books
The Rockford School District launched seven construction projects this year and closed the books on two.
Other projects will wrap up in January or February, and some won't end until fall.
By that time, a whole new crop of building improvements will be underway.
Here are the bid amounts and actual dollars spent for the two completed projects.
Hallway flooring at Jefferson High School
Contractor BidActualFridh Construction Services$79,500$79,500
Paving upgrades at eight schools
ContractorBidActualNorthern Illinois Services Co.$1,650,218.95$1,669,766.95Fischer Excavating Inc.$2,615,998.55$2,643,278.20Stenstrom Excavating and Blacktop Group$546,340.25$551,188.4
Todd Schmidt, the district's chief operating officer, said the variances between the bid amount and actual dollars spent fell well within 10 percent of the total project cost.
Anything above 10 percent can force a rebidding process, Schmidt explained.
Northern Illinois Services Co. was paid $19,548 more than the original bid amount. Fischer received $27,279.65 above bid and Stenstrom got $4,848.20 more than what was bid.
Schmidt attributed the additional costs to unsuitable underground soil conditions.
"You don't know what's underground," Schmidt said. "You get abandoned pipes. You get soft spots that you have to dig out and refill. ... We do soil tests before to try to determine whether that needs to be done but you're just doing borings in certain places.
"You just don't know until you start digging."
Source: Rockford School District
Who got what
Here is a list of the nine companies that won bids for the Rockford School District facilities plan this year and the total bid amounts awarded this year.
NameAmountBids wonStenstrom$16,755,9403Cord Construction Co.$4,010,2431Rockford Structures Construction Company$2,742,4601Fischer Excavating Inc.$2,615,998.551Fridh Construction Services$1,923,5002Cardinal Glass Company$1,655,5601Northern Illinois Services Co.$1,650,218.951N-Trak Group$475,0001Colfax Corporation$391,6381
What's next
Projects on deck for 2014 and beyond include: a Guilford High School field house addition, mechanical upgrades at Auburn, Guilford and East high schools, window replacement at Lincoln, Flinn and Kennedy middle schools, auditorium upgrades at Auburn, East and Guilford and a new field house at East.
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Niko Brown, 17, and his brother Devontay Brown, 16, are charged in connection with the robbery of two utility workers on Feb. 6.
Detroit Public Lighting workers were working on a light pole on the city's west side around 9 p.m. when the robbery occurred.
Worthy says Niko Brown was armed with a weapon and accompanied by his brother when they approached the men and robbed them of their money.
Niko Brown placed a weapon to the head of one worker and attempted to rob him of his phone, according to Worthy.
The other worker was able to retrieve his gun, which he had a permit to legally carry, and fired shots at both suspects.
Detroit police were called to the scene and discovered the brothers wounded nearby.
They were taken to the hospital and are still recovering from gunshot wounds.
The teens' mother, Selena Mitchel, previously told Local 4 the story didn't add up.
"My 16-year-old, he's a smart kid, intelligent kid. He wasn't no ghetto gangster, no robber, never beat up a person or nothing like that," said Mitchell. "I never heard of my sons carrying no guns. I just don't understand."
Niko Brown is charged with armed robbery and felony firearm possession, his bond for was sent at $300,000 cash or surety.
Devontay Brown will be tried as an adult on the same charge and bond was set at $100,000.
The pair were arraigned in the hospital on Tuesday.
A preliminary examination is scheduled for Feb.25.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Thursday TV in Review: Rotten Rob, Finder, Person of Interest and More
Jan 12, 2012 10:45 AM EST
There's a deadly serious competition brewing this calendar year regarding a peculiar sort of bragging right: Who has the worst new comedy of 2012? Is it ABC, with the clumsy drag farce Work It? NBC, with the shrill swill of Are You There, Chelsea? (F… Read more


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Actress Lily Collins refuses to sign up to social networking sites because she fears opening herself up to audiences will spoil their enjoyment of her films.
The "Mirror Mirror" star logged on to Twitter for a brief time but decided to close her account so fans would concentrate on her performances and not her personal life.
Phil Collins' 24-year-old daughter tells Flaunt magazine, "I think there is something great about seeing someone as a character because you don't know them that well as themselves.
"I like to be able to watch movies and not know too much about someone personally. I don't want to be tainted by thinking, 'Oh my god, they had the best pasta last week.'"


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Tiffin issues boil advisory
TIFFIN– The City of Tiffin in Johnson County issued a boil advisory Friday after shutting off water to the older part of town and Deer View Estates, a newer section on the west side.
The city was installing a new pipe connection Friday afternoon when they needed to shut off the water to complete the work. About 500 to 600 residents and businesses are affected.
The city expects to complete repairs, restore water pressure and flush the lines Friday evening. However, the boil advisory will remain in effect until the city can collect and test water samples.
Loss in water pressure can allow bacteria and other substances to enter the water. The city and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advise residents to boil their water until test results show water is safe to drink.
Bring all water to a boil. Let it boil for one minute, and then let it cool before using. Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation. Untreated water can be used for bathing and similar purposes.
Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Bacteria in the water may pose greater health risks for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
Call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 for more information.
After water samples test clean for bacteria, the city will lift the boil advisory.


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T310 TIMING BELTProduct # 85950628
Simply put, no one does Timing Belts with better design, or bigger market reach, than Gates. As a leading global manufacturer of OE Timing Belts, we've set the standard on creating aftermarket Timing Belts that meet or exceed OE standards of function, performance, and fit. Resistant to heat, wear, and contamination, Gates automotive timing belts have extensive coverage for millions of import and domestic vehicles.
- PTFE-infused jackets to reduce frictional losses and tooth shear.
- High grade HNBR rubber for superior heat and contamination resistance.
- Premium tensile members providing maximum strength.
- Aramid reinforced nylon jackets and backsides increase durability and lifetime.
- Genuine warranty equal to OE replacement interval.
Product Details
Part # T310 Product # 85950628 Description T310 TIMING BELT UPC 072053472233 Pitch (in) .375 Pitch (mm) 9.5 Pitch Length (in) 47.625 Number of Teeth 127 Top Width (in) 1 Top Width (mm) 25 Profile Type Modified Curvilinear
Packaging details
Customer Pack 1 Weight (lbs.) 0.44
Fits models
Gates® is the Global Leader in Timing Belt Technology
Gates manufacturing facilities and research & development locations are centered near OE vehicle production facilities around the world. This facilitates a strong and focused OE relationship ensuring we develop products that meet or exceed the tough OE performance specifications, and allow us to stay ahead of market innovations for timing belt applications.
Be System Smart with Your ABDS
To reduce customer comebacks, labor time, and warranty claims, Gates® always recommends that you Be System Smart by checking your Accessory Belt Drive System (ABDS) and other vehicle systems at 60,000 miles, and conducting a full replacement at 90,000 miles.


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University of Kansas
SMU assistant Jerrance Howard in line to join Kansas basketball staff
Southern Methodist assistant Jerrance Howard is in position to join Bill Self's staff at Kansas, filling the vacancy created when former assistant Joe Dooley took the head coaching job at Florida Gulf Coast on April 17.
Kansas coach Bill Self told The Eagle on Wednesday that he was still in talks with Howard about the position and that no official announcement was set.
Jason King, a national college basketball for ESPN, reported on Wednesday that Howard had agreed to join the staff.
It would be logical hire for Self, who is entering his 11th season at Kansas. Howard, 33, played for Self at Illinois from 2000-03 and has earned a reputation as an up-and-coming assistant in the industry.
After graduating from Illinois in 2004, he spent three three-plus years working for Billy Gillispie at Texas A&M as an administrative assistant and later worked for Gillispie at Kentucky in basketball operations.
Howard then spent five years working as an assistant for current K-State coach Bruce Weber at Illinois before joining SMU coach Larry Brown's staff on April 27, 2012. Howard is a native of Peoria, Ill.
Self previously said that he was searching for an assistant that would bring a larger recruiting presence in areas where Kansas was lacking. Dooley was a respected recruiter on the East Coast, but current KU assistant Norm Roberts, who replaced Danny Manning last offseason, also has plenty of ties in that part of the country.
Howard used his Chicago recruiting ties to lure a handful of Chicago kids to SMU. And it's been long thought that Self was seeking an assistant with recruiting ties in Texas.
"We're gonna try to fill it with somebody that's very well-rounded," Self said in late April, when asked about the opening. "(Somebody) that (will) would bring energy and enthusiasm, be a good on-the-floor coach, and then also be a guy with excellent contacts in areas where we need contacts to make us a bigger presence in those respective areas."


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Some Food Companies Ditch 'Natural' Label
Amid Lawsuits Over the Claim, More Producers Drop the Word
Now you see them. Now you don't. Food products labeled as "natural" are starting to disappear.
"Natural" Goldfish crackers will soon be just Goldfish. "All Natural" Naked juice is going stark Naked. "All Natural'' Puffins cereal is turning into plain old Puffins.
A growing number of food and drink companies...


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DRC home :: Events :: Feedback :: Wallpaper :: Advanced Search
ENNIS, Texas - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Pro Nitrous at the American Drag Racing League, ADRL World Finals VIII presented by CarSafe listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
Left Lane: John Hall Runs 5.888/76.09, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.017/101.64, Was #10
Right Lane: Jim Laurita Runs 3.829/197.05, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.830/196.87, Was #1
4:57 p.m. Hall had a good launch, but the car started wagging its tail and he lifted. Nice pass by Laurita and a career-best speed.
Left Lane: Johnny Pilcher Runs 3.958/188.65, Now #5; Best prior run: 3.994/185.38, Was #5
Right Lane: Blake Housley Runs 3.927/190.94, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.912/190.92, Was #4
Nice runs, a pair, but no changes in the field.
Left Lane: Monroe Guest Runs 4.036/186.33, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.020/186.28, Was #7
Right Lane: Chuck Nuytten Runs 4.392/164.63, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.142/103.73, Was #15
Left Lane: Bob Rahaim Runs 3.826/198.44, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.865/192.66, Was #3
Right Lane: Robert Mathis Runs 3.910/193.13, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.132/97.41, Was #12
Huge run for Rahaim, with a big speed, a career-best.
Bob Rahaim's incremental times: 60ft-0.979 sec., 330ft-2.577.
Robert Mathis' incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.627.
Left Lane: Shannon Jenkins Runs 3.884/194.18, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.795/108.53, Was #10
Right Lane: Pat Stoken Runs 3.839/195.53, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.935/99.81, Was #11
Two more nice runs, Stoken improving by almost a tenth of a second.
Left Lane: Ron Muenks Runs 3.946/184.27, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.951/80.09, Was #15
Right Lane: Stan Allen Runs 3.923/193.05, Now #8; No Prior Run
Allen got down the track this time around and ended up right in the middle of the field. That puts Keith Haney on the bump spot at 5.951, but there are only 16 cars on the list.
Left Lane: Keith Haney Runs 4.457/147.31, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.951/117.05, Was #16
Right Lane: Rickie Jones Runs 3.830/194.94, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.837/194.83, Was #3
Haney's car was headed for the wall, so he lifted. Jones made his second good run of the day, improved a whole seven thousandths.
Left Lane: Doug Riesterer Runs 4.079/177.37, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.331/90.59, Was #16
Riesterer covered the first 60 feet in 0.960 seconds, but the car was moving around and he had to backpedal to tame it down.


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Search Results
There are 24 item(s) tagged with the keyword "Congress".
- Displaying: 1 - 10 of 24
- 1. U.S. Rep. Dr. Paul Gosar and U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Kelli Ward to Speak in Payson March 2
Please join your fellow Republicans at the Lincoln Day Dinner, hosted by the Gila County Republican Committee, on Friday, March 2. The social hour with cash bar opens at 5 PM followed by dinner at 6 PM. This event will be held in the Mazatzal Casino's Ballroom, Highway 87, Mile Marker 251, Payson. Guest speakers begin their presentations at 6:30 PM. Both Rep. Paul Gosar and U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Kelli Ward have been confirmed as speakers. Other candidates and elected officials have also been invited to speak. A Q and A period following presentations will give attendees the opportunity to ask questions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet other elected officials and candidates.
The buffet dinner will include breast of chicken in mushroom wine sauce, baked cod, salad, vegetable, bread, dessert, and a beverage. Tickets are $50 each and may be purchased by clicking HERE.
U.S. Congressman Paul GosarClick here to read more
- 2. Members of the Freedom Caucus Speak Out about the AHCA's Bait and Switch
When the House of Representatives, mostly led by members of The Freedom Caucus, recently refused to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA), it seemed like a treasonous debacle to the American people. Even President Trump expressed his anger. Several Pro-Life groups supported the AHCA, because it would have defunded Planned Parenthood.
But, what the American people didn't know was that the American Health Care Act would not have accomplished its primary mission and promise: Repeal and Replace ObamaCare.
The American Health Care Act was a kludge of a health-care policy. Described as a way to simultaneously repeal key elements of the Affordable Care Act and replace them with market-oriented reforms, the bill in its final form managed to do little of either. Freedom Caucus members were particularly concerned about the willingness of House leaders to leave the vast majority of Obamacare's regulations on the books — after Republicans spent seven years promising that the party would "repeal and replace Obamacare." Even the rationale that the AHCA would be better than nothing was hard to justify; it probably would have further destabilized the individual market, while millions fewer would have been insured. See It's Wrong for Trump to Blame Conservatives.
Even as Obamacare continues funding Planned Parenthood, the foundation supporting abortion is weakening through other means. Since the AHCA's defeat, President Trump has taken action to defund a UN agency that supports forced abortion. Also on March 31, Congress voted to "restore the ability of states to stop one stream of our tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood and redirect it to community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care." See Major Victories for Life and Bill Passes to allow states to redirect funds away from Abortion Clinics.
And, on April 7, 2017, Judge Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards tweeted that Gorsuch's confirmation is "the worst" because Gorsuch has written that "the intentional taking of human life by private persons is ALWAYS wrong." See Why Justice Gorsuch will have an immediate (and big) impact on the Supreme Court.
Hear what several members of Congress, including the House Freedom Caucus, have to say about the disastrous flaws in the AHCA, and why they must be corrected.Click here to read more
- 3. Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp to Speak at Payson TEA Meeting
Please invite your friends, neighbors and business associates to hear Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp speak at the next weekly Payson Tea Party meeting. The meeting will be held Tuesday, April 4 from 6:00-7:45 pm, at Tiny's Family Restaurant, 600 East Highway 260, Payson. Mr. Beauchamp will discuss the proposed National Popular Vote compacts and how it differs from our current Electoral College method of electing U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents. You will enjoy this lively presentation followed by a Question/Answer period.Click here to read more
- 4. Gila County Republican Committee - 17th Annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Saturday, March 11
Please join your friends and neighbors at the Gila County Republican Committee's 17th Annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Saturday, March 11, 2017, to be held at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino main ball room. The Casino is located on Hwy 87 at mile post 251, just south of Payson. Click HERE to see flyer.
This year's featured guests are Arizona State Treasurer Jeff DeWit, who is also advisor to the Trump Transition Team; and Congressional District 4 Congressman Dr. Paul Gosar. Get behind the scenes reports on the Trump election campaign and the latest on President Trump's plans.
A Cash Bar Social starts at 5:15 pm, followed by a Prime Rib dinner at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $60.00 each. There will also be door prizes, a 50/50 Raffle, and silent auction.Click here to read more
- 5. Gila Watch Primary Voting Recommendations: August 30, 2016
As you complete your Primary ballot, please consider the following candidates for offices all the way from United States Senate to Town Council. Time hasn't allowed for the vetting of every office throughout the state. The suggestions you see here are based on voting patterns, leadership, and commitment to constitutional, conservative ideals.Click here to read more
- 6. Get Out the Vote Rally with Congressman Paul Gosar
Please join my favorite U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar (CD4) at this Get Out the Vote rally!
Click here to read more
- 7. Outing Ray Strauss, the Phony Conservative Running Against Rep. Paul Gosar in AZ-4
Did you receive the FALSE flyer paid for by Right Way Super-PAC stating that Paul Gosar (CD4) voted against funding for our military and their families? I suggest you read this article titled Outing Ray Strauss, the Phony Conservative Running Against Rep. Paul Gosar in AZ-4. In my own experience, Rep. Gosar is one of the most Conservative, Constitutional, pro-military representatives in Congress. Ray Strauss is the opposite. "Rep. Gosar's reputation as a fighter for the conservative agenda has left him as one of the few reliable full spectrum conservatives in the House."
The article begins:
It requires a breathtaking level of deceit to attempt to run to the right of limited government constitutional conservative Congressman Paul Gosar and attack him as an "insider."
But with the help of a shadowy lobbyist-funded PAC – Right Way PAC – which was founded by K Street insider Daniel Flynn, that is exactly what Gosar's challenger Ray Strauss is trying to do.
Click HERE to read this excellent, informative, truthful article.Click here to read more
- 8. Dr. Kelli Ward; "Spoiler" Alex Meluskey; and John McCain's Relentless Attacks on Kelli Ward
Recently, a supporter of Alex Meluskey stepped into an email that was sent from Gila County Republican Committee Chairman Gary Morris to the GCRC Precinct Committeemen announcing an upcoming PC meeting. This Alex Meluskey Supporter isn't one of our PC's. He took issue with an item that Chairman Morris had included in his email, which was a comment from Yavapai GOP Activist Jim Dutton which appeared in the 7/2/2016 MCRC News Briefs.
Mr. Dutton wrote: "Time to Take One for the Team - I wish to thank all of the Senatorial candidates for their willingness to run against John McCain. All of you have stressed the importance of retiring McCain for the good of Arizona and its citizens. It's time now for each of you to evaluate the best course of action in order to accomplish the goal of removing McCain. You must put your egos aside and allow your patriotism and professed desire to serve your State and Country to be your guide. Everyone knows that multiple candidates in the primary race will only help John McCain. Therefore, we the people beseech Alex Meluskey, Scott McBean and Clair Van Steenwyck to take the high road and withdraw from this race today. The writing is on the wall guys and it's time to face reality. Play the men for your people and unite behind the only candidate who has proven to be a challenger to John McCain – Kelli Ward. How do you want to be remembered? As a spoiler who helped get McCain elected or as a true patriot whose self-sacrifice and patriotism were clearly demonstrated for all of Arizona to see? Please, for all of Arizona! Take one for the Team."
The Supporter fired back at all the PC's as follows:
"WHY doesn't WARD DROP OUT and let somebody with a CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORD run??WE THE PEOPLE HAVENT EVER AND WILL NOT VOTE FOR LIBERALS RUNNING ASD CONSERVATIVES.Check her voting record then Vote for Alex Meluskey for #AZSEN2016 #DUMPWARDINAZ."
Several of our PC's nicely, but firmly, responded to the Supporter, with comments favorable to Mr. Dutton's MCRC post.
Since I'm a GCRC PC, I'm publishing my response to the Meluskey Supporter, which follows:Click here to read more
- 9. Alex Meluskey: Clueless about the National Defense Authorization Act
In this May 23, 2016 video produced by Dan Haggerty, you will see Alex Meluskey, who is running against John McCain and Dr. Kelli Ward, claim that, by far, he is the strongest of all candidates in the areas of national defense and foreign policy. Yet, when asked if he supports the National Defense Authorization Act, he didn't even know what it is. The 2016 budget called for $604.2 billion in spending.Click here to read more
- 10. Gila County Republican Party Votes to Censure Senator McCain
Contact:Gary P. Morris, Chairman, Gila County Republican Party 602-803-7366
For the second time since 2013, the Gila County Republican Party has censured Senator John McCain for his lack of adherence to Republican principles and the desires of his Republican constituents in Gila County. The censure from the May 14 Precinct Committeemen meeting states the Gila County Republican Party cannot, and will not, support Senator McCain in the upcoming elections.
In early fall of 2013, The Gila County Republican Party first censured Senator McCain for abandoning Republican principles as well as his participation and leadership in the "Gang of Eight" along with the Senator's conscious and arrogant abandonment of the desires of his Republican constituents. Those eight senators drafted a poorly designed, ill thought out, "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" bill. Ultimately, Congress rejected the bill following substantial opposition from the public.Click here to read more
- Displaying: 1 - 10 of 24


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Seeking the Truth daily
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the Country in MO
Casino cash: $34409
Monday so time to change direction again...
The Clown show called ObamaCare continues to generate zero positive momentum. Fits and Starts is an apt description of the ongoing mismanagement and cluster****.
Last week they made a big hoodoo over using the paper system to apply. Of course that made zero sense as the info still had to go into the same dysfunctional computer system they had spent bazillions on. And they released a ton of info in California about applicants that was supposed to be secure. So anyway, here we are, Monday morning. Hit the brakes!!!
Amateur Hour
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Federal health officials, after encouraging alternate sign-up methods amid the fumbled rollout of their online insurance website, began quietly urging counselors around the country this week to stop using paper applications to enroll people in health insurance because of concerns those applications would not be processed in time.
Interviews with enrollment counselors, insurance brokers and a government official who works with navigators in Illinois reveal the latest change in direction by the Obama administration, which had been encouraging paper applications and other means because of all the problems with the federal website. Consumers must sign up for insurance under the federal health overhaul by Dec. 23 in order for coverage to start in January.
We received guidance from the feds recommending that folks apply online as opposed to paper, said Mike Claffey, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Insurance.
After a conference call earlier this week with federal health officials, Illinois health officials sent a memo Thursday to their roughly 1,600 navigators saying there is no way to complete marketplace enrollment through a paper application. The memo, which Claffey said was based on guidance from federal officials, said paper applications should be used only if other means arent available.
Federal health officials also discussed the issue during a conference call Wednesday with navigators and certified counselors in several states.
Theyve said do not use paper applications because they wont be able to process them anywhere near in time, said John Foley, attorney and certified counselor for Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, who was on the call.
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Choose from the off-line dictionary with 150,000 root words and 120,000 synonym words or take a look in web dictionaries, just one click away. In general, WordWeb quickly provides you with definitions, synonyms and related words as well as readable and audible pronunciations. It keeps running in the background and can be activated by marking a word and pressing the customizable hotkey. Use the "Replace"-Button to exchange the initial word in your favourite word-processor with an appropriate synonym.
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Coffee may cut risk of head and neck cancers
Coffee might stave off more than just sleep, according to research showing that those who chug a lot of java have a lower rate of head and neck cancers.
Prior research on the link between coffee and cancer has yielded mixed results. Some studies, for example, have found lower rates of kidney and ovarian cancer among coffee drinkers, while there appears to be no effect for colon cancer.
For the new report, scientists pooled results from nine earlier studies on head and neck cancers, which also included information on coffee or tea drinking. In each study, cancer patients had been compared to either the general population or to hospital patients who didn't have cancer.
Overall, the risk of developing head and neck cancers was 12 percent lower in people who drank coffee compared with those who didn't, after accounting for a variety of factors, including cigarette smoking.
And the more coffee consumed, the lower the cancer risk. In those who gulped more than four cups a day, for instance, the risk was reduced by more than a third. Still, the odds of getting this type of cancer are slim to begin with: in the U.S., only about 1 in 10,000 does so every year.
For cancer of the voice box, or larynx, coffee didn't seem to play a role; nor did tea or decaffeinated coffee for any type of head and neck cancer.
Strictly speaking, the data don't prove that coffee itself protects against cancer. There could be other factors associated with coffee drinking that explain the lower cancer risk, or people with the disease might have cranked down their coffee intake for some reason.
If coffee really does make a difference, there are several ways this could happen, although all are speculation at this point, the researchers note in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
"Besides caffeine, coffee contains more than a thousand chemicals," they say, adding that the compounds cafestol and kahweol may be protective against carcinogens that would normally damage our genes.
SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, June 22, 2010.


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Texas school districts appear to be successfully adjusting to a new system for buying instructional materials following the passage of SB 6 last year that changes the way of buying textbooks.
The system basically involved the State Board of Education approving a list of textbooks that were considered to be "conforming" to state standards. The new system gives local school districts options and an "instructional materials allotment" they can use for instructional materials, technological equipment, technology services and salaries of personnel.
School districts can choose State Board of Education-adopted instructional materials or materials recommended by the education commissioner or non-adopted instructional materials.
School districts are responsible for managing their allotments.
A study by the Association of American Publishers and the Textbook Coordinators' Association found:
** 60 percent of textbook coordinators expect to have an instructional materials allotment balance at the end of the 2012-13 school year.
** 70 percent have used or expect to use their allotment to buy software and technological equipment.
** The need for students to perform well on the new STAAR assessment test was a major influence on instructional materials purchases.
"The release of this survey comes at a critical time because districts will soon receive notice of their second years of IMA funding," said Cliff Avery, executive director of Instructional Materials Coordinators Association of Texas. "We want to make sure schools are comfortable with the new system and are using it to the full advantage of their students."
School districts must certify they have sufficient instructional materials to cover the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
"This is a new process and the certification is meant to make sure children are being taught the curriculum and don't fall through the cracks. With this new local control comes greater flexibility and increased local responsibility," said Mark McDonald, executive director of Texas Curriculum.


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Dr. Vinod Kumar Gupta
Doctor Detail :
Dr. Vinod Kumar Gupta is a Cardiologist (MBBS, MD ) in E M Bypass, Kolkata
Speciality Alias
Heart Specialist
Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, 124, Mukundapur, Near Santoshpur Connector, E.M.Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal - 700099
Emergency No.
Phone No.: 03371222222.
Share your genuine experiences and reviews about the doctor!
Other Cardiologist in E M Bypass, KolkataDr. Radhey Shyam Joshi Rated : 4.5 Dr. Ranjan Sharma Rated : 1.0 Dr. Anup Khetan Dr. Ashok Dhar Dr. Pankaj Singh
Other Cardiologist in KolkataDr. R.P. Vidhawan (National Library Avenue) Rated : 4.5Dr. A. K. Jain (Wood Street) Rated : 4.5Dr. Radhey Shyam Joshi (E M Bypass) Rated : 4.5Dr. Radhey Shyam Joshi (Beadon Row) Rated : 4.5Dr. P. K. Sen (Kalighat) Rated : 4.0
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Meet our alumni Creative Residents.
2017 Alumni Residents
Jessica Bellamy
A designer from Louisville, Kentucky, Jessica uses data to tell personalized visual stories. With a goal of driving social change, she partners with nonprofits and community groups to design compelling materials that break down complex information. She spent her residency working on new approaches to her creative process and design execution, and she encouraged the creative community to support and promote working with nonprofits.
Chelsea Burton
A graphic designer from Erie, Pennsylvania with passions for street art, skateboard-smithing, and design, Chelsea spent her residency developing a line of longboards showcasing her artwork. She explored subjects including the public perception of female strength, individuality, sustainability, product quality, and the functional and accessible application of art, and she shared the stages of her process all the way through the production of her wood decks.
Rosa Kammermeier
A graphic designer and lettering artist from Munich, Germany, Rosa used her residency to create a project called Walk of Happiness. She lettered messages of positivity on retail windows to create a city-wide treasure hunt. Her messages caught consumers' attention and made them stop, smile, and think while discovering new aspects and areas of their city. She challenged herself to improve her own skills while thinking and driving impact on a bigger scale.
Aundre Larrow
A photographer based in Brooklyn, New York, Aundre spent his residency working on projects that explored the daily lives, challenges, and perspectives of a diverse range of people throughout the U.S. His main project, Stories from Here, was a snapshot of America through the eyes of its residents. He captured photographs, made video content for the first time, and shared his process — all with the goal of making longer-form storytelling about unheard voices his primary work.
Natalie Lew
An interaction designer based in Brooklyn, New York, Natalie is passionate about the intersections of design and philosophy. As a resident, she created digital solutions in the spaces of professional networking, charitable giving (with DonorsChoose.org), public resource access, and educational news (with Newsela.com). She also created a notebook detailing her creative process to help make UX design more accessible to the creative community. She plans to work in interaction design for civic and urban planning in the future.
Julia Nimke
A German photographer based in Berlin, Julia is passionate about nature, traveling, and unique types of cultural storytelling. She spent her residency exploring and documenting places and cultures in Europe that are tied to folk tales, and she tried out different photography styles, combined photos and videos into compelling stories, and shared what she learned with the community. Her goal was to inspire people to stay curious and open-minded when they experience unknown places and cultures.
2016 Alumni Residents
Sara Dietschy
Sara came to the residency with the goal of amplifying her work across the spectrum of social media and pursuing a bigger medium for her YouTube-based series, Creative SpacesTV. She spoke at events like Adobe MAX and SXSW, and took on collaborations and partnerships that led her to become a Sony Alpha Collective member, the Director of Photography for the documentary Internet Kids, and a nominee for Vlogger of the Year at the 2017 Shorty Awards.
Christine Herrin
Christine spent her residency designing a line of paper products that encouraged people to document their lives in creative and meaningful ways. She launched her first product, the Everyday Explorers Travel Journal kit, and used it to test ideas and share her vision. She says she learned how to balance new ideas with the financial and practical limitations of building and growing a creative business, and made plans to expand her product line and incorporate her new skills into her graphic design practice.
Syd Weiler
Syd used her residency to build a creative community around her work where others could learn, share, and work alongside her. She explored the digital sticker store trend, and created the now-Facebook-infamous Trash Doves. She also took the time to figure out what kind of work she wanted to be making, and says she came away equipped to achieve her goals, maintain a productive career doing what she loves, and contribute positivity and knowledge to the online creative community.
Craig Winslow
Craig spent his residency creating a large series of light installations around the world called Light Capsules. He worked on improving his technique and optimizing his process for projection mapping while simultaneously going deeper into the details of sign painting and typography. He says the residency challenged him to get out of his comfort zone, tackle bigger projects, and explore new concepts — and he gained confidence in himself and his work.
2015 Alumni Residents
Kelli Anderson
Kelli spent her residency exploring the question, "What can paper do?" She tinkered with the material's capacity to amplify sound, tell time, and work as a camera. She even took a few everyday tech objects and stripped them down to the bare minimum, rebuilding them in paper pop-up book form. The text of the book explains how simple structures can tap into the physical world's invisible forces to make surprisingly sophisticated things happen.
Becky Simpson
Becky used her residency to build and launch her online store, Chipper Things, a lifestyle and paper brand that celebrates play and delights in the ordinary. She began the year with her #100DaysOfGettingStarted project, in which she illustrated something new every day for three months. Much of that art can be found in Chipper Things and in dozens of stores across the U.S. and Canada. She also finished her second book, The Roommate Book, an illustrated guide to roommate life that was published by Andrews McMeel.
Want to be a Creative Resident?
For tips on how to craft your best application, read our guidelines.
Apply now through February 7 to be a 2019 Creative Resident.


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Ellison juggling America's Cup with business
The 34th America's Cup underway on San Francisco Bay is going on longer than Oracle Team USA backer Larry Ellison expected and is now overlapping with his software company's massive annual customer conference.
America's Cup sailing is a major passion for Ellison, rivalled only by his focus on expanding what is already the world's third largest software maker.
The next match-ups for Ellison's team in the America's Cup, which could easily be the final ones in the regatta, are set for Tuesday at roughly the same time he is scheduled to give a major keynote at Oracle OpenWorld, which kicked off on Sunday at San Francisco's main convention center.
Oracle Team USA won its fifth straight race on Monday, denying Emirates Team New Zealand the final victory it needs in order to claim the Cup, which organizers originally thought would be settled by last Saturday at the latest.
With over 60,000 people registered, this year's OpenWorld conference is a major opportunity for the Ellison to pitch Oracle's strategy on cloud computing and other technology designed for companies and governments.
Ellison's main keynote is always a focal point of the event, an opportunity he often uses to attack rival companies and colorfully criticize their products to the delight of attendees.
A spokeswoman declined to say whether Oracle will reschedule Ellison's Tuesday speech.
On Sunday, hours before opening Oracle OpenWorld with a speech in which he debuted new high-end data center technology, Ellison was out on the Bay as his team beat Emirates Team New Zealand in two races.
Ellison also met with a few of the Oracle crew members on Sunday evening, according to Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill.
"He's really excited, obviously. I bet he wishes he was out on the boat racing because he's just a natural competitor," Spithill told reporters. "On the other side, he's obviously a very busy man running a business."
Last week, Ellison was absent from Oracle's quarterly earnings conference call with analysts so that he could be close to the racing, which the sailing enthusiast has been viewing from a team speedboat.
OpenWorld attendees are likely to be forgiving if Ellison reschedules his Tuesday speech.
"As long as customers can hear from Larry and he can talk through his vision at Oracle OpenWorld, that's the focal point," said FBR Capital Markets analyst Daniel Ives. "It's what comes out of his mouth rather than the timing of when it comes out."
Oracle's sponsorship of the America's Cup team gives the company a major marketing opportunity it regularly leverages at OpenWorld.
Oracle President Mark Hurd kicked off his keynote on Monday with an action-packed video of Oracle Team USA racing their high-tech AC72 catamaran, with captions including "Extreme Performance" and "Powered by Oracle." He also led attendees, many of them IT employees at Fortune 500 companies, in a cheer to support the team.
Reporters who have been in San Francisco covering the America's Cup for the past few weeks had trouble on Sunday and Monday extending their hotel stays because rooms have been sold out to tends of thousands of Oracle OpenWorld visitors.
Oracle Team USA won the America's Cup in Valencia, Spain in 2010 and with it the right to set the rules for this year's competition, including choosing to hold the regatta on San Francisco Bay.


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Workplace wellness programs diagnosed as robust nationwide
At the end of the month that began with New Year's resolutions about diet and exercise, it is perhaps reassuring to discover, in industries as diverse as travel, insurance, hospitality and media, that companies across the country tout health initiatives designed to make their employees feel better — literally.
More than 90 percent of organizations offered their employees at least one wellness initiative in 2017, according to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Health-related programs like these indeed provide a benefit; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that companies lose around $225 billion per year in productivity due to absenteeism.
Although the return on investment for corporate wellness initiatives is difficult to measure because of the challenge of matching health data with productivity statistics, it seems clear that attracting and maintaining talent is eased by the offer of programs aimed at helping employees increase healthy choices and decrease their stress levels. In short, such initiatives go a long way toward making employees feel their company is invested not only in its products but in them.
Companies hope to bring down healthcare costs such as those for treating diagnosed diabetes cases, which reached $245 billion in 2012, the latest year available for that statistic. To reach this goal, businesses offer their employees an array of wellness- and health-related initiatives that include everything from the more-common company-wide weight-loss contests and stop-smoking sessions to benefits such as onsite meditation rooms, bicycle-sharing programs and skin-damage screenings, among others.
Here are some ways companies and business across the country are resolving to help their employees achieve a state of wellness — and well-being:
Industry initiatives
- In the desert tourist mecca of Las Vegas, the hospitality industry understands that its employees' health risks don't take vacation. Most large businesses in the area offer company-wide wellness programs along with their employer-subsidized health insurance plans.
- Connecticut-based Aetna insurance, one of the largest U.S. healthcare providers, has offered wellness programs for the last 15 years. In 2018, Aetna plans to give away 500,000 Apple Watches to qualifying customers after a successful pilot program with its own employees to improve fitness.
Programs and activities
- The Phoenix-area based Salt River Project offers diabetes-awareness campaigns for workers this year, including a test that can flag those at risk for the disease.
- Greater fitness is a wellness goal for many companies, including MTM, based in the St. Louis area, which sponsors a bike-sharing program.
- For a number of executives in Portland, walking meetings and discussions while bicycling, hiking or being active increasingly have become a great way to think out loud with colleagues and to connect with potential clients or partners.
Resources to rely on
- The Wellness Council of Indiana, located in Indianapolis and operated by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, gives guidance to companies in the state that are looking to implement health and wellness programs for their employees.
- To help lower the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, the American Heart Association provides companies all over the country, including some in Texas cities, such as Houston, with free tools to monitor heart health.
Buildings and grounds
- "Florida is a booming wellness market," says Susie Ellis, the chairman and CEO of the Miami-based Global Wellness Institute. "It's the uncontested world leader in developing new wellness communities and real-estate concepts."
- Rachel Gutter, chief product officer at the International Well Building Institute, says that Silicon Valley companies — perhaps not surprisingly — are "out in front" on the architectural Well Building Standard certification.


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Welcome to Texas on the Potomac's "The Week Ahead," a preview of events to come on Capitol Hill and at the White House this week.
This week's report was written by William K. Moore of ViaNovo.
August is roaring out of Washington with an earthquake and a hurricane, closing out a month that began with a deficit-debt deal that underlined the dysfunction of partisan politics. President Barack Obama's Gallup approval rating fell to 41 percent in August — a rating from which reelection is nigh impossible. Approval of Congress sunk to 8 percent, a level that endangers all incumbents.
Voters disapprove of elected officials, political parties and the nation's political institutions. Charlie Cook observes that the nation has "a sense that institutions are failing, and no sense that they are being replaced with something that will succeed." Coincidentally, unemployment is stuck at 9 percent, economic growth is just seven-tenths of a point above a recession and the stock market lost about ten percent of its value over the last four weeks.
President Obama returned to Washington over the weekend and Congress will return September 7. The fall session will be devoted to carrying out the August spending reduction agreement, first in fiscal 2012 appropriations and then by a select committee on deficit reduction, and to debating jobs programs.
The select committee on deficit reduction is likely to fail. Four of its 12 members were Bowles-Simpson deficit commissioners and all opposed the plan proposed by its co-chairs. The Republican members are pledged to oppose raising revenues and the Democratic members will not consider entitlement changes unless additional revenues are part of the plan. Failure would result in automatic spending cuts.
The jobs debate will focus on Democratic plans that would widen the deficit and Republican proposals that would cut back on Administration environmental and labor initiatives.
Absent an autumn crisis that forces Washington institutions to function, the deficit and jobs discussions will bear new evidence of the dysfunction of the nation's political institutions — continuing to elevate voter frustration.


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I listened to this April 17, 2012 Alan Watt interview in 2012, and the one thing that struck me was Watt's overwhelmingly pessimistic tone, which made me question his overall intentions, after listening to him on the show for several years, and starting to question some of the things he said.
In a rare moment on the show, Alan Watt actually came off as more negative than Alex Jones. However, it's not negativity when it's the truth. I later concluded that Alan Watt wasn't deliberately being negative to intentionally discourage people, but was actually expressing his view of the current control structure. But more on that another time.
What I didn't pick up on then was this amazing inside baseball talk of Alex Jones indirectly referencing something important that Alan Watt had said about him on another show, that I had only become aware of in September 2012.
On the May 26, 2006 episode of the Richard Syrett Show, in response to a caller's question about Alex Jones, Alan Watt amazingly outed Alex Jones not only as a fearmonger, but, more importantly, as a New World Order agent.
Here is a brief excerpt from Alan Watt's own transcript:
"Richard: But some of them are legit, are they not? I mean Alex Jones – New World Order?
Alan: A technique of control is to terrify the public. If you listen to maybe 10 or 15 minutes, you'll be underneath your kitchen table quivering with fear because he'll hit you like a machine gun.
Richard: Oh yeah, he talks about American gulags—
Alan: In 15 minutes he's hit about 50 different things out to you."
From Alan Watt's transcript of his last April 17, 2012 appearance on the Alex Jones Show:
"Alan, I'm going to be honest with you. There's only one area with you that I don't totally agree with you. And that's that they've got their act completely together. They have general programs. They've studied things. They're worried about the wild card individual. You've talked about that. But I've also heard you talk about, you know, the elite will give us leaders. And the elite will do all this. Well, I know I'm for real. I know that I came out of nowhere by the, you know, going to Access TV and stuff like that. I know you're for real and not controlled. And I know so many other people in the system itself, not just independents like us, that don't like what's happening. And I do see a bigger awakening. And I do see victories. You know, people can't believe I snuck into Bohemian Grove.
They think it must have been fake. People can't believe that other stuff, like they think my David Gurgen is fake. Well, no. They never just went and stood outside the main entrance to Madison Square Garden during the RNC, in 2004, knowing bigwigs would come in, to confront them. I mean, that's not rocket science to know, okay, there's one of the back entrances where all the VIPs are coming in. Let's sit here and eat hot dogs, you know, at this stand for an hour. And at the time smoke cigarettes. See who comes in here. Hey, that's David Gurgen, let's get him. People who sit there on the bench cannot imagine men of action. So, all I'm saying is, people have to believe they can take action, because I know laying down is not going to do anything. I mean, what do you say to that?"
No, Alex — Alan Watt was right about you, three years before I started challenging you publicly, and six years before I fully figured you out. The only thing I scratch my head about is why was Alan Watt so forthright and honest, why did he start going on your show regularly thereafter, and why did you keep inviting him back on? And since this interview, I wonder if Alan Watt will ever be on Alex Jones' show again.
Perhaps Alex Jones' crew only saw the video shortly before the 2012 interview, despite it being online since 2010, and the transcript available with enough search effort since 2006.
For more on Alex Jones, see my many articles here, including Former Mayor, VP candidate and 9/11 film producer on his film being blocked by a top alternative media outlet.


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Photo: Daniel Goodman / Business Insider
A devastating storm like Sandy can bring out the crooks – and not just opportunistic looters and burglars.Officials dealing with the destruction in the U.S. Northeast say one of their biggest headaches is debris-removal fraud committed by greedy contractors who inflate their share of the millions in cleanup funds doled out by federal agencies.
But new digital technology created by private companies and municipalities in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Irene is making it much easier to stop firms from overcharging by claiming they have trucked away more wreckage than they have.
The new software combats fraud and also streamlines the vexing municipal task of documenting every last dumpster of debris or broken tree branch to prove to Federal Emergency Management Agency auditors that the money was properly spent.
Ray Iovino learned his lesson after 2011's Hurricane Irene, which caused nearly $16 billion in economic damage across eight northeastern states of the U.S.
As assistant director of the bureau of equipment and inventory for Long Island's Nassau County, Iovino remembered all too well the messy months of paperwork that consumed his office after Hurricane Irene felled nearly 2,500 trees in his area.
"The first thing they asked for were the pictures of every tree that went down in the storm," Iovino said, in reference to FEMA. County officials, unfamiliar with federal regulations, had simply written down the locations of the trees, which wasn't good enough.
"FEMA said they'd have to go out and look at every single location," Iovino said. "It was a nightmare." FEMA also "wanted to know which trucks trucked what debris where and when and how," he said.
As Superstorm Sandy raced up the U.S. eastern seaboard in late October, Iovino began researching a more efficient system to document the massive damage he expected, and found DebrisTech, a Mississippi debris-removal company whose chief executive was himself a victim of fraud after Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast region in 2005.
At that time, DebrisTech CEO Brooks Wallace was a partner in a civil engineering firm that had won a $200 million contract to remove Katrina wreckage from six Mississippi counties. The firm was using a paper ticketing system to track the trucks hauling away debris, a standard industry practice.
It was a huge job and Wallace's company sub-contracted some of the work out to other firms, including Florida-based J.A.K. DC & ER, whose owner saw an opportunity, according to federal prosecutors.
J.A.K. owner Allan Kitto peeled off the stickers Wallace's firm had affixed to his trucks and sent the same trucks back to be stickered again, inflating the number of trucks he appeared to be using and the number of debris hauls he was making.
At night, Wallace said, Kitto would "sneak into my office at two or three in the morning and slide phony paper tickets into the stack of real tickets." Each ticket represented a truck full of debris that Kitto's trucks allegedly hauled away. By the time he was caught, Kitto had submitted more than $700,000 worth of fake paper tickets, according to federal prosecutors.
Wallace became aware of the scam and contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2006, Kitto and two others were indicted on federal charges of conspiring to defraud the government. In 2007, Kitto was convicted and sentenced to 25 months in prison.
Wallace, an engineer, began thinking about how to avoid a repeat of that hurricane cleanup experience. He spent $60,000 developing custom software to digitally track debris trucks with barcode scanners, digital photos and global positioning systems. That data would then be wirelessly uploaded to a central database.
DebrisTech, one of a handful of private companies using the digital tracking software, leases out iPads loaded with its software to municipalities for $12 per device per day. Nassau County leased about 100 of DebrisTech's 120 devices, Iovino said.
The software also maps the locations of downed or removed trees using GPS coordinates. Iovino has plotted the GPS coordinates of each of the county's 2,641 downed trees – a figure Iovino expects to rise to 5,000 by the time the cleanup is finished – onto a digital map of Nassau in the county's emergency operations centre.
"It's amazing what a difference this software has made," he said. "Now when anything is picked up on Nassau County property, we know the size of the truck, the percentage the truck is full, we've got a picture of the debris in the truck, which transfer site it went to, and where it is right now.
"When FEMA comes back this time, I'm going to hand them a CD with every imaginable piece of documentation on it. The amount of man hours that we've saved is incredible, plus the amount of man hours that FEMA would have to put in to go back and document all the downed trees and debris removal. It's incredibly efficient."
Industry experts expect technology like DebrisTech's to have a profound effect on post-disaster cleanup.
"I've been in debris-removal projects all over the country – Florida, California, Texas, Virginia – huge hurricanes, wildfires, floods," said Russ Towndrow, a former Mississippi Emergency Management Agency official who has used the DebrisTech software. "This real time data is a game-changer," he said.
A FEMA investigator involved in federal audits of cleanup funds concurred.
"Debris removal can be a sizeable percentage of overall FEMA funding, so the better shape the documentation is in, the more it will ease the entire process," the investigator said.
Debris-removal fraud is widespread after major natural disasters, according to federal and state law enforcement officials.
"You can count on it every time," said a senior federal prosecutor who investigates post disaster fraud. "It's one of the first things we look for," said the official, who requested anonymity in return for discussing ongoing investigations.
Dishonest contractors will "do just about anything you could imagine – they'll put water in trucks to weigh them down, they'll put blocks underneath the debris to make the trucks look full. Or the guy at the gate will give a driver a new ticket for driving through with the same load."
Digital debris-removal technology is also being tested by municipalities like New York City. Programmers working with the city's Parks Department recently completed work on software to replace an arduous and time-consuming paper ticketing system, said Jeremy Barrick, the Parks Department's deputy chief of forestry.
"We were using paper ticketing after Irene, and we sat down afterwards to talk about how we could track debris removal more efficiently," Barrick said, which led to the development of proprietary software known among city officials as "Storm Mobile."
The software interfaces with the city's non-emergency 311 call centre, which residents can use to report downed trees.
"Every time the city logs a service request for a downed tree removal, our inspectors can see it in virtually real time."
After Irene, Barrick said, New York City logged 10,000 calls about downed trees, compared with 26,000 to date after Sandy.
"The Irene tree tracking took months," Barrick said. "We had big spreadsheet parties on overnight shifts, where we'd gather all these faxed-in paper lists of downed trees, transpose them over to a written database, and then upload them into an electronic system.
"With the Storm Mobile app, within 20 days we had a pretty clear picture of every downed tree in New York City," he said.
"With this electronic system," Barrick said in reference to the lack of paperwork, "we've actually saved a lot of trees."
(Reporting By Chris Francescani; Additional reporting by Brendan McDermid; Editing by Martin Howell and Steve Orlofsky)
Copyright (2012) Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions
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