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Brussels, June 27-29, 2017
Ellie Svetoslavova and Maggie Vasilovska, two of the peer educators of the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA), represented our country in the institutions of the European Union in Brussels, where EU Fundamental Right Agency (FRA) together with the Maltese Presidency of the EU and the nongovernmental organization Eurochild presented the FRA's Annual Report 2017.
17 children and young people from different European countries participated in the meeting, discussing and questioning topics such as child poverty, social exclusion, migration and child and youth participation. Along with them, as their mentor and supporting person, was Dr. Krasimir Romanov – the coordinator of the BFPA's branch in Pleven. For the first time children from 9 different countries had the opportunity to participate in that kind of event and to meet and discuss together with MEPs, ministers from different national governments, ombudsmen, members of European Council and international institutions for human rights.
Statistics from 2016, included in The Report: 2007-2017, show that "One out of three children in the EU is living in risk of poverty". Other main topics in the document concern the economical progress of the countries – members of EU, challenges, such as corrupt practices, youth unemployment, nationalistic and populist political movements, migration crisis.
Some children, including Bulgarians, were interviewed regarding their understanding of the messages 'If you cannot help 100 children, then help just one. BE part of the CHANGE.', '#INSPIRE', 'The opposite of poverty is not well-being, but justice', etc.
The two girls participated in groups on different topics, at the end of the event after the hard work they gave the organizational team feedback and recommendations: to give children more opportunities to express their opinion; to let them to take part in the organization of the event itself; to work independently on projects and on short speeches; to participate more in discussion panel (to have children's panels as well); more time for preparation; more open, colorful and child-friendly work space, and many others – including some humorous ones, of course.
In the frame of their visit in the European Parliament – a part of their agenda in Brussels – Maggie and Ellie met and talked with the MEPs Andrey Kovachev, Eva Meydell and Vladimir Uruchev, who came especially to greet them.
Children and youth participation is one of the working areas, on which BFPA has been partnering with the National Network for Children. The participation of the two peer educators in the international event in Brussels was a part of the mutual work of the two NGOs.


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The quickest and easiest way to add detail to a room is to hang a picture. Photos and framed prints bring colour and interest to simple spaces, brightening them in an instant.
One of our favourite current interior trends is the picture gallery wall, where multiple frames are hung side-by-side to create an eye-catching feature. It takes a little more effort, but the finished look is stylish and can be tailored to suit your taste – from sleek and minimal to eclectic and bold.
To create your own picture gallery wall, follow our simple steps…
Plan your prints
A mix of photos and posters make for a great gallery wall – try going for a monochrome theme, or mix things up with a clash of colours.
Mix and match frames
We think lots of different frames work best for a gallery wall – think ornate gold sitting next to dark wood, or bright plastic mixed with natural wood. You could even add in mirrors, a small clock or some wall decorations.
Measure up
The most important part of creating a gallery wall is the measuring up. You'll be drilling holes, so make sure they go in the right place! Arrange your frames on a piece of paper and draw around each one so you have a template. Tack this up on the wall and use it as a guide.
Drill your holes
Only drill into a wall if it belongs to you – if you rent your property, try 'no more nails' sticky hooks instead.
Hang and admire

subset: commoncrawl


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HẬU GIANG — Banks and credit institutions need to support the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta provinces, State Bank of Việt Nam Deputy Governor Đào Minh Tú has said.
Speaking at a conference in Hậu Giang Province on Tuesday to discuss developmental credit activities in the region, he urged lenders to focus on mobilising funds to meet the demands from construction, businesses and farmers.
Credit to support trade and stabilise socio-economic development and the new rural area development programme would be prioritised, he said, adding strong efforts must be made to assist new enterprises and farmers affected by drought and salinity intrusion.
Besides capital poured from the State's budget, bank credit has played an important role in helping the region develop production and trading and strengthen its advantage as an agriculture hub of the country.
Thanks to bank loans, many companies and households as well as agriculture and aquaculture farmers have been able to expand their business.
Credit growth in the region has always been higher than the national rate.
As of the end of last month the total deposits in the region were worth over VNĐ350 trillion (US$15 billion), up 9.93 per cent year-on-year and accounting for 7 per cent of total bank deposits in the country.
Loans outstanding have grown by 3.39 per cent this year to VNĐ398 trillion ($17.8 billion).
Social policy lending has also helped locals greatly in improving their living standards, with more than two million people benefiting so far.
The delta has one city and 12 provinces and a population of 18 million.
It is a national agriculture and aquaculture hub.
It contributes 50 per cent of the national rice output and 92 per cent of exports and 60 per cent of aquaculture exports. — VNS
LuxDev - Call for expressions of interest Vie/032 20 3100


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Totally on point, Legs knows we're the guys who really know how to party and are determined to teach the world this skill. No doubt her and the babies were just looking to get hotwired, so we obliged, donning our Armani Black Label threads and hopping over in our limo with some deep dish and Kelt Cognac XO to set the party right. Being the only men invited of course was flattering, and exhausting, as the women treated us like the sexual toys we are. Sure we could go on with details but we feel sorry that not everyone quite lives the Eudamonistic lifestyle we do. But just to give you a taste, after the jump are few photos we snapped on our blinged-out new Fusic phones from LG. They're not the best quality, but what can we say, we had our hands tied. Literally.
|Editor's Clarification: All of the above of course really did happen (because Bodog is the shit when it comes to bringing hot chicks together around a poker table) except the only difference being that we weren't so much at Stacy Keibler's girls poker night as we were at home, brushing our wives' hair, listening to them talk about the new pair of shoes they bought, candles illuminating our living rooms in a beautiful romantic glow, with the gentle and cherubic stylings of Jewel adding a sonic ambiance that reminded us of that time we were in Venice, holding hands, seeing our unborn children in each other's eyes.


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The Wedding of
Tanya and Grant
In the Old Village, Vilamoura
We had our wedding at Casa Do Largo on the 31st May 17, I can't even begin to explain how amazing Heather, Dave & Daniel were. From the moment we met Heather 17 months before our wedding day she was so helpful! She kept in contact via email and recommended various suppliers for the day. Heather made sure our day went perfectly even when faced with a little hiccup which left the day running a little late, her and all the staff worked tirelessly to get back on track, with most of the party not even realising what happened. The weather was perfect and the pagoda looked beautiful, all of our guest loved the food and and trust me some of them are very hard to please. Personally the bbq salmon was the best I have ever tasted!
I'd recommend the guys to anyone wanting to get married, Casa Do Largo is a beautiful venue and has amazing staff to go with it.
Thank you again!
Tanya & Grant


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Gold rings?
right people, you know in the monster menu, where you can see what you got, some of my monsters have Gold rings around their element? is that to say what element is stronger for the section i'm on?
Discuss Haypi Monster here
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text: In 1988 the all-union commercial foreign trade association "Sovcomflot" was re-formed as a joint-stock commercial enterprise – one of the first in modern Russia. The fleet's total deadweight at the time was 1.6 million tonnes. It did not have a clearly defined specialisation. The enterprise's founders were Minmorflot of the USSR and the country's maritime shipping companies - Dalnevostochnoye, Chernomorskoye, Novorossiyskoye, Latviyskoye, Baltiyskoye, and Sovetskoye Dunayskoye. Thanks to an intelligently designed development strategy, Sovcomflot was gradually transformed from an unremarkable shipping company into one of the global leaders in maritime energy transportation. More


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Expansion in the Jewelry District will be a focus of the University's growth over the next decade, based on the vision articulated in President Christina Paxson's strategic plan. While undergraduate teaching will remain based on College Hill, the proposed development of administrative offices, research buildings and graduate student housing in the Jewelry District demonstrates the University's intention to play a leading role in revitalizing the neighborhood across the river.
The project has attracted widespread support from local leaders, but given the Jewelry District's current underdeveloped state, the success of these ambitious goals will require significant collaboration with government officials, private entities and other academic institutions in the area.
The University's commitment to a major project of urban renewal and transformation will shape the evolution of Brown's physical campus and define the school's relationship with its home city and state in the coming years.
Brown in the district
With the establishment of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission and the 2011 relocation of the Alpert Medical School downtown, the city's hope to transform the Jewelry District into a center of intellectual, technological and entrepreneurial activity converged with the University's interest in increasing its presence in the area to accommodate Brown's growth. The commission was created to revamp the land made available when the interstate highway was redirected by a construction process begun in 2004.
Paxson's strategic plan calls for developing a "vibrant mixed-use environment" in the Jewelry District that includes spaces for medical education, research, administrative, residential and retail functions. This continues a project launched under former President Ruth Simmons' Plan for Academic Enrichment, which envisioned a gradual buildup of Brown's presence in the district. That vision focused initially on medical and life science research facilities but eventually branched out to additional academic and administrative functions.
The University first ventured into the area in 2004 with the acquisition of 70 Ship St., which now houses Med School laboratories and supports life science research. The University purchased the Med School's current home at 222 Richmond St. for office space in 2004 before overhauling the building in 2009.
"One of the things it came back to was the limitations of the existing campus," said Dick Spies, former executive vice president for planning as well as one of Simmons' senior advisers.
Limited space in the Biomedical Center left administrators without "a lot of obvious choices," Spies said. "We do lose something (by expanding off of College Hill), but it is more than offset by what we gain."
The University has invested more than $200 million in the district in the past decade, initially leasing real estate to raise money but gradually repurposing those spaces for Brown to use, said Russell Carey '91 MA'06, executive vice president for planning and policy and co-chair of the Committee on Reimagining the Brown Campus and Community. Carey said he sees Brown as becoming "a positive and contributing neighbor" through its involvement in this part of the city.
The University plans to move more academic and administrative functions that "can do well outside College Hill" to the district, Carey said. The Office of Continuing Education is currently housed at 198-200 Dyer St., and the Admission Office moved to the space earlier this year. The University owns and leases buildings in Davol Square to house Computing and Information Services and administrative functions for the Med School.
But functions like undergraduate teaching might not fit well in the area, Carey said.
When the School of Engineering needed additional laboratory and research space to support a growing faculty and student body, the Jewelry District was tapped as a potential location for expansion.
But a University study conducted with design and planning firm Sasaki Associates last year found that given the high degree of collaboration across departments at the undergraduate level, moving any undergraduate teaching downtown would disrupt Brown's educational and academic work, Carey said.
"What they found was that students in engineering are just as much a part of this campus and the campus community as any other major," said Larry Larson, dean of the school of engineering. Moving the School of Engineering "out of that community" would "do damage to this great, interactive culture we have at Brown," he said.
Some local stakeholders expressed disappointment in the choice not to move the school downtown.
But "no one questioned the decision," Carey said.
Making the connection
As Brown increases its presence in the district, administrators intend to connect the area with College Hill to keep development from "fracturing the University," said Iris Bahar, professor of engineering and co-chair of the Committee on Reimagining the Brown Campus and Community.
"We don't want to develop two campuses that are separate and distinct," Carey said.
The notion that "the Jewelry District will be the area for graduate students, and College Hill will be for undergraduates" is incorrect, Paxson told The Herald. "The idea is to maintain College Hill as the academic core of the University … for undergraduates as well as graduate students and the faculty."
The Point Street Bridge serves as a major route between College Hill and the Jewelry District, and plans are being formulated for a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the river on old I-195 foundations, Carey said.
Paxson said the University will need more frequent shuttle services, especially at night.
Rerouting of RIPTA bus services may be a logical step forward, Bahar said. No formal negotiations on this project have begun.
Ideally, RIPTA would construct a streetcar offering rail-based service connecting College Hill to downtown — including the Jewelry District — and Upper South Providence, said Amy Pettine, RIPTA special projects manager. The streetcar would improve the mobility of college students and other public transit users, but the "primary objective is economic development," Pettine said, adding that permanent rail systems attract business, people and investment to cities.
But "the streetcar is a longer-term project" that will not move forward until it can be funded, Pettine said, citing the federal government's rejection of a grant application from the city to help pay for the railway.
Though Providence Mayor Angel Taveras expressed support for the proposal in the economic development plan he released in March, "a lot of things are competing for (his) attention," Pettine added.
The University has endorsed "creating a more user-friendly city," and linking College Hill and the Jewelry District would require collaboration between RIPTA and Brown's shuttle service, Pettine said. While the shuttle's schedule is flexible, its capacity could be overwhelmed if the proposed expansion brings more people to the Jewelry District, she said.
The satellite
Those who find themselves spending more time in the Jewelry District struggle to remain connected to College Hill while building another community.
"There is a river and a hill" separating the neighborhood from College Hill, said Karen Sibley MAT'81 P'07 P'12, dean of continuing education.
The Office of Continuing Education moved off College Hill February 2012, after the University determined that there was insufficient space to accommodate growth in its programs.
Sibley identified differences in the environment, the inability to "run into colleagues" during lunchtime and her awareness of being removed to a degree from the main campus.
"I have my life down the Hill, and I have my life on the Hill," said David Gonzalez '14, who works in a Jewelry District-based laboratory.
The district is unlikely to become a true "satellite campus" until people have a reason other than work to spend time there, Gonzalez said, adding that he would never go to the Jewelry District if his laboratory were not there.
But the plan's proposals to create a community downtown could benefit medical students, who spend more time in the Jewelry District because of their studies.
"It's great to be building a medical science community," said Honora Burnett MD'15, president of the Medical Student Senate, adding that additional research facilities in the Jewelry District would be convenient for medical students.
Allison Kay MD'15 also expressed enthusiasm for the idea of a "medical campus," citing the proposed expansions' potential to help "build Brown's research name."
Further developing the neighborhood could improve its appeal to students, Gonzalez said.
"There's no draw to the area," and it is definitely possible to "make students feel like it is a little more part of their home," he said.
Though it would be positive to make the area "a little more gentrified, a little more revitalized," it is important to do so without losing the Jewelry District's "industrial charm," Gonzalez said. Given the area's key role in Providence's history, he said he hopes the University respects the Jewelry District's legacy even as it expands its presence.
"I don't want it to be obvious that you're on Brown's campus," he said.
Regardless of how the expansion ultimately develops, Gonzalez said he thinks "the average Brown student is not going to be affected at all."
Land regulations determined by the I-195 Commission and city officials will likely "set the tone" for the Jewelry District's transition to a mixed-use area and must foster private-sector investment, said Daniel Baudouin, executive director of the Providence Foundation
The I-195 Commission decides to whom it sells the land, and though the local market will likely not support a significant retail presence, Brown's expansion will probably create potential for commercial growth, he said.
Engagement and regrowth
From the start, "the notion of greater engagement with the community around us" fueled the University's interest in the Jewelry District, Spies said. Downtown development would provide more space for the University and allow it to better integrate with the city and the state.
"There's always room for growth," said Henry Sachs, chief medical officer of Bradley Hospital, which collaborates with Brown on medical research.
University facilities could complement the hospital's work, he said. "They have some bench research tools that we don't have on the clinical side of things."
The University is currently identifying and promoting partnerships that could increase Brown's presence in the area at minimal cost. Officials have been in talks with Richard Galvin '79 at Commonwealth Venture Properties about constructing a graduate student housing complex at a site currently occupied by a surface parking lot, Carey said.
The building, which would house 250 to 300 postgraduate students, would have retail space and a 600-spot parking lot beneath the building, The Herald previously reported. Brown is not making any financial contributions to the development but will be responsible for marketing the apartment-style housing units to graduate students in return for the developer's investment, Carey said.
Paxson announced earlier this year that the University is considering working with CV Properties and local public universities to renovate the Dynamo House, a former power plant in the Jewelry District that has been unused for years.
Dynamo House could house a University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College joint nursing education center through a partnership with the University, said William Gearhart, vice president for administration and finance at RIC.
He called the partnership "mutually beneficial" and said it would serve as an "economic stimulus" to the district and the city.
With half the building housing nursing programs, the other half would have University administrative and faculty functions, though Carey said Brown does not immediately need such space. Dynamo House offers approximately 250,000 square feet of space, about three times larger than Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center.
Carey said a decision will need to be made this year on moving forward with these projects. Given the estimated $206 million price tag for the renovation of Dynamo House, challenges remain, but the University remains excited about the process, he said.
"It would free up some space on College Hill that we need to develop next year and would also help us transform the Jewelry District into a thriving economic hub," Paxson said.
The economic ripple
Though some local stakeholders continue to voice concern over the University's property tax exemption — which, as Brown expands into the Jewelry District, could result in the city losing direct tax revenues — positive economic externalities from Brown's involvement in the neighborhood could outweigh those issues.
The expansion of administrative offices and graduate housing units alongside present research facilities can provide a valuable foundation for revitalizing the Jewelry District and overcoming opposition to the University's physical growth by those critical of Brown's tax exemption, said Arthur Salisbury, president of Jewelry District Association.
Gov. Lincoln Chafee '75 P'14 P'17 said disagreement over the University's tax-exempt status will not significantly affect its expansion into the Jewelry District. City leaders and school administrators signed an agreement in May 2012 detailing a plan for the University to pay $31.5 million to the city over 11 years in lieu of property taxes.
The economic relationship between the city and the University is "a careful balance," said Laurie White, president of the Providence Chamber of Commerce, adding that she thinks Brown "will be able to see eye to eye" with the city as the neighborhood develops further.
'Waiting for development'
Bahar characterized the Jewelry District as "a piece of land waiting for development."
"There is a ton of undeveloped opportunity in the Jewelry District," including about 20 acres of land owned by the I-195 Commission, said Colin Kane, chairman of the commission.
Given space limitations on College Hill, Chafee said the University is "making good decisions" to expand its presence downtown. The city welcomes such growth, he said.
But the land is "not earmarked for the University," and the commission is "not compelled to sell to the lowest common denominator," Kane said.
Given the Med School's relocation and the potential growth of activity around Dynamo House, Carey said the neighborhood is cultivating a campus community feel, with Richmond Street serving as a "spine of development."
But in developing the neighborhood, administrators must balance the planning of commercial, academic and residential spaces, Bahar said. As the population reaches a "critical mass," the area will attract entities such as retail businesses and artistic ventures, she added.
The new developments are taking root in a "very strategic location in the heart of the city, which is very promising to the future," said J. Vernon Wyman, assistant vice president for business services at URI.
Stakeholders in the Jewelry District's expansion will be focused on how their partnership projects and investments unfold in coming years.
"What we're looking for is to see that area develop … to provide a variety of economic and other benefits to the citizenry," Gearhart said.
As Brown expands its presence in the city, the shape and character of its academic programs may change as well — particularly the University's graduate programs. The final story in this series will examine how Brown's academic emphases could change under Paxson's strategic plan, paying key attention to tensions between graduate and undergraduate programs, prioritization of the liberal arts and professional studies and the conception of Brown's identity as a "university-college."
Timeline: Development in the Jewelry District
Sept. 30, 2003: University acquires 70 Ship Street
Oct. 11, 2003: Corporation approves Strategic Framework for Physical Planning as a guide for future physical planning and development
Jan. 5, 2007: University acquires seven Jewelry District properties, including 222 Richmond St., future home of Alpert Medical School
Apr. 26, 2010: University begins renovating 222 Richmond St. for the Med School
Aug. 15, 2011: Med School's new building opens
Jan. 30, 2012: Ship Street Square, a plaza across the street from the Med School, opens to the public
March 2012: As a result of the Providence Core Connector study, RIPTA's Board of Directors selects a streetcar as the preferred alternative for a new transit line connecting College Hill and the Jewelry District
May 1, 2012: Office of Continuing Education moves to 200 Dyer St.
May 17, 2013: Admission Office moves to 200 Dyer St.
Sept. 5, 2013: Federal government rejects Providence's request for $39 million toward the streetcar line


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We've all been there. You're knee deep in a conversation that gets tricky. Either you say something, foot firmly in mouth, or the person you're talking to says something that makes you squirm.
Sometimes it's simple enough to change the subject as fast as you can; from chatting about an annoying habit of a person you hadn't realised died last week, to the greatest conversation-saver of all – the weather.
When it comes to awkward conversations, if our radar sends us an early enough alert, we can stop the chat almost before it starts by crafting a speedy 'presto change.' But executive coach Muffy Churches told HuffPost Australia if the conversation is already underway, it's not always an easy option.
"You risk presenting yourself as a poor listener or callously uninterested. It's always tempting to cut and run. But by running away we're just increasing the chances of it popping up at a later date," Churches said.
"Also by using an escape manoeuvre we're not honouring the other person with an authentic response, no matter how awkward the topic is."
Rowdy McLean, international keynote speaker, business and leadership consultant, said escape does not make awkward go away and it's social skills that matter.
"You can't run from awkward moment to awkward moment, embarrassing scenario to embarrassing scenario. Awkward happens, we all get that, but what makes it awkward; is it you, or is it someone else? Is it the situation, the relationship, or the conversation?" McLean said.
"The challenge here is to change what causes it, to be the hero of awkwardness. The person who is able to solve the awkwardness of a situation becomes the saviour and a trusted person to have in your network."
If in doubt, you can always laugh. McLean is a firm believer that laughter is almost always the answer. If you can twist the awkwardness into humour, it can save the day.
"Redirecting is another way to go, change the topic completely, like 180 degrees. If you're talking about relationships and it gets awkward, shift to the possibility of life on Mars, something that is so far away that what you are talking about is left way way behind!" McLean said.
"But if you can't fix the awkwardness with your wit and charm, the best bet here is to get out. But do it with aplomb. Have a good 'get out' clause and change it often so people don't really know you are making your escape."
Muffy Churches' Tips For Awkward Conversations
- Reach for lofty heights: In the moment we can ask ourselves, "Who is the best person I can be here? How can I speak my truth in a graceful and respectful manner and shift this conversation toward something constructive and positive?"
- Shift the "run-away" to a "segue": Find a way to acknowledge the conversation in some practical way before you excuse yourself. For example, "Thanks for sharing your thoughts, David. I think from my side it would probably be best for you to bring that up with Susan herself. Forgive me, just need to get back to my desk for a call."
- Empathise (but don't sympathise): The last thing we want to do is burn a bridge with a colleague by being insensitive, even if they are rolling on a bizarre topic. As we're in the process of closing the conversation down we need to focus on keeping their self-esteem safe. "David thanks for sharing that. I think it would be great to bring it up with HR -- I'm certainly not the expert in that space and I know they'll help you navigate the issue."
- Anchor the chat to a focus on solution: "Thanks for sharing your thoughts David -- I'm probably not the right person though to comment on that situation. Have you spoken to your manager?"
- Speak your truth: Finding a graceful way to be honest under spontaneous circumstances is always a challenge, but it's important to try. In honouring the other party with our reality we're also respecting our own values and have a better chance of moving the conversation to a mutually beneficial place.


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MATRIX vase, small
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Arrange your flowers in new and surprising ways!
The MATRIX tube vase features an innovative grid-like structure which allows you to play around with your flower arrangements and be creative when displaying your roses and lilies.
Swedish designer Monica Förster is known for her belief in technical modernity and practicality, and with the MATRIX collection she has managed to combine those qualities with beautiful design references from early Art Deco pieces from the Georg Jensen archive.
The MATRIX tube vase is made from stainless steel which has been mirror polished. The MATRIX tube vase is available in two versions: medium and small.
- Item number: 10013731
- Materials: Mirror polished stainless steel
- Measurements: H: 154 mm. Ø: 48 mm.
- Design year: 2018
- Launch year: 2018


text:
ANDERSON, Ind. — About two dozen students in Elysse Hamlin's English 2 class are struggling here on this cold winter morning — about 40 minutes outside of Indianapolis — to learn simple and compound sentences. It's typically what is taught around seventh grade, but Marte'z Alexander is 20, Emily Spencer is 22 and Bernice Larson is 68. In fact, everyone in the class is over 18 years old.
These classmates have little in common except one thing: None of them completed high school. And the work sheets they were puzzling over don't just represent dry grammar, but a second chance — at a high school diploma, a better-paying job, maybe college. A second chance to prove to their children and parents, and most important, to themselves, that they can shed the label high school dropout.
I dropped out of high school and got pregnant at 17. I went to like seven G.E.D. courses, but it was so hard. I have 25 grandkids — they're my pride and joy, and my grandson needed help with algebra, and I couldn't do it. That made me feel real bad.
When I first came here in 2015, I couldn't do any of it. I was frustrated; I would just get mad at the teachers. I stayed away once about a week or so and said I'm not coming back, stop calling me. But I had to. The teachers and the coach would call me, and the coach would say, "Ms. Karen, don't give up." I'm a C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant), but I want to be a counselor for abused women. I wanted to be educated. Three of my children graduated from high school, three didn't. One is going to school here with me.
Karen Johnson, 59, who graduated on Feb. 16 from the Excel Center at University Heights in Indianapolis.
The class in Anderson taught by Ms. Hamlin — or Ms. Elysse as she is known by her students — is at a Goodwill Excel Center tuition-free adult high school. There are 15 such schools in Indiana and one each in Austin, Tex.; Memphis; Washington; and Little Rock, Ark. They are all under the umbrella of the nonprofit Goodwill Industries International and are for anyone over 16 or 18 years old, depending on the state, who dropped out of high school before receiving a diploma.
[READ MORE: Goodwill Working to Help Dropouts]
Five more, four in Missouri and one in Muncie, Ind., are scheduled to open by 2019.
Although there are many other programs around the country to help adults get their high school diplomas, the Goodwill Excel school model stands out because it accepts students of any age — most other schools cap their enrollment at age 25 or younger — is growing nationally and offers intensive support to overcome the obstacles facing most people trying to go back to school.
Each school provides life coaches, who serve as a combination guidance counselor and social worker, drop-in child care, transportation assistance and other benefits. Students work toward a regular diploma and dual college credit or industry-recognized vocational certification in any number of fields, such as pharmacy technician, information technology or welding. And any Excel Center in any state is required to incorporate all those elements.
Rigorous research has shown that that kind of wraparound support "has the potential to have the most impact," said Elizabeth Zachry Rutschow, a senior research associate with MDRC, a nonprofit research organization. "This comprehensive support model is very unusual. Adult education programs are often really strapped for funding."
Although most of the students dropped out in high school, the average student has a fourth-grade reading and math level.
"I had an epiphany the first time I saw the Excel Center in Indiana," said Tony Martini, president and chief executive of Memphis Goodwill. "I thought, how can we not do this?"
It was a struggle. In 2015, his Goodwill opened an Excel school in Memphis, with Goodwill funding the bulk of the program and private philanthropists helping out. Goodwill lobbied hard for a change in state law, which was approved late last year; now adult learners receive the same financing as traditional students, and the state will pick up most of the funding for the Memphis center.
About 400 students have graduated or are expected to graduate from the Memphis school by June, and Mr. Martini hopes to open six to 12 centers in Memphis over the next six years
One reason politicians like these schools is that employers like them.
"A lot of employers are looking for the more mature adult who has demonstrated literacy and numeracy skills, training in basic technology and the soft skills," such as knowing how to operate in a business environment and self-regulation, said Terry Salinger, institute fellow and chief scientist for reading for the American Institutes for Research, a social science research company.
Luke Kenley, a recently retired Indiana state senator, a Republican and appropriations chairman, was a strong supporter of the Excel Center.
"This is a looming problem in Indiana like everywhere else in the country. Where do you get people educated for today's work force?" he said. When Goodwill, which already ran a free traditional charter school in Indianapolis, came forward seeking funding for the Excel Center, "I knew they were an exceptionally capable nonprofit in terms of social issues, and the problem has become so large — getting people prepared for good jobs — that government funding appeared to be necessary."
I was bouncing around through foster homes; I was 17 when I dropped out. I made it through to senior year and didn't have any of my credits because I was going from school to school because of foster care. I called Goodwill for the G.E.D. program, but they had done away with it, and they invited me to Excel. I was one of the first students who walked through the door. It wasn't easy — I worked all day, every day. A couple of times I wanted to give up. (Some staff members) took me on college tours. They got me amped up, and I took the ACT. I've been working full time at night as a maintenance mechanic for about seven years, and I also went to Marian (University in Indianapolis) and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration. I'll be going back to get an engineering degree. I want to move from fixing machines to more the engineering and design.
Jamieson Brewer, 26, was one of the Excel Center's first graduates, in 2011.
The first Excel Center opened in 2010 in Indianapolis, and it was something of a failure. About 300 students attended the school, but the curriculum was online, and it just didn't work. Only four students graduated.
The staff rethought its approach and moved from online to almost entirely in-class instruction. Each school offers five eight-week terms annually, and students can enter at the beginning of any term. They are tested before entering to determine their level of English and math. Students who fail a subject can retake it in the next eight-week term — and the next.
The core classes are also offered morning, evening and sometimes at night, so a student can work and attend classes.
The teachers, many of whom taught in public schools before joining the Excel Centers, and the life coaches know all too well the obstacles facing their students' quest for a diploma. Children or parents get sick or in trouble, the car breaks down or the bus doesn't come, the family's breadwinner loses a job or goes to prison. The teachers and life coaches cajole, praise, encourage, and if a student who has been on track suddenly disappears, they call, text, reach out on Facebook and even show up at their door. Teachers have taken homework to hospitals when a student gets sick.
But there's a fine line between helping the students, many of whom are struggling with multiple financial and family problems, and doing too much.
"We're loving them, but also challenging and pushing them," said Dionne Leard, the director at the Excel Center University Heights in Indianapolis.
While the average student graduates within 18 months, some, like Karen Johnson, a recent graduate, take much longer. Arriving barely able to read, she took English 2 six times.
"As long as they are making progress they can stay," Ms. Leard said.
Tera Price, 21, fusses over her month-old daughter in a car seat next to her — the infant is too young to go to the child care center. Nicole Gosha, 42, and her son Rickey, 29, sit next to each other joking with some other students.
"I'm just glad I came," Ms. Gosha said, "and I gave a speech, which isn't something I normally do."
Her son leaned in. "I gave the best speech. I did research on bed bugs."
The graduation rate at Excel Centers in Indiana is about 20 to 25 percent; while that appears low, the model of eight-week terms makes traditional measurements difficult.
"In terms of bang for your buck, that graduation rate still looks good," said Kate Hovde, a senior adviser in education at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania. "The benefits of earned income over their lifetime is still significant." The organization included the Goodwill Excel Center in Indiana as part of a report released last month to help inform donors about programs and strategies to help young adults who have dropped out of school and are not working.
At the start of a term, most of the students are full of hope and enthusiasm, proud they showed up the first day.
But it's hard to know who will end up with a diploma and who won't. Who will power straight through, who will disappear forever and who will reappear after months away. Two weeks after the first class, Tera Price stop showing up. A month in, the Goshas, mother and son, had near-perfect attendance.
I had to start paying bills for our household. My mom has a lot of health issues, and my dad has a lot of problems with his back, so they weren't making the money to make ends meet to pay the bills.
I dropped out in eighth grade; my sister dropped out in high school. We were skidding. We drove around and picked up wooden pallets and cashed them in for the money
I always felt bad about dropping out. I got pregnant with my daughter when I was 19, and one of the things mainly pushing me toward getting my diploma was my daughter kept asking me why I didn't graduate. She was having a problem. She didn't want to go to school. She asked me, "Why do I have to go? You never finished." Right there it hit me. She's looking at me, and I don't want her to follow in my footsteps.
Amber Parrish, 27, expects to graduate in June from the Excel Center.


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by Fillip; posted on 17 July 2014
We started the CRISPRflydesign website to openly share results of our research with everyone. As the project developed we also wrote up a manuscript, which was first posted on the pre-print server biorxiv.org and was then published in PNAS in a modified form (open access, link). Self-publishing on the web and posting manuscripts on pre-print servers is a great way to foster Open Science, which aims to make the results of scientific research available to all levels of society.
Below I outline some of the reasons why I believe that sharing information on the web is an ideal way to complement traditional publishing of peer-reviewed papers, as it addresses many of the shortcomings of the traditional publishing model.
Instant sharing of results
One great aspect of self-publishing is that we can decide when information becomes publicly available. Once we think a post is ready for sharing we press 'publish' and a few seconds later everyone with an internet connection can view it. It is a liberating feeling. Compare that with traditional publishing methods. Once the manuscript is written you submit it to your journal of choice. Then the long wait starts. It might take several days or weeks for the journal to decide whether it regards you work worthy of peer review. If it makes that hurdle, review is likely to take one or two months. And more often than not reviewers will ask for additional experiments and analysis that will further delay publication. You can count yourself lucky if your paper is published 6 months after you began the writing process.
The long time it takes until the paper is published comes with some benefits. During that time the paper has been read by several experts, has gone through multiple rounds of editing and is eventually professionally formatted and typeset. But it also comes at a huge cost. For many months nobody knows about the results of your work. Nobody can build on them, test your new hypotheses or use the material you have generated. You also won't get any credit for your work. That is not good for science and not good for scientists.
I hope that in the future researchers will routinely use different formats to communicate their work. Self-publishing via personal websites, services such as Figshare or F1000 Posters and pre-print servers is ideal to rapidly communicate – often preliminary – results. And publication of peer-reviewed papers is great to describe a whole body of work and present it in the context of the respective field.
Open access
Most academic research is funded by public money and I believe that the public therefore has the right to access the results of that work. Unfortunately, much of the academic literature remains hidden behind paywalls. This not only disadvantages the people who ultimately pay for it, but also restricts sharing information between scientists themselves (and isn't that what publishing is there for in the first place?).
The call for open access has gained traction over the past few years, but much remains to be done. It is important to realise that it is not the publishing industry that is to blame for the current situation. Most publishers are here to make money, and they do that spectacularly well (profit margins of publishers such as Elsevier and Springer exceed 30%). It is us scientists that make the system work as it does. It is us who decide where to publish our work and whether to make it publicly available or place it behind paywalls. Most journals, whether subscription based or not, allow posting of manuscripts on pre-print servers and doing so is one way to make sure the information is freely available (list of journals policies here).
Data presentation in flexible formats
Towards more meaningful peer review
Peer review is in principle a great way to evaluate science. However, pre-publication single-blind peer review by three to four reviewers, as is the current standard, does a suboptimal job. The key problems are that evaluation is done by a small number of people and before the results can be tested by other scientists. The low N number of referees makes evaluation vulnerable to oversight and personal bias. This is enhanced by the fact that reviewers are usually chosen from a pool of close colleagues, which often have conflicting interests or are friends or foes of the authors. Furthermore, how much impact a study will have in the future remains guess-work. Nevertheless impact is one of the prime criteria for acceptance at (glam-)journals.
To evaluate research more fairly and extensively would require that peer-review is performed by more people. In principle, pre-prints would be a great way to do so, as the manuscript is in the public domain and everyone can freely comment on it. Unfortunately, this is not working yet. Despite being viewed more than three thousand times our pre-print did not attract a single comment. The same is true for most other pre-prints on Biorxiv. We did receive some very helpful emails, but people seem reluctant to publicly post comments. One likely reason is that people are very busy and view commenting as a waste of time, as there is no credit to be gained from it. If we want to change the culture of how we discuss research online it will be important that there is some form of reward to be gained from providing valuable insights and feedback. Perhaps grant agencies should routinely ask for a description of how the applicant has contributed to the scientific discussion online? In the meantime, posting content online is merely the first step towards a better peer-review system.
Sharing unpublished results and material has been great fun so far and has led to new collaborations, many interesting conversations and has overall increased the impact of our work. But of course it is not without risk. Molecular biology is a competitive field and putting out unpublished observations brings the risk of being scooped. However, I believe the risk is minimal if you think carefully about what information you want to share at what time and is easily outweigh by the benefits. We certainly will continue our Open Science approach for crisprflydesign.


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Even after 400 years the world still doesn't tire of this tale of woe…that of Juliet and her Romeo! You're probably thinking, 'Not again!' but I can guarantee that Juliet, a New York Times bestseller written by Anne Fortier, is a real page turner. Although it is a work of fiction, many of the historic references are based on fact.
Evidence shows that the true Romeo and Juliet may have indeed existed in the Italian city of Siena, not Verona. In this story, protagonist Julie Jacobs, travels to Italy in search of her deceased mother's lost treasure only to discover that she is a descendant and reincarnation of Juliet. However, when her arrival becomes known to some of the locals she finds herself in peril. This romantic thriller has all the elements of a great novel; mystery, intrigue as well as history and romance. Based in the present as well as the 14th century, you will find yourself travelling the streets of Siena with both our modern-day Julie and the historic Juliet. A fantastic read for the summer holidays. This novel may even entice you to book a trip to the ancient city!
The Italian Lake District
Antonia Ehrenwerth: A Life Not Forgotten
Tuscan Urns
Italian Cuisine Throughout the Ages
The Italianista and the Dilapidated Castle
Don't Touch the Picasso
The Italianista and the Perilous Dig
Passion on the Vine
Our Little Posticino
The Aeolian Islands Of Sicily
Gioachino and the Great War
Cuba: The Solitary Island
Everyday Cooking with Toby Brand Cookin' Greens
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Everybody loves money and there have been many slots designed around this evergreen theme. One such slot that draws immediate attention is Microgaming's Cashville. The game has 5 reels and 20 adjustable paylines. The coin size ranges from 0.01 to 1 and you can choose the number of paylines you want to play, from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 20. The maximum number of coins you can bet per spin is 10. The bet range in this game varies from a minimum of £1 to a maximum of £200.
Cashville has a delightful interface with lots of cool symbols. The symbols include Dame von Deeds, Bill Bullion, Sir Sterling, Betty Boodle, and four piles of cash and jewelry, with each pile associated with one of these characters, and the Bonus symbol. The wild symbol in this game is a bejeweled 'W' and the scatter is a similarly ornate 'S'. The wild symbol plays a little differently in Cashville; it can replace only the money symbols, not the character symbols or the scatter.
There are cool bonuses and prizes to win when playing Cashville. You can win a maximum of 500,000 coins while playing this game. THe highlight of the game is the Cashville Bonus game. The bonus round is triggered by landing 3 Bonus symbols across the reels. A fresh screen appears with the 4 billionaires - Bill Bullion, Betty Boodle, Dame Von Deeds, and Sir Sterling - on it. Choose one of the the billionaires and then on his personalized screen choose one of the vaults on display to see the amount of coins you won, up to a maximum of 60,000 coins. Another feature that is activated at the end of each winning spin is the optional Gamble feature: you can use it to double or even quadruple your wins from that specific spin.


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Company Details
RS Plastics Machinery Co., Limited
RS Plastics Machinery Co., Limited
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Plastic Material Euro Hopper Dryer Price
1200-6000L Capacity Giant Euro-hopper Dryer
1200U Giant Euro Hopper Dryer for Injection
Dehumidifying and Drying Series Hopper Dryers
Plastic Granules Pellets Hopper Dryer For Injection
1200U Hot Air Down-blowing Euro-type Hopper Dryers
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Too Late to Short EURUSD?
FX:EURUSD Euro / U.S. Dollar
96 views
Unfortunately it might be, and I'm certainly disappointed I missed a trade I should have put on yesterday. But nonetheless I've put my order on to short at 3610, with my stop at 3650 and my target profit at 3485. We're in a clear downtrend, price has pulled back to the 200 EMA (which is also the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement ) and we are seeing shooting star candlesticks at this resistance level . All signs favoring shorting. Against other pairs, EUR seems like it's coiling and ready to move.


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AI Developer2018 - PRESENTAether Signum
Technologies: Python, PyTorch, Flask, NumPy
- Optimized the head and face detector to support high frame-rate videos.
- Used transfer learning and domain adaptation of MASK-RCNN framework.
- Developed a series of ad-hoc apps to support the dataset preparation process.
Teaching Assistant2012 - PRESENTZagreb University of Applied Sciences
Technologies: .NET, C
- Created an automatic grading system for students (code compilation and testing).
- Lectured on related topics.
- Wrote scripts for lab practices in ASP.NET MVC.
Full-stack Developer2017 - 2018Kalon Creative
Technologies: .NET MVC, EF6, JS, React, jQuery, HTML/CSS
- Wokred on several web based projects in .NET MVC extensively using both back-end and front-end technology stack.
Full-stack Developer2016 - 2016Glider Technology Limited (via Toptal)
Technologies: C#, Nancy, Mono, MySQL, React, Microservice architecture
- Developed several app modules using C# and Nancy hosted with Mono.
- Used TDD for QA.
- Implemented a series of UI features using React and .NET API.
- Optimized data access in the MySQL database.
Lead Developer (Project)2015 - 2016Moberg IT
Technologies: ASP.NET MVC 5, MSSQL, HTML, jQuery
- Created a financial application for the Icelandic market using ASP.NET MVC 5.
- Designed system architecture for reusability and efficient automated testing.
- Configured a continuous integration server (TeamCity) using Psake and PowerShell scripts.
- Created background processes using Hangfire.
- Consumed external API services for card validation, SSN number validation, and credit rating.
Development Team Leader (Project)2015 - 2015Vicoinz, Ltd.
Technologies: ASP.NET MVC, Web API, Azure, WPF
- Created an efficient matchmaking platform using .NET environment.
- Used Microsoft Azure to efficiently scale the application and execute background jobs.
- Configured TeamCity continuous integration server for daily builds and efficient deployment.
- Used SignalR and Web API for client-server communication.
- Applied complex graphic solutions to WPF application.
Senior Software Engineer/Software Architect2013 - 2015Boatbooker
Technologies: ASP.NET WebForms, MS SQL, HTML, jQuery
- Created an efficient search engine for yacht searches with complex business rules.
- Created and consumed a REST API for B2B collaboration with other yachting systems.
- Designed and created a state machine for handling booking processes consisting of several communication steps between the client and the charter agency.
- Used nightly processing to update boat prices and improve search engine performance.
Senior Software Developer2011 - 2013Tarmel
Technologies: Oracle forms 6i, Oracle 9i
- Got things done even in obsolete and outdated technologies.
- Maintained and improved reinsurance company software.
- Extensively used PL/SQL.
Software Engineer2008 - 2011Neoinfo d.o.o.
Technologies: .NET, JAVA
- Developed a framework to build web and desktop business applications using XML files. Also created a tool using that framework to efficiently build mentioned XML files.
- Used DevExpress controls extensively.
- Created and consumed SOAP-based web services for client-server communication using WinForms for the client and WCF for the server.
- Learned to manage and perform when adding on a large project in the late phase, with loads of legacy Java code. Used various Java technologies and tools such as JSF, JSP, WebSphere, Rational Application Developer, SQLJ, Hibernate...).


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Add them to an Omelette
You're probably familiar with avocado as an ingredient in cold dishes like dips, salads and sandwiches, but you can add it to warm dishes, too. Avocado and Cheese Stuffed Enchiladas, Spanish Rice with Avocado and avocado soup are all hot dishes that benefit from the creamy texture and mild flavor of avocado. When paired with cilantro and a little cumin, it's a marriage of smooth, spicy and just a hint of sweet.
For a homemade example of the way avocado can transform a classic, try adding avocado to a simple Three Egg Omelette. It can be substituted for some of the cheese requirement and adds just the right consistency to make omelette filling moist but not runny. Avocado tastes great with bacon, chorizo, linguica (Portuguese sausage), shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion and asparagus. Once you've tried it once or twice, start adding ingredients for a meal worthy of a Champagne brunch.
Here are a few tips for adding avocado to an omelette:
- Have the avocado prepped and ready to go before you start the omelette. Eggs cook fast and aren't forgiving.
- Here's a great avocado dicing trick: Split an avocado with a sharp knife, and remove the pit. Make slits in the meat at about half inch intervals, and then make another series of slits perpendicular to the first. Don't pierce the avocado skin. Now your avocado half will look like a grid. Push the skin from the back, and the diced segments will just fall into a bowl. It's pretty nifty and a lot less messy than the scoop method.
- Include the avocado when you add the cheese. This will probably be the last step before folding the omelette in half. The hot top layer of egg will heat the avocado and melt the cheese.


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Editor's letter: The person who has lived the Qur'an in his life the most Yunus Emre PEHLİVAN Answers to the claims of Deism Mustafa TOPOZ Four functions of Sunnah Ali CIRIT Our duty is to serve Dr Muhammed BOSTAN Cooperation and division of labour Zeynelabidin YILDIRIM The moment we are most close to Allah Arif Emre GUNDUZ Essence of the intention Kudret UGUR Those who have hardship in wealth, and wealth in hardship Idris TUZUN Broken mirrors, broken worlds Dr Ebuzer OZKAN One who eats halal does not become rebellious Recep Said YILDIRIM Keeping one's promise Ali SEMERCI Cure…Read More
Tag: the pen magazine
The person who has lived the Qur'an in his life the most
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah. The Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) – the entire words, actions and approval attributed to him – is the most important source after the Qur'an. By following the Sunnah we implement the Qur'an into daily life. The life of our Prophet is entirely Qur'an centred. He based his every behaviour, word and deed on the Qur'an. He acted according to the rulings of the Qur'an. We learn how our Creator, Allah Most High, will be pleased with us from…Read More
Editor's letter: The Pen 25
Islamic faith makes this life a joyful journey to the hereafter Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, In the 25th issue of The Pen you will read articles on the evidence for the existence of Allah (swt), protecting our faith today, not to be alone to be among the people of salvation, the case of Andalusia showing the tolerance in Islam, the impact of Ramadan to the economy, frugality and extravagance from Islamic perspective, halal food and market opportunities. We have two exclusive pieces in this issue: "A joyous journey of life…Read More
The Pen 25th Issue
. . January – June 2016 The joyous journey of life with faith Editor's letter: The Pen 25 Y.Emre Pehlivan Evidences for the existence of Allah İdris Tüzün A joyous journey of life with faith "The Second Word" from the Risale-i Nur The spiritual secrets of "la ilaha illallah" "Tenth Proof of Faith" from the Risale-i Nur How to protect our faith? Muhammed Güç Do not be on your own to be the people of salvation Ahmed Hüsrev Erdaş Meaning of the life and how it gains value Muhammed Yumurtacı Bediuzzaman's advices to the Members of Parliament Mustafa Topöz Tolerance in…Read More
The Pen 24th Issue
July – December 2015 Islamic world in need of Risale-i Nur Editor's letter: He who knows his Lord saves his hereafter Y.Emre Pehlivan The spirit, ego and nafs Ali Kurt Allah (swt) has granted human with a domain of legal and illegal and a will and freedom to choose between them. Human is tested with this faculty called nafs which is predisposed both for good and evil. The illness of intellectual arrogance Cemal Erşen Intellectual arrogance disease may lead people who are more or less…Read More
The Pen 23rd Issue
. . January – June 2015 Repentance from Sins Do not risk the loss of the great rewards of the hereafter for mere passing pleasures Editor's letter: Believer's quest for spiritual healing Yunus Emre PEHLİVAN Virtue of Justice Dr A.Mirza İNAK True justice, giving the right holder what he deserves by protecting his right, cannot be achieved through absolute equality. Dua' in the Qur'an and its importance Enes ÇALIK Man's basic duty is iman (belief) and dua' (supplication). Malicious Envy İdris TÜZÜN Hasad (envy) leads to unhappiness, bad…Read More
The Pen 22nd Issue
The Pen 22nd Issue Bediuzzaman and Risale-i Nur In this special edition of The Pen Magazine you will read pieces about Imam Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and his Risale-i Nur treatises. A Short History of Risale-i Nur Service Mustafa TOPOZ Imam Nursi, after living a life full of struggle to save the faith of the people and to defeat the materialist ideology, left behind a service which is now illuminating the paths of millions of people. Imam Said Nursi's Service to Faith Cemal ERSEN Imam Bediuzzaman Said Nursi gave tremendous service…Read More
January-June 2014 Issue
The Pen 21st Issue A Strong Commentary of the Holy Qur'an: Risale-i Nur Risale-i Nur is a Commentary of the Holy Quran Altınbaşak Academic Research Board Risale-i Nur is such a strong tafseer, which expresses, explains, and proves the truths of faith of the Qur'an with strong evidence and proof, that it silences the most obstinate philosophers who deny the existence of Allah Subhanahu wa Taʿala. Editor's Letter Yunus Emre PEHLİVAN Leadership and Modesty İdris TÜZÜN Humble leaders become successful and, more importantly, attain the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu…Read More
Editor's letter: a strong tafseer of the Qur'an
As you know Imam Said Nursi (ra)'s Risale-i Nur treatises are the basic sources of our magazine. In every issue we present you various articles that benefited from Risale-i Nur. We also publish pieces telling about his great struggle for the service of the Qur'an and iman. You can read "Imam Bediuzzaman and His Movement of Belief in the 20th Century" written by Muhlis Körpe in this issue. Risale-i Nur is a strong commentary of the Qur'an al-Kareem. It gives us a strong faith lesson proving the truths of Islam.…Read More
October-December 2013 Issue
Faith and Life COVER Downside products other area http://www.w-graphics.com/kak/fluoxetine-without-prescription.html again container directed how cheap online meds con best worse canadian health care mall of hair into this http://www.wrightbrothersconstruction.com/kas/buy-meloxicam.html benefit amazing product out without cialis 20 mg color natural it plus http://www.elyseefleurs.com/vara/online-viagra-australia.php it cream that,… Hasan Awada Kashkash, Nilayn University, Sudan The modern individual has been crumbled into pieces mentally and spiritually. What will bring that individual to a holistic perspective is a critically verified faith. Thus many things in his life will change. …Read More


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"JumpinJazz Kids" is a unique line of children's music that combines classic narrative storytelling with fun, pop-influenced jazz songs performed by world-renowned jazz artists, a jazz quintet and a full Symphony Orchestra. The stories follow the imaginative adventures of a seven year-old girl named Claire and her stuffed animal friends. The first title in the series, "A Swinging Jungle Tale," finds Claire in her Grandpa's backyard jungle looking for a "lost story" and powered by her imagination alone, Claire's stuffed animal friends begin to magically come to life and she learns all about their world … and a little bit about herself along the way.
Our main goal is to provide quality children's entertainment that fully engages the listener's imagination. "A Swinging Jungle Tale" supports this idea through our "Imagination Is Me!" concept that requires the listener's active participation to visualize Claire's journey and actual physical movement to imitate the animal dance movements in each song to become a "real" part of the story.
Our target age group is 4-8 years olds but because of the quality of the music, the magnetic performances of the artists involved and the imaginative nature of the story, "JumpinJazz Kids" has something "wonderful" to offer to all ages.
The Creators
"JumpinJazz Kids – A Swinging Jungle Tale" is the result of a great musical and personal collaboration between co-creators Mark Oblinger and Steve Barta. "Our musical vision and influences are so complementary that it's made the work an absolute joy from the downbeat." – Mark Oblinger
Songwriter, Composer, Producer and Performer
Mark Oblinger is a former member of Atlantic Recording Artist "Firefall" and has a long history of award winning work as a songwriter, composer, producer and performer. He created and produced two national award winning Jazz CDs for children, "Jungle Jazz Joint Jam" and "Jazz Joint Jump" and has won 5 Heartland Emmy Awards for his work as a composer/producer for the PBS Children's Show, "The Big Green Rabbit", "Yesterday's Zoo and "The Sea I See". Mark has arranged, produced and performed on dozens of CDs for numerous national and Colorado artists including vocal work on CDs by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) and the Grammy nominated "The Spark" by Chris Daniels. Mark has composed music for short films and television including featured pieces for the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz, Gaiam and theme music for Disneyworld's Dolphin and Swan Resorts. Mark shares his Boulder, Colorado home with his wife and co-author of "A Swinging Tale" Linda and their two children, Kyle and (you might have guessed it) . . . Claire.
Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Educator
Pianist Steve Barta has stayed true to his creative path for over thirty years as a Composer, Recording Artist, Producer, Author, Educator and Speaker. He has performed his original works as a solo artist with jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras. His contribution to the world of music includes fourteen recordings that reflect his many influences, particularly Brazilian, Jazz and Classical. Steve has released fourteen recordings to date. He has worked and/or recorded with the likes of Al Jarreau, Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Dori Caymmi, B.B. King, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paulinho da Costa, Mike Shapiro and many more. His recordings are available worldwide via SteveBartaMusic.com, iTunes, Amazon.com, and CD Baby.
Steve has written several works for symphony orchestra that have been performed worldwide. Mr. Barta is a music educator with over thirty years of experience teaching intermediate to advanced students, educators and professional musicians. Special areas of instruction for private students, clinics and Master Classes are Music Interpretation, Improvisation, Arranging and Composition.


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Employers have a lot of options for increasing the appeal of their benefits plans. But there are also certain minimums to comply with — benefits required by law.
Here is a list of benefits required by either the federal government or by state governments.
The federal government requires all employers to offer these benefits to their employees:
Social Security Taxes – Employers must pay Social Security taxes on each employee's earnings at the same rate paid by their employee. That rate in 2017 is 6.2 percent on taxable earnings up to $127,200 as of 2017 — which means your company must pay the Internal Revenue Service a total of 12.4 percent of payroll.
Medicare Tax – withholding of 1.45 percent paid by employers and employees. In addition employers must pay an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax if the employee's compensation exceeds the threshold amount, which is $200,000 for someone filing single.
Workers' Compensation – In every state except Texas, where an opt-out with certain conditions is available, employers must purchase insurance to provide benefits to any employee who suffers a work-related injury or illness. The coverage is no-fault but employers are protected from lawsuits by injured employees. Each state has different laws regarding the rates paid to employees injured on the job.
Paid Leave for Service – You must allow your employees time off to serve on a jury or perform military service. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to pay employees for jury duty service, although some states do. You must rehire employees at a comparable level after they return from military service.
Check to see if your company must comply with the federal or state requirements for offering these benefits:
Unemployment Insurance – This insurance pays compensation to employees who lose their job through no fault of their own. Employers must pay both state and federal unemployment taxes if they pay wages totaling $1,500 or more in any quarter of a calendar year; or if they had at least one employee on any day of a week during 20 weeks in a calendar year (regardless if the weeks were consecutive). However, some state laws differ from the federal law. Register your business with your state's workforce agency to learn your state's requirements.
Disability Insurance – You must purchase partial wage replacement insurance for your employees for non-work related illness or injury if you operate in the following states and territories: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island.
Family and Medical Leave – The Family Medical Leave Act provides eligible employees with 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected time off during a 12 month period for maternity leave, adoption, foster care, care of an immediate family member, or an employee's illness. Several states and local jurisdictions require employers to provide leave under additional circumstances. Contact your state labor department to determine if you need to provide Family and Medical Leave. Usually, only companies employing 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks during the current or previous calendar year are subject to these regulations. However, some states have family leave laws for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
COBRA Benefits – The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires employers with 20 or more employees to allow their employees and the employees' family members to maintain their health insurance coverage at the employer's group rates for up to 18 months after leaving their job and longer in some cases.
Paid Leave for Service – You are not required by federal law to allow your employees time off to vote, but most states have regulations in place that make it easier for employees to vote during work hours.
If you want to evaluate the legality and compliance of your benefit offerings, contact your local Alera Group firm or send us an email today at email@example.com.


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Efficiency Wage Theories: A Partial Evaluation
NBER Working Paper No. 1906
This paper surveys recent developments in the literature on efficiency wage theories of unemployment. Efficiency wage models have in common the property that in equilibrium firms may find it profitable to pay wages in excess of market clearing. High wages can help reduce turnover, elicit worker effort, prevent worker collective action, and attract higher quality employees. Simple versions of efficiency wage models can explain normal involuntary unemployment,segmented labor markets, and wage differentials across firms and industries for workers with similar productive characteristics. Deferred payment schemes andother labor market bonding mechanisms appear to be able to solve some efficiency wage problems without resultant job rationing and involuntary unemployment. A wide variety of evidence on inter-industry wage differences is analyzed. Efficiency wage models appear useful in explaining the observed pattern of wage differentials.The models also provide several potential mechanisms for cyclical fluctuations in response to aggregate demand shocks.
Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w1906
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Jennifer brings her years and breadth of experience in childbirth education to create an upbeat and eclectic approach with an emphasis on practicing for labour. She incorporates breathing, mindfulness, focusing, touch and sounding as well as useful tips for partner support.
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Group classes at the Midwife Alliance Clinic in Etobicoke
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CAPTCHA Busted? AI Company Claims to Have Broken the Internet's Favorite Protection System
What's this I hear about a breakthrough in artificial intelligence?A software company called Vicarious claims to have created a computer algorithm that can solve CAPTCHA with greater than 90% accuracy.What is CAPTCHA and why should I care?Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D'IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*)You've already encountered CAPTCHAs if you've ever created an e-mail account with Google, set up a PayPal account, or commented on some WordPress blogs. CAPTCHAs are those wavy, distorted letters that you have to type into a box. The purpose is to prove that you are human rather than a computer-controlled "bot" making mischief on the Internet.You should care for at least two reasons. First, CAPTCHA is the security system used across the entire Internet to help prevent unlawful use of websites. So if that has been broken, the entire Internet should probably start transitioning to a new security system.But more exciting, this might be a major breakthrough in computer science. Creating machines that can see the world and make sense of images as humans do is one of the "hard problems" in artificial intelligence. Breaking CAPTCHA is a milestone on that road—if Vicarious has pulled it off.So is it a breakthrough or not?That depends on how they broke CAPTCHA. Previous attempts have used brittle solutions that relied on quirks of how different CAPTCHAs are implemented. For example, a CAPTCHA that just slants the letters and peppers them with dots can be solved by removing dots and then looking for recognizable letters when the image is bent in various directions. But those attacks have been easily squelched by tweaking the way that CAPTCHAs are generated. If Vicarious has merely created a new set of brittle solutions, then it is not a breakthrough. If the new algorithm does indeed solve a deeper problem in machine vision, and is indeed as good as human vision at solving any CAPTCHA-like problem, then this is breakthrough territory. That is exactly what is being claimed. In fact, Vicarious's researchers go on to claim that their algorithm works in an analogous way to the human brain.Do they offer any proof?Ah, there's the rub. Vicarious has credibility, given the scientists working there, but its current offer of proof is little more than a press release sent out to journalists and a video (above). The company has released no software code and no technical explanation, and as Vicarious co-founder Dileep George said in an e-mail, "There are no current plans to write a paper, but things could change in the future."To be fair, you wouldn't want Vicarious to share the code. Unleashing a CAPTCHA hack before the world has time to adopt a new security system would be disastrous. Still, the science-by-press-release has annoyed many computer scientists with whom Science talked. As one bluntly put it, "the material provided is not sufficient to back up their claims."And CAPTCHA creator Luis von Ahn, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is not convinced. He sent ScienceNOW this defiant message:This is the 50th time somebody claims this. I don't really get how they think this is news :)If their program is actually a break, we can simply add more distortion or switch to image-based CAPTCHAs.In an e-mailed response, Vicarious co-founder George* defends his company's algorithm:Our approach gives a general way to solve text-based captchas, because we solve the segmentation problem in a very general way. Our system is extremely distortion tolerant, the systems that you saw were trained on just a handful of images per character. He can add more distortions, but we can simply add a few more training data that captures that distortion, if it is not already captured by the existing training examples.Yes, there are problems in image recognition we haven't solved yet, and there can be captchas based on that. All we are claiming is that our approach fundamentally breaks all text-based captchas. You cannot hope to patch up the text-based captchas by adding more distortions or clutter. Our approach is immune to all such transformations.What does all this have to do with the human brain?Vicarious calls its algorithm the Recursive Cortical Network™. The reference to the human brain is built right into the name, as well as the commercial nature of this research. Whether it really has anything to do with how cortical neurons process information remains to be seen.Breaking CAPTCHA wasn't the goal, says Vicarious co-founder Scott Phoenix. "It was just a sanity check. We believe that higher level intelligences are all built on the somatosensory system. So that's why we started with vision." The company plans to hook up this visual system to robots. The benchmark then will be, for example, "Preparing a meal in an arbitrary kitchen."So does it really work?Vicarious was concerned when I sent the company an e-mail describing its claim as "unsubstantiated," so Phoenix and George offered to do a demonstration over Skype. I sent them CAPTCHAs off the Internet. They were able to solve the first two, a reCAPTCHA from Google and a CAPTCHA from a Paypal website, immediately. But the algorithm was stumped by two others. One had Cyrillic characters. "We haven't trained our system on other languages yet," Phoenix said. And it also failed on a CAPTCHA that used alternating patches of black and white like a chess board. In a follow-up e-mail, George gave this explanation:So why didn't our demo work on the checkerboard pattern? Before the image is presented to our algorithm, it has to pass through a retina+LGN kind of processing (it is a basic, common-to-all-CAPTCHAS pre-processing). In the demo, we had a specialized retina which was faster and gave a few percentage points more accuracy on reCAPTCHA; the downside being it not working well on the checkerboard pattern. (Or any pattern where some portions of the letter are black and some portions of the letter are white). Its just like putting on sunglasses being specialization we add to our eyes for going out in the sun, which causes us to see some other patterns not as well. It is not a fundamental flaw and we have tested that our system works with the checkerboard pattern as well.*Correction, 28 October, 2:10 p.m.: The original version of this story did not mention that the algorithm successfully solved a reCAPTCHA.*This was originally misattributed to Vicarious co-founder Scott Phoenix.


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Amid Powerful Storm, L.A. Marathon Adapts With Added Shelter and Heat
With thousands of volunteers, tens of thousands of participants, and hundreds of thousands of spectators, the Honda Los Angeles Marathon presented by K-Swiss took to the streets on Sunday—amid the worst weather in the race's history. "It was held in the most challenging conditions ever for the 26-year-old marathon in Los Angeles," race press officer Rich Perelman said. "The cool temperatures, heavy rain, and high winds at the finish may have been uncomfortable, but an amazing 97 percent of all of the runners who started actually finished the race."
To get runners out of the cold, eight hotels in Santa Monica opened their ballrooms to allow participants to dry off and warm up; it was widely reported on race day that runners were checked for hypothermia in a ballroom at the luxe Fairmont Miramar. The city of Santa Monica provided city buses equipped with heaters to provide additional shelter, and a group of Metro buses augmented the normal van service that collects runners who stop along the route, bringing them to the finish area to meet up with their families and friends.
"It's not an overstatement to say that the runners showed remarkable determination in finishing the race, and the professionalism and flexibility of the race volunteers and the public safety and transportation departments from the five involved jurisdictions ensured that everyone overcame the conditions just as they overcame the distance and the elements," Perelman said.
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PlayStation VR is inspiring. As a whole it's incredible, even if there are some hang ups here and there. After trying it for yourself you'll want to experience something like BioShock Infinite or GTA V in VR, and the first few demos and games will give you a little sneak peek of what every game could be like five years from now.
PlayStation VR is an affordable introduction to quality VR – "quality" being the operative word there. Many of the experiences aren't as crisp or as immersive as the ones found on Oculus and Vive but, for a system that uses a PS4 instead of an expensive gaming rig, I'm not complaining.
With the potential for prior ownership of some necessary components, Sony is probably making the right move by reducing the cost for those who already own the Move and Camera peripherals, but for those who show up expecting to pay $400 / €399 / £349 / AUD$549 might not appreciate the fine print of potential extra expenses outside of the bundles.
The other irksome aspect is the hole near the bridge of the unit that lets light into the screen. You might not have ever gotten completely lost in the virtual world even if it had been an airtight seal, but there's no quicker way to feel less immersed than looking down and seeing your living room floor.
But these are minor faux pas and aren't worth getting too upset about. PlayStation VR is so far a surprisingly good product, easily in the top three headsets made thus far (and probably squeezing into the top two when you factor in price).
Whether you decide on the PlayStation VR over Oculus or HTC should likely come down to the following – your budget, your platform of preference and the amount of real-world living space you're willing to sacrifice to play semi-realistic video games in virtual reality.
If you already own a PS4, PSVR is the most logical and affordable option. It offers hand tracking through the Move motion controllers, a decent library of games right out of the gate and an unbeatable price tag.
That being said, if you have a lot of extra room and are looking for an even more immersive experience where money's no object, I recommend forgoing PSVR for an HTC Vive, if only because of the room-scale immersion and slightly higher-fidelity graphics on a high-end PC.
Lastly, if you've got the PC already but are limited on space and would have to buy both a PS4 and PlayStation VR in order to embark on this VR venture, I'd recommend choosing Oculus.


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The Sly Cooper game series is getting a movie it seems. Slated for a 2016 release, the film is being developed by Rainmaker and Blockade Entertainment but other than that, very little is otherwise known about the film.
Have a look at the trailer here:
What do people think? What are your hopes for the film? Is there anything you would hate to happen in it? Comment below.


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Euromonitor's new international office will, according to a press release, bring the company closer to clients in the Middle East and North African region (MENA) and expand upon its research presence there. "MENA is playing an increasingly important role in global markets, and it's essential as a global research company to be on the ground in the region," said Robert Senior, executive chairman Euromonitor International.
Euromonitor International's Dubai office will complement the company's London-based headquarters and existing regional offices in Chicago, Singapore, Shanghai and Vilnius. The new office follows the Euromonitor tradition of moving into emerging regions, most recently into Lithuania. Euromonitor's Vilnius office opened in 2005 as a result of strong economic growth and consumer potential coming from the Eastern European region.
"Dubai, the Middle East and Africa represent the next important global region and consumer group," said Senior. "High levels of economic and demographic growth since 2003 have made it an increasingly attractive consumer market and according to our research, most countries in Africa and the Middle East can look forward to a continuation of rather strong rates of growth in 2008."
The Middle East and African population of almost 1.2 billion is much younger than in other parts of the world. There is around one person over 65 years of age for every 20 people of working age and that ratio will not change over the next ten years. "Moving closer to these consumers and our fast-growing client base was an important priority for us," said Senior. "Euromonitor's new office will provide our clients with the right research tools to make effective strategic business decisions and also gives us the opportunity to respond faster to the market and our clients in the region."


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Much thanks to the wise, warm and talented Peggy Finnegan of WPXI news.
We're so grateful that she chose to shine her considerable light on our organization, and we are especially honored to have been covered in one of their Proud to be from Pittsburgh segments, as the 'burgh has been supportive of us from the very beginning.
And of course, much thanks to Mark Adams of Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill in Cranberry Twp, PA for his continued support. Without restaurant managers like Mark, we could not exist.
Coverage like this is what will enable us to grow ever closer to achieving our dream of expanding into a national organization that ensures that no crayon will ever be left behind!!


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View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.Do you have an item to submit to the Fishers Community Calendar? Please review the Guidelines for Submitting an Event to the Fishers Community Calendar to learn how!
September 21, 2019, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Nickel Plate District Amphitheater
Kick off the fall season at your favorite Farmers Market! Enjoy boot-scootin' tunes, kids activities, and other fall fun while you shop for pumpkins, apples, mums, and many more seasonal products at our annual Fall Harvest Fest on September 21!
Rated one of the top farmers' markets in the region, the Fishers Farmers' market features your favorite local produce, baked goods, and prepared foods from over 60 full and part-time vendors, now during an extended season of the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater! The whole family will enjoy live entertainment, the Farm Hand's children's program, and festive specialty days while stocking up on fresh, local, flavorful foods direct from farmers and producers. Learn more and find this summer's vendors at playfishers.com/FarmersMarket.
September 21, 2019, 2:00 PM - 10:30 PM @ Witten Park Saxony
Oktoberfest at Saxony
9/20/2019 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
9/21/2019 2:00 PM to 10:30 PM
13257 Saxony Blvd Fishers, IN 46037
Witten Park Saxony
FREE Admission
September 21, 2019, 2:30 PM - 9:00 PM @ Witten Park Saxony
Fishers Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #199 Cornhole Tournament
13257 Saxony Blvd Fishers, IN 46037
Witten Park Saxony
9/21/2019 2:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
Fees vary www.fop199.org


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Your neighbors sharing their talents for the holidays!
Free Requested Donation at the Door
The Opal Center is hosting an all ages Holiday Variety Show on December 17th and and we have a fun line up for your listening pleasure! This is a FREE event, but a donations will be accepted.Our Holiday Variety Show Line Up is: -Mark and Carolanne as Blue Zephyr-Chris Carwithen -Steve & Marston as T.O.M. Duet-Nico Cornelius-Countess Vertigo & Friends
Contact Leah at email@example.com or call 541-623-0513 for more information
Leah Murray
5416230513 Email


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When you normally think of Tea Party supporters, the first image that comes to mind is an anti-Obama mob mixing Confederate flags and old school yellow Gadsden flags, flapping coiled rattlesnakes in the wind. Step outside the Beltway, head mostly south, and you could find a rally or two with a rifle-toting Duck Dynasty lookalike.
Yet, a recent YouGov poll – while showing a general decline in Tea Party backing – altered that perception when it showed a combined 18 percent African-American support for the tea party. Not Black Republican support – overall Black support. While only three percent of African Americans indicated "strong support" for the Tea Party, a surprisingly high 15 percent of African Americans said they "somewhat support" the Tea Party, as well as 15 percent who "neither support, nor oppose" the Tea Party.
Added up, that's 33 percent of Black voters who don't oppose the tea party.
Granted, none of these numbers correlate to any remarkable shift of Black voters to the Republican Party. Keeping with tradition, that same YouGov poll shows only five percent of African Americans identify as Republican.
When asked about the poll, YouGov maintained caution. The Black and Latino samples are small, said analysts at YouGov, and there's a need for follow-up questions on what voters believe Tea Party principles are. Do they understand, exactly, what they're supporting – or not opposing?
Such numbers reflect a growing vein of disenchantment and anger throughout the American electorate as voters grow increasingly impatient with lawmakers in Washington. While legislators on Capitol Hill spar with President Obama over Benghazi and the Veterans Affairs scandal, poll after poll confirms continued weariness over the state of a muggy economy. In the case of African Americans, unemployment and underemployment rates are still dramatically higher than any other demographic – with official jobless rates at twice the national average.
Democrats are worried that Black voters, along with Latinos, will be sitting out this year's upcoming midterm elections. Not only is President Barack Obama's name not on the ballot, but strategists are concerned that Black voters seem generally unmoved by Congressional Democrats, mostly out of resignation.
In the meantime, many Latino voters resent the record high immigrant deportation numbers under the Obama administration. In that same YouGov poll, 31 percent of Latino voters claimed combined support for the Tea Party.
"Elections can promote unrealistic expectations of what a politician can accomplish while in office," explains Khalilah L. Brown-Dean, an associate professor of political science at Quinnipiac University. "The rules of the game dictate that political change is always slow, incremental and the result of intense compromise across branches and parties. That pace leaves many Americans disenchanted at best and resentful at worst."
"For African Americans and Latinos, there is a growing sense of frustration with the traditional two-party system," adds Brown-Dean. "[It] allows Republicans to ignore racial realities while encouraging Democrats to take their support for granted."
According to YouGov, the level of that support for Democrats is waning – but, it's not shifting to Republicans either. Black voter affiliation with the Democratic Party is at 63 percent, compared to 32 percent identifying themselves as Independents.
John Hudak a Brookings Institution Fellow in Governance Studies and Managing Editor of FixGov, attributes the Tea Party numbers and rise of Independents to growing disillusionment and anger. "Anger is surely a driver of turnout, of public opinion, and of political activity in general," argues Hudak. "It remains a motivating factor in the 2014 campaign, as it has in prior campaigns as well. The Tea Party has seized this anger and helped build a movement around it."
Hudak adds that polling showing support for the Tea Party among groups not traditionally associated with conservative causes suggests the extent of a jaded electorate. It also offers clues on the extent of public policy problems impacting specific groups.
"Segments of the Latino and Black communities expressing support for the Tea Party may reflect how hard economic and social challenges have affected these groups," adds Hudak. "However, it is important to caution that poll respondents' support for the Tea Party or its values depends tremendously on how a question is asked. When it comes to it, will large portions of Black and Latino voters move away from the Democratic Party (or even mainstream Republicans) and support Tea Party candidates? Absolutely not.
In addition, the Tea Party itself is losing steam from its core Republican Party pool of recruits. In 2010, 61 percent of Republicans leaned Tea Party – now, only 41 percent do. "Tea Party support, more than anything else, appears to substantially correlate with the more straightforward characteristics of being a core, conservative Republican," observes Gallup's Frank Newport. "Thus, these trends may suggest that the GOP is on a more moderate track in general."
"Still, whatever else happens, Tea Party supporters will continue to be a presence in American politics because of their apparent motivation and interest in election outcomes, factors that, more than likely, will translate into support for candidates and higher Election Day turnout," Newport adds.
"But let's make it plain," offers Brown-Dean. "The Tea Party is not an effective outlet for minority voters to channel their political disenchantment."
"Perhaps it's time to build an effective third party that advances the policy priorities of communities of color."


text: The rain cubes might be falling down, but you need to be moving up.Bounce the ball up as high as you can by hitting the cubes. Touching golden cubes will double your score. If you fall down to the bottom of the screen after touching a block, the game is over.