text:
YEAR ONE was Well Done :-)
Posted on October 16, 2009 by thekoolaidmom
Hello, everybody! Before I get into my review of the movie Year One, I just want to let you know where I've been for the last couple months. I found my way into the World of Warcraft and have been battling the forces of the Scourge and the Bich King to save Azeroth. I've managed to get my main character, a Night Elf Druid named Nagaira to level 59 and my Death Knight named DameNagaira to level 62, but I've gotten a bit burned out on it… Azeroth will have to find another hero to save them for a while… lol. Mags has even gotten into it, but she plays like a girl. Her idea of playing WoW is to ride boats, trams and flights and to camp out in the inns. She cries about having to kill the tigers, lions, wolves, killer bunnies… and she doesn't like to read the quest info, so basically, she never levels and everything can kill her. So, I made a Death Knight for her that we can share. I'll level her, and she can run around where she wants without worry of death and resurrection… and finding her body, which can be a long, painstaking process because she likes to jump off cliffs, boats and buildings I couldn't figure out how to res with the spirit healer until a couple weeks ago.
But… I'm back to reading and trying to make up for lost time. I've finished 3 books and am almost done with two more while away. I'll get the reviews written up for them soon. 🙂
So, now for Year One…
Year One is the result of a question posed by writer and director Harold Ramis: How would a person with modern-day sensibilities and consciousness get along in a biblical-times society? Particularly with the post-Christianity questioning and shifting ethics that is prevalent in many urbanites today. The resulting cultural shock of the "enlightened chosen one," Zed (played by Jack Black), and his side-kick friend, Oh (played by Michael Cera), as they find themselves thrust out of their caveman-village after Zed eats the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is hilarious. In the span of 30 minutes or so, Zed and Oh witness the first fratricide when the meet Cain and Abel returning from their sacrifice, meet Lillith, the first lesbian, get sold into slavery, happen upon Abraham (played by Hank Azaria) as he's about to sacrifice Isaac, get circumcised, travel to Sodom, join the city's guard… only to end up as slaves, again. Yet through it all, Zed continues to insist he's been chosen by God or "the gods" (he's not sure which, just sure He or they aren't female,) and Oh rolls his eyes and plays "Sancho Panza" to Zed's "Don Quixote."
This movie has a good mix of a fabulous cast who have great chemistry together, irreverent and iconoclastic humor, smart writing and pop-culture references (at one point, Oh chants, "Yes, we can!" and I nearly fell off my chair with laughter.)
There were several surprises when I watched the behind-the-scenes segment on the DVD. I was shocked when I found out that Oliver Platt had played the effeminent, pedophiliac high priest. I never even recognized him! I also hadn't recognized Harold Ramis in the role of Adam, nor had I realized Isaac was played by the same actor who played McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). In Year One, Mintz-Plasse has long head-banger-like hair and is sans glasses, and Isaac, his character, is a kinda Heeb-wigger gangsta-wannabe ("I can see why his dad wanted to kill him," Zed says at one point.) Also a cast surprise was David Cross as Cain. The whole time I watched the movie I kept trying to place the actor, and was convinced he was one of the Geico Cavemen, only to find out he played the only part of the Chipmunk movie I liked: Uncle Ian. I am still not completely convinced he didn't play a Caveman.
One of my FAVORITE parts of Year One wasn't even in the movie. In the special features section of the DVD is a fantastic little 2 minute video called "Leeroy Jenkins: The Gates of Sodom." It's a Year One's take on the now immortalized WoW raid. They even address the two raging factions (seriously, there ARE people bitter and angry at each other over this!): At the end of the clip, did Leeroy Jenkins huff "At least I AIN'T chicken" or did he brag "At least I HAVE chicken?" (Of course Isaac plays Leeroy… he did a Leeroy move in the movie, too, that got Zed and Oh in trouble while he ran off yelling, "Peace out, SUCKAS!")
Things I could've lived without… they do go a bit far with the poop and pee jokes, but those are the same scenes that my 15 and 17 year olds repeat again and again… and again. Also, there are sexual references and innuendos throughout the movie (they spend half of it in Sodom, you know, so you might find yourself barraged with uncomfortable questions by younger children… "Why is that girl eating a banana like that? Why does that boy like watching her? What does she mean, she likes to have sex with girls? What is sodomy and why is it the best thing?") and, at one point, Cain cajoles Oh's desire to save himself for the girl he loves by saying, "What transpires within the confines of the walls of Sodom, stays within the confines of the walls of Sodom."
Oh, a little funny side thought here… Michael Cera played Paulie Bleeker, the hapless, accidental father-to-be to Ellen Page's Juno in the award-winning 2007 film Juno, and in Year One, his character Oh's love interest, Eema, is played by British actress Juno Temple. Just thought that was neat. 😉
Filed under: Random | Tagged: Abel, Abraham, Adam, At least I ain't chicken, at least I have chicken, Azeroth, Bich King, Cain, Chipmunks, chosen one, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, circumcision, David Cross, Death Knight, Don Quixote, Druid, Ellen Page, fratricide, gangsta, gangsta-wannabe, Geico Cavemen, Hank Azaria, Harold Ramis, heeb, hero, high priest, Holy Grail, Isaac, Jack Black, Juno, Juno Temple, killer bunny, Leeroy Jenkins, lesbian, Lich King, Lillith, Maggie, McLovin, Michael Cera, Monty Python, movie, Night Elf, Oh, Oliver Platt, Paulie Bleeker, post-Christianity, quest, raid, Sancho Panza, Scourge, slavery, sodomize, sodomy, The Gates of Sodom, Uncle Ian, wannabe, wigga, wigger, World of Warcraft, Year One, Yes we can, Zed |	2 Comments »
Emma by Jane Austen
Posted on June 15, 2009 by thekoolaidmom
Title: Emma
Author: Jane Austen
Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
The very first subject, after being seated, was Maple Grove, 'My brother, Mr Suckling's seat'; a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove… 'Very like Maple Grove indeed! She was quite struck by the likeness! That room was the very shape and size of the morning-room at Maple Grove; her sister's favourite room.' Mr Elton was appealed to. 'Was not it astonishingly like? She could really almost fancy herself at Maple Grove.
'And the staircase. You know, as I came in, I observed how very like the staircase was; placed exactly in the same part of the house. I really could not help exclaiming! I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, it is very delightful to me to be reminded of a place I am so extremely partial to as Maple Grove. I have so many happy months there!' (with a little sigh of sentiment.) 'A charming place, undoubtedly. Everybody who sees it is struck by its beauty; but to me it has been quite a home. Whenever you are transplanted, like me, Miss Woodhouse, you will understand how very delightful it is to meet with anything at all like what one has left behind. I always say this is quite one of the evils of matrimony.'
Emma made as slight a reply as she could; but it was fully sufficient for Mrs Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself.
–Emma by Jane Austen, pages 217-218
I finished this book almost a week ago after being stuck in it for about six months. I've wanted to give it time to sit and think about it before making an official judgment by way of a review. And, while I still say it was the hardest Austen book so far and my least favorite, I have to admit a serious amount of respect for the women of the era. I'm definitely grateful times have changed since then!
Long and short of things, Emma Woodhouse more or less grew up the Miss Woodhouse of her father's home, meaning she was the society keeper. The golden daughter, beautiful and clever, she has never been denied anything by her father, who's a bit of a hypochondriac, nor by her governess Miss Taylor, who has just married Mr. Weston in the beginning of the novel. Emma believes she is responsible for making this match and decides to aim her powers at the single vicar, Mr. Elton. Her brother-in-law's brother, Mr. Knightly, however, admonishes her to leave match-making be, to let love take its course, but she doesn't listen (OF COURSE!) and this sets a series of events into motion that forces Emma to grow up and re-evaluate her own position and judgments and that of those around her.
What Austen does in Emma is to recreate the sense of isolation and near-claustrophobic sensations of the life and choices living as an early 19thcentury English woman. She equates the life of a governess as a polite form of slavery. She also conveys the sense of captivity and inertial force of the class stratification of the era. Everyone had a place, and everyone had acceptable and unacceptable pools of "friends" within the system to choose from: Either their equal or many levels beneaththem so as to help improve them, but no one only a little below them.. lest they degrade themselves. Those who tried to improve their social standing by latching onto those above them and trying the seem their equal were treated with civil incivility: Invitations "forgotten," stories told to remind them where they belong, arguments about things immaterial that vented hostilities and prejudices.
Emma by Jane Austen presents the parlor life of emotional constipation and gilded-cage existence without choices beyond who to invite for dinner that ran on and on until death was begged for. In this day and age, when I can tell my neighbor flat-out, he's an ass, and go on. He and I live a life of pretending the other doesn't exist, which works well.
The book also conveys the sense of the inescapable lot assigned to a person because of who one's family is and what they've done. Harriet is a persona somewhat non grata because her parentage is unknown. She could never expect to marry a gentleman, because no respectable man would take in the chance of social disaster if her father ever turned out to be a criminal or worse. You are who your grandparents were, and if you screw up your life, you ruin your grandchildren's chances for a future, destroy your siblings' reputation and shame your parents.
It amounted to a suffocating life where the most seemingly trivial choices could destroy one's life and reputation. While Emma by Jane Austen is not one of my favorites, it's a worthwhile book to read. I'm glad to have read it, as much as I am glad I'm DONE reading it. 4 out of 5 stars.
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: 19th century, 19th century England, Austen, class stratification, classic literature, classism, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, english literature, Harriet Smith, Jane Austen, marriage, match making, Miss Taylor, Mr Elton, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Weston, slavery, society |	6 Comments »
Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey
Posted on February 15, 2009 by thekoolaidmom
Title: Freedom's Landing
Author: Anne McCntaffrey
Publisher: Ace/Putnam
An afternoon breeze swirled the black clouds about and Kris caught glimpses of the man, lurching still further from the crash site. She saw him stumble and fall, after which he made no move to rise. Above, the bees buzzed angrily, circling the smoke and probably wondering if their prey had gone up in the explosion.
Catteni didn't hunt each other as a rule, she told herself, surprised to find that she was halfway down from her perch.They fight like Irishmen, sur, but to chase a man so far from the city? What could he have done?
The crash had been too far away for Kris to distinguish the hunted man's features or build. He might just be an escaped slave, like herself. If not Terran, he might be from one of the half-dozen other subjugated races that lived on Barevi. Someone who had had the guts to steal a flitter didn't deserve to die under Catteni forcewhips.
… Keeping close to the brown rocks so nearly the shade of her own tanned skin, she crossed the remaining distance. She all but tripped over him as the wind puffed black smoke down amon the rocks.
"Catteni!" she cried, furious as she bent to examine the unconscious man and recognized the gray and yellow uniform despite its tattered and black-smeared condition.
–Freedom's Landingby Anne McCaffrey, pages 4-5
Freedom's Landing is the first in a series of four books by Anne McCaffrey chronicling the struggles and successes of the "colonists" of Botany.
After an invasion by an intergalactic race called the Catteni, tens of thousands of humans are rounded up and dropped off on the planet Barevi, a sort of trading post for the Catteni. Kris Bjornsen is one such Terran, as human are referred, having been captured in Denver. After becoming aware that her Catteni owner has sexual intentions toward her, Kris steals his flitter (a flying personal vehicle) and lives the next few months in the wilds a few miles from the only city on the planet.
When she observes a group of Catteni flitters chasing and firing upon another flitter, she assumes the man being hunted is another slave. However, she is shocked and disgusted that he is a Catteni. Despite her feelings for his race, she helps him to safety and hides him in her absconded flitter she now calls home.
"You're one of the new species?"
"I'm a Terran," she said with haughty pride, her stance marred by a convulsice shiver.
"Thin-skinned species," he remarked. He looked at her chest, noticed the slight heave from her recent exertions that made her breasts strain against the all too inadequate covering and slowly started to stroker her shoulder with one firger. His touch was unexpectedly feather-light -and more. "Soft to the touch," he said absently. "I haven't tried a Terran yet…"
"And you're not going to start on this one," she said, jumping as far away from him as she could…
-Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey, page 10
When it becomes apparent to Kris that this Catteni intends to reward her kindness by raping her, she conks him as hard as she can, knocking him unconscious, and flies the flitter back to the outskirts of the city with the intention of dumping him where he belongs.
However, things do not go according to plan, and she and her passenger are caught in the middle of a riot. They are gassed and rounded up with the rebellious slaves and dumped on an uninhabited planet.
When they and the other "colonists" come to, many of them want to kill the lone representative of their captors. Kris, who feels responsible for his being dumped with them, convinces Mitford, a former Marine who has taken charge of the people in their dropped group, to spare the Catteni as he may be useful to them.
And useful Zainal turns out to be! Having seen the report on the planet they've come to name Botany, he is able to warn them of the some of dangers the planet poses and does his best to save many of those later dumped by Catteni ships.
While this is a Sci-Fi book, don't let that put you off if you aren't into that genre. It isn't all "Dr. Who" and "Star Wars" kind of stuff, though there are a few references made to Dr. Who and one of the machines they encounter is given the name "dalek" because of its resemblance to the fictional "exterminate" proclaiming machine on the show.
More than anything, Freedom's Landing is a story of survival and the banding together of peoples from differing backgrounds (not only different human groups, but also other alien species -Deskis, Rugarians, and others) to form a new society. If you like Survivor-type shows and books, you'd like Freedom's Landing.
My friend who introduced me to this book loves the character Zainal, even naming his VR characters after him. And I also like Zainal, who is of Catteni nobility and displays more honor and respect than a lot of the humans he's dropped with. However, Mitford is my favorite character. Sargent Mitford is the epitome of the concept that one of the best qualities a great leader possesses is the ability to delegate, delegate, delegate! What Sarge is capable of doing with the minimal resources they are deposited with in creating a civilized, working community is mind-boggling. I wouldn't mind reading a book from Mitford's perspective.
While there is much I love in Freedom's Landing, there are a few things I didn't like. First of all, I found McCaffrey's writing style annoying in parts. Some of the word choices and expressions she used just rubbed me the wrong way. Also, there seemed to be a few incongruous things written in the book. One example is the initial description of Zainal: His pupils are described as gold and the irises black, but the rest of the book the description is reversed with his irises gold.
Also, McCaffrey never addresses difficulties that would have surely risen with a large number of human females, namely menstruation. With the main character, and from whose perspective much of the book is written, cast as a woman, you would think at least as much verbiage would be used to cover this difficulty as was used to detail the "facilities" for other bodily functions.
Overall, Freedom's Landingis a fascinating look into the formation of a new society and all the difficulties that brings, as well as the adventure of survival in an unknown land. It's worth reading, even with it's faults, and shouldn't be limited to Sci-Fi nutters.
I give Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey 3 and a half stars.
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: alien invasion, Barevi, Botany, Catteni, Deski, Emassi, enslavement, Ilginish, Kris Bjornsen, prejudice, rape, Rugarian, Science Fiction, slavery, space travel, Tur, Zainal |	3 Comments »
The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis
Title: The Horse and His Boy
Author: C. S. Lewis
Miscellaneous: This edition is part of a complete collection in one book copy. It was chronologically published fifth but is meant to be read third in the series.
He was just going to run for it when suddenly, between him and the desert, a huge animal bounded into view. As the moon was behind it, it looked quite black, and Shasta did not know what it was, except that it had a very big, shaggy head and went on four legs. It did not seem to have noticed Shasta, for it suddenly stopped, turned its head towards the desert and let out a roar which re-echoed through the Tombs and seemed to shake the sand under Shasta's feet. The cries of the other creatures suddenly stopped and he thought he could hear feet scampering away. Then the great beast turned to examine Shasta.
"It's a lion, I know it's a lion," thought Shasta. "I'm done. I wonder, will it hurt much? I wish it was over. I wonder, does anything happen to people after they're dead? O-o-oh! Here it comes!" And he shut his eyes and his teeth tight.
But instead of teeth and claws he only felt something warm lying down at his feet. And when he opened his eyes he said, "Why, it's not nearly as big as I thought! It's only half the size. No, it isn't even quarter the size. I do declare it's only the cat!! I must have dreamed all that about it being as big as a horse."
And whether he really had been dreaming or not, what was now lying at his feet, and staring him out of countenance with its big, green, unwinking eyes, was the cat; though certainly one of the largest cats he had ever seen.
–The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, page 246
The Horse and His Boy, though published fifth, is meant to be read third in the series. It is an interim book telling a story that takes place within the time of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and features the adults Kings Peter and Edmund and Queens Susan and Lucy.
The book begins, "This is the story of an adventure that happened in Narnia and Calormen and the lands between, in the Golden Age when Peter was High King in Narnia and his brother and his two sisters were King and Queens under him." And then opens on a poor fisherman's hut where a cruel middle-aged bachelor and his foundling son, Shasta, live. When a Tarkaan (something like a lord or baron) stops at the house and offers to buy Shasta, the boy is relieved to be leaving the man he'd always thought was his father but had never loved.
However, his relief is short-lived when the Tarkaan's horse turns out to be one of the talking Horses of Narnia who tells him that he'd be better off lying dead on the roadside than as the slave of the Tarkaan. Bree, the Horse, tells Shasta he was kidnapped as a Foal and is really a Freeperson of Narnia. He further tells the boy that he himself is not a Caloremenian, but is a Narnian (or Archenlander) as well.
The two devise a plan of escape, and when the men are sleeping in the house, the Horse and the boy set off for Narnia and the North. Along the way, they meet up with another Narnian Horse, a mare named Hwin, and a young girl named Aravis, who is a Tarkeena running away from an arranged marriage to a horribly wicked and hideous old man.
As they set out to pass through the capital city, though, the four are stopped by a procession of the Narnian Royals and Shasta is snatched out of crowd by Edmund who mistakes him for the missing Archenland Prince in their company. This turns out to be a blessing, as Shasta learns of a hidden path that greatly shortens the trek through the desert that lies between Calormen and the lands of the North.
Throughout this book, there is a force leading, guiding, and protecting the four. Of course, anyone who's read the previous Narnia book knows this is Aslan, who has been working behind the scenes for the past 10-15 years (Shasta's age is never given) to ensure that Archenland and Narnia will be safe from the attack of the Calormenian Prince Rabadash.
The Horse and His Boyis also Christian allegory, this time expressing the steadfastness and ever-present nature of Christ, even when we don't realize he's there (as Shasta was unaware of the true identity of the cat that protected and comforted him in the Tombs), and even before we know Him or follow Him (as neither Shasta nor Aravis new of Aslan, and in fact served other gods). You cannot help but love Aslan as he reveals himself, and how he has been watching after them throughout their lives. It's very comforting to know He is always with us and caring for us, even when we're stubbornly going our own way and resisting His hand.
Though I can't say I liked The Horse and His Boy more that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I definitely liked it more than The Magician's Nephew (though I still love the Creation of Narnia), and thoroughly loved and enjoyed it. I absolutely give this book 5 out of 5 stars 😀
Don't forget to enter to win your choice of a Borders, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble gift card for $5, $10, $15, or $25! Click and read my Buy Books for the Holidays post for details!
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: Archenland, arranged marriage, aslan, battle, C. S. Lewis, Calormen, Christian allegory, Edmund, escape, good versus evil, Lucy, Narnia, Peter, run away, slavery, Susan, talking animals, Tumnus |	7 Comments »
Two Brothers: One North, One South by David H. Jones
Posted on November 25, 2008 by thekoolaidmom
Title: Two Brothers: One North, One South
Author: David H. Jones
Hardback: 320 pages
Publisher: Staghorn Press
Clifton frowned in resentment at the tone of the question. "William and I were always very close, enjoying the very best of brotherly love and harmonious relationship. However, as discord between the states increased, what had been simple differences in political perspective grew into something substantially more ominous. I couldn't change that!"
Two Brothers: One North, One South by David H. Jones, page 41
In Two Brothers, David H. Jones does an exceptional job at recreating the peri-bellum era. The dress, mannerisms, and patterns of speech make history come alive in the imagination as the reader is drawn into the unfolding tale of two brothers, Major Clifton Prentiss, a Union Officer, and William Prentiss of the Maryland 2nd Battalion, a Confederate soldier.
The history of the family and how it came to be that, out of four brothers, William took the Secessionist stand is told to Walt Whitman by the three surviving brothers. Clifton Prentiss, hospitalized from an injury sustained in battle, is joined by his brothers Dr. John Prentiss, Jr. and Meliville Prentiss. Whitman, being the last person with their youngest brother, having comforted him in his last days, shares with them what he learned from the rebel soldier as he lay dying.
Two Brothersis a fascinating look into the life and emotions that surrounded the events that led up to, and were felt in, The War Between the States. Even though I had a well-informed knowledge of the Civil War, in reading this book I experienced more of the emotions, acrimony and tension that was felt during such an uncertain time. The Prentiss family being in Baltimorians during this time, they were in an epicenter of the Northern push for union and emancipation versus the Southern desire for the state's rights to self-govern as guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution and the economic reliance on slavery.
Walt Whitman, one of America's greatest poets, was a firm supporter of the Union, and took a job in an Army Paymaster's office to support the Union cause. Visiting his injured brother in a field hospital, he was confronted with the suffering and pain sustained by the wounded and began giving comfort to the worst of the injured with regular visits to the Armory Square Hospital.
While Two Brothers is a thoroughly researched and exceptionally written book through which Jones brings to life this true story of a compassionate poet and a family torn by the War Between Brothers, it's not my usual read. I did enjoy it and learned from it, but it's not something I would pick up on my own. However, if you are into historical novels Two Brothersis a must read. Also, I would recommend this book be included in a curriculum course that covers the Civil War Era. It's easy enough to read for high school students to learn from as well as college students.
My own preferences aside, I would give Two Brothers: One North, One South by David H. Jones 5 out of 5 stars.
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: brothers, Civil War, Confederacy, David H. Jones, death, family, history, secession, slavery, State's rights, Union, Walt Whitman, war |	3 Comments »


text:
Film review: Tasty zombie action with a gifted girl
Sennia Nanua in The Girl With All The Gifts
Matt Adcock
Matt Adcock reviews (and appears in) The Girl With All The Gifts
Meet Melanie – she's a special girl. Bright, polite and caring, full of wide-eyed wonder at the world around her – oh , and she's not actually human, even thought you couldn't tell by looking at her.
Welcome to the near future. Mankind has been infected by a fungal-like Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis – which is bad new because it turns you into a 'hungry'. A state where your mental capacity is replaced with a predatory need to feed on the flesh of healthy humans – thus spreading the disease.
Director Colm 'Sherlock' McCarthy takes the excellent, heartbreaking novel by M R Carey and brings it to brutal life on the big screen. The 'Girl' with the gifts Melanie is played with superb warmth and likeable empathy by newcomer Sennia Nanua (who has the capacity to be a big star based on this breakthrough role).
Melanie's world is one of confinement, locked in a cell, she and her classmates are only let out to be taught by kind teacher Helen Justineau (Gemma 'Byzantium' Arterton) or experimented on by the callous Dr. Caroline Caldwell (Glenn 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Close) – who's trying to find a cure to the disease.
When the base they are on is overrun by 'Hungries' - the zombie-like infected humans – these three main players along with Sgt Parks (Paddy 'Dead Man's Shoes' Considine) and a couple of other soldiers go on the run. Further threats emerge en route the last human main base which include not just contamination and getting munched by the Hungries but also a very nasty bunch of feral half human/half hungry kids.
It's grim stuff but the plot cracks along and these are characters you'll soon care about. The action scenes are fantastic considering the small budget and the cinematography of a UK which has been wrecked will haunt you – as will the ending.
The Hungries are superb – fast running, nightmares, all teeth and wild eyes. I had the privilege of being one of them for the base attack scene (look out for the one with very little hair leading the run past Arterton in the midst of the action). It was an absolutely blast to get to be part of this film and I'm delighted that it's turned out so well!
The Girl With All The Gifts is a scary thrill ride you really should take.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 07, 2015, 7 U.S. common stocks are scheduled to go ex-dividend. The dividend yields on these stocks range from 0.7% to 10.3%. All of these stocks can be found on our stocks going ex-dividend section of our dividend calendar.
Owners of Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De (NYSE: SBS) shares, as of market close today, will be eligible for a dividend of 9 cents per share. At a price of $5.92 as of 9:56 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.5%.
The average volume for Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De has been 3.0 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De has a market cap of $3.9 billion and is part of the utilities industry. Shares are down 8.4% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday.
Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo-SABESP provides basic and environmental sanitation services; and supplies treated water on a wholesale basis to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in the state of Sao Paulo. The company has a P/E ratio of 4.80.
TheStreet Ratings rates Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its compelling growth in net income, notable return on equity and attractive valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including weak operating cash flow and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself. You can view the full Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De Ratings Report now.
Owners of Children's Place (NASDAQ: PLCE) shares, as of market close today, will be eligible for a dividend of 15 cents per share. At a price of $64.07 as of 9:55 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 0.9%.
The average volume for Children's Place has been 470,700 shares per day over the past 30 days. Children's Place has a market cap of $1.3 billion and is part of the retail industry. Shares are up 12.6% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday.
The Children's Place, Inc. operates as a children's specialty apparel retailer. The company has a P/E ratio of 24.77.
TheStreet Ratings rates Children's Place as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, solid stock price performance and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full Children's Place Ratings Report now.
Owners of Aetna (NYSE: AET) shares, as of market close today, will be eligible for a dividend of 25 cents per share. At a price of $107.09 as of 9:56 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 0.9%.
The average volume for Aetna has been 2.3 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Aetna has a market cap of $37.4 billion and is part of the health services industry. Shares are up 20.6% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday.
Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.86.
TheStreet Ratings rates Aetna as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, revenue growth, reasonable valuation levels, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. You can view the full Aetna Ratings Report now.


text:
<!DOCTYPE html>
{% load url from future %}
{% load jsonify %}
{% load staticfiles %}
{% load get_item from dict_operations %}

    {% if title %}
        <title>{{ title }} - {{ title_site }}</title>
    {% else %}
        <title>{{ title_site }}</title>
    {% endif %}

    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="{% static 'images/favicon.png' %}" type="image/png">
    <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/png" href="{% static 'images/favicon.png' %}"/>

    <link rel="image_src" href="{% static 'images/vai-de-carona-logo.png' %}"/>

    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">

    {% include "analytics.html" %}

    <link href="{% static 'lib/bootstrap/css/bootstrap.min.css' %}" rel="stylesheet" media="screen">
    <link href="{% static 'lib/bootstrap/css/bootstrap-theme.min.css' %}" rel="stylesheet" media="screen">

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="{% static 'lib/pickadate/themes/default.css' %}">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="{% static 'lib/pickadate/themes/default.date.css' %}">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="{% static 'lib/pickadate/themes/default.time.css' %}">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="{% static 'lib/pickadate/translations/pt_BR.js' %}">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="{% static 'css/styles.css' %}">

    {% block javascript %}
    {% endblock javascript %}
    {% block css %}
    {% endblock css %}

{% include "facebook.html" %}

    {% include "header.html" %}

        {% block content %}
        {% endblock content %}

    {% include "footer.html" %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Careers Vendors Contact
Store Count & Square Footage
Calendar of Public Disclosures
DRIP/Stock Purchase
Naveen Krishna To Join Macy's, Inc. As Chief Technology Officer
Download as PDF June 13, 2018
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M) today announced that Naveen Krishna will be appointed chief technology officer, effective June 16, 2018.
Krishna will be responsible for driving the technology strategy and direction for Macy's, Inc., including all store, e-commerce and internal-facing technologies. He will oversee the teams that build the end-to-end e-commerce experience, enterprise-shared services, infrastructure, field services and functional IT support. Krishna will report to Hal Lawton, president of Macy's, and will be based in John's Creek, GA, one of the Macy's Technology hubs. He will also spend time at Macy's Technology offices in San Francisco, CA, and Lorain, OH.
"I'm thrilled to have Naveen Krishna join the Macy's team as we enhance our focus on technology," said Lawton. "We are investing in technology to improve digital and mobile experiences, site stability, store technology and fulfillment and logistics improvements. Naveen's track record in omni-channel retail makes him the perfect fit to lead the Macy's Technology organization at this critical time."
Krishna joins Macy's, Inc. with more than 20 years of technology experience, primarily in the omni-channel retail and consumer products industries. Most recently, he was vice president of technology for The Home Depot, where he had responsibility for all digital platforms, user experience design, marketing technologies and customer care.
About Naveen Krishna
Naveen Krishna joins Macy's, Inc. with more than 20 years of experience leading technology organizations in the retail and consumer products industries. In his most recent role as vice president of technology for The Home Depot, he was responsible for leading The Home Depot's digital and omni-channel platforms growth and delivering omni-channel capabilities, customer care and marketing platforms, and establishing Enterprise User Experience discipline. Prior to joining The Home Depot in 2010 as senior director of information technology, Krishna was a director at Target with overall accountability for Target.com technology and operations. He also spent 13 years in leadership roles with FedEx Kinko's and Deloitte Consulting. Naveen holds a M.Sc. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology; M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri; and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Mysore University in India.
About Macy's, Inc.
Macy's, Inc. is one of the nation's premier retailers. With fiscal 2017 sales of $24.837 billion and approximately 130,000 employees, the company operates approximately 690 department stores under the nameplates Macy's and Bloomingdale's, and more than 160 specialty stores that include Bloomingdale's The Outlet, Bluemercury, Macy's Backstage and STORY. Macy's, Inc. operates stores in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as macys.com, bloomingdales.com and bluemercury.com. Bloomingdale's stores in Dubai and Kuwait are operated by Al Tayer Group LLC under license agreements. Macy's, Inc. has corporate offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, and New York, New York.
Macy's, Inc.
Blair Fasbender Rosenberg, 646-429-6032
media@macys.com
Monica Koehler, 513-579-7780
investors@macys.com
Source: Macy's, Inc.
© 2019 Macy's, Inc.
Privacy Policy Legal Notice Disclaimer Sitemap Search


Written in 1901, "The Easy Winners" is one of Scott Joplin's most popular works. Quite unusually for Joplin, he chose to publish the piece himself. Why his usual publisher, John Stark, didn't publish the rag is not known for certain.
In any case, many commentators believe "The Easy Winners", which is something of a celebration of the sporting world, particularly horse racing, to be one of Joplin's greatest rags. Certainly it was one of his most popular right from the beginning; it was one of only four Joplin pieces to be recorded before 1940.


The first two 2013 gigs I had booked have both been cancelled, and coincidentally both were scheduled for the Palmeira, an intimate and unpretentious pub in Hove.
Kelly Joe Phelps was the first to drop out of the diary. I was properly sympathetic when I heard he has a neurological complaint which stops him playing the guitar - which he normally does astonishingly well - and his whole tour has had to go.
I was less sympathetic with the normally ebullient Fred Eaglesmith, who apparently woke up rather late in the day to the fact that his European tour schedule posed some logistical challenges. 'Wimp' was my first (and, indeed, second) thought - but then I found that he was supposed to have played Utrecht, Hove and Glasgow on successive nights... Doable by plane, but less straightforward in a van. I'll let you off this time, Fred.
So, I am less than completely confident in urging all within travelling distance of this watering-hole to hold 3 May in your diaries. Who knows what will happen in the next 10 weeks? But, as of now, the unequivocally wonderful Hiss Golden Messenger are due to appear, with William Tyler also on the bill. Who he? Well, try this for size - quite extraordinary guitar playing... So book up anyway, and let's hope it's third time lucky and the gig actually happens.
In other news, Michael Chapman is due back at the West Hill Hall next weekend... And I have just booked flights to Alberta aiming for the Canmore and Edmonton Folk Festivals in August. Edmonton introduced me to both Kelly Joe and Fred: it would be very nice if one or both were back there this year.


text:
Achieving Aesthetic Perfection
If you are seeking to realise your ultimate aesthetic potential, Dr. Rohan Mendis is the man for the job. The founder of Mendis Aesthetics & Surgery has more thana decade of experience in the aesthetics arena and is a trusted name among celebrities, models, socialites, and beauty pageant winners. In fact, the resident panel judge for the Manhunt International, Mrs Singapore and Miss Singapore beauty pageants Was Conferred the 'Singapore Excellence Award 2013' and the 'Best Medical Aesthetics' award by Singapore Tatler magazine in the same year.
A graduate of the National University of Singapore, Dr. Mendis had his fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons. He has worked With renowned surgeons in the world including Professor Roger Amar in Spain, Professor Pierre Fournier in Paris, Professor Ivo Pitanguy in Brazil, and Dr Junichiro Kubota in Tokyo. He has also presented papers at several international conventions such as the World Congress of Cosmetic Surgery.
What sets Dr Mendis apart from other aesthetic physicians is his philosophy of treating each patient with a holistic approach by consulting on their health and lifestyle concerns as well. This makes his practice well-rounded while offering the most effective and up-to-date technologies to treat all aesthetic issues for the face and body.
THE BEAUTY OF TECHNOLOGY
Using the latest technology and techniques, Mendis Aesthetics & Surgery focuses on non-surgical aesthetic solutions. Its treatments are safer, painless, and with little or no downtime.
Furthermore, Dr Mendis Was the first in Singapore to utilise 3D imaging to visually present his ideas of patients' physical potential. Using a high-performance 3D imaging camera and 3D face sculptor software to accurately reconstruct a patient's face and body, Dr. Mendis is able to show patients precisely how he will enhance and optimise their features using real-time manipulation of one's image before they undergo the treatment.
HOLY GRAIL OF YOUTH
At Mendis Aesthetics & Surgery, you can still enjoy the luxury of youth without the luxury of time as the clinic offers a host of aesthetic treatments that can be performed under an hour so you can nip in for a quick tuck during your lunch break!
The range of Lunchtime Quick Beauty Fixes include Botox, Fillers, Exilis Face and Body Slimming, Chemical Peels, Microdermabrasion, and Lasers. The best part? The procedures have little or no downtime.
Dr Mendis shares: "One treatment alone cannot solve skin issues for a patient. Just as an artist needs more than one colour of paint, the right Combination of treatments is necessary to produce a masterpiece."
Dr Mendis was also the first aesthetic physician to bring in one of the hottest treatments in Hollywood to Singapore – Exilis ultrasound and radio frequency treatment.
Known as the "Holy Grail" of beauty treatments by leading plastic surgeons and used by celebrities in the United States, Exilis is the perfect Solution for anyone who wants to look younger and slimmer but fears the knife.
Truly revolutionary, Exilis dissolves unwanted fat, tightens the skin, and stimulates collagen synthesis all at once, on the face and body. The breakthrough technology allows the physician to work like an artist, programming the right combination and sequencing of ultrasound, radio frequency waves and temperature to achieve these incredible results. Painless and without any downtime, the treatment feels like a warm massage, and best results are achieved after four sessions, spaced one week apart.


The ACMA reminds licensees to lodge their community radio licence renewal form - PDF or Word one year before their licence is due to expire. When a renewal application is received, the ACMA conducts an assessment and investigation of the licence.... You can do much the same thing with General Mobile Radio Service - Wikipedia, Family Radio Service - Wikipedia and Multi-Use Radio Service - Wikipedia. These services are free (except for GMRS, but the license is affordable), and much better communications.
The purpose of this web service is to give information to radio amateurs about how to get a license when abroad. All the major DXCC countries have been included in this service now.... The ACMA reminds licensees to lodge their community radio licence renewal form - PDF or Word one year before their licence is due to expire. When a renewal application is received, the ACMA conducts an assessment and investigation of the licence.
I need an MMSI Do I need a Marine Radio Licence?
For an overseas licence holder to obtain a flight crew licence with an aircraft category rating, CASA must be satisfied that the overseas licence is at least equivalent. In addition, you must be able to demonstrate aviation English language proficiency and hold an authorisation to operate a radio.
In the UK there are three types of licence, giving different levels of privilege. Foundation Licence. This is the entry level, designed to get you involved in amateur radio as quickly as possible.
The purpose of this web service is to give information to radio amateurs about how to get a license when abroad. All the major DXCC countries have been included in this service now.


text:
Sharada Thirtha - varnamvarnam
Sharada Thirtha
By jk on August 9, 2005 in History: India
Often, Indian Hindus and Sikhs make demands to Pakistani authorities to give them permission to visit their holy places located in Pakistan. These visits allow the visitors to worship in those places and also see for themselves how temples and gurudwaras are maintained in the Islamic state.
One such holy place, the Sharada temple, according to Subhash Kak, is the most famous and sacred of all Kashmiri pilgrimage centers. It is located in Neelam valley in Pakistan occupied Kashmir near the Line Of Control. According to Al-Biruni Sharada was as important as Somnath, Multan and Thaneshvar.
The native script for Kashmiri is also called Sharada and was derived from Brahmi. The earliest records in Sharada have been dated to 800 A.D and was found all over northwest India. Also, Gurmukhi, the Punjabi script was based on Sharada script. None of the history books, even ones by eminent historians[3] do not mention this script or temple.
A mention of the Sharada temple is present in the second volume of Rajatarangini, translated by M.A.Stein.
In the centre of the quadrangle is the temple raised on a basement of 24 feet square and 5 feet 3 inches high. The entrance to this inner temple is from the west side and is approached by stairs five and a half feet wide with flanking side walls. The interior of the inner temple is a square of 12 feet and 3 inches and it has no decoration of any kind. The only conspicous object inside is a large slab which measures about 6 by 7 feet with a thickness of about half a foot. This slab is believed to cover a kunda, or spring, in which goddess Sharada appeared to the sage Shandilya. This kund is the object of the special veneration of the pilgrims.[Sharadha Tirtha]
Recently someone traveled to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and sent a detailed report on the journey as well as the state of the temple.
Anyway, we arrived in Sharda to be told that the Sharda temple was inside Pak army barracks and permission had to be obtained to see it. Apparently, the Pak army moved there a long time ago, taking over the temple complex and the surrounding area for their barracks.The upside of this was that the remains of the temple were being maintained and protected by Pak army. Anyway, we got permission to see the temple but were not allowed to take photographs due to some law. (I think it was more to do with the current political climate etc). Anyway, we talked to the commanding officer and he gave us permission for photography.[Pictures of Sharda Peeth (has 22 pictures) via IndiaArchaeology]
Looking at the pictures, you can see for yourself how well the Pakistani Army has maintained the temple. Well, atleast they did not blow it up like what the Taliban did to the Bamiyan Buddhas.
[1] After looking around I could not find who built the temple or what era it was built. If you have any information/links, please let me know.
No Terrorism in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir The state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into its present form after the 1948 war. Almost all the time you hear about terrorist activities in the Kashmir valley, which...
The Andorra Proposal Ok, so after the adjusting the LoC proposal, we have another one, this time from the Hurriyat. The Hurriyat has been propounding the 'Andorra Proposal', under which Kashmir becomes an...
Peace ? Just wait and see For those of you who think that love is flowing across the border from Pakistan to India, here is a "grim report":http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=rEp8HSWcbZi3u%2FG6rbayBx%3D%3D. bq. Good luck. For now, the militants have...
← Buddha in Kalinga
The myth of Cheraman Perumal's conversion →
2 Responses to Sharada Thirtha


Apron dimensions: 29L x 39W in.. Made of 100% cotton. Multicolored. Features loop for hanging. Embroidered apron. Oven mitts have dual side printing. Oven mitts are easy to slip on and off. The fat ginger cat featured on the Kay Dee Designs Happy Cat Apron Pot Holder and 2 Oven Mitts contrasts purr-fectly with the gray background. The solid gray apron with paw print details is embroidered and has a hanging loop for display. The printed oven mitts and pot holder offer heat protection up to 200 degrees. All are made of 100% natural cotton.


We've seen plenty of videos and pictures of the LaFerrari driving in town or lapping racetracks, but finally we get to hear the glorious 6.3L V12 being revved at high rpms! The author of this video was lucky enough to be invited by Ferrari to see the LaFerrari closely in their atelier and to hear one just outside the building which undoubtedly sounds ferocious!
This Ferrari is amazing. First I was skptical about this car but now... I think it's beautiful. ther's just a thing that I can't like... The name... Laferrari? what the f**k?
Why the 2 different styles of wheels on the car? (Notice a different set on the front and back).
that come factory assembled and ready to fly. Don't Delay.
Lamborghini Hurácan, this is it!
A Ferrari 458 V6? Because REPLICA!


Clinical Uses of Amla (Indian Gooseberry) – Dr. Nishal R.
Amla is very effective in reducing acidity by reducing inflammation and correcting gastric secretions, specifically HCL due to it containing Citric acid, Ascorbic acid, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Chebulic acid, Chebulinic acid, Digallic acid, and Phyllemblic acid. This makes it a superior option to Apple cider vinegar and Betaine HCL when treating acidity, GERD, and indigestion.
In my clinical experience, Amla reduces acidity instantaneously and long-term use (minimum 45 days) results in complete relief of hyperacidity. Due to its rich acid content, Amla improves the acid balance within the stomach which helps with the absorption of minerals, fat-soluble vitamins, and proteins. Therefore it can assist in treating nutritional deficiencies. This is also beneficial for skin and hair care, as collagen is dependent on Vitamin C as well as trace minerals and protein – both of which are absorbed better with the acid balancing effects of Amla.
Amla also assists in effectively reducing blood sugar (this is also research proven – see references), LDL cholesterol and even C-Reactive protein. Amla reduces multiple cardiovascular risk factors including arterial stiffness and may be of much benefit to patients at risk for heart disease.
Even though it contains a very large amount of Vitamin C which is known to boost immune function, amla is also a potent anti-inflammatory – making it an immuno-modulator. I have noticed positive results in my clients of auto-immune conditions – mainly Hashimotos, Scleroderma, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alopecia Areata. This is most likely due to the anti-inflammatory effects of its chemical constituents, namely Lupeol, Kaempherol, Zeatin, Rutin and other Flavonoids.
The external application of Amla powder is good for hyper-hydrosis (excessive sweating) and reduction of body odor. However, hyper-hydrosis does require internal treatment as well – usually consisting of carminatives and/or nootropics (depends on each individual case).
In my personal use, I have noticed improved mental clarity and energy levels within a week of consuming Amla. Several of my clients/patients have reported the same effects as well as significant improvement in concentration.
Experimental studies show that Amla may be effective in treating certain types of cancer by inducing metabolic functions such as Autophagy (clearing of cellular waste) and Apoptosis (induction of cellular death) in cancer cells – this may be due to the presence of Kaempherol and Rutin as well as Vitamin C.
– Karma: Rasayana, Balya, Vrushya, Virechaniya, etc.
-Ascorbic Acid, Quercetin, Lutein, B-Carotene, Gallic Acid, Lupeol, Kaepherol, Ellagic Acid, Digallic acid, Citric Acid, Calcium, Rutin, Amlaic acid, Chebulic acid, Phyllemblic acid, Chebulinic acid, Triterpene, etc.
Depends on the condition, metabolism, and constitution of the patient.
The Amla supplement I recommend is this one.
I strongly recommend using Amla under the proper medical guidance as it can have adverse effects if used improperly.
By: Dr. Nishal Ramnunan B.A.M.S.


Darayya Destrict (Arabic: منطقة داريا) is a destrict (mantiqah) o the Rif Dimashq Govrenorate in Sirie. At the 2004 offeecical census, the destrict haed a population o 260,961. The centre o the destrict is the ceety o Darayya.
Darayya nahiyah (ناحية داريا): population 131,501.
Sahnaya nahiyah (ناحية صحنايا): population 44,512.
Al-Hajar al-Aswad nahiyah (ناحية الحجر الأسود): population 84,948.
↑ "Darayya nahiyah population". Cbssyr.org. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
↑ "Sahnaya nahiyah population". Cbssyr.org. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
↑ "Al-Hajar al-Aswad nahiyah population". Cbssyr.org. Retrieved 2012-06-18.


Game Cooks released VR video game called VINDICTA. A first of its kind in the region, VINDICTA is a first-person shooter VR game for HTC Vive, which is available today in Early Access SteamVR.
Not only is Game Cooks tackling VR development far away from the VR center of the West Coast, they have created an intuitive and natural arm-swinging locomotion system to move your character forward. VINDICTA also takes advantage of HTC Vive's room scale VR, making the player physically duck, crouch and crawl to avoid incoming bullets from enemy robot!
VINDICTA is set inside UB Industries, a dangerous facility that exists for the sole purpose of building a robot army to take over the world. The player plays the role of heroic Agent V, an elite infantry agent tasked to infiltrate the facility and put an end to UB Industries operations once and for all.
The initial early access version of VINDICTA features one tutorial level and four full levels translating into a solid 6 to 8 hours of gameplay. The game includes a variety of enemies and weapons of different grades, a scoring system, movement options (such as walking, running, climbing, crawling, ducking etc.) and two main locomotion systems: arm-swinging locomotion which feels very natural inside a VR environment and a very smooth and responsive trackpad movement option.


text:
__author__ = 'ddeconti'

import numpy
import pickle
from rdkit.Chem import AllChem, MolFromSmiles
from rdkit import DataStructs
import sys

def parse_smiles(rf, fda_filename):
    try:
        handle = open(fda_filename, 'rU')
    except IOError:
        sys.stderr.write("IOError\n")
        sys.exit()
    fpm_list = []
    line_list = []
    total = 0
    for line in handle:
        arow = line.strip('\n').split('\t')
        smiles = arow[1]
        try:
            mol = MolFromSmiles(smiles)
            fp = AllChem.GetMorganFingerprintAsBitVect(mol, 2)
            arr = numpy.zeros((1,))
            DataStructs.ConvertToNumpyArray(fp, arr)
            fpm = arr
            fpm_list.append(fpm)
        except:
            continue
        total += 1
        if rf.predict(fpm)[0] == 1:
            proba = rf.predict_proba(fpm)[0][1]
            line_list.append(line.strip('\n').split()[1])
    sys.stderr.write(str(total) + "\t" + str(len(line_list)) + "\n")
    for line in line_list:
        sys.stdout.write(line + "\n")

def main(sa):
    rf_filename = sa[0]
    fda_filename = sa[1]
    rf = pickle.load(open(rf_filename, 'rb'))
    parse_smiles(rf, fda_filename)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main(sys.argv[1:])


text:
Gomes, Carlos, Fabrício Sperandio, Arnon Peles, José Borges, António Carvalho Brito and Bernardo Almada-Lobo. "An Operating Theater Planning Decision Support System." Healthcare Administration: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. IGI Global, 2015. 868-885. Web. 19 Jan. 2020. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-6339-8.ch045
Gomes, C., Sperandio, F., Peles, A., Borges, J., Brito, A. C., & Almada-Lobo, B. (2015). An Operating Theater Planning Decision Support System. In I. Management Association (Ed.), Healthcare Administration: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 868-885). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-6339-8.ch045
Gomes, Carlos, Fabrício Sperandio, Arnon Peles, José Borges, António Carvalho Brito and Bernardo Almada-Lobo. "An Operating Theater Planning Decision Support System." In Healthcare Administration: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications, ed. Information Resources Management Association, 868-885 (2015), accessed January 19, 2020. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-6339-8.ch045
InfoSci-Medical, Healthcare, and Life Sciences
An Operating Theater Planning Decision Support System
Carlos Gomes (Universidade do Porto, Portugal), Fabrício Sperandio (Universidade do Porto, Portugal), Arnon Peles (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel), José Borges (Universidade do Porto, Portugal), António Carvalho Brito (Universidade do Porto, Portugal) and Bernardo Almada-Lobo (Universidade do Porto, Portugal)
Source Title: Healthcare Administration: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
The operating theater is the biggest hospital budget expenditure. The usage of surgery related resources and its intrinsic planning must be carefully devised in order to achieve better operational performance. However, from long to short term planning, the decision processes inherent to the operating theater are often the subject of empiricism. Moreover, the current hospital information systems available in Portuguese public hospitals lack a decision support system component, which could assist in achieving better planning solutions. This work reports the development of a centralized system for the operating theater planning to support decision-making tasks of surgeons, chief specialty managers, and hospital administration. Its main components concern surgery scheduling, operating theater's resource allocation and performance measurement. The enhancement of the planning processes, the increase of policy compliance, and the overall performance of the operating theater compared to the former methodologies are also discussed.
The technological advances, medical breakthroughs, better, and more efficient services have improved the human quality of life and expectancy, leading to a new paradigm for the health care service providers. Hospitals are now able to assist patients who were once unable to receive adequate treatment due to the lack of knowledge and means; this fact along with the ageing population is increasing the demand and the pressure on health care providers to maintain service levels and quality. Patients often experience serious delays due to the highly variable patient requirements or capacity constraints, which hospitals are unable to increase due to cost pressures, regulatory constraints, or shortage of appropriate personnel (Green, 2005). Generally, the gap between offer and demand leads to long waiting lists for treatment, a worldwide social problem that is recurrently observed in hospitals. The long waiting lists arise from different causes such as:
Public hospital preference over private;
Insufficient government funding;
Doctors' decisions and consequent efficiency;
Patients' attitudes (punctuality, cancelations and no-shows); and also
The uncertain nature of the health care processes (e.g., treatment durations and outcomes).
Many of the measures taken by governments and hospital organizations to tackle the waiting lists problem involve promoting overtime work in order to increase the available capacity; however, it carries a heavy financial cost in the long-run. As healthcare service providers face budget cuts due to the current economic context, the new paradigm demands them to do more and better with less. In this context, business process and continuous improvement methodologies emerge as strong frameworks in the search for a more efficient utilization of the available resources, empowering healthcare organizations to cope with the increased demand.
The operating theater is considered the hospital's largest budget consumption segment and an important example of long waiting times for treatment in hospitals (Green, 2005). This work aims at improving decision making processes at the operating theater as a mean to increase performance within hospitals. This project is also motivated by the immediate attention that patients waiting for surgery naturally require and the importance given by governments to reduce waiting times for surgery. In addition, a relevant Portuguese public general admission hospital served as a case study; where it was noticed that the decision making processes within the operating theater were often empiric. Moreover, the existing health information system in the Portuguese public health system lacks a decision support component that could standardize the procedures. As an example, the surgery schedule planning methods observed in the case study included: (1) paper-based maps; (2) spreadsheets; and (3) online calendars; reducing the centralization to insignificant levels since these methods are personal and not transversal to a group or a specialty department. The general Portuguese public health situation related to the operating theater depicts well the problem. At the end of 2010, 161.000 patients were waiting for surgery, of which almost 15% had waited for over 12 months, and the patients operated had a median waiting time for surgery of 3.3 months (SIGIC, 2011). These statistics explain the low ranking of Portugal on a Swedish study (Bjornberg & Cebolla, 2009), that recognized Portuguese health care services as number 21 among 33 European countries, mainly due to its long waiting times for treatment. It is important to note that other countries have to face similar issues. The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) reports, for instance, that Italy and Norway recently had over 25% of their surgical cases waiting more than 3 months (Siciliani & Hurs, 2004).


Choanal Atrasia is a rare congenital disorder where the back of the infant's nasal passage is blocked. This area of the nasal system is called the choana.
Although rare, with 1 out of 7,000 births having this disorder, choanal atrasia is the most popular of nasal disorders among infants.
Choanal atrasia may affect only one nostril or both. Babies with both nostrils blocked tend to cry a lot because it is only when they cry that they are able to breath through their mouths. During delivery, these babies have difficulty breathing and immediately needs assistance and even resuscitation.
For some babies who have learned to mouth-breathe, the disorder becomes a problem when they sleep as they revert to nose breathing in that stage.
Choanal atrasia may be detected by physical examination and medical imaging techniques such as CAT scans, endoscopy, and x-rays. Once it is verified that the patient is suffering from the disorder, surgery is the recommended medical treatment.
A common herbicide used in the United States may be linked to an increased risk of a congenital abnormality of the nasal cavity known as choanal atresia, say researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other Texas institutions.
The study by Dr. Philip Lupo, assistant professor of pediatrics – hematology/oncology at BCM and Texas Children's Cancer Center, is scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Choanal atresia is a disorder where the back of the nasal passage is blocked by tissue formed during fetal development. It is a rare condition but can be serious because it affects a baby's ability to breath. It is typically treated through surgery.
Very few risk factors for choanal atresia have been identified, however chemicals that disrupt the maternal endocrine system may be associated with risk, according to Lupo. The study focused on atrazine, which is the most commonly used herbicide in the U.S. – especially in corn crops – and is believed to be an endocrine disrupter.
"Endocrine disrupters aren't fully understood, but it is believed they interfere with or mimic certain hormones, thereby blocking their proper function and potentially leading to adverse outcomes," Lupo said.
The study found that mothers who lived in Texas counties with the highest levels of estimated atrazine application were 80 percent more likely to have children with choanal atresia or stenosis compared to women who lived in the counties with the lowest levels. Choanal stenosis is a less severe form of the condition.
Data for the study was collected from the Texas Birth Defects Registry.
"Our results warrant more detailed exploration before any public health or policy-related recommendations are made," Lupo said, "but this study is a good first step in trying to understand the origin of this birth defect, including a possible role of atrazine."


One of the charms of walking up and down the beach is finding bits and pieces of sea glass. Sea glass are shards of glass from bottles that have been polished and smoothed out by the crashing waves of the sea and the abrasive sand where the glass is buried. Making a sea glass wreath is one of the easy ways of decorating your house. Here are the steps for you to create your own.
Forage for sea glass. The first step is finding your own sea glass. If you live near the coast line, regular walks down the beach will usually suffice for you to gather sea glass. Keep in mind, however, that you will probably not find enough sea glass to make a wreath in one day, especially if you live in clean shored beaches. Beaches with plenty of people are usually those which have plenty of sea glass, since the refuse glass bottles from beach goers are the primary materials from which sea glass is made.
Make your own. If you live far from the beach, however, and cannot afford to stroll down the beach each morning, you can create your own sea glass at home. You will need a rock tumbler, sand, and shards of glass for this. The best glasses are those from old soda bottles, which have thick shards. Wrap this in a towel, and use a hard object such as a hammer to tap the bottle until it cracks. Carefully separate the large chunks of glass, which you will place in the rock tumbler. Add sand into the tumbler, and leave it on for a couple of hours to a couple of days. The longer the glass remains in the tumbler, the smoother the sea glass will be.
Purchase a grapevine wreath. Once you have the sea glass, get a grapevine wreath from any specialty shop. These are the same wreaths which people use to create Halloween or Christmas wreathes. From a pet shop, purchase plastic sea weeds. Loop these into the grapevine wreath to create an ocean feel for the wreath.
Attach the sea glass. Once the wreath has been prepared, attach the sea glass by using a glue gun. If you have large chunks of sea glass, you can also wrap these in copper wire and use the excess wires to attach the sea glass into the wreath. This will allow you to attach the sea glass with much more stability. Otherwise, you will need to occasional reattach the sea glass into the grapevine.
Add other design elements. The sea glass wreath can be complemented with a variety of other design elements, such as sea shells and corals. Pick these up from the shore. Some drift wood pieces are also very elegantly designed, and have a particularly beautiful look because of the combined effect of water saturation and sun drying. They are also very smooth and polished because of the sand. You can also spray on some glue onto the wreath, and sprinkle some sand.
Once you have finished your sea glass wreath, attach it to your doorway or place it in the living room. The sea glass wreath is a quick and inexpensive way to decorate your house. Even better, you can be sure that you will not find another wreath designed in the same way as yours.


text:
How to stay safe in a heat wave — and the dangers to look out for
More than 100 million Americans were under heat warnings and advisories as of Tuesday morning, with heat indexes predicted to climb to up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas on Wednesday.
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, recorded its highest-ever temperature — 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit — on Tuesday, prompting schools to close and train service out of London to cease. France saw similarly high temperatures on Monday.
The highs in some areas of Europe and the US could pass the physical limits of what the human body can handle, according to Kim Knowlton, an assistant clinical professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University.
"There's an awful lot of assumption that heat is an inconvenience, but it kills people," Knowlton said.
In the US, heat kills more people annually than any other type of weather event. Over just the last two weeks, Spain and Portugal have collectively reported more than 1,100 heat-related deaths.
"Climate change is fueling these dastardly heat waves that are almost beyond belief, and we're not accustomed to them yet," Knowlton said.
How extreme heat kills
A 2017 paper identified 27 different paths through which heat waves can lead to organ failure.
People with the highest risk of dying from extreme heat include the very young, very old, pregnant people and those exposed to extreme heat for long periods of time at work, including people who work in warehouses or on farms.
"The passive exposure, the classic heatstroke, is more [often in] vulnerable populations like children," said Michael Sawka, a physiologist at Georgia Tech's School of Biological Sciences.
Cardiovascular issues are the most common cause of heat-related deaths. In extreme heat, the heart starts to pump faster to increase blood flow to the skin, which contributes to cardiovascular strain. The body also starts to sweat more, which can cause it to lose water and decrease the volume of plasma in your blood, making you more prone to blood clots.
Sawka said early signs of cardiovascular distress from extreme heat include dizziness, disorientation or warm, wet skin.
Knowlton said symptoms tend to progress from sunburn to heat rash, followed by heat cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion and eventually heatstroke.
People who experience heatstroke may ultimately stop sweating, she added, because the body can no longer regulate and cool its temperature.
"The body is not able to conduct that excess heat away from the body core, and core temperature starts to rise," she said. "Once it rises beyond 104 to 105 Fahrenheit, there are a number of physical systems that really start to break down."
Some people develop heatstroke on the same day as their exposure to extreme heat, while others don't fall ill until a few days later. Knowlton said recovery is possible, "but there tends to be really long-term — sometimes lifetime — impacts."
After experiencing heatstroke, she said, "people are much more sensitive to further exposures to heat."
Knowlton also cautioned people to be careful if they take medications that can impair the body's ability to respond efficiently to heat, such as antidepressants, diuretics, beta blockers, or migraine or allergy medications.
How hot is too hot?
In evaluating the deadliness of a heat wave, scientists pay close attention to "wet-bulb temperatures" — the combination of heat, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and solar radiation.
A 2020 study found that the human body cannot efficiently cool itself past a wet-bulb temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
"It's not a matter of just reaching that temperature for 10 minutes or an hour during the day, but sustained temperatures at that level can really hit the limit of what our human bodies can do," Knowlton said.
Healthy people who experience heatstroke are usually physically active on days with intolerable wet-bulb temperatures, according to Sawka.
The deadliness of a heat wave also depends on how accustomed one is to high temperatures.
In Ahmedabad, India, temperatures are consistently high, so authorities may not issue a heat alert under temperatures reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit, Knowlton said. But in New York City, she said, temperatures of 95 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two days are enough to constitute a health warning.
How to stay safe in a heat wave
The simplest ways to reduce the risk of heat-related illness are well known: Drink lots of fluids, run fans or air conditioning at home if possible, and avoid excess outdoor activity on extremely hot days.
The World Health Organization recommends that room temperatures be kept below 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and below 75 degrees at night.
If you're generally healthy, Sawka said, it may be wise to acclimate yourself to high temperatures for at least 50 to 60 minutes per day when it's hot outside but not stifling.
"Obviously, if it's 107, that's not the day to heat acclimatize," he said. "But if it's 85 degrees early in the summer and it's not as hot, go out and be active a little bit outdoors."
If you start feeling ill due to the heat, Sawka advised soaking in a bathtub of cold water, making sure the water temperature is much lower than your skin's or the temperature outdoors. If a cold bath isn't an option, you can place your forearms in a cooler filled with water and ice, he said.
Unfortunately, pets may have a harder time cooling themselves on extremely hot days. Dogs and cats overheat more easily than humans, since they have fewer sweat glands and rely on panting to lower their body temperature.
But strategies for preventing heatstroke are similar for pets: Give them lots of water; keep them in cool, indoor temperatures (and never inside hot cars); and avoid prolonged outdoor walks or runs when temperatures get too high.


Entrance into open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining area, 1 double bedroom, and 1 bathroom. Patio doors open directly to the pool terrace.
1 double bedroom with en suite, 2 twin bedrooms, family bathroom, balcony with patio dining table overlooking private pool, and views of sea and clementine fields to the rear.
Spacious pool, shaded dining area, sun terrace, and private parking.
The Air Conditioned living room has sofas, WiFi Internet, Satellite TV, DVD player and ornamental fire place. There are patio doors to the pool terrace.
If an additional bed is required there is 1 sofa bed. Villa Clementina can sleep up to 9 people.
The private pool and sun terrace is a great way to spend your days, when you choose not to take a stroll down to the nearby beach and tavernas.
Pool Access: via StepsThere is a shaded dining area beside the pool with large dining table.
This villa is in a fantastic location with a great layout and lovely pool. It would be helpful if there was some information in the villa about what there is to do in the area. Compared to the neighouring villa this one is much more simply decorated and presented and has a much less warm feeling due to lack of pictures on the walls etc. Overall we loved the holiday, but the villa could do with a bit of attention an d being brought more in line with Villa Rose.
Wonderful spacious villa, lovely setting in a quiet village. really need a car to get the best out of the holiday.
A beautiful villa. I would highly recommend it. Especially the owner who addressed any issue immediately.
We had a joyful stay just too short but everything needed was provided.
Lovely chilled place, lovely villa and got engaged while I was there celebrating my 50th! Perfect holiday.
We had a very relaxing stay at villa Clementina. The villa is well furnished comfortable and a home from home . The pool was very well maintained . the owner was very helpful .The views to the sea and the sunset are stunning. The agni travel team were very helpful at the booking stage. the information provided directions etc were very accurate and thorough. The SMS sent to my phone before travelling is a good idea providing contact details. Information and telephone numbers were displayed at the property too and I made one call to the agent in Cyprus regarding electrics. He responded promptly passing info to the owner who came straight away .
The brochure was very accurate in its description of the property and surrounding area. The directions from the airport were extremely clear and precise. The villa was of a high standard and added to a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. The service whilst at the villa was extremely friendly and very helpful. Thank you for all your help during the holiday, Cyprus is a fabulous destination and a very friendly island we will certainly be returning.
Very nice and friendly assistance of Agni Travel, thank you.
We are very content with our stay and your services. Special thanks to Savas for taking care about us. We will recommend you to our friends and families.


text:
Bucculatrix platyphylla is a moth in the family Bucculatricidae. It was described by Annette Frances Braun in 1963 and is found in North America, where it has been recorded from New York.

References

Natural History Museum Lepidoptera generic names catalog

Bucculatricidae
Moths described in 1963
Moths of North America
Taxa named by Annette Frances Braun

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Ingrid Bentzer (née Löfdahl, born 6 December 1943) is a Swedish former tennis player who was active in the 1960s and 1970s. She was ranked in the world's Top 15 in the 1970s and was the No. 1 ranked Swedish player in 1973 to 1975.

Tennis career

Between 1965 and 1978 she competed in 13 editions of the Wimbledon Championships. Her best result in the singles competition was reaching the fourth round in 1973 in which she lost to eight-seeded Olga Morozova. In the doubles event she reached the quarterfinal of the French Open in 1971 and 1975, partnering Christina Sandberg and Helena Anliot respectively.

During her career Bentzer won five WTA Tour titles. Between 1966 and 1977 she was a member of the Swedish Fed Cup team for which she played 19 ties and compiled a record of 16 wins and 17 losses.

Career finals

Singles (1 title, 2 runners-up)

Sports administration
After retiring from active tennis Bentzer served as Head of Women's Professional Tennis for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) from 1995 through 1999. She was the European head of press for the ATP World Tour and was a consultant to the Monte Carlo Masters.

Bentzer also served as an administrator and sports executive for the squash governing body. She was the chairman and acting chief executive officer of the Women's Squash Association (WSA) from May 2011 until the beginning of 2015. Bentzer was a board member of the WSA from 2005 through 2014, and served as chairman from 2008. During her tenure the organisation was rebranded from Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) to its current name of Women's Squash Association.

In March 2014 the International Tennis Hall of Fame appointed Bentzer as the vice-chairman of the Enshrinee Nominating Committee. Bentzer is a member of the Fed Cup Committee.

References
 General reference: "ITHF appoints Lofdahl-Bentzer", Racquet Sports Industry magazine, 27 March 2014

External links

1943 births
Living people
Swedish female tennis players
Sportspeople from Malmö
Swedish sports executives and administrators
20th-century Swedish women
21st-century Swedish women


Diane's new website has been successfully generating new business for her counselling and hypnotherapy consultancy over the past few months. We had designed some marketing leaflets, made some changes to the site with new content and also established a Facebook page to improve her social media presence. This has all contributed to the new clients she has gained.
As Christmas and the New Year are key times when people want to make positive changes in their lives, she decided to create a Christmas offer on her website. The theme 'Become a Non Smoker' was decided and in addition to the website we also used Facebook to promote the offer. We incorporated a 'paid for' Facebook advert and Google Ads which, when coupled with the local sites Diane is registered with, meant that her outreach was a great deal further than just using her website alone.
The increased awareness generated a number of new enquiries and further offers will be promoted in the future.


text:
Health Care and Wellness
Brian Sherry in TED TalksSpeakers & AuthoritiesHealth Care and WellnessTechnology
Technology in Health Care: 4 New Insights
View of a Cyborg hand holding a Medical icon and connection 3d rendering
Policy debates rage over health care – but how is technology transforming its delivery and impact behind the scenes? Four experts offer crucial insights into how technology in health care is revolutionizing the medical field. Read more to discover:
The rise of digital health care – and how we can ensure it keeps rising
AI wearables that detect epileptic seizures and can help you save a life
The woman who designed and engineered an affordable MRI device
Robotic limbs that compensate for lost body parts, while using AI to enhance performance
Health Care's Digital Transformation: The Promise and the Obstacles
The digital revolution has disrupted and transformed every industry, mostly to the benefit of consumers. But health care has lagged…until now. In this article for WIRED UK, Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UC San Francisco, leading global authority on health care innovation, and best-selling author of "The Digital Doctor" (2015), outlines how digital tools increasingly being used by clinicians can make health care less expensive and more effective. While we must preserve patients' privacy, he argues, we cannot build digital "firewalls" between patients and providers that hinder the former's ability to access vital information. In two other recent articles, both in JAMA, Wachter makes the case for optimism about digital health care, and highlights the importance of creating a digital learning healthcare system, one in which we learn lessons from every click.
How AI Wearables Can Save Lives
Wearable technology is already in widespread use when it comes to tracking exercise and monitoring heart rates. Dr. Rosalind Picard, director of the MIT Media Lab's Affective Computing Research Group, says we can – and should – go further. In a powerful TED Talk, Picard illuminated the heart-wrenching examples of people with epilepsy whose lives were saved – or could have been saved – through AI wearables. We now have the technology to proactively and closely monitor many vital signs of the body, even while sleeping, and alert others if there is an emergency. These developments can lead clinicians and individuals to better understand what triggers various medical ills, helping to preempt potentially fatal epileptic seizures https://holisticdental.org/xanax-treat-anxiety/.
A Revolution in Medical Imaging
We often hear about how rising drug prices are driving the spiraling cost of health care. But even an MRI scan, essential to spotting and monitoring disease within the human body, is costly. Futurist, inventor and entrepreneur Mary Lou Jepsen – who is only alive today because a benefactor funded an MRI scan that identified a deadly brain tumor – has dedicated herself to developing inexpensive technology that uses light to see deep into the body and brain. In a recent interview with Fox News, Jepsen elaborated on her breakthroughs in affordable, non-invasive medical imaging – while also offering insights into another dimension of her technology: its ability to project people's thoughts in physical form.
Robotic Solutions to Losing Limbs
Losing a hand or arm could once mean losing one's ability to physically function. For a musician, this could be devastating. But Gil Weinberg, a pioneer in "Creative AI" and leading authority on the use of robots in musical arts (he puts the "art" in artificial intelligence!), has been at the forefront of developing robotic limbs that can actually enhance performance. One of his inventions, a prosthetic hand that also uses AI to learn and play instruments on its own, was featured in a brief video documentary by The Atlantic. Though Weinberg focuses on the artistic expression of AI, his innovations could be more widely employed by health care professionals treating those who have lost body parts: all the more reason for medical professionals to pay close attention to the latest developments in AI.
A Brighter Future for Health Care
The state of health care may seem bleak as rising costs are coupled with comparatively poor outcomes. But as Wachter, Picard, Jepsen and Weinberg show, technology may be the cure for both these ailments.
Next Read: The Transformative Power of Market-Creating Innovations with Efosa Ojomo »
health caredigitaltechnologyAIRoboticsmedicinewearablestechnology in health care
Brian Sherry:
COVID Antiviral Pills Offer Promise, But Only If Delivered Quickly – and Equitably


The project was to design and spec a mobile breast center, to deliver 3D mammography, breast & thyroid ultrasound exams for the underserved / uninsured women of Central Florida.
We selected MBF Industries of Sanford to construct a custom-built coach. They started with a heavy-duty Freightliner chassis and built the entire structure on top of that. MBF craftsmen created custom desks and cabinets to our specs, and placed the UPS and rackmount in a convenient area.
Hologic supplied the Dimensions 3D machine and acquisition station.
I've installed PACSGEAR CD burner for automated creation on study completion, a small DICOM storage server (Dell R220), Eaton 9155 UPS, two technologist workstations, and the Cradlepoint. Users can sign into our RIS, download modality worklists, and use resources from the corporate LAN while performing up to 30 exams per day.
The TV was a challenge - getting the Chrome device re-seated after the installers knocked it loose took me remounting the flat panel. It worked like a champ though, and chrome-casting advertisements and TV is easy.


text:
Opinion|'An Industry of Mediocrity'
https://nyti.ms/1gYErZg
'An Industry of Mediocrity'
By Bill Keller
Credit...Nicholas Blechman
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. And those who can't teach, teach teaching."
WHOEVER coined that caustic aphorism should have been in a Harlem classroom last week where Bill Jackson was demonstrating an exception to the rule. Jackson, a 31-year classroom veteran, was teaching the mathematics of ratios to a group of inner-city seventh graders while 15 young teachers watched attentively. Starting with a recipe for steak sauce — three parts ketchup to two parts Worcestershire sauce — Jackson patiently coaxed his kids toward little math epiphanies, never dictating answers, leaving long silences for the children to fill. "Denzel, do you agree with Katelyn's solution?" the teacher asked. And: "Can you explain to your friend why you think Kevin is right?" He rarely called on the first hand up, because that would let the other students off the hook. Sometimes the student summoned to the whiteboard was the kid who had gotten the wrong answer: the class pitched in to help her correct it, then gave her a round of applause.
After an hour the kids filed out and the teachers circled their desks for a debriefing. Despite his status as a master teacher, Jackson seemed as eager to hone his own craft as that of his colleagues. What worked? What missed the mark? Should we break this into two lessons? Did the kids get it? And what does that mean?
"Does 'get it' mean getting an answer?" Jackson asked. "Or does it mean really understanding what's going on?"
At that point Deborah Kenny, the founder of the Harlem Village Academies charter schools, leaned over to me: "That right there, that is why we're starting a graduate school."
How America prepares its teachers has been a subject of dismay for many years. In 2005 Arthur Levine, then the president of Teachers College at Columbia University, shocked colleagues (and himself, he says) with a scathing report concluding that teacher preparation programs "range from inadequate to appalling." Since then the outcry has only gotten more vociferous. This summer the National Council on Teacher Quality described teacher education as still "an industry of mediocrity."
The heartening news is that the universities that have so long resisted pleas to raise their standards are now beginning to have change pushed on them from outside. Governors (including New York's Andrew Cuomo, last month) are raising admission standards for state education colleges. Philanthropies like the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, which Levine now runs, have been pouring money into reform. And academic entrepreneurs like Kenny are arising to compete with the established schools.
"Where charter schools were 10 years ago, that's where teacher preparation is right at this moment," Kenny told me. With start-up money from the media executive Barry Diller (who says he hopes to see the venture amplified via the Internet) and a core of master teachers like Jackson, Kenny has begun to build a graduate education school that will be integrated with her K-12 campuses in Harlem. It will join a young cottage industry of experimental teacher training.
Of all the competing claims on America's education dollar — more technology, smaller classes, universal prekindergarten, school choice — the one option that would seem to be a no-brainer is investing in good teachers. But universities have proved largely immutable. Educators, including some inside these institutions, say universities have treated education programs as "cash cows." The schools see no incentive to change because they have plenty of applicants willing to pay full tuition, the programs are relatively cheap to run, and they are accountable to no one except accrediting agencies run by, you guessed it, education schools. It's a contented cartel.
Among reformers, there is a fair amount of consensus about what it would take to fix things. The first step is to make teacher colleges much more selective. According to one respected study, only 23 percent of American teachers — and only 14 percent in high-poverty schools — come from the top third of college graduates.
The importance of selectivity comes through vividly in "The Smartest Kids in the World," Amanda Ripley's engrossing new diagnosis of why American education lags behind the likes of Finland and Singapore. Ripley says she was initially skeptical, since most research shows little correlation between a teacher's grade point average and classroom results. Then she went to Finland, where only top students get into teacher-training programs.
"What I hadn't realized was that setting a high bar at the beginning of the profession sends a signal to everyone else that you are serious about education and teaching is hard," Ripley told me. "When you do that, it makes it easier to make the case for paying teachers more, for giving them more autonomy in the classroom. And for kids to buy into the premise of education, it helps if they can tell that the teachers themselves are extremely well educated."
Once they are admitted, critics say, prospective teachers need more rigorous study, not just of the science and philosophy of education but of the contents, especially in math and the sciences, where America trails the best systems in Asia and Europe. A new study by the Education Policy Center at Michigan State, drawing on data from 17 countries, concluded that while American middle school math teachers may know a lot about teaching, they often don't know very much about math. Most of them are not required to take the courses in calculus and probability that are mandatory in the best-taught programs.
"There's a big range in this country," said William Schmidt, who oversaw the study. "Some of our education programs are putting out math teachers at the level of Botswana, a developing country in Africa, and some rank up with Singapore." Unfortunately, Schmidt reckons, the Botswana-level teacher programs produce about 60 percent of America's future middle school math teachers.
Another missing component, reformers say, is sustained, intense classroom experience while being coached by masters of the profession. Too much student teaching is too superficial — less a serious apprenticeship than a drive-by. The Woodrow Wilson program, which has beachheads at 23 universities in four states, builds teacher training programs in partnership with local school districts, requires prospective teachers to spend a full year inside schools working alongside veterans, and provides three years of postgraduate mentoring in the classroom.
Kenny's plan in Harlem is to integrate teacher training with her K-12 campuses so closely that it will be analogous to a medical residency.
After my morning in Harlem I dropped by the red-brick edifice of Teachers College to meet Susan Fuhrman, who succeeded Arthur Levine as president and is a leader in the industry under siege. She began by acknowledging the criticisms — "there is a lot of mediocrity" — and added a couple of her own. States make it far too easy to get a teaching license, she said. Bad schools are protected by politics: "There's an ed school in every legislator's district, and nobody wants to close ed schools." She favors raising admission standards and figuring out ways to hold education schools accountable for their results.
But Fuhrman finds the birth of alternative teacher schools "upsetting." "I worry about cutting that kind of preparation off from the scholarship and from emerging research" that a university offers, she said. "It can sound like I feel threatened. I don't. But it just worries me as a trend."
There are 3.3 million public school teachers in America, and they probably can't all be trained by start-ups. Raising up the standards of our university programs should be an urgent priority. But one reason for the widespread mediocrity is that universities have had a cozy, lucrative monopoly. It's about time the leaders of our education schools did feel threatened.