I wrote my story with a true desire to encourage you to see the "waves". For anyone reading this, I have great news for you: there is a new wave coming! A large one. European funds worth of 43 billion Euro. What are you going to do with this wave? Will you "ride" it? Will carry you to the shore of prosperity, sink you, or will you stay on the side, watching other "surfers" having the time of their life?
It is true that accessing funds requires certain strictness. It is true they verify you over and over again. But it's possible! You can even do it without paying "inducement", or without "knowing a guy". We did not know anyone and never paid anyone one cent. I remind this to encourage anyone willing to develop their business with European money, because it's worth it and it's possible.
In its 14 years of experience on the Romanian market, Megatitan went through several stages.
In 2011, we timidly began selling splintering tools which we imported from Hungary. Then, we imported cleaning equipment at the same time when construction and installation equipment started entering the Romanian market. In 2000, a Hungarian friend told me for the first time about laser cutting machines. He had recently returned from a Hungarian fair and he was so excited that I say it loudly without blinking: "if everything is like you say it is, I am going buy myself one some day". Hearing me and knowing my financial situation, he burst into laughing: "Nelu, such a machine is more than a million Deutsche marks"", "Doesn't matter", I replied without thinking what a million Deutsche marks look like.
Years went by, and when the construction materials market was at its peak, I called my Hungarian friend and reminded him of my dream to have a laser. My business was pretty good, but no way was I in the position to invest that much. My chance had a name, European grants. I had the opportunity to work with Romcom, an Oradea based Romanian-Swiss company, for which I have an utmost respect and which I strongly recommended to all my friends. With the help of Romcom, I wrote a project for the POSCCE program, submitted it and eagerly waited for the answer.
It was 16th of December, 2008. With Bucharest filled with snow, we were invited to sign the grant contract. A lady manager from the Ministry congratulated us for our courage to write projects, gently admonishing us that only 14% of the Romania-allocated funds were absorbed, because that exactly that many projects were submitted. (This gentle admonishing reminded me of one pastor in my youth, who always reprimanded those present because not enough people came at the church).
An here we are with an approved project. We only needed the money to fund the first stages. With the file in my hand, I started looking for solutions at several Romanian banks. Though many banks displayed large billboards claiming their readiness to fund European-funded projects, none was willing to found our project. So we had to borrow from an external lender.
I say all this to encourage you not to give up in spite of obstacles that may seem insurmountable.
And so we purchased our first laser cutting machine, exactly when the market was getting ready for contracting, and what remained was divided between large supermarket chains. Those were trying times for us. The recession in the construction materials business hit hard. We had little prospects to stay in the business. Thus, with the advice of Professor of Mitraş Dudaşof Cluj and the experience gathered in 10 years of business, I chose a new direction: I became an industrialist.
We embarked on a new road, in unknown territory, where competition is high, and also are price pressures and quality and deadline requirements. We started the laser cutting business with only one customer: the Flexibil Company of Baia Mare. With their characteristic professionalism and diligence, they tactfully and patiently taught us how to become professionals in our line of work. The fact that we are suppliers to top companies in the automotive and railway field in many countries is largely due to the Flexibil Company.
Today, we have a team of young engineers, we serve approximately 200 customers in various lines of work. We do it with the passion and responsibility of a surgeon each and every time. Being aware that the human factor makes or breaks a company, we carefully select our team members and provide them with a pleasant working and development environment, and at the same time instilling respect for the customer as a company policy. This is what customers appreciate too, this is why we are their first choice when they require laser cutting and bending services.
After the first cooperation with Megatitan, I realized the company is into satisfying customer needs by the quality of its products and timely delivery. This company evolved tremendously and I believe it will keep down this road. They have vision, which will continue to be successful. A big part of this company is its team, which in my opinion has learned what it takes to succeed.
We carefully select both our machine and raw materials suppliers. Thus, we purchased state of the art Trumpf machinery and we are thrilled by their reliability and the maintenance services provided by the Ingmar Company. We want each delivery to be a success and we do everything in our power to achieve it. This year, we began implementing the Lean manufacturing system with the help of a specialist – this is currently the most efficient organization management tool – concurrently with the use of manufacturing monitoring and management software. We are permanently improving the manufacturing processes and delivery services to increase our chances to remain best choice for our customers.
They have been a committed partner from the very beginning, able to solve our requirements, we never had any quality issues or they have been resolved immediately. We also appreciate the human side of our cooperation, the very good interpersonal relations that we have. We believe that such qualities are vital in today's business world and wish all the success to this company.
We provided services to customers in Dubai, Brazi, Hungary, Germany, Italy, France, Denmark, and many other companies in Romania. Some of them asked us to also provide services such as bending and welding besides laser cutting. This is how we purchased a digitally controlled bending machine and controlled environment welding machines.
We are now able to provide laser cutting services with two Trumpf TruLaser 3030 machines, bending with abkant Trumpf TruBend 5130, punching on Trumpf TruPunch 3000, automatic panel bending on Salvagnini P2 Lean, CNC plate rolling on Roccia HR4W, WIG and MIG welding.
When you have bending and laser cutting work to do, I am here to help.


At La Placita, summer tastes like a bright sip of Puerto Rican ice.
The fruity shaved ice dessert is just one of the unique handcrafted treats you can try at the Clark-Fulton festival series, where open-air markets highlight the neighborhood's rich intersection of Hispanic cultures June 9, July 14 and Aug. 18.
It's a slice of Cleveland life many still haven't explored, from the flaky, homemade empanadas and Puerto Rican nachos made with plantains in place of tortillas, to handmade jewelry and paintings by local artists.
Held in the US Bank parking lot on West 25th Street, local vendors and home-based entrepreneurs set up shop alongside musicians, games of dominoes and art installations.
"The goal is to grow businesses within the community," says Jenice Contreras, executive director for the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development.


text:
Slipping Through Time In Autism
NeuroskepticBy NeuroskepticApr 25, 2011 8:00 PM
Have you ever felt like you're reliving the past?
Have you ever felt like you're reliving the past? A curious paper from Japan: 'Time slip' phenomenon in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Have you ever felt like you're...OK, sorry. I'll stop that.
The paper describes the cases of two young men with autism, who suffered from an unusual affliction - very vivid memories of a single past event. These recollections were so unpleasant that they led to outbursts of violence. In the first case, the event was somewhat traumatic in itself:
Case 1, a male patient, was 16 years old at the time of his first visit to our hospital. He had not shown any delay in language development but had been isolated and unable to make friends since his infancy... He had been bullied by a classmate when he was in the 8th grade; thereafter he refused to go to school and began to stay indoors.
One day, he clearly recalled the bullying incident that had occurred a few years earlier and re-experienced the feelings of fear and frustration as if he were once again experiencing that event. Thereafter, he often had similar experiences, even though he did not purposely intend to recall the event, and he became strongly distressed.
He and his family stated that the recalled content was always the same. He thought that the distress could only be relieved by obtaining revenge on the boy who had bullied him, and he visited the boy's house with a knife. He was subsequently admitted to the emergency ward of our hospital.This is not, perhaps, very surprising and sounds a bit like post-traumatic stress disorder. The second case, however, is more mysterious because the event that was remembered was, in itself, completely trivial - someone throwing away a cigarette end:
Case 2, a male patient, was 27 years old at the time of his first visit. Since an early age, he had exhibited disturbed reciprocal sociality and did not have any close friendships. His interest was limited to collecting figures of comic characters. He began to be bullied during junior high school. He entered senior high school but quit during the second year. Thereafter, he tended to seclude himself at home.
One day, he watched his neighbor discarding a cigarette butt in front of his home. Thereafter, he began to be annoyed by that memory. Almost every time he heard the voice of that neighbor or saw that man, he would leave his home and curse at the neighbor. His behavior became more violent and he eventually threatened the neighbor with a wooden sword.The authors end by saying that out of seven autistic patients who presented to their psychiatric emergency ward, no less than four of them experienced "time slips", though it's not clear how this was diagnosed and patients presenting to the emergency ward are a highly selected population - mostly people who have suddenly become violent or aggressive.
The "time slip" phenomenon seems unknown outside of Japan. Google reveals that the only papers discussing it are Japanese. Is it something that only happens in Japan, like buru-sera? Are people with autism elsewhere experiencing this, and going unnoticed?
Tochimoto S, Kurata K, & Munesue T (2011). 'Time slip' phenomenon in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders: Case series. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences PMID: 21489047
What Keeps Us in Bad Relationships?
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Can Playing Video Games Make You Smarter?
Video Games May Have Negative Effects on the Brain

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Business Events News | Gray's Say 22 Aug18: How many more….
Gray's Say 22 Aug18: How many more….
WITH Peter Gray, an independent Motivation Consultant - It seems that rarely a day passes that I do not receive at least one email advising me of yet another meeting, incentive or travel trade show that I really should not miss! It is said that "what goes around comes around" and it seems that this is true about trade shows too.


This five-sermon series provides a high-level introduction to God's covenant relationship with Israel. These sermons explore passages in the Pentateuch to teach how and why God began his covenant, and how He has been faithful toward it throughout history.
This five-sermon series provides a high-level introduction to God's covenant relationship with Israel. These sermons explore passages in the Pentateuch to teach how and why God began his covenant, and how He has been faithful toward it throughout history. As adults using The Gospel Project Bible study curriculum learn these truths in God's Word, you can preach complimentary passages and themes to help reinforce the biblical message.
These sermons accompany The Gospel Project lessons originally scheduled for December 2012.


The honorary president of Greece's main opposition party and former premier, New Democracy's Konstantinos Mitsotakis, is to meet with Turkish Premier Mesut Yilmaz on Sunday evening with whom he will discuss the course of Greek-Turkish relations.
The meeting, to take place at a hotel in Bosporus, is at the request of the Turkish premier in light of Mr. Mitsotakis' visit to Istanbul.
Mr. Mitsotakis has informed the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis as well as the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides of Mr. Yilmaz's initiative.
A negative climate continues to prevail in stock market throughout the world as the possibility of an agreement among the Seven for a reduction interest rates is dimming.
The chairman of the US Central Bank refused to commit to such reduction which led investors to be discouraged. As a result, drops were noted in the largest stock markets.
Young persons representing all the countries from Southeast Europe are to embark on a four-day meeting today in Platamonas, an event organized by the New Generation General Secretariat.
Fifteen government officials on youth issues from all countries in southeastern Europe will participate in the meeting, as well as 100 representatives of non-governmental organizations from these countries, including Turkey for the first time.
The event is taking place as a preparation of Youth Week which will take place in July 1999.
This initiative is part of the action program for 1998-1999, which was adopted by the ministers responsible for youth issues in the countries of southeastern Europe in the framework of a relevant multipartite agreement signed in Athens in March.
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns has announced that the visa requirement applied to Greeks who plan to travel to the United States will be abolished soon.
"It is a measure which has been abolished 10 years ago for the citizens of all European Union countries, with the exception of those of Portugal and Greece," Mr. Burns stated yesterday.
"I believe that the abolition of the visa is a matter of a few months and this is so because processes must be completed inside the government for such a thing to be achieved," he said.
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that Greece is "keenly interested in a smooth and democratic evolution in Albania, its economic recovery and the protection of human rights as well as the strengthening of democratic institutions," during a press interview held yesterday.
Presenting Greece's positions and initiatives on a bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations towards achieving normalization in the neighboring country, Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece, as current Council of Europe president, has promoted the organization's involvement in the Albanian issue.
He also said that during Tuesday's extraordinary meeting of the CoE's permanent representatives, Greece received a mandate to undertake initiatives on Albania in cooperation with other international and European organizations such as the OSCE, the EU and the WEU.
He added that the most likely development is a joint visit to Albania in the next few days by the foreign ministers (or their deputies) of the countries currently holding the presidency of the OSCE (Poland), the EU (Austria) and the WEU (Italy),as well as EU Commissioner for foreign relations Hans van den Broek.
OSCE, EU and WEU officials are already in Albania to examine the situation on the spot.
Asked to comment on statements by former Albanian president Sali Berisha accusing Greece of involvement in the Albanian turmoil, Mr. Papandreou said that Greece has never interfered in Albania's internal affairs, adding that it is not the first time that Mr. Berisha "makes statements of a similar content."
Replying to a relevant question, Mr. Papandreou avoided any comment on the issue of the possible lifting of Mr. Berisha's parliamentary immunity, but said that further polarization (in Albania) must be avoided.
The two-day meeting of PASOK's Central Committee, with main issues for discussion the preparation of the party's 5th congress and the imminent local administration elections, opens in Athens this afternoon.
For this purpose, the governmental committee and the political secretariat of the governing party met at noon today presided over by prime minister Kostas Simitis.
A fertile autumn for the Greek-Romanian business relations starts in Thessaloniki at the initiative of the local Trade and Industry Chamber.
Romanian businessmen, members of Bucharest's Trade and Industry Chamber, will be in Thessaloniki on Monday for the signing of cooperation agreements.
According to a statement by Thessaloniki's Trade and Industry Chamber, the Romanians are interested in signing agreements of cooperation in the sectors of advise services, the representation of foreign companies in their country and the development of money investments.
The Albanian parliament is to decide today whether or not it will lift the parliamentary immunity of main opposition leader and former president Sali Berisha, in order to allow for criminal proceedings to be filed against him for organizing an armed uprising on September 14.
The government is ready to proceed to the lift, even though this might harbor new uprisings from the opposition leader's followers.
Meanwhile, Mr. Berisha has called his supporters to participate in a country-wide rally today.
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, United States ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke and former US presidential candidate Michael Dukakis will be among the participants at the following week's 14th annual Hellenic Leadership Conference to be held in Washington.
According to an announcement issued by the United Hellenic- American Caucus (UHAC), a renewed peace initiative for Cyprus and the Aegean will be the focus of the three-day meeting between top policy-makers and Greek leaders from the US and around the world .
Mr. Pangalos will host a strategy session and a working dinner on September 23 for his fellow participants. Many of the major Greek-American organizations, as well as Greek and Cypriot organizations will be represented in these meetings by their leaders.
On September 24, participants will spend most of the day on Capitol Hill meeting with committee and subcommittee chairmen and other policy- makers in the US Congress.
Moreover, the conference participants will meet with the chairman of the US Senate Gordon Smith and Senator Joseph Biden, as well as Greek-American Senator Paul Sarbanis (of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee) and Senator Ted Kennedy (of the Senate's Armed Services Committee).
In the US House of Representatives, some of those with whom participants will meet include: House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt; the chairman and next ranking Democrat of the House International Relations Committee, Congressmen Ben Gilman and Sam Gejdenson; the chairman and ranking Democrat of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Sonny Callahan and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi the former chairman and current ranking Democrat of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Congressman David Obey; as well as Greek-American Congressmen Mike Bilirakis (co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus) and Mike Pappas (of the House National Security Committee). Participants will also be meeting with Ambassador Holbrooke and special State Department Cyprus coordinator Thomas Miller.
The Livanos Award will be presented to Mr. Dukakis.
A large majority of Europeans support the euro, according to a European Commission public opinion poll.
According to the poll, 60 per cent of EU citizens that responded said they fully support the new currency, up from 50 per cent last year.
Italians are the most ardent supporters at 83 per cent, 79 per cent of Luxembourg's citizens favor the euro, while 67 per cent of Greeks had a positive response.
Almost half of the citizens of the European Union (EU) member states favor Cyprus' accession to the Union, being the fourth most favorite of the 11 candidate countries, after Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.
As far as European standards of living go, Greece has the worst record among the EU member-states. Forty-four percent of the Greeks responded that they are not satisfied with their lifestyles, 48% said that they are somewhat satisfied and only seven percent reported being very satisfied.
The President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides, who is departing for New York this evening, is to meet with the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Prior to his meeting with Mr. Annan, President Clerides will salute the UN General Assembly.
In light of his talks with the UN secretary-general, Mr. Clerides met yesterday with Mr. Annan's alternate special representative in Cyprus.
In an interview to the Macedonian Press Agency, Neritan Ceka, the president of Albanian opposition party of Democratic Alliance and former Minister of the interior in the present cabinet, blamed the Prime Minister Fatos Nano for the recent political crisis in his country, mainly in regards to existing corruption in Albania's public life, pyramid-like corruption which spanned from the economy to the police.
Mr. Ceka also stated that he believes the crisis is currently under complete control, although he added that he blames Mr. Nano not only for certain aspects of his character, as he stated, but also for the manner in which he handled the crisis.
"He seems brave on easy days, but bravery is something to be shown on difficult days," Mr. Ceka said.
He added that " on the one hand Albania faced Berisha's aggression, and on the other hand it faced the government's corruption which started from the top and reached the bottom."
Mr. Ceka further added that "justice will decide on the first issue, but the second issue became prevalent the moment it was clear that the government did not enjoy tremendous social support and this is why 200 people were able to overtake the power."
When asked if he includes the Premier personally in his allegations of corruption, Mr. Ceka said that he is responsible for unbinding the hands of all those who are involved in the matter.
The European troika made up of Papandreou, Geremek, Schussel and Dini, will be in Tirana tomorrow in an effort to find a solution for the political crisis in Albania.
The troika will meet with Albanian president Redzep Meidani and prime minister Fatos Nano. Meanwhile, a huge rally of Sali Berisha's supporters is taking place at the central square of Tirana today.
The Albanian Parliament will vote today on whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of the former Albanian president in order to be brought before justice accused of instigating the recent unrest aimed at the overthrow of the government.
Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides, who leaves for New York this afternoon, will have a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Before the meeting, the Cypriot president will address the UN General Assembly.
It should be noted that in view of his departure today president Clerides met yesterday with Mr. Annan's deputy special representative in Cyprus, Ann Herkus.
Former foreign affairs undersecretary Istvan Pataki will be the new ambassador of Hungary to Greece.
His appointment was unanimously approved by the foreign affairs committee of the Hungarian Parliament.
Hungary's new ambassador to Greece is a carrier diplomat and was undersecretary of foreign affairs responsible for European issues in the previous government headed by Gula Horn. He is regarded as a specialist on issues of European Union expansion and Hungary-EU relations.


Made start to finish in the U.S.A.
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Easy to use, dyno tested combinations.
Made with premium components from respected aftermarket manufacturers.
Developed to produce maximum horsepower, strength and reliability.
Unbeleively fast shipping. I ordered on a Tuesday night, and it was delivered to my door by Thursday. Plus, the item was the cheapest with shipping on the web! I will most certainly be doing business with them again!
Great selection and easy checkout! The only thing is I didnt get an email confirmation as soon as I order which made me wonder is the transaction went through. I did get an email once the items were shipped though.


cheap insuracne ,cheap gedget insurance .
while using high value gaming consoles such as play station 3,xbox 360.You need a insurance on them .Mostly company offers cheap insurance service for your gadgets, if you buy these high value gaming consoles from mega retailers they definitely offers insurance with them.Its best if you get insurance with your xbox 360 or play station 3 because some time a small fault costs you more then value. its good if you pay a small insurance amount for you daily use gadget .


text:
Инфант Франсишку Португальский, герцог Бежа (25 мая 1691, Лиссабон — 21 июля 1742, Обидуш) — португальский инфант, сын короля Португалии Педру II Спокойного и Марии Софии Нейбургской.

Биография
Франсишку Хавьер Хосе Антонио Бенто Урбано родился 25 мая 1691 года в Лиссабоне. Ему был дан титул герцога Бежа, великого приора Крату и лордом Инфантадо. Планы женить его на эрцгерцогине Марии Магдалине Австрийской, сестре королевы Марии Анны, провалились ещё на начальной стадии переговоров.

Франсишку никогда не был женат и не имел законных детей. Он умер 21 июля 1742 года в Обидуше. Он был похоронен в Королевском Пантеоне династии Браганса в Лиссабоне.

Карьера
Отвечая на просьбу папы Климента XI о помощи в борьбе с турками, в 1716 году король Португалии Жуан V (брат инфанта Франсишку) послал армаду португальских кораблей, чтобы помочь Венеции и Австрии в их борьбе против турок во главе с герцогом Бежа и графом Рио-Гранде Лопо Фуртадо де Мендонса.

Дети
У него было двое незаконных сыновей от монахини Марианы Сильвейры, которая погибла во время Лиссабонского землетрясения 1755 года:
 Педру Браганса (? — 1741)
 Жуан Бемпоста (1725—1780)

Родословная

Примечания

Литература

Инфанты Португалии
Герцоги Бежа
Коннетабли Португалии

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Die Wettkämpfe im Reiten bei den Afrikaspielen 2007 wurden vom 14. bis zum 21. Juli 2007 in Algier, Algerien ausgetragen. Sie wurden von der Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa  organisiert. Es waren die ersten Reitwettbewerbe bei Afrikaspielen.

Vom 18.-21 Juli wurden die Springwettbewerbe im Centre Equestre LIDO ausgetragen. Die Wettbewerbe im Distanzreiten fanden vom 14.-15. Juli im Centre Equestre de Maramene statt.

Medaillen

Einzelnachweise

Pferdesport (Algerien)
Pferdesportveranstaltung 2007
Reiten
2007


text:
Yahaya Bello visits Emir of Zazzau
Ahead of his 2023 presidential ambition, the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello on Sunday visited the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali as well as the Chairman, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi and rubbed minds with them.
Governor Bello had arrived Zaria at about 2.pm and drove straight to the Emir's palace where he had a closed-door meeting with the royal father which lasted for over one hour.
Shortly after a meeting with the Emir, the presidential hopeful drove to Professor Ango' s house in Zaria GRA where he equally had a private audience with the leader of the Northern Elders.
Fielding questions from Reporters shortly after the two separate meetings, governor Bello said, "My visit to Zaria today is like homecoming. They raised me, educated me, tutored me, nurtured me before unleashing me to serve in Kogi state. I'm here to pay homage. We are on consultation, Nigerians are calling on me to serve so I have to consult my father who is versed in history.
"We rubbed minds as father and child and as a leader, a peacemaker, a unifier who is passionate about the country."
Also fielding questions, Ango Abdullahi said, "Governor Yahaya Bello is like a son to me, his uncle is a friend and classmate of mine of almost 70 years. I would be surprised if he is in Zaria and for campaign or any other thing and he did not visit me.
"He is here to tell me about the mission which he has started, the mission of seeking for Nigerians' vote to become president of Nigeria. In summary he is here on consultation."
Speaking on his visit to the Emir, Governor Bello said, "this period marked one year on the throne of the Emir of Zazzau and we used the opportunity to congratulate him. Zaria is my home, we are friends and neighbours, I couldn't come during his inauguration, I was represented so today I'm here to congratulate him and rub minds with him".
Related Topics:Yahaya Bello
COWLSO 2021: The 21st National Women's Conference, Theme: Awake
2023: Yahaya Bello hasn't dropped presidential ambition – Group
BELLO TO OHANAEZE: We can't sacrifice competence for mediocrity
Over 10BN has been disbursed to repair major and link roads in kogi state – Yahaya Bello


Archie and Tristan are best friends. Archie has a beautiful beard, the knees of a 55-year-old (despite being in his early thirties), and uses the pronouns he/him. Tristan has been drawing comics for over a decade, will always eat an entire bag of Doritos in one setting, and uses the pronouns they/them.
With A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, Archie and Tristan deliver an easy to read guide to what can be a confusing or sensitive topic for many people. It is funny, touching at parts, but most importantly, it explains how to go about using gender-neutral pronouns in a way that is easily understood. They go over how to ask what pronouns a person uses as well as what to say if you accidentally refer to someone by the wrong pronoun. (Spoiler alert: the answer to both of these situations is as easy as asking respectfully or apologizing sincerely).
It may be difficult at first, but with all things, practice is key. Soon it won't seem so awkward and you'll have the added benefit of being more respectful to your fellow human beings!


Welcome to another day! Tuesday was a good day :) My alarm went off at 7:30am, and I realized that I really didn't need to be up until 8am. So I reset it and went back to sleep.
Then got up, got dressed, got kids ready, and quickly printed out a little name taggy thing for Jim and Ella, then headed to the bus at a little after 9am.
And we waited around for the bus again. Not as long as Monday, but still for a little while.
Joe is such a strange child. He was head to foot camo today. hehe.
We got the kids on the bus, then headed back home. And got ready to go to the on post thrift store. It's been closed for the month of July, and today is the first day that it was open again. And we wanted to go and see what they had.
We loaded up in Maddie's car, and headed on over. And got there around 9:45am. And it was PACKED.
First stop was the Bargain room. Most of the store is consignment, and after a certain point, if the item doesn't sell, it's returned or clearanced off. And cheaply. I got a pair of Abercromie and Fitch jeans for a buck. And Tommy Hillfiger jeans for $0.50. And a swimsuit for Eme for a quarter. Found a ton of great deals.
At 10:30am, we were done. And went to get in line. And it was freakin' long! Oh crap! Aunt Sue and I had our nail appointment across the street at 11am. And the line wasn't moving at all. There must have been 20-30 people in front of us in line, and only one checker. It's all volunteer at that store, so I understand, but still. I had places to be!
We still had 4 people in front of us at 11am, and by the time we paid, it was 15 after. I left all my stuff with Maddie after I paid, and Aunt Sue and I dashed across the street and to the Spa. And it was enough of a walk to rub a HUGE blister on my heel. Ouch!
But we got there. 20-25 minutes late. Crap! I hate that! We explained what happened, and they worked us in. We felt real bad... They had ice cold water in wine glasses for us, and got us seated and ready for our nails.
I decided on French Tip short nails. And I think they were doing a gel fill. I don't now what it was. Aunt Sue was getting a little bit of length added to her real nails. They're already pretty long.
First step, she pushed back my cuticles, then roughed up my nails with a harsh file. Then brushed it off, and fitted my fingers for the tips.
So she glued down the white tips, and trimmed them to the length they should be.
Then filed the crap out of them. And then put some kind of polish stuff on it, and started with the "filling". She had white-ish and pink-ish. She'd get a dab of liquid, then a dab of powder. And used a paint brush to fill in the nails. It was pretty snazzy! I'd never seen it done before!
Once it was dry, she used a drimmel tool to get the edges and top smooth and such. It was cool!
They used a lot of white for the tip, but really, the nails aren't that long. See, this is from the back.
Aunt Sue got her painted Candied Apple Red. They were SUPER neat looking!
When we got back home, I found a box of delivered flowers on my doorstep! From Captain America!!!! They were BEAUTIFUL!
After about 20 minutes sitting on the benches and chatting, Amanda and Aunt Sue and I decided to go and get in the deep pool. We played in there for about an hour, then went back to the baby area, and sat in the kiddie pool with Maddie. And got some sun. It was a very nice, relaxing time at the pool, and I enjoyed every second of it.
We headed home at 5pm, and I made dinner. I cooked up a package of chicken nuggets, and tried to figure out a way to make them stretch. Because one package of chicken nuggets by itself isn't gonna make my kids full.
I spent an hour or two out there trying to clean it, and finally gave up. Plugged up the holes, and started re-filling it. Lets hope that they get lost in the gallons of new water that I'm putting in there. I turned on the hose, let it fill, and came inside.
And felt SUPER nasty. I SO needed a shower. It really felt good :P I threw on some jammies, and got the little kids ready for bed. They had a bath, and cleaned their rooms and cleaned out the bathroom. They'd made a bit of a mess during bathtime.
I blogged, and we watched some more TV. Here it is, 10:25pm. And I'm gonna turn this computer off, lay on the couch with Elmo, snuggle, and watch this one last episode. And then go to sleep.
Awe, what a SWEET photo! And love the layout too, Sharon! Thanks!
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 9 post on Aug. 03, 2011. Thanks again.
I gave up on acrylic nails...it was too frustrating because I am so used to short nails :) Good luck!
Beautiful nails! I so need to get mine done. I've been chewing them for 2 years now and they look horrid. Thanks for the word art!


Lavender Rose Face Mist is made with the working woman in mind. For the quick fix and spritz for long days in air conditioned rooms and a trip to the toilet is just impossible to freshen up. Containing aloe vera, witch hazel and rose water for a strong moisturizing affect and a soothing refresher with lavender and rose geranium essential oils to give you that dewy spirited look while nourishing your skin.
Aloe Vera provides that extra moisture retention so your skin feels it's best for longer periods of time and you don't find yourself reapplying every 15 minutes. The perfect go to mist for dry and sensitive skin. Paired with other Mary Jardin products, you can rest easy knowing you will feel your best throughout the day, and that it shows.
Take short moments of time to heal yourself, being your best can be tiring.
For normal, sensitive and combination skin. Safe for general use.
Check for compatibility by applying to small area of skin.
Ingredients : Rose Water, Rose Geranium essential oils, Oat, Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera extract, Lavender Extract, Allantoin, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Skin-safe preservative.
Directions: Spray desired amount onto face. Allow to dry naturally. Do not wipe or pat dry.


My mother in law wrote a New Mexico family cookbook called Flora's Kitchen. I make many of the recipes inside this wonderful book. I can't wait until my daughter make these delicious recipes for her family. Thank you Grandma "Mero".
You need to make red chili 1st. You'll need a bag of dried red chili.
Take pods out of bag, and place in large bowl. Add warm water, and soak until soft. The pods will float to the top, so place a heavy lid on top to keep pods submerged in the water.
It will look like this after a few hours. Next you will need to remove pod tops, and most of the seeds inside. I do this by tearing off tops, and running under water. Afterwards place pods into your blender. Add peeled clove garlic (about 4), 1/2 tbsp salt, and a can of chicken broth. Blend until smooth. Add more chicken broth if it is too thick.
Sauce will look like this when done.
To assemble your enchiladas you will need the following ingredients: corn tortillas, shredded longhorn cheese, shredded chicken, sliced black olives, chopped white onion (or green onion), and your homemade red chili sauce.
Start by 1st lining pan with sauce. Hand tear your corn tortillas to cover bottom of pan.
Add 1st layer of shredded chicken, layer on cheese, onion, olives, and then sauce. Begin next layer with shredded corn tortillas then repeat steps over, and over again until pan is completely full. The top layer should always be cheese, sauce, and olives. Bake at 345 degrees for 1 hour. Check periodically for browning. If cheese is getting to brown cover with foil.
Additional note: Shredded chicken is easy to make. I usually buy a whole chicken and boil in water. (I usually use the chicken broth to prepare my sauce with). Once chicken is cooked, and cooled. Remove skin, and fat. Shred the meat. Season with salt, and pepper.
I usually prepare the sauce, and shredded chicken in advance, and freeze in batches. This way half the work is done. This dish is delicious, and worth all the hard work. Your friends, and family will love it!


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Grassley and Ernst Discuss Kavanaugh Confirmation on U.S. Senate Floor
Iowa's Republican U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.
Social Media Platforms Do Have a Right to Suppress Speech, But They Shouldn't
Brett Kavanaugh,
Chuck Grassley,
Joni Ernst,
Senate Confirmation Process,
U.S. Senate,
Grassley, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, rebutted Democrat complaints about the confirmation process.
Watch below:
This morning I listened to remarks by the Minority Leader. For a minute, I was worried that Senator Harry Reid was back disguised as Senator Schumer. After all, I used to hear a lot of false comments about my committee's work from the misinformed former Minority Leader.
The Minority Leader first fretted that this senator, as chairman of the Judiciary committee, would be "twisted by leadership" in the course of reviewing of Judge Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. That's false, but it was strange to hear a complaint about leadership intervening in committee business from a Democratic Leader who appears to be doing just that.
As far as his other comments on the Supreme Court confirmation process, I'd like to reiterate a few points I've made over the past two weeks. The Senate Judiciary Committee will have a thorough, modern and efficient process for reviewing Judge Kavanaugh's qualifications. As I explained yesterday, senators already have access to Judge Kavanaugh's 307 opinions he authored in 12 years as a D.C. Circuit judge, the hundreds more opinions he joined, and the 6,168 pages of material he submitted as part of his Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire. These materials are the most relevant to assessing Judge Kavanaugh's legal thinking.
We expect to receive up to one million pages of documents from Judge Kavanaugh's time in the White House Counsel's Office and the Office of the Independent Counsel. This will be the largest document production in connection with a Supreme Court nomination ever. By comparison, we received only about 170,000 pages of White House records for Justice Kagan. But Democratic leaders want gratuitous and unnecessary paper from Judge Kavanaugh's time as White House Staff Secretary. This is an unreasonable request and they know it.
Democratic leaders are already committed to opposing Judge Kavanaugh. Minority Leader Schumer himself said he'd fight Judge Kavanaugh "with everything he's got." Yesterday, one colleague said that supporting Judge Kavanaugh is "complicit" in "evil." That's quite an offensive statement. It doesn't sound like they're interested in assessing Judge Kavanaugh's qualifications with an open mind.
Their bloated demands are an obvious attempt to obstruct the confirmation process. And it gets worse: The Democratic leaders are even demanding to search each and every email from other White House staffers that even mentions Judge Kavanaugh while he served in the White House. That's beyond unreasonable. And such a request would not help us understand this nominee's legal thinking.
The Obama Administration, with Senate Democrats' strong backing, refused to produce such records for Justice Kagan's confirmation. And this stunning demand is clear evidence that the Democratic leaders aren't interested in anything but obstruction. Democratic leaders insist on all these extra documents because the Senate received Justice Kagan's relevant White House records in 2010.
But there is a significant difference between this nomination and Justice Kagan's. Justice Kagan was not a lower court judge and had no judicial track record. There was a higher need for additional information that might shed light on her legal thinking. Judge Kavanaugh, by contrast, has authored more than 300 opinions and joined hundreds more.
The Staff Secretary is undoubtedly an important and demanding position, as Judge Kavanaugh himself and others have said. But Staff Secretary documents are not very useful in showing Judge Kavanaugh's legal thinking. His primary job was not to provide his own advice. Instead, he was primarily responsible for making sure that documents prepared by other Executive Branch offices were presented to the President. In addition to being the least relevant to assessing Judge Kavanaugh's legal thinking, the Staff Secretary documents contain among the most sensitive White House documents. They contain information and advice sent directly to the President from a range of policy advisors.
Democratic leaders say they want to follow the so-called "Kagan Standard," but seem to forget how we approached that nomination. Republicans and Democrats alike agreed to forgo a request for her Solicitor General documents because of their sensitivity. Senators Leahy and Sessions came to that agreement even though Justice Kagan had no judicial record to review. And they agreed to these terms despite Justice Kagan's own statement that her tenure in the Solicitor General's office would provide insight into the kind of justice she would be.
Obviously, with his long record on the D.C Circuit, Judge Kavanaugh doesn't have this problem. The need for confidentiality is substantially higher for documents passing through the Staff Secretary's office than the Solicitor General's office. Under the precedent set by Justice Kagan's nomination, we shouldn't expect access to Staff Secretary records.
We already have access to a voluminous judicial record and will have access to the largest document production for a Supreme Court nominee ever. The Democrats' demands for even more documents are unreasonable and clearly intended to obstruct this confirmation process.
Ernst took to the U.S. Senate floor to urge support for Kavanaugh's confirmation:
I rise today to voice my support for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States.
As the final arbiter of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has the sacred duty of ensuring equal justice under the law to the American people. The Supreme Court wields the immense power of judicial review. Alexis de Tocqueville described this power of the Supreme Court when he called it "a more imposing judicial power than was ever constituted by any other people."
As members of the Senate, it is not often that we get the opportunity to give our advice and consent on the confirmation of Supreme Court justices. It is even rarer that we get the opportunity to confirm someone as highly qualified and well-respected as Brett Kavanaugh.
I am especially impressed by Judge Kavanaugh's interpretation of the Constitution as it applies to the ever encroaching power of federal agencies.
Even before the people of Iowa sent me to Washington, I was horrified by the impact of increasingly burdensome regulations imposed on hardworking men, women, and businesses across America by unleashed federal bureaucrats.
An excellent example of this is the infamous Waters of the United States rule promulgated by the Obama EPA. The Obama administration's bloated definition of the waters of the U.S. would have put 97 percent of Iowa under EPA jurisdiction. Even a tire track filled with water on an Iowa farm would have been subject to federal regulation.
Federal agencies have been allowed to implement such destructive regulations in part due to the Supreme Court giving them deference. While a certain degree of deference is needed, I am concerned that a too broad deferential standard separates the people of the United States from Washington bureaucrats. It fails to place an adequate check on executive and administrative power.
Throughout his career as both a highly respected legal scholar and a judge on the esteemed D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Kavanaugh has written critically of widening the scope of this already far-reaching deferential standard. He wrote, in part, that this deference "encourages the Executive Branch to be extremely aggressive in seeking to squeeze its policy goals into ill-fitting statutory authorizations and restraints."
This could not have been what the founders intended when they developed our Constitution and our government.
I could not agree more with Judge Kavanaugh's concerns. And I look forward to the Judge's levelheaded leadership and thinking on the Supreme Court.
In addition, I was proud to hear that Judge Kavanaugh has had the chance to work with Iowans. State Representative Mary Ann Hanusa, who represents the city of Council Bluffs, had the opportunity to work with Judge Kavanaugh when he served as Staff Secretary in the White House.
Representative Hanusa describes Judge Kavanaugh as hardworking, dedicated, and impartial in his duties. All traits that I require in a Supreme Court justice.
Under Chairman Grassley's leadership, I believe that we will have a thorough, timely, and successful confirmation process, just as we did with Neil Gorsuch. I urge my colleagues to put aside partisan gimmicks and games and support the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh.
Expanded and Improved Medicare for All: Beware of Greeks Bearing Broccoli
Dr. Marilyn Singleton: Not only will the Medicare benefits decrease as the money runs out, patients will see real world consequences of total control.
Dr. Marilyn Singleton
Occupy Wall Street: Envy Protests Greed
In a 2008 debate, Charlie Gibson asked Barack Obama about his support for…
Brian Myers
Trickle-down Economics: Does It Work?
Several times when I discuss conservative vs liberal/keynesian economics, the topic of…
John Gustavsson
Congress must fund CHIP Now
Congressman David Young (R-Iowa): Investing in CHIP helps ensure kids get the proper health care they need to be active and healthy, and helps put parents' minds at ease. When kids start off their lives healthier they tend to stay healthy and pay less in health care costs throughout their lives.
David Young


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High-temperature plasmonics eyed for solar, computer innovation
by Emil Venere, Purdue University
This diagram shows the respective properties of plasmonic and refractory materials for applications in high-temperature plasmonics, which could radically improve solar cell performance and bring advanced computer data storage technology that uses heat to record information on a magnetic disk. Credit: Birck Nanotechnology Center/Purdue University
(Phys.org) —New "plasmonic metamaterials" that operate at high temperatures could radically improve solar cell performance and bring advanced computer data storage technology that uses heat to record information on a magnetic disk.
The materials could make it possible to harness clouds of electrons called surface plasmons to manipulate and control light. However, some of the plasmonic components under development rely on the use of metals such as gold and silver, which cannot withstand high temperatures. They also are not compatible with the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing process used to construct integrated circuits.
Purdue University researchers are working to replace silver and gold with titanium nitride and zirconium nitride.
"These materials remain stable at the high operational temperatures required for high efficiency and performance," said Urcan Guler, a postdoctoral research associate working with Alexandra Boltasseva, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Vladimir M. Shalaev, scientific director of nanophotonics at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center and a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering.
The promise of high-temperature plasmonics is described in an article appearing Friday (April 18) in the journal Science. The article, appearing in the magazine's Perspectives section, was co-authored by Guler, Boltasseva and Shalaev.
Metamaterials have engineered surfaces that contain features, patterns or elements, such as tiny antennas or alternating layers of nitrides that enable unprecedented control of light. Under development for about 15 years, the metamaterials owe their unusual potential to precision design on the scale of nanometers.
In solar thermophotovoltaics, an extremely thin layer of "metamaterial" depicted here uses plasmonic nanoantennas to absorb and emit light, potentially resulting in high-efficiency solar cells. Credit: Birck Nanotechnology Center/Purdue University
Now, researchers have discovered that a new class of plasmonic technologies might use high temperatures to achieve superior efficiency. One obstacle, however, is that the operational temperature required for high-efficiency devices is estimated to be around 1,500 degrees Celsius (about 2,700 Fahrenheit). Titanium nitride and zirconium nitride are said to be refractory, meaning they have a high melting point and chemical stability at temperatures above 2,000 Celsius (about 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit).
The materials might be used for solar thermophotovoltaics, in which an ultrathin layer of plasmonic metamaterials could dramatically improve solar cell efficiency: Whereas today's solar cells have an efficiency of about 15 percent, in theory the efficiency might be improved to as high as 85 percent with solar thermophotovoltaics. The plasmonic layer acts as a thin "intermediate spectral converter" that absorbs the entire spectrum of sunlight and then illuminates the solar cell, Guler said.
The spectral converter is an extremely thin layer of metamaterial that uses plasmonic nanoantennas to absorb and emit light. The layer might be as thin as 500 nanometers, or half of a micron, roughly one-hundredth the width of a human hair. This layer of material would be heated by sunlight to about 1,500 degrees Celsius.
Previous research in the field explored the use of refractory metals such as tungsten or tantalum, which are not good plasmonic materials. Using these metals requires a layer 20 times thicker than is possible with the plasmonic metamaterials, making it far more vulnerable to mechanical stresses caused by the constant expansion-contraction cycle of solar thermophotovoltaic devices. Another advantage is that the thinner layer heats up more readily because of its low mass.
The high-temperature plasmonic metamaterials also could enable researchers to perfect a new form of computer data storage called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) drives, which promise far greater capacity than is possible with current technology. However, one challenge is to create nanoantennas out of materials that stand up to the extreme temperatures and mechanical demands posed by the operation of computer hard drives, Shalaev said.
"The antenna is located very close to a disk spinning at a high speed and under temperatures of about 400 Celsius," he said. "Under these conditions, deformation of the nanostructure is difficult to prevent."
Titanium nitride, however, offers high strength and heat resistance. The material is used commercially to coat drill bits.
"There is no way to damage it with a spinning disk," Guler said.
Shalaev and Boltasseva have formed a startup company, Nano-Meta Technologies Inc., based at the Purdue Research Park. Nano-Meta Technologies is focusing initially on three applications: the heat-assisted magnetic recording, solar thermophotovoltaics and a new clinical therapeutic approach.
In the clinical therapeutic concept, titanium nitride nanoparticles might be injected into the bloodstream so that they accumulate in tumors. Clinicians might shine a certain wavelength of light on these nanoparticles from outside the body, causing the particles to heat up and killing the cancer cells.
Journal information: Science
Provided by Purdue University
Citation: High-temperature plasmonics eyed for solar, computer innovation (2014, April 21) retrieved 29 January 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2014-04-high-temperature-plasmonics-eyed-solar.html
'Metasurfaces' to usher in new optical technologies
Novel plasmonic material may merge photonic and electronic technologies
New hologram technology created with tiny nanoantennas
New 'metamaterial' practical for optical advances
Plasmonic metamaterials: From microscopes to invisibility cloaks
Scientists develop heat-resistant materials that could vastly improve solar cell efficiency
How silicides impact the performance of transmon qubits
Ultrafast control of spins in a microscope
Approaching the terahertz regime: Room temperature quantum magnets switch states trillions of times per second
Active matter theory explains fire-ant group behavior
Researchers flip the switch on electric control of crystal symmetry
Distinguishing between right and left with magnets


How to capture downtown's unique and vibrant retail scene.
Part and parcel to the authentic downtown experience are the unique, locally owned and varied retail shopping opportunities. Pure Brand built an easily searchable website that categorized and colored discrete neighborhoods, highlighting their respective personalities and business opportunities.


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PROGRAMS for FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORES
PROGRAMS for JUNIORS & SENIORS
TRANSFER & GRAD SCHOOL PROGRAMS
ESSAY EDITING & CONSULTING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES A-Z
Waitlisted... Now what?
23 March 2018 Administrator (0)
You may have discovered by now that there is a lot to still be figured in terms of where students will be going to college next year. Seniors will be going on accepted students days to try to finally determine where they want to spend their next four years. And some of those same seniors will be notifying colleges that they want to stay on their wait lists. Here are a few tips to do your part in moving things along.
If you know for certain that you will not attend a school where you have been admitted, then notify them asap to decline their offer and make room for other students. What may be just another one of your safety schools, is a dream school for someone else.
If you know for certain that you will not attend a school where you have been waitlisted, then graciously decline the spot on the waitlist. Remember, that there are other students desperately waiting for that message from that college saying that they have been admitted off the waitlist.
If you are on a waitlist of a school that you hope to get in to, then notify them immediately (typically through their official notification form) that you want to stay on the waitlist. Then you'll be asking yourself: Now what can I do to let them know that I really want to get in!? There is no single perfect answer to this. The bottom line is to be yourself. Remember you are trying to find a way to distinguish yourself from other qualified students on the waitlist. Find a creative and genuine way to let the admission officers know who your are as a person. If you are a painter, then paint a picture! If you are a singer, then write a song! If you are a writer, then write something. And in the meantime, put your deposit down on another school and get excited about the possibility of going there!
Becky Georgenes
Senior College Counselor
Road to College
Former Princeton Admission officer
Visit Colleges Without Considerable Travel
Spring break is rapidly approaching. And with the arrival of high school spring breaks comes a marked increase in the number of college visits students make. Juniors and even some sophomores will take time over their school vacations to visit colleges across the country. But what if you don't have the resources— time, finances, travel ability— to visit campuses? Never fear, there are great ways for students all across the US to experience college visits without expensive, time consuming travel.
Especially for the highly undecided student, but applicable to all students, I recommend local visits. The majority of high school students live within driving distance of a college. With over three thousand colleges and universities in the US, there are plenty of options close to home. Rather than spending time and money visiting campuses that may or may not be of interest, I would encourage you to explore one or more campuses within driving distance of home, even if you think you have no intention of attending said college. Visiting any campus will help you to better understand your preferences. You'll gain familiarity with the process of visiting a college so that when you visit your top choice schools you will be a seasoned campus visiting veteran. Make your visit official by scheduling it through the admission office. Sit in on the information session. Take the tour. Wander around campus. Ask questions. A visit to a nearby school that may not be on your radar is a great way to practice asking questions, learn the lingo of a college visit, and hone your preferences.
College websites are an excellent resource for research purposes. Rather than spending considerable time and money to visit every school on your preliminary list, use college websites to visit colleges across the country from the comfort of your own home. Organize your research and take notes. Jot down the details that interest you— interesting courses/majors, unique learning opportunities, pertinent aspects of the application/admission processes, etc. Keep your research in a central location so that you can refer back to it as you virtually visit campuses or ultimately make in-person visits.
There are other incredible online resources to facilitate a virtual campus visit. Check out the resources below to take virtual tours of hundreds of campuses across the country.
You Visit
600+ easy-to-search free college visits
YouniversityTV
https://www.youniversitytv.com/category/college/
Online college video tours and searches.
College Click TV
collegeclicktv.com
Allows students to watch exclusive videos of college students from campuses across the country speaking frankly about their colleges.
Have fun exploring from the comfort of your own home!
Newsflash: Recent Article About the SAT & ACT
The March 10, 2018 edition of the Wall Street Journal featured a fascinating article on its Review section cover. This article, written by industrial-organizational psychology professors at the University of Minnesota, explores several test related myths the authors have identified. While we may not agree with every aspect of the article, the bottom line is that testing matters. It matters for admission. It matters for future success. And it matters for students to take the tests seriously. Read the article and see what you think.
The Truth About the SAT and ACT
Myths abound about standardized tests, but the research is clear: They provide an invaluable measure of how students are likely to perform in college and beyond
ILLUSTRATION: BRIAN STAUFFER
Nathan Kuncel and
Paul Sackett
March 8, 2018 10:11 a.m. ET
This Saturday, hundreds of thousands of U.S. high-school students will sit down to take the SAT, anxious about their performance and how it will affect their college prospects. And in a few weeks, their older peers, who took the test last year, will start hearing back from the colleges they applied to. Admitted, rejected, waitlisted? It often hinges, in no small measure, on those few hours spent taking the SAT or the ACT, the other widely used standardized test.
Standardized tests are only part of the mix, of course, as schools make their admissions decisions. They also rely on grades, letters of recommendation, personal statements and interviews. But we shouldn't kid ourselves: The SAT and ACT matter. They help overwhelmed admissions officers divide enormous numbers of applicants into pools for further assessment. High scores don't guarantee admission anywhere, and low scores don't rule it out, but schools take the tests seriously.
And they should, because the standardized tests tell us a lot about an applicant's likely academic performance and eventual career success. Saying as much has become controversial in recent years, as standardized tests of every sort have come under attack. But our own research and that of others in the field show conclusively that a few hours of assessment do yield useful information for admissions decisions.
Unfortunately, a lot of myths have developed around these tests—myths that stand in the way of a thoughtful discussion of their role and importance.
Myth: Tests Only Predict First-Year Grades
Longitudinal research demonstrates that standardized tests predict not just grades all the way through college but also the level of courses a student is likely to take. Our research shows that higher test scores are clearly related to choosing more difficult majors and to taking advanced coursework in all fields. At many schools, the same bachelor's degree can be earned largely with introductory courses or with classes that approach the level of a master's degree. Students with high test scores are more likely to take the challenging route through college.
Tests also predict outcomes beyond college. A 2007 paper published in the journal Science presented a quantitative review across thousands of studies and hundreds of thousands of students, examining the predictive power of graduate-school admissions tests for law, business, medicine and academic fields. It showed that the tests predict not only grades but also several other important outcomes, including faculty evaluations, research accomplishments, degree attainment, performance on comprehensive exams and professional licensure.
High-school and college grades are excellent measures for selecting students who are prepared for the next level. But we all know that a grade-point average of 3.5 doesn't mean the same thing across schools or even for two students within a school. As high-school GPAs continue to go up because of grade inflation, having the common measure provided by admissions test scores is useful.
Students in an SAT prep class. Tests are generally more valid when everyone has had preparation. PHOTO: BRIAN A. POUNDS/HEARST CONNECTICUT/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Myth: Tests Are Not Related to Success in the Real World
Clearly there are many factors, beyond what is measured by tests, that have an impact on long-term success in work and life. But fundamental skills in reading and math matter, and it has been demonstrated, across tens of thousands of studies, that they are related, ultimately, to job performance.
A 2004 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology looked at results from a test that was designed for admissions assessment but was also marketed as a tool for making hiring decisions. Though originally intended as a measure of "book smarts," it also correlated with successful outcomes at both school and work.
Longitudinal research has demonstrated that major life accomplishments, such as publishing a novel or patenting technology, are also associated with test scores, even after taking into account educational opportunities. There is even a sizable body of evidencethat these skills are related to effective leadership and creative achievements at work. Being able to read texts and make sense of them and having strong quantitative reasoning are crucial in the modern information economy.
Myth: Beyond a Certain Point, Higher Scores Don't Matter
Some might concede that these skills are important—but only up to a point, beyond which higher scores don't matter. It's an understandable intuition, but the research clearly shows that, all else being equal, more is better.
'If anything, the relationship between scores and success increased as scores went up.'
One of us examined four large national data sets and found no evidence, in either work or academic settings, of a plateau where all relatively high scorers were roughly equal. If anything, the relationship between scores and success increased as scores went up. One theory for why this occurs is that people who score higher are more likely to seek out highly complex academic and work settings, where their cognitive skills are especially important.
A remarkable longitudinal study published in 2008 in the journal Psychological Science examined students who scored in the top 1% at the age of 13. Twenty years later, they were, on average, very highly accomplished, with high incomes, major awards and career accomplishments that would make any parent proud.
Yet, even within that group, higher scores mattered. Those in the top quarter of the top 1% were more likely than those merely at the bottom quarter of the top 1% to have high incomes, patents, doctorates and published literary works and STEM research.
Cognitive skills are not the only factor in success, of course. Our own research has demonstrated that, with certain elite cohorts, like applicants for executive positions, the abilities measured by tests are still important but less so than other characteristics. This is the same phenomenon as in professional basketball, where differences in height become less important among the extremely tall. This highlights the need to assess multiple characteristics with high-quality measures.
Myth: Common Alternatives to Tests Are More Useful
Admissions staff often rely on letters of recommendation, interviews and student essays and personal statements to create a complete picture of a student. It's a worthy goal. Success is not just a function of high-school grades and test scores.
Unfortunately, most of these tools are not stellar indicators of future success. Letters of recommendation have some modest utility, but research shows that evaluations of student essays and personal statements have almost no relationship to how students ultimately perform. It is well known that traditional interviews are poor predictors (though structured interviews are much more effective). Problems with traditional interviews and letters of recommendation are so pervasive that many schools are looking for better options.
We know from extensive longitudinal research that many aspects of a person's personality are associated with important life outcomes. Unlike typical personality measures, new measures that are resistant to faking in high-stakes settings are being developed. These measures can more accurately test a student's character, getting at critical characteristics such as curiosity, empathy, resilience and determination. In addition, "situational judgment tests" that evaluate a person's judgment in key school situations have been successfully used for medical school admissions and are being developed for admissions at all levels.
Myth: Tests Are Just Measures of Social Class
Admissions tests aren't windows into innate talent; rather, they assess skills developed over years of education. They evaluate a student's capacity to read and interpret complex prose, think critically and reason mathematically.
How well students develop these skills is influenced, of course, by many factors, including educational quality, high expectations, stable communities and families, and teacher behavior. It is a tragic reality that these factors are not equally distributed across social class and race in the U.S.
Studies have documented, for example, that the number of words and encouragements spoken to little children varies by socioeconomic status and that these differences are related to the development of verbal reasoning skills. Obviously, some kids from less well-off families grow up in a home environment where they encounter complex vocabulary and sentence structures, but many more do not.
Though we see exceptionally skilled students from all walks of life, the reality is that there is a correlation between test scores and social class. This doesn't mean, however, that success on standardized tests and in college is simply dependent on class.
Our own comprehensive look at the issue, including a review of the existing literature and analysis of several large national data sets, showed that the tests were valid even when controlling for socioeconomic class. Regardless of their family background, students with good tests scores and high-school grades do better in college than students with lower scores and weaker transcripts.
Standardized tests are not just proxy tests of wealth, and many students from less affluent backgrounds do brilliantly on them. But the class differences in skill development are real, and improving the K-12 talent pipeline would be a huge benefit to the country.
Students at the University of Pennsylvania in September. PHOTO: CHARLES MOSTOLLER/REUTERS
Myth: Test Prep and Coaching Produce Large Score Gains
If tests were easily coached and coaching was only available to the wealthy, there would be an equity problem, even if tests are generally useful. Commercial test prep is clearly expensive, so this is a critical issue.
Researchers have conducted a mix of experimental studies and controlled field studies to test this question. They have generally concluded that the gains due to test prep are more on the order of 5 to 20 points and not the 100 to 200 points claimed by some test prep companies.
One review found a typical gain of 15 to 20 points on the math portion of the SAT and 8 to 10 points on the verbal portion. One of us conducted a more in-depth analysis of 4,248 high-school students and, after controlling for prior scores and the differing propensity of students to seek coaching, we estimated a gain of 14 points on the math test and 4 points on the verbal.
These are just averages, and among students who prep, a small percentage do realize 100 point gains. Why? The research suggests that they fall into two overlapping groups. The first consists of students who are fundamentally well prepared but are rusty on some basic concepts. The second group has not put even basic effort into understanding the questions and the flow of the tests. Gaining simple familiarity is one of the surest ways to achieve quick increases in scores.
Most experts want students to prep. Tests are generally more valid when everyone has had preparation because scores then reflect the application of fresh skills and not differences in basic familiarity with the test. The College Board, which administers the SAT, has partnered with Khan Academy to offer free test prep. Such training is valuable, and having accessible prep materials helps to improve both student scores and the validity of the test.
Myth: Tests Prevent Diversity in Admissions
Do standardized tests have a negative impact on the admission of a racially diverse student body? A good test of this would be to look at schools where admissions tests are optional for applicants and compare them to schools that use the tests. Recent research demonstrates that testing-optional schools have been enrolling increasingly diverse student bodies. But the same is true of schools that require testing.
Similarly, in a 2012 study, we examined a sample of 110 colleges with a total of 143,000 students to see whether the admitted student body consists mostly of those from wealthier families or reflects the socioeconomic profile of the applicant pool as a whole. It turned out that the social class of the enrolled students mirrored the applicant pool.
If there is a social-class filter, it affects who is prepared for college and who chooses to apply. This deserves national attention, since there are many talented and hardworking students who, as we have said, are not getting the sort of education that would prepare them for college.
MORE SATURDAY ESSAYS
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How to Raise More Grateful ChildrenFebruary 23, 2018
How to Be Healthier and Happier: It's All in the Timing February 16, 2018
What Can't Be Debated on CampusFebruary 16, 2018
The Enlightenment Is Working February 9, 2018
Ideally, students applying to college should be evaluated on many different pieces of information, including their academic skills, curiosity, drive and teamwork. But test scores should have an important role in admissions decisions. Differences in skill investment and development over the course of many years cannot be overcome quickly.
Some schools take addressing these gaps as their mission, while others assume an advanced baseline of skills and focus on pushing their students toward higher levels of achievement. Not all schools have the same goals, and that's fortunate, given the realities of talent development across students in the U.S.
Standardized tests are just tools—very effective tools—but they provide invaluable information to admissions offices. They identify those students who need help catching up with fundamental skills and those who are ready to tackle advanced material and rapidly accelerate in their learning.
Drs. Kuncel and Sackett are professors of industrial-organizational psychology at the University of Minnesota. This essay is adapted from their chapter in "Measuring Success: Testing, Grades and the Future of College Admissions," a new edited volume published by Johns Hopkins University Press. In the past they have received research funding from the College Board, which administers the SAT.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-truth-about-the-sat-and-act-1520521861
Finding Time for Activities - by Becky Gerogenes
"I play 3 sports… I have no time for any other after school activities."
I often work with students who are extremely dedicated athletes – either playing three different sports a year or focusing on one sport on varsity and club teams. Ultimately, they all tell me the same thing: "I don't have time for any other extra curricular activities."
And that may be the case for you because all of their after school time is already filled up.
But we all know that it is important to have some other interests outside of sports – and not just because "it looks good on a college application." It is also important to have other interests and passions in the event that you are no longer able to play the sport.
Here are some ideas of how you can pursue other activities despite having a busy sports schedule.
· Start with your school electives. There are often wonderful opportunities for specialization in a given field of art. In some cases, that can even involve Honors, AP or intensive classes. This could also lead to opportunities to TA in that discipline. But start thinking about this within the first two years of High School. That way, you have time to develop a real expertise --- all during the regular school day.
· READ! Find books that support your interests (either academic or non-academic) and use your free time to read them. And if you feel like you don't have the time or patience for books, try Audible. Download a book on your cell phone and listen to it during a run, during a workout, or while you are cleaning your room.
· Volunteer at a 1-day or 1-time event. Volunteering can be meaningful even if it is not a regular commitment. See what is available in your community. It could be helping re-stock a local food pantry. Working at a holiday event at your town's Senior Center. Or raking leaves for a neighbor in need.
By taking a look at what you are already doing and putting a little effort into some non- sport activities, you will be enhancing your college application --- but even more importantly, you will be enriching your life.
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EQUESTRIAN SPECIAL OLYMPICS GREAT BRITAIN Develops co-ordination, good posture, balance, and body awareness. Improves athlete's total fitness. Teaches self-discipline. Teaches athlete to respect and enjoy nature and animals. BENEFITS OF RIDING Enhances self-esteem.
Develops co-ordination, good posture, balance, and body awareness.
Teaches athlete to respect and enjoy nature and animals.
Provides athlete with a life-long sporting activity and is FUN.
Dressage is ridden in a 20m x 40m arena.
It is very important for riders to understand how to look after their horse properly.
Grooming – why do we groom?
Feed – What to feed – portions – how often – treats.
Tack – Care and fitting of tack.
Stables/fields – cleanliness and safety.
Looking after a horse is an extension of looking after yourself!
Join local Special Olympics or RDA Group.
Go along to nearest Equestrian Centre and see what they have to offer. Make sure they are geared up for riders with physical/learning disability.
Start your own Special Olympics Equestrian Group. For more details contact Equestrian Technical Advisor or Head Office.


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Young Justice Book One
Batman. Superman. The Flash. The incredible members of the Justice League of America cast a long shadow, and the members of Young Justice are eager to step out of it. Robin, Superboy and Impulse want to prove to their superhero mentors that they're capable of tackling super-villains on their own. Under the guidance of the stoic, wise Red Tornado, the three teen heroes begin their quest to make a name for themselves, apart from their famous friends. When the team gains three new members-shy but powerful Wonder Girl, champion archer Arrowette and mystical Secret-Young Justice is ready to take on one of the toughest foes the universe has ever seen: the giant tyrant Despero. But it's a race against the clock: if Young Justice can't work together and defeat Despero within 22 minutes, the Justice League will disband Young Justice permanently. Can the team come together to stop Despero's reign of terror, or will Young Justice be separated forever? Witness the epic battles the Young Justice team faces in these classic stories written by critically acclaimed author Peter David. YOUNG JUSTICE BOOK ONE collects YOUNG JUSTICE #1-7, JLA: WORLD WITHOUT GROWN-UPS #1-2, YOUNG JUSTICE: THE SECRET and YOUNG JUSTICE: SECRET FILES #1.
Rating: 12+ 403 pages Released May 2, 2017
Peter David, Daniel Curtis Johnson, Todd Dezago
Craig Rousseau, Todd Nauck, Alé Garza, Mike McKone, Humberto Ramos
Young Justice (1998-) #1
Peter David, Todd Nauck


Queering the Art Classroom is an educational organisation, working to develop a more inclusive curriculum.
In particular, we recognise the needs and rights of all the characteristics listed as protected under the Equality Act of 2010. Therefore, we aspire to make Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Asexual and other gender non-conforming persons (LGBTQIA+) in education, such as teachers, students and parents, feel included within the system.
Queering the art classroom takes part in university research, debate and curriculum development on gender and sexuality issues. There is evidence to suggest that homophobia is prominent in UK schools, yet measures to address the issue have largely rested on schools and LGBTQIA+ charities reducing discussions of homosexuality to anti-bullying discourses and introducing curriculum modifications that are overwhelmingly homonormative. The limitations of these current methods ignore the societal and institutional power structures that produce homophobia, which is often referred to as heteronormativity. It has been suggested that heteronormativity, not victim narratives or counter-stereotypes, needs to be addressed in the curriculum to prevent homophobia and create inclusive learning environments.
Art education is a fruitful site for addressing heteronormativity. Art education can promote criticality and inclusive learning, which serves to counter oppressive discourses. Yet, commentators within art education have suggested that some of art education's strongest attributes - criticality and exploration - tend to be overlooked, especially within commonly used art curriculum topics such as 'identity'. Indeed, under this topic, gender and sexuality is hardly ever broached. Through the application of a pedagogy rooted in queer theory, Queering the Art Classroom explores the possibilities of challenging heteronormativity through art interventions. As such, Queering the Art Classroom aims to beyond the homonormative inclusion of LGBTQIA+ content, towards a deeper exploration of gender and sexuality.
Queering the Art Classroom firmly believes that queer theory can inform and develop the art curriculum and that the art curriculum can inform and develop queer theory. It is this sentiment that encourages us to keep pushing forward for progress.
In order to achieve our goal to make education inclusive for everyone, we need your help.
This Just Giving campaign will fund our first exhibition which is taking place in July 2018. We need your help for a mixture of activities, great and small, from printing and producing our publication, to contributing towards artist fees. We need further assistance to ensure that we can continue our work in schools, travelling around the U.K with a series of workshops the team have prepared. We really need your help to bring this organisation to life.
The exhibition will be a small show of GCSE art students work, who have taken part in "Queering the Art Classroom'. This exhibition is taking place at Sutton House.
As we are an educational organisation, it is vital that we use this platform to run community workshops within the exhibition. Your donations will ensure that we can buy materials for these events.
We have carefully selected images for our publication, and wish to use the exhibition catalogue not only to showcase the students work, but to act as a resource pack for teachers and trainee teachers. This will contain essays, prints, and templates on how to queer the classroom.
Finally, we are working with a team of graphic designers and illustrators to create accessible ways to hear about our project. From this, we have decided to make an animation with the students to inform the public at the exhibition, and online, about what the 'Queering the Art Classroom' project has entailed. All donations made will go towards making sketches a finished project that is vital to our cause.
Before deciding to launch this page we carefully assessed any risks and challenges we may face throughout this project.
Your pledges and donations go directly to producing this exhibition.
We have already produced the contents for the catalogue, curated the exhibition, and are in the stages of producing our animation. We are installing the exhibition at the end of June.
help give our students an end of year show to remember!


text:
Home New York Broome County Vestal Debra J. Cohn
Debra J. Cohn
Tully Rinckey PLLC
Divorce, Elder Law, Estate Planning...
Debra Cohn is the Managing Partner of Tully Rinckey PLLC's Binghamton office. She focuses her practice on Family and Matrimonial Law, including Divorce, Child Support, Child Custody, Child Visitation, Spousal Support and Paternity. Debra has over 10 years of experience and skill representing clients in a vast array of topics relating to family and matrimonial law. She is dedicated to providing exceptional representation and the best possible outcomes for her clients.
Debra is a member of the New York State Bar Association and Broome County Bar Association. She has an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. Debra received the Pro Bono Award from Nassau Suffolk Legal Services in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, she has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and awarded the Clients' Choice Award from Avvo.
As an undergraduate, Debra attended Stony Brook University, where she received a B.A. cum laude in 2003. In 2007, she obtained her J.D. from the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, where she was awarded the CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Family Law, Family Law Clinic and the Rights of Children.
Managing Partner (2018-present), Partner (2017), Senior Associate (2016)
Attorney & Owner
Law Office of Debra Cohn
The Law Offices of Janis M. Noto
Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
State University of New York - Stony Brook
B.A. (2003) | Political Science
Honors: Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Honor Society for Political Science
Clients' Choice Award
Preeminent Rating
Academic Excellence in Family Law
Academic Excellence Family Law Clinic
Academic Excellence Rights of Children
Broome County Bar Association
New York State Bar # 4570941
Modifying Child Support
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Matrimonial and Family Law Practice, Civil Practice – Selected Issues CLE Program
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Anthony Nicholas Elia
Kelly E. Fischer
Emilee K. Lawson Hatch
Christian James Root
Kevin Yeager


In addition to helping him save, the bank (and not just the bank of mom and dad) is paying him interest and it helps teach important money lessons.
As we've written about before, our oldest child, Little I, loves to make and save money. And while we appreciate all his entrepreneurial ideas, we're also working to teach him that saving money is a great way to make money as well.
Here'show we turn it into a money lesson.
How much he has saved (currently $388).
How much he's earned in interest by keeping the money in the account ($7.75).
What the different terms mean such as deposits, withdrawals, and dividend/interest.
How much he would have in 5 years or 10 years if he did nothing but let it earn interest ($523 in 5 years, $706 in 10 years). Use a savings calculator like this one.
He's earned or been gifted the money in a variety of ways – selling things, gift money, extra chores around the house, and other entrepreneurial pursuits.
It is also a great money lesson in how banking works. We visited the credit union together, had him talk to the teller to explain what we wanted to do, and he learned how to deposit money.
Our main rule is that once he deposits the money in the savings account it is there to stay. He keeps a small amount of money at home in his piggy bank, but once he gets above a $20 or so, we take a trip to the bank to deposit the money.
This hasn't been an issue, yet, as he is such a natural saver, but I'm sure there will come a day when he's asking to withdrawal the money to buy something bigger.
If your child is earning income, through a job or a side hustle (babysitting, lemonade stands, lawn mowing, etc.) consider opening a Roth IRA for them (example terms here). The account can be opened and managed by any adult on behalf of a minor earning income, but we recommend getting your child involved so they understand how it works.
As always, compare the fees, interest rates, and terms to see if it makes sense. There are more withdrawal restrictions than an interest-bearing savings account, but if your child's earnings are growing, it can be a nice nest egg for college, home purchase, or retirement.
Have you opened a savings account for your little saver? Are they earning interest on their savings? What tips or questions would you add? Leave a comment below!