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Smile Files: Ricalton's Village Tavern
by admin | Oct 31, 2014 | Ready to smile | 0 comments
We love Essex County, from the diverse communities, entertainment and parks to the exceptional local businesses! We want to share our #EssexPride with all of you in a new series called "Smile Files," in which we write about the greatest and latest experiences that we think will make our patients SMILE. First up: South Orange's Ricalton's Village Tavern, which just opened in June. Ricalton's (pronounced like "pickle-tons" but with an "R") is a new American cuisine restaurant with three different sections, catering to families, couples, college kids, everyone!
Owner & GM: Stony, also the owner of Stony's Burgers restaurant in South Orange.
Concept: Ricalton's is a family-friendly restaurant where you can experience an upscale ambiance and eat a high-end steak with a $100 bottle of wine, but also be able to get a burger and a beer for under $20. The menu offers traditional American-style bistro cuisine with Nouveau American flair. The wine menu contains 50 different bottles of wine from $8 per glass options to $200 per bottle premium vintages.
The Main Restaurant: Features a large bar, live music area for acoustic entertainment on Thursdays and Saturdays, a fireplace and plenty of seating (tables and stylish half-circle booths).
The East Wing/Valley Street Bar: Situated in the front on Valley Street, the east wing has a beautiful mahogany bar and can handle up to 80 people for private events. High-end Scotches and bourbons are the main event on the spirits menu.
The Snug: Downstairs is an intimate pub called The Snug, accessible via the main entrance or a side door in the back of the restaurant. Most likely attracting the 20-something crowd (but doesn't discriminate to other age groups of course!), bar-goers while have fun playing on the two dart boards, drinking Irish Whiskey paired with beers, and eating traditional Irish pub food with a modern twist (think Shepherd's Pie with braised short rib).
The Food Review (images below): The Executive Chef Nicholas Severino knows what he is doing! The menu is still evolving since the restaurant is only a month old. The main dining room offers a great mix of American, Latin, and French Bistro favorites. Suggested appetizers include: moules-frites (mussels and fries) in a light white wine sauce; French onion soup that doesn't have the traditional thick cheese on top making it a light pre-dinner pick; and meat-lovers can indulge in the bacon-wrapped jalapeño chicken appetizer. Dinner options include a good list of burgers; fish entrees such as the baked salmon with capers risotto (surprisingly not overpowering with caper flavor); various pasta dishes; and glazed pork ribs that slide off the bone with yuca fries. Everything was well presented and bursting with flavor. If you enjoy white wine, you'll love the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which has a minerally, light, crisp flavor.
The History: James Ricalton was the owner's grandfather who lived in South Orange in the 1880s and was the first school master for the high school. He was commissioned by Thomas Edison to go around the world in search of the perfect light bulb filaments. A true adventurist, Ricalton did this six times, venturing to 60 countries and walked 300,000 miles. When he returned home with the filaments, Edison made the first light bulb shortly after! The vintage photographs on the walls in the restaurant were his taken during those voyages.
Check out Ricalton's on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Ricaltons#sthash.klX63KBi.dpuf
Glazed Ribs with Yuca Fries
Baked Salmon with Grilled Vegetables and Capers Risotto
Antique Camera Obscura on Display in Main Restaurant
Nubia is the new Marketing & Communications Director at The Silverstrom Group. She will be sharing Smile Files every month. Have a suggestion or tip? Send her an email at nubia@readytosmile.com.


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The Vaulted Skies as we know it, was formed in 2013. The phoenix rising from the ashes of frontman James AJ Scott's previous projects - Sunflies and Rorschach's Journal - the band was put together to realise fully a vision that had become distorted over years as a three-piece. Heavily influenced by mid-to-late '80's era Cure, Scott's intention for the material had always been that it would be performed by a five-piece, but it proved difficult to find and retain the right balance of talent and camaraderie to establish a sustainable proposition.
Goth dandy James Scott is the bringer together and creator of The Vaulted Skies, not to mention lead guitarist / vocalist, songwriter extraordinaire and main haircut. James melds the theatrical whimsy of the 19th century music hall to the doom laden world of the modern comic book with smatterings of Tokyo neon in between. There is however a question as to where he derives his inspiration, he claims 'The Cure' and others from the Goth oeuvre, this aside it seems more likely (to me anyway) that he plucks the notes and words from the stars with the ends of his giant winkle pickers, perhaps from the very same sky Caroline slipped across?
James is, well, at the risk of using a much overdone cliché, almost like the brother I never had. We don't always see eye to eye, but like so many other bands, I view this as a good thing. I have the upmost respect for James as a frontman and musician; he is an excellent motivator and is definitely the primary driving force of the band. When we've been rehearsing for 4 hours in a hot, claustrophobic room, James will somehow manage to convince us that one more run through of 'Caroline' is a good idea – I still don't know how he does that.
Ben is one of those archetypal genius-madmen. He's not so much riding the fine line, but straddling the divide.
His capacity for understanding technology and applying it in the most artistic ways is second to none, so whereas his capabilities as a multi-instrumentalist were always going to be a great asset to the band, what we actually have is also a producer, engineer renaissance man extraordinaire.
In rehearsals he's a bit like Silent Bob in that he won't say anything for pretty much the entire evening, and then suddenly come out with the most profound and conclusive statement you've heard all week!
I think if I was going to sum up in one word John's contribution to the band it would be 'Hungware'. His bass line to this song is bouncy yet sophisticated a great carrier for the rest of the music to gel to. John is also the self professed "miserable git" of the band, but leaving his sledge hammer bedside manner aside, he can often be seen grooving and gyrating to the music often entreating us to do the same under the auspices of 'stage presence'. Smelling a rat however, I think this ruse of musical professionalism is just a trick to get us all involved in a carefully orchestrated hippy love in!
Whatever Roo wears, he exudes psychedelia. I always imagine him in tie dye, though I've never actually seen him wear it. A rockabilly-hippy-Goth, Roo is an original thinker, a dreamer, unblinkered and unfettered by constructs of "the man". He and I share a great interest in the idea of delivering something that transcends the typical gig experience by combining and cross-pollinating lots of different art forms to express ideas as holistically as possible. Roo's versatility as a guitarist is also important in a band like The Vaulted Skies, where the arrangements are quite busy; switching from ambient soundscapes and simple melody lines to complex chords and Johnny Marr-alike hybrids.
Constantly in search of the new sound Roo can usually be seen standing next to gigantic 60's throw back instruments (often towering over him) that look like they have been caught in a time warp with a tortoiseshell medieval lute, holding in all event the guitar he will actually use! At his feet lies a pedal board that reads a little bit like the menu at a rural beer festival, including as it does, the "titter ye not" 'Big Muff'. Roo brings the chorused 80's-esque arpegiation and melodic smatterings that excite the ear in the Vaulted Skies music, not to mention the haunting sustained E-bow that often leads me to wonder if we need a keyboard player at all!
When Roo and I were introduced to each other, all I remember was the line "Roo plays Bass too". This struck fear into me as I immediately felt a fraud and that I wouldn't be able to blag my bass skills in front of a seasoned Pro. My fears were unfounded. Roo is such a top bloke, he's supportive, has the ability to offer advice without sounding patronising or pedantic. He's a great person to bounce ideas off, and although I usually have no idea what he's doing with his own guitars, he's always positive with feedback and ideas. I love the fact he would, given half a chance, quite happily Skype his family WHILST we are doing a sound check at a gig.
Scott is the newest member of the band, and in many ways our saviour, freeing us as he did from a drummer-less Hell of drum machines and fruitless auditions. Scott's presence has been very much felt from the first day in the form of the near deadly decibel ratings his drum whacking achieves, in fact he seems to have created a greater dynamic range not by playing soft to loud, but by increasing loud beyond the realms of drum possibility. Ever looking to be inventive watch his space for the two stick high hat trick that one day will be likely be taught on one of those cheesy drum technique videos!
I've known Scott the longest out of all of the members of The Vaulted Skies, we used to play in a ropey covers band together. The banter between us started then and will likely go on until the end of time. I really like Scott as he's very down to earth, his drive to get things sounding right is inspiring, and although there's lots of silliness, it never detracts from his ability to progress whatever song he's working on.
Scott's rare combination of huge talent, no ego and great communication skills makes him one of the very best drummers I've ever worked with. Probably the very best. He is patient and completely unflappable. He never makes me feel stupid or annoying when I'm crappily beatboxing ideas at him or jumping behind the kit when my beatboxing reaches its limits and a slo-mo tub-thump is the only vocabulary I have left. He will try anything; he listens, adapts, evolves and of course comes up with his own thunderous patterns and fills to give great groove and establish a solid platform on which the rest of us can do our, erm, stuff.
I refuse to say "thang".


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There's a terrific script at the heart of this World War II thriller, with a blast of complex romance alongside some dark Hitchcockian twists. But filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) was probably the wrong man for the directing job, as he overproduces every scene to within an inch of its life. Everything is so big and slick that the story begins to be swamped by the too-perfect costumes and scenery. Which makes it difficult for the audience to engage in what should really be a scrappy, dangerous little drama.
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What follows is a tense series of events that are drenched in suspicion and intrigue as Max scrambles around to find the truth while trying not to let Marianne know what he's up to. It's a clever set-up that's very nicely played by Pitt and Cotillard, both of whom bring contrasting layers of emotion and subterfuge to their roles, plus plenty of swooning romantic energy. Most intriguing is that both are able to remain likeable as things progress. So whatever the outcome, it won't change how we feel about them. The adept actors in the side roles are excellent, although they're little more than more scenery around the central couple.
And the problem here is that there's just so much scenery! Zemeckis makes the film so lavish that there isn't a single moment that looks authentic. Costumes appear to have been sewn together just before filming began, sets are far too precisely decorated, even the grains of sand in a Moroccan sand-storm seem to be choreographed. But Steven Knight's script would have been much better served by a lower-budget, less-is-more approach that could capture the gritty desperation that leads these people to do some outrageous things. That said, the larger themes still grab hold, asking the question of how well we can ever know someone, even if we love and trust them unconditionally.


Inspired by nature, Lazy Oaf are heading for destination somewhere else, but going nowhere in particular. Sticking out as tourists and never fitting in - clothes for the-not-so-outdoorsy types. From the highlands to the lowlands.


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Парадокс Джевонса (иногда эффект Джевонса) в экономической теории — ситуация, когда технологический прогресс, который увеличивает эффективность использования какого-либо ресурса, увеличивает (а не уменьшает) объём его потребления.
В 1865 году английский экономист Уильям Стэнли Джевонс отметил, что технологические усовершенствования, которые увеличивают эффективность использования угля, ведут к увеличению потребления угля в различных сферах промышленности. Он утверждал, что, вопреки интуиции, нельзя полагаться на технологические усовершенствования в деле снижения потребления топлива.

Данный вопрос был вновь рассмотрен современными экономистами, изучавшими обратный эффект потребления от повышения энергоэффективности. В дополнение к уменьшению объёма, необходимого для определённого применения, повышение эффективности снижает относительную стоимость использования ресурса, что ведёт к увеличению спроса на ресурс, потенциально препятствуя любой экономии от увеличенной эффективности. Кроме того, повышение производительности ускоряет экономический рост, дополнительно увеличивая спрос на ресурс. Парадокс Джевонса имеет место, когда эффект повышения спроса преобладает, что приводит к увеличению использования ресурса.

Парадокс Джевонса используется для демонстрации бесполезности энергосбережения, так как увеличение эффективности может увеличивать потребление топлива. Тем не менее, увеличение эффективности может улучшать материальный уровень жизни. Кроме того, использование топлива снижается в том случае, когда повышение эффективности сопровождается экологическим налогом или иными мерами экологической политики, сохраняющими цену использования на прежнем уровне (или повышающими её). Парадокс Джевонса применим только к технологическим усовершенствованиям, повышающим энергоэффективность, введение экологических стандартов и повышение цены позволяет избавиться от него.

История

Парадокс Джевонса был впервые описан английским экономистом Уильямом Стэнли Джевонсом в его работе «Угольный вопрос» в 1865 году. Джевонс отметил, что потребление угля в Англии резко возросло после появления парового двигателя Джеймса Уатта, который имел намного большую эффективность по сравнению с ранее применявшимся двигателем Томаса Ньюкомена. Изобретение Уатта сделало уголь намного более выгодным источником энергии, что привело к широкому применению паровых машин в промышленности. Это, в свою очередь привело к росту потребления угля, хотя потребность в угле для отдельной машины и снизилась. Джевонс утверждал, что увеличение эффективности использования топлива имеет тенденцию увеличивать (а не снижать) использование топлива: «Ошибочно думать, что экономичное использование топлива означает снижение его потребления. Верно как раз обратное».

В то время многие в Британии были обеспокоены быстрым исчерпанием запасов угля, и некоторые специалисты полагали, что экономичное использование топлива означает снижение его потребления. Джевонс доказывал ошибочность этой точки зрения, поскольку рост эффективности имеет тенденцию увеличивать спрос на уголь. Следовательно, совершенствование технологии ведёт к увеличению скорости опустошения угольных запасов.

Причины

Обратный эффект
Парадокс Джевонса можно понять, заметив, что рост эффективности использования ресурса приводит к снижению цены ресурса, измеренной в единицах получаемого из него полезного эффекта (то есть работы). Вообще говоря, снижение цены товара или услуги ведёт к росту спроса. Таким образом, при меньшей цене работы, больше работы будет «куплено» (не прямым образом, а путём покупки большего количества топлива). Увеличение спроса на топливо называется обратным эффектом. Этот рост может быть достаточно (или недостаточно) большим, чтобы компенсировать исходное снижение спроса от роста эффективности. Парадокс Джевонса имеет место, если обратный эффект достигает величины больше 100 %, превосходя исходную экономию от роста эффективности. Это можно назвать «эффектом отдачи».

Рассмотрим простой пример: рынок с совершенной конкуренцией, на котором топливо является единственным исходным элементом, который определяет стоимость работы. Если стоимость топлива остаётся постоянной, а эффективность преобразования его в работу удваивается, то действительная стоимость работы снижается вдвое, то есть вдвое большее количество работы можно приобрести за те же деньги. Если количество купленной работы вырастет более чем вдвое (то есть спрос на работу является эластичным, ценовая эластичность больше 1), то количество использованного топлива не снизится, а возрастёт. Если же спрос на работу неэластичный (ценовая эластичность меньше 1), то количество купленной работы увеличится менее чем вдвое, и количество использованного топлива снизится.

Полный анализ должен также принимать во внимание, что продукты (работа) имеют не один исходный элемент, а несколько (напр. топливо, труд, оборудование), и что другие факторы (напр. несовершенство конкурентной структуры рынка), также могут влиять на цену работы. Эти факторы имеют тенденцию снижать воздействие топливной эффективности на цену работы, смягчая обратный эффект и снижая вероятность проявления парадокса Джевонса. Кроме того, любое изменение спроса на топливо влияет на его цену и на эффективную цену работы.

Постулат Хаззума — Брукса

В 1980-х годах экономисты Даниэль Хаззум () и Леонард Брукс () вновь рассмотрели парадокс Джевонса применительно к использованию энергии в масштабах общества. Брукс, бывший в то время главным экономистом правительственного агентства по атомной энергии Великобритании, выступил с утверждением, что попытки снизить потребление энергии за счёт роста энергоэффективности ведут лишь к росту спроса на энергию в масштабах экономики в целом. Хаззум сосредоточил внимание на более частном вопросе о том, что потенциал обратного эффекта не учитывается в обязательных стандартах энергоэффективности для бытовой техники, установленных энергетической комиссией штата Калифорния.

В 1992 году экономист Гарри Саундерс () назвал предположение о росте энергопотребления в результате улучшения энергоэффективности постулатом Хаззума — Брукса. Саудерс показал, что постулат Хаззума — Брукса согласуется с неоклассической теорией роста (общепринятой теорией накопления капитала, технологического прогресса и долгосрочного экономического роста) при широком спектре условий..

Согласно Саундерсу, повышение энергоэффективности влияет на рост потребления энергии двумя путями. Во-первых, рост энергоэффективности делает использование энергии относительно более дешёвым, поощряя рост энергопотребления (прямой обратный эффект). Во вторых, рост энергоэффективности ведёт к ускоренному экономическому росту, который влечёт за собой рост потребления энергии в масштабах экономики в целом. На микроуровне (рассматривая отдельный рынок), даже с учётом обратного эффекта, улучшение энергоэффективности обычно ведёт к снижению потребления энергии. То есть обратный эффект обычно ниже 100 %. Но на макроуровне более эффективная (и относительно более дешёвая) энергия является причиной более быстрого экономического роста, который, в свою очередь, увеличивает потребление энергии в масштабах экономики. Саундерс приходит к выводу, что с учётом микро- и макроэкономического эффектов, технологический прогресс, улучшающий энергоэффективность, имеет тенденцию увеличивать общее потребление энергии.

Политика энергосбережения
Джевонс предупреждал, что выгоды от топливной эффективности часто увеличивают потребление топлива, но из этого не следует вывод о бесполезности роста эффективности использования топлива. Более эффективное использование топлива позволяет увеличить производство и повышает материальный уровень жизни. Например, более эффективный паровой двигатель позволил сделать более дешёвой перевозку товаров и людей, что способствовало промышленной революции. Впрочем, если постулат Хаззума — Брукса верен, рост топливной эффективности не может замедлить выработку ископаемого топлива.

Парадокс Джевонса иногда используют для обоснования тщетности усилий по энергосбережению. Так, например, более эффективное использование нефти только повышает спрос на неё и не может замедлить наступления пика нефтедобычи. Обычно этот аргумент приводят для обоснования отказа от экологической политики или повышения энергоэффективности (напр. если автомобиль более эффективен, это только увеличивает число поездок на нём). Против этого можно привести несколько возражений. Во-первых, на зрелом рынке (напр. на рынке нефти в развитых странах), прямой обратный эффект обычно невелик, поэтому рост топливной эффективности снижает потребление ресурса при неизменности других условий. Во-вторых, даже если рост эффективности не снижает общее потребление топлива, остаются другие выгоды от улучшения эффективности. Например, повышение эффективности смягчает рост цен, дефицит и сбои в мировой экономике, связанные с пиком нефтедобычи. В-третьих, использование топлива, несомненно, снижается, если увеличение эффективности сопровождается вмешательством государства (напр. экологическим налогом), сохраняющим цену использования топлива на прежнем уровне (или повышающим её).

Парадокс Джевонса показывает, что рост эффективности сам по себе вряд ли способен снизить потребление топлива, и что устойчивая энергетическая политика должна опираться на те или иные формы государственного вмешательства. Поскольку парадокс Джевонса относится только к технологическим улучшениям, повышающим топливную эффективность, введение экологических стандартов, одновременно повышающих цены, позволяет избежать роста потребления топлива. Чтобы технологические улучшения снижали потребление топлива, необходимо чтобы выгоды от эффективности сопровождались правительственными мерами по снижению спроса (напр. экологическими налогами, программами Cap and Trade или повышением налогов на топливо). Экологические экономисты Матис Вакернагель (Mathis Wackernagel) и Уильям Риз (William Rees) утверждают, что выгода от повышения эффективности должна быть «с помощью налога или иным способом выведена из экономического оборота. Предпочтительно использовать её для инвестиций в восстановление природного капитала». Смягчая экономические последствия государственного вмешательства, направленного на поддержание экологической устойчивости, технологический прогресс может сделать такое вмешательство более приемлемым и более возможным.

Примечания

Экономические парадоксы
Энергетическая политика
Энергосбережение
Пик нефти

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Tag: teachers
Gresham Requests AG Opinion on TN Teacher Employment Laws
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Press release from the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus; June 30, 2014:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) said today she has requested an attorney general's opinion on whether Tennessee's teacher employment laws are constitutional. The request comes after a California Superior Court struck down various teacher tenure and seniority statutes under that state's constitution and the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause in the Vergara v. California case. Teacher unions plan to appeal the ruling.
"This is a very important decision regarding teacher employment laws, which will reverberate to states across the nation, said Senator Gresham. "Tennessee, like California, has its own constitutional provision regarding student's education rights in addition to the Equal Protection Clause afforded by the U.S. Constitution. We certainly need to make sure that we are on sound constitutional footing, and especially whether the reforms passed over the last several years will satisfy the constitutional tests as decided in this ruling."
The California case was filed by nine public school students who charged that state laws forced districts to give tenure to teachers, regardless of whether they can do the job. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu found the California law was unconstitutional, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. That decision declared that state laws which established that separate schools for white and black children were unconstitutional. "In these days," the court said, "it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms."
Gresham asked Attorney General Robert Cooper whether the current statutes or state law in effect prior to July 1, 2011 governing permanent employment violate students' rights to a free education under the equal protection provisions of the Tennessee or U.S. Constitution. The General Assembly passed teacher tenure reform legislation in 2011 which changes a teacher's probationary period before becoming eligible for tenure from three to five years as well as linking tenure status to performance evaluations. Gresham also asked the Attorney General if Tennessee law or the statutes in effect prior to July 1, 2014, governing layoffs or the dismissal and suspension of teachers violate student's rights to a free education under the federal and state constitutions.
Tags Attorney General, california, Dolores Gresham, Education Committee, employment laws, general assembly, robert cooper, Senate, teachers, tennessee, Vergara v. California
Metro Nashville Teachers Offered Credit Monitoring Services by Treasury Dept.
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Press release from the Tennessee Department of the Treasury; December 18, 2013:
Last Thursday evening, Treasury officials discovered that a former Treasury employee for the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System had downloaded a file that included personal information of active Metro Nashville teachers from a work computer to his personal computer.
The investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is ongoing and a report from the forensic examination of his computer and devices is expected soon. The Treasury Department believes this is an isolated incident and that the information has not been shared.
The Treasury Department is providing free credit monitoring services for all Metro Nashville teachers who wish to enroll. The department is engaging a service to provide written notification to each of the teachers affected.
This notification will contain details regarding the free credit monitoring services and a hotline phone number for teachers to call and receive up-to-date information or discuss concerns.
State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. met on Monday with the director of Metro Nashville Public Schools and continues to meet with school leaders and teacher organizations to seek their input and to assure all steps are taken to assist affected teachers.
The department has competently handled sensitive personal information in the retirement system since 1945. During Treasurer Lillard's tenure he has heavily emphasized compliance and security of information and the department has taken numerous steps to continuously and substantially improve security of personal data in Treasury operations.
"Our main concern at this point is to address concerns of active Metro Nashville teachers," Treasurer Lillard said. "The initial review clearly indicates this occurred due to the actions of one employee who wrongfully downloaded this information. The Treasury Department is immediately implementing measures to correct this isolated occurrence in personal data security."
Tags Consolidated Retirement System, David Lillard, Department of the Treasury, Metro Nashville, TBI, teachers, tennessee, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Education Featured NewsTracker
State Ed Board Votes to Overhaul Teacher Pay System
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The Tennessee State Board of Education voted Friday to overhaul the state's minimum payment requirements for public school teachers.
The new payment plan, presented to the board by Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and passed by a vote of 6-3, includes a 1.5 percent across-the-board increase to teachers' minimum salaries, but opponents argue that changes to the pay schedule structure will end up severely limiting teachers' earning potential over the course of their entire careers.
Under the current system, teachers receive up to 20 small salary bumps during their careers as they gain seniority and can also move up pay brackets for completing advanced degrees and training. The new system reduces the schedule to just a few different categories, leaving it largely up to local districts to decide how raises are awarded.
The board passed the plan over the public objections of Tennessee's major teachers' union along with many Democrats in the State Legislature. At the center of the debate is the way teacher pay categories are divided. During the SBOE meeting Friday, Commissioner Huffman and members of his staff laid out the details of their proposal while several dozen union members with the Tennessee Education Association packed the conference room to show their opposition.
Tennessee Education Association Vice President Barbara Gray was allowed to address the state board on their behalf and called on SBOE members to postpone action on the Department of Education plan.
While ostensibly an opportunity to debate and possibly modify the proposal, discussion was kept minimal.
Gray contended that the current minimum pay schedule was set up to "foster equity in teacher salaries among school districts and to provide professional pay for hard-working educators."
"The overall effect of the changes proposed," Gray told the board "is a substantial lowering of the state requirement for teacher salary," a point that Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman directly contradicted.
"Tennessee law forbids any district from cutting an individual teacher's salary; it's actually not allowable for a district to cut an individual teacher's salary," Huffman said. "Salaries will not go down," he continued "I don't understand how to be more clear about that."
Huffman and board chairman Fielding Rolston, a vocal supporter of the alterations, repeatedly dismissed the assertion that lifetime earnings might decline under the new plan — drawing boos and whispers from TEA union members — and suggested that arguments otherwise were deliberate distortions of the truth.
In his opening remarks, Huffman said he was "disappointed to see a lot of misinformation about the salary proposal," while Rolston was less reserved, telling fellow board members "It's extremely unfortunate that some of the misleading information, the inflammatory information that has been distributed is out there because I think it has led to a lot of anxiety on the part of teachers that is totally inappropriate."
In a seemingly conciliatory gesture that proved little consolation for opponents, the board ultimately chose to include non-binding language to the proposal they voted on saying the new system could be re-evaluated in the future if the results were negative.
The changes to the teacher pay schedule come as an example of the larger push by GOP education reform advocates, including many in the Haslam administration and the General Assembly, to increased local district control and emphasize teacher performance over experience or advanced training.
Speaking to reporters following Friday's meeting, Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman stressed both points.
"For too long in education, we have operated with the presumption that everybody performs at the same level, everybody is the same, there is no marketplace for people. Those are fallacies. Some teachers perform at a higher level than others," Huffman said.
"Some folks would like to see a system continue that says 'we're going to treat you all the same no matter any of the other factors, we're going to pay you exactly the same,'" the commissioner continued. "And we believe that school districts should be able to create systems that say 'You know, not everybody's the same. In our district, we have a challenge with X; we would like to fix X and use compensation as part of that.'"
The new minimum pay system is set to begin taking effect in the 2013-14 school year.
Tags Kevin Huffman, SBOE, TEA, teachers
Haslam: TN Teachers Report Improvement in Work Environment
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Press release from the Office of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam; April 30, 2013:
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today that after two years of rapid change, Tennessee educators reported improved work environments in a broad range of categories, all shown to correlate to increased student achievement.
The results from the second statewide TELL (Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning) Tennessee Survey are now available, and more than 61,000 educators, or 82 percent, in the state responded, a five percentage point increase from 2011. Across Tennessee, 1,627 of 1,774 schools, or 91 percent, reached a response rate of at least 50 percent.
"We know that when educators feel good about the culture and climate of their school, that leads to increased results for our students," Haslam said. "We want to hear from our teachers, and I am grateful that so many of them took the time to respond."
From Feb. 18 through March 22, 2013, all school-based licensed educators were asked to complete the online survey using an anonymous access code. Educators were asked to submit their perceptions on a variety of issues related to student achievement and teacher retention, including the adequacy of facilities and resources; time; empowerment; school leadership; community support; student conduct; professional development; mentoring and induction services; and student learning. The results will be used by school-based decision making teams, schools, districts, and numerous other organizations to improve the teaching and learning conditions in the state's schools and districts.
In the 2013 TELL survey, Tennessee saw significant growth in the percentage of teachers who felt they were required to do less routine paperwork (10.3 percentage points) and that test data is available to them soon enough for them to make changes to their instructional practices (13.5 percentage points). Nearly 90 percent of Tennessee's teachers believe they are trusted to make professional decisions about instruction and are given autonomy. More than eight out of 10 educators (83 percent) agree that community members support teachers, contributing to their success with students, an increase of five percentage points from 2011. Eighty-six percent of participants in 2013 agree that the community they serve is supportive of their school, an increase of four percentage points.
"This survey reaffirms that we have leaders across Tennessee who successfully have implemented many education changes, while improving the working conditions for teachers in their schools," Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said. "It shows that it is possible to have both high expectations and a positive work environment."
The survey was administered by the New Teacher Center (NTC), a national organization dedicated to supporting the development of a high-quality teaching force. NTC has conducted similar surveys in other states and provides induction and professional development for teachers and principals across the country.
Results for the state, all districts, and the 1,627 schools may be viewed at www.telltennessee.org.
Tags Bill Haslam, Education, positive, survey, teachers, Teaching Empowering Leading and Learning, TELL, tennessee
Some Teachers Could Carry Guns Under Bill Passed by Legislature
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Legislation drafted by Gov. Bill Haslam's administration that would give local boards of education the authority to allow certain teachers to carry firearms into the classroom heads to his desk for his signature.
House Bill 6 passed the Senate 27-6 on Thursday, with Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey joining Democrats in voting no.
Kelsey is chairman of the Senate Judicial Committee, where the "comprehensive" amendment that rewrote the bill was drafted. The House signed off on the new version later in the day.
The legislation would allows teachers or staff members who meet four criteria to carry a firearm of any kind onto a school campus – provided the person receives written authorization from the director of schools and the school's principal. (See criteria list below.)
Once the person has met all of the requirements and receives permission, the director of schools has 10 days to notify the head of the appropriate local law enforcement agency information about this individual. These are the only individuals who will know which teachers or staff members are carrying, an issue with critics of the bill.
"I truly believe your constituents who have children in school would like to know if the teacher has a gun in the classroom," said Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis.
Republican Sen. Mark Green, who came up with the amendment in committee, disagreed.
"A person who is intent on assaulting a school, one of the best pieces of information that person could have is where guns are in the school and where they're located," said the senator from Clarksville. "Keeping that information private protects the students in that school."
However, each year the director of schools will be required to submit a report to the two chambers' chief clerks a report containing just the number of schools and persons participating.
Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, questioned whether or not the amendment placed any restrictions on the type of guns a school employee may legally carry.
"No, it did not. It simply mentions firearms," Kelsey said.
"So a teacher could carry an AK-47 or an Uzi fully automatic if they so chose?" Campfield asked.
"Yes, the language drafted by the administration would allow a teacher to carry an AK-47 in the school," the Germantown senator replied.
"Far be it from me to stand in the way of the governor," Campfield said.
Campfield, who ended up voting for the bill, also noted that currently there are currently only about 100 teachers throughout the state who might meet the qualifications to carry a gun to school.
"I support the concept of this, but I really think it's so watered down and weak, it really doesn't do any of the goals that we all have," he said. "And actually by shutting off all information to find out if its successful or not, we've neutered it about as much as it can be neutered."
In his closing remarks, Kelsey said, "You're not really providing true safety to anybody with this type of approach that's half-hearted at best. If we're truly are concerned about safety in our schools, then we're going to have to suck it up and pay for it."
Just before the vote, Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, who sponsored the legislation in the upper chamber, noted that the amended bill "represents the consensus language from the governor, the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce and Insurance, the Sheriff's Association, the school boards and the Chiefs of Police. Now if that many people can agree on this, it can't be all bad."
Amelia Morrison Hipps may be reached at amhipps@downhomepolitics.com, on Twitter @DwnHomePolitics or at 615-442-8667.
Tags Gov. Bill Haslam, guns, Sen. Brian Kelsey, Sen. Frank Niceley, Sen. Mark Green, Sen. Stacey Campfield, teachers
PET: Rewarding Proficient Teachers with Financial Incentives Will Improve Education
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Op-Ed from the Professional Educators of Tennessee; December 11, 2012:
Is Teacher Merit Pay on the Way in Tennessee?
By J.C. Bowman, Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
In the immediate future, teacher compensation systems will likely be redirected from an input-driven system to an outcome-based system. Unlike the general labor force, where output is a key salary determinant, the field of education rewards experience and advanced degrees. That is not always bad.
We believe financially rewarding educators for their expertise and their excellence will attract and retain the best and brightest to the teaching profession. However, Professional Educators of Tennessee opposes the use of student test scores as the primary measure of a teacher's effectiveness, as the determining factor for a teacher's compensation or as the primary rationale for an adverse employment action.
Treating teachers like professionals means rewarding excellence, encouraging the competent to improve, and easing the inept out of the classroom and into some other line of work. For the teachers unions there are no bad teachers, or excellent ones for that matter, there is only adequate. Unions insist upon treating teachers like assembly-line workers who are largely interchangeable, rather than as professionals engaged in a challenging craft. Any meaningful improvement of public education will require that at some point we treat teachers as professionals again, and that will inevitably run into resistance from teachers unions.
Traditionally, it has been argued that blanket increases in teacher salaries would achieve an improved education system. They contend higher teacher salaries across-the-board would compensate for the increased responsibilities shouldered by teachers; bestow the proper respect on the teaching profession; and attract well-prepared candidates to the field. Many have argued that teacher salaries have not been competitive within the job market and, therefore, the profession has not attracted the "best and brightest."
President Barack Obama has made feelings on the issue clear: Not only is he in favor of paying teachers for their performance, but states that implement policies toward that goal have been rewarded financially. Tying teacher compensation to student growth was one of the key components of the federal Race to the Top competitive grant program. States that passed new laws creating incentive programs for teachers were rewarded with millions in federal grants. The teachers union in Tennessee readily embraced Race to the Top.
Others have challenged that view, questioning the wisdom of providing a blanket increase in compensation without a way to determine returns. If competitive teacher salaries are important, they argue, then an accountable and competitive environment should be part of the package: Market principles must be applied. Concerned about attracting better-qualified teachers and justifying salary increases in the face of falling test scores, some proposals have gone beyond across-the-board pay increases.
We know that in Race to the Top funding and the likely legislative debates in 2013 that Merit Pay/Pay for Performance will be an issue raised by policymakers. Race to the Top encompasses several items, but in general:
Superior teachers should earn more than average teachers;
Poorly performing teachers should be expeditiously removed from the school system;
Across-the-board pay hikes should be resisted and/or discontinued;
Teachers performing more difficult tasks should receive higher pay.
Rewarding teachers for their performance has been discussed in education for decades but has been a particularly heated issue of late. PET believes that teachers should be rewarded for a variety of reasons, including rewarding teachers experience and advanced degrees. PET opposes incentive or performance pay programs, unless they are designed in an equitable and fair manner. PET supports a career compensation and benefits package for all certified, licensed and contracted public school employees that mandates competitive salaries that are equal to or greater than the national average and competitive with private industry.
The state should still include a minimum salary schedule that provides for step increases to recognize longevity in the profession. PET supports the creation of a statewide set of evaluation standards for campus administrators that includes a survey of classroom educators and staff regarding the professional performance of the campus administrators.
In addition to experience and degrees, expect to see salary increases targeted at performance (merit), market, equity, or retention. General financial parameters and guidelines should be established each year as part of the budget development process at the state and local level. In addition, below are a few additional talking points on the subject:
Merit salary increases may be composed of many differing components, but two components – a base salary percentage increase (specified in budget) and a percentage increase in recognition of above satisfactory (or exceptional) performance. This will be mostly tied to increases in student achievement/performance.
Adjustments to salaries may also be made when there is an issue resulting from market or other equity factors
Equity factors exist from internal pay disparities and are not related to individual performance
Retention bonus should occur in hard to fill positions like foreign language, special education and higher level math and science.
From a labor union perspective merit pay might perhaps lessen their collective influence. They believe if salaries were not strictly based on years of experience and number of college credits earned or additional services provided, the teaching force at any workplace would be more stratified (differentiated) and much less willing to stand together during a conflict with school site management or during a contract struggle. The role of the union would be seriously compromised. That in of itself seems to indicate a motivation that legislative leaders may find appealing. Make no mistake pay-for-performance or merit pay will be on the legislative agenda in 2013.
Tags merit pay, Professional Educators of Tennessee, teachers, tennessee
TN Math, Science Teachers Recognized Nationally in Presidential Award Program
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Press release from the Tennessee Department of Education; November 5, 2012:
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is pleased to announce the state finalists for the 2012 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, or PAEMST. This prestigious program was established in 1983 by the White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Outstanding Science and Mathematics teachers are identified in each state and the four U.S. jurisdictions. Elementary and secondary finalists are chosen in alternate years. These exemplary teachers serve as models for their colleagues by providing leadership for the improvement of Mathematics and Science education.
2012 Elementary Science Finalists:
Derri Cash, Lakeside Park Elementary School, Hendersonville
Karla Fultz, A.L. Lotts Elementary School, Knoxville
Margaret Hawkins, Winfrey Bryant Middle School, Lebanon
2012 Elementary Mathematics Finalists:
Amber Hodge, Annoor Academy, Knoxville
Amy Mitchell, Manley Elementary, Morristown
Kimberly Jones, Spring City Elementary, Spring City
Two Tennessee teachers were recognized at the White House earlier this year through the 2011 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. As Presidential Award winners, they received $10,000, a presidential citation and a trip to Washington D.C.
2011 Secondary Science Awardee:
Gail Schulte, Smyrna Middle School, Smyrna, TN
2011 Secondary Mathematics Awardee:
Phyllis Hillis, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, TN
For more information, please contact Kelli Gauthier at (615) 532-1817 or Kelli.Gauthier@tn.gov.
Tags Education, Math, presidential award, Science, teachers, tennessee
Thousands of Teachers Begin Training in New Education Standards Statewide
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Press release from the Tennessee Department of Education; July 10, 2012:
NASHVILLE – More than 13,000 Tennessee teachers began training today on the Common Core State Standards, a set of nationally recognized criteria that raise expectations for Tennessee students, starting with math in the 2012-13 school year.
Two hundred teachers, appointed earlier this year as Common Core coaches, will lead sessions at 41 sites across the state, helping their peers better understand new focus areas for grades 3-8 math by practicing problems, watching model lessons and reviewing student work.
"The transition to Common Core State Standards in math is the beginning of a new era in education," said Leslie Taylor, a Common Core coach and fourth-grade math teacher at A.L. Lotts Elementary School in Knoxville. "I know that we can move Tennessee to the forefront of national performance rankings and that our students will reap the benefits."
These sessions make up Tennessee's largest teacher-training program. The training model is designed to be peer-led, with assistance from content experts at the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Learning.
"Tennessee's transition to the Common Core State Standards gives us opportunities to strengthen our competitiveness and ensure our students' postsecondary success," said Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman. "These standards also will give teachers the chance to engage their students more deeply in fewer focus areas, encouraging greater critical thinking skills."
The Common Core State Standards also enable teachers to share ideas for lessons across schools and states. Tennessee is one of 46 states that have adopted Common Core State Standards as a way to set clear expectations for what students should learn in school, and align their education with necessary knowledge for college and careers. Teachers will focus on much fewer standards, which require deeper engagement in fundamental concepts. In third-grade math, for example, the number of standards taught will decrease from 113 currently to 25 under the Common Core State Standards.
"The spirit with which educators are coming together to support this transition is inspiring," said Emily Barton, the department's assistant commissioner of curriculum and instruction. "The work that the Core Coaches have started in their own classrooms suggests that as we bring this to all classrooms across the state, we'll see greater student engagement and problem-solving skills."
Tennessee will apply the Common Core State Standards for math in 2012-13 and for English-Language Arts in 2013-14. Tennessee students will take new assessments reflecting the standards in both subjects in 2014-15.
To learn more about Tennessee's Common Core State Standards implementation plan, visit our website.
For more information, contact Kelli Gauthier at (615) 532-7817 or Kelli.Gauthier@tn.gov.
Tags Common Core State Standards, teachers, tennessee, training
Education Featured
Haslam Defends Teacher Evaluation System
Post author By Mike Morrow
4 Comments on Haslam Defends Teacher Evaluation System
Gov. Bill Haslam again Monday defended the use of the state's new teacher evaluation system and reminded everyone that the whole idea didn't start with his administration.
Haslam made the point during a press availability on Capitol Hill after a ceremony for veterans. He told the Rotary Club of Nashville later Monday that change is "painful," and he said after the speech he was making a particular reference to the evaluations with that remark.
Haslam also said Monday he will not state a position on school vouchers until later this year, although he told the Rotary audience the voucher issue is "probably going to be one of the most contentious" when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
The issue of teacher evaluations has been on the front burner in the Legislature with lengthy hearings on the process last week. The system has prompted many complaints among teachers and principals. The Haslam administration has basically stayed the course on the system, which is in its first year, even though Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman gained approval to tweak the system with some changes meant to make evaluations less time-consuming.
Tennessee's success in the Obama administration's "Race to the Top" competition included a plan to evaluate teachers every year. Tenured teachers will be evaluated with four observations, and those without tenure will be evaluated six times. Haslam pointed out that the process goes back to the application for the federal funds won by the administration of his predecessor, Phil Bredesen.
"Remember how we got here. This was part of the Race to the Top application," Haslam said. "Everybody agreed evaluations were really at the heart of that. The evaluation process was a work in progress for a year before this.
"It spanned administrations."
He said it's still early.
"This is November. We started it in September. It's not like we have a really long track record," Haslam said. "It takes a little bit of adjusting to get used to the evaluation. The first evaluation, because it is the one with lesson plans, does have the most paperwork involved in it. When we get past that, the evaluations after that will look a little different."
Legislators are hearing from their constituents about the impact the evaluation system is having on schools.
"I understand. Before, if you got evaluated twice every 10 years and now you're looking at this new process, that's not something necessarily, 'Oh boy, I'm really excited about that,'" Haslam said.
"But I do think, again, back to what's at the heart of the change we need, why we won Race to the Top, was this idea of making certain we're doing everything we can to encourage great teachers to be in the classroom. And the evaluation piece is a key part of that."
Disgruntlement over the evaluation system has been so pronounced some observers have suggested that the state should hold off on actually acknowledging the findings in this first year, but Haslam remains steadfast. At the same time he dismissed any notion that changes in the basic concept might jeopardize the $500 million the state won in the Race to the Top competition in 2010.
"I don't want to cast the political argument, 'If you all change it we're going to lose our funds.' I don't think that's a fair argument for us to be making," Haslam said. "I think it's more about putting in jeopardy the pace that we need to change."
The Haslam administration has stayed in the background thus far on the school voucher issue. The Legislature is considering a proposal that would allow children in the state's largest counties — Davidson, Shelby, Knox and Hamilton — to apply for funds to attend a public school elsewhere in the district, a public charter school or a private school.
The issue has pitted those who favor school choice against those who are protective of the public school system.
Haslam was asked Monday why he has not taken a stand on vouchers yet.
"It's incumbent upon us to do our homework to see: Do we know enough to make that call?" he said.
Haslam pointed to the need to study the experiences of other states who have tried vouchers in order to make the right decision. A voucher bill passed the Senate in the last legislative session and is expected to be considered in the House next year. The House version, HB388, is sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville.
Tags bill dunn, Bill Haslam, evaluations, First to the Top, Phil Bredesen, Race to the Top, school, teachers, Tennessee Department of Education, vouchers
More Education Reform Discussion on Governor's Summer Agenda
2 Comments on More Education Reform Discussion on Governor's Summer Agenda
Public school classrooms and legislative hearing rooms are always a lot quieter in the summer. But just because students and lawmakers are on break doesn't mean discussions about education policy come to a halt.
Gov. Bill Haslam has said he'll be spending time in June discussing further changes in education. Among the topics that may come up are proposals to extend the number of days students attend school each year, the number of hours in each school day and the most effective means of paying educators to attract and retain the best teachers.
Haslam envisions an all-encompassing look at education, even after the dramatic education reform efforts in this year's session of the Tennessee General Assembly.
"I think what we have to do with education is really take a whole fresh look at everything, from how long students go to school to how we compensate teachers so we make certain we're rewarding them for a great job," Haslam said.
"This session had a lot of discussion about teachers and tenure and looking at collective bargaining. I think the next piece we need to discuss, if we're really going to have a great education system, is: How do we attract and keep the very best people in teaching?"
For all the drama of changes in education this year, legislative measures on teacher tenure, charter schools and collective bargaining might simply be setting the table for further action.
Change agents Kevin Huffman, the new commissioner of education, and Chris Barbic, who will head Tennessee's special school district for failing schools, are just now settling into their new jobs. Both came from the innovative Teach for America program. Huffman recently told the editorial board of The Tennessean that the school calendar in Tennessee is "not based on the modern world." The state currently requires 180 days of school with 6.5 hours of instruction each day.
State Sen. Jamie Woodson, R-Knoxville, has relinquished her role as a legislator to head former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist's State Collaborative on Reforming Education, which is seen as at the forefront of K-12 education reform. The state is still in the first stages of its First to the Top program, and teacher evaluations based greatly on data gained from student performance are new.
Asked directly if he might have another legislative package in mind on education for next year, Haslam did not say yes or no. But his answer indicated the possibility.
"I think we're going to continuously look at seeing what things we can do to keep moving forward," Haslam said. "There was a lot of conversation this year — and the last two years — about: How do we raise standards in Tennessee? How do we make sure we have the very best people teaching?
"I think one of the fair questions that's come up has been: You have talked a lot about attracting the very best people to teach. Just how are you going to do that? We're going to start those conversations this next month. Are there things we can do, given fiscal realities and given the current education situation?"
Some schools this year sought and obtained waivers on the 180-day requirement for the school year due to storm damage, which Haslam said was a rather unique situation.
"I think the bigger question is: Is the 180-day mark the right one? Is six and a half hours a day for 180 days the right one, given where the world is competitively?" Haslam said.
A study issued six months ago showed that nations leading the list on Program for International Student Assessment tests were China, Finland, South Korea, Canada, The Netherlands and Japan. Students in the United States were considered to have average scores, as they have for several years. U.S. students were found to be average in reading and science and below average in math. The tests were done for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The results showed that countries with the highest performance on tests tended to be countries where teachers were paid better. One notable twist in the results, however, was that Canada, a consistently good performer in the tests, has strong teachers' unions and has an education system similar to the United States.
Finland has consistently done well in the testing, but its students do not have especially long school calendars.
Haslam had education at the top of his legislative agenda this year, with tenure and charter school reform foremost. The Legislature held a long, contentious battle on collective bargaining, ultimately undoing the collective bargaining system with the teachers' union the state has known since the 1970s. Haslam was involved in those talks along the way, but he managed to stay largely above the fray on collective bargaining.
When the teachers' union, the Tennessee Education Association, urged Haslam at the end of the session to veto the collective bargaining bill, he quickly dismissed the idea. When the TEA cited bad morale, Haslam referred to the Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) survey that showed a high rate of satisfaction among teachers about their workplace.
Teachers' representatives have said the Legislature has done serious harm to its relationship with teachers. Nevertheless, a series of meetings between Haslam and Huffman and educators in various settings throughout the state have been widely amicable.
The Legislature handed Haslam victories that extended the threshold for teacher tenure from three years to five years and removed the state's caps on charter schools, although the charter bill was amended to give local school districts the right to reject charter plans due to expense if they can back up their claim.
As for maintaining teacher effectiveness, SCORE recommends intensive mentoring programs, time for teachers to collaborate with other teachers and alternative compensation systems that pay teachers on their effectiveness and their area of specialty (pdf).
Democrats were generally favorable toward Haslam and Republican legislators on the $30.8 billion budget, but at the end of the legislative session Democratic leaders still felt the sting of education reform and rushed to defend members of the state's largest teacher union.
Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, the Democratic leader in the House, said that instead of attacking unemployment, what resulted in the Legislature this year was "sort of an attack on teachers."
Rep. Mike Turner, D-Old Hickory, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, agreed. Turner argues that the interests of Tennessee teachers are synonymous with the priorities and activities of the state's most powerful teacher union.
"Some of them kept saying this was not an attack on teachers," Turner said. "That's about like Lee Harvey Oswald saying, 'I have nothing against President Kennedy.'
"They were attacking the teaching profession. They were attacking the organization that helps to develop teacher professionalism."
Tags Bill Haslam, reform, schools, teachers
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South Australia border checkpoint, Dukes Highway to remain closed as fatal truck smash probed
By Chanel Zagon
10:47am Feb 12, 2021
A 150-kilometre detour will remain in place as the police checkpoint at the Victoria-South Australia border is closed following a fiery crash that killed a truck driver.
The 46-year-old driver died on the Western Highway at Serviceton, about six kilometres before the South Australia border, when his truck slammed into the back of a traffic jam, sparking a fiery blast which engulfed two trucks ahead.
The checkpoint, as well of the border crossing stretch of the Dukes Highway, remain closed.
LIVE UPDATES: PM says vaccination rollout on track
Photos captured the truck bursting into flames. (Supplied Nine)
SA Police crossed the border to assist Victoria Police with the crash, with an investigation now underway to determine its cause.
A major inquiry has also been launched into whether poor planning around the snap border closure cost the truck driver his life.
"Investigators have been told a B Double truck crashed into the rear of a stationary B Double truck about 2.20am," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
"The truck which had been stationary then collided with a B double truck in front of it.
"All three trucks then caught fire.
Firefighters worked to contain the blaze at the scene. (Nine)
"The driver of the first truck, a 46-year-old man from Parafield Gardens, South Australia, died at the scene."
While the driver of the second truck, a 27-year-old man from Langford, and his passenger, a 63-year-old man from Carey Park, both from Western Australia, were taken to hospital and have since been released.
The driver of the third truck, a 50-year-old man from Melton in Victoria, escaped the blast uninjured.
A fiery blast eruped after the trucks collided. (Nine)
The lengthy detour to cross the border is expected to remain in place at the Western/Dukes Highways over the weekend.
"Access to each state will not be possible at this location," SA Police said in a statement.
"SA motorists heading to Victoria are being diverted south towards Naracoorte and access to Victoria will be via the Wimmera Highway."
Major Collision Investigation Unit Detectives and Heavy Vehicle Criminal Investigation Unit are appealing for drivers who witnessed the fiery crash to come forward .
The exact cause of the collision is under investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage from the area around the time of the collision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Truck Crash


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Molds (General)
Slip Cast Vessels
About Wm. Reeder:
It's hard to believe that only a decade ago using molds as part of your ceramic process was stigmatized by its association with commercial products and "pour and paint" hobby shops. But then we were still submitting 35 mm slides for show entries, too. I feel somewhat vindicated that slip-cast and other forms of mold-formed ceramic work is now universally accepted as a legitimate artistic process. Molds have always been a major element of my creative process. I use them in a variety of ways, from constructing sculptures and vessels, to enhancing thrown vessels with decorative elements. Virtually every piece I make is at least partly made from a mold, if not entirely mold made.
Plaster molds are made of objects both simple and complex, allowing them to be replicated in ceramics. Virtually any object can be cast. Hard shiny objects like glass can be cast with little or no preparation, while finely detailed or fragile objects may have to be cast first in silicone or alginate before being translated into plaster. Some molds are 'one piece', while more complex objects may require as many as ten or more components to form a single object. Mold-making is something of an art in and of itself, and figuring out how to make a mold of an object in the fewest number of pieces can be challenging, occupying many studio hours. But once made, a mold can be used countless times before finally wearing down. Some of my favorite molds are the oldest, their crisp lines now softened.
Slip-casting:
Plaster molds are filled with liquid clay formulated specifically for its casting properties. Water is absorbed by the plaster leaving a layer of slip attached to the wall of the mold. When the layer is sufficiently thick, the mold is emptied of any remaining liquid slip. The cast will 'release' from the mold with further drying and can be safely removed from the mold while still in a slightly plastic state. At this point the cast can be used 'as is', or altered and combined with other casts at a similar stage of drying. In this way, many small casts can be combined to create a larger work. While a few vessel forms are used 'straight out of the mold', the vast majority of my work is composed of assembled parts.
Press molds:
The only difference between slip molds and press molds is the clay used in the process. In press molds, plastic clay is pressed into the mold. Most press molds are simple one piece molds and fairly shallow allowing the cast to be easily removed. Two (and more) piece molds can also be used with plastic clay but the greater the number of mold parts and the greater the complexity of the object, the more difficult turning out good casts becomes. I use press molds primarily as surface decoration on thrown vessels. Press molds may very well be the earliest form of mechanically formed clay objects.
The Objects:
The objects I choose to replicate represent the wide variety of personal influences and interests that find their way into my art. No object is beyond consideration and examining various objects for their 'moldability', twisting them this way and that, holding them up against the light, greatly slows my progress through antique stores, junk malls, flea markets and big-box stores. I am currently looking for a vintage mannequin if anyone happens to have a line on one….
An American Jugmaster.


This was a super easy treat I made up for my kids 'First Day of School Treat'. It was a super big hit and they were gone in a flash!
Follow directions on cake mix. Place cupcake liners in cupcake pan. Twist the top of an Oreo and place the frosting side up in bottom of the liner. Reserve all other halves of the Oreo's for crushing to sprinkle on top of finished cupcakes. Fill each cupcake liner with cake mix until about 2/3 full. Bake as directed on cake box.
Remove cupcakes from pan and place on a cooling rack. Crush remaining Oreo cookie halves in a plastic bag. When cooled, frost with frosting and sprinkle with Oreo crumbs. Store any leftovers in airtight container…if there are any!!
A friend of mine shared these with our family on an outing one day. I didn't think for a second that my kiddos would eat one let alone love them! They are super easy to make and very tasty. They curb that sweet tooth desire, but are more on the healthy side! The original recipe comes from here.
Blend all ingredients together in a food processor or a blender. Scrape out and knead together with your hands. Gently fold in chocolate chips. Roll into tiny little balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for about a half an hour. Bag up cookie balls in freezer bag and store in freezer until ready to eat.
Try not to eat the whole bag!
Today is Pi day and I wanted to surprise my husband with his favorite pie, Strawberry Rhubarb. Let's just say that it looks good, smelled amazing while baking and was super delicious! I scoured the internet for recipes, (I'm a huge visual kind of person, so I was looking for a picture of a pie that looked yummy!). I found two recipes that looked easy and good and combined them. I did take the easy road and just bought a a GF pie crust and the rhubarb came from our garden that we harvested last year. Go ahead ans wipe the drool of your face! Happy Pi day!
Saw this somewhere in my search for this recipe...grate the butter instead of cutting cubes. It blends up so much easier!
That beautiful rhubarb came from our garden!
I used Pillsbury Gluten Free Pastry Dough located in the refrigerated section ( I got mine at Walmart) and followed the directions on the packaging.
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil and set aside. This is used to catch any spill overs during cooking!
2. Roll out your GF pie crust per directions on the package and place in your 9" pie dish.
3. Chop up your rhubarb into 1/2 inch chunks and cut your strawberries into quarters or halves if on the smaller side. Toss in a bowl with your sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, lemon juice and salt. Pour into your 9" pie dish with prepared GF pie crust.
4. Combine all ingredients for the crumble and mix until well blended. Pour on top of Rhubarb mixture and place in oven on your pan lined with tin foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove and serve warm with some vanilla ice cream!
I had a friend share one of these with me today and I immediately came home and busted out a batch that was gluten free. They are super easy, super fast to whip up and they are DELICIOUS!!
The recipe I used is from Williams-Sonoma and all I did was change out the flour to be GF.
Cream together sugar and butter. Add one egg and blend together. Add second egg and vanilla and blend together. Add dry ingredients except for powdered sugar. Beat on low just till blended. Roll into 1-2 inch balls and then roll each ball in the powdered sugar. Place on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and place onto cooling rack for a few minutes and then store in airtight container if there are any leftovers!
A big bowl of comfort food on a cold day is the best. My family has enjoyed this meal a few times in the past few weeks and the leftovers are pretty tasty too! I found this recipe here.
1. Cook macaroni according to package directions, however, do NOT use salt in the pasta water.
2. Meanwhile on stove top, combine the milk, butter, dressing mix and seasonings; heat through. Stir in Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses until melted. Stir in sour cream or heavy cream.
3. Drain macaroni, stir into cheese sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
I have never been a fan of taco soup, until now! I had a friend share this recipe with me and the whole family LOVES it! I think it something to do with Hormel Chili in it, our favorite canned chili. I usually have to double it for my family of six, giving me a little bit of leftovers for lunches the following day. The recipe comes from here. It calls for chicken, but I have left that out and just added an extra can of black beans when I make this. Doing it this way also makes for a quick prep time if you want to do it on the stove top.
1. Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, broth, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
2. Remove chicken breasts from the soup and shred. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips cilantro, and lime juice, if desired.
One of the things I love about this recipe is that it is one I can stock up in the freezer with. I will buy about 5 1/2 pounds of ground beef and make it all into meatballs (Adjust the recipe accordingly). I make mine about the size of a golf ball and fill a cookie sheet or two and freeze them for about an hour. At that point I bag them up in freezer bags and voila , I now have at least five or six meals that I can pull out and all I have to do is make up the sauce and rice!
Combine all ingredients; mix well. Form into balls. Place in sprayed casserole dish. Cover with sauce (below). Bake at 350 degree for about 30 minutes. Makes 6 to 8 servings, Serve over rice and with a veggie or salad on the side.
Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly. Heat and pour over meatballs.
** I also double the sauce because I like mine saucy.
Fall is in the air and at the moment it feels great! I wish we could bottle this temperature for several months! I saw this recipe posted on Facebook which lead me to Picky Palate and had to try it. I do love her blog and have tried many of her recipes. For the first time ever, I did not have any ice cream in my house, but still wanted to try these. I just used heavy cream instead. They turned out really well, which only means that doing it with melted ice cream must be amazing! I also do not have a doughnut pan, so I just made mine in my mini bundt pan. This recipe made 10 mini pumpkin cakes. Would definitely double it next time.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray mini bundt pan or doughnut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, sugar, pumpkin, egg, vanilla and pudding mix into a large mixing bowl.
3. Place ice cream into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds or until just barely melted. Pour into mixing bowl and combine with other ingredients until well combined. Scoop batter into prepared doughnut or mini bundt pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until baked through. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.
4. To prepare the glaze, place powdered sugar and cream into a bowl, whisking to combine. Add more cream if needs thinning out. Dip tops of donuts or mini cakes in glaze and serve!
Looking to add a little kick to your chicken? This has good flavor but not too spicy and hot.
I changed the directions up a bit, but the original recipe came from here.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9 inch square baking dish (or similar size) with cooking spray. Place fajita seasoning in a plastic bag. Add chicken and shake to coat.
Place chicken into the baking dish and top with green chilies. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove baking dish from oven. Drain juices, and top with pepperjack cheese. Return to oven and bake for 10-15 more minutes or until cheese is melted and browned slightly. Remove and serve.
1) Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
3) Store in a large container. Label and date. Keep in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months (it never lasts that long at our house, but good to know anyways).
Directions for use: Shake the container to mix ingredients. In a small pot, heat 2/3 cup water to boiling. Add 1/3 cup oatmeal mix. Note: There is approx. 1/3 cup of oatmeal in a packet of instant oatmeal. You may prefer to increase this amount based on the size of servings needed. Reduce heat and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until desired consistency is reached, stir frequently. Can also heat in microwave for one minute.
This is just a base (which tastes amazing by itself!), but you could easily add in any additional dried fruit, fresh fruit or maple syrup.
I seriously doubted this recipe when I first came upon it. I have struggled getting anyone in our household to eat quinoa, let alone in a cake. It got rave reviews, so I thought what the heck! It definitely is a process to make, not one you just whip up in an hour. Having said that, it was a huge hit. I even took it to a friend to be a taste tester for me. They had no idea the ingredients, but it was loved by all who ate it. It is a very rich cake. One slice hits the spot! This was a pinterest find that led me here. I have tried a few of her other recipes and have always been happy with the results!
For the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
Combine the milk, eggs and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Process just until combined. Add the cooked quinoa and the butter. Blend well until smooth.
Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and bake on a rack in the middle position for 28-30 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto cooling racks (remove the parchment paper stuck to the bottom of the cakes).
Place one cake layer upside down on a serving platter or plate. Top with a generous portion (about half) of the whipped frosting, spreading to within 1/2-inch of the edge of the cake (it will press to the edge when the top cake layer is put on).
Gently put the other cake layer upside down on top of the frosted layer. Spread the remaining frosting over the top of the cake. You could definitely frost the sides, too, but I like the more rustic look for this cake - frosting just the middle and top.
You'll need about 3/4 cup dry quinoa for 2 cups cooked. Make sure to measure the quinoa for the cake recipe after it is cooked and cooled. Also, make sure to THOROUGHLY rinse the quinoa and cook the quinoa in water not broth.
Who doesn't love a soft sugar cookie? I have not found pleasure in trying to 'roll' out sugar cookie dough since going GF, so this is something I put on the back burner. Then one day, I saw a pin on pinterest called 'Sugar Cookie Bars'. You just spread the dough out onto a cookie sheet and bake the whole thing at once and then frost, cut and serve! Well, duh, why didn't I think of that?! I pulled out my old favorite recipe from back in the day and viola, we have yummy sugar cookies....all shaped like squares! It was a good day. The first time I made it using the full recipe and the cookies were like cake thickness. A bit much for me, so the second time, I halved the recipe and they were much thinner (as pictured below). So pick what suits your fancy and enjoy!
Cream together shortening, sugar and eggs. Add remaining ingredients. Spread dough out onto greased cookie sheet. (One with sides) Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes; until light golden brown on top.
Frost with your favorite frosting. I use Betty Crocker Cream Cheese flavored frosting.
I was asked to take dinner into a family tonight. With all that was going on, it was just easier for me to stop at Papa Murphey's Take-n-Bake and grab them dinner. I saw that they had a s'mores dessert pizza and I thought to myself, "Wow, that looks amazingly delicious!" I think I could totally make that GF! When I got home, I googled s'mores pizza and found several recipes. I chose one that looked good and ran with it! It was seriously a hit with my family and the guests we were feeding at our home tonight! The only thing I would have changed is maybe drizzling a little bit of chocolate syrup over the pizza. All in all, we will be making this again! The recipe I went with came from here.
If you only want to make the dessert pizza, then 1/2 a pizza dough recipe would make just that. Lately we have been doubling the dough recipe and making two large dinner pizza's with enough dough left over to make a dessert pizza.
Prepare crust as you normally would. Spread the dough out on a pizza stone. In a medium sized bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and butter with a fork until you have corn meal consistency. Mix in the rolled oats. Sprinkle this mixture across your pizza crust liberally. Add chocolate chips onto crust. Bake pizza crust as directed.
Bake Pizza at 420 degrees for about 12-15 minutes, then add marshmallows and finish cooking for 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven, slice and serve.
***Next time I would totally drizzle chocolate syrup over mine before serving.
This is a new twist on funeral potatoes or potato casserole. I wasn't sure the hubs was going to like it because he is not much of a ranch fan, but to my surprise he quite liked them as did I. They were super easy to throw together. This made enough to feed our family of six with one serving of leftovers. I found the recipe on pinterest, but when I went back to link to it, the site wouldn't work. I modified it quite a bit from the original and it worked out well for our family. Just a side note, our family's new favorite vegetable...edamame beans!
Combine first 4 ingredients, mix in hash browns. Spread into a sprayed 9x13 pan. Bake covered at 400 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
My sister brought me some Popsicle molds from Ikea when she came to visit, so we did a search for something yummy to make in them. I am a huge fan of the hand dipped bars at Costco and this was a close second, only difference is the hint of banana flavor. When dipping the Popsicle in the magic shell, you have to be very quick and you can't double dip it or all the chocolate comes off.
The recipe came from pinterest.
Put bananas, heavy cream, milk, sugar and vanilla in the blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into your popsicle mold and place in freezer.
Once frozen, remove from mold and dip into the chocolate Magic Shell, then quickly sprinkle with chopped nuts. Enjoy right away, or place in plastic bags and store in freezer until ready to enjoy.
For those of you who might be a non gluten free follower, most of the recipes on here have been adapted to be gluten free. I always link back to where I found the recipe (if it was not my own), which would allow you to see the non gluten free version if you are interested in trying what you see! Generally, you can just switch out the gluten free flour for 'regular' flour and omit the xanthan gum.
If you see something you like, or have tried one of our recipes, or have a suggestion, I would love for you to leave me a comment.
This is a place for me to document our favorites and successes. I am not here to profess that I am a cooking genius. I have found most of these recipes on the internet or have had friends share them with me or just converted our old recipes to be gluten free friendly. This past year has been a real learning experience for me. Cooking Gluten Free has been a challenge. During this process I hope to help anyone else living with Celiac Disease. Also, I hope that I can create a variety of meal ideas for my kids to take with them when they grow up and move out. It is so easy to get stuck in the mind set of 'what we can't have'. It just takes a little creativity to get outside that box!


On May 4, the Obama administration announced a plan to crack down on offshore tax havens, which it said are costing the United States tens of billions of dollars each year. The President's proposals were primarily aimed at finding ways to increase revenue from wealthy companies and investors who use loopholes in the law and offshore subsidiaries to reduce their US taxes. But the administration is largely missing a far more devastating problem related to offshore finance: money gained from criminal and other illicit sources. With the use of tax havens and other elements of an increasingly complex 'shadow' financial network, vast sums of illegal money are being shifted throughout the global economy virtually undetected.
Phi Beta Iota: The illicit global economy is at least two trillion dollars a year against a seven trillion dollar a year legitimate economy, and the latter is both full of legal crime and legal tax avoidance, as well as focused on the one billion rich rathyer than the five billion poor. One of the many dirty not-so-little secrets about Wall Street is that it relies heavily on laundered drug money for its liquidity; another is that the banking community has been all too happy to manage the funds of dictators and war lords and others. Below are just three of the many books we recommend in this area.


Today, I represented a client In Berks County Court on Burglary, Conspiracy and Theft charges. Client's family came to our firm over a year after charges had been filed and as Client continued to languish in Berks County Prison. The plea offer obtained by prior counsel had been for 3 to 6 years in state prison – a standard offer based on client's prior record and the sentencing guidelines for the top charge. However, it was my hope to bargain for something more favorable for my client.
This young man had a non-violent background and his legal issues stemmed directly from a history of substance abuse. He clearly needs some help so that he does not reoffend once he is eventually released. With this in mind, I began plea negotiations with the Assistant District attarney. He soon amended the charges and reduced the minimum to 2 1/2 years, although I hoped to do even better.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has a program for non-violent offenders known as RRRI (Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive) or "Triple R-I" program. The program consists of intensive treatment and rehabilitation including a large component of drug and alcohol treatment. By participating in the program an offender can reduce his minimum sentence by either 3/4 or 5/6 depending on the length of sentence. Based on my client's background this is something he sorely needed. Unfortunately, he was statutorily ineligible due to a 7 year old Simple Assault conviction.
Through continued negotiation I was eventually able to convince the ADA to waive the eligibility requirements. The Judge agreed as well, and the client was made eligible for the RRRI program. This functions to reduce his RRRI minimum from 30 months down to 22 1/2 months and also give him the Drug and Alcohol treatment that he greatly needs and desires. With 14 months of credit time my client has a little over 8 months until he hits his minimum. Ultimately, it will be up to my client to do well on the program and maintain sobriety. Hopefully, this negotiated sentence will give him the opportunity to do so.
If you or a loved one is facing a lengthy state prison sentence please contact our office to discuss the options. You may be eligible for an alternative program such as RRRI, State Intermediate Punishment, County Intermediate Punishment, Boot Camp, Drug Treatment Court, DUI Treatment Court, Berks County's Mental Health Treatment Court or Veteran's Court. Our attarneys are skilled in negotiating alternative sentences and help you avoid lengthy state prison sentences. Please call our Reading, PA law office to schedule a free consultation.


Sarah Crichton Books, 9780374268817, 288pp.
Dominique is one very bitter rabbit. His owner, Lars Jorgenson, is a former tennis pro who has blown out both knees, become obese, and is now addicted to a cocktail of prescription drugs containing the letters X and Z, one weird side-effect of which is that he has developed an omniscient point of view. Both Dominique and Lars are going crazy in the affluent Maryland suburbs where their faux Tudor home is up for sale. Idle on the market for months, the home is now being staged: A professional has come in to redecorate and depersonalize the house so that others can imagine themselves living there. Into the messy personal life of Lars and his beautiful wife Bella comes Eve, an unemployed journalist-turned stager who immediately realizes, as she steps into the foyer, that she is in the home of her former best friend. Eve knows way too much about Bella, including the questionable paternity of the meddling young child who lives in this house. Questions of friendship, loyalty, fidelity, sobriety, and sanity are raised to hilarious effect in this dark comedy of how we live now in the age of planned communities, cookie-cutter mansions, and cutthroat careerism.
Susan Coll is the Events and Programs Director at Politics & Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C. She is the author of the novels Beach Week, Acceptance, Rockville Pike, and karlmarx.com. Acceptance was made into a television movie starring Joan Cusack in 2009. She lives in Washington, D.C.


text:
ACCEPTED

#### According to
International Plant Names Index

#### Published in
null

#### Original name
Comesperma polygaloides F.Muell.

### Remarks
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