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From PA to VA; From Bachelor's to Master's
Posted by Brad Hodge on Monday, August 31, 2020
This story was originally published on Peirce College's website found here.
In 2018, Peirce College introduced Robin Johnson, at the time a current Organizational Leadership student, who was passionate about her education and profession.
Fast forward two years and this 2018 Women Veterans Award Honoree of the Year is now a Class of 2020 graduate!
After being encouraged and supported by colleague William Blackman, Robin Johnson first started at Peirce College in 2017. "William Blackman continued to talk about Peirce College to me and pushed me to call," said Robin. "I knew I needed some type of paper in order to progress in my field and I saw all my colleagues going back to school. Finally, I listened to Blackman and I called Karen, my Enrollment Specialist."
Robin initially chose the Organizational Leadership program because it aligned well with what she does in the military combining her interest and experience in human resources and leadership. What she ended up getting from the program was so much more.
"What I learned by coming to Peirce College and joining the Organizational Leadership program is almost too much to name. The intimacy of the small class sizes and the relationships you create with staff, faculty and your classmates are things I will never forget," explained Robin. "One professor in particular, Professor Chris Nosal, was so kind and approachable and I'll always remember him saying to us, 'I am here for you; I will continue to be here for you; we will go through this journey together.' Those words stuck with me and it's little things like that that make the Peirce experience so worthwhile."
During Robin's Peirce journey, she actually decided to switch up her position in the military and apply for a position that aligned even more closely with her new degree. Her new position as Family Readiness and Program Coordinator for the National Guard Bureau exposes Robin to human resources opportunities while allowing her to take her education from the classroom to the workplace.
She said, "After landing this new position, I remember my supervisor asking me where I could see myself in five years and I said I wanted to work my way to Master Sergeant. I knew this new position and my new degree would help me because I was now more competitive with my peers and ranked higher on the list for promotions."
Robin had a goal in mind and she was ready to do whatever she could to achieve it. So, with her career path set, Robin graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership in the Class of 2020.
But she wasn't done yet.
"I always said I was never going to go for my master's degree. I said I was definitely done after my bachelor's, but I couldn't help but be inspired by others. I met so many people during my Peirce journey who kept going, so I knew if they could do it, so could I."
This Fall of 2020, Robin will proudly start in Peirce College's Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management program. She said, "Adding a master's degree to my resume is going to skyrocket my career. My whole entire life is going to continue to improve with all this new education. I know I am going to land the career I desire and deserve."
As Robin reflects back on her bachelor's experience at Peirce and looks forward to her next degree, she said, "In the past, I put up roadblocks for myself, but I didn't let myself this time. Peirce helped me feel confident enough to make it. When I changed positions, I moved to Virginia, which forced me to be an online student. Peirce made this possible. I could continue to get tutoring, attend events, and feel involved in all my classes from states away. I knew I could do anything with the love, commitment and support Peirce College faculty and peers provided to me."
Congratulations to Robin on accomplishing her first degree at Peirce and good luck as she seamlessly transitions into her next!
Challenging and Motivating Each Other to the Finish Line – Meet Ashley and Thalia Rosario
Posted by Brad Hodge on Wednesday, August 12, 2020
This story was previously published on our website found here.
As first-generation college students, both Ashley and Thalia Rosario found themselves eager to go to college and earn a degree. Originally beginning their journey at the Community College of Philadelphia, they set their first goal to complete their associate degrees.
Ashley (left) and Thalia (right) Rosario with their daughter
"Ashley and I both come from families where college wasn't really discussed. Neither of us had family members who had college degrees. Ashley was the first one to feel motivated to earn her degree and she inspired me to do the same," said Thalia.
During their associate degree journey, both Ashley and Thalia decided they wanted to keep going and earn their bachelor's degrees.
"Eventually, I want to go to law school, so I knew in order to get there I had to do what I needed to do, which meant earning my bachelor's degree," said Ashley.
They just didn't know where they wanted to go.
Around the time the Rosarios started looking into schools for their next degrees, Thalia received an email from her employer about a partnership opportunity that provided a tuition discount. She said, "American Heritage, my employer, told me about the opportunity to go to Peirce College and the tuition discount. I looked into it and immediately applied."
Ashley, on the other hand, looked around Philadelphia a bit longer weighing all her options. She said, "I was actually all set to go to a different college, but then Thalia and I had an exciting life event, which changed everything."
Ashley was pregnant with her and Thalia's first child and Ashley knew she needed to attend a school catered to working adults who had many responsibilities.
"Kieu Tran, Ashley and my Enrollment Specialist, was so helpful when I decided last minute to not attend my original school," said Ashley. "Peirce allowed me to go to school online and since I was pregnant, I knew that was what I needed. At CCP, both Thalia and I were primarily online students, so this was a bonus for us to be able to continue with that flexibility now as we became parents."
Thalia explained, "Kieu Tran was incredible during my application process. From the first time I reached out through starting classes, she did everything with me. So, when Ashley was pregnant and decided she may want to consider Peirce, too, I introduced her to Kieu."
Both Ashley and Thalia enrolled in Peirce College's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program. Luckily, they both were able to transfer in all the credits from their associate degrees from CCP to help expedite their process in earning their bachelor's.
"Kieu helped both Ashley and me transfer in all our credits from CCP," said Thalia. "Everyone we met at Peirce was always so helpful. They were always willing to help us both knowing it was a two-for-one deal."
After transferring in credits and getting started with classes, Thalia and Ashley buckled down and focused on the end goal.
While they were working toward the end goal of a bachelor's degree, Erin Henrici, Thalia and Ashley's Academic Advisor, encouraged Thalia to gain the extra credential of earning her Certificate of Proficiency in Customer Service. "Some of the electives I was choosing fit right into this certificate, so Erin encouraged me to finish out the courses, so I'd graduate with a degree and a certificate," said Thalia.
During their experience at Peirce College, they gained more than what they were originally looking for. "I gained not only academic knowledge, but I learned how to prioritize and focus, which was helpful beyond the classroom. We discussed real world topics in class, which has helped me in many ways and provided me a way to use my voice," said Ashley.
Ashley practiced using her voice during some discussions where her and Thalia would have different opinions and outlooks on topics and they'd have the opportunity to challenge one another and ignite powerful conversations. Ashley said, "One of the things I will miss the most about going to school together is having Thalia challenge everything I say in a way that expands our relationship with one another."
"I loved going to school with Ashley. I recommend it for everyone! If you have someone to go to school with, do it. It was like having a classroom at home where we would talk through discussions, assignments, etc. Nine times out of ten we would have different opinions and responses, so it was great to have the opportunity to talk these thoughts through and work together," said Thalia.
In June 2020, the Rosarios proudly graduated and completed their next college goal. They both continue to have big dreams and have no plans of stopping.
"I am currently enrolled at Rutgers University for my Master of Science in Public Administration. My plan is to continue on to law school in the future," said Ashley.
"I currently work in the Quality Control Department for American Heritage and I am eager to apply my new degree into my career," said Thalia.
As a final note about their experience, they both shared some wisdom for other adults considering furthering their education. "Peirce College has an answer for every 'excuse' in the book an adult can try to convince themselves of when holding off on returning to school. There is no reason not to do it," said Thalia.
"After giving birth to our daughter, I left the hospital on Saturday and started classes on Monday. When you want better, you have to do better and I knew earning a degree would help me achieve my goals, so I made the moves to do it. If you're considering going back to school, go for it," said Ashley.
Congratulations to both Ashley and Thalia on their amazing accomplishments!
Sisters by Blood, Graduates by Determination – Meet Jenna and Denise Edeline
Posted by Brad Hodge on Friday, July 31, 2020
This story was originally published on our website found here.
Going back to college as a working adult can seem like a daunting task. One piece of advice given to new students is to find a support system whether it be a spouse, parent, cousin, friend, or sibling.
For Jenna and Denise Edeline, they found support and encouragement as sisters both chasing their educational goals at Peirce College together.
Jenna Edeline (left) and Denise Edeline (right)
Both Jenna and Denise didn't originally start their degree journeys at Peirce College, though. They each started at different universities seeking different career paths. For Jenna, she originally went into a nursing program, but after her interests changed and she ran into some physical and mental health issues, she decided to take a step back from college. Denise, who began at a different school not long after Jenna, said after starting classes, she didn't think she was made for college and decided to come back to Philly to enter the workforce.
It wasn't long, though, before Jenna had a realization about her desire to finish her degree. "A little over a year after stopping college, I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy. Looking at him made me want to give him so much more than I could currently offer. After a few months, I started looking into where to finish my degree."
Luckily, Jenna and Denise's aunt knew someone who went to Peirce and got a tuition discount as a City of Philadelphia employee. This immediately sparked Jenna's interest, especially since she is a City of Philadelphia employee. "One of my biggest fears about going back to school was not being able to afford it, but as a City employee, there was hope I could do it with the discount and support," explained Jenna.
Jenna contacted Peirce in the Fall of 2016 and started classes in the Spring of 2017 enrolling in Peirce's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program.
Denise, on the other hand, had a different journey back to college. After initially feeling as though she couldn't complete school, she put her energy into the workforce and found herself moving from the food industry into a law firm where her interest for education began to grow again. "I started to really like what I was doing at my new job and my interest in furthering my education began to grow," said Denise. "Jenna told me about Peirce and how I could take just a class or two a session and I wouldn't get overwhelmed. I was terrified at first, but Jenna convinced me I could do it."
So, in the Fall of 2018, Denise was officially enrolled in Peirce's Associate in Science in General Studies program eager to achieve this goal.
Luckily, both Jenna and Denise were able to transfer in credits from their previous college experience helping to save them both time and money pushing them further along to get to their end goal even sooner. And before they knew it, they were at their finish line, officially earning their degrees in the 2019-2020 academic year as proud members of the Class of 2020.
Jenna said, "While at Peirce College, in the Business Administration program, I gained a sense of self-worth. Knowing I could earn my bachelor's degree as a full-time employee while also being a mom makes me wonder what else I can do. It gave me the confidence to know I am strong enough and can succeed no matter what hand I am served in life. After receiving my degree, I was offered to take on more responsibilities in my department for the City of Philadelphia. I am currently a Service Representative, but am incorporating Safety Officer duties now thanks to earning my degree."
Denise said, "From the General Studies program, I gained higher self-esteem and more confidence. I was told I would never get this far and I did it! I finally succeeded in life and have something to show for it. I chose this program because I knew it would introduce me to more interests and what I could strive to achieve with a bachelor's degree."
As they reflect back on their time at Peirce, they both explain their most valued points and memories in different ways.
Jenna said, "The aspect of my Peirce education I value the most is the faculty. I had such a smooth transition coming into a new school, and that is typically not easy for me. I always felt comfortable asking questions and the professors always boosted my confidence. Dr. Charlene Glenn, in particular, always pushed me to do better and each time I had her I wanted to prove to her I could do even better than the last time I had her. She encouraged me to continue my education and look into a master's degree!"
Denise said, "I loved the professors, the flexible scheduling, and the self-confidence the College gave me. The flexible scheduling allowed me to complete work when I was able and allowed me to take classes at my pace. The confidence I gained proved to me I can do anything I put my mind to, even if others say differently."
Although Jenna and Denise found the support they needed at Peirce, they also explained it wouldn't have been possible without each other. They were born less than a year apart, so growing up, they have always gone to school together. Going to Peirce together just felt right.
"Before Denise started at Peirce, she would help me study and help edit my papers. Then, when Denise started, I did the same for her," explained Jenna. "There were a few times when Denise wanted to give up, but I told her I wasn't going to graduate without her. Sometimes I was beyond exhausted after being up all night with a toddler, and Denise would motivate me to keep going. I think we are lucky to have each other."
Now, as Class of 2020 graduates, both Jenna and Denise are considering their next degrees looking into Peirce's Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management and the Bachelor of Science in Human Services Leadership, respectively.
As the sisters celebrate their recent accomplishments while preparing for what's ahead, they both wanted to give a big thank you to their family for always being there and never giving up on them. They said, "A special thanks to our mom for always being our rock and for telling us if you have a dream or goal, never give up on it no matter how long it takes to get there."
Congratulations to both Jenna and Denise! Peirce College hopes to see you both back soon.
Meet Robin Neary – the Class of 2020 Student Commencement Speaker
Posted by Brad Hodge on Monday, July 20, 2020
This story was originally published on Peirce College's website found here.
Robin Neary was able to work her way up the ladder in retail progressing from a sales person in the stores to an executive in corporate.
One day, she was having a conversation with a former boss, and that conversation ignited a whole new mindset.
"During one of my jobs, I was talking to my boss at the time and she told me how an applicant for a role wasn't eligible for a promotion because they didn't have their bachelor's degree. My response was, 'well I don't have mine' and my boss told me to keep that quiet and never tell anyone that. That felt like such a blow and made me really think about a lot of things in my life."
A few years passed after this conversation, but Robin never forgot how it made her feel. When she was ready to transition out of retail into a new career, Robin realized that conversation had more truth to it than she could have ever imagined.
She said, "When I was attempting to move out of retail, it became obvious no one was looking at my resume. It wasn't even making it through the algorithm into the first step because I didn't have a bachelor's degree."
That is when Robin decided she was ready to enroll and change her future.
Robin partnered with Graduate! Philadelphia to find out more about adult education in the Philadelphia area. She met with Blake Scull, one of Peirce's Enrollment Specialists, at a Graduate! Philadelphia event and the rest was history.
"I knew at the event, everyone was going to try and sell me their school, but I have been in sales a long time, so I knew what was authentic and what wasn't. Blake was truly authentic and spoke to me like a person, listening to my story, providing his personal experience, and making me feel ready to tackle school," explained Robin. "I had felt so competent in my career for so long, so to think of having to go back to school in my 40s felt crazy. Blake had all the right things to say, though, and the way he described Peirce made me feel like that was where I belonged."
When it came time for Robin to select a program at Peirce, she was set on finding the one that would get her the degree as quickly as possible in the most affordable way. Luckily, Robin had earned a lot of college credits back in the 90s and was able to transfer those in to expedite her process.
Robin said, "When I first tried out college, I was an English Literature major, so I had tons of humanities credits. I knew I wanted to finish my degree as soon as possible, so Peirce worked with me to find the best path. I was able to transfer in over 60 credits and through the Organizational Leadership program, could finish in no time."
Robin enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership program in the Fall of 2018 eager to tackle this goal. Her only hesitation was having to take a math class. She had a math phobia and feared it would, once again, hold her back from completing her degree. Fortunately, Robin discovered Peirce's Walker Center for Academic Excellence and tackled this fear with confidence and ease.
"I no longer have a math phobia thanks to my professors and the Walker Center for Academic Excellence!" exclaimed Robin. "I spent my first year working with tutors in the Walker Center and my professors helped me every step of the way. I felt prepared and cared for the entire time. One professor in particular, Dr. Charlene Glenn, who taught at least five of my courses, was especially supportive and amazing throughout my journey. She helped me through a lot and even wrote me a scholarship recommendation letter."
Robin added, "There is no one at Peirce College who feels as though they are above you. Everyone you meet is willing to help you succeed."
After conquering math phobia, that wasn't the only bump Robin ran into. During three of Robin's sessions at Peirce, she got very sick, which caused her to run into some delays with her schoolwork. She said, "Every professor was always so accommodating and understanding at Peirce. If I needed an extension, extra help, or just some advice, they were always willing to do what they could to see me succeed. Even in my final session, when I was taking the last classes I needed to graduate, I had pneumonia and all my professors made sure I finished so I could graduate and accomplish my goal."
And Robin did just that. She completed her bachelor's degree in May 2020 and was eager to officially celebrate her graduation on June 23rd. Before she got to that celebration, though, she found out even more exciting news.
"I was encouraged to apply to be the Class of 2020 Student Commencement Speaker by Dr. Charlene Glenn. In previous jobs, I had to do a lot of public speaking, so I thought it would be a wonderful experience to represent my class and the school, so I applied. I knew how talented all of my classmates were, though, so I didn't anticipate getting it. To my surprise, though, I was awarded this honor and was thrilled to speak on behalf of the Class of 2020. This honor was so impactful and meaningful for me. It made my whole journey come full circle."
Now, as recent graduate, Robin is eager to take her accomplishments into the workplace and go into some sort of training and development role where she can combine her work experience with her new degree.
Congratulations to Robin on all of her accomplishments!
From Hospitality to IT – Meet Jad Driggers
Posted by Brad Hodge on Tuesday, July 14, 2020
When Jad Driggers reached his late 30s, he came to the realization that many come to at some point in their career – he didn't want to be in his industry anymore. With a background in culinary, restaurant and hospitality, Jad was ready to transition to a new career path that didn't have quite the demanding schedule and hours.
Jad decided he would go back to school to earn a bachelor's degree in an industry that would take him to the career path he always wanted.
As a father and husband, Jad knew he couldn't just do the traditional educational route. He needed to find a program that fit his needs. After doing some research on schools who focus on non-traditional learners and working with his employer on their partner schools, Jad began his journey with Peirce College.
"I work for Select Health, a subsidiary of AmeriHealth Caritas and they originally encouraged me to look into non-traditional options. Peirce College was one of those options. I saw Peirce College had an Information Technology program and I could earn my degree through a competency-based format. After discovering Peirce College had a strong history in education and had the competency-based program established for a few years, I decided on Peirce."
Jad enrolled at Peirce College in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program in the Fall of 2017. Thanks to his unique career and educational history, Jad was able to transfer in some general studies courses and dive into the Competency-Based Education (CBE) program with credits completed and goals in mind.
During the program, Jad said he gained, "a deeper understanding of the IT industry. I learned a lot about information security and I was able to earn three different IT certifications while in the program." Jad said this new degree and the certifications were sure to help him secure jobs in the future.
Jad wasn't wrong. Originally working in the call center for Select Health, Jad recently was promoted to the position of Data Analyst thanks to his new education and experience. "I interviewed for a job in February and when I told them I was finishing up my degree, I got the promotion," exclaimed Jad.
Originally, Jad was on track to finish his degree in December 2020, but thanks to the flexibility of the CBE program, Jad could earn as many credits as he wanted each term and that is exactly what he did. "In January, I looked at my schedule and saw it was mapped out until December. I decided I really wanted to get this done. So, I worked with my advisor, Christa Donato, who helped me revamp my schedule to get all my classes and credits done by March."
In the remaking of his schedule, Christa directed Jad to Peirce's partnership with Study.com where he was able to take three courses outside of his CBE program and transfer in the credits necessary to graduate. Jad said, "My experience with Study.com and Peirce College was great and extremely smooth. Thanks to my motivation, I was able to complete three courses. All I had to do once I was done was let Christa know and she worked on the backend to get my credits in no problem."
Thanks to the flexible opportunities and the ability to earn credits through Peirce College's alternative credit providers, Jad was able to complete twelve months' worth of credits in three months saving him significant time and money.
As Jad reflects back on his time at Peirce, he said, "I wish I would have found this sooner. It was everything I was looking for and more. Also, Christa Donato was paramount in getting me to the finish line. She helped keep me on track, answered all my questions, understood when I needed a slower semester, and was supportive when I wanted to load up on classes. Christa helped me get here."
Now, as a Class of 2020 graduate, Jad offers advice for all those other working adults who may be seeking a new career path, but are unsure where to start. He said, "It might seem like a lot to take on as an employee, parent, spouse, etc., but it can be done. You will be paired with a mentor and advisor who will work with you to come up with a schedule and plan that fits your life, but gets you to your end goal."
Congratulations to Jad on all of his accomplishments!
Reflecting Back on His Time at Peirce – Hear from DeVonte Douglass
Posted by Brad Hodge on Friday, June 12, 2020
Back in August 2019, Professor Mike Agnello introduced a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice student, DeVonte Douglass. At that point, DeVonte was engrossed in his studies and tackling different internships gaining both knowledge in and out of the classroom.
Now, I am thrilled to re-introduce DeVonte as a Class of 2020 graduate who finished his degree this past May.
Originally earning his Associate in Science in Criminal Justice from Peirce College in 2018, DeVonte moved right into his bachelor's degree eager to continue his studies in the field where he found his calling.
"I chose the criminal justice program because I have family members who were done wrongfully by the criminal justice system. I want to be the change inside of our criminal justice system," explained DeVonte. "I want to be able to get the victim or the State of Pennsylvania, the justice they deserve by restoring trust in our criminal justice system for both the victims and defendants who enter those courtrooms."
With this burning passion, DeVonte plans to take his bachelor's degree and move onto law school. He said, "I plan on using my degree in Criminal Justice to go back to school and become a criminal attorney either as a prosecutor or criminal defense attorney."
DeVonte feels equipped to take this next step thanks to all his studies at Peirce College, but feels especially prepared thanks to one professor in particular. "I have gained knowledge from each and every one of my professors, including Associate Professor and Faculty Chair of Legal Studies, Michael Agnello who encouraged me to push forward to become a criminal attorney. He has continued to help put me on the right path with assisting with all of my questions and being there regarding the criminal justice program."
Reflecting back on his time at Peirce, DeVonte shared, "My overall Peirce experience was a rewarding one. It came with challenges, which is expected when you are trying to better yourself."
DeVonte elaborated on his challenges, explaining, "The challenges I faced were personal and financial both which could have stopped me from pursuing my degree. I thought about the people I would be disappointing when I felt like I did not want to pursue my degree any longer and it inspired me to keep going. The professors also always encouraged me to keep going no matter what. The professors were more accommodating than they needed to be, but it makes a difference when you have professors who care about you. Also, being a scholarship recipient two years in a row helped significantly with the financial struggle that I was going through."
Through his challenges, DeVonte learned a lot and is eager to share his knowledge with others. He said, "You should not hesitate about returning to college, but you should know it comes with challenges. Everything in life comes with challenges. You will find, though, that going back to college is a rewarding experience. It betters your life and the people around you. I have set a good example for the little ones that look up to me and even the people in my neighborhood."
Finally, as DeVonte prepares for his upcoming commencement, he explained who this new degree was really for. He said, "I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me throughout my college career. This degree is dedicated to my Grandmother (Carol Douglass Smith), who lost her battle to cancer in August 2019."
Congratulations to DeVonte on all his successes! Peirce College looks forward to supporting DeVonte as a new alumnus and cheering him on at the virtual commencement on June 23rd.
Mother, Grandmother, Author, and Graduate – Meet Tamara Hawkins
Posted by Brad Hodge on Monday, June 08, 2020
In 2012, Tamara Hawkins decided to take her supervisor's advice on earning her bachelor's degree and started to look into programs in the Philadelphia area. She discovered a college she once knew as a two-year business college had evolved over time and had just what she was looking for.
That is when Tamara found Peirce College.
"I stumbled across Peirce's bachelor's programs and saw the evolution of Peirce over the years. I remember Peirce when it was just a two-year school. To see it grow so much really stood out to me," explained Tamara. "So, I decided to visit campus and talk to an admissions representative."
Her visit to campus was eye-opening and allowed for her to understand just how long it would take to earn her degree and how much it would cost.
"When I met with my admissions representative, she told me Peirce would take all of my credits from the Community College of Philadelphia. Having an associate degree from CCP allowed me to save time and money at Peirce because it would take less than 2 years to complete my bachelor's degree," said Tamara. "Additionally, Peirce College was the only school that would clearly identify what classes I needed to take and map out my exact route to graduation. After seeing all of that, I said, 'let's do it!'"
Tamara enrolled in Peirce's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program and found herself graduating in no time. In 2014, Tamara completed her goal and turned her focus back to her career.
Working in health care for over 20 years inspired Tamara to stay in contact with Peirce and take a few Medical Coding classes here and there to continue expanding her knowledge to bring back to her line of work.
In 2016, though, Tamara heard that Peirce College had developed a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration program and this caught her attention. "After my bachelor's degree was complete, I swore I was done with degrees. Then I heard about Peirce's MSHCA program and it aligned with my career and interests, so I reached out once again to learn more."
After gaining a better understanding of the classes she would be taking this second time around, Tamara enrolled and found herself immersed in the content more than she ever thought possible. "In the MSHCA program, my eyes were opened to so many things I never knew before. I gained a deeper understanding of insurance, health care, technology, HIPAA, and more. This program aligned with my interests and career path perfectly."
In 2018, during her time in the program, Tamara landed a new position within the health care field. "I originally wanted to be a nurse, but when I decided against that career path, I always knew I wanted to be in the health care field. During my master's program, I started as a Senior Biller at the Temple Dental School. My master's has helped me significantly in this position because it has taught me the lingo you really can't learn anywhere else."
In December 2019, Tamara finished her master's degree and is now a proud member of the Class of 2020. As Tamara reflected back on her time at Peirce, she said, "My Peirce College experience was phenomenal. I love learning and being challenged and I got all that and more from Peirce. I made so many friends who have now become family. Also, I was able to do so much even as an adult learner. There were workshops, events, trips, etc. for me to take part in as a student, which made my experience that much better. Peirce just offers so much, which made me want to stay as long as possible."
Tamara is the proud mother of two and grandmother of three. She said, "School can be overwhelming at times as a parent, grandparent, employee, churchgoer, and student. My advice is to try and find balance, which includes time for yourself. I found time for schoolwork, my family, my church, while also scheduling a little downtime here and there to give myself a break. If you stay organized, you'll be able to achieve this balance and accomplish your goals."
In addition to all that Tamara has already accomplished, she has also written and self-published two books, within the past year, with a third one coming out soon for children. She said, "Peirce College and all my professors have given me the motivation to believe I can do whatever I put my mind to do, and then go do it successfully!"
Congratulations to Tamara on all her successes! We look forward to applauding her at Peirce's Virtual Commencement Ceremony on June 23rd.
Challenging and Motivating Each Other to the Finis...


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Cleft Lip-Palate CNV Analysis Uncovers New Clefting Genes
NEW YORK – A team led by researchers at the University of Iowa has characterized copy number variants that contribute to cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P), a group of relatively common birth defects affecting craniofacial development.
"It is established that common and rare sequence variants contribute to the formation of CL/P, but the contribution of copy number variants (CNVs) to cleft formation remains relatively unstudied," senior and corresponding author John Manak, a genetics and neurobiology researcher at the University of Iowa, and his colleagues explained in the American Journal of Human Genetics on Thursday.
By focusing on lower-frequency CNVs and those expected to produce the most pronounced or deleterious effects, the researchers tracked down CL/P-associated CNVs affecting known Mendelian genes, while identifying additional clefting genes that influenced craniofacial development in subsequent animal model experiments.
Using high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization arrays, the team profiled more than 64,100 CNVs in 869 individuals from the Philippines, including 77 participants with syndromic CL/P (SCL/P) and 792 non-syndromic CL/P (NSCL/P) patients, analyzing the chromosome loss and gain patterns along with those found in 233 CL/P patients of European descent.
In particular, the authors explained, they "assessed the total number of CNVs, CNV load, and CNV burden between cleft type and within NSCL/P subgroups."
Although the researchers did not find CNV differences that distinguished syndromic from non-syndromic CL/P cases, they noted that large gains spanning 300 kb to 400 kb were slightly more common in the syndromic clefting cases.
The team's results also pointed to the presence of CL/P-related duplications or deletions in Mendelian disease genes linked to non-syndromic conditions and to syndromes such as DiGeorge syndrome in more than two dozen of the syndromic or non-syndromic CL/P cases.
From there, the team filtered the CNVs found in CL/P-affected individuals against population genetic data — with array-based CNV profiling on nearly 1,800 female participants from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey — to find the variants that were rare across the general population but overrepresented in individuals with CL/P.
That search led to rare CNVs in and around the COBLL1, RIC1, and ARHGEF38 genes, the researchers reported. A potential craniofacial development role for those genes was supported by subsequent CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing experiments, performed in the Xenopus laevis African clawed frog and Danio rerio zebrafish model organisms.
"Intriguingly, our top three candidate genes are involved in either the Rho or Rab GTPase signaling pathways, which have been implicated in a wide array of cellular dynamics including the formation of adhesion junctions, actin organization, cell division, cell migration, and membrane trafficking," the authors noted.
developmental disorder
CNVs
CNV arrays

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"Are-are you Jordan?" he managed to ask her as she stood glaring at him.
"Yes. And you are?" She replied coolly.
"My mom told me you might come over." Jordan said, condescending now.
"I'll be thirteen next month!" She said, with her nose in the air.
"Well, I'm sixteen. Back home, I drive my father's Volvo all the time." He told her proudly.
He looked down, and mumbled something about 'misunderstanding' and 'incident'.
"I've got this story to finish reading." She said, turning as if to climb back up the tree.
"What story? And why do you have to be in a tree to read a story?" He asked, clearly not wanting to let her go.
"It's the best place to read a story. It's nice and shady for summer afternoons like this, and I can stay up there for hours with no one to disturb me!" She said in one breath, excited to talk of her hobby.
"You're weird." he said. But Chris didn't want to let up a chance to spend some time that did not include serving ladies coffee for their tea parties, and running errands for his uncle. So he offered her a deal.
"All right, how about this? I'll sit and listen while you complete your story. And then we can go out for an ice cream. I'll even drive you to the mall if you want." He asked, his face hopeful.
Jordan considered this offer for some time. She hated to keep asking her mom to drive her to the mall, and her friends would all be there. And she was sure her mom wouldn't mind, after all, she knew Chris's aunt well.
"Deal." She said, smiling at him for the first time.
"Great!" he smiled back, knowing his offer had been too good for a teenage girl to resist. How could she say no to being seen by her friends, driven to the mall by an older (not bad-looking) boy who was not her brother?
"So what's the story about?" He asked, following her up into the boughs of the tree, settling down below her in the lower branches.
Some trees beckon to you to perch atop the branches and read, quietly… I've found it one of the best places one can enjoy a book! Thanks a lot, Aditya!
It', s a very nice story one that makes you keep reading till the end, this is how I felt. Thank you.
This is a sweet story. May her passion of reading carry through to adulthood!
Even I wondered what my mom would have done! But then technically she never asked her mom! Haha!
Nicely done. I enjoyed your story, and I could see your characters vividly.
Bless you! I hope you enjoy what you read 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement.
I'm glad that the whole exchange didn't have sinister overtones – you captured the youth well.
Nice job, I loved the story within the story. It gives me lots of ideas!
Thanks a lot, Christi! I'm glad you liked it!
Nice! This sounds like the beginning of a great relationship. I'm automatically drawn to anyone who likes reading in or beside a tree. The dialogue seems a perfect reflection of young teens. I think you did an outstanding job on that.
What a fun scene! I miss climbing trees! 🙂 I'd love to see more banter from these two.


This is such a beautiful frou frou trim that I use a lot in my craft making. They come in an array of yummy candy colors and are so fun to work with. This yummy fringe is made with lightweight tissue.
You will receive 1 yard of tissue garland.
The tissue measures 2" wide ruffled up and 3" wide spread straight out.


text:
Rising Healthcare Costs Among Challenges for Murphy Administration
Lilo H. Stainton | December 25, 2017 | Winter 2017
Some experts argue that New Jersey should consider rate setting to stabilize costs and create a more sustainable system
holiday reading for governor
Protecting, or even expanding, access to healthcare has become a public priority in recent years, forcing policymakers to grapple with a number of complex factors, including a vexing and dependable trend: the growing cost of care itself.
Healthcare costs will be a constant factor for Gov.-elect Phil Murphy and his team as they debate how to sustain New Jersey's Medicaid program and build on efforts launched by Gov. Chris Christie to integrate behavioral and physical health systems and grow addiction recovery services. The new Democratic administration could also be faced with a destabilized — and more expensive — state insurance market, thanks to changes expected as a result of the federal tax-reform law, which eliminated the penalty for not purchasing coverage.
A report published earlier this year by Rutgers University's Center for State Health Policy makes a strong case for a renewed government focus on cost, specifically the price of medical treatments, which the authors said are the primary driver of this growth. The center — led by professor Joel Cantor, an NJ Spotlight contributor — argued that regulatory controls have worked well in other states and that New Jersey should also consider rate setting to stabilize costs and create a more sustainable system.
"Properly designed rate setting has been successful in controlling expenditures in the United States and elsewhere. What we have been doing is not working. Rate setting should be high on the policy and political agenda," wrote the authors, Rutgers professor David Frankford and George Washington University professor Sara Rosenbaum. The authors, experts in healthcare law and policy, examined various state rate-setting systems, including Maryland and West Virginia, and explored past experiments in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.
Healthcare costs, estimated to reach 20 percent of U.S. GDP within a decade, consume a growing portion of state and local budgets, and this expense remains a top concern for businesses in New Jersey. On average, we spend more than $9,000 per person on healthcare costs each year in this country, according to the report, and costs have been growing for more than three-and-a-half decades.
The CSHP report, funded in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (which also supports NJ Spotlight), argues that past efforts to control prices through the market and private insurance companies have encountered significant obstacles. But rate setting, when done right, consolidates buying power, gives government far greater cost control, and can result in large administrative savings.
Follow this link for more Holiday Reading for the Governor.
More from Winter 2017
Can the New Governor Help Close the Racial Divide in NJ's Schools?
For Gov.-Elect, It's off the Campaign Bus and onto NJ's Battered Roads
New Administration Needs to Get Its Hands Wet Solving Water Problems
Making Sure the New Administration is Savvy About Smart Growth
Murphy's Inherited Headaches: The Pension System, Ongoing Tax Cuts
You Don't Have to Be the Governor to Read These Provocative Reports


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On Your Mark, Get Set, Grab Tax Credits
By Dusty Rhodes • Dec 27, 2017
Myles Mendoza directs Empower Illinois, which is linked to House Speaker Michael Madigan
Courtesy / Myles Mendoza
Many of us enjoy a party on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, but for a few wealthy Illinois residents, Jan. 2 will be the day to celebrate. Beginning at 8 a.m., on a first-come, first-served basis, they can reserve a hefty tax credit in return for their donation to a private school.
Under a controversial measure added during final negotiations to the state's new school funding reform law, individuals and corporations can contribute up to $1.3 million for private school tuition scholarships. In return, they get a 75 percent tax credit. The fund can accept a maximum of $100 million per year.
The money has to go through one of the five Scholarship Granting Organizations authorized by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Myles Mendoza directs the largest and perhaps most powerful one, Empower Illinois, which is linked to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Empower Illinois will handle donations directed to dozens of Catholic, Lutheran and Jewish schools across the state. He expects tax credits to be snapped up immediately, based on patterns observed in 17 other states with similar plans.
"We can look towards other states where minutes after midnight on the first day going live, all of the tax credits have been taken up. So they can go very, very fast," he says. "Illinois's an unknown."
Here, state officials decided to open the floodgates not at midnight but at 8 a.m., inadvertently causing a ripple in potential donors' social schedule.
"There were a lot of parties that were being planned for midnight on January 2nd, and those plans have all changed because of the new 8 a.m. start time," Mendoza says.
The credits are distributed proportionally around the state (Springfield, for example, is allotted about 10 percent).
To be eligible for the tax-credit program, a donor has to have an account set up through the IDOR's MyTax Illinois portal. Such accounts have multiple uses, so there's no way to determine how many account-holders might plan to click the submit button on Jan. 2nd in hopes of securing tax credits.
Anyone who doesn't already have an account is likely out of luck, because each account involves a security verification that includes a time-consuming snail-mail delivery, and there aren't enough business days left for the process.
Individual donors can designate the school of their choice. But Mendoza says his organization focuses on recruiting corporate donors, because those scholarships will remain undesignated — available for students to use at any K-12 private school affiliated with Empower Illinois.
Students can begin applying for scholarships on Jan. 24, and Mendoza predicts that day will be another stampede as families scramble to grab one of the 15,000 or so scholarships.
"The amount of students that apply could be double, triple, and I'm hearing sometimes even more than that," Mendoza says. "It could go up as high as 45,000. It could be 90,000 applicants. If the metrics work out the way they do in other states, you'd expect 1.5 to two times the number of phone calls, emails and text messages from applicants.
So we could be looking at 90,000, 100,000 different inquiries that are coming in via phone, texts or email."
His organization is already training phone bank workers to handle the expected deluge of calls — in English, Spanish, and possibly Polish. He calls it an "amazing community-driven effort."
"I've never experienced anything more diverse than this," Mendoza says.
This initial assignment of scholarships will be crucial, because in subsequent years, priority will be given to students who had a scholarship the previous year and their siblings. Students who reside in focus districts or whose household income is less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or $45,510 for a family of four, get priority through April.
Not everyone will is so eager to celebrate this private school program. Public school advocates point to the $75 million tax dollars that will be lost, and call this plan a gift to the rich at the expense of public school students. Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, says the plan is part of a national Republican-led effort to destabilize public education.
"Let's not make any mistake: This is big money," he says. "The people who are the big winners here are the wealthy donors, not the children."
In fact, a proposal that would have provided a similar tax credit incentive for people who might want to donate to public school foundations got negotiated out of the school funding compromise. But Mendoza — who helped craft the tax-credit program, called Invest In Kids — says public schools will benefit from other parts of the legislation.
"I believe that the needs of public school students really were served better by school finance reform than they were through a tax credit vehicle," he says.
WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.
Brady Explains Votes To Override Rauner On Debt Transparency, Student Loan Bills
By Ryan Denham • Nov 15, 2017
Staff / WGLT
State Rep. Dan Brady said the unusually high number of veto overrides this fall was the result of lobbying by other elected officials pushing the legislation, not necessarily an indication of Gov. Bruce Rauner's declining power among his fellow Republicans.
Rauner Dodges Veto Override on Right-to-Work Zones
By Brian Mackey • Nov 7, 2017
Seth Perlman / The Associated Press
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday narrowly escaped having one of his vetoes overridden.
Lawmakers Furious Over Backlog Of State Ethics Complaints
By Jaclyn Driscoll • Nov 2, 2017
Seth Perlman / AP
An inspector general is required to consider ethical complaints at the Illinois State Capitol. But the state has failed to hire one for two years, resulting in a backlog of 27 complaints.
© 2020 WGLT
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text:
2014-15Regular SeasonRound 9
Olympiacos Piraeus 64
Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade 59
December 12, 2014 CET: 20:45
Local time: 21:45 PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP STADIUM
Graphic stats
Shooting chart
Late heroics let Olympiacos clinch first place in style!
An epic battle at the top of Group D went down to the wire before Olympiacos Piraeus blasted off in the final minute to a 64-59 victory over visiting Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade that clinched first place for the Reds. Olympiacos improved to 8-1 while Zvezda fell to 5-4 but still holds second place in Group D. Olympiacos never led for more than a possession in the game's first 35 minutes as Boban Marjanovic dominated inside and Zvezda's defense did the rest. But with Kostas Sloukas scoring and dishing in the final quarter, the game entered the last 90 seconds tied. That's when Vasilis Spanoulis stepped up with the go-ahead triple, which Brent Petway soon followed with a killer from the corner to seal the deal for the hosts. Spanoulis scored 15 points to lead Olympiacos, while Oliver Lafayette added 11, Sloukas 9 and 5 assists. Marjanovic had 17 points and 13 rebounds for Zvezda, which also saw Luka Mitrovic score 11 and Nikola Kalinic 10. Zvezda was already qualified for the Top 16, but will now face Laboral Kutxa Vitoria at home in the last regular season game with second place in Group D on the line.
FIRST QUARTER: Marjanovic dominates out of the gate
Marjanovic started the scoring with an inside basket and a foul-line jumper before Vasileios Kavvadas finally got Olympiacos into the scoring column after almost 3 minutes. Marjanovic answered with a dunk that Branko Lazic followed with the game's first triple as Zvezda leapt in front, 2-9. Spanoulis got his first basket before Marjanovic added a free throw to make it 4-10. Bryant Dunston added 2 foul shots to the Olympiacos tally, but Marjanovic matched those with a put-back. When Sloukas finished a fastbreak, Marjanovic matched that, too, going over 10 points himself already. Marcus Williams passed long to Jaka Blazic for a 8-16 Zvezda advantage. Dunston dunked a third-chance basket that kept Olympiacos close, so that when Lafayette landed his team's first three-pointer, it left a 13-16 scoreboard after 10 minutes.
SECOND QUARTER: Reds rally, but Zvezda retains lead
Tremmel Darden raced for a fastbreak dunk to open the second quarter for Olympiacos. After a quiet spell, Maik Zirbes restored Zvezda's three-point lead, 15-18. Darden then outdid his previous dunk by exploding for a slam in traffic. Mitrovic answered by ripping an offensive rebound and hooking it back in. When Marjanovic resumed his scoring with a turnaround one-hander, Zvezda's lead was up to 17-22. Spanoulis took a point back at the free throw line, but Mitrovic upped the difference with a running hook. Othello Hunter broke a drought with a basket that was followed, after a timeout, by a triple from Dimitrios Agravanis, getting Olympiacos within 22-24. Spanoulis hit 2 free throws to tie, while Zirbes made 1 of 2 to give Zvezda the lead back. It lasted only until Spanoulis blasted a triple from the corner for the first Olympiacos advantage of the game. But that only lasted seconds as Nemanja Dangubic answered from the same distance at the other end to finish the half with Zvezda still ahead, 27-28.
THIRD QUARTER: Shooters keep Zvezda in front
Spanoulis opened the second-half scoring with a step-back jumper that Marjanovic matched under the opposite basket, for two quick lead changes. Marjanovic added a free throw at 29-31 before Marko Tejic blocked a shot by Hunter and Dangubic fired in a jumper at the other end. After a timeout, Hunter steadied Olympiacos with free throws, and soon Agravanis finished a fastbreak to tie 33-33. Dueling triples by Dangubic and Lafayette got the crowd buzzing, but Blazic hit his own from the corner, keeping Zvezda ahead 36-39. Lafayette's lane jumper was answered by 1 of 2 free throws by Marjanovic before Mitrovic kept the triples flowing for a 38-43 Zvezda lead. Matt Lojeski went to the free throw line for Olympiacos to get his first 2 points after six games out due to injury. Mitrovic and Sloukas were perfect at the line, too, but Kalinic hit another shot from the arc as Zvezda took its highest lead since the first quarter, 42-48, after 30 minutes.
FOURTH QUARTER: Reds step up when it counts at finish
Lafayette beat the shot clock with a long-range bomb to open the fourth quarter, but couldn't complete the four-point play at the foul line. Still, when Spanoulis fed Hunter for a layup, the Reds were within 47-48. Again, however, Zvezda protected the lead, as Mitrovic dropped his own layup. Petway came out of nowhere to slam a miss by Spanoulis. Kalinic answered in the paint, but Spanouls scored his own layup and then Sloukas slashed for another as Olympiacos took the lead back, 53-52. Williams came off bench to put Zvezda back in front, then Sloukas served up an alley-oop pass that Petway rammed home. At the other end, though, Kalinic buried a swish from way downtown, so when Sloukas drove for another layup, it was all tied up, 57-57, with under 3 minutes left. After both teams missed chances to go ahead, Spanoulis stepped up to blast a go-ahead three with 1:27 left. A scoreless minute after that ended with Petway doing the same, drilling a corner swish as the shot-clock expired to make it 63-57 with 18 seconds left and send Olympiacos forward to a win that clinched first place in Group D.
Euroleague.net
Referees: RYZHYK, BORYS; PASTUSIAK, PIOTR; ROMANO, DAVID
Olympiacos Piraeus 13 14 15 22
Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade 16 12 20 11
End of Quarter
Olympiacos Piraeus
4 PETWAY, BRENT 27:24 7 2/4 1/4 3 4 7 1 1 1 1 3 6
5 HUNTER, OTHELLO 18:30 6 2/6 2/2 3 2 5 2 1 1 1 10
6 DUNSTON, BRYANT 17:32 4 1/5 2/4 2 4 6 1 1 3 2 3
7 SPANOULIS, VASSILIS 29:54 15 3/6 2/7 3/5 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 8 14
10 SLOUKAS, KOSTAS 24:03 9 3/8 0/1 3/4 1 1 2 5 3 1 3 5 13
16 AGRAVANIS, DIMITRIS 12:36 4 2/3 0/1 1 1 1 2 2
17 MANTZARIS, VANGELIS 23:28 0/3 0/2 4 4 2 2 1 1 3
18 KAVVADAS, VASILEIOS 3:58 2 1/3 1 1 1 1 -1
19 KATSIVELIS, DIMITRIS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
20 LAFAYETTE, OLIVER 18:38 11 1/1 3/5 0/1 1 1 1 2 3 2 7
21 DARDEN, TREMMELL 16:31 4 2/3 2 2 2 2 2 7
24 LOJESKI, MATT 7:26 2 0/1 2/2 1 1 1
Team 1 1 1
Totals 200:00 64 17/40 6/21 12/20 12 21 33 13 11 10 2 4 19 22 66
42.5% 28.6% 60%
Head coach: SFAIROPOULOS, IOANNIS
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade
3 WILLIAMS, MARCUS 27:13 2 1/3 0/5 4 4 4 1 4
4 REBIC, NIKOLA DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 DANGUBIC, NEMANJA 19:04 8 1/4 2/3 1 2 3 1 2 4 1 3
9 MITROVIC, LUKA 23:36 11 3/7 1/3 2/2 3 4 7 1 2 1 1 3 14
10 LAZIC, BRANKO 8:24 3 1/1 1 3 1 3 2 1
11 BLAZIC, JAKA 20:08 5 1/3 1/1 0/2 2 2 1 3 1 3 2 1
12 KALINIC, NIKOLA 24:48 10 2/4 2/2 0/1 3 3 1 2 1 1 2 9
13 MARJANOVIC, BOBAN 29:38 17 7/12 3/6 6 7 13 2 1 1 3 4 25
15 TEJIC, MARKO 11:23 0/1 0/1 1 1 2 3 2 1
22 JENKINS, CHARLES 13:46 0/4 3 -7
24 JOVIC, STEFAN 11:52 0/1 3 3 4 1 2 3 6
33 ZIRBES, MAIK 10:08 3 3/4 1 2 2 3
Team 1 4 5 3 2
Totals 200:00 59 15/38 7/17 8/15 12 30 42 15 5 22 4 2 22 19 58
Head coach: RADONJIC, DEJAN
SFAIROPOULOS, IOANNIS
"The atmoshere was fantastic and all the members of Olympiacos, we feel very proud because we belong to this club. We knew that it would be a very crucial and difficult game because both teams played to get first place in the group. Details were very important tonight and decided the winner. We were nervous in some parts of the match, especially on offense, and there is no doubt that Marjanovic is a special problem for every team. Our defense improved in the second half, as Marjanovic scored only four points, while Marcus Williams, who averaged 12.5 points and 7 assists, tonight he produced only 2 points and 4 assists. We had 11 steals and forced them into 22 turnovers, which is a big deal. The guys understand that defense is the key to win crucial games and it is a credit for each one of them and for the whole team."
RADONJIC, DEJAN
"Congratulations to Olympiacos for their victory and I wish them the best in the future. They are a team with experience and great ambition. I have to mention that we played in a wonderful atmosphere and everybody who took part in the game really enjoyed it. Olympiacos won thanks to their experience and the quality thay have. We played great defense in the first half, but we missed a lot of rebounds and we made many mistakes and wrong decisions. However, we have to be satisfied for the game we played against a great team. We have the youngest team in the Eurolague and we are very happy and proud because we played well and we are in the top 16. Every game is a new experience for us and the Top 16 will be a great school."
SLOUKAS, KOSTAS
"We played against a very tough team which performs great on defense and has a very special player in Marjanovic. But Olympiacos is also a team with the ability to control and win games through defense, which is our weapon. They were well prepared and played a great game, but we forced them into 22 turnovers. We fought for every given possession and this is the most sure path to go far."
PETWAY, BRENT
"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than to be good. I hope we can have this atmosphere every game, when we have this crowd like this at end. We were tired - I know I was - and having the crowd screaming like this really helped me out. I hope we can have this every time."
MARJANOVIC, BOBAN
"Congratulations to the team of Olympiacos for their win, but I want also to congratulate the fans of both teams for the atmosphere they created here. We played a tough, defense-oriented game, especially in the first half, when both teams scored below 30 points. It was a fantastic game that all of us enjoyed a lot."
2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01
REGULAR SEASON TOP 16 PLAYOFFS FINAL FOUR
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9 Round 10
Unics Kazan 73
Zalgiris Kaunas 60
December 12 17:00 CET LIVE FINAL
Anadolu Efes Istanbul 61
Nizhny Novgorod 65
Dinamo Sassari 58
Real Madrid 83
Cedevita Zagreb 71
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 82
Unicaja Malaga 75
CSKA Moscow 76
Limoges CSP 65
ALBA Berlin 71
FC Bayern Munich 95
PGE Turow Zgorzelec 89
Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul 91
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 66
Panathinaikos Athens 64
Neptunas Klaipeda 82
Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 72
Laboral Kutxa Vitoria 93
Valencia Basket 89


text:
Monday, January 08, 2007 View Comments
Let's have faith in society and keep God out of it
By Pamela Bone
Far from a minority group, the non-believers of this world are fed up with the assumption that moral virtue is reliant on the constant influence of religion in contemporary culture
I WAS annoyed to find that all the copies of Sam Harris's Letter to a Christian Nation were sold out (the bookshops have ordered more). According to its publicity machine, the book is a "bold challenge" to the influence religion has on public life in the US.
Notwithstanding that 44 per cent of Americans allegedly believe the second coming of Christ will occur within the next 50 years, it has been on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks.
Another surprise bestseller over the Christmas period was Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion. A range of anti-religion books are soon to be published: Atheist Manifesto by French philosopher Michel Onfray; Against Religion by Melbourne philosopher Tamas Pataki; Have a Nice Doomsday by American writer Nick Guyatt. The one I am most looking forward to is Christopher Hitchens's God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
It may be that the Australians who've bought up all the copies of Harris's book merely want to reinforce their opinions of how stupid Americans are. Then again, it may be that in Australia, as well as in the US, people are looking at the nightly mayhem on the television news, making connections, and wondering how religion can still command the respect it does.
These books are giving courage to the rather large minority of people - even in the US, 12 per cent of the population doesn't believe in God - who have no religion and who have been bluffed and intimidated for too long by the convention that religious beliefs, however harmful or absurd, should not be criticised.
Despite the wishful thinking of commentators such as The Australian's Paul Kelly, religious belief is not growing stronger in Western countries. Yes, worldwide, religion is growing because religious people tend to have many children: children who are then indoctrinated with the beliefs of their parents (some call this child abuse). But in countries where people are encouraged to question faith, the intensity of religious belief has been waning for years. People might express an association with a particular religion, but it doesn't affect the way they live their lives.
That is why in Australia only 40 per cent of couples getting married choose a religious ceremony (of brides born in Britain, only 25 per cent wanted a religious ceremony last year, while of brides born in Lebanon, 82per cent did, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures). Even more telling is that while Christianity regards suicide as a grave sin, opinion polls show that more than 70 per cent of Australians want legislation to allow voluntary euthanasia.
This does not stop religious folk rising in indignation against the "atheist evangelists", as they describe writers such as Dawkins and Harris. Dawkins is as much a fundamentalist as the Islamic extremists, they claim. He is the man who "hates God". This is nonsense, of course. Dawkins is far too sane to hate an imaginary figure (unlike the writer Kingsley Amis, who when asked if he was an atheist is reported to have replied, "Well, yes, but it's more that I hate him"). And none of the above writers has called for believers to be killed. It is also rather unfair, given that Christian evangelism has had such a long and unimpeded run.
I don't claim to speak on behalf of all non-religious people, but I think I can safely say that a lot of us - the one-quarter to one-third of Australians who either believe God does not exist or admit they don't know - are fed up with the assumption that in order to have a good society you have to have religion.
Non-religious people are fed up with all the talk about the emptiness, the barrenness and lack of meaning in "secular society". It may surprise religious people to learn that our lives are not empty. Some people might need to believe in an afterlife in order to find meaning in this one; others don't. Some might need to believe in a creator in order to be awed by the majesty of nature; others don't. Some might believe in something higher than themselves and call it God; others believe in something higher than themselves and call it humanity or nature. It makes no difference to how morally they behave. Everything good in religion can be had without religion.
I don't need to talk about the harm religion does: read the books. But the fact is that the most peaceful, prosperous and healthy countries in the world, as judged by the UN's annual Human Development Reports, are the least religious. These are countries - Australia is one of them - in which religion is not banned or suppressed, but it is also not promoted by the state.
That is why Labor leader Kevin Rudd's comments about the need for religious thinking to be brought into political decision-making should be viewed with dismay. Rudd is, of course, entitled to his beliefs, but it would have been more responsible, when asked about his religion, to insist that it is a private matter. Even John Howard does not wear his religion on his sleeve the way Rudd does. Howard is religious only in the way most conservatives are religious.
Rudd is popular now - a pretty, clever drover's dog would be popular right now - but in the longer term he is at risk of alienating progressives. He has already given us a hint of the direction of his beliefs in his opposition to therapeutic cloning for stem cell research, apparently counting the rights of three-day-old human embryos more important than the rights of children with cancer. The majority of Australians support therapeutic cloning.
Religion is not a reliable guide to morals. It would be better, as the former bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway, argues in Godless Morality (which may be the best book on the subject), to leave God out of it and find good, human reasons for the decisions we make.
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Let's have faith in society and keep God out of it...
Youth Pastor Arrested — Sex Assault On Teens
Pastor must pay taxes or go to jail
Former pastor and youth minister faces sexual assa...
Pastor sentenced to 7 years for molestation
How to congratulate a political opponent?
Jesus spotted on a tree in Florida
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Rick Warren discusses Syrian/American relations wi...
Pat Robertson prophecies 'mass killing'
Tele-evangelist sued for claiming that God healed ...


The question of how falling cats land on their feet has intrigued humans since at least the middle of the nineteenth century. In this playful and eye-opening history, physicist and cat parent Gregory Gbur explores how attempts to understand the cat-righting reflex have provided crucial insights into puzzles in mathematics, geophysics, neuroscience, and human space exploration.
The result is an engaging tumble through physics, physiology, photography, and robotics to uncover, through scientific debate, the secret of the acrobatic performance known as cat-turning, the cat flip, and the cat twist. Readers learn the solution, but also discover that the finer details still inspire heated arguments. As with other cat behavior, the more we investigate, the more surprises we discover.
I'm really excited to share more information going forward! I would like to share the table of contents next, but I want to check with my publisher first to see if that's okay. More to come!
And, of course, more blog posts to come! The past two weeks I was quite busy working through the major editorial comments on the book draft. I'm mostly done with those, so I should have a bit more free time!


text:
Northfork és una població dels Estats Units a l'estat de Virgínia de l'Oest. Segons el cens del 2000 tenia una població de 519 habitants.

Demografia
Segons el cens del 2000, Northfork tenia 519 habitants, 229 habitatges, i 130 famílies. La densitat de població era de 206,6 habitants per km².

Dels 229 habitatges en un 21,8% hi vivien nens de menys de 18 anys, en un 29,3% hi vivien parelles casades, en un 24,9% dones solteres, i en un 42,8% no eren unitats familiars. En el 38,9% dels habitatges hi vivien persones soles el 20,1% de les quals corresponia a persones de 65 anys o més que vivien soles. El nombre mitjà de persones vivint en cada habitatge era de 2,24 i el nombre mitjà de persones que vivien en cada família era de 3,03.

Per edats la població es repartia de la següent manera: un 22,5% tenia menys de 18 anys, un 8,1% entre 18 i 24, un 22% entre 25 i 44, un 23,3% de 45 a 60 i un 24,1% 65 anys o més.

L'edat mediana era de 43 anys. Per cada 100 dones de 18 o més anys hi havia 69,6 homes.

La renda mediana per habitatge era de 16.544 $ i la renda mediana per família de 19.236 $. Els homes tenien una renda mediana de 27.917 $ mentre que les dones 20.781 $. La renda per capita de la població era de 10.001 $. Entorn del 31,3% de les famílies i el 34,4% de la població estaven per davall del llindar de pobresa.

Poblacions més properes
El següent diagrama mostra les poblacions més properes.

Referències

Entitats de població de Virgínia de l'Oest

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I normally don't see Mr.Grumpy on Tuesdays, but as I didn't see him Sunday or yesterday I decided to go to the barn to give him a cuddle and some carrots. He had been playing in the sand, so he was pretty dirty, haha. There is also a little foal born at the barn that I went to check out. She was sleeping so cute beside her mom, made my heart melt! Tomorrow it's finally time to ride again, can't wait.


#Review of Internal and Surprise Audit Reports with Policies, Plans, Procedures, Statutory requirements and Regulations. #Evaluate internal processes and controls, and review Audit Reports with value added recommendations to Management. Desired Candidate Profile: #Liaise with External Auditors to co-ordinate and discuss audit assignments, issues and audit observations. #Follow-up and ensuring implementation of corrective & preventive actions out of audit observations.


A pattern exists where some people have seen their parents get money and material things, by sleeping with others.
It never was about love.
It was always about getting what they wanted, or what they need.
As the child got older, they repeated the pattern.
No matter how someone cared for them, and wanted them to settle down and stop the wrong behavior, they can only see a life that the was passed down to them from the Pattern.
The money. The material things.
Material things that only give them a temporary high. Things that cause them to want more and more, and never be satisfied.
Everything becomes cheap and expendable.
Is there anything of value anymore?


text:
The Complete Collection of Arsène Lupin 10 Books Box Set by Maurice LeBlanc - Fiction - Paperback
WILCO BOOKS
1) Gentleman Burglar
2) The Confessions of Arsène Lupin
3) The Crystal Stopper
4) The Eight Strokes Of The Clock
5) The Golden Triangle The Return of Arsène Lupin
6) The Secret of Sarek
7) The Hollow Needle
8) Arsène Lupin VS Herlock Sholmes
9) Arsène Lupin 813
10) The Teeth Of The Tiger
Gentleman Burglar
Pitted as the Sherlock Holmes of crime, Arsène Lupin is a suave gentleman rogue who is able to change his disguise so artfully that he can fool people almost effortlessly. His elaborate plans and attention to detail add glamour to the masterful thief. This series of short stories, written by Maurice Leblanc in 1907, is a superb introduction to the capers of the fictional Lupin, paving the way for the popular books that bear his name.
The Confessions of Arsène Lupin
Arsène Lupin, the enigmatic gentleman thief, is in the mood to confess! Fathom the mind of this wily figure who hatches the most devious and triumphant schemes, through ten thrilling short stories. Lupin conjures the most artful plots to baffle both the police as well as the rogues, running them in pretty circles. His quick and agile mind often leads him to unravelling situations that confound those in law enforcement. A scoundrel he may be, but Lupin's chivalry and honour have led him to many an adventure in the deliverance of the fairer sex, and in acts of charity and compassion. Arsene Lupin's exploits seem to wear an almost supernatural garb. How does he accomplish them? Is it truly something magical? Or is it merely luck? Or is it the brilliance of an incisive mind with the glitter of steel shavings?
The Crystal Stopper
It all begins with a botched robbery... And Arsene Lupin, the charismatic gentleman burglar, is propelled down the rabbit hole in search of a crystal stopper. Inspired by the Panama Canal Scandal, the gigantic monetary corruption scandal of the 19th century, this absorbing tale is a warren of emotion, exasperation, failure, rage and frustration. Lupin finds himself in the vise-like grip of a mindboggling plot, running against time and luck to save those who are at stake. Pitted against a diabolical villain, Lupin seems precariously perched on a slippery slope towards doom. Will Lupin find a way out of this dangerous maze? Or will this exploit spell the end of this nimble thief and adventurer?
The Eight Strokes Of The Clock
Lurking in the shadows, within reach of every whisper and every riddle, is a mysterious and inscrutable presence! The bold adventurer is on the road once again, seeking to resolve the bewildering machinations of man. On this journey he is not alone, but accompanied by a comely comrade who shares in the excitement, ecstasy and periis
of this hazardous road. It all begins with the eight strokes of a clock, and a roposition! The eight stories that unfold from this moment will keep the reader on edge with their energy, mounting thrills and the many twists and turns. They will also offer the reader
a glimpse into the heart of our perplexing hero. But who is he? Is it Prince Renine? Or is it Arsene Lupin himself, incognito?
The Golden Triangle The Return of Arsène Lupin
Amidst a country preparing for war, a story of bewildering proportions is set to play out. It was around half-past six in the evening, and in the deepening gloom a young lady is discreetly shadowed by a group of crippled soldiers. An act, a moment, that was the beginning of an adventure utterly unsympathetic and lethal. The story develops into a twisted, nail-biting saga of love, hate, revenge, espionage, treason and gold. As the body count rises and the plot thickens, a message is sent out to the ingenious gentleman burglar and the riddle master, Arsène Lupin! Will he come? Will he be in time?
The Secret of Sarek
A blood-curdling tale spun from a medieval prophecy! First published in the year 1919, the book seems to hold within its pages all the dread and horror of the war gone by. The long-buried secret of Sarek, recalled in terrified whispers and hair-raising visions by its inhabitants, comes to life with chilling consequences. It enshrouds the region in pain and fear. Travel a path littered with coffins, splattered with the blood of the victims, rent with the shrieks of the tortured, and wet with the tears of the urvivors. This dark and melancholic narrative cries out for a saviour, a hero... for hope.
Where is Arsène Lupin? Can he not hear the screams?
The Hollow Needle
A secret of Marie Antoinette that lay hidden in the folds of a book for years. A series of craftily planned and executed thefts at a castle. The abduction of Raymonde, a young aristocratic woman. The hidden and fiercely guarded secrets of the treasures
of the kings of France. What ties all these threads together? The gentleman burglar, Arsène Lupin has to deal with not one but two formidable adversaries -- the celebrated detective Holmlock Shears and an incredibly clever schoolboy Isidore
Beautrelet. With double trouble at every turn, will Lupin be able to outwit them? Who among them will discover the secret of the Hollow Needle first? Does Ganimard manage to foil Lupin's plans when he joins hands with the talented schoolboy? Has Isidore taken on more than he should have in his young life? With the action-packed story that has a deep historical anchor, the climax brings a tragedy as gunshots are fired and one bullet finds a victim.
Arsène Lupin VS Herlock Sholmes
Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes is the second book in the Arsène Lupin stories written by Maurice Leblanc. The battle of wits between Lupin and the celebrated English detective Herlock Sholmes is closely, followed by all of France. In a game of one-upmanship that keeps the readers engaged in two adventures, until the last minute it is a game that either adversary could win. Is the Lady with distinctive blonde hair a killer? Who does she work for? Has Lupin finally met his match in Herlock?
Arsène Lupin 813
The intriguing title —813-is a cryptic clue in a clock that lies at the heart of a political mystery. Arsene Lupin finds himself tangled-up in this web during a routine theft. The death of his victim, a South African billionaire — Rudolf Kesselbach — makes him the number one suspect for the murder. Will Lupin be able to prove his innocence to M. Lenormand? Is L.M. the real murderer? Were diamonds the real reason for Kesselbach's murder? Public outrage and a cat and mouse game between the police
and the villains keeps the general populace entertained. A series of murders, suicides and intrigues, where L.M. seems to always be a few steps ahead of Lupin makes the gentleman burglar doubt his own abilities. Has he finally met his match?
The Teeth Of The Tiger
"Tonight!" he moaned, believing that he was making himself heard and that he was in the secretary's room. "Tonight! The job is fixed for tonight! You'll see ... The mark of the teeth! ... It's awful! ... Oh, the pain I'm in! ... It's the poison! Save me! Help!" The voice died away. He repeated several times, as though in a nightmare: "The teeth! The teeth! They're closing!" An astonishing inheritance and a series of uncanny murders... Like puppets on a string, the oblivious victims are drawn into a whirlwind of treacherous plots and shadowy players. The conspiracy has the police by the throat, as suspects fall with unnatural accuracy. Will the murk be lifted before the teeth close in with mechanical precision, yet again?


The attorneys at Batson Nolan have represented numerous clients implicated on both sides of dog bite litigation. Regardless of whether you are a dog owner seeking a zealous and aggressive defense attorney, or a dog bite victim looking to obtain the damages you are legally entitled to in order to aid your recovery process, our Clarksville dog bite attorneys offer personalized and effective legal counsel to ensure your rights and interests are fully protected at each stage of your case.
Dog bites pose a frequent and serious health concern in today's society and are the basis for a significant number of civil suits every year. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Center for Disease Control, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, half of which are usually children, and 800,000 of which are serious enough to require medical attention. In 2017 dog bites accounted for one-third of all homeowners' liability insurance claims, costing in excess of $700 million with an average payout in excess of $35,000.
Just like the rest of the nation, dog bites are a serious issue in Tennessee and are a frequent source of civil liability claims in Tennessee Courts. So much so, in fact, that the Tennessee legislature passed a law for the specific purpose of determining civil liability for injuries caused by dogs.
Generally, the statute requires dog owners to keep their animal under reasonable control at all time, which includes keeping the animal from running at large. Owners who fail in those duties can find themselves liable for any damages suffered by a person who is injured by the animal in either (1) a public place, or (2) while lawfully on private property.
The injury occurred as a result of the injured person provoking or harassing the dog.
Dog bite litigation is a complex area of law that involves far more than the general overview above and includes a host of legal principles, such as negligence, intentional tort, insurance liability, premises liability, property ownership and others. The complexity of this area of litigation makes proper legal representation necessary for both victims seeking compensation for their injuries, as well as for pet owners whose dog bite someone.
Beloved dogs can also double as hazardous watchdogs and attack individuals they perceive as threats. The legal duty for dog owners is to safeguard against unreasonable harm. This entails a bona fide effort to offer protection to unsupervised minors, and other invitees to the property, from potential dog bites. Premises liability statutes pertain to injuries suffered due to known dangers on a property owner's property and can be very fact-specific and nuanced. Our Clarksville dog bite attorneys can assist you in fully understanding these laws, how they apply to your case, and advise you regarding the legal options available to you.
Regardless of which side you find yourself on, the experienced Clarksville dog bite lawyers at Batson Nolan are prepared to guide you through your dog bite case and provide the excellent representation you need. As the oldest law office in the State of Tennessee, the litigators at Batson Nolan know exactly how to maximize your potential recovery through quality, aggressive litigation. Call us today.


text:
When I decided to start going to rehearsals for I Can Dream Theatre's production of "The Tale Of Macbeth(ish)", I hadn't set out to make a documentary at that time. I remember randomly asking if anyone had ever come to their rehearsals and just filmed stuff for their own posterity. I was told that yes someone had come before, but it never really went anywhere. So I took it upon myself to go and perhaps put together some fun videos for Facebook based on whatever footage I was recording.
In fact, last January when I had gone to their first rehearsal and shot a fair amount of footage, I had the idea to make a few "mini documentaries" over the course of 2015 with a bigger documentary once the show was done in November. Everyone agreed. I was excited.
I actually finished one mini doc and I showed it to the team. Everyone really enjoyed it. I was excited. I went home after the screening really buzzed by the whole thing.
And then I woke up the next morning deciding that I was going to stop the entire idea.
Because it occurred to me that morning what could be done with this. There was something bigger than Facebook posts at play here. I think my little epiphany moment was that perhaps there was a greater story to be told about this organization, this group, the members.
So I jettisoned the entire idea of "the mini doc" and focused on a larger full length one.
I went to a rehearsal once a month from January until October (minus the summer months) and I just filmed what was going on, occasionally speaking to cast members one on one and asking them why they loved being in the group.
I sat down with Ada, Michele and Trish and had a little question and answer period with each of them. Their answers to my questions were both hilarious and honest.
But it's about the cast. It's always about the cast.
What I hope to get with my film is the palpable joy that its members have with they're all together. It's not only just about rehearsing, but about their camaraderie as friends, as those that truly care and enjoy being around each other.
And it was fascinating to witness the evolution first hand. From those first beginning rehearsals straight through until the nights before a rapturous audience at Oscar Peterson Concert Hall. So much work goes into putting on a show like this.
I'm glad there was a camera lens to capture it this time around.
Evenings these days, you'll find me in my home editing and editing and editing this story together with my goal of effectively telling the I Can Dream Theatre tale in a way that touches you on a different level than when you go to see one of their productions.
My goal as a creative person is to tell good stories.
I look forward to sharing this one with all of you.
I'm makin' a movie.
I think I've wanted to make a movie ever since I was 6 years old.
My love for film probably goes back that far – it's a love rooted in so much of myself. It's a pure, organic, unfettered by nothing kind of love that either some people just get, or some people think it's absolutely insane. It's about the same way I feel about music. The connection I feel between either one of these forms is indescribable, almost religious, almost sacred.
I studied Film, I ate Film, I completely immersed myself in all kinds of filmic experiences. I never ever thought that I would make one in the end because I never felt like I had something with weight to say. I worked on film sets and I saw the work and the sweat and the minutae of details that go into creating a film. It's a helluva lot of work that requires an almost animalistic drive and devotion that I knew I couldn't cut it. It made me inspired, and yet it made me nervous. And that was ok.
I'm not gonna lie though: whenever a life situation happens to me, in my mind, I feel like sometimes I look through the moment through the lens of a film projector. I know – its weird. Whatever.
So, 20 years later, after studying about film and writing about it I find myself in the surprising shoes of making a movie. A documentary. About a theatre group made up of adults with special needs. It's a group (I Can Dream Theatre) that is pretty near and dear to my heart. It's funny when you don't look for something, sometimes the opportunity just comes to you.
After shooting footage of the group in rehearsal for the better part of a year, and then capturing their performance unveiled to a rapturous audience, I am now weaving together the story of this group so that more people can understand the great work that is being done.
It's been shown to the public in the Spring. April 28th to be exact.
I'm excited, nervous, nauseous and in awe all at the same time.
For the next couple of blog entries, I'm going to write about the process of putting the film together leading up to the big reveal in April.
Hope you enjoy the read!
« Jun Mar »


The Federal Bureau of Investigation today joined the investigation of the death of a Nashville man who had cyanide in his body. A capsule of Extra-Strength Tylenol was found on the floor beneath his bed.
The Nashville medical examiner, Dr. Charles Harlan, said the level of cyanide found in the remains of the victim, 32-year-old Timothy R. Green, a salesman and Jehovah's Witness preacher, was 20 times the lethal dose. But Dr. Harlan stopped short of saying the poison came from the Tylenol capsule.
The medical examiner said he was not willing to rule on the manner of death, saying it could have been a suicide or a homicide.
Mr. Green's death was originally attributed to natural causes after his body was discovered Sunday by friends in his small rented house in west Nashville. The medical examiner said today he had been dead four to five days.
''At this time, we have not determined where the cyanide came from,'' Dr. Harlan said. But he said that the Tylenol bottle ''smelled of cyanide, and there were traces of material that appeared to be cyanide'' in the lone remaining capsule.
Dr. Harlan said it was not yet known what kind of cyanide killed Mr. Green.
A spokesman for the Food and Drug Adminstration said it had not had an opporutunity to examine the capsule because the Nashville authorities were holding it for their own investigation. The local authorities indicated it would be handed over later.
The State Health Department ban was aimed at any bottles of Tylenol capsules that might have remained on store shelves after the manufacturer of Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson, ordered their withdrawal earlier this month.
Mr. Green, who moved to Nasvhille from Minnesota four years ago, frequently complained of ill health and had undergone nasal surgery just two weeks ago to correct a breathing problem. He told one friend that he still had difficulty breathing and had been spitting up blood.
He had left work early on Jan. 18, complaining of illness. He was discovered alone in his bed on Sunday by friends who entered his home to check on him.
Both the Nashville police and an official of the Federal Food and Drug Administration here said they had questioned product tampering as a possible cause of death, as there was only one capsule remaining in the bottle, suggesting the possibility that Mr. Green had ingested all of the others before coming upon those with poison.
''The probability that someone could go through 49 of 50, or 99 of 100 capsules, in a bottle before coming to one that was poisoned are infinitesimal,'' said Hayward E. Mayfield, the district director for the Federal drug agency here.
Peter Laves, who was Mr. Green's landlord and lives in an adjoining house, found Mr. Green when he and Ricky Boles, another friend of Mr. Green, entered the house. Mr. Laves said there was blood on the bed sheets and pillow and Mr. Green's face.
Mr. Laves and Mr. Green were both active in the West Nashville Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Mr. Laves said Mr. Green preached about 60 hours a month and also sold jewelry to supplement his income.
Mr. Laves described Mr. Green as a friendly, outgoing man who had been plagued by poor health, which had involved at least two operations to help his breathing.


text:
DOES INTERNET MUSIC MEAN THE END OF CD?
Wilfredo Fernandez
pioneered music
Veteran pop star David Bowie has become the first major name to launch an album on the Internet. The singer's 23rd album "Hours" became available on the Internet in the autumn of 1999.
American users could download and keep their own copy. Because of copyright laws, his British fans were not allowed to save the 10 tracks on their computers. Even so, fans were able to listen to all the songs before the CD was available in shops. By visiting a special web-ring (linked Internet sites) fans could hear a song at each site.
Bowie has been a keen supporter of Internet music releases for a long time. Two years ago his drum and bass single Telling Lies was only available on the Web. "I hope that this small step will lead to greater steps by me and others," said Bowie at the time. He hoped it would give fans "greater musical choice and easier access to the music they enjoy."
The 60-year-old star thinks that his pioneering project will encourage others in the music industry to explore the potential of the Web. Record companies have been wary of using the Internet to distribute music. They fear that illegal copying will damage their profits. However the US release of "Hours" used a new safe computer system. This ensured that once a customer paid for an internet version of the album no duplicate copies could be made from it.
Does this mean the end of the CD? Well, not just yet. Even "Hours" was released onto CD. But the day will come when a major figure like Bowie releases an entire album only onto the internet. On that day the CD will move a step closer to joining its vinyl ancestor, the LP.
first major name to launch: first most important name to offer (primer nombre relevante en lanzar)
available: obtainable and accessible (accesible, disponible)
were not allowed: were not permitted (no se. les permitía)
to save: to keep up and reserve for personal use (guardar)
tracks: selections of music from a recording or a compact disc (pistas de audio)
even so: however (no obstante ello)
were able to listen: could listen (podían, pudieron escuchar)
keen supporter: powerful admirer or contributor (defensor incondicional)
pioneering: innovating (innovador, pionero)
will encourage: will inspire confidence on (alentará a)
wary: distrustful, prudent (prudentes)
they fear that: they are afraid of (temen que)
will damage their profits: will ruin their business (les arruine el negocio)
vinyl ancestor: vinyl ascendant (su predecesor de vinilo)


Sunset Over Blue Water is a fresh new scoring of the famous hymn tune It is Well With My Soul. The simple melody combined with the powerful, heart-wrenching lyrics, have made this hymn popular around the world. The lyrics are about remaining positive even when faced with great personal loss and sadness. This version is positive throughout and was inspired by a picture taken aboard a cruise ship of a beautiful sunset over the ocean. This work features some solo opportunities in flute, clarinet, horn, alto saxophone and trumpet. It builds to a strong forte verse before fading away to a quiet peaceful resolution.


text:
Using an iPhone 4 with T-Mobile Just Got Much Easier
Ed Hardy - July 22, 2011
A surprising number of T-Mobile subscribers use an iPhone, even though the carrier doesn't offer this device. But at least T-Mobile made this a bit easier today, as it has[...]
Samsung Galaxy S II Review
The Samsung Galaxy S II will come with a 4.3-inch touchscreen and dual-core processor, but will still manage to be very slim. Dragan Petric brings us a review of this[...]
Apple iPhone 4S Review: The Best Gets Better
Louie Tran - October 21, 2011
Apple's fifth-generation smartphone isn't what many people were expecting - instead of a re-designed model, the iPhone 4S is a speed-bumped version of last year's offering. How does this new[...]
How to Increase the Battery Life of Apple's iPhone 4S
Ed Hardy - November 3, 2011
Many of those with an iPhone 4S have complaints about the battery life. Apple has acknowledged these problems, and is working to fix them. In the meantime, users of this[...]
Samsung Galaxy Nexus for AT&T, T-Mobile Can Now Be Pre-Ordered
Ed Hardy - November 26, 2011
Verizon has yet to release its version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, but some lucky AT&T and T-Mobile customers already have this smartphone, courtesey of the online retailer eXpansys. The[...]
Apple iPhone 5: What the Rumors Say [UPDATED]
Ed Hardy - January 29, 2011
Saying that Apple is going to release an updated version of its wildly popular smartphone this summer is a safe bet -- predicting what the specifications will be is much[...]
Motorola Droid RAZR Review: Super Slim, Super Fast
Adama D. Brown - November 30, 2011
The Motorola Droid RAZR is Verizon's latest 4G LTE flagship, sporting an ultra-slim design, large Super AMOLED screen and Android OS. At $300 with a new contract, is its razor-thin[...]
Samsung Infuse 4G Review: Smartphone or Mini-Tablet?
Adama D. Brown - June 16, 2011
With its 4.5-inch display, the Samsung Infuse 4G from AT&T skirts the line between smartphone and mini-tablet. However you classify it, this Android smartphone is packed with features, like 18GB+[...]
BlackBerry Bold 9930 Review: The Best BlackBerry Yet
Grant Hatchimonji - September 1, 2011
The new BlackBerry OS 7 is here in the form of the BlackBerry Bold 9930. Is RIM showing us something new and different, or are you better off waiting for[...]
Samsung Nexus S Review
Jen Edwards - January 31, 2011
The Samsung Nexus S is the first smartphone to run Google's Android OS 2.3, also known as Gingerbread. Reviewer Jen Edwards says this cutting-edge device has a beautiful 4-inch contour[...]
HTC ThunderBolt with Verizon 4G Can Now Be Pre-ordered
Ed Hardy - February 6, 2011
The hotly-anticipated HTC ThunderBolt can now be pre-ordered exclusively from the retailer Best Buy. This high-end Android OS model is going to be Verizon's first smartphone with support for its[...]
Motorola Droid RAZR Hands-On Preview: Slim but Powerful
Jamison Cush - October 18, 2011
The Motorola RAZR was one of the most popular feature phones of all time due to its thin and slick design. Now the RAZR is back as perhaps the thinnest[...]
Google Android OS 4.0 Review: Find Out What's New and Different
Dragan Petric - December 23, 2011
The latest version of Google's mobile operating system is Android OS 4.0 (aka "Ice Cream Sandwich"). This debuted recently on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, but will eventually be running on[...]
Samsung Galaxy S 4G Review
Jen Edwards - March 13, 2011
The Samsung Galaxy S 4G is the first smartphone to fully support T-Mobile's HSPA+ network, and sports a 4-inch touchscreen. Jen Edwards bring us an in-depth review of this Android[...]
HTC Inspire 4G Review
Jen Edwards - February 20, 2011
AT&T's latest smartphone is the HTC Inspire 4G, which has a high-end set of specifications: a 4.3-inch display, Android OS 2.2, an 8 megapixel camera, and mobile hotspot software. Jen[...]
Samsung Galaxy S II vs. Samsung Epic 4G Touch: Sprint and T-Mobile Go Head-to-Head
Jen Edwards - November 5, 2011
Trying to decide between T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II and Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G Touch? These two are very similar, but not identical, and this comparison should help.
HTC Droid Incredible 2 Review
Jen Edwards - May 17, 2011
The HTC Droid Incredible 2 isn't the most advanced smartphone on the market, but it still has a lot to offer, like a 4-inch screen and an 8-megapixel camera. But[...]
BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review: No Keyboard? No Problem
Grant Hatchimonji - September 28, 2011
With the BlackBerry Torch 9850, RIM is reaching out to smartphone buyers who prefer large screens instead of physical keyboards. Grant Hatchimonji reviews this mid-range model, which is offered by[...]
HTC ThunderBolt Hands-on Preview
Ed Hardy - January 9, 2011
The HTC ThunderBolt is going to be one of the world's first LTE-equipped smartphones, and is poised to become Verizon's new flagship model. HTC was demonstrating this upcoming device at[...]
Samsung Epic 4G Touch Review: Has It All
Jen Edwards - October 3, 2011
The Samsung Epic 4G Touch is one of the most advanced smartphones available from Sprint. Jen Edwards brings us a review of this device, which is a version of the[...]