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New Zealand|Crime
Christchurch mosque shootings: Accused will be among the first to read Royal Commission's report
Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue in Christchurch, where a gunman walked in and opened fire on March 15. File photo / Mike Scott
RNZ
By Katie Scotcher of RNZ
The man accused of the Christchurch mosque shootings will be one of the first to see draft sections of the report compiled by the royal commission investigating the attacks.
As well as reading parts of the draft report, Brenton Tarrant will also have the opportunity to respond before the final copy is handed to the Governor-General at the end of April.
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The commission says it's a legal obligation, but a Muslim community leader fears it gives the accused too much power.
Late last year, the government announced it was giving the Royal Commission into the Christchurch mosque shootings more time to complete its investigation. It followed a meeting in August between the two commissioners and the minister responsible for the high-level inquiry, Tracey Martin.
Documents obtained by RNZ show at that meeting, the commissioners asked for an extension so relevant agencies, as well as the accused gunman and his lawyers, could look over the draft report.
Dr Mustafa Farouk says showing the report to the accused man gives him some power. File photo / Mark Mitchell
Mustafa Farouk, the president of the Federation of Islamic Associations, questions why Brenton Tarrant should see it before the public.
"The victims should have a say first, should look at the report first and see what's in the report. If his lawyer has a look at the report I can understand, but for him to look at the report and vet it is just giving him too much power."
The inquiry is investigating what could or should have been done to prevent the attacks, as well as examining the role of New Zealand's security agencies. It is also looking at the accused gunman and his activities before 15 March.
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Criminal Barrister Jonathan Eaton QC said by law, the commission must inform the accused of the sections of its report that directly relate to him.
"What the obligation of the Royal Commission is is to ensure with whatever process they deem to be appropriate for the circumstances, to make sure he has the opportunity to comment on any findings that are adverse to him. So the extent to which there are findings adverse to any state agencies, I wouldn't have thought that any of that material will be going to him. It'll be very focussed."
University of Waikato law professor Al Gillespie said the inquiry would fail to do its job if it did not speak to the Australian national.
"It's about how he came here, it's about what he was doing here ... it's about his use of social media and it's about the communities he interacted with.
"To answer that second part of the terms of reference you must talk to that man."
Prof Gillespie expects the accused's involvement with the commission will be carefully handled.
"The evidence will be gathered and it will be carefully edited to make sure it is only relevant to the questions that are being asked, that they will not give him a platform.
"It's got to be factual and those facts have got to relate directly to the state agencies with whether they should have done something more, what they could've known and any gaps that they may have found along the way."
In a statement, the commission said no-one, including the accused, should expect to see a full draft of the report, or even extracts from it.
By law, it must notify anyone who is adversely affected by the report findings and allow them to give feedback, it said.
"The natural justice process is designed to put a person on notice that an inquiry has formed adverse views on that person, or is likely to include adverse findings. It gives that person an opportunity to respond. It is not a veto on what the Royal Commission can say (or recommend) in its report.
"To the extent that the Royal Commission's report may contain adverse findings about the accused, we will follow the process required by the Inquiries Act."
The spokesperson said only persons or organisations with appropriate government approved security clearances will be provided with any information that may be classified.
They said it has received requests from the Muslim community to see the report in draft, but due to its sensitive nature, it is unlikely those requests will be accommodated.
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Estadio Victoria - meksykański stadion usytuowany w mieście Aguascalientes, w stanie Aguascalientes. Został otworzony w 2003 roku i może pomieścić 25,000 kibiców. Stadion jest wielofunkcyjny, ale najczęściej używany jest podczas meczów piłki nożnej i pełni funkcje domowego stadionu Necaxy. Wcześniej drużyna ta dzieliła stadion Azteca razem ze stołeczną Américą. Estadio Victoria nosi nazwę popularnego piwa, warzonego przez browar Grupo Modelo, który jest właścicielem nazwy stadionu. Między innymi na tym właśnie stadionie zostaną rozegrane mecze Mistrzostw Świata U-17 2011 w Meksyku.

Stadiony piłkarskie w Meksyku

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Frugal Fortunes
Income & Investing
Market News & Research
You're Living Better than America's Richest Man
Brian Kehm March 31, 2020
The title of America's richest person doesn't go to Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. Instead, it goes to the late John D. Rockefeller…
About a century ago, Rockefeller was the wealthiest American to ever live. Yet, he would have likely traded his fortune for the technologies and opportunities that the average person has today. So, let's look at some powerful advancements and trends. Next time you think you've got it rough, you can use recent history to help put things in perspective.
This message I'm sharing today is powerful and many people will benefit from hearing it. We unfortunately live in a world where most news and media sources paint a negative picture of our world. But in reality, by almost all measures, our lives have improved and are continuing to improve. With the research I'm about to share, it's hard not to be more optimistic…
Why You're Living Better Than America's Richest Man…
There's still food scarcity in many parts of the world, but we've come a long way. In America, food stamps, food shelters and other programs give people who can't provide for themselves – or choose not to – more than enough to survive. In America, obesity is now running rampant among the poor. Even though, there's often access to healthier food that costs less (one of my 30 Frugal Living Tips).
This is thanks to improved agriculture and the invention of cheap plastics, refrigeration and better supply chains. One luxury we all take for granted is access to fresh fruit from around the world. Bananas from Ecuador. Avocados from Mexico. And oranges from Florida year-round.
Rockefeller might have been able to order some fresh fruit from different countries… but the options were much more limited and would have cost an arm and a leg.
Around the World in 80 Days was first published in 1872. In the story, the main character attempts to travel around the world in 80 days. That's based on a £20,000 wager or in today's terms, over £2 million. And as good stories go, winning the wager was a close call.
This is a great example that shows how far we've come. Over a century ago, traveling was much slower moving and cost a fortune. On top of that, comfort and safety were lacking. Some places we can access today weren't even an option back then.
Thanks to modern marvels – that only continue to get better – people can now travel around the world in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. For a few thousand dollars and in less time than a week, you could travel around the world. If planned well, that could even give you time for longer layovers to explore.
In 1902, an American inventor built the first electrical air conditioning unit. It then took another 50 years before home unit sales really took off. If you live through warm summers, I'm sure you appreciate cooling innovation. It also spurred population growth in Florida and other Sun Belt states by making it a little more comfortable.
Another overlooked luxury we have today is plumbing and showers. In 1940, almost half of houses in the U.S. didn't have piped hot water, flush toilets, or a bathtub or shower. As a result, these amenities were often seen as status symbols. Fast forward to today and now the majority of people living below the poverty line in the U.S. have these amenities in their homes.
Plumbing, cooling, heating and other technologies have made housing cheaper, safer, and more comfortable. We've got it much better than our grandparents but we rarely think twice about these great inventions that have improved all of our lives.
Life expectancy in the U.S. has climbed from 47 years in 1900 to about 80 years today. That's a 70% increase in only a few generations. And it's thanks to a wide range of health research and medical innovation. So, let's look back 150 years to see how far we've come.
In the 19th century germ theory was just an obscure idea. Doctors and surgeons didn't wash their hands between patients. As a result, infections spread and led to millions of preventable deaths. Then not long after, we started understanding bacteria. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 and it was the first antibiotic. That discovery along with other inventions such as the x-ray have helped prevent deaths and improve our lives.
Jumping back to current day, gene sequencing and editing, surgery robots, artificial intelligence, and other breakthroughs are continuing to improve longevity. Also, an important piece to our improved longevity is the quality of life. Anesthesia and other pain prevention and management tools have improved as well. Also, how we spend our extra days is improving with access to better education and entertainment…
Gutenberg invented the printing press almost 500 years before Rockefeller's heyday. This led to sharing information on a scale that the world had never seen before. Fast forward a few hundred years and public libraries started to pop up. Most sources claim that Boston provided the first public library in the early 1700s.
Around that time, public schools also started to appear. People were becoming more educated. Now, jump forward to the last century. Most of our grandparents had access to public schools and libraries. Although, even their education experience was a big difference compared to our ability to learn today. If they wanted to research a certain topic, they'd have to trek to the nearest library. If the library didn't have it, they'd have to give up or continue on to the next.
Today, the internet has improved our ability to learn by leaps and bounds. We have answers to millions of questions at the tips of our fingers. Treating ailments, finding recipes, checking the weather, etc. And finding and sharing information continues to improve each year.
For entertainment, Rockefeller could have had company over, gone to plays and sporting events, or read books. And towards the end of his life, he could also have bought a gramophone for music. The invention of television was also in its infancy. But overall, Rockefeller didn't have access to the vast entertainment tools and libraries we have today.
At low-to-no cost, you can stream millions of entertaining songs and videos online. And the quality is starting to become indistinguishable from real life. With Google Maps, you can also explore the world from the comfort of your home. On top of that, video games are a favorite pastime for nearly half a billion people around the world.
Now, some people will argue this entertainment isn't as good. But here's my response… you can still have company over, go to plays and sporting events, or read books. Though, there's a big difference today. You can do all of these things in more convenient ways than in the past. But still, most people opt for other enjoyable entertainment that has popped up over the last few decades.
In 1920, women gained the freedom to vote in the U.S. That's thanks to the suffrage movement and the 19th Amendment. Since, women's rights have come a long way. Gender equality in the work world and elsewhere still isn't perfect but it continues to get better.
When it comes to race and other factors, there's been big improvements as well. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Since then, we've come a long way. For proof, Americans elected Barack Obama for two presidential terms.
Now unfortunately, there's still discrimination today but I'm optimistic that things will continue to improve. As the general public continues to become better educated, they become more tolerant of different cultures and beliefs.
One underlying theme in all of the following categories is improving wealth. People measure wealth in many ways but today, we can exchange our time and efforts for more than any point in the past. For example, in 1960 about 17% of the average American's disposable income went towards food. Today, it's dropped just below 10%. And it would even drop a little further if eating out didn't become as popular.
On top of this, there's a much bigger wealth safety net today. By signing the Social Security Act in 1935, Roosevelt was the first president to advocate federal help for the elderly. The Act was also intended to help Americans through poverty and unemployment. Now fast forward to today… Social Security is much broader and the government has created over 80 means-tested welfare programs. On top of this, there might soon be a Universal Basic Income. Click that link to see some powerful trends leading to a new economic system.
People today can survive completely off of government assistance. It's not a luxurious lifestyle but that's a luxury our ancestors didn't have.
More Problems and Progress Ahead
With the research I've shared, I hope you can walk away with a more optimistic view of our world. Progress is a bit bumpy in the short-term. There are setbacks. But overall, our lives are continuing to improve. And keep in mind that progress tends to disappoint in the short-run and surprises us in the long-run.
There are no longer easy problems to solve. We've already solved them and with new progress comes more problems. But once again, I'm optimistic that we'll find solutions. There will always be doubters, necessarily, even educated naysayers. But with history as a guide and enough time, they're proven wrong again and again.
In 1968 a Stanford professor published his book, The Population Bomb. He predicted worldwide famine in the 1970s and 1980s due to overpopulation. But to all of our benefit, that didn't happen. We developed better plants and agricultural systems to feed the growing population.
This professor and so many others undervalue the potential of human innovation. There are a lot of serious problems today such as global warming. Although, I'm optimistic that we'll find solutions. Our world has more minds – more intelligent minds – to solve new problems.
Now, I want to leave you with one final thought. As an investor – not a short-term speculator – I have to be optimistic about the future. Otherwise, what would be the point of investing for the future?
Invest mindfully,
Brian Kehm
Jerry King April 20, 2020
Brian Kehm April 21, 2020
Can you expand on that? What don't you understand?
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Home » Multicolored bar codes could store three times the data as black and white
Multicolored bar codes could store three times the data as black and white
Ben Ames
Researchers with the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM) say they are drafting standards for a type of two-dimensional ba rcode that can store up to three times as much data as conventional bar codes by encoding data in a colorful matrix of dots instead of a typical black and white pattern.
The design is called JAB-Code, a tongue-in-cheek acronym for "Just-Another-Bar-Code," but supporters say it could have a big impact on applications such as embedding identity documents with unique biometric information like fingerprints or iris scans.
Current barcode standards used on documents such as birth certificates, graduation certificates, and visas have the storage capacity to record only basic identity data, requiring users to go online to verify them, according to Sprague Ackley, a fellow with Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions and the chairman of AIM's Working Group One (WG 1) standards body.
However, a document printed with a JAB-Code pattern can hold about 300 bytes of data, roughly three times as much as conventional, black and white, 2-D bar codes, Ackley said in a webcast presentation released July 12 by AIM. That greater storage capacity could allow document holders to skip the verification step and immediately confirm that they are the true holders of their paperwork.
Researchers in the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) field have been investigating versions of polychrome—or multicolored—bar codes since the 1960s, leading up to the most recent version, known as the Ultracode standard,Ackley said in the webcast.
Recent work done by German research organization the Fraunhofer Institutehas taken that concept a step further, defining JAB-Code as a pattern that can deploy many colors—four, eight, 16, or more—and permit a flexible format for its shape, Ackley said. A JAB-Code bar code can be printed in the shape of any combination of rectangles, such as a rectangle, a square, or a geometric U-shape.
Another trend that has helped JAB-Codes gain traction in recent years is the widespread use of consumer smartphones that contain the digital color cameras needed to read a multicolored code, Ackley said. A conventional barcode scanner records data only in black and white, he said.
The new codes' need for specialized equipment—such as color printers and color scanners—may restrict their applications in logistics, Ackley said in an email. "I cannot predict how the scanner market will react to this symbology," he said. "However, I can note that no color symbology has reached wide adoption in the past."
Because of that hurdle, JAB-Code will probably be adopted first in applications where companies are starting from scratch or were already planning a technology refresh, he said. One exception to that rule may be applications where government agencies promote or even require JAB-Code because of its utility in the proposed use on identity documents, he said.
Logistics technology provider Zebra Technologies Corp., a vendor of rugged mobile handheld devices for barcode scanning and other applications, agrees. "There are some significant demands that reading color bar codes places on the scanner design and it is yet to be determined whether a potential increase in data density is worthwhile," Chris Brock, Zebra's senior director for advanced development, said in an email.
One reason is that color image sensors require brighter light to accurately read codes than equivalent monochrome sensors do, stretching their ability to manage heat generation and power consumption, Brock said.
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Ben Ames is Editor at Large and a Senior Editor at Supply Chain Quarterly?s sister publication, DC Velocity.
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Craig Baldwin is an American experimental filmmaker. He uses "found" footage from the fringes of popular consciousness as well as images from the mass media to undermine and transform the traditional documentary, infusing it with the energy of high-speed montage and a provocative commentary that targets subjects from intellectual property rights to rampant consumerism. He personally considers his work to be "underground" rather than "experimental" or 'avant-garde'. Whereas the avant -garde is primarily concerned with formal exercise and "experimental" implies some experiment (i.e. that something new is being tried for the purpose of determining whether or not it can expand the limits of Cinematic language)"underground" would encompass not only formal plasticity but a political dimension; that of an oppositional subculture.
As such Craig Badwin's films have formal concerns as well as some kind of political commentary, usually concerning the exploitation of countries and people under imperialism, capitalist or otherwise. Even when he is inventing the oppression it is either a metaphor for a real -world situation or it is combined with verifiable history . The science fiction and the fact are intertwined.
Baldwin's work is most easy categorized by his use of recontextualized film elements primarily drawn from his vast library of "ephemeral films " - educational and industrial films chiefly made in between 1945 and 1975 . These along with a healthy dose of science fiction and period dramas , comprise the pool from which Baldwin draws.
16 mm maker / curator Craig Baldwin from OTHER CINEMA joins the 2017 Recombinant Fest with an Idiosyncratic, mostly 3D live opening set of 16mm expanded cinema, hand-scratching his way through a double-projector program entitled Nth Dimension.


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Georgia's GOP secretary of state to Trump: 'What you're saying is not true'
By Ryan Nobles, CNN
Updated 3:34 PM EST, Sun January 3, 2021
WaPo: In call, Trump demands Georgia officials 'find' votes to tilt election
ATLANTA CNN —
Just days before the crucial Georgia runoffs that will determine control of the US Senate, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger delivered a strong message to Donald Trump as the President persists in attacking the Peach State's electoral process and the Republican leaders in charge of administering the system.
"Respectfully, President Trump: What you're saying is not true. The truth will come out," Raffensperger tweeted.
Raffensperger's comment was in response to a tweet Sunday morning by the President, in which Trump said he spoke to Raffensperger on the phone in an attempt to convince Raffensperger to look into unfounded conspiracy theories about the vote in November. According to Trump, Raffensperger refused to do so.
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"I spoke to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger yesterday about Fulton County and voter fraud in Georgia. He was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the 'ballots under table' scam, ballot destruction, out of state 'voters,' dead voters, and more. He has no clue!" Trump wrote.
The Secretary of State's office told CNN that Raffensperger would have no additional comment on the conversation.
According to audio of the call, obtained by The Washington Post, Trump asked Raffensperger to "find" the votes necessary to alter the results in Georgia.
"So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state," Trump said.
Raffensperger and his general counsel repeatedly disputed the President's perception of the situation in Georgia and insisted that the results were fair and that he had lost, but Trump persisted.
"There's no way I lost Georgia. There's no way. We won by hundreds of thousands of votes," he claimed.
Raffensperger, a Republican and a Trump supporter, has consistently turned back Trump's claims of voter fraud in Georgia. He has overseen three different recounts of the vote and conducted several other reviews of the process. He recently tasked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with conducting an audit of the signature match system in Cobb County that determined the system was 99.9% accurate and revealed no evidence of fraud.
Raffensperger and the state's GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, another target of Trump's ire, have repeatedly begged the President to shift his focus from the November results to the runoff.
"We just have to accept the facts of what happened in the November election," Raffensperger told Fox News on Saturday. "I'm not happy with it and many conservatives aren't either but at the end of the day we want to make sure that we have a fair, honest election coming up Tuesday and that's what we'll fight for."
Trump travels to Georgia Monday for one final rally in support of Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Republicans are anxious that the President may spend more time complaining about the November election than he will encouraging his supporters to get out and vote for the GOP ticket.
This story has been updated with additional developments Sunday.


I had three beads sitting around that I hadn't used very much, so decided to try to make a bracelet using them. The first one is a retired bead by Trollbeads that I bought at the concept store we stopped at in Ohio on the way to the Bead Bash. It caught my eye as something that might go well with Soul of Sunshine and I liked its golden tone. It's called Dew Drops.
Then I have a couple of Chamilia beads that I bought from their online shop in the outlet section. They had a lot of beads for 50% off, which is always hard to resist. This one is called SuperNova Wine and Topaz-Swarovski. I love the copper wire running through it!
This one is called Felice, but I don't see it on their webstore anymore. I was looking at the Canada store though, so maybe it's still available elsewhere. I really like how it looks like splashes of watercolours. One thing I never realized about Chamilia Muranos is that one side of the core is like you see here, but the other side is like a Trollbead! I was really happy with these beads though and won't hesitate to order more. By the way, Tia of Beads On a Budget has a review of a couple of Soufeel beads that she recently bought here plus has an article about holiday Chamilia beads here.
Anyway, the maple tree on our front yard has turned bright yellow. In fact, our whole street looks like this now!
So I picked a few leaves as a super bright background for the bracelet.
Below left to right are the Trollbeads Mocha, Chamilia Felice, Trollbeads Dew Drops, Ohm Beads Incremental Change, Spiritbeads Maneki-Neko and Trollbeads Scirocco.
Below left to right after the Scirocco are the Chamilia SuperNova Wine and Topaz, Trollbeads Scirocco, Spiritbeads Daruma and the Ohm Beads Bar Brawl.
Below left to right after the Bar Brawl are the Trollbeads Soul of Sunshine/ Strawberry Stripes and Coffee Mug.
Here's another look at the bracelet. I love the one eye in the Daruma!
So, any thoughts about Chamilia beads or brand mixing in general? There are so many brands out there now and it's so easy to mix and match these days. Coming up on Friday will be the new Perlen Amber beads.
At first I didn't plan to mix brands, but it did make it difficult at times to put together an entire bracelet. I don't have any Chamilia yet; to be honest, I hadn't given them much thought. I really like the SuperNova Wine and Topaz and the Felice. As far as the Felice goes I could only find it on EBay ( and that's out). What I especially love on your bracelet is your Daruma. He's wonderful… His eye actually matches the rest of the theme!
Yes, his eye is a great colour for fall leaves! The only other Chamilia I have is the reindeer from a couple of years ago and it's fantastic. For me there's a nearby mall that sells it, so I can always see it in person, which makes such a difference. They have a line of kitchen utensil beads which is super cute!
I only ever put Pandora beads on a Pandora bracelet but I do mix brands on both leather and silver Trollbeads bracelets. I have recently bought some Ohm glass beads and love my Redbalifrog silvers. My frustration is I have to buy my beads on line as I only have a Pandora shop near me.
I hear you, Paula. The nearest place to buy Trollbeads is two hours away for me. I do love how any brand bead will fit on their bracelets. I rarely put other beads on Pandora also, although mostly because they don't fit.
My pleasure, Tia! I was so happy to see your review of the Soufeel beads because I've looked at their website several times and it's nice to have a variety of opinions!
I have just discovered there is a retailer carrying Chamilia and another who carries Trollbeads both of which are maybe five minutes away from where I live.(Pandora is about forty-five minutes). I just checked out Soulfeel's website briefly. I think I'm in trouble here…more temptation!
Oh my goodness! I can't even imagine having a Trollbeads dealer nearby!


Wouldn't it be nice to have natural light in the dark end of the living room, or in a windowless bathroom, and especially light that comes in over a dark staircase? People wouldn't have to find the light switch and turn it on before they climb the stairs.
Skylights are easy additions to your home that not only bring in light but add ventilation. Neat new styles include an electric one that has a rain sensor. It will shut itself off when rain begins.
Some have solar-power shades that you can operate with a remote control. Too much sun? Just press a button and the shade closes.
The two most common types are fixed, which don't open or vent, and vented. Vented skylights open to allow air to come in from the outside. They have screens to keep out mosquitoes, but you still get a nice breeze in the evening.
Tubular skylights are small tubular openings, also known as sun tunnels. They are great for bathrooms and hallways. They are a good alternative if you want natural light but not the skylight effect.
Angie Hicks of Angie's List recommends skylights that are double insulated with low emissivity (low-E) argon-filled glass. The low-E filters keep sunlight from penetrating the home, so it doesn't fade the furniture and carpet.
A skylight can be installed in a day for about $500, depending on how much work is involved. It is important to get a qualified company to install the unit. The most common skylight complaint is leaking caused by poor installation.
If it happens, a more experienced installer should be called to correct the problem.
Many homeowners are replacing old bubble-style skylights with new ones that have great features.


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According to Magistrate Court records, the following individuals had activity in their cases.
In Magistrate Cynthia Broce-Kelley's court:
Genevieve Burgess, 45, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty August 21 to a charge of failure to give notice of change of address or name – issuance of license. She was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
Jason Wayne Butts, 37, of Hedgesville, pleaded no contest August 31 to a charge of operation without certificate of inspection or failure to produce certification. He was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
Braxton Lee Buzzard, 24, of Marlinton, pleaded no contest September 19 to a charge of vehicle entering through highway or intersection. He was assessed $175.25 in court costs and fines.
Todd Grovenstein, 53, of Neptune Beach, Florida, pleaded no contest October 25 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. He was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
Derek Stephen Hannah, 31, of Buckeye, pleaded guilty September 26 to charges of driving while license revoked for DUI and operating motor vehicle not equipped with an approved motor vehicle alcohol test and lock system. He was sentenced to 60 days jail and assessed $530.50 in court costs and fines.
Marie Elizabeth Johnston, 22, of Bartow, pleaded no contest August 16 to charges of driving while license suspended/revoked and expiration of registration and certificate of title. She was assessed $455.50 in court costs and fines.
Michael David Moats, 20, of Franklin, pleaded guilty October 2 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. He was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
Brandon Anthony Poling, 29, of Thornton, pleaded guilty August 17 to charges of driving while license suspended/revoked, operation of vehicle without evidence of registration and no vehicle insurance. He was assessed $820.75 in court costs and fines.
Cody Wayne Rutherford, 26, of Monterville, pleaded guilty August 24 to a charge of openly dumping household trash. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Shania Workman, 21, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty September 27 to a charge of no vehicle insurance. She was assessed $365.25 in court costs and fines.
Shawn Michael Blumer, 44, of Washington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty September 13 to a charge of failure to use safety belt. He was assessed a $25 fine.
Ralph E. Burdette, 71, of Alderson, pleaded no contest October 10 to a charge of trespassing on property other than structure or conveyance. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Victor Manuel Gonzalez, 44, of Chesterfield, Virginia, pleaded guilty September 14 to a charge of driving motorcycle without license. He was assessed $360.50 in court costs and fines.
Keith Allen Harrah, 20, of Marlinton, pleaded no contest September 27 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. He was assessed $175.25 in court costs and fines.
Kyle Joseph Lester, 19, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty September 12 to a charge of failure to use safety belt. He was assessed a $25 fine.
Thomas Lee Lewis, 33, of Cass, pleaded no contest September 18 to a charge of trespassing on property other than structure or conveyance. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Richard L. Litteral, 33, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty October 6 to a charge of driving while license suspended/revoked. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Mariah Danielle Moore, 23, of Elkins, pleaded no contest September 27 to a charge of trespassing in a structure or conveyance. She was assessed $215.25 in court costs and fines.
Earl Lee Oxier, 34, of Durbin, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful methods of hunting – loaded gun/crossbow in vehicle during prohibited hours. He was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
Phillip Wayne Shinaberry, 27, of Dunmore, pleaded no contest September 25 to a charge of trespassing on property other than structure or conveyance. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Joseph William Smith, 69, of Marlinton, pleaded no contest October 12 to a charge of operation of a motor vehicle without certificate of inspection or failure to produce certificate. He was assessed $175.25 in court costs and fines.
Shania Workman, 21, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty September 27 to a charge of operate a vehicle with defective mufflers. She was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
Isaac M. Bennett, 33, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty October 10 to a charge of trespassing on property other than structure or conveyance. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Timothy Scott Hoover, 38, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty October 11 to charges of speeding and driving while license suspended/revoked. He was assessed $450.50 in court costs and fines.
Roy A. Lackey, 63, of Salem, pleaded no contest October 16 to a charge of exceed creek limit or other trout fishing violation. He was assessed $240.25 in court costs and fines.
Regina Lynn Larson, 61, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty November 7 to a charge of driving a vehicle while in an impaired state, but with alcohol concentration of less than .15. She was assessed $340.25 in court costs.
Donald Hugh Mullens, 44, of Renick, pleaded guilty October 16 to a charge of driving motorcycle without a license. He was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
David Martin Pringle, 48, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty October 27 to charges of reckless driving and illegal possession of wildlife. He was assessed $600.50 in court costs and fines.
Earl E. Sharp, 58, of Marlinton, pleaded no contest October 16 to a charge of possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in passenger area of motor vehicle on a public highway. He was assessed $215.25 in court costs and fines.
David L. Varner, 48, of Marlinton, pleaded no contest November 1 to a charge of vehicle must stop at through highways. He was assessed $435.50 in court costs and fines.
Deborah Lynn Wimer, 49, of Buckeye, pleaded no contest October 30 to a charge of knowingly or intentionally possess a controlled substance without valid prescription. She was assessed $185.25 in court costs and fines.
In Magistrate Carrie Wilfong's court:
Austin Paul Barga, 38, of Fayetteville, pleaded no contest August 30 to charges of failure to immediately report an accident and failure to maintain control. He was assessed $380.50 in court costs and fines.
Thomas P. Connaly, 52, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty October 17 to charges of driving too fast for roadway conditions and driving while license is suspended/revoked. He was assessed $455.50 in court costs and fines.
Kevin Wayne Curry, 44, of Nitro, pleaded guilty August 29 to a charge of speeding. He was assessed $190.25 in court costs and fines.
Bradley Francis Cutright, 83, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty September 15 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. He was assessed $190.25 in court costs and fines.
Breann Hunter Humphreys, 19, of Caldwell, pleaded guilty August 18 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. She was assessed $200.25 in court costs and fines.
Kristina Nicole Kidd, 29, of Bartow, pleaded guilty August 21 to charges of operation of vehicle without evidence of registration and operate vehicle without certificate of inspection or failure to produce certificate. She was assessed $380.50 in court costs and fines.
Jeremy D. Moore, 31, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty September 12 to a charge of driving while license suspended/revoked. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Dylan M. Rexrode, 23, of Bartow, pleaded guilty August 15 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. He was assessed $195.25 in court costs and fines.
Jessica M. Tincher, 36, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty August 10 to a charge of knowingly in intentionally possessing a controlled substance without a valid prescription, less than 15 grams marijuana. She was sentenced to 90 days suspended jail, placed on six months unsupervised probation and assessed $165.25 in court costs and fines.
Matthew J. Tuskan, 35, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty October 10 to a charge of driving while license revoked for DUI. He was sentenced to 30 days jail and assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Briana L. Abrams, 25, of Arbovale, pleaded guilty September 18 to a charge of overtaking and passing a school bus while warning lights are in use. She was assessed $415.25 in court costs and fines.
Christine May Brewer, age unavailable, of Bartow, pleaded guilty September 19 to a charge of knowingly or intentionally possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription, less than 15 grams marijuana. She was assessed $215.25 in court costs and fines.
Jamie Lee Hubbert, 34, of Dunmore, pleaded guilty October 17 to a charge of driving too fast for roadway conditions. He was assessed $195.25 in court costs and fines.
Timmy E. Lusk, 52, of Green Bank, pleaded no contest September 18 to a charge of exceeding maximum road highway weights. He was assessed $485.25 in court costs and fines.
Bradley Clinton McDaniels, 39, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty October 10 to a charge of driving under the influence. He was assessed $340.25 in court costs and fines.
Fred A. Pritt, 58, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty October 3 to a charge of speeding. He was assessed $190.25 in court costs and fines.
Richard Allen Starks, 58, of Durbin, pleaded guilty September 15 to a charge of exceeding maximum road highway weights. He was assessed $190.25 in court costs and fines.
Ashley Tallman, age unavailable, of Bartow, pleaded guilty September 19 to a charge of overtaking and passing school bus while warning lights are in use. She was assessed $415.25 in court costs and fines.
Jonathan M. Carr, 40, of Charleston, pleaded guilty October 27 to a charge of speeding. He was assessed $190.25 in court costs and fines.
Christina Marie Harmon, 44, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty October 13 to a charge of shoplifting less than $500. She was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Andrew S. Hedrick, 42, of Winfield, pleaded guilty October 20 to a charge of possession/consuming beer in state park. He was assessed $190.25 in court costs and fines.
Michael E. Kramer, 23, of Valley Head, pleaded guilty October 16 to a charge of unlawful methods of hunting – loaded gun/crossbow in vehicle during prohibited hours. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Michael W. Larabee, 56, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty October 4 to a charge of failure to use safety belt. He was assessed a $25 fine.
Michael E. Shanley, 46, of Arbovale, pleaded no contest October 16 to a charge of shooting across road or near building or crowd. He was assessed $265.25 in court costs and fines.
Matthew J. Tuskan, 35, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty October 13 to a charge of attempting to defeat a drug or alcohol screening test by substitution of a false sample. He was assessed $365.25 in court costs and fines.
Brandon Adam Waddell, 31, of Durbin, pleaded guilty October 20 to a charge of destruction of property. He was sentenced to 72 hours jail with credit for time served and assessed $165.25 in court costs and fines.
According to Magistrate Court records, the.
In Magistrate Cynthia Broce-Kelley's court: Amanda.
In Magistrate Cynthia Broce-Kelley's court: Johnna.


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Now, a two-front legal war over teen abortions
The Supreme Court and a federal appeals court are now moving simultaneously to sort out a major constitutional controversy over a right to abortion for undocumented teenaged girls being held in federal immigration centers and who are now or will become pregnant.
After more than five months of giving some thought – off and on — to that dispute, the Supreme Court is scheduled to take up at a private conference on Friday what its options now are, in the wake of a new maneuver in lower courts by the Trump Administration to end the controversy abruptly, without a final constitutional answer.
In short, the nature of the dispute has changed markedly since the Administration first asked the Justices to get involved, early last November. A federal trial judge in Washington, D.C., has moved the fight from the specifics of individual pregnant teenagers' cases to a broad new challenge to the federal government's power to pursue its policy of firm resistance to abortions for scores of teenaged girls who enter the U.S. illegally and are placed in detention centers.
This week, Administration lawyers asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to block that new challenge, and to take steps to return full control to federal officials over management of the health of the teenagers whom they now have in custody, or will have in the future.
The apparent inability or unwillingness of the Supreme Court to take definitive action so far has temporarily left an opening for the trial judge, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, to keep moving the case forward – and, in fact, significantly broadening it — despite the efforts of the Administration to shut it down.
When the Administration asked the Justices to get involved early in November, the dispute was focused only on a single teenager being held at a center somewhere in Texas – identified in court papers only as "Jane Doe." And, as matters then stood, the teenager had already had an abortion, with the permission of the D.C. Circuit Court.
The Circuit Court had ruled that, in the specific circumstances of that individual case, "Jane Doe" had a right to choose to end her pregnancy. But it was clear even then that this single case was not likely to be the end of the dispute, because the lawyers for "Jane Doe" were preparing to seek the same choice for other detained undocumented girls.
The Administration argued in its appeal to the Supreme Court that the case was over when "Jane Doe" actually had an abortion, aside from a separate question of whether her lawyers had misled government lawyers in order to make sure that the abortion would not be thwarted. The government asked the Justices to take disciplinary action against the teen's lawyers. Nothing has come of that separate request so far, and the basic government request to end the case remains unanswered by the Justices.
The main point of the appeal always has been to get the Justices to shut down all of the continuing activity in Judge Chutkan's court, and to bar all claims that might be made on behalf of other teenaged girls in detention, now or later.
The Justices repeatedly scheduled discussions of that appeal, but those talks – whether detailed or perfunctory – led to no definitive action on the Administration's requests. The Justices did order the Circuit Court to send up the full record of the "Jane Doe" case as it had unfolded in the trial court and in the Circuit Court. That was a clear sign that at least some of the Justices were interested in the specific facts of the dispute, as well as in the way the two sides' lawyers had argued over the controversy. Still, that record arrived at the Court but no action was taken on the dispute itself.
In the meantime, Judge Chutkan on March 30 issued an opinion that dramatically altered the controversy. To keep the case going, she approved the creation of a legal "class" – that is, a group of individuals with the same legal claims – to represent all undocumented teenaged girls who were in or might later be placed in detention centers. Then, with the case thus revitalized, the judge issued a nationwide order barring immigration officials from interfering in any way with the right of detained teenaged girls to choose an abortion if they were or did become pregnant.
It is was clear at the time that the judge acted that neither of those orders would have been possible if the Supreme Court had done what the Administration has been seeking in the "Jane Doe" case.
The judge ruled that the Administration simply lacked the power to interfere with a detained teenager's choice about her pregnancy, even though the office that supervises such detention has taken the position that the Constitution gives the government the right to refuse to "facilitate" abortion in any way.
At no point has the government made the argument that undocumented teenagers who enter the country illegally do not have any right to an abortion because of their illegal entry or their status as non-citizens. A group of states that have entered the case has been making that constitutional argument, but the Administration's focus has remained solely on its authority to refuse to "facilitate" abortion as part of a firm government policy to protect fetal life.
Judge Chutkan's broad new order was based on her finding that four teenagers who previously had been or currently were in detention could function as representatives of all such teenagers in or entering detention, so that there continued to be a real-world, live controversy.
The Administration promptly appealed to the D.C. Circuit, asking that court to block Judge Chutkan's order. Only one of the four teenagers designated by the judge as representatives of the class was still in detention, government lawyers argued, and, they added, no single teenager could be a representative of others because the question of the health needs is a matter special to each individual in custody. Not all teenaged girls who enter a detention center and are or become pregnant will all seek abortions, and the facts will vary with each of them, the government attorneys contended.
The D.C. Circuit on Wednesday ordered lawyers for the teenaged girls to file by next Thursday their written argument against the Administration plea to block Judge Chutkan's orders. The Administration will then have a week after that to file a reply.
Meanwhile, if the Supreme Court decides to take some action on the appeal pending there after the Justices' private conference this Friday, that could upstage what has been happening in the lower courts, or it could simply put the Justices on the sidelines until the controversy returns to the Justices' docket. The Justices have been made aware of Judge Chutkan's new orders, with copies submitted to them by lawyers for the teenaged girls involved.
If the Justices opt to do something now, that could be announced as early as Friday afternoon, or perhaps next Monday morning. Nothing is expected in the D.C. Circuit until the further legal briefing is completed.


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I bought these for hiking and they tore up my heels. The reason I ended up picking these was because of the look. I even tried thicker socks with no luck. I think the heel box is too small for my feet but I wear a regular size running shoe with no problems. Unfortunately I didn't get my money's worth and can't return because they were used for a couple of weeks.
I heard good things about Converse boots and decided to get a more expensive pair. I should have gotten the cheaper rapid response. I think that was the model my buddies were telling me about. I paid way too much for a pair of average boots.


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Articles | Volume 14, issue 12
Special issue: Monitoring atmospheric composition and climate, research in...
Research article 23 Jun 2014
Research article | 23 Jun 2014
Assimilation of atmospheric methane products into the MACC-II system: from SCIAMACHY to TANSO and IASI
S. Massart1, A. Agusti-Panareda1, I. Aben2, A. Butz3, F. Chevallier4, C. Crevoisier5, R. Engelen1, C. Frankenberg6, and O. Hasekamp2 S. Massart et al. S. Massart1, A. Agusti-Panareda1, I. Aben2, A. Butz3, F. Chevallier4, C. Crevoisier5, R. Engelen1, C. Frankenberg6, and O. Hasekamp2
1European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading, UK
2SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
3Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
4Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, UMR8212, IPSL, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
5Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique/IPSL/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
6Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA
Received: 02 Dec 2013 – Discussion started: 27 Jan 2014 – Revised: 01 May 2014 – Accepted: 17 May 2014 – Published: 23 Jun 2014
Abstract. The Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate Interim Implementation (MACC-II) delayed-mode (DM) system has been producing an atmospheric methane (CH4) analysis 6 months behind real time since June 2009. This analysis used to rely on the assimilation of the CH4 product from the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) instrument onboard Envisat. Recently the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) CH4 products from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research CH4 products from the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation (TANSO) were added to the DM system. With the loss of Envisat in April 2012, the DM system now has to rely on the assimilation of methane data from TANSO and IASI. This paper documents the impact of this change in the observing system on the methane tropospheric analysis. It is based on four experiments: one free run and three analyses from respectively the assimilation of SCIAMACHY, TANSO and a combination of TANSO and IASI CH4 products in the MACC-II system. The period between December 2010 and April 2012 is studied. The SCIAMACHY experiment globally underestimates the tropospheric methane by 35 part per billion (ppb) compared to the HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) data and by 28 ppb compared the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) data, while the free run presents an underestimation of 5 ppb and 1 ppb against the same HIPPO and TCCON data, respectively. The assimilated TANSO product changed in October 2011 from version v.1 to version v.2.0. The analysis of version v.1 globally underestimates the tropospheric methane by 18 ppb compared to the HIPPO data and by 15 ppb compared to the TCCON data. In contrast, the analysis of version v.2.0 globally overestimates the column by 3 ppb. When the high density IASI data are added in the tropical region between 30° N and 30° S, their impact is mainly positive but more pronounced and effective when combined with version v.2.0 of the TANSO products. The resulting analysis globally underestimates the column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of methane (xCH4) just under 1 ppb on average compared to the TCCON data, whereas in the tropics it overestimates xCH4 by about 3 ppb. The random error is estimated to be less than 7 ppb when compared to TCCON data.
How to cite. Massart, S., Agusti-Panareda, A., Aben, I., Butz, A., Chevallier, F., Crevoisier, C., Engelen, R., Frankenberg, C., and Hasekamp, O.: Assimilation of atmospheric methane products into the MACC-II system: from SCIAMACHY to TANSO and IASI, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 6139–6158, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6139-2014, 2014.
Monitoring atmospheric composition and climate, research in...


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Our newborn sessions are no time limit. We have many options to pick from in our warm, and cozy newborn studio space. Robyn and I will take the time needed to comfort and tend to your babies needs during the shoot. You might even want to curl up on one of our vintage chairs or couches and just take that nap you need. Let us take care of you and baby for this precious lifestage.
Robyn & Dylan are such a dynamic duo! They go the extra mile to make us feel like we're family & just capture the most perfect moments. They've captured our twins milestones & now our new baby and they are the absolute best! We laugh, smile and have a blast, and the end result is just stunning photos!
For the past four years, Dylan and Robyn have captured every stage of our children's lives. They are absolute professionals, making us feel comfortable every step of the way. They were patient when our children were not in the picture taking mood and shared in our joy and excitement when they were! The sessions with Dylan and Robyn were always something that we looked forward to as a family as we knew something magical would always result. The walls of our home are filled with the memories that they so carefully created. Through the lens of their cameras, Dylan and Robyn did not only take photos of our family. They became part of it.


Calling all food connoisseurs, music lovers and imbibing enthusiasts! The fifth annual Music City Food and Wine Festival returns to Nashville on September 15-17. In an effort to keep up with the ever evolving culinary scene in the Music City, the festival producers have decided to spice things up a bit. Highlighting more of our local chefs and restaurateurs, festival programming has been expanded to include a Friday Night Grand Taste Pavilion and Harvest Night will be bigger than ever. I can't help but get excited after reading the lineup. In addition to the highly sought after Pappy Hour, festival goers will have the opportunity to attend a Sunday Gospel Brunch. After all, it wouldn't be a food and wine festival in Nashville without some good ole' gospel music!
Festival-goers can expect to meet some of Music City's finest culinary talent while sampling dishes from a diverse line-up of restaurants at the Chef's Showcase.
Throughout the weekend, attendees have the opportunity to get up close and personal with various chefs as they lead interactive demonstrations and seminars on various cooking topics. If you want to stick around, several of them will be participating in book signings, too.
One my of my favorite pitmasters, Pat Martin, will return with an all-star line up of chefs and pitmasters from across the country. They will be doing things with a grill that will blow your mind!
Even though I love all of the events during the Music City Food and Wine Festival, my favorite is Harvest Night.
"On Saturday, September 16, Walk of Fame Park will be home to Harvest Night, which will feature more chefs than ever before, with a musical tribute from award-winning steel pedal guitarist Robert Randolph who will bring the Funk to downtown Nashville. Festival-goers can enjoy signature dishes from nearly 20 of Nashville and the country's most acclaimed chefs. Food will be served from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., with Robert Randolph's live performance from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Harvest Night chefs are scheduled to include: Hugh Acheson (Five & Ten, The National, Empire State South, The Florence, Spiller Park); Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven, Juicy – O); Jimmy Bannos Jr. (The Purple Pig); John Besh (Marsh House, L.A. Jackson, Killebrew); Matt Bolus (The 404 Kitchen); Sean Brock (McCrady's, McCrady's Tavern, Husk, Minero); Maneet Chauhan (Chauhan Ale & Masala House); Drew Curren (Elm Restaurant Group); Cassidee Dabney (The Barn at Blackberry Farm); Susan Feniger (Border Grill); Joseph Lenn (J.C. Holdway); Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Queenie's Steakhouse, Love Shack, White Elephant Saloon); Marcus Samuelsson (Marcus Samuelsson Group); Alon Shaya (Domenica, Pizza Domenica, Shaya); Jonathan Waxman (Adele's, Bajo Sexto, Barbuto, Brezza Cucina, Jams, Waxman's SF); Tandy Wilson (City House) and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern's Canteen)." Seriously can you imagine what kind of party this will turn into?? It's always one of my most favorite events of the festival.
If you are lucky enough to secure the "golden ticket," Music City Food and Wine Festival will be hosting Pappy Hour at the Grand Taste Pavilion on Saturday, September 16. Bourbon enthusiasts will be led through a tasting by none other than Preston Van Winkle of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. More information on how to attend this event will be available later this summer.
Tickets are on sale May 10 and you can click here to purchase. My recommendation? Secure an all access pass, you can thank me later!
For more information about the upcoming Music City Food and Wine Festival, click here.


Targeted by aggressive marketers, some East Bay seniors are switching to Medicare Advantage plans they don't fully understand, only to discover they can no longer see their longtime doctors and have severely limited their choice of specialists.
The plans are beneficial for some people. But consumer advocates advise seniors to proceed with caution and to seek free counseling before making a decision.
Limited choice of doctors? It is certainly ironic that the Republicans have devised a plan which suffers from one of the problems conservatives usually complain about in foreign plans.
While those who shop carefully might receive advantages, many do not as a consequence of dishonest marketing of Medicare Advantage plans. Private insurance companies receive twelve percent more to care for Medicare patients than those covered under the government's Medicare program despite often cherry picking the healthier patients. So much for Republicans trusting the free market to provide services more economically. Rather than being used to provide benefits to beneficiaries as mandated by law, the money is largely used to increase corporate profits at the taxpayers' expense. This provides considerable motivation to deceive seniors into joining the plans, with many plans paying salespeople a bounty for each person they sign up, without caring what they do to make the sale.
As Robert Pear reported in The Times last week, unscrupulous insurance agents have tricked people into dropping traditional Medicare coverage and enrolling instead in private plans that do not meet their needs. Agents typically receive $350 to $600 for each patient they enroll in a private plan. Some try to boost sales by pretending to be Medicare officials, forging signatures or hiding the fact that a patient's doctor will not be part of the private plan. Others barge into homes and use high-pressure tactics to push poor, semiliterate people into a private plan.
The American Medical Association has also called for fiscal neutrality between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare. CBS News reported on the deceptive sales practices being used to sell the plans last summer. Barack Obama spoke out against the plans while campaigning in Iowa.
While anecdotal evidence might not be representative, I've found that the vast majority of patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans have no understanding of what they are signed up for. The Oklahoma insurance commissioner provides just one example of a state investigating and finding the same problems. The insurance commissioner found that many who thought they were signing up for simply a drug plan were being signed up by Humana into their Medicare Advantage plan.
Many patients have told me that salespeople tell them the plan is only a supplement to their regular Medicare. Sometimes salespeople bribe the residents of a senior citizen complex to attend a meeting with meals or other incentives, and then use hard sell tactics to get the bulk of them to sign up without understanding what they are signing. I've even seen patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans who do not recall ever signing anything. Possibly they did sign something, but who know what they were led to believe they were signing at the time.
As The Argus warns above, those who sign up in plans could find that their physician does not accept their plan. This month I had one patient have to postpone surgery until she could get out of a plan that wasn't accepted. I've also seen a number of patients wind up with higher copays or a higher deductible than they had under Medicare. Sometimes the plans offer benefits not included in the usual Medicare program, but there could be a catch. I have one patient who signed up for a plan that includes dental coverage, but not a single local dentist accepts the plan. The plans are also a nuisance for physician offices when patients do not realize their plan has changed. Even Medicare does not realize when patients have switched for a while. Quite often I've seen letters from Medicare requesting money back which they paid on patients months earlier, but Medicare. the patient, and the physician were all unaware of this at the time.
Sometimes patients might benefit from Medicare Advantage plans if they have the opportunity to investigate their options and receive honest information as to what is covered. Those who benefit the most are generally those who choose to purchase higher priced plans as opposed to the plans people are typically placed into without their knowledge. Greater effort needs to be taken to weed out the deceptive sales tactics, and when Medicare is strapped for money their is no justification for paying these plans an extra twelve percent to care for patients.
While individual endorsements probably have minimal impact on primary races, the cumulative effect of several high profile endorsements might help Obama overcome one of the disadvantages typically faced by insurgent candidates going up against an establishment candidate who has an advantage in party support. Recently Obama has received endorsements from Gary Hart, Ned Lamont, Tim Johnson, George Miller, Janet Napolitano and Senators Ben Nelson and Claire McCaskill. Obama has even received the support of the woman who asked Hillary Clinton the question in New Hampshire which might have led to her comeback in the state. The New York Times reports that Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, is considering an endorsement of Obama. Last week Obama had John Kerry come to South Carolina to appear at a campaign event after his endorsement. Kerry also appeared today on This Week to support Obama (video here).
Kerry also discussed Obama's experience on This Week, noting that Obama has more legislative experience than Clinton. Obama's experience as a professor of Constitutional law and a community organizer are also of significance. Other topics discussed in posts this weekend came up during the interview, including the ability of candidates to respond to attacks and their pre-war positions on Iraq.
One reason I respect Kerry is that he is generally right, and when he is wrong he admits it learns from his mistakes. Nobody knows better than Kerry the dangers of inadequately responding to attacks, and he will certain advise any Democratic nominee to handle things differently than he did against the Swift Boat Liars. In Kerry's defense it should be noted that many myths have been spread regarding the attacks, even among liberal bloggers who should know better. While Kerry didn't respond as forcibly as he should have in retrospect, his campaign did rapidly respond to the attacks with the facts. Unfortunately, in this case, the facts were not enough.
Looking back we must remember that things looked different at the time from how they do in retrospect. The Swift Boat Liars made their claims both in the spring of 2004 and again in August. The spring attacks did no harm, perhaps leading Kerry's campaign to underestimate their harm when they returned in August.
The old conventional wisdom, before the days of the internet and twenty-four hour cable news, was that responding to an attack often backfires by giving more coverage to the attack. Voters hearing the responses often wind up remembering the attack but not the defense. The Swift Boat Liars began with small ads which gradually increased in significance as they were picked up first by Fox, and then by legitimate news outlets. There was no single moment when it was clear at the time that the attacks were anything which would have a serious effect, making it more difficult to decide upon a response.
As Kerry noted today, his response was also limited by the campaign finance laws which left him with little money to spend in the period between the Democratic and Republican conventions. During this period Kerry was on a national tour to concentrate on his domestic policy proposals, and the campaign also felt that concentrating too much on responding to the attacks would have distracted from this. Obviously, in retrospect, they were wrong but their decisions were not totally absurd at the time.
Kerry also discussed how Clinton has taken Obama's comments before the 2004 convention out of context to question his opposition to the war. Obama understandably toned down his criticism of voting for the Iraq War Resolution to avoid sounding critical of Kerry and Edwards. This might have been less necessary if people better understood Kerry's actual position on the war and his reasons for voting for the IWR. While some didn't say this until more recently, Kerry made it clear at the time of the vote that he was only voting yes based upon Bush's claims that he would only go to war as a last resort. Kerry made his position clear in his Senate floor statement, and in articles published at the time in The New York Times and Foreign Affairs.
The 2008 race is breaking the usual patterns. There have been races in the past where an insurgent candidate pulls an upset in Iowa but loses in New Hampshire. Typically the establishment candidate has money money and the advantages of the party machinery to ultimately beat the insurgent. While this year's race is far more in doubt than immediately after Iowa, Obama is clearly not going to play the role of the typical insurgent and quickly disappear. Compared to past insurgency campaigns, Obama is better funded and is receiving endorsements which reduce Clinton's advantages. He has received additional endorsements of significance from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Senators Ben Nelson and Claire McCaskill.
The New York Times also reports that Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, is considering an endorsement of Obama.
But that isn't the biggest significance. The key is timing. You don't hit a big time politician like Hillary Clinton when she's down unless you're really against her and you're fairly confident she's not getting back up. After winning in New Hampshire, albeit narrowly and after the clobbering in Iowa, there's been a sense that Clinton may be back on track to consolidating her frontrunner status and perhaps following a modified version of the standard script in which the anointed frontrunner gets a scare in the early states before mopping up the competition as the race goes national. But these four clearly don't want that to happen. In fact, they're sticking their necks pretty far out to help make it not happen. And their endorsements, coming right now, tell me they have some confidence it won't .
Despite the high profile victory for keeping creationism out of science classes in the Dover case, there are ongoing battles around the country to defend science. South Carolinians for Science Education reports on one victory as the State Board of Education reversed a December vote which would have led to dropping the use of a text teaching evolution. However the news isn't as good in Florida where a former St. Petersburg City Council member and candidate for Mayor has repeated Tom DeLay's theory linking the teaching of evolution to the Columbine shootings.
I think the way it's been handled historically in Florida is probably appropriate. It's been introduced and discussed in terms of being a theory. I don't know if there's a need for a change in that. But I'll leave the decision to the board.
I taught sixth grade in Texas for three years 2001-2004. During that time, I was absolutely warned to not begin to say the word "evolution" or we would have every preacher in the district, as well as the media, breathing down our necks, and then there would truly be no teaching or learning. Sadly, I needed the position, so I played the "hide the issue and hide the learning" game.
Every time I tell this story, usually at a dinner party, people look at me like I am reliving some ancient past. I remind them that this policy ruled only two years ago – and in their progressive community. Like many issues that are easier to disbelieve than to address, people inevitably choose disbelief.
Several organizations involved in the teaching of science in the United States and Europe have issued statements favoring the teaching of evolution and not creationism in the schools. These include the Association for Science Education, the California Academy of Sciences, the UK government (whose statement explains the scientific meaning of theory), and the Council on Europe.
We also must not forget that two Republican candidates still in the race, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, both deny evolution. Mike Huckabee has advocated teaching intelligent design in the schools, while Ron Paul simply does not believe in public schools. A panel of scientists recently warned how we are "doomed" should Huckabee be elected.
For those interested in reading more about evolution, an updated version of Science, Education, and Creationism, a book from the National Academy of Sciences, is available for free download in pdf format here.
Update: There is tremendous amount of material available on line regarding evolution which debunks the nonsense promoted by supporters of intelligent design/creationism. On of the people commenting at The Carpetbagger Report pointed out yet one more excellent article from Stephen Jay Gould on Evolution as Fact and Theory.
Durbin suggested that the former president has been giving somewhat revisionist accounts on the way the Iraq war debate played out.
"It was not easy to be against that war back when we cast that vote in October of 2002," Durbin said. "I was one of 23 who voted against the war. Barack was supportive — one of the few candidates speaking out strongly against it in Illinois.
It's perfectly clear that Obama was in fact against the war at the time. His position then — as now — was that the case for war had not been made and that the invasion wasn't justified.
Bill Clinton has not only been telling fairy tales of his own with regards to Obama's position on the war, but has also told fairy tales about his own views. In November The Washington Post questioned Clinton's claims that he had "opposed Iraq from the beginning." Hillary Clinton's record isn't very good either. Last month Foreign Policy in Focus reviewed her views on the war dating back to the pre-war days, which show a stark contrast from the anti-war views expressed by Obama above. Reviewing Hillary's record shows why Bill Clinton might want to revise history, but his fairy tales do not change the past.


For one night, at least, MTV may as well have been the Jewish Television Network. Yesterday's MTV Movie Awards had an unusually large number of young, hip celebrity Jews taking center-stage.
Unfortunately Borat can't be here tonight. He's been feeling the pressure of fame and has had to check himself into rehab. Last Thursday at about three in the morning, he was driving his horse and cart and crashed it into the fence of Jewtown. The police found that he was driving under the influence of fermented horse urine and found more than the legal amount of roofies in the back seat. In Kazakhstan you're only allowed 100,000. He's been suffering from this meltdown for awhile. He went into a hair dresser, and he asked them to shave off his mustache and pubis. And he went on a chat show recently drunk and actually made pro-Jewish remarks.
Baron Cohen also took honors for "Best Kiss" for a scene from "Talladega Nights" in which he smooched Will Ferrell. Following a brief lovers' quarrel, the two reprised their moment together for the awards show audience.
This story "Borat in Rehab, Eva Mendes's Jew Fetish and Other Tales From the MTV Movie Awards" was written by Daniel Treiman.


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Create Glos welcomes 1 of 15 new UK fundraising fellows as Arts Council confirms national rollout
Create Gloucestershire is delighted to be one of 15 organisations hosting the next generation of talented young fundraisers.
The Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Programme has just announced the next 15 Fellows joining arts organisations in the North, South West and London, and Arts Council England has confirmed support for the programme's expansion to the Midlands and East/South East in 2015.
The Fellowships were established to support the arts and cultural sector's sustainability and ensure its leadership is equipped with the vision, entrepreneurial expertise and ingenuity to secure the future health of the UK's outstanding arts and cultural sector.
Create Gloucestershire will be hosting Hannah Keville, who has recently completed a BA in Fine Art at Newcastle University, and for the past five years has worked as a youth ambassador for the Laing Gallery. She will take part in a year-long traineeship, whilst working towards achieving a Postgraduate Certificate in Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy. She will be working closely with Hollie Smith-Charles on our Catalyst-funded consortium developing private fundraising, and taking the lead on a county-wide philanthropy initiative.
For more information about the Programme download the full press release here or visit the Arts Fundraising Programme website here.
Workshops + EventsBarney Heywood 4 September 2014 fundraising, philanthropy, fellowshipComment
Arts Award Training and Artsmark Briefing in Gloucestershire
Jobs + TrainingBarney Heywood 12 September 2014 training, arts award, artsmark
Trustee Leadership in Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
Jobs + TrainingBarney Heywood 4 September 2014 fundraising


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2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup, Palma, Spain All Galleries
2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup | 470 Women { 5 galleries }
2014 ISAF WC Palma | Day 1
The Women's 470 fleet were the first off the water and it was Camille Lecointre and Hélène Defrance (FRA) who came ashore with the brightest start.
Great Britain's Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark came out strong on the third day to move to second overall, "We had a really good day with two first places," explained Mills after racing, "it's a contrast to other days which were a bit up and down but it's been good racing.


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AUA 2017
AUA 2017 Urinary Incontinence
Testis & Penile Cancers
GU Reconstruction
Infections & Inflammation
Sexual Function
Stone Disease - Endourology & Technology
AUA 2017: Association between urinary symptom severity and automated segmentation of white matter plaque in women with multiple sclerosis
Boston, MA (UroToday.com) Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by demyelinated white matter plaque throughout the central nervous system. Patients with MS frequently experience a range of bothersome urinary symptoms.
The cingulate cortex, insula cortex, and prefrontal cortex are three cortical brain regions that regulate micturition, and plaque involvement in these regions may be associated with urinary symptom severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between cerebral plaque volume (PV), location and urinary symptoms in women with MS.
This was a prospective case control single-institution study of women with MS undergoing routine yearly brain MRI. Women were administered the AUA Symptom Score (AUASS) and divided into two groups: women with severe urinary symptoms (AUASS20) and women with mild symptoms (AUASS7). MS PV and location in the brain were determined using a validated automated white matter lesion segmentation algorithm. The study included 36 women with a median age of 50.1 years and BMI 26.6 kg/m2 with no significant differences between groups, p>0.05. The median total PV was 2523.5mm3 and did not differ between the groups, p=0.52. Women with severe urinary symptoms had larger median PV in the left frontal lobe (LFL) (623.5mm3 IQR 2652 vs. 184mm3 IQR 908; p=0.04) and right limbic lobe (RLL) (1.5mm3 IQR 10 vs. 0 IQR 0; p=0.02) compared to women with mild urinary symptoms.
Within the RLL, women with severe symptoms had larger median PV in the cingulate gyrus (median 1 IQR 4 vs. median 0 IQR 0; p=0.02). There was moderate correlation between LFL lesion volume and the AUA voiding symptom subscore (coefficient 0.4, p=0.03) as well as RLL lesion volume and the AUA voiding symptom subscore (coefficient 0.5, p=0.002). However, these regions did not correlate with the storage subscore. There were no significant relationships between symptoms severity and PV in the insula, cerebellum, corpus callosum, occipital or parietal lobes (p>0.05).
The study conclusion was urinary symptom severity in women with MS is associated with plaque in the cingulate gyrus and LFL, and not total cerebral plaque volume. The voiding symptom subscore of AUASS correlated with the volume of plaque in these locations. Further research to assess spinal cord plaque characteristics is underway
Presented by: Siobhan Hartigan, MD, University of Pennsylvania
Written by: Diane K. Newman, DNP, FAAN, BCB-PMD, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
at the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA


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Scand J Work Environ Health 1976;2(2):87-95 pdf
doi:10.5271/sjweh.2820 | Issue date: Jun 1976
Transmission of vibration in the hand-arm system with special reference to changes in compression force and acceleration.
by Pyykkö I, Färkkilä M, Toivanen J, Korhonen O, Hyvärinen J
The transmission of longitudinal vibration in the hand-arm system of five subjects was investigated. Altogether 405 individual tests were made. Vibration was measured with an accelerometer (weight 0.4 g) fixed in turn to the wrist, the elbow, and the upper arm by means of a supporting device (weight 34 g). A handle with strain gauges attached was used to study the effect of compression force (10, 20 and 40 N) and constant acceleration (1, 3 and 10 g) on the transmission of vibration at frequencies from 20 to 630 Hz. In the curves recorded, sharp dips appeared which were evidently caused by resonances from the soft tissues of the hand. However in the hand-arm system no common resonance frequency was observed that would harmfully affect the health of workers. Vibration in the hand-arm system was attenuated at an average of 3 dB per octave at the frequencies between 20 and 100 Hz. Between 100 and 630 Hz the attenuation was about 6 dB per octave in the wrist and 10 dB per octave in the elbow and upper arm. At the frequency of 630 Hz the attenuation was hence about 35 dB in the wrist and about 45 DB in the elbow. The attenuation of vibration in the elbow joint was 2 to 4 dB at all frequencies. The hand-arm system appears to be linear at the acceleration range considered; the increase in handle vibration by, e.g., 10 dB also increased vibration in the hand by 10 dB. When the grip strength was increased fourfold, i.e., 12 dB, vibration increased only 3 to 5 dB in the hand-arm system. Thus changing the weight of a vibrating tool does not reduce vibration enough. Therefore attempts to reduce vibration should concentrate on the mechanical parts of the engines.
The following article refers to this text: 2017;43(3):191-195
Key terms acceleration; arm; chain saw modeling; compression force; hand; hand-arm system; tissue resonance; vibration; vibration attenuation; vibration syndrome; vibration transmission


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Southwest Montana Astronomical Society Amateur Astronomy Under The Big Sky
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The below was copied from the old MSU SMAS Website and archived here:
Southwest Montana Astronomical Society
2009 Stars Over Yellowstone Dates Announced
The dates for the Stars Over Yellowstone star parties are June 19-21, July 24-26, and Aug 21-23 at Madison Campground Amphitheater. Park entrance passes and tent camping sites at Madison campground are reserved and available free for the first five cars of volunteers. Astronomy talk will take place in the amphitheater at sundown followed by telescope viewing in the meadow below. This is the 11th annual SOY event! Originally created by James Manning (now Executive Director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific) and Mike Murray (now Director of the Clark Planetarium in Salt lake City).
You need not be a SMAS club member to join us for this event! We enjoy sharing the nights skies of Yellowstone with all star-grazed enthusiasts!
2009-01-18 – 2009 SMAS Winter Lecture Series Announced
Astronomy experts will provide the latest information and research on the universe. Sponsored by the Southwest Montana Astronomical Society, the Montana Space Grant Consortium, and the MoR. All lectures are at 7:30 pm in the Hager Auditorium at the Museum of the Rockies and are free to the public.
January – Stacy Palen, Assistant Professor at Weber State University, will present News From The Very Latest In Very Large Arrays on Friday, January 30.
February – Neil Cornish, Associate Professor at Montana State University, will present Gravitational Waves: A New Way Of Seeing The Universe on Friday, Feburary 20.
March – Rob Landis, Mission Operations Directorate at NASA Johnson Space Center, will present Between The Moon And Mars on Friday, March 6.
Your Telescope and You – An Introduction
SMAS will host a observing session at the Museum of the Rockies on April 25 beginning at 7:30 PM for club members and the general public. So bring our telescope/binocular/eyeballs and let SMAS members help you to learn how use them. If you don't have an instrument of your own, there will be a wide variety of club and member instruments available along with knowledgeable and gentle guidance to help you have a memorable observing experience. Come one, come all, and even if the weather doesn't cooperate, there will be plenty of activities indoors.
The Sun will set at 8:23 and astronomical twilight occurs at 10:20. We have prepared all sky charts in PDF for this time to aid in planning your session.
2008-03-11 Anatomy of a Revolution: How Galileo Democratized the Sky
Jim Manning, Executive Director of The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, will present the third and final lecture in our 2008 winter lecture series Anatomy of a Revolution: How Galileo Democratized the Sky on Friday March 27 in the Hager Auditorium at the Museum of the Rockies. The presentation will begin at 7:00 PM and is open to the public.
2008-02-22 The Search for Earth: NASA's Virtual Planetary Laboratory
Our winter lecture series continues with Dr. John Armstrong's presentation of The Search for Earth: NASA's Virtual Planetary Laboratory on Friday, February 29 in the Hager Auditorium at the Museum of the Rockies. The presentation will begin at 7:00 PM and is free to the public. The lecture is sponsored by SMAS and the Montana Space Grant Consortium .
2008-02-22 Hundreds Turnout to Observe Lunar Eclipse
Hundreds of people turned out on Wednesday to observe a spectacular total lunar eclipse at the Museum of the Rockies. Despite thin clouds partially obscuring Luna early in the penmbral phase, beautiful views through a wide variety instruments were had by all. In addition to the eclipse, many observed Saturn and its moons which were in close proximity to Luna as well as other favorites such as the Great Nebula in Orion which was high in the South.
Duncan and Robert Banfill piggybacked their DSLR onto their 10″- LXD75 Schmitt-Newtonian and captured this time-lapse sequence of most of the eclipse. The frame interval is three minutes so you get to see most of the eclipse in about 28 seconds.
Thanks to everyone who came out and to the Museum of the Rockies for hosting this event. A very special thanks goes out to all the SMAS members and the museum staff who helped out with this event.
2008-02-16 Total Lunar Eclipse
Join the Museum of the Rockies and SMAS as we observe the total lunar eclipse that will occur on February 20. It all happens at the Museum of the Rockies Redstart Classroom at 6:00 PM.
2008-02-01 SMAS Site Back on the Air
After a fairly long break, we have the site updated with the election . We have a new President, Dr. Richard Sabo, who has been our Vice President and Observing Chair for the past few years. Dick replaces Fred Birk who is assuming the role of Editor of the Star Wrangler. David Binnewies is our new Vice President replacing Dick. David has been a Member-at-Large and very active in the club for many years. Congratulations to all new officers, members-at-large, and activity heads.
We hope to have the Star Wrangler available online soon and we are looking for content from our members. If you have content to contribute the newsletter or the site, and we know that you do, please contact Fred and get involved.
In the near future we also plan to have an RSS feed for current club activities and events up and running along with the Star Wrangler. Please check here at the site often and please get involved in these efforts.
2007-05-21 Measuring the Universe Study Group
The ongoing lecture series and study group, Measuring the Universe, is being conducted by our club President Fred Birk. Part I – The Solar System, is currently underway with three sessions completed so far and three more planned. Part II and Part III are planned for later in 2007 and for the better part of 2008. The coverage will be "Our Milky Way Galaxy and the Local Group (Part II) and finally Sizing up the whole Universe (Part III).
Check the Study Groups link or contact Fred for more information or if you'd like to get involved.
2007-05-19 – Club Membership Dues Reduced
The club has reduced its annual dues from $25.00 to $20.00 per year for single memberships and from $30.00 to $25.00 per year for family memberships. If you're not a member, now would be a great time to join.
2007-05-11 – Weather cuts short the Mini-Messier Marathon
Despite clouds, winds, and the threat of rain, a good number of members turned out for the Mini-Messier Marathon at Dick Sabo's house on the 11th. Our Vice President and his wife put on an very nice event even though the weather cut things short at about 1:00 AM. A good time was had by all and many delicious brownies were consumed along with copious amounts of hot coffee. Thanks to Dick and his wife for hosting this event at their wonderful home and thanks to everyone you turned out in spite of the weather.
Better luck, and hopefully better skies, next time…
2007-04-21 – Astro Fair on Astronomy Day
The Southwest Montana Astronomical Society's 12th annual Astro Fair on Astronomy Day was held on Saturday, April 21, at the Museum of the Rockies. Special thanks goes out to everyone who helped to make this event such a great success. Here is a quick summary and a few photos of the event.
2007-03-31 The Pace to Space
The final lecture of our winter lecture series , Dr. John Bacon's The Pace to Space: Where We're Going in Space, and How Fast We're Getting There; was held on Friday, March 30, in the Hager Auditorium at the Museum of the Rockies to a nearly full house. Many thanks to everyone who turned out for the lecture, to David Binnewies, Manager of the Taylor Planetarium at MoR and SMAS board Member at Large, on whose initiative we were able to have such a prominent speaker here in Bozeman, to SMAS members Brigitte and Doug Flecter for hosting the after-lecture social and to everyone else who helped to make this event happen.
And a very special thanks to Dr. Bacon for coming and sharing his knowledge and vision with us.
2007-03-29 Call for member talks
This year's calendar includes several Club member talks during our regular meetings. These are intended to provide an opportunity for us to get to know each other's interests and astronomy-related activities. They also can be used a catalyst to do some research on a topic of interest and put the information into order so that it can be shared with fellow enthusiasts. Here are a few topics to tease your interest: (all of these were mentioned in the SMAS survey)
Supernova as standard candles, Basic Astrophotography, Building a telescope, Status of extra solar planetary science, Solar research, Double star, Variable stars, Star clusters, Quasars and black holes, DSLR astrophotography, Star histories of primitive peoples,
Available dates are June 29, August 31 and November 30. Please contact Dick Sabo soon if you are interested in participating.
2007-03-13 Mini-Messier Marathon announced
Our Vice President and Observing Chair, Dick Sabo, has scheduled a Mini-Messier Marathon for SMAS members at his house west of four corners on Friday, 2007-05-11. An exciting time is sure to be had by all so be sure to mark your calendar.
We also received a really nice card from the good folks at the Irving School thanking the club for our involvement in their Cosmic Carnival last month. Be sure to take a look…
2007-03-11 Web site work continues…
Work continues on the new site which is now online. The old site will continue to be available.
Over the last few weeks we have taken some time to firm up the site markup and stylesheet with fairly exhaustive testing across a broad range of user agents including Firefox 2.0, Safari 2.0.4, Opera 9.1, Netscape 8.1, Internet Explorer 6.0 and 7.0, and Lynx. This testing along with XHTML and CSS validation helps to insure that everyone can access our site regardless of their platform or browser. We have also addressed many accessibility issues in the markup and have used Cynthia Says to validate WCAG 1.0 and Section 508 compliance which will help to insure that people with disabilities will also be able to access our site.

2007-02-24 Irving School Cosmic Carnival a great success
Irving Elementary School Cosmic Carnival – The Universe was a great success. The kids and their parents came out in force to take a look at the Moon and Saturn. A special thanks to David Binniwies hosted an inflatable planetarium indoors, along with Fred Birk, Dick Sabo, and Lynn Powers who, in addition to Duncan and I, staffed the telescopes outside. photos are in the gallery
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