Who doesn’t love women in uniform? We know we do, and since not all girls in official garb are what you’d call hot, we went ahead and filled in the ranks with some luscious wannabes to even things out. Some of these girls may not be the real deal, but they do their part to keep this age-old fantasy alive and well when there aren’t enough real girls in uniform to go around.
When 59 year old Bill Jordan went to get his iPad from the local Apple store, he paid a little more than the agreed price of $499. As the story goes, when the Denver resident left Apple store with his prized gadget, he had his fingers wrapped around the device so he doesn’t drop it. Little did he know that somebody more enthusiastic than him has been stalking him. As soon as the thief got a chance, he got into a physical struggle with Bill Jordan to snatch his iPad.
As crazy as it sounds, the thief tried so hard that in addition to the iPad, he was able to tore some flesh off the pinky. The finger had to be amputated to prevent further damage. The police, however, has caught the event on a surveillance camera and is trying to catch the culprit. Here is a picture of Bill Jordan after the incident:
The funniest part of the story is that Bill Jordan didn’t even know what an iPad is; rather, his company told him to get one as a business gift to a co-worker. Denver Crime Stoppers are offering a reward of $2000 to anybody who can lead to the capture of this iPad culprit. Am I the only one who thinks this iPad craze is going a bit too far? Below is the video from one of the surveillance cameras showing the incident:
[Image Credit: Mashable]
by Fatma Yilmaz Elmas, Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Elections in Northern Cyprus, turning into a quasi-race between supporters of the negotiation process and those who are against either the process itself or the course of process, resulted at the first round on April, 18. Dervis Eroglu won the presidential elections with just over 50% of the total vote whereas Mehmet Ali Talat was defeated by taking 42.84% of the vote in contrast to his previous victory in 2005 with an average 55%.
The issue putting its mark on the choice of the electorate and related to the following process is about in what way the negotiations will proceed. It seems that there will be no deviation from the existing will to continue the negotiations, according to Eroglu’s several speeches, previous party program and election declaration for presidency. This view was clear enough in victory speech of Eroglu after the declaration of ultimate results. In his speech, Eroglu expressed that he will not be the one who leave the negotiation table and noted that the negotiations will continue in cooperation with Turkey. However, Eroglu’s attitude is so obvious that the negotiation process will be conducted with a different perspective. Eroglu’s style seems to differ from that of Talat in terms of both way of conducting negotiations and parameters on which negotiations are based. Complaining about an opaque negotiation process during Talat era, Eroglu envisages some steps to make negotiations more transparent and open. The primary one is to form a structure similar to “National Council” in Southern Cyprus. Accordingly, it will incorporate also the government in the process and it will therefore give way to teamwork during the negotiation process instead of one-man domination.
In contrast to Talat’s vision based on bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, the basic parameter of a possible solution for Eroglu is a new partnership based on the equal political status of founding states. From this viewpoint, the foreseen federation could only be attained by evolutionary term stating with a confederational structure founded by two independent and sovereign states on the island. Therefore, it is expectable that the divergent view of Eroglu from that of Talat could force Greek leader Christofias further.
Nevertheless, the main issue on Cyprus negotiations is how the Greek side will make use of the change in Turkish presidency rather than divergent attitudes of Talat and Eroglu in respect of solution parameters. The Greek propaganda, trying to show Eroglu as if he is against any solution and to direct and convince both national and international public opinion in this way, has paid well. The news about the elections in foreign press that Eroglu is unwilling for a solution, despite his counter-speeches, shows that the Greek propaganda has been relatively successful. It will not be wrong to wait for the Greek side to try its best to strengthen this perception more in the international arena. Any future deadlocks in negotiation process could be a good tool to utilize for the Greek side in order to change its uncompromising image sticking on it after Annan Plan referenda. At this point, importance of the external dynamics comes on the scene. Without any pressure on Christofias coming from the international public opinion in favor of a possible solution, it seems so difficult to make any progress in negotiations. The process have been damaged anyhow even in Talat-Christofias period because of the inconsistencies of both rhetoric and action. Apart from the accusations of parties against one another, incompatible judicial steps of both sides about the guarantorship also harmed the process primarily. Revitalization of the process once again in real term mostly depends on the European Union which is, to a great extent, the main responsible actor for the imbalance especially in negotiation process. Needless to say, the Greek side has the EU membership card in its hand on behalf of the whole island. What more, it is about to manage to convince the international public opinion about Eroglu’s uncompromising stance on a possible solution. In such situation, it is hard to expect from the Greeks to take constructive steps without any forcible reason.
There is also another dimension on this issue, which is internal dynamics. Eroglu’s commitment to stay on the negotiation table is not enough alone to set the course of ongoing negotiations. In addition to the contribution of external dynamics, it is essential to add internal dynamics to this process. The necessity of synchronous and multi-dimensional policies including social, political, economic and judicial initiatives has been the neglected part of a possible solution for a long time. As the possible solution is only locked onto the negotiation process, the necessary reforms in order to eliminate the socio-economic asymmetry in the island in favor of the Turkish side is the most important part of such neglected point. During the presidential elections, any approaches about the internal dynamics either were not mentioned or were so weak. CTP’s (Republican Turkish Party) belief on internal dynamics of the solution and its emphasis on the need for reform in several state regulations could not be realized. Except the several sentences in CTP party program during April 2009 elections, the concept of internal dynamics has mainly remained out of the issue. However, internal dynamics is not only an element which will strengthen the hand of Turkish side on negotiation table against the Greek side, it is also a crucial concept for making projections about future as “B Plan” for Northern Cyprus in case of a possibility of cessation of the ongoing negotiations.
Important to note that, a possible deadlock in negotiation process since it turns into a race to stay just at the table seems not logical till the end. Thus, what should be done in long-term is to make strategic planning from the best to the worst case scenarios in regard to negotiations. However, this situation should not be interpreted that the negotiations have to be conducted in an insincere way. This is just an effort to transform the process, which has proceeded as a derivative just of the external dynamics for long years, into a viable solution
Fatma Yilmaz-Elmas (Mrs.)
USAK Centre for EU Studies
http://www.turkishweekly.net
(Note: The ideal measurement would use profit instead of revenue and payroll instead of employee headcount. But those are tougher numbers to find for obvious reasons.)
After the jump: The story behind this chart.
Absolutely nothing?
Well, that depends on what you are looking for.
If you are a desperate fan base whose team hasn’t gone to a bowl game in two years, you might be inclined to look for glimmers of hope in the spring game.
Mr. "I threw an interception once every eight times I put the ball in the air" had a good spring, oh boy!
“Did you see how well [insert name] performed? We are going to be better this year for sure!”
If this is your attitude going in to the spring game, then yes, it is worth absolutely nothing.
How much can you really learn from the first team offense playing against the second team defense? Not much.
But when you are desperate, you will use anything to make you feel better.
If you aren’t following me, here is the take away: any Michigan fans making predictions about next year based on the spring game are full of it.
Rose Bowl actions speak louder than Spring Game actions (especially against your own crappy 2nd string defense).
Similarly, as Ohio State fans, we shouldn’t expect too much out of the Spring Game. Will it be entertaining? yes. Will I be watching? yes. Will it be great to see the scarlet and gray in the Shoe on a Saturday afternoon? absolutely.
But here’s the thing, Ohio State is going to be a great team next year regardless of what happens in the spring game. If Pryor throws 5 touchdowns, great. If he throws 5 interceptions? meh.
The point is, being overly negative or overly positive about the upcoming season based on the spring game is pointless.
The first team offensive line will be split up, the first team defensive line will be split up, Pryor’s favorite targets that he has been developing chemistry with all spring may not be on the same team as him.
So, as Ohio State fans, let’s enjoy the Spring Game for what it is (an exhibition) and not get all worked up over what it’s not (a preview of the upcoming season).
Like I said, Ohio State is going to be a great team next year, regardless of what happens on Saturday, because they were a great team last year and practically everyone is coming back.
Isn’t it nice knowing that? After all, relying on performances against the second team in an exhibition game is a pretty pathetic reason to be optimistic for the upcoming season, and just one more reason why we can all sit back and laugh at Michigan.
I am not saying we shouldn’t be excited about Saturday, after all, it is going to be awesome, but don’t expect to take much away from it.
Here is a nice rundown of what to look for on Saturday from Vico at OurHonorDefend.
Let’s enjoy the individual performances and a chance to see some hitting, let’s enjoy seeing the scarlet and gray on the field once again, hell, let’s even get optimistic if it is warranted, but let’s not get too carried away.
One of the main features some people is multi-touch. This topic in regards to the X10 has been debated over and over. Official word was this device did not have the capability of supporting multi-touch ever. A video has just surfaced that could prove this wrong.
Towards the end of the video, Google Maps is opened and it’s zoomed in, pinch style. There has been a rumor that an update will be pushed out at some point that adds MT to the X10. Maybe this is a demo of that update? Who knows, only time will tell?
Rebecca Zacks wrote:
One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about technology journalism is how cozy a niche it is. There just aren’t than many folks who can geek out with the lab dwellers, put the hard questions to the executives, and get it all down on the page, on a deadline–so it often feels like if you cover this beat for long enough you’ll wind up working with everybody else who does at one time or another. And I’m very happy to report that the time has come for us at Xconomy to get to work with Sylvia Pagán Westphal.
Sylvia is an accomplished life sciences journalist who has been a staffer at the Wall Street Journal, New Scientist Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times, and a freelancer for The Boston Globe, CNN.com, The New York Times, and Smithsonian Magazine. She’s got a surplus of academic cred as well: she got her Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard Medical School, studied journalism at the Boston University Center for Science and Medical Journalism, and was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. (See Sylvia’s bio for more on her background, including an important disclosure.)
After all those years of reporting on and studying biotech, pharma, and medicine, Sylvia has some strong opinions about how those industries work—and how they could work better. We’re thrilled that she’s agreed to share those ideas as Xconomy’s new life sciences columnist, starting today with a thought-provoking piece on the web of self-interests that both threaten life sciences and hold the sector together. Sylvia’s column will be called The Pulse. I encourage you to check out her inaugural piece, and to watch this space for new installments ever other week or so. Knowing Sylvia, it’s sure to be a fun ride.
UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS
Sure, sure, AT&T added another 1.9 million subscribers and activated 2.7 million new iPhones. But the most interesting slide in their earnings statement was the one detailing, statistically, how much less they suck. With graphs and stuff. More »
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: A frog with no lungs, a frog that changes its skin and eye colour and the world’s longest insect are among new species discovered in the three years since the Heart of Borneo conservation plan was drawn up by the three governments with jurisdiction over the world’s third largest island.
New WWF report Borneo’s New World: Newly Discovered Species in the Heart of Borneo details 123 new species discovered since the February 2007 agreement by Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia to conserve 220,000 km2 of irreplaceable tropical rainforest, designated the Heart of Borneo (HoB).
"As the past three years of independent scientific discovery have proven, new forms of life are constantly being discovered in the Heart of Borneo,â" said Adam Tomasek, leader of WWF’s HoB Initiative.
Explorers have been visiting the island of Borneo for centuries, but vast tracts of its interior are yet to be biologically explored, he said.
"If this stretch of irreplaceable rainforest can be conserved for our children, the promise of more discoveries must be a tantalising one for the next generation of researchers to contemplate," he added.
The HoB, an "island within an island" is home to ten species of primate, more than 350 birds, 150 reptiles and amphibians and a staggering 10,000 plants that are found nowhere else in the world, the report says.
The rate of discovery since the foundation of the HoB is more than three new species per month, providing ample justification for the decision to protect the region.
Speaking at the launch of the report during a meeting of the three Heart of Borneo governments, Brunei Darussalam’s Minister of Industry & Primary Resources, the Honourable Pehin Dato Yahya, paid tribute to the dedicated scientists who spent countless hours in challenging conditions to uncover the staggering bio-diversity.
"These amazing new findings highlight the importance of our efforts to implement the HoB Declaration’s bold vision," he said of the region which also contains the pygmy elephant, orangutan, rhinoceros, and clouded leopard.
With so many new species discovered every month, WWF has made the region a global priority through its Heart of Borneo Initiative. WWF offices in Malaysia and Indonesia support tri-government efforts to conserve and sustainably manage the HoB.
Under the 2007 agreement, the three governments have committed to enhance protected area and trans-boundary management, develop eco-tourism and support sustainable resource management.
"Three years on, the Heart of Borneo Declaration is proving to be an irreplaceable foundation for conservation and sustainable development by establishing a framework for action to protect Borneo’s globally outstanding biodiversity, eco-system services and livelihoods," WWF’s Tomasek said.
"The discovery of these new species in the Heart of Borneo underlines the incredible diversity of this remarkable area and emphasizes the importance of the commitments already made by Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia to protect it," he added.
The discoveries also highlight the need to increase financial and technical support to ensure their continued survival, he said.
Newly discovered species in the Heart of Borneo
Download the report here (PDF, 3.5mb)
Adam Tomasek, Leader, Heart of Borneo Initiative, WWF Tel: +62 21 5761070 Ext. 228, E-mail: [email protected]
Christopher Greenwood, International Communications Manager, Heart of Borneo Initiative, WWF Tel: + 60 128281214 E-mail: [email protected]
Jonathon Larkin, WWF Australia Press Office, 0410 221 410, 02 8202 1216
Electronic version of the WWF report is available here
Images of the new species can be downloaded here.
Researchers who have indicated a willingness to be interviewed on their discoveries are listed below.
Prof. Dr. Menno Schilthuizen – discoverer of a number of slug species and someone very familiar with the Borneo region, National Museum of Natural History ‘Naturalis’, P.O. Box 9517; 2300 RA Leiden; the Netherlands, tel. (+31-0)-71-5687769; mobile: (+31-0)-6-22030313; home: (+31-0)-318-300380, E-mail: [email protected] Webpage
Also, Dr Gernot Vogel – snake discovery. Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology, Im Sand 3, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany, Email: [email protected], Webpage
| Published: | April 21, 2010 |
| Paper Released: | March 2010 |
| Authors: | Ian Larkin and Stephen Leider |
The use of “non-linear” performance-based incentive contracts is very common in many business environments. The most well-known example is salesperson compensation, though many other types of performance-based pay, including stock options, bonus systems based on defined metrics, and pay based on subjective performance, often exhibit non-linear characteristics. Research has demonstrated that non-linear incentives are highly distortionary because employees manipulate their work in order to maximize their pay. While some scholars have recommended that companies stop using non-linear incentives, little research has been done to investigate the possible benefits of non-linear schemes. In this paper, HBS professor Ian Larkin and Ross School of Business professor Stephen Leider (HBS PhD ’09) explore the role that the behavioral bias of overconfidence may play in explaining the prevalence of non-linear incentive schemes. They conclude that the linearity or non-linearity of an incentive system could play an important role in sorting employees according to their level of confidence; in addition, there may be three possible benefits to having overconfident employees. Key concepts include:
Non-linear incentive schemes are commonly used to determine employee pay, despite their distortionary impact. We investigate possible reasons for their widespread use by examining the relationship between convex pay schemes and overconfidence. In a laboratory experiment, subjects chose between a piece rate and a convex pay scheme. We find that overconfident subjects are more likely than others to choose the convex scheme, even when it leads to lower pay. Overconfident subjects also persist in making the mistake despite clear feedback. These results suggest non-linear pay schemes may help companies select and retain overconfident workers, and may reduce the wage bill.
35 pages.
Os óleos vegetais são mais importantes para a nossa saúde do que pensamos e devem ser usados de maneira adequada. De girassol, algodão, linhaça, de milho, de canola, de soja, de dendê, de côco e o delicioso azeite de oliva são excelentes fontes dos denominados ácidos graxos mono e poliinsaturados.
| Gordura | Óleo de Soja | Óleo de Milho | Azeite |
| Saturadas (g) | 15 | 13 | 13 |
| Polinsaturadas (g) | 55 | 44 | 08 |
| Monoinsaturas (g) | 22 | 29 | 79 |
| *Valores por 100 ml do produto | |||
O que são essas gorduras?
Saturadas – são normalmente sólidas em temperatura ambiente, típicas de produtos de origem animal, são mais estáveis o que torna sua ligação com o oxigênio difícil. Estão relacionadas com o aumento do nível de colesterol sangüíneo.
Insaturadas (mono e poli) são líquidas em temperatura ambiente, estando envolvidas com a diminuição dos níveis de colesterol total do sangue, atuando principalmente na redução do colesterol ruim, o LDL.
Substituir a ingestão de gorduras saturadas, que estão presentes em maior quantidades em alimentos de origem animal, pelas gorduras insaturadas está também relacionada ao efeito protetor contra o surgimento de doenças coronarianas. Os ácidos linoleico e alfalinolênicos, indispensáveis, são os dois únicos que nosso organismo não consegue produzir. Esses ácidos graxos, são essenciais para a renovação das membranas celulares, especialmente as do sistema nervoso e tem um papel preservativo nas doenças cardiovaculares e um efeito redutor no colesterol em certos indivíduos.
Cozedura a altas temperaturas – óleo de amendoim – Rico em ácidos graxos monoinsaturados, ele resiste especialmente bem às altas temperaturas, sendo ideal para as cozeduras fortes e frituras. Para os molhos, é preferível usar os óleos mais ricos em vitamina E e em ácidos indispensáveis.
Para entender os tipos de óleos, é necessário ficar atento aos rótulos:
– Óleo virgem – é obtido após a pressão a frio, sem sofrer refinação. a primeira “pressão a frio” é um método de extração que produz um óleo colorido, espessoe perfumado, ao contrário do refinado que é inodoro e sem sabor. Essa é a técnica utilizada especialmente para o azeite.
– Óleo extra virgem – é uma classificação reservada aos óleos virgens com acidez inferior a 1%.
– Óleo de … – aplica-se aos óleos de uma única variedade ou de um único fruto, tendo sofrido o processo de refinação. Sem a refinação os óleos de sementes são geralmente escuros, turvos, desagradáveis ao paladar e mais sensíveis ao calor. Assim é necessário refinar o óleo para retirar impurezas. Nesse processo, a vitamina E perde parte de suas propriedades. No final, o refino produz um óleo inodoro, incolor e sem sabor.
– Óleo vegetal – trata-se de óleo constituído por uma mistura de óleos alimentares (como o óleo combinado).
Outras dicas importantes:
– Que tipo de garrafa escolher – Privilegie os óleos embalados em garrafas de cor opacas ou de metal. A exposição à luz e ao calor não é favorável à estabilidade das vitaminas e dos ácidos graxos insaturados, pois a sua estrutura quimica é frágil.
– Tempo de conservação – uma vez aberta a garrafa pode ser conservada durante meses. Mas não se esqueça de fecha-la bem após cada utilização para evitar oxidação pelo contato com o ar. A data inscrita na embalagem não é a data-limite de consumo, mas uma data-limite de utilização ótima. O óleo com data vencida não provoca nenhuma doença, mas pode se tornar um pouco rançoso.
– Conservação – o óleo deve ficar ao abrigo da luz direta e fontes de calor. Deve ser conservado, de preferência, em local frio. Mas não no refrigerador, pois ficará coalhado.
E a marca?Algumas marcas fraudam o consumidor. Um teste feito pela ProTeste, as marcas que receberam as melhores classificações foram: Carbonell (o melhor no teste), Beira Alta (melhor custo/beneficio), La Española, Pic-Nic, Andorinha e Gallo. As marcas Arisco, Faisão, Minha Quinta, Torre de Belém e Otoyan foram consideradas “batizadas” (revelaram adição de óleo de bagaço de oliva ou outros óleos vegetais) e, assim, eliminados do teste.
Fonte: Revista Vida e Saúde
Eaton Corporation has added a hydro-mechanical torque control option and several performance upgrades to its 420 open circuit piston pump product line. The 420 pump with hydro-mechanical torque control automatically senses heavy loads and adjusts hydraulic fluid flow accordingly.
It is intended for moderate-flow, medium-pressure mobile applications such as compact wheel loaders, telehandlers, rough terrain forklifts, telescopic booms, sweepers, backhoe loaders, and refuse trucks operating up to 280 bar continuously.
To accommodate the new torque control, the pump housing was redesigned and a case-to-inlet check valve was added to improve cold weather operation and provide added protection to the seals and rotating group. The new torque control works in parallel with the standard compensator, using a special mechanism to replace the control piston. Other design changes have decreased airborne noise to a typical 76 dBA at 1,800 rpm and 207 bar, providing an environmental benefit both to the operator and those working around the vehicle.
“In compact and mid-size equipment, torque almost always needs to be controlled,” said Eaton’s John Taylor, Product Manager, Power Products. “Limiting the torque at the pump shaft across a wide range of engine speeds provides operators with the benefits of increased productivity, greater efficiency and fewer engine stalls. The result is lower engine emissions and improved fuel economy.
Productivity is enhanced by increasing the speed with which the vehicle function is performed due to flow rate changes made by the torque control system. For example, raising a heavy load with a set of forks on a telehandler places a significant amount of demand on the hydraulic pump and system. To prevent engine stalls without limiting the telehandler’s lifting capacity, manufacturers not using torque control would be forced to use a smaller displacement pump that significantly slows the operation of the forks. Torque control automatically senses heavy loads and adjusts flow accordingly. Limiting the flow in high pressure situations limits the torque the pump can apply to the engine and, as a result, avoids the corner horsepower point and prevents the engine from stalling. It also allows for higher flow and quicker operation when the set of forks is empty, which means higher productivity.”
Eaton’s 420 pumps offer outstanding power density that is not compromised by the use of torque control.
For more information: [email protected]
PIM2401 is a Technosoft intelligent plug-in minidrive specially designed for motion control applications where space is dramatically limited. Its miniature size (50 x 44 x 14 mm) and weight (15 g) allow it to be mounted horizontally or vertically, inside the machine or near the motor. The drive is manufactured with simple pins; this architecture reduces the time needed to assemble it. PIM2401 controls DC, brushless, linear and step motors up to 25W (24V, 1A).
With its small dimensions, PIM2401 embeds a digital drive, a powerful motion controller and PLC functionalities in the same unit. One of the key advantages of PIM2401 is its ability to execute complex motions without requiring any external controller. Complex movement sequences can be programmed directly on the PIM, while system control functions are handled from the supervising PC or PLC. Motion modes as contouring, profiling, gearing, electronic camming, PVT are easily executed in stand-alone or multi-axis configurations.
PC and PLC motion libraries are available for the drive’s quick industrial integration. Starter kits will help users to evaluate it and develop specific projects. PIM2401 supports DS-301 and DSP-402 CANopen profiles. Incremental encoders, digital and linear Halls are incorporated by default.
All these benefits plug-in design, embedded intelligence and miniature size make PIM2401 a valuable motion control solution for all industrial applications where space is critical and the machines / PCBs need to be kept uncrowded.
Weight : 1.8Ton 3Tons,4Ton, 5Ton, 6Ton, 8Ton, 15Ton, 21Ton, 23Ton, 30Ton,
Bucket capacity : 0.06m3,0.08m3,0.12m3,0.2m3,0.4m3,0.6m3,0.8m3,1.0m3,1.4m3
Engine : Yanmar,Perkins,Mitsubishi
Rexroth Hydraulic pump and valves, Kawasaki Valves, Toshiba Pumps, Italian made pumps, valves,swing and travel hydraulic motors, all by your option.
Below are links to news stories of interest from newspapers that came up during a search today. These links were active at the time of this e-mail, but should you want to save a story, printing it or cutting and pasting the entire article and saving it to your computer is recommended.
Statehouse rally for tax increase could be largest in history
Bloomington Pantagraph – SPRINGFIELD — Up to 15,000 citizen lobbyists are expected to descend on the Capitol on Wednesday to rally for a tax increase to help fix the state’s crippled budget.
City prepares for massive Statehouse rally
Springfield State Journal Register – the casualty count in terms of people and organizations and institutions and needs unmet,” Bouman said. Representatives of about 100 organizations will attend, he said, including the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Lawmakers preview Wednesday’s teachers rally
Streator Times-Press – public education supporters and members of the Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association will arrive early at the Capitol, where they are scheduled to stay all day to reach out to lawmakers and make their statement. Gov. Pat Quinn, who has been pushing a on
More dollars sought for education
Alton – part in the rally will include members of the Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association. School districts throughout Illinois are reducing staff and making severe budget cuts as the state is months late – and millions of dollars behind – in reimbursement
New money-making idea for state: iTax
Chicago Sun Times – An army of union-backed protestors is expected to converge on the state Capitol Wednesday to push for the Quinn income-tax increase. As many as 15,000 members of AFSCME Council 31, SEIU, the Illinois Education Association and Illinois Federation of Teachers are expected for the massive event, which will shut down streets around the Statehouse in order to accommodate 300 buses.
Thousands expected at Capitol rally today
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – That’s resulted in a $4.5 billion payment backlog, including $1.3 billion owed to schools. “The bottom line is, it hurts the kids,” said St. Charles Education Association President Pam Turriff. “We just want to make the legislators aware that we all feel they need to step up to the plate and fund education for all kids.”
Forum, rallies focus on state budget
Marion Daily Republican – Melody Sexton, the local Illinois Educators Association chair, expressed her frustration at more than 100 education staff riffed in the past few months due to budget concerns. “As a teacher, I’m upset about the whole deal,” she said. “Already some schools were working on a shoestring budget. If you don’t step up, we’re going to lose totally and next year
Lawmakers preview Wednesday’s teachers rally
Streator Times-Press – Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association will arrive early at the Capitol, where they are scheduled to stay all day to reach out to lawmakers and make their statement. Gov. Pat Quinn, who has been pushing a one percentage point income tax increase, said lawmakers should vote for the 33 percent tax hike because it would help education, which otherwise is slated
More dollars sought for education
Alton Telegraph – Web site (www.illinoiseducationassociation.org) explains its position: “We support a balanced approach to fixing the state budget. That means budget cuts and a revenue increase. IEA supports Gov. Quinn’s proposed 1 percent income tax increase for education. Our schools and communities would be devastated by the layoffs and budget cuts that have been proposed.
Our View: State budget requires answers, not evasions or excuses
Peoria Journal Star – up to 15,000 is expected to descend on the Illinois Statehouse today to demand that lawmakers get serious about fixing a $13 billion budget hole by raising taxes and avoiding dramatic cuts to education funding. Should the anticipated number materialize, it would rank as the largest such rally in state history. That doesn’t mean they’ll get what they want:
Four-day school week hits a roadblock in Senate committee
Journal&Gazette Times-Courier – SPRINGFIELD—An Illinois Senate panel Tuesday shot down a proposal that would allow Illinois school districts to hold classes four days a weekJust two of 11 members of the Senate Education Committee supported a plan to allow local districts to give students a full school year of three-day weekends.Although the measure received widespread backing in the House
State shirking responsibility for education
Bloomington Pantagraph – have watched equalized assessed valuation fall or not kept pace with the demands of a growing student body. As a result, districts across the state have sent out layoff notices to about 30,000 teachers. Unit 5 has sent layoff notices to 120 first-year teachers. In District 87, 26 teachers have been given layoff notices. These “reduction in force” notices are a rite of spring
Athletic activity fee implemented in ROWVA
Galesburg Register Mail – Galva will field co-op junior and senior high teams of football, football cheerleading and senior high golf and cross country teams in the fall. A memorandum of understanding with the ROWVA Education Association was approved by the board Monday that will “allow the board or superintendent to talk to individual REA members regarding opportunities for individual members to negotiate
Class sizes, teacher salaries headline District 201 public forum
Westmont – Parent Melissa Kemp said class sizes are already at capacity and said larger classes would not help students academically. Instead, several parents suggested pay freezes for teachers and staff, which has yet to be discussed by the board. The board is expected to begin negotiating a new teacher contract within the next couple of months, officials said.
Du Quoin school board cuts 26 jobs; pay freeze invoked
Carmi Times – wore pink Friday, not only in support of their fellow educators but in protest of the Illinois General Assembly’s failure to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis. In addition, both the Du Quoin Education Association and the board have voted to invoke a one-year salary and wage freeze, which affects both the educational staff and the administration.
State shirking responsibility for education
Bloomington Pantagraph – have watched equalized assessed valuation fall or not kept pace with the demands of a growing student body. As a result, districts across the state have sent out layoff notices to about 30,000 teachers. Unit 5 has sent layoff notices to 120 first-year teachers. In District 87, 26 teachers have been given layoff notices. These “reduction in force” notices are a rite of spring
Wheaton Warrenville teachers approve 2-year contract
Chicago Tribune – “This agreement represents a strong commitment from the teachers of District 200 to be part of the solution,” Bryce Cann, the president of the Wheaton Warrenville Education Association, which is the district’s teachers union, said in a statement. “As education funding from Springfield becomes increasingly less dependable,
Alton schools switch bus provider
Alton Telegraph – trying to react to a state fiscal crisis,” Elson said. He said the state is $1.7 million behind in reimbursing the district for transportation costs so far this school year. Also, he said Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing a 25 percent cut for state reimbursements for transporting students in his next budget, which would cost the district $795,000. Three parents spoke against pushing back start time
Governor Quinn Calls for More Budget Cuts MyStateline.com – Quinn met with lawmakers to propose an additional 400 million dollars in cuts to the spending plan. His also wants an extension to the state’s time frame …
Lawsuits over Illinois budget mess could be coming
Bloomington Pantagraph – Thousands of state vendors could face the prospect of having to go to court to collect money they are owed by the state. In a memo to legislative leaders Tuesday, Gov. Pat Quinn acknowledged the possibility that the state’s budget mess could force angry vendors to file lawsuits with the Illinois Court of Claims this fall.
Our View: State budget requires answers, not evasions or excuses
Peoria Journal Star – For a change, it would be appropriate if they did not just place blame to score political points or make excuses while pledging action … someday. Gov. Pat Quinn took a tiny step in that direction Tuesday in announcing an additional $400 million in cuts. Now it’s time for another step.
Quinn to Cohen: Bring it on
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – Gov. Pat Quinn said he’s ready to take on Scott Lee Cohen in the general election if the embattled Chicago pawnbroker publicly announces he’s making an independent run for the state’s highest office.
Brady says he’ll release tax returns
WLS Chicago – Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady will release his income tax returns after all, announcing the change of heart Tuesday just hours after his Democratic opponent, Gov. Pat Quinn, took him to task over the issue.
Gov. Pat Quinn pressures rival Bill Brady into releasing tax returns
Chicago Tribune – After coming under sharp criticism by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for declining to release his tax returns, Republican challenger Bill Brady switched course Tuesday and said he will disclose them this week. Brady, a state senator from Bloomington,
Fair Map Amendment backers falling short on signatures
Quad Cities Dispatch Argus Leader – SPRINGFIELD — The Fair Map Amendment proposal touted by supporters as an anti-corruption tool is falling way short in a quest to get it on the November ballot, with a deadline fast approaching. More than 120,000 people have signed petitions to get the proposed citizen initiative on the ballot, but that’s less than 50 percent of the 288,000 needed.
Kirk to return Goldman Sachs donations
Chicago Daily Herald – Congressman Mark Kirk said he plans to return campaign contributions from employees of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to his campaign for a U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama in Illinois. “I will err on the side of caution,” Kirk said at a news conference in Chicago. Kirk said his campaign is still determining how much Goldman employees donated to him
Blagojevich Fundraiser’s Suicide at Issue for Prosecution
Chicago WFLD (Fox) 32 – Prosecutors asked a federal judge on Monday to bar former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers from telling the jury at his racketeering and fraud trial about his chief fundraiser’s suicide. Prosecutors said Christopher G. Kelly’s suicide in September has no bearing on anything at issue in the Blagojevich trial, which is due to get under way June 3 before federal Judge James B. Zagel.
Blago calls feds ‘cowards and liars’
Crystal Lake Northwest Herald – Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich described the federal prosecutors who have brought racketeering and fraud charges against him as “cowards and liars” Tuesday and challenged Chicago’s U.S. attorney to meet him face to face in court if he is “man enough.” In an extraordinary outburst timed to go live on evening news shows,
Blago due in court after blasting feds
Chicago WLS (ABC) 7 – Former governor Rod Blagojevich is scheduled to head to court for a status hearing in his corruption case Wednesday, where he will face the prosecutors he called cowards and liars. On Tuesday at his lawyer’s office, Blagojevich again said he was innocent and that the government was out to get him. That is nothing new, but in his two-minute speech
Why did he say that? Rahm says it was a slip
Chicago Sun Times – Chicago political tea readers were pondering on Tuesday what was behind the timing of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel’s admission to PBS’ Charlie Rose that he wants to run for mayor of Chicago when Mayor Daley quits. After all, Emanuel tried mightily in January to douse chatter about his mayoral ambitions when such talk first surfaced.
empyrean \em-py-REE-uhn; -PEER-ee-\, noun:
1. The highest heaven, in ancient belief usually thought to be a realm of pure fire or light.
2. Heaven; paradise.
3. The heavens; the sky.
adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to the empyrean of ancient belief.
Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury
It’s safe to say you won’t be seeing this BMW art car lapping Sarthe any time soon. The Bavarian automaker teamed up with textiles manufacturer Kvadrat and Flos to create “The Dwelling Lab” – a design installation. The brain child of artists designers (Thanks, Lorenzo!) Patricia Urquiola and Guilio Ridolfo, the exercise was designed to strut both BMW’s and Kvadrat and Flos’ commitments to creativity. Or something.
We won’t pretend to be art critics, so we’ll avoid strutting our ignorance by throwing judgment against the fabric-covered 5-Series Gran Turismo. Instead, we’ll do our best to describe the piece and let you do the judging for yourself.
Urquiola wanted to draw the viewer’s focus to the interior of the car, so she created the massive fabric cones called “diamonds” to pull your look inward. Sure enough, it’s effective. You can’t help but look toward the car’s cloth-swaddled guts. The piece will be on display during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, held in Milan all this month. You’ll find the press release after the jump.
Gallery: The Dwelling Lab
[Source: BMW]
Continue reading BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo gets artsy with Patricia Urquiola and Giulio Ridolfo
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo gets artsy with Patricia Urquiola and Giulio Ridolfo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
If you hadn’t heard, the Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus are coming to O2 Germany and Vodafone on April 28th. As is (distressingly) becoming the norm, pricing wasn’t officially announced when the phones were officially announced.
We’ve got the prices for O2 now, anyway. They come courtesy of O2, and along with golem.de, you might say that Germans will be paying a bit of a premium over their French neighbors: 389 Euro for the Pixi Plus, 509 for the Pre Plus. Of course, you can also opt to purchase the phones at just 29 Euro to start and pay out the rest over time. It also helps that since this is O2 Germany, these phones are straight-up unlocked.
Thanks to everybody who sent this in!
Erin Kutz wrote:
Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing company Zipcar announced it has acquired Streetcar, a U.K.-based car club that operates under a similar model. Zipcar chairman and CEO Scott Griffith said in the company statement that “when considered along with our investment in the largest car sharing company in Spain in late 2009, this transaction gives us a very strong base from which to expand to additional European markets.” The announcement did not reveal the financial details of the deal, which brings the combined membership of the two companies to over 400,000, but the Wall Street Journal pegged it at $50 million.
Hiring at venture-backed startups picked up speed in the first quarter of this year, according to figures released by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and job board StartUpHire.com. A total of 13,314 jobs were posted by startups on the web site in the first quarter — an average of 4,400 new positions each month — and a 16 percent increase since the end of 2009. The report is another indicator that the pace of hiring is starting to recover in the technology sector, after a downturn caused by the recession and other economic factors over the past two years.
There have been other recent signs that the technology job market could be turning around: Google told analysts in its earnings conference call last week that it hired 768 new employees in the first quarter, and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said it expects to “continue hiring aggressively through the year.” Intel has also said that it plans to hire between 1,000 and 2,000 people this year, its first major hiring wave in five years, and Cisco is planning to expand its workforce by 2,000-3,000 employees. LinkedIn has also been hiring, adding 154 people already this year, and Twitter has boosted its headcount to 170 from about 45 in the past year and says it plans to continue hiring.
Meanwhile, a report released recently by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group said that tech sector hiring is definitely picking up. Over half of companies surveyed said they expect to see job growth in their sector, compared with just 17 percent the previous year. Although the demand for talented technology employees could make it harder for startups to compete for those hires with larger firms like Google and Intel, the NVCA report seems to show that venture-backed startups are managing to grow regardless. And that growth is important for the overall economy: A report published last year by the Kauffman Foundation found that startups are a key driver in job creation.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d): What the VC Industry Upheaval Means for Startups
Post and thumbnails courtesy of Flickr user The Truth About
What happens when you put a picture of a Sesame Street character on vegetables? Something like this:
Findings from Sesame Workshop’s initial “Elmo/ Broccoli”
study indicated that intake of a particular food increased if it
carried a sticker of a Sesame Street character. For example, in the
control group (no characters on either food) 78 percent of children
participating in the study chose a chocolate bar over broccoli, whereas
22 percent chose the broccoli. However, when an Elmo sticker was placed
on the broccoli and an unknown character was placed on the chocolate
bar, 50 percent chose the chocolate bar and 50 percent chose the
broccoli. Such outcomes suggest that the Sesame Street characters could
play a strong role in increasing the appeal of healthy foods.
Two points.
1. If Elmo can make broccoli cool, imagine what pictures of Justin Bieber could do for Grape Nuts and Brussels sprouts.
2. It’s important to read these studies with a critical eye. Big Bird isn’t The Answer to childhood obesity. Healthy cereals have been branding with athletes since at least the 1980s, and Americans’ waists have only widened. Wheaties, after all, still tastes like Wheaties no matter who’s on the box. But still, studies like this are important. Americans eating habits are probably more elastic than we think, and a thousand small, experimental framing devices might accomplish more than a single tax strategy.
