Iraq bombings, house raids leave 40 dead

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraqi insurgents unleashed a string of bombings and other attacks primarily targeting the country's Shiite community on Saturday, leaving at least 40 dead in a challenge to government efforts to promote a sense of stability by preventing attacks during a major Muslim holiday.

The bloodshed appeared to be the worst in Iraq since Sept. 9, when insurgents launched a wave of bombings and other attacks that left at least 92 dead in one of the country's bloodiest days this year.

The attacks underscored the difficulties facing the country's leadership as it struggles to keep its citizens safe. Authorities had increased security in hopes of preventing attacks during the four-day Eid al-Adha celebrations, when people are off work and families gather in public places.

The deadliest attacks struck in the evening in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City. Police said a car packed with explosives blew up near a market, killing 12 people and wounding 27. Half an hour later, a second car bomb went off in one of Sadr city's bus stations, killing 10 and injuring 31.

Earlier in the day, a bomb exploded near playground equipment that had been set up for the holiday in a market on the capital's outskirts in the eastern neighborhood of Bawiya. Police officials said eight people were killed, including four children. Another 24 people, including children, were wounded, they added.

"Nobody expected this explosion because our neighborhood has been living in peace, away from the violence hitting the rest of the capital," said Bassem Mohammed, a 35-year-old father of three in the neighborhood who was startled by the blast.

"We feel sad for the children who thought that they would spend a happy time during Eid, but instead ended up getting killed or hurt."

Elsewhere, a bomb attached to a bus carrying Iranian Shiite pilgrims killed five people and wounded nine, according to police. The bomb, hidden on the underside of the bus, detonated as the pilgrims were heading to a Shiite shrine in Baghdad to mark the holiday.

Authorities have said they planned to increase the number of checkpoints, shut some roads and deploy extra personnel during the holiday period.

They are also relying more on undercover intelligence agents, said Lt. Col. Saad Maan Ibrahim, a spokesman for the interior ministry. He emphasized that both bombings took place on the edge of the capital rather than in densely populated areas.

"The terrorists apparently weren't able to get to the heart of the city. So they chose to attack soft targets on the outskirts," he said.

In the northern city of Mosul, gunmen broke into the houses of two Shabak families, killing a boy and his parents in one and a mother and daughter in the other, according to police. A bomb exploded near the house of another Shabak family, wounding six family members.

Shabaks are ethnically Turkomen and Shiite by religion. Most Shabaks were driven out of Mosul by Sunni militants during the sectarian fighting a few years ago.

In Tuz Khormato, about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Baghdad, a car bomb exploded near in a neighborhood with a Turkomen Shiite majority. Mayor Shalal Abdoul said 11 people were wounded, including three children.

Medics in nearby hospitals confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, is a major Muslim holiday that commemorates what Muslims believe was the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, the Biblical Ishmael, as a test of his faith from God. Christians and Jews believe another of Abraham's sons, Isaac, was the one almost sacrificed.

The holiday, which began Friday, marks the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims worldwide typically slaughter lambs and other animals to commemorate the holiday, sharing some of the meat with the poor.

Violence has ebbed across Iraq, but insurgents frequently attack security forces and civilians in an attempt to undermine the country's Shiite-led government.

Holidays are a particular time of concern for security forces. A wave of attacks shortly before another Muslim holiday in August, Eid al-Fitr, killed more than 90 people in one of the deadliest days in Iraq this year.

___

Associated Press writer Sameer N. Yacoub contributed reporting.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-bombings-house-raids-leave-40-dead-203416087.html

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Is obesity irreversible? Timing is key in weight loss

ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) ? Joint research between the University of Michigan and the Argentina-based National Council of Science and Technology (CONICET) has shed light on one of the most frustrating mysteries of weight loss -- why the weight inevitably comes back.

A novel animal model showed that the longer mice remained overweight, the more "irreversible" obesity became, according to the new study that appeared online ahead of print Oct.24 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Over time, the static, obese state of the mice reset the "normal," body weight set point to become permanently elevated, despite dieting that initially worked to shed pounds, authors say.

"Our model demonstrates that obesity is in part a self-perpetuating disorder and the results further emphasize the importance of early intervention in childhood to try to prevent the condition whose effects can last a lifetime," says senior author Malcolm J. Low, M.D., Ph.D., professor of molecular and integrative physiology and internal medicine.

"Our new animal model will be useful in pinpointing the reasons why most adults find it exceedingly difficult to maintain meaningful weight loss from dieting and exercise alone."

The lead author of the study was Viviana F. Bumaschny, M.D., assistant investigator of CONICET.

Obesity affects more than 500 million adults and 43 million children younger than age 5, while related illnesses are the leading preventable cause of death.

Individuals who are overweight have a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.

One of the major strengths of the research was a new model of obesity-programmed mice that allowed weight loss success to be tracked at different stages and ages by flipping a genetic switch that controls hunger.

Turning on the switch right after weaning prevented the mice from overeating and ever becoming obese. Similarly, mice that remained at a healthy weight into young adulthood by strict dieting alone were able to maintain normal weight without dieting after turning on the switch. However, chronically overfed mice with the earliest onset of obesity never completely returned to normal weight after flipping the switch, despite marked reduction in food intake and increased activity.

The new findings may raise questions about the long-term success rate of severe calorie restriction and strenuous exercise used later in life to lose weight, such as the extreme regimens seen in the popular reality television show "Biggest Loser."

"Somewhere along the way, if obesity is allowed to continue, the body appears to flip a switch that re-programs to a heavier set weight," Low says. "The exact mechanisms that cause this shift are still unknown and require much further study that will help us better understand why the regaining of weight seems almost unavoidable."

The findings will be published alongside a corresponding commentary "Tipping the scales early: probing the long-term effects of obesity."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Michigan Health System. The original story is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Viviana F. Bumaschny, Miho Yamashita, Rodrigo Casas-Cordero, Ver?nica Otero-Corch?n, Fl?vio S.J. de Souza, Marcelo Rubinstein, Malcolm J. Low. Obesity-programmed mice are rescued by early genetic intervention. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2012; DOI: 10.1172/JCI62543

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/SP7IgkMBjJM/121024141635.htm

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Local wildlife is important in human diets in central Africa, experts say

ScienceDaily (Oct. 23, 2012) ? Animals like antelope, frogs and rodents may be tricky to catch, but they provide protein in places where traditional livestock are scarce. According to the authors of a new paper in Animal Frontiers, meat from wild animals is increasingly important in central Africa.

"The elephant or hippopotamus may provide food for an entire community, smaller antelope may feed a family, while a rat or lizard may quell the hunger of an individual. Alternatively, these species are often sold on the road side or at local markets to supply a much needed source of cash revenue," write researchers Louw Hoffman and Donna Cawthorn.

Hoffman and Cawthorn are interested in the nutritional value of wild animals. They cite previous studies showing that bushmeat contributes 20 to 90 percent of the animal protein eaten in many areas of Africa. Studies show that some bushmeat species are high in protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

"Besides the contribution of protein, the provision of calories from bushmeat cannot be overlooked and while the meat of many wild animals is low in fat, some species such as rats and porcupines are prized for their fatty consistencies," write Hoffman and Cawthorn.

Nutrients from wild animals help people survive in these regions. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation, 25 percent of the world's undernourished people live in sub-Saharan Africa.

But with increased consumption comes a loss of biodiversity. Hoffman and Cawthorn cite the decline of primates in central Africa and the over-hunting of the manatee and pigmy hippopotamus in Ghana.

"This situation is exacerbated by the fact that international and domestic commercial and often illegal trade in bushmeat and other parts of wild animals is increasing and is largely outpacing legitimate subsistence hunting," write Hoffman and Cawthorn.

An alternative is the "semi-domestication" of certain animals. Already, many African antelope are raised in large enclosures or in state-owned nature preserves, though that meat is often sold for export. Hoffman and Cawthorn write that rodents could easily be raised as food animals because of their quick rates of reproduction and simple care requirements.

"Besides supplying valuable protein, the meat of rodents also contains essential amino acids which are required in the human diet," they write.

In their paper, Hoffman and Cawthorn also examine the importance of wildlife outside of Africa. They write about the consumption species like guinea pigs in South America, alligators in the United States and snakes in Asia.

"Today, up to 4,000 tons of snake meat are served annually in China, where this reptile's meat is commonly served in restaurants in cities such as Shanghai, Foshan, and Yangshuo," they write.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Society of Animal Science.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. L.C. Hoffman and D.-M. Cawthorn. What is the role and contribution of meat from wildlife in providing high quality protein for consumption? Animal Frontiers, 2012; DOI: 10.2527/af.2012-0061

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/nutrition/~3/0ohkLjiJ2IM/121023161258.htm

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Angelina Jolie Still Naughty?[The Frisky] Madonna Takes a Tumble on Stage?[HollyWire] Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ Setting Records?[Right Celebrity] Justin Bieber Reaches Milestone on YouTube?[The Celebrity Cafe] [...]

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/10/toxic-gossip/

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Related posts:

1. Link Popularity Is Very Important In Internet Marketing
2. Search engine marketing ? the wholesome means to improve a business online
3. Increasing Website Traffic, Internet Marketing Campaign From Paton Marketing
4. Improving User Experience Using Website User Behavior Data ? What You Need To Know
5. What the JC Penney Link Buying Scandal Means for SEO

Source: http://seo.firstpagegoogle50.com/2696/improving-website-popularity-by-means-of-internet-marketing/

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Asian shares fall after disappointing U.S. earnings

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Monday as lackluster earnings from leading U.S. companies and a sharp drop in Japan's exports, a key driver of the world's third-biggest economy, dented risk appetites and prompted investors to take profits on recent gains.

U.S. stocks had their worst day since late June on Friday, following disappointing results from Dow components General Electric and McDonald's , both barometers of the overall economy's health.

The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <.miapj0000pus> fell 0.6 percent, led by a 0.8 percent decline in South Korean shares <.ks11>. Australian shares followed with a drop of 0.7 percent on worries about metals demand in China, Europe's debt woes and weak U.S. earnings. Hong Kong shares <.hsi>, which touched a seven-month high last week, held steady.

Analysts said the drop in U.S. equities provided a good excuse for profit-taking in Asian stock markets, many of which had rallied to multi-month highs recently on new global central bank easing and the European Central Bank's plan to buy bonds of struggling euro zone countries that ask for aid.

"Profit-taking is overshadowing buying because any forward momentum has been exhausted," Oh Tae-dong, an analyst at Taurus Securities in Seoul wrote in a note to investors. He said he expects the Korea Composite Stock Price Index to hover around current levels for the time being.

The Korea's index was still up around 10 percent from lows hit in late July. The index hit a 5-month high in September.

Australian shares scaled a 15-month high last week and the benchmark index was up nearly 6 percent since a low on September 5.

"After a rally of several weeks, buying tends to run out of steam while profit takers become more trigger happy," said CMC markets analyst Ric Spooner.

Japan's Nikkei average <.n225> slipped 0.5 percent from Friday's three-week closing high. <.t/>

The dollar was steady around 79.28 yen but capped at its 200-day moving average around 79.40 after reaching a two-month high of 79.47 on Thursday.

Data on Monday showed Japan's exports in September tumbled at their sharpest on-year pace since the February 2011 earthquake, while manufacturers' mood hit its lowest since early 2010.

The reports reinforced concerns that Japan may slide back into recession as sales to China and Europe sag amid the global slowdown and domestic demand, led by rebuilding from last year's disaster, loses momentum.

While global growth worries have raised concerns about weak demand from China, a Reuters poll showed that the world's second-largest economy could stage a tepid economic rebound in the fourth quarter on higher public infrastructure spending, though growth will remain lethargic through 2013.

U.S. crude erased earlier losses to inch up 0.2 percent to $90.20 a barrel and Brent also edged up 0.2 percent to $110.32.

Weaker equities weighed on Asian credit markets, pushing out the spread on the iTraxx Asia ex-Japan investment-grade index wider by 4 basis points.

MIXED SIGNALS IN EUROPE

The euro was resilient despite mixed signals from the euro zone over the progress of its three-year debt crisis, trading up 0.3 percent at $1.3046.

European shares snapped a four-day winning streak on Friday after disagreements among European Union leaders over how to help the region's debt-ridden banks hit financial stocks.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised new hurdles on Friday to using the euro zone's rescue fund to inject capital directly into ailing banks from next year, limiting the impact of a key agreement by European Union leaders on Thursday to establish a single banking supervisor from 2013.

Spain and Greece were still expected to get aid, with euro zone officials seeing a November 12 finance ministers' meeting as the next potential date for such decisions. Improving investor confidence was evident in government bond yields for highly-indebted Italy and Spain, which tumbled on Friday to multi-month lows after successful debt sales in both countries.

Some indicators were more cautious as investor focus turned to the corporate earnings seasons now under way in the United States.

The CBOE Volatility index <.vix>, a gauge of expected volatility in the S&P, jumped 13.5 percent to close at 17.06 on Friday. It hit a five-month high earlier on Friday.

Spot gold recovered from a fresh six-week low of $1,713.39 an ounce hit earlier, and last traded up 0.2 percent at $1,723.09 on bargain hunting.

Hedge funds and other big speculators have cut their bullish bets on U.S. commodities to the lowest levels since the end of August, with funds mostly bailing out of gold after its repeated failure to breach the $1,800-an-ounce mark.

(Additional reporting by Somang Yang in Seoul and Victoria Thieberger in Melbourne; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asian-shares-fall-disappointing-u-earnings-003020687--finance.html

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Big Education Ape: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG ...

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG?

Diane Ravitch's blog

Debate in Philadelphia: Parent Vs. Privatizer

Ken Derstine, a retired teacher and now an advocate for public education, wrote up a commentary on a recent debate in Philadelphia. Helen Gym, a leading parent activist in Philadelphia, debated Matthew Brouillette of the Commonwealth Foundation about the ?parent trigger? on WHYY. It is funny that a parent has to explain why the ?parent [...]

Jersey Jazzman Hits It Out of the Park

New Jersey blogger Jersey Jazzman has written a brilliant and funny essay on ?America?s Most Invasive Species: The Wonk.? This is the kind of article that reminds you how serios humor can be. He noticed that wonks thrive at conferences. At these conferences, panels of wonks deliberate what to do about issues in which they [...]

In Texas, ALL Districts Burdened by Over-Testing

In Texas, business leaders and legislators think that the more you test, the better the education delivered. You have to wonder if these people have children, or whether their children are in public school. A reader from Texas comments: We live in a middle/upper-middle class suburban neighborhood in Southwest Austin. Our kids get reading and [...]

Karran Royal Thanks You?and Me

Yesterday I urged you to send donations to help Karran Harper Royal in her campaign to win a seat on the New Orleans school board. Karran faces an uphill battle against the leader of the charter sector in New Orleans, who has received $110,000 from the supporters of privatization. I sent her $100 via Paypal. [...]

A Teacher Educator Writes President Obama

This letter was written by Alexandra Miletta. Her mother, who was a wonderful teacher, was a classmate of mine at Teachers College forty years ago. Small world! This is an excellent letter to the President. Here?s a copy of my letter which I emailed to Anthony Cody and sent to the White House: Dear President [...]

Write Your Letter to the President Now

It?s time to write your letter to President Obama to let him know how he should change Race to the Top. Join the Campaign for Our Public Schools. Should schools compete or collaborate? Should teachers compete or collaborate? Is education a ?race? or a process of development? Share your thoughts with the President, your Governor, [...]

This Principal Is a Hero of Public Education

No one has been more active in opposing untested evaluation methods than high school principal Carol Burris. Burris was a key figure in organizing New York principals to oppose the state?s test-based evaluation system, which has never been validated or worked anywhere. Burris has written articles frequently. She is tireless. I visited her school, South [...]

Please Help a Deserving Candidate

A reader asked the other day if there was anything he could do for me. The answer is yes. Please send a contribution to Karran Harper Royal of New Orleans, a parent leader who is running for school board. I met Karran in New York City a year ago, and she explained what a farce [...]

Edushyster Unmasks the Miracle Rephormers

You need to sit down before you read this. It is so hilarious it may cause you to fall down laughing. This is a wonderful spoof about Miracle Teachers, Mracle Schools, and Amazing stories of overnight transformation that occur only when the teachers are inexperienced and the journalists don?t dig too deep.

How to Widen the Achievement Gaps

A teacher knows how the achievement gap grows: My wife and I are both elementary teachers in the same district but at completely different schools. She teaches at a school with over 80% free and reduced lunch whereas my school has 7%. When I ask her about the policies in her school versus the policies [...]

?We Don?t Have Time?

How many times have you heard a leader of the reform privatization movement say, ?We don?t have time.? ?The kids can?t wait.? This reader from Montgomery County, Maryland, which has the nation?s best teacher evaluation system (it does not rely on test scores but on professional judgment) writes: We in MoCo don?t hire inexperienced people. [...]

Why the Free Market Cannot Reform Public Schools

We previously read an article claiming that for-profit entrepreneurs are necessary to reform American schools. The article began, in its original version, with a vulgar and gratuitous insult directed at Anthony Cody. Here are two great responses. The first is by Anthony Cody. The other is by Audrey Watters.

Which Schools Ignore the Tests?

I asked earlier if there were districts that still manage to offer a full curriculum despite the federal mandates. Where are the good things happening. There were many good responses. These are some of the most provocative: Response #1: In California, there are over 1,000 separate school districts. Each reflects a different community. Districts that [...]

Ms. Katie Writes President Obama

Katie Osgood, who teaches children in a psychiatric hospital in Illinois, has some good suggestions for President Obama. You should read her letter to President Obama.

Reform=Disrespect? Reform=Privatization?

Jersey Jazzman has developed an equation: reform=disrespect. Another way to put it: these so-called reformers don?t like democracy. He detects a growing opposition to the top-down methods of the privatizers. Something is happening in Jersey, and the rest of the country: slowly, a groundswell of opposition is building against the corporate reform agenda. People are [...]

Join the Campaign for Our Public Schools

Please write a letter or email to President Obama and share your concerns about the future of our schools. be sure to send it to Anthony Cody or me so we can add your voice to the whole. The instructions on where to send your letter or email are here. Be sure oe of us [...]

How to Become a Successful Charter

Here is an interesting and curious coincidence. Edushyster reported the list of schools in Massachusetts with the highest suspension rate. Most of them were charter schools. The school with the highest suspension rate in the state of Massachusetts is Roxbury Prep. This charter school suspended 56.1% of its students for one or more days last [...]

Joel Klein?s False History, by Richard Rothstein

In a stunning article, Richard Rothstein has dissected Joel Klein?s claim to have grown up in poverty, living in a public housing project, saved by a ?great? teacher. This story is used cynically by Klein and other advocates of privatization to attack public education, teachers and unions. (Wasn?t that great teacher a member of the [...]

I Will Be in Chicago on Monday

I speak at City Club breakfast on Monday at 7:30 at Maggiano?s. At 11:30 at Create assessment and accountability conference at University of Illinois at 11:30 am. Will post location. At 4, speaking to CTU teachers at 4 pm at Lane Technical High School.

BREAKING NEWS: J.C. Brizard Is Out in Chicago

Just reported. Chicago schools chief J.C. Brizard resigns. He will be replaced by deputy Barbara Byrd-Bennett, who previously served as superintendent in Cleveland and as deputy to Robert Bobb in Detroit.

Come to Chicago City Club Monday at 7:30 AM

I?ll be speaking at the Chicago City Club this Monday at 7:30 am. I hope you can be there. Comment Tickets are available here https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/events/event_registration/event_info.asp?event_id=805

Teacher: Am I Playing in the Band on the Titanic?

This teacher wrote a great letter to President Obama. I hope you will write one also, and send it to my colleague anthony_cody@hotmail.com October 6, 2012 Dear President Obama: I Feel As Though I?m Playing In The Band On The Titanic My part in the presidential letter writing campaign this October. The Titanic was a [...]

We Did It for Marie!

Because of your votes, Marie Corfield was selected by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee as one of its top ten priority races. This should help her get national funding! Thank you! A teacher for State Legislature in New Jersey! Yes! Diane ? This morning, we unveiled the DLCC?s 2012 Essential Races list ? a list [...]

More About Marie!

This is what the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee said about Marie Corfield?s race in New Jersey, which this blog supported (thanks to Jersey Jazzman!): New Jersey Assembly District 16 ? Marie Corfield (Grassroots pick) Status: Republican Incumbent Why this Race Matters: This race received more grassroots nominations than any other in the country. Teacher and [...]

Box Office Flop: ?Won?t Back Down?

Apparently audiences won?t pay to see a movie that demonizes teachers? unions. ?Won?t Back Down? had the worst opening weekend of any film in wide distribution (over 2,500 theaters) in the past 30 years. And attendance has been dropping since then.

Louisiana Voucher Decisions Shrouded in Secrecy

A Louisiana newspaper has blasted State Commissioner John White for refusing to release public documents about the selection of private schools to receive vouchers. People want to know the criteria and process for selection. White will not make these documents public, claiming they are not public documents. Now, in a time of budget cuts, he [...]

Georgia Parent: vote NO on Constitutional Amendment

This Georgia parent warns other parents and families to vote against the ALEC-inspired constitutional amendment that would allow the governor to open an unlimited number of charter schools. The governor would be authorized to appoint a commission that could veto the decisions of local school boards. Charters, like the one her child attended, would be [...]

Spoiled Heiress Has Temper Tantrum

California Governor Jerry Brown has assembled a broad coalition to support a tax increase to make up for the devastating budget cuts to public education under his predecessor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Brown?s levy would raise the sales tax by 1/4 of 1% and increase income taxes of those making over $250,000 a year. A wealthy heiress [...]

This Is Crazy: Testing in Kindergarten for What?

A teacher writes about the testing program in her school. The goal is less about evaluating children than gathering data to evaluate their teachers. And they start early to learn the valuable skill of taking tests: I teach in a public elementary school. Starting this year, our kindergartners must take the NWEA test three times, [...]

Another Teacher Running for Office

Maureen Reedy, who taught in the public schools of Ohio for 29 years, is running for the State Legislature. I wrote a post about her in mid-July, but that was a long time ago. So it is time to remind you that she is well-qualified, she follows the money, and she intends to support our [...]

A Superintendent Joins the Honor Roll

I am grateful to a reader for alerting me to the work of Dr. Teresa Thayer Snyder, who is the superintendent of schools in Voorheesville, New York. She is a hero of public education. What makes her a hero? She speaks out clearly and fearlessly about children and education. She explains the work of the [...]

Michelle Rhee?s Odd Metaphor

Yesterday I was on an NPR program interviewed by Michel Martin. I followed Arne Duncan, Margaret Spellings, Michelle Rhee, and Alberto Carvalho, the Miami superintendent. Duncan said that Race to the Top did not require teaching to the test. Spellings praised NCLB. Carvalho explained why he tried to help schools get better instead of closing [...]

The Case Against For-Profit Entrepreneurs in Education

A reader shared his response to the article praising the profit motive in education. Hi Diane. I wrote the following reply to Tom Segal on their web page. Eight years ago, I would have agreed with you on your perspective, Mr. Segal. Unfortunately, your efforts to paint the public education community as in dire need [...]

The Case for For-Profit Entrepreneurs in Education: UPDATE!!!

This is the most revolting article I have ever provided a link to. It is written by some money-grubbing entrepreneur who boasts that for-profit businesses are necessary to provide the innovation that education needs. His insult to my friend Anthony Cody sets the tone (the article originally had the subtitle ?How I Kicked Anthony Cody?s [...]

Who Is Paying for Charter Referendum in Washington State?

A reader sent the list of contributors to the campaign for 1240 in Washington State, which authorizes charters. See here and here for more about 1240. Please read the list. Not clear if anyone on it is a parent of a public school student. What you will see is a list of billionaires in the [...]

Tomorrow is Money Blast in Washington State

Help your friends fight off the charter billionaires in Washington State. Tomorrow is Money Blast Day: It?s here ? Money Blast Day in Washington state to fight off I-1240 that would establish charter schools here. (Washington is one of just nine states that does not have them and we have voted ? three times ? [...]

Ever Heard of These Charters?

Louisiana passed its historic privatization legislation last spring, which included not only vouchers for more than half the students in the state, but inducement for many organizations to open multiple charter schools. Now the state is getting swamped with applications from unknown or little-known groups. Maybe it is your Uncle Harry and Aunt Mabel. Maybe [...]

My Speaking Schedule Next Week

Next week I am traveling and lecturing in the Midwest. I speak at the City Club in Chicago on Monday October 15 at 7:30 am. Same day, I speak to the CREATE assessment conference at University of Illinois at 11:30 a.m. Same day, I speak to members of CTU at 4 pm, not yet sure [...]

NYC?s Pointless School Grades

Is your state or district planning to create a report card for its public schools? Advice from New York City: Don?t. Read this debate. You will see some past and former employees of the school system (and the head of the charter association) who believe in the grades. And you will read some eloquent and [...]

Michigan?s Emergency District About to Expand

Michigan created an emergency district for schools with low test scores, administered by Broad Academy alum John Covington, who decamped from Kansas City after making no improvements there. The emergency district is about to become the largest district in the state. By adding low-perming districts from across the state, the EAA will have 46,000 students. [...]

Florida School Boards Resist Aggressive Expansion of Virtual Charters

The online for-profit corporation K12 wants to grow its business in Florida but school boards are opposing it. The online charters poach students and funding from public schools while providing a poor quality of education. They do, however, have one big political advantage. They have the fervent support of former Governor Jeb Bush, who is [...]

Tumult in NOLA

Two months into the school year, the head of the Recovery School District abruptly fired the principal of Walter L. Cohen High School as well as several teachers and announced that he was turning the school over to a charter operator called the Future Is Now. Students reacted angrily and protested the disruption in their [...]

Ms. Katie Reviews Paul Tough

The readers of this blog know Katie Osgood as a teacher who works with young people in a psychiatric hospital in Chicago. She writes brilliantly, from her experience. Here, she writes a critique of Paul Tough?s new book How Children Succeed.

How to Join the Campaign for Our Public Schools

As a result of many comments on this blog, and in response to a great yearning to raise our voices, many teachers, parents, students, administrators and concerned citizens plan to join together in a mass letter-writing campaign to the President. We want all letters submitted here to this blog or to Anthony Cody no later [...]

Playing Games with Data in Louisiana

Yesterday I wrote a post about how the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education was pulling a few fancy tricks to inflate the scores of charter schools. This makes it easier to claim that they are incredibly successful (when they are not) and persuade the Legislature to add many more. But it turns out that Louisiana is [...]

23 Texas Districts Get Test Waivers

A group of Texas superintendents have been developing a different vision of what education ought to be. Different from the test-and-punish approach of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. With the full-blown revolt against high-stakes testing in Texas, the superintendents now have a chance to show their stuff. At the last session, [...]

Hats Off to Tacoma!

I asked readers to tell me about good school districts that manage to offer a good education despite the testing mania. This reader in Tacoma explains what is happening there. I am adding Tacoma, Washington, to the honor roll because it is an exemplar of good public education: In Tacoma Public Schools, some schools do [...]

Can You Answer This Question?

I am often asked whether there are any districts that have managed to do the right thing despite all the federal mandates. Are there any districts that have managed to minimize the harmful consequences of high-stakes testing? Are there districts that have managed to protect the arts, physical education, recess, history, civics, foreign languages and [...]

If This Newspaper Gets It, Why Can?t the NY Times?

The Reading (Pa.) Eagle has a smart editorial questioning the state?s rating system for schools. It seems that quite a few local schools did not make ?adequate yearly progress.? The editorialist wrote: ??we do not believe this is a sign local districts suddenly are doing a poor job. It?s a sign of an incomprehensible system [...]

EduBusiness Soars, Your Pension Not So Much

Here is a site that takes a hard look at the profit-making end of education, and it is booming. Business is amazingly good, what with all the new opportunities for testing, test prepping, outsourcing, online stuff, new technologies. Meanwhile, your public officials are trying to figure out how to cut teachers? pensions. Remember the old [...]

Really. Truly. It?s Not about Profit.

Edushyster has done it again. Here, Edushyster defends Joel Klein against the outrageous claim that Rupert Murdoch is trying to make a profit by selling lots of stuff to the schools. It?s all about collaboration. It?s all about replacing teachers with technology to help with budgetary issues. It?s all about reform.

A Blow to Reform/Privatization

If you ask leading privatizers where are the examples of success for their theories, they will surely point to New York City. Surely you heard about the ?New York City miracle.? Australia is redesigning its national system because of the success of the alleged miracle. But what about New York City? More than 100 schools [...]

The Next Targets of Corporate Reform

Mike Petrilli of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute summarizes ?What?s Next? for reformers (some prefer to call them privatizers). Race to the Top was a great coup for the privatizers/reformers. Now they plan to follow up with a direct assault on schools of education, abetted by NCTQ?s forthcoming rankings, to be published by US [...]

Write Your Letter to President Obama Today

Readers of this blog know that we are collecting letters to send to President Obama by October 17. Please join us in opposing high-stakes testing and privatization. We call this action the Campaign for Our Public Schools. Instructions on where to send your email are here. Lets begin now to make our voices heard.

Follow the Money, Again

Here?s a hard-hitting investigative report on the money pouring into California to beat the unions by cutting off dues collections. The face of this campaign is Gloria Romero, who flipped to the right and is now the face of Democrats for Education Reform, the pro-privatization Wall Street hedge fund managers? group. Seems the Koch brothers [...]

A Marketplace for Schools?

Corporate reform privatizers like Joel Klein, Jeb Bush, Michael Bloomberg, and Mitt Romney like to boast of the glories of a marketplace for schools. They want parents to be consumers, armed with test scores and school report cards and grades. In that great come-and-get-it-day, all schools will be excellent when they compete. That?s why all [...]

Pennsylvania Official Altered Test Rules to Inflate Charter Scores

The Pennsylvania Secretary of Education changed the state testing rules, without federal approval, to boost the scores of charters. The change involved treating charter schools as if they are districts, not schools. This reduced the number of charters that failed to make adequate yearly progress. The chief legal counsel for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association [...]

Marie Corfield Needs Your Help!

This morning, I made a contribution to Marie Corfield?s campaign. She is a teacher running for the New Jersey legislature. She will be a thorn in Governor Chris Christie?s side as he slams teachers and their union and tries to cut their pensions and destroy public education. Jersey Jazzman reminds us here that you can [...]

Wish I Had a Newspaper Like This in My Hometown

The Mercury of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has an editorial describing the devastating effects of budget cuts and tax caps on Pennsylvania?s public schools. The cuts threaten the future, says the editorial. Class sizes are growing. Thousands of teachers have been laid off. On the chopping block and already cut are music and art, sports, kindergarten, early [...]

Game On in Oklahoma

The reform/privatization strategy is now in full operation is states across the nation. This is the way it works: First, set an impossible goal, say, 100% proficiency for all students. Second, say that there can be ?no excuses,? no reference to social conditions in which children live. Third, insist on accountability for schools, teachers, and [...]

Creativity Declines as Testing Increases

An article in Psychology Today says that studies of creativity show it is on the decline. The decline of creativity is concurrent with the rise of testing and accountability in American schools. This is particularly disturbing because America?s trump card has always been creativity, ingenuity, wit, and innovation. In our reckless pursuit to ?race to [...]

A Draft of a Parent?s Letter to President Obama

A parent in California drafted a letter to President Obama. This could serve as a template for other parents. Some parents worry about the negative effects of high-stakes testing on their children. Others are upset that their community is being torn apart by battles with charter operators. Others are upset by class size or budget [...]

Education Nation Ignored Students

Nikhil Goyal was invited to participate in Education Nation. He is a high school senior in New York who recently published a book (!) about education reform. But read what he writes about how Education Nation treated students.

A Teacher for the New Jersey Legislature

Here is a great way to stop the attacks on teachers and stop the privatization of public education: elect teachers to fight for kids and public schools. Marie Corfield is a teacher who is running for the New Jersy Assembly. She already has had one face-to-face confrontation with Governor Chris Christie. I hope she has [...]

A Rebuke to Testing Fanatics?Not That They Care

An interesting article in the Sunday New York Times about how test performance is affected by social and psychological factors. Our public policy today seems built on the assumption that standardized tests accurately measure what was taught and learned. Teachers and most test experts know how fallible the tests are. The author, Annie Murphy Paul, [...]

Testing Runs Amok in Oklahoma

Florida pioneered the use of school grades. New York City followed. Now other states and districts are jumping aboard. The latest to adopt school grades is Oklahoma. The superintendents there don?t understand what is gained by this action. For some reason, the people who put grades on schools think of this as ?reform,? but it [...]

A Question for Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney likes to boast that Massachusetts is number 1 in the nation in academics, and he is right. Massachusetts is the highest scoring state on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in math and reading, in fourth and eighth grades. Now, as we know, Mitt is very anti-union. His educational platform excoriates the bad [...]

Helping Kids or Helping Charters?

Wendy Lecker, advocate for public education in Connecticut, raises important questions. Why was Hartford?s low-performing Milner School handed over to charter operator Jumoke Academy? Why did Hartford officials do nothing to help Milner until the charter school took over? Why did Jumoke get $2 million to fix Milner but no help was available to Milner [...]

Corporatization of Public Education?

An interesting article at open.salon.com speculates about the current drive to privatize American public education. Inevitably, the author makes the US/Finland comparison. What is missing? He or she never mentions that Finland does not have any standardized testing. Not until students apply to college (which is tuition-free, by the way). Teachers are respected not only [...]

Washington State Should Vote NO on 1240

Brendan Williams, a parent in Washington State and former legislator, wrote an article to explain why initiative 1240 should be defeated. Initiative 1240 would authorize charter schools in a state where voters have turned them down three times previously. This initiative is generously funded by billionaires such as the Walton family, which donated $600,000. By [...]

Guess Who Is in Charge of Hiring in Dallas?

A teacher sent the following comment in a discussion about why teachers are demoralized. In Dallas, a 29-year-old TFA alum, with two years of teaching experience, has been put in charge of teacher recruitment: A much better thing to publicize is the recent appointment of a TFA alumni to be the new Chief Talent Officer [...]

Should Students Rate Teachers?

Larry Ferlazzo reports on an interesting exchange about student ratings of teachers. Amanda Ripley, who is a cheerleader for corporate reform, loves the idea of trusting students to tell us which teachers are great and which stink. Felix Salmon points out where she is wrong. The Gates Foundation loves the idea of student surveys, of [...]

Best Post of the Day!

Edushyster has done it again. He or she has identified the schools in Massachusetts with the highest suspension rates. Almost all are charters. This is not what you would normally think was a funny topic, but read it to the end and see what you think. Frankly, no one is better at puncturing charter school [...]

Write Your Letter Today to President Obama

Consider spending a few minutes this weekend writing a letter for the October 17 Campaign for Our Public Schools. Tell the President how Race to the Top has affected your life as a parent, a teacher, a principal, a student, a school board ember or a concerned citizen. Tell him how important the public schools [...]

A Conversation about the Goal of Reformers

I wrote a post about the attacks on teachers, which got some interesting responses. Reader A wrote: This has absolutely nothing to do with teacher quality. This has everything to do with: 1. Destroying unions; 2. Destroying public education; 3. Hijacking tax funding for education to for-profit corporations; 4. Control of the public to perpetuate [...]

A Union Member Refutes the Propaganda

A teacher writes: I am a union member (AFT affiliate) and nothing in our union contract requires that I teach a certain way or limits the extent to which I stay late, come in early, or take work home. We do have limits on class size (28). Doesn?t this seem like a good idea for [...]

Eliminating Libraries Is Reform?

I posted earlier about Romney?s pledge to eliminate federal support for the arts and humanities (PBS and ?Big Bird?). A reader from Louisiana?which is the absolute acme of education reform?says that the defunding has already started in that state. Earlier this year, state lawmakers eliminated support for libraries. It was less than $1 million, hardly [...]

Source: http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2012/10/listen-to-diane-ravitch-all-week-long_13.html

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Kate Upton and Justin Verlander: Dating For Real, His Grandpa Claims!

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Handling Tinnitus: Techniques To Deal With The Ringing - BrettStClair

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Source: http://brettstclair.com/?p=3711

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'The X Factor' Judge's Houses: Is Vino Alan Too Tough For The Show? (VIDEO)

"The X Factor" wrapped the Judges' Houses round by showing the performances from the Teens category and the Over-25s. L.A. Reid made it very clear that he wasn't happy to have the Over-25s, and went so far as to tell them that he wasn't all that excited about them. So the pressure was on for this group more than ever, especially because many of them feel this is their last opportunity at superstardom.

Vino Alan, at 40-years-old, is the oldest contestant in the competition. He blew the judges away with his vocal performance, covering P!nk's "Sober," but the judges were slightly worried about his appearance. Vino is one tough looking dude, but his gruff exterior hides a sensitive and soaring voice.

That emotion he brings to his performance comes in part from his troubled childhood. He opened up about coming from an abusive home. "When I was a kid, my mom married an abusive man," he said. "You know, I was physically tortured and mentally tortured. But the biggest torture of all was having her beat nightly."

Critics were blown away by Vino's voice, with PopCrush saying he "totally owned" the song. But TV Fanatic was worried voters might be turned off by his tough exterior.

After two nights of great performances, 24 must become 16. Find out which contestants move on to the live shows on "The X Factor," Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Related on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/the-x-factor-vino-alan-tough-video_n_1960243.html

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Socar, Statoil Confident in Further Development ... - LNG World News

SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev met with Statoil delegation. They talked about energy projects carried out in Azerbaijan and expressed confidence in successful development of joint oil and gas projects.

Welcoming the guests, Mr. Abdullayev emphasized that SOCAR and Statoil have a longstanding useful cooperation.

Statoil delegation was led by executive vice presidents Lars Christian Bacher and Eldar Saetre.

Talking about the energy projects carried out in the country, SOCAR President said Azerbaijan supported South Corridor project that considers transportation of Caspian natural gas to Europe and Azerbaijani experts review all possible routes within the framework of extension of diversification opportunities.

He informed the guests about the work on phases I and II of Shahdeniz field exploration.

Statoil executive vice president Lars Christian Bacher said the company he represents continues its activity in Azerbaijan in high level and thanked for that. He expressed confidence in successful development of joint oil and gas projects and Azerbaijan?s further contribution to supply of hydrocarbon resources to European consumers.

LNG World News Staff, October 12, 2012; Image: Socar

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Source: http://www.lngworldnews.com/socar-statoil-confident-in-further-development-of-joint-gas-projects-azerbaijan/

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Russians being pressured in U.S. "spy" case: Moscow

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Casino Night returns this Oct.

News ? By Paul Goudarzi-Fry on October 12, 2012 7:00 AM

The Resident Student Association will be hosting the annual Casino Night event on Saturday, Oct. 20. The event will be available to all students and staff on campus, and will last from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Marshall Hall in the S.U.B.

Casino Night is partly a fundraiser for different parts of Puget Sound. While there is no entry fee to the event, the RSA has stated that a $5 donation is suggested at the door. This money will go toward the RSA Programming Fund, used to financially assist other organizations on campus, as well as the residences of students living on campus.

In addition to monetary gifts, local businesses have given donations to be raffled off during the event. Tickets will be sold over the course of the night for $1 apiece.

?[Casino Night] is a night of fun and entertainment for all of those in the Puget Sound community,? RSA President Emma Spalding said.

She said that Casino Night has been gaining momentum over the past six years, despite a lack of motivation from RSA in the early 2000s.

?It?s been a campus thing for a while, and we want to continue it,? Spalding said. ?It?s really a fun event for us to put on.?

This year, RSA is reaching out to a wider group of students by combining two areas of interest. ?We want to mix in the themes of a jazz night and casino night, to make it more interesting and more appealing to the student body, so there?s a variety of interests ? people would come for different reasons to check it out,? Anna Dovzhik said. Dovzhik, the Green Advocate for Sewlangster, is part of the advertising committee for the event, designing posters and images.

?We wanted to open it up to a wider population of the student body,? Spalding agreed. ?We have the regular crowd who enjoys the different casino tables and that sort of gambling atmosphere. However, we wanted to incorporate the dancing aspect so other students can enjoy the night.?

RSA has said that there will be several traditional gambling games at the event, some of which include craps, roulette and blackjack. During the event, student performers will be playing for the attendees and a dance floor. ?Students can swing dance the night away if they would like,? Spalding said.

The event has been described as semi-formal, and students and faculty are encouraged to dress up to attend. RSA is providing refreshments as well, creating an enjoyable event for everyone by making the atmosphere pleasant for all members of the Puget Sound community.

To fully extend that pleasantry to as many students as possible, RSA has made sure to allow everyone access through its voluntary donation policy. At the beginning of the event, all participants are given an equal amount of chips with which to play for the evening. Winning chips allows for a longer playtime, but if all chips have been lost, it is the end of the night unless, as Spalding joked, a friend gives you some of theirs.

?There?s a contest to see ? the top three winners of the evening,? Spalding continued, adding that those three winners will take home the title of being champion players for this year?s event. But in the end, having a ?fun evening? is what counts, allowing participation in Casino Night to convince people to join the event.

RSA strives to bring this event to campus annually, and by participating in these types of activities, students are able to see what can be done with their school. Organizations like the RSA strive to bring out the best in the student body and show how much fun can be had with a little jazz and an atmosphere of games, community and students coming together to enjoy a night of cards.

?

Source: http://trail.pugetsound.edu/2012/10/casino-night-returns-this-oct/

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World champs win Maine wife-carrying contest

NEWRY, Maine (AP) ? A Finnish couple has added to their victories by taking first place in the North American Wife Carrying Championship at Maine's Sunday River ski resort.

Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen traveled from Helsinki, Finland ? where they won the World Wife Carrying Championship ? for Saturday's contest. The Sun Journal (bit.ly/Q30QWq) reports that the couple finished with a time of 52.58 seconds on a course that includes hurdles, sand traps and a water hole.

The winners receive the woman's weight in beer and five times her weight in cash.

For Miettinen and Haapanen, that meant a check for $530. They shared their beer winnings with the second- and third- place finishers ? Jesse Wall and Christine Arsenault of South Paris and David and Lacey Castro of Lewiston.

___

Information from: Sun-Journal, http://www.sunjournal.com

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/aa9398e6757a46fa93ed5dea7bd3729e/Article_2012-10-07-Wife%20Carrying%20Championship/id-c8becd32a7be4a6d81e50c45e8d579aa

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