California Lawmakers Look to Approve Pension Reforms

California lawmakers were poised to pass a sweeping pension reform measure and a flurry of other bills on Friday as they prepared to break until after the fall elections.

The pension law, unveiled by Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday after months of talks with fellow Democrats who control the legislature, would put new limits on pensions for future state and local government to save tens of billions of dollars in retirement-related spending.

Brown intends to promote those savings to help sell voters on his November measure to raise the state's sales tax and boost income taxes on wealthy Californians. Revenue from the measure would prevent further immediate cuts in spending on education programs and bolster the state's finances in coming years.

The tax measure has a modest lead in polls but support for tax initiatives in the California typically wanes as election day nears. Brown needs to hammer home to voters how he has tackled pressing fiscal concerns to rally them behind tax increases, analysts say.

Pension costs are one of those concerns--and not just in California. State and local governments around the country have struggled with lean revenue, requiring them to slash spending on services but at the same time honor promises to retirees.

Brown and top Democrats hailed the reforms in the legislation to be voted on Friday. The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest U.S. public pension fund, said the plan could cut $40 billion to $60 billion in pension expenses for government employers over 30 years.

Public employee unions panned the agreement, complaining that Democrats who are routinely their legislative allies had sold them out by agreeing to the proposal.

But others said the changes do not go far enough, noting they do not include Brown's proposal for "hybrid" pensions combining features of traditional pensions and 401(k)-style retirement accounts.

"I hope people acknowledge there is much, much more work to be done," said Joe Nation, a former Democratic member of the state Assembly who now teaches public policy at Stanford University. "It's better than moving backwards but this barely moves the ball forward."

Nation in recent years has overseen studies warning California and its local governments face unfunded pension liabilities that stretch into the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Pension costs are contributing to the financial hardship that pushed Stockton and San Bernardino, two sizeable California cities, to file for bankruptcy this year.

Tackling unfunded pension liabilities will require changes that effect the retirement benefits of current public-sector employees, not just the future employees targeted in the bill, according to Nation.

"Because we are so under water right now there just really has to be more," Nation said.

California lawmakers must vote on the pension bill by midnight Friday, the close of the legislative session.

The legislation will require new public-sector workers to split payments to their pension accounts at least evenly with employers.

Current employees would also be responsible for half their contributions as talks phase in higher payments. Savings to the state from its employees paying more toward their pensions will be used to reduce its unfunded pension liability.

The legislation also will raise retirement ages for new employees and impose new formulas for calculating pensions. That will leave the newly hired with less generous benefits than current workers.

The legislature will also be considering a workers-compensation reform measure.

Source: http://feeds.foxbusiness.com/~r/foxbusiness/economy/~3/oq8AZqjj5Lg/

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Drama in Iran wins Egypt president a bold image

CAIRO ? Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's international debut made its biggest splash at home. After he publicly denounced Syria's regime while being hosted by Damascus' top ally Iran, Egyptian supporters and even some critics are lauding him as a new Arab leader that speaks truth to power.

That may have been precisely the point. The drama of his Tehran speech boosts Morsi, an Islamist from the Muslim Brotherhood who became his country's first freely elected president, as he works to entrench his authority in Egypt.

His speech also points to new images he is cultivating: The tough, fearless leader who speaks with the voice of a people who chose him. For Islamists, he was a Sunni hero against the Shiites.

"He bows in respect for his people, so world leaders bow to him," proclaimed a photo-montage posted on a Brotherhood-affiliated Facebook page.

In one frame, it shows Morsi bowing his head amid crowds of supporters in Tahrir Square. In the other, it shows Morsi sitting at the Nonaligned Movement summit in Tehran on Thursday, with several dignitaries stooped over him to listen as if bowing and hanging on his every word.

For critics, the gushing support is reminiscent of the unquestioning praise given in state media to his predecessor, ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Moreover, they point out that behind the dramatic gestures, Morsi is so far doing little to bring actual dramatic change in Egypt's foreign policy. Morsi is being cautious, reluctant to turn sharply against Egypt's main Mubarak-era allies, Saudi Arabia, the United States and even Israel. That is in part because he is constrained by the realities of the region and by his need for allies as he tries to address Egypt's domestic woes.

Morsi makes his first visit as president to the U.S. in September for the annual U.N. General Assembly session. Washington might have been expected to be unhappy to see the first visit by an Egyptian president to Tehran since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Instead, it joined in the praise.

State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell welcomed Morsi's comments on Syria as "very clear and very strong," particularly as they were made in Tehran "to some people who need to hear it there."

Since his inauguration in late July, Morsi has promised a more independent foreign policy, saying Mubarak's close adherence to an American line made Egypt ineffectual and irrelevant in the Middle East. Morsi's supporters touted his speech as an example of his new approach.

His flair in Tehran was certainly a break from the tone of Mubarak's foreign policy, which usually saw dry repetitions of long-held stances and shunned drama. In contrast, Morsi swept in to visit a longtime rival, eagerly shook the Iranian president's hand, then gave a hearty call for world support of Syria's rebels against an "oppressive regime that has lost its legitimacy."

"People haven't heard an Egyptian leader speaking in this fashion, speaking out a foreign policy position that struck a chord with the region," said Michael W. Hanna, an Egypt expert at New York's Century Foundation. "This is the first time that Egypt struck a populist note in terms of its foreign policy in probably decades."

Even one of Morsi's staunchest domestic critics, Mohamed Abu Hamed, tweeted: "To the president: a salute of appreciation for your speech in Tehran summit. I hope you implement the ideas you mentioned."

He also won praise from ultraconservative Sunnis in Egypt who are key allies for Morsi and who only days earlier were loudly denouncing his trip to Shiite majority Iran. The ultraconservative Salafis despite Shiites as heretics.

In his speech, Morsi hit notes that were music to the Salafi ears. He kicked off the address with a salute to Abu Bakr and Omar, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad and his first successors. Mentioning them was seen as an implicit snub to Iran: Sunnis revere them, but Shiites hate them because they are seen as cheating the man they see as the rightful successor, Ali.

One prominent Egyptian Salafi cleric praised Morsi for affirming Egypt's Sunni identity.

"The comments had a huge effect and shook the hearts of Iranians like earthquakes," said Sheik Mohammed Gweili.

A hardline cleric in Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia, Suleiman al-Odah, wrote on his Twitter account: "Let all Arab leaders go to Iran if they will speak the truth like President Morsi did."

Dozens of supporters lined up the airport road to receive Morsi upon his return from Iran. "Free revolutionaries, we will complete the path," they chanted.

"Egyptians felt that their president speaks with their tongue and is strong through their will that elected him," Hussein Ibrahim, the head of the Brotherhood majority in the most recent, now-dissolved parliament, wrote on his Facebook page. "Outside Egypt, the Arab brothers feel that Egypt is returning to its place and is filling the gap that was caused by the previous regime."

For some, the effusive praise was worrying.

Sarah Othman, a prominent blogger and columnist in the independent El-Badil online newspaper, criticized Morsi's goading of the Iranians with the Sunni Islamic references as "childish, too naive and unbecoming of someone with such a high position." It "was only met with approval by fanatics and sectarians."

She compared it to an earlier instance of bravado by Morsi, when in his first political speech as president before a crowd in Cairo's Tahrir Square he opened his jacket to show he wasn't wearing a bulletproof vest. That may have worked in Tahrir, she said, but "there is something for every occasion."

Ibrahim Eissa, another prominent columnist, said the praise for Morsi overlooked its cautious political calculations. He noted Morsi made little criticism of Israel ? "he didn't even use the phrase `Israeli crimes," Eissa wrote, and reduced the Palestinian issue to that of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and other measures that Mubarak would usually condemn as well.

So far, Morsi has made little change in the Mubarak-era relationship with Israel. Morsi has promised to preserve the landmark Egypt-Israel peace treaty and security cooperation has continued as Egypt's military wages an operation in Sinai against Islamic militants who have attacked Israel and Egyptian troops.

Morsi has spoken more warmly of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. But he has not significantly eased access to Gaza through their shared border, a key Hamas concern. He has also sought to warm up to Saudi Arabia, a key ally of Egypt but a longtime rival of the Brotherhood.

Hanna, of the Century Foundation, said Morsi is in no condition to make major changes at a time when he has to deal with a faltering economy that needs aid from allies.

Egypt "has no economic base upon which to project power in the region. We are talking about a rhetorical shift in the near term."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2012/08/31/13594790-drama-in-iran-wins-egypt-president-a-bold-image

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Galaxy Tablet winner

IRON MOUNTAIN - Pam Pelot of Iron Mountain is the winner of a Samsung Galaxy Tablet from The Daily News. Readers of The Daily News became eligible to win the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Tablet by returning the entry forms found in newspaper. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Tablet, valued at $399.99 excluding tax, is one of the lightest, thinnest Android-powered tablets on the market today.

Source: http://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/536439.html

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Earphones potentially as dangerous as noise from jet engines, researchers find

ScienceDaily (Aug. 29, 2012) ? Turning the volume up too high on your headphones can damage the coating of nerve cells, leading to temporary deafness, scientists from the University of Leicester have shown for the first time.

Earphones or headphones on personal music players can reach noise levels similar to those of jet engines, the researchers said.

Noises louder than 110 decibels are known to cause hearing problems such as temporary deafness and tinnitus (ringing in the ears), but the University of Leicester study is the first time the underlying cell damage has been observed.

The study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

University of Leicester researcher Dr Martine Hamann of the Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, who led the study, said:

"The research allows us to understand the pathway from exposure to loud noises to hearing loss. Dissecting the cellular mechanisms underlying this condition is likely to bring a very significant healthcare benefit to a wide population. The work will help prevention as well as progression into finding appropriate cures for hearing loss."

Nerve cells that carry electrical signals from the ears to the brain have a coating called the myelin sheath, which helps the electrical signals travel along the cell. Exposure to loud noises -- i.e. noise over 110 decibels -- can strip the cells of this coating, disrupting the electrical signals. This means the nerves can no longer efficiently transmit information from the ears to the brain.

However, the coating surrounding the nerve cells can reform, letting the cells function again as normal. This means hearing loss can be temporary, and full hearing can return, the researchers said.

Dr Hamann explained: "We now understand why hearing loss can be reversible in certain cases. We showed that the sheath around the auditory nerve is lost in about half of the cells we looked at, a bit like stripping the electrical cable linking an amplifier to the loudspeaker. The effect is reversible and after three months, hearing has recovered and so has the sheath around the auditory nerve."

The findings are part of ongoing research into the effects of loud noises on a part of the brain called the dorsal cochlear nucleus, the relay that carries signals from nerve cells in the ear to the parts of the brain that decode and make sense of sounds. The team has already shown that damage to cells in this area can cause tinnitus -- the sensation of 'phantom sounds' such as buzzing or ringing.

The research was funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medisearch, GlaxoSmithkline and the Royal Society.

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Journal Reference:

1. N. Pilati, M. J. Ison, M. Barker, M. Mulheran, C. H. Large, I. D. Forsythe, J. Matthias, M. Hamann. Mechanisms contributing to central excitability changes during hearing loss. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; 109 (21): 8292 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1116981109

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_science/~3/11ba8XB000o/120829064707.htm

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Amazon Kindle Rumor Roundup: Everything We Think We Know [Kindle Fire 2]

Today Amazon announced that the Kindle Fire is all sold out, which is cleverly convenient considering there's an Amazon event next Thursday. We're anticipating new Kindle Fires in a bunch of different flavors. So what might Bezos & Co. drop on us next week? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vXOn6Flx2yc/amazon-kindle-rumor-roundup-everything-we-think-we-know

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ROLEPLAYERS WANTED! (:

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NASA's 'Mighty Eagle' robotic prototype lander takes 100-foot free flight

ScienceDaily (Aug. 29, 2012) ? With a whistle and a roar, the "Mighty Eagle," a NASA robotic prototype lander, sailed to an altitude of 100 feet during another successful free flight Aug. 28 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

During the 35-second run, the vehicle was "open loop" -- navigating autonomously without the command of the onboard camera and flying on a preprogrammed flight profile. Once it reached the 100-foot mark, the "Mighty Eagle" identified a new, larger target on the ground about 100 feet away, took pictures, processed the images and safely landed. The test is part of a new series of free flights testing the robotic prototype lander's autonomous rendezvous and capture capabilities. Testing will continue through September.

"We met our goal for this flight, which was to test the new software at triple the height of our last flight," said Dr. Greg Chavers, "Mighty Eagle" test lead at the Marshall Center. "The higher we go, the more realistic the scenario is compared to an actual descent."

"This test article is a vehicle system and requires a lot of team interaction," said Jake Parton, test conductor on the flight. Parton is one of several young engineers gaining experience and getting guidance from senior engineers on the "Mighty Eagle" project. The test team's ages range from 25 to 71.

"We are getting good experience in handling flight hardware and reacting to real-time conditions and anomalies," said Parton. "Each time we test, we load propellant, launch the vehicle, fly the vehicle and land the vehicle. It's hands-on flight experience for young engineers."

Nicknamed the "Mighty Eagle" after one of the characters in the popular "Angry Birds" game, the vehicle is a three-legged prototype that resembles an actual flight lander design. It is 4 feet tall and 8 feet in diameter and, when fueled, weighs 700 pounds. It is fueled by 90 percent pure hydrogen peroxide and receives its commands from an onboard computer that activates its onboard thrusters to carry it to a controlled landing using a pre-programmed flight profile.

NASA will use the "Mighty Eagle" to mature the technology needed to develop a new generation of small, smart, versatile robotic landers capable of achieving scientific and exploration goals on the surface of the moon, asteroids or other airless bodies.

The "Mighty Eagle" was developed by the Marshall Center and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., for NASA's Planetary Sciences Division, Headquarters Science Mission Directorate. Key partners in this project include the Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation, which includes the Science Applications International Corporation, Dynetics Corp., and Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., all of Huntsville.

Watch the video of the Mighty Eagle flight on Aug. 28 at the Marshall Center: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=151295641

For more information on NASA's robotic landers, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/lunarquest/robotic/index.html

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lA--2917C78/120829145855.htm

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The trick for GOP: Being heard above Isaac's gales

A Secret Service agent stand on the stage after an abbreviated session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A Secret Service agent stand on the stage after an abbreviated session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Tropical Storm Isaac forced the Republicans to do what the Democrats had already done voluntarily: shorten their national convention from four days to three. But the show, as they say, must go on. Political conventions are calibrated theater, after all, and as with any big show, random elements can cause chaos.

As the GOP convenes in Tampa for a convention delayed by a major storm and clouded by the fraught, Katrina-scarred politics of major storms in general, what are audiences looking for from this gathering? What are the mechanics involved in making the big show resonate for its audience? The answer, say some who either craft or assess image-making, is twofold: to acknowledge the storm without appearing to be making political hay out of it, and to keep things simple and, when possible, nonconfrontational.

"The American public is just about at wits' end with everything being partisan," says Richard S. Olson, who studies the politics of disaster at Florida International University in Miami.

"One of the problems with these scripted conventions is that, when something happens literally during convention time, the scripts make the speakers look out of touch," he says. "And if the RNC wants to connect to the broad American public, one of the ways to do that would be to talk about it, talk about disasters as transcending normal everyday politics and make it a true national concern."

Political conventions in general have been losing viewership for years. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP nominee, bemoaned announcements by some news outlets that they didn't plan to carry his wife's address live. But do people ? those involved in politics and regular voters alike ? expect too much from these gatherings?

"I'm not sure it's fundamentally an exercise of winning independent voters or bridging the credibility gap that a challenger has against an incumbent," says Terry Holt, who served as a senior adviser for the RNC and as senior communication strategist on both of George W. Bush's successful campaigns. "I don't look at the convention as the be all and the end all. It's the opening act of the general election campaign. It's important that it go well and that it showcase the high points of Romney's agenda. It's the gun going off and not the whole race."

Howard Bragman's counsel would be relatively straightforward. Bragman, who gave PR advice to former Bill Clinton intern and paramour Monica Lewinsky and her family "after you know what," says he would parade across the convention stage the following people: Ann Romney, all five of the couple's sons and as many of their 18 grandkids as the family could muster.

"Whoever could humanize this guy and start to build a dimensional character as opposed to a cardboard cutout who looks presidential," says Bragman, vice chairman of reputation.com.

To that end, the RNC spent a reported $2.5 million building a stage for Romney's acceptance speech that, in the words of one NPR commentator, evokes the feeling of a living room ? a uniting, humanizing image. That approach makes sense to Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, who says Romney can do this year what Ronald Reagan did in 1980: Focus his audience on the things that unite the party and avoid the rest.

"They have to stay away from the social and cultural issues," says Zelizer, author of the book "Governing America." ''They really need to stick on taxes and budgets, regulation. They have to make that the broader theme."

That sounds right to Kevin Homel, 57, who owns a small mail-order business near Pittsburgh. He was a registered Democrat until about 20 years ago, when he switched to the GOP. The message he wants from Tampa: that his party "is heading in the direction of fiscal responsibility by balancing the budget, repealing 'Obamacare' and reducing the size of government which, overall, is in line with the Tea Party."

Ray Davis, 47, a woodworker from Little Rock, Ark., has seen his business take a hit along with the housing market. He's not planning to watch the convention for the same reason he's decided he won't be voting for Obama. "Actions speak louder than words," he says. "They sit up there and talk a good game, but it's how they carry it out that matters."

With Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin's comments on rape and abortion, and Romney's joke about Obama's birth certificate, "August has been a month of distractions," Holt says. So how to prevent Isaac from becoming another one? Leverage it ? carefully.

In keeping with the GOP message of people not relying too heavily on government, Republicans could "highlight people who are in some ways being entrepreneurial heroes ... people who are just, on their own volition, going out and helping people, protecting property and otherwise mitigating the storm damage," says Seth Masket, a political scientist at the University of Denver.

While some might see that as taking advantage of a bad situation, Masket says the danger is minimal because "the issue already comes politicized."

"It's a hurricane during a national convention," he says. "And the last time one of these hit New Orleans, it was a major political issue for the Republicans. It's going to affect them politically, whether they want it or not."

It might seem disingenuous, but Syracuse University professor Robert Thompson says Tampa organizers need to intersperse the speeches with prayers for Gulf Coast residents and moments of silence and, generally, "not make it look like you're clueless as to what's going on."

"A lot of people have grown cynical to that kind that of thing, but you have to do it," says Thompson, director of the school's Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. "Maybe you could not plan your convention in a vulnerable city during hurricane season. But it's too late for that. They've rented the rooms and hired the catering."

The trick, he says, will be getting heard above Isaac's winds.

___

Associated Press writer Pauline Arrillaga in Phoenix, Joe Mandak in Pittsburgh and Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Ark., also contributed to this report. Allen G. Breed is based in Raleigh, N.C. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AllenGBreed

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-08-28-Satisfying%20the%20Audience/id-5a1e7818a35e4e058b4240f1c11b7061

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Productivity Pro Laura Stack Weighs in on Groupthink: Does it Help ...

?

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 28, 2012 -
DENVER, Colorado, August 28, 2012 ? Teamwork is a standard for good business, and it has been considered an integral part of successful decision making for generations. ?All organizations, from non-profits to government to publicly-traded corporations, rely on the combined brilliance of teams for analysis and advice that leads to well-balanced decisions. But group decisions can go too far when dominated by one strong member of the team, a phenomenon called ?groupthink.? ?Time management and productivity expert Laura Stack thinks some organizations are losing their innovative edge because of some very fundamental groupthink weaknesses.

In her latest blog, ?Does Groupthink Hurt Your Productivity at Work?,? Stack takes a look at the role of brainstorming in decision making. This routine process in today?s business meetings is meant to meld staff members into a tightly knit team through collective thinking and ownership. What could possibly go wrong?

While Stack acknowledges brainstorming can be a useful tool, she is quick to point out its potential to backfire: when you gather many creative, talented people to form a consensus, individual creativity may be diluted. The group?s more vocal members are going to call the majority of the shots, and the introverts among them vote to approve the leading idea. The rationale may be to avoid disapproval from coworkers or just get it over with, in order to get back to other work.

Stack says that it is not uncommon for a group to lose the ability to consider the full range of ideas, which defeats the purpose of the groupthink exercise altogether, because some team members don?t want to ?rock the boat.?

?Every company has its own corporate culture, and all it takes is a few assertive people to dominate it,? Stack says. ??Whether intended or not, this reality offers fertile ground for the growth of groupthink, if a team isn?t aware of differing styles.
?If it gets out of hand, we risk becoming stagnant clusters of team players and yes-people, afraid to speak our minds and take initiative.?

Stack says if the groupthink approach isn?t monitored carefully and approached with caution, it can lead to a climate that it stifles innovation.

While there remains a need for some structure in the workplace, weeding out groupthink is just as important, Stack says, offering options for managers and team leaders to consider different approaches to teamwork and innovation.

?A corporate culture wide open to creativity and the conditions conductive to it represents the best of all possible worlds,? Stack says. ?Those who work best in solitude might have access to special rooms where they don?t have to wear noise-canceling earphones just to think.

?If this proves unrealistic, telecommuting represents another option for introverts who cherish their creative solitude.?

While acknowledging the importance of collaboration to any business?s growth and success, Stack offers guidance to utilize collaboration most effectively, utilize innovative techniques, and avoid groupthink.

For more insight on the role of productive decision making in today?s business environment and its effect on workplace productivity, visit TheProductivityPro.com website, Email Laura@TheProductivityPro.com, or call 303-471-7401.

About Laura Stack:

Laura Stack is a time management and productivity expert who has been speaking and writing about human potential and peak performance since 1992. She has implemented employee productivity improvement programs at Wal-Mart, Cisco Systems, UBS, Aramark, and Bank of America. Stack presents keynotes and seminars internationally for leaders, entrepreneurs, salespeople, and professional services firms on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in the workplace.

The president of The Productivity Pro?, Inc., a time management firm specializing in high-stress environments, Stack is the bestselling author of five books: ??What to do When There?s Too Much to do? (2012); ?SuperCompetent? (2010); ?The Exhaustion Cure? (2008); ?Find More Time? (2006); ?Leave the Office Earlier? (2004). The 2011-2012 President of the National Speakers Association and recipient of the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, Stack has served as a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, Xerox, and Office Depot and is the creator of The Productivity Pro? planner by Day-Timer. Widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the field of employee productivity and workplace issues, Stack has been featured nationally on the CBS Early Show and CNN, and in USA Today and the New York Times.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11960469/1

Source: http://www.prlog.org/11960469-productivity-pro-laura-stack-weighs-in-on-groupthink-does-it-help-or-hinder-workplace-productivity.html

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New Face Paint Protects Soldiers Against Bomb Blasts

If I remember those county-fair firefighter demonstrations well enough, one of the major problems firefighters face is that they're already too scary.

In a house fire, children are startled awake by alarms, surrounded by disorienting smoke, and seeing flashing lights outside their window. Then suddenly a grotesque figure with a misshapen body and respirator mask comes bursting in to their room carrying a giant axe, with flames surrounding them. The children scream and run away, frantically hoping to escape their certain doom at the hands of the demon from the hallway. It's no use. Their shocked scream was heard, and the monster lumbers toward them, making unintelligible noises that sound almost like speech. Finally the great beast peels off his face to show a human underneath. "It's okay, I'm a fireman. I'll take you outside." Before the children can fully understand what's going on, they're being carried toward the door, and it's so hot they can't think straight. Maybe this is alright. At the door now, and there's people outside. Then there's mommy and everything's alright.

Keeping whatever remnants of human appearance a firefighter has is a good thing.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/Bwcx_YalRUc/new-face-paint-protects-soldiers-against-bomb-blasts

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Zebrafish study explains why the circadian rhythm affects your health

Public release date: 28-Aug-2012
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Contact: Lasse Dahl Jensen
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Linkping University

Disruptions to the circadian rhythm can affect the growth of blood vessels in the body, thus causing illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer, according to a new study from Linkping University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

The circadian rhythm is regulated by a "clock" that reacts to both incoming light and genetic factors.

In an article now being published in the scientific journal Cell Reports, it is demonstrated for the first time that disruption of the circadian rhythm immediately inhibit blood vessel growth in zebra fish embryos.

Professor Yihai Cao leads a research group, which has demonstrated that the breaking point is the production of a very important signalling substance: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The formation of this substance requires a normal circadian rhythm.

During experiments with hours-old zebra fish embryos, the researchers manipulated their circadian rhythm through exposing them to lighting conditions varying from constant darkness to constant light. The growth of blood vessels in the various groups was then studied. The results showed that exposure to constant light (1800 lux) markedly impaired blood vessel growth; additionally, it affected the expression of genes that regulate the circadian clock.

"The results can definitely be translated into clinical circumstances. Individuals with disrupted circadian rhythms for example, shift workers who work under artificial lights at night, people with sleeping disorders or a genetic predisposition should be on guard against illnesses associated with disrupted blood vessel growth," says Lasse Dahl Jensen, researcher in Cardiovascular Physiology at Linkping University (LiU), and lead writer of the article.

Such diseases include heart attack, stroke, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Disruptions in blood vessel growth can also affect foetal development, women's reproductive cycles, and the healing of wounds.

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Article:

Opposing Effects of Circadian Clock Genes Bmal1 and Period2 in Regulation of VEGF-Dependent Angiogenesis in Developing Zebrafish by L D Jensen, Z Cao, M Nakamura, Y Yang, L Brutigam, P Andersson, Y Zhang, E Wahlberg, T Lnne, K Hosaka and Y Cao. Cell Reports Online Now 9 Aug 2012.

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Public release date: 28-Aug-2012
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Contact: Lasse Dahl Jensen
lasse.jensen@liu.se
46-070-998-2096
Linkping University

Disruptions to the circadian rhythm can affect the growth of blood vessels in the body, thus causing illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer, according to a new study from Linkping University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

The circadian rhythm is regulated by a "clock" that reacts to both incoming light and genetic factors.

In an article now being published in the scientific journal Cell Reports, it is demonstrated for the first time that disruption of the circadian rhythm immediately inhibit blood vessel growth in zebra fish embryos.

Professor Yihai Cao leads a research group, which has demonstrated that the breaking point is the production of a very important signalling substance: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The formation of this substance requires a normal circadian rhythm.

During experiments with hours-old zebra fish embryos, the researchers manipulated their circadian rhythm through exposing them to lighting conditions varying from constant darkness to constant light. The growth of blood vessels in the various groups was then studied. The results showed that exposure to constant light (1800 lux) markedly impaired blood vessel growth; additionally, it affected the expression of genes that regulate the circadian clock.

"The results can definitely be translated into clinical circumstances. Individuals with disrupted circadian rhythms for example, shift workers who work under artificial lights at night, people with sleeping disorders or a genetic predisposition should be on guard against illnesses associated with disrupted blood vessel growth," says Lasse Dahl Jensen, researcher in Cardiovascular Physiology at Linkping University (LiU), and lead writer of the article.

Such diseases include heart attack, stroke, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Disruptions in blood vessel growth can also affect foetal development, women's reproductive cycles, and the healing of wounds.

###

Article:

Opposing Effects of Circadian Clock Genes Bmal1 and Period2 in Regulation of VEGF-Dependent Angiogenesis in Developing Zebrafish by L D Jensen, Z Cao, M Nakamura, Y Yang, L Brutigam, P Andersson, Y Zhang, E Wahlberg, T Lnne, K Hosaka and Y Cao. Cell Reports Online Now 9 Aug 2012.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/lu-zse082812.php

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Fast-Forward, The Art of Prepping Ahead: Spinach Manicotti in ...

Though I have never been a Boy Scout, I've always been fond of their motto: "Be prepared." Nearly everything goes faster if I've thought about my plan in advance. A shopping list organized by aisle makes it easy to zip through the store. A weekly meal calendar with lunches plotted out means no one stands in front of the fridge wondering what to take (and leftovers actually get eaten). And preparing ingredients ahead of time gets dinner on the table in a flash when I get home from work.

In our recipes, we often include storage information, but what may not be immediately obvious is that lots of our recipes have "holding points" -- prep that can be done in advance -- and with a little critical thinking, you can break everything down into smaller, make-ahead chunks. With Fast-Forward, I hope to share with you some of my favorite Everyday Food recipes while providing some tips on how to use your time effectively, so you'll be eating sooner rather than later.

First up is this delicious Spinach Manicotti in Creamy Tomato Sauce. I've made this on the weekend and I love it, but when I get home around 7 (or later) on a weeknight, an hour-plus gap before we eat is not ideal. Rather than relegate this recipe to the weekends-only file, I wake up a few minutes earlier and do some prep before I even get dressed. Here's how I tackle this one:

THE NIGHT BEFORE:

1. Transfer frozen spinach to the fridge to thaw.

THE MORNING OF:

1. Put a pot of water on to boil; salt it and cook the pasta. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a rimmed baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray. Drain and rinse pasta with cool water, then spread in an even layer on sheet. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap, pressing edges to loosely seal, and refrigerate.
2. Meanwhile, shred the Parmesan and store half in an airtight container.
3. Stir together sauce ingredients and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
4. Make the filling (using the rest of that Parm) and store in an airtight container in the fridge. (Bonus points if you store it in the zip-top bag you'll use for piping later tonight.)

All that should take no more than 30 minutes, and you can probably squeeze in a little sandwich-making or breakfast prep if you're good at multitasking. Now, when you come home, what was once a three-step recipe now looks like this:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Fill shells, arrange in pan, and cover with sauce and Parmesan.?Bake 30 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

By taking half an hour to prep before your day really begins, you cut your kitchen time almost in half in the evening. Further, while the pasta dish is baking, you can wash the rest of your dishes, whip up a quick salad, or just kick back and relax.

So what do you think? Would you be willing to wake up half an hour early in order to get a lush dinner on the table in a snap, or would you rather do prep the night before (or just eat late)?

PS - I can tell you from experience that this particular dish makes great leftovers!

Tags: fast-forward, italian, leftovers, make ahead, pasta, Vegetarian
Posted by Heather Young on August 27, 2012 in Dinner, Shortcuts, Tips, Tools, and Tricks, Vegetarian, fast-forward

Source: http://everydayfoodblog.marthastewart.com/2012/08/fast-forward-the-art-of-prepping-ahead-spinach-manicotti-in-creamy-tomato-sauce.html

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Protect a brand from prefix pretenders

It could be argued that a many profitable item of any business is a brand. Marketing departments remove nap formulating meticulously crafted ad campaigns, pulling for prudently timed press coverage and pulling products into usually a right hands during usually a right (or spasmodic wrong) impulse in sequence to penetrate a alertness of onlookers. A code engenders genuine and tangible feelings in people about something (or someone) and ultimately, in a box of a business, a energy of a code can foreordain either they select to spend tough warranted income on their product or service.

Building a clever and certain code can take time, vast amounts of artistic savvy and bucket-loads of money. So it?s a sorrowful awaiting if a booty of all of that tough work and investment are not usually siphoned by a third celebration though a really code itself degraded in a process.

In a good aged days, before we all started spending each impulse of gangling time and each gangling penny on a new-fangled interweb, code hijacking was a worse prospect. You were doubtful to see a vast yellow and blue building on a hinterland of a city called IKAE, offered back-of-a-lorry seat to gullible IKEA lovers. But a internet, with a present tellurian reach, fundamental honesty and anonymity, offers a verbatim ?world of opportunity? for scammers to route some unmerited gleam from an venerable brand.

While some wrong activity towards a code might be unconditionally malicious, a infancy is distinction driven and directed during ludicrous traffic, unfailing for that brand, to generate, for a third party, increasing ad revenues or sales of identical products or services. The methods used? Among others, strategy of hunt engine rankings and PPC ad placements, a origination of dubious amicable networking sites as good as skewed online shops or auction outlets.

Trademark your brand

Assuming your association name has been purebred during Companies House, it is critical to also heading your brand. The egghead Property Office or IPO (http://www.ipo.gov.uk) is a place and, as prolonged as your heading ask adheres to their terms, registration will give we disdainful authorised rights to use your ?mark? ? words, logos or a multiple of both ? for a products and/or services that it covers in a UK.

Be a master of your domain

In an ideal world, your domain name will logically compare your brand. If that many judicious domain has been cumulative by another celebration then, once your tears have dried, safeguard that your code name is enclosed in a domain as apparently as possible. Then do your best to possess your domain portfolio as comprehensively as possible. For a comparatively minimal cost of domain registration, by ensuring that no one else is means to register another appendix to your domain, we tighten a many apparent doorway to code hijacking.

The same use should be practical for new branded products or services your association has in a pipeline. Register domains anonymously good forward of time to safeguard we secure a rights to a best probable domains and revoke a chances of destiny code infringement.

Lastly, safeguard that your domains are scrupulously sealed down by your domain registrar in sequence to retard any wrong send requests.

Wave a self-evident flag

It?s correct to make certain your code is clearly manifest on all element compared with a business; each web page, each digital document. By consistently repeating these tenure signals, there can be small doubt as to a loyal home of your brand.

Top a rankings

Attention should be given to your website?s Google ranking position for your possess code name. If you?re not series one afterwards that?s a problem and either we select to optimise in-house or occupy professionals to do it for you, it?s value doing a work to tip a list. There?s no improved approach to upset your hard-earned business than not to be in front of them when they hunt for we specifically.

Track your brand

In sequence to scrupulously guard what is being posted online about your brand, either this is by in-house marketing, press, business or by an unapproved third party, it is good value environment adult a Google warning for, not usually your code name and domain (if different), though renouned misspellings and also for particular products or services that could be being misrepresented.

By regulating this giveaway and simple, though impossibly effective service, we can guard daily where and how your code is being used or discussed online and be alerted roughly immediately to, not usually any intensity hazard from wrong poise though also any disastrous press or deleterious patron complaints on open forums, that can afterwards be addressed promptly.

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Rating: 10.0/10 (1 opinion cast)

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]

Protect a code from prefix pretenders, 10.0 out of 10 formed on 1 rating

Source: http://www.joomlavision.com/protect-brand-prefix-pretenders/

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Construction company Orange County - Modern, Innovative ...

by Eternity Construction, Inc.

to Eternity Construction, Inc.

Home remodeling is one of the most common ways to quickly and affordably enhance the beauty of a home, without all of the drawbacks of purchasing an entirely new property. Many people consider this a better option than construction of a new house, because it is far more cost-effective and much less disruptive. If you are settled in Los Angeles and planning to renovate or remodel your house, then you should be sure to hire professional service providers to get the job done right. There are numerous options for licensed general contracting companies that offer wide range of such services at competitive rates.

Some of the most popular remodeling projects include:

? Kitchens

? Bathrooms

? Bedrooms

? Living Rooms

Most clients find what they are searching for from the area's leading companies, because the best businesses have multiple areas of expertise apart from Los Angeles Remodeling. These professionals will help you update and improve flooring and cabinets, and they have the services of electricians, plumbers and other experts to complete the work quickly and accurately. Experts at these companies work closely with their clients to ensure the finished project reflects the unique creativity of the homeowner.

If you are searching for a reliable Los Angeles bathroom remodeling company, visit some of the client feedback websites for recommendations. Find professionals that are experienced remodelers for all types of bathroom designs, including modern, classic, and traditional. With the help of these services, you can look forward to a beautiful, practical space in your bathroom.

Many companies provide reliable services for kitchen remodeling Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. If you are ready to create the kitchen of your dreams, choose the services of a professional, experienced remodeling company. They will make your kitchen both beautiful and functional, so you and your family can enjoy quality time while cooking and eating together. When you select a company with many years of remodeling experience, you can be confident that they understand what you want in your kitchen. Therefore, they can help create a perfect kitchen design that suits the specific needs of your lifestyle. Homeowners aren't the only ones that can benefit from quality remodeling. These services are also available for commercial buildings like hotels and restaurants, at very competitive prices.

When you look for a quality Construction Company Orange County that you can trust, these are the features that will ensure your project runs smoothly:

? More than two decades of experience

? 3D blueprint design reviewed with clients before construction/renovation begins

? High-quality, effective methods and advanced technologies

? Quality services at reasonable fees

? Guaranteed client satisfaction

Hire professional service providers and take the advantage of their ability to transform your home through remodeling and construction at affordable rates. For more information, visit them online.

Keywords: Construction company Orange County, kitchen remodeling Los Angeles, Los Angeles bathroom remodeling, Los Angeles remodeling

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Access to Credit and Business Survival - Small Business Trends

A paper published last year by Traci Mach of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and John Wolken, formerly of that organization, shows how important access to credit is for small business survival.

Using data from the Federal Reserve?s Survey of Small Business Finances, Mach and Wolken found that businesses that had less access to credit in 2003 were more likely to go out of business between 2004 and 2008. In addition, they found that measures of the businesses? access to credit were more predictive of company survival than were attributes of the business, owner, and market.

When this paper first came out, I thought the findings were self-evident. If lenders are any good at their jobs, then they should provide more credit to better companies run by more talented founders. Therefore, businesses that had better access to credit in 2003 should have been more likely to survive over the next five years than other companies. Presumably, they were the better companies.

But upon further reflection, I think this paper illustrates an important problem that central bankers, like Ben Bernanke, face. If the fraction of talented small business owners with good business ideas is roughly the same whether its 2008 or 2012, then this paper shows the importance of the getting public policy toward credit tightness correct.

When bank lending standards are looser, then the average business has more access to credit than when bank lending standards are tighter. That means that the average small company is more likely to survive in years when small business credit is easier to get.

That point highlights a key issue for the Fed chairman: Should the central bank encourage lenders to have easy or tough credit standards? If standards are low, then more businesses have access to credit and will survive over time. But if the businesses themselves are no better than when standards are high, then low standards means that the banks are propping up weak businesses with loose credit.

Because we don?t know how tight lending standards should be, the Fed risks making one of two mistakes in creating incentives for banks to lend money to small businesses. If it makes the banks maintain high lending standards that are too high, then it will cause many small businesses to fail, including some that should remain in operation. But if the Fed lets the banks maintain lending standards that are too low, then it is leading banks to keep alive small businesses that aren?t viable.

I?m glad I am not trying to get the job of Federal Reserve Bank Chairman.

Tug Photo via Shutterstock

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/08/access-credit-business-survival.html

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Why The Internet Hates My Name (It's The Accent Marks) | TechCrunch

The Internet doesn?t like me ? or, at least, it doesn?t care much for my name. My first name consists of two words and I have accent marks in both my first and last names, which seems to complicate my online life considerably. When trying to purchase an airline ticket or sign up for an email newsletter, I?m never completely certain whether it will go through, or how my name will come out of the transaction, but I?m usually pretty sure it won?t be right.

Turns out it?s not me. Rather it?s the archaic remnants of how computers came to be programmed in the U.S. during the mid-twentieth century. When standards for exchanging data between computers such as ASCII were created, the workforce consisted mostly of white males. They created programs still widely used today recognizing certain symbols and names ? accent marks are not typically among them.

?There is no good standard for representing names on the Internet. It?s almost a vestigial remnant of our programatic past; programs were highly limited to things that were in use in America on typewriters,? said Dan Lynn, CTO of FullContact, a cloud address book and contact management provider.

In other words, Lynn said,?there were no accents because the creators of these systems didn?t see a need for them. Nowadays, programs that don?t recognize accents or two-word names are in use by choice. Supporting multiple character sets may be more costly, because you have to support that input with databases, but ultimately Lynn said the internationalization of characters is on the rise.

Internationalization, or i18n, is an entire field dedicated to making software appropriate to language and culture, according to Professor Rob Miller, who teaches human-computer interaction and software engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. More parochial views of software development, wherein just first and last names with no special characters are used, are increasingly rare.

But, Miller explained, when older systems interact with newer ones (say, when purchasing an airline ticket), older systems may not recognize special characters, putting a damper on the whole transaction. When I try to purchase an airline ticket as ?Sara In?s Calder?n,? the airline company might be able to recognize those symbols, but the outdated communication protocols of other agencies ? federal regulators, law enforcement, customs and whoever else ? may not.

?I think software is slowly conforming to us.?It?s just inconceivable that English will be the sole winner of the Internet,? Miller said, noting that bigger tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google are keenly focused on internationalization. As these companies incorporate more diverse programming, others will follow, and eventually because the Internet is so global, older systems will be replaced, too.

It?s not technically that difficult to change, said Coram Bryant, the Director of Analytics at Motion Math. Web interfaces already support full character sets, he said, building databases with multiple fields for names (say, two first names) is not difficult ? it just takes some design. Technically this is not an astronomical hurdle, it?s more an issue of who?s doing the programming, Bryant said.

Miller of MIT believes that, ultimately, technology will conform to our changing culture. We?re always negotiating between our evolving culture and software programs, he said, but change is only a matter of time. Which may mean I might be able to purchase an airline ticket with my real name any day now.

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/24/why-the-internet-hates-my-name-its-the-accent-marks/

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Creative Suggestions For Baby Shower Centerpieces ? Prams For ...

Baby showers are wonderful and thoughtful methods of welcoming a new baby into the family and assist in providing many essentials a new infant will require. Decorating for such an event is sometimes quite a challenge ? shower centerpieces are usually focal points on tabletops, at the sign-in table and in the middle of buffet tables. Using creativity and some simple objects, putting together this decor will be easy and fun.

Diaper cakes are a re-usable and fun way to supply centerpieces for a party. Make them yourself ahead of time or hire an expert to put them together. For extra visibility, be sure to use colored diapers and bright accessories. This is an especially thoughtful gift as the many items can be re-used by the new mother for the weeks to come.

Actually using newborn baby gifts as focal points on the table is also very creative. Colorful stacked blocks, jungle-themed stuffed toys and baby dolls dressed in infant clothing makes for interesting and recyclable displays. Larger baby items such as baby baskets, carriers and umbrella strollers can be filled with accessories and placed in the middle of buffet tables for even more eye appeal and impact.

A quick trip to a toy store or discount center can supply you with baby doll furniture which can be utilized in the center of the tables. They can be filled with pacifiers, baby travel supplies, small items of clothing and other baby essentials. A talented florist can arrange pastel flowers which fit perfectly in a toy stroller, crib or walker.

Delicate clairs, cream puffs and miniature cupcakes will make yummy centerpieces when elevated on a cupcake holder or cake stand. The use of colorful doilies and baby cake accessories can make this really stand out. Guests will appreciate having their sweet desserts so handy for them to enjoy at the end of their meal.

Anchor colorful balloons to baby bottles or blocks and place on the tabletops and on the buffet. Add an extra special touch and personalize the balloons with the infant?s name, a baby announcement or the details of the shower. Small children at the event can be allowed to take the centerpieces home with them at the conclusion of the event.

Shower centerpieces can be colorful and creative ? all it takes is some thought and inexpensive supplies. The use of color, height, and personalization will make these arrangements extra special. Many of these can be re-used at other events or utilized for the new baby.

Baby Shower Diaper Cakes offers great prices on newborn baby gifts. Check out their website to learn more! (http://www.babydiapercakesandgifts.com/)

Source: http://www.pramsforbaby.com/creative-suggestions-for-baby-shower-centerpieces/

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Our Week in Review: More school issues - Creative Learning Fun

Whew! What a week! Things have been so crazy around here. I started classes again this week and I had a meeting with Pumpkin's school to try to get accommodations in place. I also went through volunteer orientation at a local Children's hospital this week. So it has been busy!
Pumpkin's school meeting didn't go as well as I'd hoped. They are still not providing her with any special education services. They are stating that even though she has a medical diagnosis of PDD-NOS, she does not meet the "educational definition" of Autism. The educational definition under IDEA is, ?autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age 3, that adversely affects a child?s educational performance (Safran, 2008. P. 91).? The primary difference between the educational and medical definition is that in order to be eligible under IDEA, the child?s autism must interfere with educational performance. If the child?s educational performance is not adversely affected, then the school may deny services despite there being a disability diagnosis prior to evaluation.

Pumpkin is very smart and has been able to learn successfully at home with me. Although, I argue that this is mainly due to the fact that I know how to accommodate her already. Since the school will not be providing special education accommodations, I do expect her learning to be impacted. This will take time though and they'll just have to observe it. This is why I am choosing to do half days so I can after school her. I refuse to let her backslide. So, I'll do what I can, while the school plays a guessing game about what they think she needs.

The school is however planning to give her services under section 504. Section 504 requires schools to provide a student with a documented disability a free appropriate education. Any school that accepts federal funding and operates a public school program is required to adhere to section 504 (Charter schools are included). Instead of basing these services off of the IDEA eligibility requirements, it goes off its own requirements within section 504 and the American with disabilities act. Section 504 is used to help children with disabilities that are not eligible under IDEA to have some educational supports.? ?

One thing they do seem to agree with is that Pumpkin will likely need services in the future. They think over time, the challenges she faces will increase since we expect that she has Asperger's. She cannot be diagnosed with that until she is a bit older though. So we'll see how all of this unfolds. She starts on Monday.

I just wanted to share our journey with you.. Because I know many of you have been through this or will be going through it soon. I hope my journey will help someone on theirs. Make sure to know special education law before any meetings with a school!

I am getting so nervous about the start of school. But I'm trying to think positive. Maybe all of this will work out better than I could ever have expected.

Here are some pictures from our week :)

?One minute she was awake...

?and then asleep.. :)

?Doing worksheets on the iPad.

?Swimming!!!

?Angry Birds on Momma's touch screen computer

On the way to open house at school

The tower she built at school

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful week! This week I'll be back to share all the fun we've been having in History (Story of the World, Vol. 1)! :)

~ Elizabeth

Reference:

Source: http://creativelearningfun.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-week-in-review-more-school-issues.html

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