Proximity beats ratings in DPS school choice | EdNewsColorado

Proximity to schools matters more than the school district?s rating system when families choose schools in Denver.

Image from the school choice page on the DPS website

That?s among the findings of two recently released reports, conclusions that could spark debate about some of the assumptions education reformers have about school choice.

?Almost every family we talked to ? even though they are getting through SchoolChoice, they were not accessing any of these beautiful tools that have been created,? said?Mike Kromrey, executive director of Together Colorado, which conducted a small study focused on low-income Latino families in Denver. ?A?lot of money has been poured into creating some pretty nice tools, but what we have learned is that we? have a lot of work to do.?

The report SchoolChoice: How Parents Chose Schools in 2012 examined the new one-stop open enrollment application rolled out in Denver Public Schools and used for the first time last year.

The online application allows families to rank their top five school choices and then matches them with a compatible school based on capacity, availability, neighborhood preference and other factors.

Last year, the application included three optional questions about the most important factor in choosing a school, useful choice resources and additional information that would have helped.

The Donnell-Kay Foundation and the Piton Foundation partnered with the University of Colorado Denver?s Buechner Institute of Governance to analyze responses to those questions. Of the 23,154 forms completed, about half included an answer to at least one of the three questions. Here are the findings:

• Fewer than a quarter of the respondents listed Denver?s School Performance Framework (SPF), which documents student academic growth and school status, as an important factor in a choice decision.
• Nearly half of respondents said the most important reason for selecting a school was location close to home, work or family.
• Just under a third of parents indicated that a special program or a school?s focus was an important reason.
• Parents of Hispanic students were almost twice as likely (59 percent) to cite location as an important factor as parents of white students (32 percent).
• Parents of students eligible for free- or reduced-price lunches were twice as likely to endorse school ratings as an important reason in selecting their school, compared to parents whose students do not qualify.
• When asked which resource provided parents the most useful information, about one third of all respondents cited teachers or administrators at the school. The other most popular resources listed were information from other parents (30 percent) and the SchoolChoice enrollment guide (28 percent).
• Parents of black and Hispanic students were most likely to respond that the SchoolChoice enrollment guide was their top resource (35 percent and 37 percent, respectively), while parents of white students were most likely to respond that other parents were the best resource (35 percent).

?A lot of families ? especially families living in poverty ? are still choosing schools more based on location than the School Performance Framework,? said Rebecca Kisner, a Donnell-Kay Foundation fellow and community engagement coordinator at Denver?s Rocky Mountain Prep.

Chart from Buechner Institute of Governance report. (Click to enlarge)

Kisner said when she and her team presented the results to local school reform groups ?people felt like the number of families choosing (schools) based on the SPF was better than it has been but still certainly not as high as we?d like it to be.?

Interestingly, when families were asked what resource they would have wanted but didn?t have, they said information about academic performance. So, there seems to be a disconnect between parents and the SPF, with parents not understanding that the framework reflects academic performance, Kisner said.

The bottom line to Kisner?

?To find a really quality neighborhood school in a poor neighborhood is rare. There needs to be more quality choices in all parts of the city.?

Meanwhile, Together Colorado, The Piton Foundation and Stand for Children Colorado recently released their own report on school choice in Denver and documented similar findings.

Their study, called Fulfilling the promise of choice: Challenges and opportunities in school choice decisions made by Latino families, found families struggling to make sense of the performance framework.

The organizations hired a researcher to analyze the data and conduct six 10-person focus groups.

One of the biggest findings was something the reform groups already knew: Education is highly valued by new immigrants, Together Colorado?s Kromrey said.

?In many cases families come to this country for education,? he added.

The performance came up in both studies as something average people struggle to both access and comprehend.

The ratings are based on points awarded for student academic growth, status, post-secondary readiness, student engagement, school demand and parent engagement. Each category is weighted differently, with student growth carrying about two-thirds of the weight, followed by status (whether or not students are performing at grade level). The remaining categories carry less weight.

Schools end up with color-coded rankings that affect a school?s operations and its future. A school consistently labeled ?red? can be shut down.

The ratings are:

• ?Distinguished? or blue, which means a school has earned 80 to 100 percent of points possible
• ?Meets expectations? or green, meaning that a school has earned 51 to 79 percent of points possible
• ?Accredited on watch? or yellow, indicating a school has earned 40 to 50 percent of points possible
• ?Accredited on priority watch? or orange, meaning a school has earned 34 to 39 percent of points possible
• ?Accredited on probation? or red. This means a school has earned only 33 percent or less of points possible

The report offered several recommendations on how to help Latino parents better use all relevant information for selecting schools. These suggestions include providing:

• Comprehensive outreach through community members about school choice and factors to consider.
• More detailed information on transportation, extracurricular activities and school performance information beyond what was presented in the choice materials last year. In particular, the information presented must meet one of Latino parents? primary concerns ? geographic proximity to home.
• Information about school academic performance that is more accessible and presented more clearly to parents.
• Clearer language in choice materials.
• Informative websites that are simple and streamlined, with an easy-to-find Spanish language option, featuring data that is searchable using geographic criteria, rather than simply comparing schools against each other.

The organizations involved in the research commended DPS for making several key changes since the research was done. Relatively recent tweaks to the SchoolChoice system include creation of a new electronic SchoolMatch tool, improving the enrollment guide, use of school choice liaisons and expanding school choice expos.

But Kromrey pointed out that more needs to be done to help families access and understand the rating data.

?They did care about being close to their families. They did want to be involved with children. They wanted to see how the schools around them were doing,? Kromrey said. ?They do want to understand how data works. They need some tools that simplify without being so simple that they?re not fair to the schools.?

Kromrey also noted that transportation remains a huge issue for many low-income families. Together Colorado worked on the Success Express shuttle plan in Northeast Denver and will continue to be involved in those issues, he said. He said families also wanted more information from schools, such as information about arts programs or special education.

?The whole reform community and DPS have work to do to change this,? Kromrey said. ?We need to create some different tools. Many parents don?t have computer access. There are some computer literacy issues.?

Understanding How Parents Chose Schools: An Analysis of Denver?s SchoolChoice Form Questions

Source: http://www.ednewscolorado.org/2013/01/30/55373-proximity-beats-ratings-in-dps-school-choice

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WVU, DINFOS partnership first of its kind; increases availability of high-quality educational opportunities to military students

Today (Jan. 28), West Virginia University President Jim Clements signed a memorandum of understanding formally establishing a first-of-its kind academic partnership between WVU?s P.I. Reed School of Journalism and the U.S. Defense Information School.

DINFOS, the U.S. Department of Defense?s premier center for public affairs and visual information training and a component of Defense Media Activity, has never before partnered with a major research university, although it has established several online partnerships with institutions. DMA serves as the Department of Defense?s direct line of communication for news and information to U.S. forces worldwide. Using a variety of media platforms and emerging technologies, the agency provides news, information and entertainment to millions of active, Guard and Reserve service members, civilian employees, contractors, military retirees and their families in the U.S. and abroad.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military, Department of Defense civilians and international military personnel attend DINFOS for training in such areas as public affairs, print journalism, photojournalism, photography, television and radio broadcasting, lithography, equipment maintenance and various forms of multimedia.

Click below to hear Tom Boyd, a 1971 alumnus of WVU's P.I. Reed School of Journalism and retired Air Force colonel, talk about the strengths and reputation of DINFOS and how discussions with J-School Dean Maryanne Reed led to a memorandum of understanding between the institutions.

Your browser does not support the html5 audio tag.

The MOU lays the foundation for a mutually beneficial academic partnership between DINFOS and the School of Journalism to provide professional development and programming for both institutions? students, faculty and communications professionals.

The alliance will include increasing the availability of high-quality online and traditional educational opportunities for DINFOS graduates, offering convenient education access for military men and women, and facilitating the exchange of professional and scholarly knowledge between WVU and DINFOS.

?The partnership with DINFOS will provide our students and faculty a unique insight into how the U.S. military tells its own story through multiple media and channels,? said School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed. ?In addition, we look forward to having DINFOS students and graduates participate in our academic programs to further the exchange of ideas between communications professionals. ?

Click below to hear Michael Gannon, DINFOS provost, talk about the opportunities a partnership between WVU and DINFOS will present.

Your browser does not support the html5 audio tag.

The signing is a continuation of WVU?s commitment to students in the military and student veterans and their families. ?WVU was recently ranked 18th in the Military Times? ?Best for Vets list for 2013, and several major initiatives will be unveiled in the coming year.

WVU?s Mountaineer to Mentor program, which pairs new student veterans coming to WVU with other student vets who have successfully made the transition, was created last semester. It will also pair new student veterans with a faculty or staff member who will serve as a mentor.

To ease the financial burdens of prospective veteran students, WVU has expanded its Yellow Ribbon Program to include graduate programs in the School of Public Health, the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

The Yellow Ribbon program is an extension of the 9/11 GI Bill that pays all in-state tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for eligible students. WVU has taken part in the Yellow Ribbon program for undergraduate out-of-state students for years, but this is the first year that the University has offered it to graduate students.

The new initiatives are an expansion of previously established programs and policies that have helped WVU gain a national reputation for accommodating veteran students and job-seekers in recent years. More than 800 veterans, military personnel or their dependents are currently studying at WVU, including nearly 100 new student vets who were admitted this spring.

President Clements and DINFOS Commandant Col. Jeremy Martin signed the memorandum during a 10 a.m. ceremony in Stewart Hall.

-WVU-

kwds/01/28/13

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.

CONTACT: Kimberly Walker, School of Journalism
304-293-5726

Source: http://go.wvu.edu/XGba80

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Blackberry Q10: The Next Generation Physical QWERTY Beast Has a Touchscreen Too (Updating)

Blackberry's QWERTY handset for Blackberry 10 is here. Launched today, BB10 10 does away with a lot of baggage that has been holding the company back, but the physical QWERTY keyboard is here to stay. This slim, lightweight phone is its future. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/TfpqC995cjk/blackberry-q10-the-next-generation-qwerty-beast

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Lyft Strikes Deal With California Regulator To Remove Fines, Expands Its Ride-Sharing Service To LA

There's a ton of good news today for Lyft. The company has struck a deal with the California Public Utilities Commission that will remove fines and allow it to continue operating in the state. It also announced plans this morning to expand its service to Los Angeles. The move into L.A. marks the first expansion market for Lyft, which became available to riders in San Francisco last summer.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/odG1Q_4FK-c/

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Two of the Most Powerful Ways to Market Your Copywriting Services

I want to share with you the two most powerful marketing methods I?ve found for the copywriter. And they are (drum roll please)?direct mail and? networking!
In my coaching program I have my students go through an intensive 24-session web/mail marketing program that gets them the high quality leads they need for financial and professional [...]

The article starts below...

Written on January 28th, 2013
Read more articles on Copywriting.

I want to share with you the two most powerful marketing methods I?ve found for the copywriter. And they are (drum roll please)?direct mail and? networking!

In my coaching program I have my students go through an intensive 24-session web/mail marketing program that gets them the high quality leads they need for financial and professional success.

However, as one of my previous students recently reminded me, networking is also a very strong marketing tool.

In fact, it was networking that got me my first clients, and it was direct mail that got me the right clients during the second phase of my freelance career.

Here?s what you need to know about networking?

Rule number one: Avoid the Chamber of Commerce!

Almost every copywriter I know (including me), automatically puts the Chamber of Commerce on the short list of good places to network. And almost every copywriter (myself included), is disappointed with the results.

Now I?m not saying the local Chamber is always a losing proposition; I have one past student who said Chamber networking paid off for him, but 99 percent of the copywriters I talk with agree the businesses found there are just too small (and usually clueless about direct marketing).

What?s more, the Chamber is comprised of many types of business, so niching is not possible.

It is much better to go to events and meetings that focus on marketing, like those of a local Direct Marketing Association and American Marketing Association. This is where you?ll find marketing directors, direct marketers, and marketing-related vendors likely to have a high interest in copywriting services.

When I first started my freelance career I joined the Oregon Direct Marketing Association and took every opportunity I could to get my name known.

I wrote the newsletter (and placed a free ad in the classifieds); I wrote the press releases and I accepted responsibilities for putting on the yearly conference. I even gave a speech on the proper elements of a good sales letter. And I put myself on the board.

All of this led to my first freelance clients: mini-cataloger and manufacturer Stash Tea, LawnPro, a small landscape maintenance firm, and an ad agency that locked me in a tiny room on site, as though to prevent me from making a personal call on their dime. Not the best clients, but it gave me my start.

Over the years, technology has made niche marketing the smart way to go, and for that reason I also highly recommend that you seek groups, organizations, trade shows, and associations that pertain to your niche.

Another one of my current students is niching into a very specialized area of the alternative health field. Within her unique niche she?s found huge trade shows she can attend, and is now making calls to vendors to introduce herself and let them know she?ll be stopping by their booth. The positive response she?s been getting has us both very excited!

Many copywriters find it difficult to network simply because they live remotely. For them, I like to point out online alternatives.

For instance, as a specialist in software who lives in California?s remote Palm Desert (near Palm Springs), I must seek online opportunities to network.

To this end I?ve participated in marketing forums on SoftwareCEO, a popular site for software execs. And I?ve also written articles for its newsletter.

I can report that networking on SoftwareCEO has paid off nicely, as a large chunk of last year?s income came from a client who saw my name there.

Online networking has another plus, and that?s that it?s an especially attractive route to take if you?re shy and have a difficult time of meeting people.

With online networking, all you have to do is answer a question, provide an opinion, or share a resource. It takes just a few minutes, you don?t have to dress up, or travel anywhere, and it doesn?t cost a thing!

In summary, there are many ways for copywriters to market themselves. Public speaking, writing articles, cold calling, running ads, and so on.

But most copywriters have neither the time nor the finances for multiple marketing efforts; most pick one or two methods that appeal to them, and work hard at making them effective.

One thing is sure: I wouldn?t be where I am now without networking. I found my copywriting mentor via networking and he taught me everything he knew.

With networking I made the connections that got me an agency job that changed the course of my career?and my life.

Reflecting on what networking has done for my career, I must wholeheartedly encourage my ambitious freelance friends to take advantage of its benefits.

I?ve often thought that in any business, it?s the people who make things happen. With networking, you can capitalize on this truism. You can develop relationships that last a lifetime?gain experiences that greatly impact your career?and enjoy rewards far beyond your initial imagination.

I encourage you to find networking opportunities, both online and off. Network consistently and I guarantee that when you?re ?fat and happy,? you?ll attribute some of your success to networking.

About the Author

Master copywriter and coach Chris Marlow publishes a free ezine for copywriters who want to quickly build a profitable business. Visit: FreelancersBusinessBulletin

Written on January 28th, 2013
Read more articles on Copywriting.

Source: http://www.copywritinghelp.net/copywriting/two-of-the-most-powerful-ways-to-market-your-copywriting-services-10/

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Less invasive treatment is associated with improved survival in early stage breast cancer

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Harrison
rachel.harrison@duke.edu
919-419-5069
Duke University Medical Center

DURHAM, N.C. -- Patients with early stage breast cancer who were treated with lumpectomy plus radiation may have a better chance of survival compared with those who underwent mastectomy, according to Duke Medicine research.

The study, which appears online Jan. 28, 2013, in the journal Cancer, raises new questions as to the comparative effectiveness of breast-conserving therapies such as lumpectomy, where only the tumor and surrounding tissue is surgically removed.

Our findings are observational but do suggest the possibility that women who were treated with less invasive surgery had improved survival compared to those treated with mastectomy for stage I or stage II breast cancer, said E. Shelley Hwang, M.D., MPH, chief of breast surgery at Duke Cancer Institute and the studys lead author.

Taking advantage of 14 years of data from the California Cancer Registry, a source of long-term outcome data for women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in California, the research team found improved survival to be associated with the less invasive treatment in all age groups, as well as those with both hormone-sensitive and hormone-resistant cancers. Women age 50 and older at diagnosis with hormone-sensitive tumors saw the largest benefit of choosing lumpectomy plus radiation: they were 13 percent less likely to die from breast cancer, and 19 percent less likely to die from any cause compared with those undergoing mastectomy.

Prior randomized trials have shown that when it comes to survival, lumpectomy with radiation is as effective as mastectomy in treating early stage breast cancer. As a result, the rate of women electing lumpectomy with radiation has climbed in the past few decades.

However, a recent trend has emerged with more early stage breast cancer patients, often younger women with very early cancers, opting for mastectomy. These women may perceive mastectomy to be more effective at eliminating early stage cancer and therefore reducing the anxiety accompanying long-term surveillance.

Given the recent interest in mastectomy to treat early stage breast cancers despite the research supporting lumpectomy, our study sought to understand what was happening in the real world, how women receiving breast-conserving treatments were faring in the general population, Hwang said.

The team analyzed data from 112,154 women diagnosed with stage I or stage II breast cancer between 1990 and 2004, including 61,771 who received lumpectomy and radiation and 50,383 who had mastectomy without radiation.

The researchers looked at age and other demographic factors, along with tumor type and size to decipher whether each treatment had better outcomes for certain groups of women. Patients were followed on average for 9.2 years.

The researchers evaluated whether illnesses other than breast cancer, such as heart and respiratory disease, may have influenced whether women chose lumpectomy or mastectomy. Within three years of diagnosis, breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy and radiation had higher survival rates than those who chose mastectomy when all other illnesses were evaluated. This suggests that women choosing lumpectomy may have been generally healthier.

However, Hwang and her colleagues were surprised to also find that early stage breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving treatment had a significantly better short-term survival rate from breast cancer than women who underwent mastectomy. A subset analysis limited to women with stage I cancer only showed consistent results.

The hopeful message is that lumpectomy plus radiation was an effective alternative to mastectomy for early stage disease, regardless of age or tumor type, said Hwang. Our study supports that even patients we thought might benefit less from localized treatment, like younger patients with hormone-resistant disease, can remain confident in lumpectomy as an equivalent and possibly better treatment option.

The authors emphasize that observational studies such as this one cannot establish causality between type of surgery and outcome and that longer follow up is needed. Nevertheless, this is a provocative observation that requires more research to understand whether patient factors that were not available for analysis might contribute to these observed survival differences.

###

In addition to Hwang, study authors include Daphne Y. Lichtensztajn, Scarlett Lin Gomez, and Christina A. Clarke of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. Barbara Fowble of the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center also contributed to the research.

The study was supported by National Cancer Institutes Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (HHSN261201000140C) awarded to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. The collection of cancer incidence data used in this study was supported by the California Department of Health Services.

---

[ | 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.

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Harrison
rachel.harrison@duke.edu
919-419-5069
Duke University Medical Center

DURHAM, N.C. -- Patients with early stage breast cancer who were treated with lumpectomy plus radiation may have a better chance of survival compared with those who underwent mastectomy, according to Duke Medicine research.

The study, which appears online Jan. 28, 2013, in the journal Cancer, raises new questions as to the comparative effectiveness of breast-conserving therapies such as lumpectomy, where only the tumor and surrounding tissue is surgically removed.

Our findings are observational but do suggest the possibility that women who were treated with less invasive surgery had improved survival compared to those treated with mastectomy for stage I or stage II breast cancer, said E. Shelley Hwang, M.D., MPH, chief of breast surgery at Duke Cancer Institute and the studys lead author.

Taking advantage of 14 years of data from the California Cancer Registry, a source of long-term outcome data for women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in California, the research team found improved survival to be associated with the less invasive treatment in all age groups, as well as those with both hormone-sensitive and hormone-resistant cancers. Women age 50 and older at diagnosis with hormone-sensitive tumors saw the largest benefit of choosing lumpectomy plus radiation: they were 13 percent less likely to die from breast cancer, and 19 percent less likely to die from any cause compared with those undergoing mastectomy.

Prior randomized trials have shown that when it comes to survival, lumpectomy with radiation is as effective as mastectomy in treating early stage breast cancer. As a result, the rate of women electing lumpectomy with radiation has climbed in the past few decades.

However, a recent trend has emerged with more early stage breast cancer patients, often younger women with very early cancers, opting for mastectomy. These women may perceive mastectomy to be more effective at eliminating early stage cancer and therefore reducing the anxiety accompanying long-term surveillance.

Given the recent interest in mastectomy to treat early stage breast cancers despite the research supporting lumpectomy, our study sought to understand what was happening in the real world, how women receiving breast-conserving treatments were faring in the general population, Hwang said.

The team analyzed data from 112,154 women diagnosed with stage I or stage II breast cancer between 1990 and 2004, including 61,771 who received lumpectomy and radiation and 50,383 who had mastectomy without radiation.

The researchers looked at age and other demographic factors, along with tumor type and size to decipher whether each treatment had better outcomes for certain groups of women. Patients were followed on average for 9.2 years.

The researchers evaluated whether illnesses other than breast cancer, such as heart and respiratory disease, may have influenced whether women chose lumpectomy or mastectomy. Within three years of diagnosis, breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy and radiation had higher survival rates than those who chose mastectomy when all other illnesses were evaluated. This suggests that women choosing lumpectomy may have been generally healthier.

However, Hwang and her colleagues were surprised to also find that early stage breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving treatment had a significantly better short-term survival rate from breast cancer than women who underwent mastectomy. A subset analysis limited to women with stage I cancer only showed consistent results.

The hopeful message is that lumpectomy plus radiation was an effective alternative to mastectomy for early stage disease, regardless of age or tumor type, said Hwang. Our study supports that even patients we thought might benefit less from localized treatment, like younger patients with hormone-resistant disease, can remain confident in lumpectomy as an equivalent and possibly better treatment option.

The authors emphasize that observational studies such as this one cannot establish causality between type of surgery and outcome and that longer follow up is needed. Nevertheless, this is a provocative observation that requires more research to understand whether patient factors that were not available for analysis might contribute to these observed survival differences.

###

In addition to Hwang, study authors include Daphne Y. Lichtensztajn, Scarlett Lin Gomez, and Christina A. Clarke of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. Barbara Fowble of the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center also contributed to the research.

The study was supported by National Cancer Institutes Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (HHSN261201000140C) awarded to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. The collection of cancer incidence data used in this study was supported by the California Department of Health Services.

---

[ | 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/2013-01/dumc-lit012413.php

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USCCB Blog: Why We Support Catholic Education

Around the country, the Catholic Church is celebrating Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-Feb. 2. During the week, the USCCB blog will feature entries from people who reflect on how their lives were and are impacted by Catholic education. Today, Fran and Betty Contino share why they invest in Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore, Maryland. By Fran and Betty Contino

Fran: As a student of Our Lady of Pompei Parish School in Baltimore City?s Highlandtown community, I found inclusion and protection within the Catholic school. It gave me a sense of security that was enhanced at Calvert Hall College High School, where my life was permanently transformed academically and spiritually by the Christian Brothers. Knowing what I received from my Catholic education prompted me to become a backer of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a new Catholic college prep high school educating boys and girls from some of Baltimore City?s most challenged neighborhoods. The school? is part of the Cristo Rey Network, comprised of 25 Catholic high schools across the country that prepare low-income, urban students for success in college through a rigorous program of high-quality academics and real-world work experience. We all need the sense of security that can be rooted in solid elementary and secondary school education. I wanted to help others find the secure comfort I found in Catholic schools.

??????????? Betty: I attended a Catholic elementary school and pretty much sailed through my public ?high school with good grades. I turned out okay, but the benefits of Catholic education became apparent only a few years ago when I became involved with children who had no way out of troubled environments. I saw what happened when they received a quality education in a protected atmosphere where they could focus and not sit tensely waiting for another bad shoe to drop. They found a sense of peace and accomplishment. From working with homeless people for about 15 years I came to realize the best way to assist children was through education, which seems like the only place kids can obtain an almost-level playing field. ??????????? Together:? Our support for Catholic schools also comes from our belief in the power of God?s love. In the Catholic schools we find that God is not only acknowledged by the school but that children are encouraged to include Him in their lives. They learn beyond what the secular world offers? there are moral standards. The Ten Commandments are real, not fiction. This immeasurable benefit can provide a child with hope in times of uncertainty, a hope that lasts. Being surrounded with teachers and administrators who can freely reference the Bible and how it applies to daily life supports a child?s behavioral development. It is no secret that children want rules and boundaries. They need them to feel safe.? ??????????? Catholic education holds out high standards for teachers and students; Catholic education goes way beyond the three R?s. It is transformational with change that begins in kindergarten. Catholic schools set youth on a path to become morally and spiritually strong, to respect others, to be of service and to become the best that they can be academically. They also help them to become role models of responsible and accountable citizens and ultimately, productive and contributing members of their local community and the world at large. This kind of formation occurs best in a Catholic school, especially for youth from disadvantaged and financially strapped communities. Cristo Rey schools help students to cope, strive and compete in the world about them. As we looked for ways to make a difference, contributing to a Catholic school became an obvious choice for us. Fran and Betty Contino are members of the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Fran serves on the board of trustees of Baltimore?s Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, and Betty is the leadership chair of Women?s Education Alliance, which provides scholarships to Catholic schools for disadvantaged children in Baltimore City.

Source: http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-we-support-catholic-education.html

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Caterpillar pessimistic on any demand increase for 2013

(Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc, the world's largest maker of construction equipment, posted a 55 percent drop in quarterly profit on Monday due to a charge connected with accounting fraud at a Chinese subsidiary and weak demand among its dealers.

Caterpillar's bulldozers, tractors and other machines have been accumulating in warehouses due to slowing economies in China, Europe and the United States.

The company said it was able to sell off some of this glut in the fourth quarter, reducing the value of its inventory from the third quarter by $2 billion. Inventory levels, however, remain $1 billion above year-ago levels, and executives expect 2013 to be a "tough year."

Adding to the company's troubles, quarterly results were hit by a charge of 87 cents per share after the company discovered accounting fraud at a Chinese coal mining supplier it bought last year.

In a somber note on the global economy, Caterpillar said the "most significant favorable factor" for 2013 profit will be the absence of the ERA accounting fraud writedown, not increased demand for its machines.

"We're encouraged by recent improvements in economic indicators, but remain cautious," Caterpillar Chief Executive Doug Oberhelman said in a statement on Monday.

For the fourth quarter, the company posted net income of $697 million, or $1.04 per share, compared with $1.55 billion, or $2.32 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Excluding one-time items, the company earned $1.46 per share. By that measure, analysts expected earnings of $1.69 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Wall Street, however, appeared to look past the China accounting fraud mess, sending Caterpillar's shares up 2.1 percent to $97.62 in morning trading.

Revenue fell 7 percent to $16.08 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $16.12 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Caterpillar expects to earn $7 to $9 per share in 2013, below the $9.12 per share analysts expect.

CHINA FRAUD

Caterpillar closed the purchase of ERA Mining Machinery Ltd and its subsidiary Siwei, China's fourth-largest maker of hydraulic coal mine roof supports, last June, paying $653.4 million (HK$5.06 billion).

After the deal closed, Caterpillar found that physical inventory did not match accounting statements, a discovery that led to the charge. The case has opened questions about Caterpillar's research into ERA before the deal, as well as the adequacy of its auditors.

Caterpillar does not expect the fraud to harm its 2013 profit, but it will hinder the company's expansion into China, the world's largest coal producer.

Emory Williams, the chairman of ERA when the Caterpillar deal closed, ended days of silence on Monday, saying in a statement he was "dismayed" by the accounting charge Caterpillar was taking.

Williams said nothing about the accusation of accounting misconduct in his statement.

Citigroup Inc and law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP served as financial and legal advisers to Caterpillar on the transaction. Blackstone and DLA Piper acted as ERA's financial and legal advisers.

A source directly involved with the Caterpillar deal previously told Reuters that RSM Nelson Wheeler was ERA's auditor, while Deloitte and Ernst & Young acted on Caterpillar's side.

None of the auditors has commented.

(Reporting By Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/caterpillar-profit-drops-weak-demand-heavy-equipment-125216961--sector.html

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Asia stocks up slightly on strong US earnings

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets posted slight gains Monday after strong U.S. earnings pushed Wall Street indexes to multi-year highs, though Japan's Nikkei dipped amid profit-taking.

The U.S. is due to report durable goods and pending home sales for December later in the day, but the numbers would have to sharply disappoint to dampen enthusiasm for stocks, analysts said.

"The heavy slate of US data releases this week will keep markets busy but overall we see little to dent the positive tone to risk assets over coming sessions," Mitul Kotecha of Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong wrote in a market commentary.

The Nikkei in Tokyo opened higher but then slipped 0.8 percent to 10,840.11 as investors cashed in shares following strong gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.5 percent to 23,691.42. Benchmarks in mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines also rose.

South Korea's Kospi fell 0.3 percent to 1,940.44, dragged down by Samsung Electronics, the world's No. 1 smartphone maker, which plunged 3 percent after Friday saying the strong won would hurt earnings this year. Steelmaker POSCO lost 3.4 percent.

Australian markets were closed for a public holiday.

On Friday, the Standard and Poor's 500 index closed above 1,500 for the first time in more than five years after good earnings reports from Starbucks and Procter & Gamble, the world's largest consumer products maker.

"Wall Street performed pretty well, that has helped overall sentiment this morning," said Jackson Wong, vice president of Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong. Banking stocks did well on the back of a European Central Bank statement Friday that banks in the region were expected to pay back emergency loans faster than previously expected, increasing confidence that Europe's debt crisis is easing.

Hong Kong-listed Bank of China Ltd. rose 1.1 percent. South Korea's Shinhan Financial Group gained 4 percent. Japan's Nomura Holdings added 1 percent.

The S&P 500 index rose 0.5 percent to 1,502.96. The index had not closed above 1,500 since December 2007, the start of the worst economic downturn since the 1930s.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.5 percent to close at 13,895.98. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.6 percent to 3,149.71.The Dow is now just 268 points below its record high of 14,165, reached on Oct. 9, 2007, two months before the Great Recession began.

Benchmark oil for March delivery was up 16 cents to $96.04 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 7 cents to close at $95.88 in trading on the Nymex. It ended the week with a gain of 32 cents.

In currencies, the euro slipped to $1.3463 from $1.3467 late Friday in New York. The dollar rose to 91.02 from 90.98 yen. The euro rose to an 11-month high against the dollar Friday after the ECB announcement.

__

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-slightly-strong-us-earnings-032949662--finance.html

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Proceed with caution | European CEO

As a new era of regulation dawns, Raffi Festekjian, CEO of the Finance, Risk and Compliance unit for Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, explores a more integrated approach to risk management

Across the globe, financial institutions are rethinking and implementing new approaches to risk management; setting up committees and unifying financial, compliance and operational risks in order to establish an enterprise-wide risk management culture across the institution. Breaking down silos and understanding the complex relationship between all types of risk (both financial and non-financial) will aid in identifying programme gaps and in doing so, limit exposure across the firm.

Establishing an enterprise perspective
Risks are considered warranted when they are understandable, measurable, controllable and within an organisation?s capacity to readily withstand adverse results. Sound risk management practices enable them to take risks knowingly, reduce risks where appropriate and strive to prepare for a future, which by its nature cannot be predicted with absolute certainty.

The economic and regulatory pressures driving the financial services market today have created more explicit mandates to manage risk across the enterprise. These include those driven by Basel II & III; which aim to ensure that credit, market and operational risks are quantified, and strengthen the capital adequacy requirements of banks; Solvency II, which harmonised EU insurance regulation aims to ensure capital adequacy of insurance firms; and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which supports the synchronisation of accounting standards globally.

These mandates underscore that risk management cannot be practised effectively in silos. As a result, integrated risk management is becoming a de facto practice for many organisations. It promotes a continuous, proactive and systematic process to understand, manage and communicate risk from an enterprise perspective in a cohesive and consistent manner. It is about supporting strategic decision making that contributes to the achievement of overall objectives. It requires an ongoing assessment of risks at every level and in every sector of the organisation, aggregating these results at the corporate level, communicating them and ensuring adequate monitoring and review. Integrated risk management involves the use of these aggregated results to inform decision-making and business practices within the organisation.

Integrated data management
An integrated approach to risk management has produced a clear convergence between risk and finance regulatory frameworks such as the IFRS. Examples include the accounting reform to move from an incurred loss model to a forward-looking model of provisioning, and the harmonisation of the definition of the regulatory capital components.

The complexity and effort associated with new risk management requirements are steadily increasing. For example, the onset of Basel III is setting off an avalanche of data, results, reports and documentation, which will need to be managed by firms around the world. On top of this comes an intensified level of detail as well as increased frequency and volume of data that needs to be disclosed, thus multiplying the need for resources within institutions who are dedicated to analysing and processing the necessary information.

Being unaware of compounded risks created in multiple data systems, across business units can substantially alter a firm?s risk profile, leaving them exposed to greater market, credit, regulatory and even reputational risk than anticipated. What?s needed is a more accurate understanding of net exposure ? not only the risks produced by market dynamics, but also the significant and often hidden risks and offsetting positions inside your operations. In this context the introduction of an integrated risk management concept is generally considered as a major step towards optimised overall risk control.

However, to meet the regulatory challenges of the future with an integrated risk approach, firms have to equip themselves well. Not just with core capital buffer and adapted risk appetite, but particularly with a financial information architecture that creates consistent and precise data, which is managed end-to-end and overcomes the traditional silos.

Optimising risk and performance
The current environment creates an inflection point and challenges financial organisations to look at their latest systems and data from an increasingly holistic point of view. These are what I would refer to as transformative opportunities for global financial institutions to optimise risk and performance across all levels of their organisation.

A single source for the data, if it?s a clean set of data, creates a golden opportunity. With it, you can bring together, in a single application environment, the tools organisations need to manage, measure, and report all financial activities. This includes financial, IAS/IFRS and multi-GAAP accounting, management reporting information, risk and capital management, and compliance.

Aggregated, normalised data is critical, but it is not enough in today?s environment of constant regulatory change and dynamic competitive environment. It needs to be married to the financial service-specific content so that the data output, the information derived from that single source of data, is set in the context of the opportunity or obligation an organisation is trying to address. This critical, actionable intelligence helps organisations make the right performance, risk and business decisions. Quickly.

Transformational opportunity
This is a unique opportunity for financial organisations that creates a strong competitive advantage for organisations. Whether its regulatory reports for a specific country, performance metrics that drive investment and capital allocation, or calculations to ensure compliance with capital requirements of Basel III, firms can manage regulatory obligations more efficiently, manage risk and performance holistically, but most importantly of all, make the best decisions possible in an incredibly dynamic environment.

It is clear that the current high-risk environment provides a unique transformational opportunity for firms with the vision and ambition to grasp it. To take advantage of this opportunity organisations need a partner that can help them. Whether complying with regulatory requirements, addressing a single key risk, or working toward a holistic risk and performance management strategy, more than 15,000 financial services customers worldwide count on the knowledge, technology and consulting services provided by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services for a comprehensive and dynamic view of finance, risk management and compliance.

For further information visit www.wolterskluwerfs.com

Source: http://www.europeanceo.com/finance/2013/01/proceed-with-caution/

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Lebanon govt launches online job search engineLebanon - Zawya

26 January 2013

BEIRUT: Lebanon?s state-run National Employment Office launched an online job matching service Friday, connecting job seekers and employers, free of charge.

The service, named Electronic Labor Exchange, will aim at reducing the cost of labor market information and enhance opportunities to link appropriate candidates to relevant jobs, the International Labor Organization said in an emailed statement.

The website is the product of a four-year collaboration between the ILO, the NEO, with funding provided by the Canadian International Development Agency.

?The NEO website offers a secure and easy way to search for work. Users can log in 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It makes job search and job posting easier and more efficient,? NEO Director General Jean Abi Fadel said.

The website will also offer informational material on job search techniques and labor market trends, the statement said.

Canada?s Ambassador to Lebanon, Hilary Childs-Adams, noted that this represents ?a major policy change and a step forward for Lebanon?s labor market and workforce.?

The ILO works with the NEO to enhance its institutional capacity to deliver employment services, to improve the connectivity of municipalities, employers and job seekers to a general network of employment related information, the statement said.

?We face a major challenge in the Arab region to create and sustain decent jobs: those that add value, reflect skills, include social protection and enshrine social dialogue. Lebanon is no exception,? said Nada al-Nashif, ILO?s regional director for the Arab States.

?We must strengthen existing labor market programs, introduce new ones and continue to enhance the capacity of National Employment Office to deliver on its mandate,? Nashif added.

The electronic labor exchange can be accessed via the homepage of the NEO?s website www.neo.gov.lb in Arabic, French and English.

? Copyright The Daily Star 2013.

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? Copyright Zawya. All Rights Reserved.

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Source: http://www.zawya.com/story/Lebanon_govt_launches_online_job_search_engine-DS26012013_dsart*203789/

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Gothic Epicures VinCuisine: New Useful Food and wine books

POWER ENTERTAINING (John Wiley & Sons, 2012, 220 pages, ISBN 978-1-
118-
26902-2, $21.95 US hard covers) is by Eddie Osterland, MS, America's
first Master Sommelier (1973). He has worked at top places in France,
and for the past 25 years, he has been conducting workshops on "power
entertaining" for corporate global businesses. The subtitle to this
book says it all: "secrets to building lasting relationships, hosting
unforgettable events, and closing big deals from America's 1st Master
Sommelier".? With log rolling from a few wine experts, corporate
biggies, and authors of other "success" books, Osterland presents some
breezy and chatty but informative information on how to succeed in
business with wine knowledge. Chapter 3 is the kernel: top twenty
secrets of successful power entertaining. I'm not going to divulge them
all, but I'll relate two: top tip is to think of entertaining as a
business development strategy; another is to open the event with
champagne. Most of the book is about finding choosing and serving wines
in a variety of strategies, with expert pairing of food with wine.
There is also some good material on tasting wine like a sommelier.
There's a concluding chapter on power entertaining at home, to impress
family and friends and even close business associates ("you live like
this all the time?"). There are a few appendices, such as one on the
major grape varieties commonly found on restaurant wine lists, with
pronunciation (but no viognier is listed). He also has some blank
tasting note sheets which can be downloaded from his website.
Apparently, there is also a collaborator, communications consultant
Richard Koonce, who is acknowledged at the very end of the
acknowledgements and has a separate page at the back of the book. It is
an interesting book, but it might also have been better suited for the
Dummies series, which Wiley also publishes and which also has business
oriented materials.
Audience and level of use: businessmen wishing to make an impression
with their social wine and food skills.
Some interesting or unusual facts: Caesar salad is too common to serve
with power entertaining; avoid boilerplate menus; offer a smashing,
unforgettable first course or appetizer.
The downside to this book: many wine and food matches, and most of the
tasting notes can be found in other wine books.
The upside to this book: a good assemblage for the busy executive who
wants a no-nonsense approach.
Quality/Price Rating: 85.

?

4. THE GLUTEN-FREE TABLE; the Lagasse girls share their favorite meals
(Grand Central Life & Style, 2012, 230 pages, ISBN 978-1-4555-1688-
9,$25.99 US hard covers) is by Jilly Lagasse and Jessie Lagasse
Swanson, siblings and daughters of Emeril Lagasse. In 2004 Jilly was
diagnosed with celiac disease. Jessie, at some point, needed to follow
a gluten-free diet. Both of course have been food-inspired by their
upbringing, so it seemed to be a no-brainer that a gluten-free cookbook
was in the shaping. They have taken their fave preps from childhood and
family and redeveloped them into tasty, celiac-friendly alternatives.
There's about 100 recipes, of family favourites, Southern classics, and
ten original preps from Emeril himself. It's all arranged by course,
from apps to sweets.? Preparations have their ingredients listed in
avoirdupois measurements, but there is no table of metric equivalents.
There's a concluding list of resources and website.
Audience and level of use: those seeking gluten-free recipes.
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: cornbread and Andouille
stuffed pork chops; baked halibut with creole tomato and Vidalia onion
vinaigrette; cheesy shrimp and crab grits; mini goat cheese and fig
pizzas.
The downside to this book:? it could use a few more recipes
The upside to this book:? some great Southern foods redefined.
Quality/Price Rating: 89.

?

?

?

5. THE VEGETARIAN'S COMPLETE QUINOA COOKBOOK (Whitecap, 2012,? 196
pages, ISBN 978-1-77050-097-6, $29.95 US,? soft covers) is from the
Ontario Home Economics Association, and has been edited by Marilyn
Smith, a professional home economist who has appeared on TV and has
authored many other cookbooks. Here, she's got the definitive quinoa
book for vegetarians (most of the preps are vegan friendly as well). It
comes with some heavy duty log rolling from Cronish, Lindsay, and
DeMontis, all cookbook authors and speakers on food. Quinoa is a
complete food product, with all the essential amino acids and proteins
needed for a diet. It is now the most popular superfood around, with
about a dozen cookbooks published or announced. Here are 120 vegetarian
recipes, all less that 500 calories. There are details on what makes
quinoa so good and easy to prepare. Recipes have icons to indicate
which recipes are completely gluten-free, or use a microwave, slow
cooker or bread machine. There are sections from apps to desserts, plus
baked goodies, breads, and breakfasts. The mains cover stir-fries,
stews, Mediterranean tones, and egg dishes. Each prep has nutritional
information listed. About 58 identified members of the OHEA contributed
preps. At the end there is a list of online resources. Preparations
have their ingredients listed in both metric and avoirdupois
measurements, but there is no separate table of equivalents.
Audience and level of use: those who enjoy quinoa or would like to
start eating it.
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: power granola; gluten-free
ancient grains bread; quinoa and edamame salad with Asian flavours;
Moroccan vegetable stew; savoury and sweet pilaf; orange-scented quinoa
with blueberries.
Quality/Price Rating: 89.

?

6. BEER, FOOD, AND FLAVOR; a guide to tasting, pairing, and the culture
of craft beer (Skyhorse Publishing,2012, 290 pages, ISBN 978-1-61608-
679-4, $19.95 US hard covers) is by Schuyler Schulz, a chef and
sommelier who also specializes in craft beers. He has a strong chapter
on tasting beer, followed by another on pairing beer with fine food and
creating menus. There's a 20 page chapter on matching beer with cheese.
This is followed by his choices for the best craft brewers in America
(all US) and details about the beer "community", such as RateBeer and
BeerAdvocate. There's also a nice bibliography and glossary.
Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements,
but there is a table of metric equivalents.
Audience and level of use: American beer lovers.
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: English toffee pudding cake
made with beer; braised Niman Ranch pork shoulder; spiced cashews; and
a recipe for Russian Imperial Stout homebrew.
The downside to this book: it is American in its coverage of brewers.
The upside to this book: great reproductions of labels.
Quality/Price Rating: 86.

?

?

?

7. THE EVERYDAY WOK COOK BOOK; simple and satisfying recipes for the
most versatile pan in your kitchen (Sasquatch Books, 2012; distr.
Random House, 145 pages, $21.95 US paper covers) is by Lorna Yee, a
food writer and presenter in the Pacific Northwest, and co-author of
The Newlywed Kitchen. Here she advises that the wok is the only pan
you'll really need in the kitchen. To most Orientals, that is a given,
standard basic fact. One can braise, steam, stew, deep-fry, and smoke
with woks. And a good wok gets better with usage and seasoning. There
are about 55 preps here, devoted to American comfort food and some
classic Asian dishes as well. The arrangement is by course, with
breakfast and brunch upfront, followed by mains, sides and desserts.
The list of ingredients is in bold faced caps, which I like.
Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements,
but there is no table of metric equivalents.
Audience and level of use: non-Asiatic wok owners
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: chicken-fried steak with pan
gravy; red sauce spaghetti with bison meatballs; tailgate chili;
chorizo, harissa, and potato hash; chicken sausage and goat cheese
scramble; Asian-style BBQ pork scramble with coriander.
The downside to this book: only55 preps ? I'd like a few more.
The upside to this book: a single purpose kitchen equipment book to
show the versatility of the wok.
Quality/Price Rating: 87.

?

8. THE DIABETES-FRIENDLY KITCHEN; 125 recipes for creating healthy
meals (John Wiley & Sons, 2012, 226 pages, ISBN 978-0-470-58778-2,
$29.99 US hard covers) is by Jennifer Stack, a chef that is a certified
Diabetes Educator and RD. She's a professor at the Culinary Institute
of America, teaching nutrition and food safety. She also writes for
magazines and appears on TV. It's a CIA book, with a primer on a
diabetic kitchen, glossary, bibliography, and nutritional
information/data for each recipe. Arrangement of the food is by course:
apps, soups, mains, sides and salads, desserts. She says: "This is not
another diabetic cookbook. It is a book with recipes and cooking tips
to improve your blood glucose control and reduce your risk for heart
disease while still honoring your love for food".
Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements,
but there is no table of metric equivalents.
Audience and level of use: mostly pre-diabetic eaters.
Some interesting or unusual facts: diabetes-friendly meals provide a
consistent and controlled amount of calories and carbohydrates. Flavour
enhancement by searing, reducing, infusing and marinating provides the
maximum amount of flavour from the food.
The downside to this book: I think the preps really need metric
measurements or at least tables of conversion ? for use in the rest of
the world.
The upside to this book: it is good that the CIA has weighed in on this
matter.
Quality/Price Rating: 88.

?

9. PIES, GLORIOUS PIES; brilliant recipes for mouth-wateringly tasty
pies (Ryland, Peters & Small, 2012; distr. T. Allen, 143 pages, ISBN
978-1-84975-261-9, $24.95 US hard covers) is by Maxine Clark, prolific
cookbook author for this publisher. The British love their pies, and
Clark, who lives in Scotland, details a useful primer on how to
construct different pie dough and roll them out. She gives us separate
chapters based on purpose: there are everyday pies, posh pies, portable
pies, and sweet pies. Preparations have their ingredients listed in
both metric and avoirdupois measurements, but there is no separate
table of equivalents.
Audience and level of use: pie lovers and novice cooks.
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: steak and kidney pie; lamb
shank shepherd's pie; ham and apple pie; simple sausage lattice slice;
ricotta and green herb torta; pasta, parmesan, and cherry tomato pies;
golden fish pie.
The downside to this book: I suppose for balance there could have been
a few more sweet pies.
The upside to this book: there are more savoury pies than sweet pies
here.
Quality/Price Rating: 89.

?

10. SKIRT STEAK; women chefs on standing the heat and staying in the
kitchen (Chronicle books, 2012, 320 pages, ISBN 978-1-4521-0709-7,
$24.95 US hard covers) is by Charlotte Bruckman, a food writer who has
appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Bon
Appetit. Here she interviews and talks with 73 American women chefs
about life in the restaurant's kitchen. It is arranged in 12 chapters,
by theme, with many glosses and quotes from the chefs. Her first topic
is "what is a chef?", and from there moves on to what it takes,
education, the "man cave", owning a resto, awards, competition,
discrimination, glass ceiling, media, salary, sexual harassment, and
more. But nothing on wine knowledge (or sommeliers/food and beverage
managers), drugs or alcoholism ? that I could find. No recipes, except
for how to succeed.
Audience and level of use: those who want to know about women chefs and
how hard it is to survive.
Some interesting or unusual facts: "The career opportunities available
to those interested in food-related exploits have opened up. This
translates to a wider client base for schools to tap."
The downside to this book: I'd like more space on food and beverage
managers, or sommeliers.
The upside to this book: a good issue to tackle.
Quality/Price Rating: 88.

?

?

Source: http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-useful-food-and-wine-books.html

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Daytrading, Stock Trading, Investing and Forex Trading ...

In this sort of trading, you must have some methods that will help you generate likely profits. In the current years, market daytrading has been fast rising in appreciation and a large number of people became keen to bet with it. But for you to make this occur, you want to fastidiously understand the law of demand and supply to be able to think up methods that will work for your own benefit. As you enter the stock exchange, you can notice that there are a lot of fine quality investments available for you and with this, you can straight away turn your little investment into a massive fortune in a short amount of time.

The most significant issue about trading programme is that whether or not they are trustworthy? Is the info provided correct? Do the purchase of system guarantee any cash back guaranty? How much to speculate in the system before we will be able to begin to earn in day-trading? In my private opinion, based totally on my experience in stockmarket dealing, I've been significantly profited from a specific trading program. You can witness the results inside few days of use. If you happen to have any concerns about the system, you'll find help from the twenty-four / seven client service e-mail supplied by the product. The better part is the refundable guarantee for any unacceptable. It?s rather common to see one of those stocks jump to double or treble in worth in an exceedingly short time.

The tough part is finding these stocks and separating them from the rest which is the reason why some stocks pick programs were designed with the goal of only identifying these stocks, particularly. Plenty of the prominent and richest traders today made their fortunes on exploiting penny shares and now it is your turn. So while daytrading used to be a debatable type of securities dealing reserved in the main to money firms pro traders and a select group of non-public stockholders it's now also commonplace technique of trading among casual traders. Day traders are outlined as traders who place 4 or even more round-trip orders over a 5 day period of time and the total trading activity over a day is 6% or even more of the total cost of all shares held. Brokerage costs for day traders can be significantly lower than costs for other sorts of traders.

While margins for most traders are typically around half of the worth in traders account, day traders can face levels as low as twenty five percent. This suggests that a trader can by shall we say, $1000 worth of stock from an account of only $250. I am really not saying trading losses are inspired, but how you sort out losses may noticeably influence your degree of trading success. Refusing to put up with and correctly handle trades that do not work leads right to trading screw ups. Learning how to accept and cope with trading loss could be as important as making good trades. Survival Tips Here are 7 steps that can be taken to survive and even prosper when suffering a loss : Put down the trade as it happened : Don?t sweep the loss under the rug! You want to profit from the loss ( that's its worth ), so scribble it down.

Source: http://traders101.com/2013/01/25/daytrading-methods/

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Unlocking new phones now banned under DMCA, the EFF weighs in

It was great while it lasted, but the days of users legally unlocking their own phones is over. Back in October of last year, the Library of Congress added an exemption to the DMCA to allow folks to free their new phones for 90 days. That three month window has now closed. Of course, carriers are still free to offer unlocked handsets themselves, and some will also unlock them for you as long as certain conditions are met. "Legacy" or used handsets purchased before today can still be unlocked without any finger-wagging from federal courts.

So, what does this mean exactly? Well, Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Mitch Stoltz told us, "What's happening is not that the Copyright Office is declaring unlocking to be illegal, but rather that they're taking away a shield that unlockers could use in court if they get sued." This does make lawsuits much more likely according to him, but it's still up to the courts to decide the actual legality of phone unlocking. Indeed, it's a grim day for those who want true freedom over their own devices. Stoltz said to us, "This shows just how absurd the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is: a law that was supposed to stop the breaking of digital locks on copyrighted materials has led to the Librarian of Congress trying to regulate the used cellphone market."

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Comments

Via: Tech News Daily

Source: Library of Congress (Amazon)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/qTvRar0a3VA/

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Polish parliament rejects efforts to legalize gay unions

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's parliament defeated draft laws on Friday that would have given limited legal rights to homosexual couples, a setback for liberals trying to challenge conservative moral attitudes in the devoutly Catholic country.

Poland has been grappling with issues such as gay rights, abortion, legalization of soft drugs and the role of the church in public life as younger Poles seeking a more secular society clash with a deeply religious older generation.

The lower house of parliament rejected three bills that would have legalized civil unions, including narrowly defeating one proposed by a member of the ruling Civic Platform that would have given limited rights to unmarried partners, including ability to inherit property.

The motion to prevent the Civic Platform bill from going to committees for further work was backed by 228 deputies, with 211 against.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke out in favor of the reform, but 46 members of his own party, including Justice Minister Jaroslaw Gowin, sided with the conservative opposition and voted against all three bills on their first reading.

"You can't question the existence of such people (living in homosexual partnerships) and you can't argue against the people who decide to live in such way," Tusk told the parliament before the votes.

Robert Biedron, Poland's first openly gay deputy who had proposed the most comprehensive of the three rejected bills, vowed to continue leading the efforts to give legal rights to unmarried partners, both same-sex and heterosexual.

"Changes are coming," Biedron told Reuters television. "More and more people see that maybe there is injustice in treating people that live in unregistered partnerships and who cannot solve their fundamental problems, everyday problems."

Even though a growing number of governments around the world have given at least some rights to homosexual couples, many church leaders and conservative politicians have argued that such moves could undermine the institution of marriage.

Earlier in January, the Catholic Church backed protests against plans to legalize same-sex marriage in France.

Many Polish opponents of state recognition for same-sex partnerships say it is wrong to encourage unions that cannot produce children, and so do nothing to fix the country's declining population.

"Are sexual ties the only reason why society should finance a barren existence?" said Krystyna Pawlowicz of the opposition Law and Justice party, "Society cannot finance structures and institutions, which do not allow for society to last."

(Reporting by Chris Borowski and Marcin Goettig)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/polish-parliament-rejects-efforts-legalize-gay-unions-140759985.html

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Wayward dolphin makes splash in polluted NYC canal

NEW YORK (AP) ? A wayward dolphin has been making a splash in a polluted New York City canal.

Friday's deep-freeze weather didn't seem to faze the dolphin as it swam around in the Gowanus (guh-WAH'-nuhs) Canal, which runs 1.5 miles through a narrow industrial zone near some of Brooklyn's wealthiest neighborhoods.

Bundled-up onlookers took cellphone photos. A news helicopter hovered overhead.

The dolphin appears to be about 7 feet long. It has surfaced periodically and shaken black gunk from its snout in the polluted water.

The New York Police Department says animal experts are waiting to see if the dolphin leaves the canal on its own during the evening's high tide. If not, they plan to lend a hand Saturday.

The filthy canal was named a Superfund site in 2010, meaning the government can force polluters to pay for its restoration.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wayward-dolphin-makes-splash-polluted-nyc-canal-205701821.html

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