Byline: Rob Owen, TV/Radio writer -
Morning deejays Woody & Jim on WFLY-FM (92.3) have a new CD to sell just in time for the holidays.
``The Scam Files'' -- a compilation of phone scams, parody songs and comedy bits -- will be sold for $9.20 Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. in front of the F.Y.E. store at Colonie Center, Wolf Road, Colonie. …
With the Sex and the City girls gone and The Sopranos getting whacked after next season, HBO is looking for men to save the summer.
In three weeks, HBO roils out a triple threat of lighter, half-hour programs designed specifically to reach a young-male audience. On July 18, the network will premiere The Entourage in the prized 10 p.m. Sunday night slot after Six Feet Under.
The comedy, executive-produced by rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg, focuses on a Hollywood hopeful's posse of four young men. The premise of the show is unabashedly similar to Sex and the City." One friend (Adrian Grenier) hits it big in Hollywood, while his buddies ride his wave of fame. …
Stephen Fleming gave up the chance of a valedictory century, falling for 87, as New Zealand reached 348 for seven at tea Sunday, the second day of the second cricket test against Bangladesh.
Fleming enlarged one of the poorest conversion rates of 50s to 100s among world-class batsmen when, after reaching his 43rd test half century before lunch, he was out 13 runs short of his 10th test hundred.
This may be Fleming's last international season and he expressed a strong desire before play began Saturday to fill a gap in his curriculum vitae by achieving his first test century on the Basin Reserve, his adopted home ground.
Only two of Fleming's nine …
TAMPA, Fla. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cleared the way for VinnyTestaverde to be their full-time quarterback Thursday by tradingveteran Steve DeBerg to the Kansas City Chiefs for safety MarkRobinson and two draft picks.
In addition to Robinson, the Buccaneers will receive the Chiefs'picks in the fourth and eighth rounds of the NFL draft this month.The Chiefs owned multiple picks in both rounds.
Kansas City general manager Jim Schaaf said DeBerg, expected toback up Bill Kenney, had agreed to a three-year contract. The Chiefstraded backup quarterback Todd Blackledge to Pittsburgh this week.
"Our team needed a proven NFL quarterback as a backup to …
Albany Common Council Member Anton Konev's controversial bill to introduce spoken prayer at council meetings could be resolved quickly and happily.
My suggestion is that the present "moment of silence" be lengthened by …
Byline: DAVID BAUDER Associated Press
NEW YORK -- A postponed ``60 Minutes'' report about whether Iraq had nuclear capabilities has quickly become CBS' most famous shelved story since the 1995 tobacco piece made famous in the movie ``The Insider.''
The Ed Bradley story questions a crucial piece of evidence used by the Bush administration to support the war. CBS decided it was inappropriate to air so close to the election.
That prompted an e-mail campaign by supporters of Democrat John Kerry urging CBS to run the completed story. The liberal watchdog organization Fairness and Accuracy in Media has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to find and post a copy on the Internet. And the Web site Salon.com summarized Bradley's story after receiving a copy before CBS decided to postpone it.
All this shows the …
Paul R. Smith, vice president and general manager of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 1981, has been named president of WEHCO Newspapers, Inc. (Arkansas …
UTRECHT, Netherlands (AP) — AZ Alkmaar maintained its lead in the Dutch league with a 3-0 win over ADO The Hague on Sunday thanks to goals from Brett Holman, Adam Maher and Jozy Altidore.
Holman gave AZ the lead in the 11th minute before Maher and Altidore added goals in the second half to secure the victory.
Also Sunday, second-place Twente routed De Grafschaap 4-0, while a hat trick from Jeremain Lens inspired PSV Eindhoven to a 4-1 win over Heracles Almelo.
In the most eventful match of the day, Zambia winger Jacob Mulenga created two goals and scored another as FC Utrecht beat Ajax 6-4 in a game that saw five goals in each half.
AZ has 31 points from 12 games. …
Byline: University of Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz., April 5 (AScribe Newswire) -- Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among a sample of U.S. Hispanics, according to researchers at the University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology.
Proyecto VER (Vision, Evaluation, and Research Project) is the first comprehensive study of vision loss and blindness among U.S. Hispanics. The study, to be published in the April 2002 issue of Ophthalmology, found open-angle glaucoma to be the leading cause of blindness in a random sample of 4,774 Hispanics ages 40 and over in Nogales, Ariz., and Tucson. For U.S. Caucasians, age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause …
Abstract: Differences in lichen diversity and abundance and lichen N and C pools were examined across the two dominant host tree species (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. x Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.)) and two soil types (fine- and coarse-textured soils) in an old-growth sub-boreal forest in central British Columbia, Canada. Forty-four epiphytic macrolichen species were identified across the study area. Hair lichen species, particularly nonsorediate Bryoria species, were more abundant in spruce on coarse-textured soils, while cyanolichens were most commonly observed in subalpine fir on fine-textured soils. Overall macrolichen biomass and C pools were greatest in subalpine fir trees on coarse-textured soils. The tripartite species Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was the dominant macrolichen, particularly over fine-textured soils where its stand level biomass was greater than that of all other species combined. The N pools of L. pulmonaria in combination with the less abundant N-rich bipartite cyanolichens amounted to 7.5 1.9 kg Nx[ha.sup.1] on fine-textured soils. These results indicate that epiphytic cyanolichens may make substantial contributions to ecosystem N despite their relatively insignificant contributions to overall forest biomass and C stocks.
Key words: lichen abundance, sub-boreal forest, soil texture, carbon pool, nitrogen pool, lichen nutrition.
Resume : Les auteurs ont examine les differences dans la diversite et labondance des lichens, ainsi que dans les pools N et de C, sur deux especes darbres hotes dominants, le Picea engelmannii Parry xglauca (Moench) Voss) et lAbies lasiocarpa (Hook) Nutt.), et sur deux types de sols (sols a texture fine et grossiere), dans une foret surannee sub-boreale du centre de la Colombie Canadienne. Ils ont identifie 44 especes de macrolichens epiphytes sur lensemble de laire etudiee. Les lichens chevelus, surtout les especes de Bryoria sans soredies, sont les plus abondants chez lepinette venant sur des sols a texture grossiere, alors quon observe les cyaonolichens surtout sur les sapins sub-alpins venant sur des sols a texture fine. Dans lensemble, la biomasse des macrolichens et les pools de C sont plus importants sur les sapins sub-alpins et sur les sols a texture grossiere. Lespeces tripartite, Lobaria pulmonaria, est le lichen dominant, surtout sur les sols a texture fine, ou limportance de sa biomasse in situ est plus grande que celle de toutes les autres especes confondues. Les pools de N du Lobaria pulmonaria, (L.) Hoffm. en combinaison avec les cyanolichens bipartites riches en N, moins abondants, representent 7,51,9 kgx[ha.sup.1], sur les sols a texture fine. Ces resultats indiquent que les cyanolichens epiphytes peuvent apporter une contribution substantielle a lazote de lecosysteme, en depit de leurs contributions relativement peu significatives a lensemble de la biomasse de la foret et des pools de C.
Mots-cles : abondance des lichens, foret sub-boreale, texture du sol, pool de carbone, pool dazote, nutrition des lichens.
[Traduit par la Redaction]
Introduction
Forest canopies, critical to many important ecosystem functions, may support about 40% of the earths extant species, of which 10% are predicted to be canopy specialists (Ozanne et al. 2003). A key component of forest canopy diversity in interior, sub-boreal conifer forests is the epiphytic macrolichen community. While many of the lichens of the sub-boreal forests of central British Columbia are common to the boreal vegetation zone that stretches across the circumpolar north (Ahti 1977), the same is not true of the cyanophytic component. These species are infrequent in the interior forests of British Columbia and are largely restricted to old-growth, rainforest environments (Goward 1994). Cyanolichen species assemblages that were once thought to be endemic to coastal forests are now known to occur in inland rainforest environments (Goward 1994; Campbell and Fredeen 2004; Radies and Coxson 2004; Goward and Spribille 2005) and now in the interior hybrid spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. xPicea glauca (Moench) Voss.) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) forests of central British Columbia. The abundance of lichens in inland forests is thought to be a factor of stand age and appropriate moisture regime (Goward and Arsenault 2000a; Goward 2003a). Lichen growth is limited by water availability because physiological activity occurs only when the thallus moisture content is >50% and >150% for chlorolichens (Hajek et al. 2001) and cyanolichens (Lange et al. 2004), respectively. While hair lichens are known to require cyclical desiccating and hydrating conditions, cyanolichens tend to be more restricted to moist microhabitats, a pattern due in part to the 200% hydration required for nitrogenase activity (Antoine 2004). However, not all old, moist, interior forest ecosystems provide the same level of habitat even for cyanolichens, and disparate loadings are commonly observed. Possible explanations for these observed differences include soil characteristics (Loppi et al. 1998) and tree species composition (Goward and Arsenault 2001). To date, there has not been an empirical comparison of epiphytic lichen biomass between soil texture types or tree species within interior forest ecosystems. Such a comparison would provide further insight into the continued debate over the ecological factors determining spatial and temporal distributions of these species.
Lichens play an important role in forest nutrient cycling (Knops et al. 1996). This may be particularly true of N2-fixing cyanolichens, which have the potential to significantly contribute to the N budget of forest ecosystems (Wollum and Davey 1975; Cleveland et al. 1999). Conservative estimates of the rate of biological [N.sub.2] fixation by vascular plants range from 200 kg Nx[ha.sup.-1]x[year.sup.-1] for leguminous species (Stewart 1969) to 320 kg Nx[ha.sup.-1]x[year.sup.-1] for 20-year-old stands of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) (Newton et al. 1968). These species are often less abundant in mature sub-boreal spruce forests with atmospheric N inputs as low as 0.5 kg Nx[ha.sup.-1]x[year.sup.-1] (Rosen and Lindberg 1980; Hope 2001), and N is thought to be the limiting nutrient (Brockley 2000). Nitrogen-fixing epiphytes, on the other hand, are more abundant in older forests (Goward 1994; Sillett and McCune 1998; Campbell and Fredeen 2004) and have been estimated to fix 35 kg Nx[ha.sup.-1]x[year.sup.-1] in coastal old-growth forests (Franklin et al. 1981). While no comparable N2 fixation rates are available for northern interior forests, it may be that cyanolichens are equally important sources of N in these regions.
The relative role of substrate features such as underlying soil texture and tree species on the abundance, C stocks, and N pools of lichen functional groups is wholly unknown for interior old-growth forests. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare lichen diversity, biomass (at the species and functional group level), C, and N between soil types and tree species to query the roles of edaphic conditions and host species in epiphytic macrolichen distribution.
Methods and materials
Study area description
The study was conducted in the Aleza Lake Research Forest (ALRF) in central British Columbia, Canada, approximately 60 km east of Prince George (54[degrees]11N, 122[degrees]40W). The ALRF is in the wet cool variant of the Sub-Boreal Spruce biogeoclimatic zone (SBSwk1) (Meidinger and Pojar 1991) and is broadly transitional between drier plateau forests to the south and west and the wet trench and mountain forests of the adjacent Interior Cedar Hemlock (ICH) / Englemann Spruce--Subalpine-fir (ESSF) zones to the east. The ALRF is characterized by cold, snowy winters and cool, moist summers. It receives an average of nearly 900 mm of precipitation per year, approximately one third as snow, and has a mean summer temperature of 14.8 [degrees]C (Murphy 1996). The research forest is approximately 10 000 ha in area and is forested primarily by interior hybrid spruce and subalpine fir with smaller components of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) and occasional individuals of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.). Soils on the research forest were formed from glaciolacustrine parent materials. Fine-textured soils are the more common texture type and are a mixture of Orthic Gleyed Luvisols and Orthic Luvic Gleysols. The less common coarse-textured soils are predominantly Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols (Arocena and Sanborn 1999).
Study design
To examine the influence of substrate (soil type and host tree species) on epiphytic lichens, we established a factorial experiment with combinations of two factors: soil type (with coarse- and fine-textured soils, C-T and F-T soils, respectively) and tree species (with the two most common trees, subalpine fir and interior hybrid spruce). By examining both soil type and host tree, we hoped to determine the variation in lichen abundance patterns attributable to each. This factorial design also allowed the testing for potential interactions.
Two old-growth sites (120240+ years) were selected in each of F-T and C-T soils. Only two old-growth sites could be found on C-T soils owing to an historic harvesting preference on this soil type. Three 10 m x 10 m plots were established near what was determined to be the centre of the stand. The first plot was located 20 m from the site centre along a random compass bearing. The second and third plots were located 20 m from the centre at a random compass bearing of +120 and +240[degrees], respectively. The terrestrial vegetation, nonvascular community, and stand characteristics of each plot are detailed in Botting and Fredeen (2006). One subalpine fir (fir) and one interior hybrid spruce (spruce) were identified for arboreal lichen assessments within 5 m of each plot centre. Trees that were structurally safe and supported a lichen loading that was most representative of that occurring at the site were identified and three study trees of each species were randomly selected from this pool. Selected trees were subsequently rigged, climbed, and sampled vertically for epiphyte biomass and species diversity.
Lichen assessments
Lichen biomass was assessed on every branch of the study trees. Lichens were grouped for assessments using a modified version of the functional groups described by McCune (1993). The four functional groups were Alectoria (including Alectoria sarmentosa (Ach.) Ach. and lesser amounts of Usnea spp. and Ramalina thrausta (Ach.) Nyl.), Bryoria, foliose chlorolichens, and cyanolichens. Cyanolichen assessments included all species with a cyanobacterial partner, and all references to cyanolichens herein refer to both bipartite species and the tripartite lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. unless specified otherwise. Hair lichens were separated into the two functional groups owing to niche partitioning between Alectoria and Bryoria as identified by Campbell and Coxson (2001). Biomass estimation techniques are described in Campbell and Coxson (2001) and Benson and Coxson (2002).
Lichen surface area, as a proxy measure for cover, was assessed on one branch selected from each of three distinct height zones in the canopy of each sampled tree. The height zones were based on vertical changes in lichen species composition with the upper canopy characterized by abundant Bryoria (Brodo & D. Hawksw.) spp. (particularly nonsorediate species) and the lower canopy by the presence …
UBS and GE Capital are scheduled to launch syndication of a $170 million credit facility for TA Associates portfolio company Youth and Family Centered Services (YFCS) next Wednesday, June 7, in New York. The deal for Austin, Texas-based YFCS, a provider of health, education and long-term support services for abused and neglected youth, includes a $50 million, six-year revolver and a $120 million, seven-year term loan. Price talk is set at Libor plus 275 basis points (bps) for both tranches, according to a banker.
YFCS' existing $113 million credit facility, …
www.centralpennbusiness.com
Cedar to acquire Lancaster shopping centers in $200 M deal
Monday, Aug. 16, 2010
By Tim Stuhldreher
Cedar Shopping Centers Inc. said today it will buy a portfolio of seven shopping centers, including two in Lancaster County, from Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust.
UGI to invest $300M in Marcellus Shale projects
Friday Aug. 13, 2010
By Eric …
Byline: JOHN GEROME Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Country music artists are hardly united in their support of the war in Iraq -- but you'd never know it from listening to the radio.
While Toby Keith, Darryl Worley and Charlie Daniels have scored hits with patriotic, war-themed songs, others such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Nanci Griffith released anti-war, or at least questioning, songs that went nowhere.
``Country radio does enough research that they understand listeners are supportive of the military in Iraq and just don't want to get involved with those songs,'' said John Hart, president of Nashville-based Bullseye Marketing Research.
``I …
AKRON, Ohio --Baby boomers grew up in a time of outlandish predictions. They were promised that during their lifetime that they would witness time travel, flying cars and telephones that showed who was on the other end.
The idea of time travel, albeit potentially dangerous , seemed pretty cool. It could be fun to go back and relive a first kiss or a child's birth. Certainly, flying cars would help during rush-hour traffic. But computers and phones with live images? Surely that prediction was nothing more than bunk. Who would want a caller to catch her with disheveled hair and torn jammies?
Fast-forward a few decades.
Kent, Ohio's Barb and Bruce Vasbinder say their relationship with their grandchildren, who live on the West Coast, just wouldn't be the same if it weren't for Skype. With the free software application, a webcam and a high-speed Internet connection, users can talk to and see each other live via the Internet.
"It allows us to be a part of their lives and share special moments with them even though many miles separate us," said Barb, 60.
The Nielsen Wire, the website for the measurement and information company Nielsen, reports : "Conventional wisdom that boomers spend little, resist technology and are slow to adopt new products needs to be reassessed. Boomers are an affluent group who adopt technology with enthusiasm."
The Vasbinders' son, Aaron, his wife, Meghan Burke Vasbinder, and their children, Caitlin, 4, and Lindsay, almost 2, Skype at least once every couple of weeks from Tracy, Calif. And they get far more out of it than they would a simple telephone call.
On one recent call, the couple gleefully watched as Caitlin showed them how she stretches before soccer games, and celebrated when seeing Lindsay learning to walk. They also play games with the kids.
"Caitlin will draw the cards, or roll the dice and move my player around the board," Barb said.
The couple showed the girls what the first snowfall of the season looked like in Ohio. Her son has given them tours of his house.
"Recently, Caitlin showed us her newly painted bedroom," Barb said. "And one night, as we were ready to sign off Skype, Lindsay blew us a kiss."
Grandpa, 61, who works for Larry Kannal State Farm, and Grammie, who is a physical education teacher for Kent schools, even help baby-sit , Barb said. "Sometimes we read a few books so Meghan and Aaron can clean up in the kitchen and talk without interruption."
Using creative ways to keep relationships intact, like Skype or the iPhone's FaceTime feature , is something boomers in job-strapped places like Northeast Ohio may be experimenting with more as their kids and grandchildren are forced to leave the area to find employment.
"Aaron had a number of job offers before graduation from Virginia Tech in mining engineering , but none in Ohio," Barb said. "So following graduation, he felt the California offer was his best opportunity.
"The time difference is an issue, but we make it work, even if it is a quick story before we go to bed."
FACEBOOK PROS
AND CONS
In 1977, the late Ken Olson, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., manufacturer of big business mainframe computers, argued against the personal computer, saying, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Now it's hard to find a home without one. And even many anti-technology boomers are making their way to social networks like Facebook to stay connected and be hip.
"The baby-boomer generation is one of the fastest growing users of social media," said Erin E. Hollenbaugh, assistant professor of communication studies at Kent State University's Stark Campus.
But beware of limiting yourself to written messages , such as Facebook messages or emails, as the only way to communicate.
"One nice thing about the Internet is that we sometimes feel more confident when talking with others online. The fact that you don't have to see the other person's reactions when you tell them something makes it easier to share things that may upset them. On the other hand, that same quality can backfire on us," Hollenbaugh said.
"For example, plenty of people post nasty things on another person's Facebook profile. This is likely because they didn't consider how it might hurt the other person or how that person's reaction would cause them to feel. Similarly, sometimes people share secrets online or are overly disclosive, and that can lead to problems with friends, teachers or employers."
Social media, especially Facebook, are used to maintain or rekindle connections with "friends" --current and former.
"While it's great to increase your social network , researchers have found that the vast majority of these relationships tend to be weak-tie relationships ," Hollenbaugh said. "In other words, they are fairly superficial , distant friendships.
"As I look at my friend list on Facebook, I know that's the case because most of the people I'm friends with online I would not call on the phone and chat, nor do I even have their phone number. So while quantity is increased, quality may be decreased."
Sometimes written messages are perceived differently from what was intended. Perhaps that is why people invented emoticons --the faces made with symbols like :).
Emoticons give us a chance to replicate what we do face-to-face , Hollenbaugh said. But a textonly email is less rich than a Skype call, which includes nonverbal and verbal cues.
The Vasbinders believe that without Skype, their grandchildren may not be as comfortable around them when they get the chance to visit in person.
"They run to us in an airport without hesitation. They know us, not just pictures of us," Barb Vasbinder said. "We have all this technology at our fingertips to improve the way we can communicate. Why not use it?"
PHIL MASTURZO/MCT
Barb and Bruce Vasbinder visit with their granddaughter, Caitlin, 4, through Skype from their home in Kent, Ohio, on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
Author reaches out to retired teacher who helped her transition from Africa to America
Joel Herron got an unexpected phone call near the end of December.
Thanks to the Internet, one of Herron' s former second grade school students found her phone number online and dialed her up. They hadn't spoken to or seen each other in decades.
"It was right before Christmas when she found me," said Herron, a retired teacher since 1992. "It was the best Christmas gifts I received."
On the other end of the telephone was Kou Weanquoi-Rac, her student from Dilworth Elementary School. Weanquoi-Rac had written a memoir and dedicated the second chapter to Herron, her mentor and mother figure.
Herron was the first teacher Weanquoi-Rac had when her father brought her to Charlotte from Liberia, West Africa in 1984. She didn't have a formal education in Africa, so when she came to the United States, she had to play catch up.
Weanquoi-Rac, now 37, says she should have been in the fourth grade as a 9-year-old, but due to the language barrier she was placed in the second.
"(Herron) was my first American teacher and the most important," Weanquoi-Rac said. "She made the biggest impact on my life."
Weanquoi-Rac says Herron went above and beyond teaching.
"She worked one on one with me," Weanquoi-Rac said. "I basically clung to her and I loved her."
The two would study together sitting on the bench during recesses and in the cafeteria at lunchtimes.
"We used to do a lot of fun type of things together," Herron said. "I was really hands-on."
Weanquoi-Rac says she was teased by other students and had trouble at home. Herron was her sanctuary.
When Weanquoi-Rac' s father remarried, she had five stepsisters whom she didn't have the best relationship with. Herron was her only friend.
"I always enjoyed going to school just to be with Mrs. Herron," she said. "I just wanted to learn."
Herron remembers when she would tend to Weanquoi-Rac when she was sick in the ladies room, unaccustomed to American cuisine. Or the first time when Weanquoi-Rac saw snow and the times she would call her at home.
"I remember she called me up because she left her homework at school and I would tell her, 'it's OK'," Herron said. "For me to give her my home phone number was no problem because I didn't mind her calling. She had a lot of things working against her."
After a year, Weanquoi-Rac was tested and moved up to the fourth grade. After that, her family moved to Norcross, Ga. Weanquoi-Rac never forgot Herron.
"I was doing good in school in Georgia," she said. "I was a cheerleader and I made friends."
In high school, Weanquoi-Rac got pregnant with her now 18-year-old daughter Deleah Weanquoi. After graduation, she moved to Mississippi. She left for Africa at 23 to get away from an abusive relationship and to see her mother whom she hadn't seen since coming to America.
She returned to the Ivory Coast, where her mother fled to after the Civil War, for a year before she re-entered the country. Upon returning to Charlotte, she attended Central Piedmont Community College and earned a degree from Pfeiffer University in criminal justice.
Weanquoi-Rac had another daughter, 14 year-old Essence Wilson, and married Jouan Rac in 2008.
However, someone was always missing from her life.
Three years ago she started chronicling her life in her memoir, "The Journey."
"I was teased so much in school but I always could count on Mrs. Herron," Weanquoi-Rac said. "I felt so comfortable with her. She was such a blessing in my life."
Herron read the book, which she says its quite graphic, but honest. The book begins with Weanquoi-Rac's migration to America and her experiences with teenage pregnancy and abuse.
"She's had a hard time through life," Herron says. "I feel for her because she has been through a lot. The book shows that you do need loved ones."
Weanquoi-Rac spent two years in Europe, teaching English Literature at the University of Novom Pazaru before moving back to Charlotte.
"For her to not speak English when she got here and to know she taught English... that just tickles me," Herron added. "When I told her things back then she would just absorb them. I always knew she was smart."
Weanquoi-Rac's book is available online:
www.amazon.com
www.blackbookplus.com
[Sidebar]
Kou Weanquoi-Rac (right) and her former second grade teacher, Joel Herron. The two were reunited after Weanquoi-Rac found Herron online.
[Author Affiliation]
By Ryanne Persinger
ryanne.persinger@thechariottepost.com
ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 7 -- Hidetada Nago, Kawasaki, Japan, has developed a wireless terminal device. The inventor was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,554,961 on June 30.
The patent has been assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo.
According to the abstract released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "After a first wireless terminal device transitions to a Direct Link Protocol mode, the terminal device transmits an internet control message protocol (ICMP)echo_request signal directly to a second wireless terminal device and, upon receiving an ICMP echo_reply signal from the second wireless terminal device within a fixed period of time, counts up the number of times there is a reply. If the ICMP_echo_reply signal is not received within a fixed period of time, then the first wireless terminal device counts up the number of non-replies. As a result, the first wireless terminal device can readily judge whether it is capable of communicating directly with the second wireless terminal device in the Direct Link Protocol mode."
The original application was filed on Oct. 26, 2005.For more information about US Fed News contract awards please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, US Fed News, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.
New Zealand gov't defies UN opinion on Internet disconnection law
WELLINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand's government isrefusing to back down on a controversial law that allows Internetproviders to disconnect users for alleged copyright infringements,despite a UN report that says Internet access is a human right.
Earlier this year, New Zealand passed the Copyright (InfringingFile Sharing) Amendment Act that would allow Internet serviceproviders (ISPs) to send up to three infringement notices to allegedcopyright infringers before seeking to disconnect them.
In a report on Internet freedom last month, UN special rapporteurFrank La Rue said he was "alarmed by proposals to disconnect usersfrom Internet access if they violate intellectual property rights."
Justice Minister Simon Power said Tuesday he had not put in agreat deal of thought about whether Internet access was a humanright, but he was "very satisfied" with the legislation and had nointention to revisit it, the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA)reported.
"The legislation that we passed a number of weeks ago now wasthoroughly consulted over a two-year period," Power reportedly said.
"I'm confident that it's been through just about every test andevery forum it could have been to get where it is today."
He pointed out that the disconnection provisions would only beintroduced by regulation if the warning regime did not operate as itwas intended, said the NZPA report.
"It's a complex area of law, it is finely balanced and it is noteasy, but I think we've come to an arrangement which is satisfactoryto both rights holders and ISPs."
Green Party Member of Parliament Gareth Hughes, who put forward adefeated amendment to the law that would have removed the right todisconnect users, said Tuesday the rapporteur's report "should be awake-up call for the government."
"They need to heed his call that Internet access is a human rightand ensure they will not enact Internet termination."
The law will come into effect in September and is to be reviewedafter two years.
Stroud College student Nathan Smith has died after his carcollided with a tree.
The 18-year-old former Thomas Keble School pupil was driving asilver Peugeot 206 when it went off the A46 Painswick Road justbefore roadworks near Cranham.
The second year plumbing student was heading from Brockworth toStroud with passenger Dan Hunt, also 18.
The incident happened at around 8.55pm on Sunday.
A Stroud College spokesman said: "We are all sad to hear thistragic news and our thoughts are with his family at this difficulttime. Nathan will be sorely missed by his fellow students andtutors."
Nathan, who was from Stroud, died early on Monday at CheltenhamGeneral Hospital. Dan, who is a former Archway School pupil, wasdischarged from hospital yesterday.
Thomas Keble headteacher Chris Steer said Nathan still had a lotof friends at the Eastcombe school.
He said: "We were all shocked and saddened to learn of thistragic accident.
"Nathan was a charming young man with a great sense of fun. Apopular boy with fellow pupils and staff, he will be fondlyremembered by all who knew him."
Nathan and Dan were both regulars at The Door youth project inGloucester Street, Stroud.
Its director of youth work Barrie Voyce said: "Nathan had agreat sense of humour.
"He was a fun lad to know and it is sad his life had been takenat such a young age.
"We wish Dan a speedy recovery with not just the physicalinjuries but the mental ones too."
Flowers and cards have been tied to a public footpath post atthe scene of the crash.
Tributes to Nathan have been posted on internet social networkingsites.
His cousin Laura Baker, who also went to Thomas Keble School,said: "I don't know where to start Nath.
"I can't believe it, I just can't get my head around it. I'mmissing you so much already.
"You were an amazing lad, so kind and caring. I'm proud to callyou my cousin but, to be honest, you were more like a brother tome."
Nathan played football for Stonehouse Town Under 18s, StroudFC and Golden Valley Rangers in Chalford.
Stonehouse U18s manager Carl Berry said: "He was a popular playerand was a tenacious midfielder.
"Every time a young man loses his life it is a sad time,especially when it's someone with so much talent."
ATLANTA - America's Best Value Inn is the new name of the formerRoute 66 hotel, and officials hope the revamped facility will boostjobs and tourism in the area."This hotel plays a key role in theplans for our future," Atlanta Mayor Bill Martin said of the town'sonly hotel. "Future plans to expand the hotel only are furthersupportive of our plans for Atlanta."Martin was among about 40 localand county officials on hand Monday morning for the grand reopeningof the business, located off Interstate 55 near historic Route 66. Ithad been closed for at least eight months.New owner Narish Desai hasalready completed renovations on the interior of the building,including updated rooms with high- speed Internet access. He hasfuture plans for a pool, business center and meeting rooms, as wellas a restaurant, pizza parlor and ice cream shop."The sky's the limitwith what we want to do," said Desai. "The development on thisproperty will be a boost to the tourism of our region. This will alsocreate employment to the region and uplift the town as awhole."Martin noted that with so many new Route 66 projects, therewill most likely be an increase in tourists to the area. That makesit even better to have a local hotel so visitors can spend the nightrather than quickly driving through the town, he said."I'm thrilledthe new owners have already come up with ideas for the future, whichgoes along with the future of our community," said Martin. "Thishotel is good for Atlanta and I think Atlanta is good for thehotel."Rob Orr, Logan County director of economic development, waspleased to see that while Desai could have invested his moneyanywhere, he chose the small town of Atlanta."That says a lot aboutthe attractions that we offer in this area," Orr said.Lincoln MayorBeth Davis also extended her welcome."We're glad you're here and hopewe can all work together to keep our county growing," said Davis.Thisis the 15th Best Value Inn in Illinois, said America's Best Value InnMidwest Region Director John Mattson.
CUTLINE:
PUB: The Pantagraph
PUB DATE: 20060131
Section: Money
EDITION: Main
QRK
ACTU president SHARAN BURROW says Workplace Relations Minister TONY ABBOTT has no ideaabout how women lead their lives.
She says Mr ABBOTT needs to enter the 21st century and understand that women make aneconomic and social contribution that must be valued.
And she's told the Seven Network that paid maternity leave is just the foundation of that.
Ms BURROW says Mr ABBOTT and Finance Minister NICK MINCHIN discriminate against womenand have encouraged Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD not to introduce paid maternity leave.
She says the ACTU wants to see a revolution in workplaces where business and familieswin through flexibility.
AAP RTV sm/jmt i
KEYWORD: MATERNITY (CANBERRA)
BRISBANE, April 7 AAP - The war in Iraq was in Australia's medium and long-term nationalsecurity interests, Prime Minister John Howard said today.
Mr Howard told a function in Brisbane the military action was a "particularly difficult issue".
"I believe very strongly, and my government believes very strongly, (the war) involvesa commitment that is both just and properly based and in the medium and long-term nationalsecurity interests of this country," he said.
Mr Howard said he respected that there was a "range of views" about the conflict, butbelieved all Australians would support the nation's troops.
"I'm certain that, whatever views people may hold, all of our thoughts are united inan expression of hope that the men and women of the Australian Defence Force, performingso magnificently in our nation's name, would return home safely and soon to their homelandand to their families," he said.
AAP pjo/sc/wjf/br
KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST HOWARD
Australia's monopoly wheat exporter has downgraded its estimate of the local wheatcrop as a result of the drought.
AWB Ltd says it now expects production to …
Children and Youth Affairs Minister LARRY ANTHONY says welfare payments for familieswon't be linked to parenting courses.
The federal government said yesterday it's considering a scheme where benefits fornew parents are paid to those who undergo courses to improve their parenting skills.
However, Mr ANTHONY has told Channel Seven that payments won't be cut off or linkedto parenting courses.
He says he's passionate about the importance of the early years up to the age of five,and they deserve more resources and emphasis.
He says most Australian parents do a good job, but there are still many more childrentoday with emotional, health and behavioural problems.
AAP RTV hn/rk/jmt
KEYWORD: PARENT ANTHONY (SYDNEY)
A retired navy chief says navy sailors have been the subject of lies and mistreatmentby the Australian government.
Retired Vice Admiral Sir RICHARD PEEK has told a Senate inquiry that draconian lawsgag defence force personnel from telling the truth and allow the government to spin-doctorstories.
His claims -- at the inquiry into the children overboard affair -- come as Prime MinisterJOHN HOWARD accuses the Senate inquiry of trying to damage and embarrass the government.
Mr HOWARD says the hearing has achieved no success in revealing new information --and says it's done little more than tie up the time of large numbers of defence forceofficers.
Sir RICHARD says most people in Canberra knew the government's claims asylum seekershad tossed children into the sea were false by mid-October -- but the government did nothingto try and correct the information.
He says navy sailors are splendid people commanded by responsible officers -- and ithurts him to see them treated the way they have been.
AAP RTV sm/daw/rp
KEYWORD: BOAT (CANBERRA)
SYDNEY, Feb 5 AAP - Torrential rain swept NSW for a second day today causing landslipsand flash flooding which forced the evacuation of homes and hospitals.
Police said "atrocious" weather and poor visibility contributed to a 15-car pile-upon the F3 Freeway north of Sydney this morning that left three people in Gosford Hospitalwith minor injuries.
One of the three lanes of the F3 south of the Mooney Mooney Bridge remained closed,an ambulance spokesman said.
The SES received nearly 1,000 calls for help after 130mm of rain fell across Sydneyin the 24 hours to 9am (AEDT) today.
Sydney's …
