The state Department of Education has agreed to change the way it counts the scores of some special-needs students in assessing schools' progress toward federal targets set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The planned policy shift will touch districts statewide, but the most immediate effect should be felt in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, which sued the state in December asking for just such a change.
Among the state's planned changes, two in particular alleviate Red Clay's concerns:
• Allowing school districts the option of having the scores from students attending special-education schools -- which typically draw students from multiple neighborhood schools -- counted under either the special-education school or their assigned neighborhood school. That would let the district count the progress of students in special-needs and neighborhood elementaries separately, likely improving the scores of the latter.
• Allowing districts to use the better of two test scores for federal accountability reporting when dealing with students who score poorly the first time, attend mandated summer school and retake the test at summer's end. Now, only the first score counts, so schools don't get credit for students who progress during the summer.
The changes could help districts avoid the situation Warner Elementary School, in the Red Clay district, faces.
In December, the district filed a suit in Chancery Court asking to overturn a Department of Education regulation that required the scores of 32 students from the Richardson Park Learning Center, a special-education school, to be included in Warner's annual Delaware Student Testing Program scores. Warner is the designated resident school for the Richardson Park students, even though none attends Warner.
Without the Richardson Park scores, district officials said, Warner has increased the number of students meeting or exceeding state standards in reading and math since 2002. That includes a 28.5 percent increase in the number of third-graders passing the reading test and a 26.2 percent increase in third-graders passing math.
Because the scores of the Richardson Park students were included in Warner's assessment, Warner failed to make adequate progress toward targets outlined in No Child Left Behind for the fifth consecutive year in 2005. As a result, the school was faced with sanctions that included developing a restructuring plan that could extend as far as replacing its entire staff or converting to a charter school.
In response to the policy changes, the district agreed last week to a 30-day stay of the lawsuit. Spokeswoman Pati Nash said it likely will be dropped if the changes are approved by the State Board of Education. . . .
"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Lawsuits to Block NCLB Sanctions
What is the difference between Warner Elementary School and P.S. 48? Warner Elem.'s school district, Red Clay CSD, has filed a lawsuit to put an end to the assured failure that would otherwise warrant the closure of Warner Elementary, which is now in its 5th year of not making their test targets. I suppose the headline should read, School Sues to Stay Open. The story from Delaware Online News Journal:
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4 Tips to Relieve Arthritis Pain in Winters
Arthritis, also known as joint inflammation, is a common health ailment that affects a large number of people worldwide. It is a term that is typically used to describe nearly 200 conditions that affect the joints, tissues that surround the joint, and other connective tissues.
For instance, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis which involves the degeneration of a particular cartilage that protects the bone-ends within a joint. The respective loss of cartilage eventually leads to bone-rubbing-bone situation, causing friction followed by swelling and inflammation.
Unfortunately, arthritis condition can get worse in winters as the cold weather aggravates joint pain and muscle stiffness. Medical experts claim that the pain receptors tend to become more sensitive during winters and the drop in atmospheric pressure can result in painful joints. Furthermore, colder conditions can also reduce blood circulation to the fingers and toes that may further amplify the pain.
However, winter arthritis pain can be alleviated and relieved by taking certain measures. Some of them include:
1. Ensure proper clothing
People leveraged to bear arthritis pain are always suggested to keep themselves covered during winters. Health experts believe that keeping the body warm boosts blood flow and flushes out the pain producing chemicals from the body. This also stimulates the skin receptors that improve one’s pain tolerance and relax the muscles to reduce stiffness. Thus, people should wear warm and cosy woollen clothes, prominently covering all the arthritis prone areas including the hands, knees, and legs.
2. Keep yourself hydrated
Medical experts claim that even mild dehydration can make people more sensitive to pain. Thus, it is important to keep your body hydrated at all times. Drinking appropriate amount of water not only helps in alleviating pain but also keeps the body active and fresh.
People tend to believe in a misconception that exercising can worsen the arthritis pain. On the contrary, health experts and medical professionals suggest that exercising is extremely crucial for people suffering from arthritis pain. They claim that physical activity not only increases strength, flexibility and energy but also helps in easing the pain. Furthermore, exercising also helps in improving various arthritis associated symptoms like joint stiffness and muscle weakness.
4. Maintain Vitamin D levels
Various studies assert that low levels of Vitamin D can make people sensitive to arthritis pain. It is also claimed that the deficiency of Vitamin D can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Thus, people are suggested to maintain their intake of the respective nutrient either by consuming vitamin D rich foods or by taking safe supplements manufactured by the top pharmaceutical companies.
Apart from the above-mentioned points, experts from pharmaceutical industry in India also suggest people to increase their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids as they are highly beneficial in reducing inflammation in the joints.
Disclaimer This blog solely intended for the educational/informational/awareness purposes and is not a substitute for any professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor/healthcare professional before acting on the information provided on the blog. Reliance on any or all information provided in the blog, is solely at your own risk and responsibility. Mankind Pharma Limited shall not be held liable, in any circumstance whatsoever.

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Villa near Benagil Beach, Praia da Marinha, Carvoeiro and Porches, This Lovely Property Is In A Great Location, Close To Some Beautiful Beaches And Local Village
This spacious house is well equipped and has a large and beautiful garden with masses of bouganvillea and extensive lawns, as well as orange and lemon trees. The garden is enclosed and not overlooked. The villa is comfortably furnished with plenty of outside space, with a barbecue and pool area. There is free wi-fi internet access, air con in all bedrooms, a safe, satelite TV, as well as plenty of outside terrace furniture.The ground floor consists of 3 twin bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, spacious sitting room with, separate dining room with french windows to the pool terrace, large equipped kitchen and laundry room. The first floor bedroom is the master suite with king size bed, walk in wardrobe and full shower room, as well as a small sitting area with windows leading out to terrace. The nearby village of Porches has several restaurants and is walking distance. The lovely beaches of Albandeira, Marinha and Benagil are just 7 kms away from the house.
Top Traveller Review
Fantastic family villa
About the Owner
Our holidays in the Algarve have always been great, with wonderful beaches, good climate and excellent food. That is why we bought our holiday home here and continue to keep coming back. We have equipped the house well and hope that you will enjoy it as much as we do.
Guestbook comments from the manager
Mr C- August 2013. We had a great holiday and hope to return next year. The house and maid were excellent.
2 holidaymaker reviews
Immaculately clean well equipped villa
We had a brilliant stay at this villa in August. It was immaculately clean and well equipped with everything we could have needed. The beds were comfortable and the air conditioning in the bedrooms worked really well. There was a problem with ants in one of the downstairs bedrooms and bathroom but no amount of ant powder seemed to deter them! The lounge was spacious and comfortable. Having satellite television with all the kids movie channels was a great treat for the kids and a brilliant way of getting them out of the sun for a couple of hours. The garden is lovely and well kept by a gardener who came regularly. There is space for children to play and the flowers were beautiful, the only down side is the traffic noise as the small road is actually very busy. Fernanda comes regularly to clean and is lovely. It was wonderful having the benefits of our own villa with the added perks you only usually enjoy in a hotel such as the villa being cleaned and towels and bedding changed regularly. The pool is deep, even grown-ups cant touch the bottom in two thirds of the pool, reducing family splash time to the space near the steps. Our 4 year old is only 1.1m so couldn't touch the bottom at all and was a bit frustrated about this, but our 8 and 9 year old spent all day happily splashing around. It was well maintained by someone who came to test the water and add chemicals if needed which was reassuring. If we go back I think we would pay the small fee for it to be heated. The outdoor dining area is wonderful, we cooked on the BBQ most nights. The pool has plenty of loungers and areas of both sun and shade to please all. The villa is well located for some lovely beaches, restaurants and shops all within a short drive.
Fantastic family villa
We stayed at this villa for a fortnight with our friends and family. The villa is in a good location. I couldn't fault it in any way and we have stayed in a few villas in Portugal. The pictures on the website don't do it any justice. It is a very spacious and well equipped villa with a fantastic pool and lovely gardens. Our children age ranges from 3-8 and they were well catered for with wi-if and satellite TV when they needed a respite from the sun. It is also very secure and has an alarm which was peace of mind. It is also very well kept with the maid Fernanda (a lovely lady) came in 4 times a week. We were all very impressed and hope to book for next year.
From the Owner
“We bought Vivenda Isabel because we fell in love with the Algarve and especially the area around Porches. It is quiet and quaint, but in such easy reach of the beautiful beaches and great eateries. The enclosed garden meant that the children were safe and because there is so much outside space, it was a great place for them to play.”
Activity and Interests
Vivenda Isabel is located close to various beaches; to the east - Srª da Rocha and Armação de Pera and to the west - Albandeira, Marinha, Benagil and Carvoeiro. The closest beach to the house is 3.5 kms . All of the beaches have great beach bars where snacks, meals and drinks are served all day.
Nearest airport is Faro located 55 kms from Vivenda Isabel. Whilst staying at Vivenda Isabel a car is not essential, but is recommended - to be able to get the most out of your holiday.
Nearest village (Porches)is 1km and nearest Beach(Srª Rocha)is3.5 kms. There are various excellent boat trips, Dophin trips as well as beach barbecue trips all available from the Albufeira Marina, just a 15 minute drive away. There are also water parks, safari trips, sailing and of course the many famous golf courses for which the Algarve is famous. Horseriding is also available with beach rides.
Nearest Restaurant is 300 metres and the nearest supermarket is 2kms.
The village of Porches is well known for its variety of potteries - this pretty little village has several restaurants, coffee shops, small local minimarket, bank (with ATM),chemist etc. The larger resort of Carvoeiro is just a 15 minute drive away and is a more busy seaside resort with an abundance of bars, cafés, restaurants and atmosphere. Armação de Pera has a fresh fish market and several large supermarkets and is a 5 minute drive away. Vivenda Isabel is well located to give you absolute privacy, peace and quiet, yet is not isolated and is in easy reach of shops, waterparks, beaches and restaurants.
Additional pricing information
|Fees||No additional mandatory fees|
|Refundable Damage Deposit||£300|
Booking via email. A 20% deposit is payable to secure the booking with the balance of 80% due 8 weeks before departure. Pool Heating is available at extra cost of £130 per week. A breakage deposit of £300 is payable with the final balance, which will be refunded within 14 days after your return providing there has been no damage or breakages reported.
Our preferred arrival day is Thursday, however we can be flexible to accommodate your flight arrangements. Please check when making your enquiry.
- Available arrival
- Air Conditioning
- Hair Dryer
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Living Room ...
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
- Wood Stove
- Coffee Maker
- Dishes & Utensils
- Kitchen ...
- Child's Highchair
- Dining Area
- DVD Player
- Satellite / Cable
Pool / Spa
- Heated Pool
- Private Pool
- children welcome
- near the sea
- theme parks
- water parks
- outlet shopping
Sports & Adventure Activities
- deepsea fishing
- jet skiing
- Bathroom 1 - Toilet, Shower Enclosure, Bidet
- Bathroom 2 - Toilet, Bath with Shower, Bidet
- Bathroom 3 - Toilet, Bath with Shower, Bidet
- En suite shower room to bedroom 1(master suite) with 2 washbasins, lavatory, and shower unit. On the ground floor there are two full bathrooms with bath (with overhead shower unit), lavatory, washbasin and bidet.
- 4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8
- Bedroom 1 - 1 Cot
- Bedroom 2
- Bedroom 3
- Bedroom 4
- Description of sleeping capacity: Sleeps 8 (4 Bedrooms) plus cot Notes on bedrooms: Bedroom 1 (master suite) with double bed and air con on 1st floor, bedrooms 2, 3 and 4 all have air con and are all twins on the ground floor, with built in wardrobes and plenty of storage space.
- Golf ...
- Notes on accommodation: The three ground floor bedrooms have air con, as well as the upstairs master suite all included. Pool Heating is available at an extra weekly cost of £130. There is free wi-fi available and a hair dryer and pool towels are provided. Outside: There are extensive grounds to Vivenda Isabel, with dining areas to the rear and front of the property. There is a good supply of terrace furniture and the pool area is quite private, with plenty of space for sunbathing. The barbecue is located near to the enclosed pool area and can be accessed from the kitchen, so making it practical for outside meals. The pool is 11m x 5m with large built in steps at the shallow end - Pool depths- shallow 1 metre and deep 2.1 metres. There is off road parking. Utility Room: Washing machine, brush and dustpan, vacuum cleaner, iron and ironing board Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service: There is maid service 4 times a week - towels and bedlinen and pool towels are included. Bedlinen is changed weekly and towels are changed twice a week. Other: As well as the main sitting room on the ground floor, there is an open plan sitting area on the first floor, which has french windows out to a terrace area, with views of the surrounding countryside. The dining room has french windows to the pool terrace.

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Improving Jobs Outlook for Veterans
Courtesy of Military.com
Please Contact Your Elected Officials Today
We call for Congressional action to help turn this negative veteran employment trend around by passage of those provisions of the American Jobs Act of 2011, S.1549, introduced by Senator Harry Reid (NV) on September 13, 2011, which impacts veterans' unemployment. The bill, if passed, presses for a Short-Term Unemployed Tax Credit of 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans unemployed at least four weeks, and the Long-Term Unemployed Tax Credit which offers 40 percent of the first $12,000 of wages (up to $4,800) for employers who hire veterans unemployed longer than six months.
Veterans now and in the past fought for this nation, standing against tyranny. We ask that Congress and the Administration work together and break this tyranny of gridlock where it impacts veterans the most, gainful employment following their honorable military service. Please use the prepared e-mail to contact your elected officials today.
Learning Curve - Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and
concepts. In addition, they can enter your workforce with identifiable and
transferable skills, proven in real world situations. This background can
enhance your organization’s productivity.
- The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction,
delegation, motivation and inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways
to manage behaviors for results, even in the most trying circumstances. They
also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer
- Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to
one’s colleagues. Military duties involve a blend of individual and group
productivity. They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all sizes
relate to each other and an overarching objective.
and Inclusion in Action - Veterans have learned to work side by side with
individuals regardless of diverse race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic
background, religion and economic status as well as mental, physical and
attitudinal capabilities. They have the sensitivity to cooperate with many
different types of individuals.
performance under pressure - Veterans understand the rigors of tight
schedules and limited resources. They have developed the capacity to know how
to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They know the
critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.
for procedures - Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of
accountability. They can grasp their place within an organizational framework,
becoming responsible for subordinates’ actions to higher supervisory levels.
They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.
and globalization - Because of their experiences in the service, veterans
are usually aware of international and technical trends pertinent to business
and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and technological savvy
that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.
- Veterans know what it means to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective
employers can take advantage of a track record of integrity, often including
security clearances. This integrity translates into qualities of sincerity and
of health and safety standards - Thanks to extensive training, veterans are
aware of health and safety protocols both for themselves and the welfare of
others. Individually, they represent a drug-free workforce that is cognizant of
maintaining personal health and fitness. On a company level, their awareness
and conscientiousness translate into protection of employees, property and
- Triumph over adversity - In addition to
dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have
frequently triumphed over great adversity. They likely have proven their mettle
in mission critical
GI Bill for Unemployed Veterans Age 35-60
If you are an unemployed military veteran, you may be eligible for a new GI Bill / career training program: the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011
was created to help veterans gain marketable skills to more easily find
a job. These new GI Bill benefits include education and training for
unemployed veterans who are aged 35-60. The Veteran Opportunity to Work
(VOW) Act of 2011 (HR 2433) is part of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program and was signed into law just before the end of 2011.
Here are a sampling of benefits which will help veterans (we will cover these in more depth below):
- Up to 1-year of additional Montgomery GI Bill benefits to qualify for jobs in high-demand sectors
- Up to 1-year of additional VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits for disabled veterans.
- Quicker access to veterans preference rating for civil service jobs.
- Improvements to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
- Military skills translation – the Department of Labor is tasked to
come up with better ways to translate military skills into the civilian
If these additional benefits seem like something that will benefit
you, then please continue reading and we will cover who is eligible for
these benefits, more details about the benefits, availability dates, and
how you can register to begin receiving them.
If you aren’t eligible to receive these benefits, then please forward this article to a veteran you know who may need assistance qualifying for additional education and training to help find a job.
Expanded GI Bill Benefits for Qualified Veterans
The VOW to Hire Heroes Act will offer qualified and eligible veterans
up to 12 months of full-time Montgomery GI Bill benefits at the Active
Duty rate. See current MGIB rates for more information.
Here are some additional benefits in greater detail:
Greater education and training opportunities: The
VOW to Hire Heroes Act will provide eligible veterans with up to a year
of additional MGIB benefits at the active duty rate, in order to help
them earn training and certifications in high-demand jobs. In order to
receive benefits, eligible veterans must attend a VA Approved education
or training program at a community college or technical school, provided
the program is working toward an Associate’s Degree, a non-college
degree, or a qualified certification in a high demand occupation. Some
examples include technology certifications, trucking, and various
This program also provides disabled veterans up to 1-year of
additional VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits,
provided they have exhausted their unemployment benefits.
Veterans can acquire “veterans preference status” more quickly.
There is currently a delay in how quickly veterans can acquire veterans
preference status for civil service employment. The new VOW to Hire
Heroes Act will help make this transition more seamless by enabling
veterans to acquire veterans preference status before separating from
the military, which can help facilitate hiring into a federal job. the
goal is to reduce the time it takes to hire qualified military veterans —
many jobs currently take months to fill, causing many veterans to file
for unemployment benefits while their application and veterans
preference is pending.
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) improvements: The TAP program is required by all branches of the service and is designed to help military members make the transition from the military environment to the civilian world.
The goal is to help veterans prepare for life away from the military,
including creating a resume, interviewing, and getting hired into a
civilian position. TAP will be getting as facelift as part of the VOW to
Hire Heroes Act, with improvements in career counseling, job searching
processes, and more.
Military skills translation. Translating your skills
to the civilian marketplace can be difficult. After all, how many
civilian jobs are there for bomb loader or artillery specialists? While
there aren’t necessarily direct civilian jobs with those job titles,
many of the skills you have learned while in these positions are
translatable, and the Department of Labor has been tasked to make it
easier for military members and veterans to translate their skills into
civilian terms, and make it easier to earn licenses and certifications
for civilian employment. You can already use the Veterans Job Bank to translate your military skills, but expect more improvements and assistance in the future.
Employment assistance. The Department of Labor will provide employment assistance to each veteran who completes the program.
Veterans Tax Credits: Though this doesn’t directly
affect the veterans, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act provides employers with
tax credits of $5,600 for hiring an unemployed veteran, and $9,600 for
hiring an unemployed disabled veteran. This may make the difference
between you getting a job or an employer deciding not to hire an extra
Who qualifies for the VOW GI Bill?
This program is designed to help unemployed military veterans gain marketable skills through training and education.
To qualify for the VOW GI Bill, a veteran must:
- Be age 35 or older and younger than 60
- Be unemployed (according to Department of Labor definitions) with
special consideration given to veterans who have been unemployed for 26
weeks or longer.
- Have an other than dishonorable discharge.
- Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.:
the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and
- Not be in receipt of compensation due to unemployability.
- Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program
How to Apply for VOW Benefits
This program will be jointly run by the Department of Labor and the
VA. The VA will provide funding for the program, but applications must
be submitted to the Department of Labor where they will be processed and
Program start and end date: This program will become available to eligible veterans on July 1, 2012 and is set to extend through March 31, 2014.
Limited availability. Like all good things, there
are limits to the availability for this program. The law only provides
availability for 45,000 participants in fiscal year 2012, and 54,000
participants in fiscal year 2013. It’s too early to say if there will be
extensions on that time frame, as it will likely depend on how the
economy is doing and whether there will be funding. (Current funding is
already approved and paid for).
At this time, applications have not yet opened. We will update this
article when the information becomes available. In the meant time, it is
recommended to contact the Department of Labor and/or the VA for
additional information or to see if you can be put on their mailing list
Where to go for more information.
This is a joint program sponsored by the Department of Labor and the Veterans Affairs office. You can read more about the VOW GI Bill here: VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 | House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and at the VOW to Hire Heroes Act page at the VA.
DoD Issues with “Hiring Heroes Act of 2011?
DoD objects to provisions of veterans job bill
by Rick Maze, Veterans Today
Defense Department is raising objections to key parts of a bipartisan
veterans employment bill, but it may end up being costs — not those
complaints — that force lawmakers to scale back on the ambitious
Labor Department report that showed the unemployment rate for Iraq
and Afghanistan era veterans was at 12.1 percent in May fuels efforts
to pass a comprehensive overhaul of transition assistance and training
programs for veterans, called the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.
Patty Murray, D-Wash., the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
chairwoman and chief sponsor of the bill, said the high unemployment
rate “is simply unacceptable” and is a sign that current programs are
too long, we have patted them on the back and pushed them into the
civilian job market with no support,” she said Wednesday during a
committee hearing that covered the jobs bill, S 951, and 34 other
measures pending before the panel.
If you know someone any Veterans that are currently unemployed, then please have them visit Hire Veterans. Hire Veterans
currently has over 11,000 active jobs online which need to be filled
immediately. These jobs are all posted from equal opportunity
employers, and many are from Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business’s.
If you are a potential employer looking to Hire Veterans, please contact our recruiting consultant John Vogel directly at email@example.com.
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By John Roberts Published May 26, 2011 | FoxNews.com
After 12 years in the National Guard,
Donna Bachler is still in fighting form. Working out in her Leavenworth,
Kan., gym, this one-time drill sergeant can lift as much as many men.
She’d love a career as a fitness trainer.
But there’s a problem.
“It’s an issue,” she told me, “when you come
into an interview and somebody sees the cane. They see just months off
at a time for a surgery recovery or who knows what.”
She walks with a cane – the result of an
ankle injury she suffered while on a training march. The disability, she
says, has kept her from her dream job. But the ankle isn’t her only
struggle. She developed PTSD -- post traumatic stress disorder -- after
helping collect remains from the World Trade Center attack.
Neither prevented her from deploying to Kuwait. But she’s been job hunting for a year – and so far nothing but rejection.
“They think we all come back with a sort of
Rambo complex,” says Bachler, “that we all have PTSD and we’re all
issues and we’re all going to have health issues later on in life.”
She acknowledges that she, indeed, has PTSD,
as well as a bum ankle, "but I also have a strong desire to work and a
strong desire to serve.”
That desire to work and serve is shared by
Erin Lloyd. She was a master-at-arms in the Navy for 5 years -- served
in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom -- earned citations and awards -- then went on to a degree in accounting from Rutgers.
She moved back home six months ago and has
been looking for a job ever since. Lloyd recalls the day she learned her
military service might be a detriment to finding employment in the
“I was going to go see a headhunter,” she
told me, “and she called to inform me that she was unable to do an
interview because they didn’t really work with somebody with my
They’re called ‘the invisible veterans’ -- women with extensive military experience the civilian world doesn’t seem to value.
Fifteen percent of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are women. That’s 230,000 people. In 2010, 12 percent of them were unemployed, compared to 8.6 percent in the civilian world.
Paul Rieckhoff, the director of the group
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says it’s a national
embarrassment that these women, with leadership skills, discipline -- even shined shoes and a good haircut -- can’t find work.
“There’s an old saying that failing to plan
is planning to fail,” he told me. “There wasn’t a plan in place for our
nation to really step up and support these women who are coming home.”
Part of the problem is a Veterans Affairs
system that for decades was targeted to serve men. Another is that
military skills aren’t certified for use in civilian jobs.
Donna Bachler is puzzled by the disconnect.
“We spend a lot of money training very smart
people – aircraft engineers, car mechanics, medics. And then we don’t
give them a tiny piece of paper that says this is what your military
skill means in the civilian world,” she said.
Rieckhoff’s group is trying to change that – and recently deployed Donna Bachler and other vets to Capitol Hill to twist a few arms.
“We’ve got to tell them that these folks are not ticking time bombs,” says Rieckhoff.
“They’re not the stereotype that you might
have in your head. They’re incredibly dynamic – they're dedicated –
they’re exactly the people you want to hire.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs has been
making changes and now has nine programs targeted specifically toward
helping women vets prepare for civilian jobs.
Ruth Fanning, the VA’s director of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, acknowledges difficulties in meeting the needs of women.
“The VA has had to make an adjustment as the
demographics have changed. Have we taken too long to recognize issues?
Perhaps sometimes we have,” she said.
A bill introduced in both the House and
Senate, the Hiring Heroes Act aims to improve the employment situation,
with – among other things – mandatory participation in the Department of
Labor’s Transition Assistance Program, which helps veterans prepare for
life in the civilian world, and a framework to certify military skills
for civilian jobs. For the moment, Donna Bachler is working hard to
improve her qualifications.
A history major, she’s earning her Master's
in Fine Arts from the University of California. Erin Lloyd may go back
to school for her MBA. “It’s very frustrating,” says Lloyd.
“But, you know, if anything you’ve learned
in the military, it’s determination and you keep going.” Remarkably,
despite all the determination, leadership skills and discipline learned
during wartime, both are weighing whether to leave that military
experience off their resumes.
Says Donna Bachler: “It’s something I should be putting on a job application,
thinking this is a chip that’s gonna give me a shoo-in on this job – as
opposed to thinking about taking it off – going, 'this is the thing
that’s gonna cause me to lose the job.' ”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/26/female-veterans-victims-high-unemployment/#ixzz1O9SPxMHO
May 12, 2011 posted by Veterans Today By Queenie Wong
veterans could get a leg up on those competing against them for the
same job under a bill Washington State Gov . Chris Gregoire signed into
Military veterans could get an advantage over those competing against
them for the same job under a bill Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law
The legislation, House Bill 1432,
allows private employers to voluntarily give a preference to hiring
veterans and widows or widowers of veterans without violating federal
and state anti-discrimination statutes. Private companies also could
give employment preference to spouses of certain honorably discharged
veterans who became permanently disabled during their service.
Gov. Chris Gregoire
Currently, public employers already give a preference to veterans.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives with a 94-4 vote and
was unanimously approved by the Senate earlier this month. “We wanted
to make sure we had a way to honor our women and men in uniform upon
returning from overseas and this really is a pathway for their
reintegration back into society through employment,” said Rep. Jay
Rodne, R-North Bend, the bill’s lead sponsor.
Rodne, a Marine Corps veteran, said he introduced the bill after a
Seattle attorney and a nonprofit aimed at expanding employment
opportunities for military veterans approached him about the issue.
Washington law prohibits an employer from discriminating against job
applicants due military status.
The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 also bars an employer from
discriminating against any individual based on race, color, religion,
sex or national origin. The act prevents employers from giving
preference to military veterans because often they are predominantly
male, said David Black, the attorney from Jackson Lewis, who approached
Rodne about the new law. Black noted, though, that a subsection in the
civil-rights act allows state and local governments to pass laws
creating preference for veterans without violating the federal law.
Marjorie James, the president of Hire America’s Heroes, said that
veterans are at a disadvantage when they apply for a job in the private
sector because they often don’t have as much experience in certain
industries as some other applicants.
The group, based in Redmond, works with corporations to help
transitioning military-service members, veterans and their family
members find corporate jobs.
Queenie Wong: 360-236-8267 or firstname.lastname@example.org
The Department of Defense today announced the launch of an online Career
Decision Toolkit that will allow service members to self assess transition
needs and thoroughly explore an array of transition related subjects such as:
career exploration, financial planning for transition, job search success,
effective resumes and cover letters, interviewing excellence, and negotiating
your ideal compensation.
"The toolkit is customized to a service member's own transition needs and
assists them in cataloging their military skills and experience in a way that
helps them effectively communicate their skills to prospective employers,"
said John R. Campbell, deputy assistant secretary of defense for wounded
warrior care and transition policy.
The online toolkit will deliver 24-hour global access to career transition
training to service members who are not geographically able to attend
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes traditionally offered at military
installations. The tool kit's online launch also marks the second phase of
a major redesign of the Defense Department's main career transition
website, and a cornerstone of the transformation of TAP into a blended
delivery model that takes advantage of online resources, as well as a virtual
classroom settings and platforms to enhance the traditional "brick and
mortar" TAP experience that most service members receive.
Originally released in compact disc format last August, the Career Decision
Toolkit was developed by the DoD's Office of Wounded Warrior Care and
Transition Policy in collaboration with Departments of Veterans Affairs and
Labor to assist separating, demobilizing, retiring and wounded service members,
and their families, to effectively navigate their course to civilian employment
and educational opportunities.
For more information on the online Career Decision Toolkit, visit http://www.turbotap.org or contact Office of
Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy at 703-428-7649 or email@example.com .
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 4, 2011 11:14:34 EST
With a new jobs report showing that young veterans continue to have
difficulty finding work in a tough economy, Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America has unveiled a comprehensive plan for helping vets
find post-service jobs.
Friday’s U.S. Labor Department jobs report
finds the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans dropped
from 15.2 percent in January to 12.5 percent in February, but it is
still higher than the 11.5 percent average for 2010 and much higher than
the national unemployment rate of 8.9 percent in February, the first
time the national rate has dipped below 9 percent in almost two years.
For all veterans, the February unemployment rate was 9.2 percent, down from 9.8 percent in January.
an advocacy group formed in 2004, is concerned that the job market
doesn’t seem to be improving for veterans. Already, an estimated 278,000
returning combat veterans are hunting for jobs and not finding them in a
continued sluggish economy, with signs that things are not going to get
better soon without dramatic action.
“We are not doing enough,” said Tim Embree, a Marine veteran and IAVA legislative associate.
said his group’s plan will seek to create jobs for veterans through a
combination of teaching new job-seeking skills, providing better
education benefits, defending against job discrimination and working
with community and corporate leaders to help create a climate in which
companies want to hire veterans.
IAVA also wants a presidential
summit on veterans’ hiring to get the attention of corporate leaders and
nonprofit groups and wants a national jobs data base specifically for
veterans who are looking for work.
“There is no silver bullet, no one thing that is going to solve this,” Embree said.
current programs are aimed at helping veterans find work, but Embree
said they don’t seem to be working that well. That is the reason why
IAVA is seeking a review every three years of the military’s Transition
Assistance Program, which is supposed to help separating and retiring
service members learn job-hunting skills. Embree said the program, known
as TAP, needs to be audited every three years, at a minimum, to verify
that people actually get jobs as a result of the workshops and lectures.
also wants the government to expand tax credits for businesses that
hire veterans, require federal contractors to publicly report the number
of veterans they higher and ensure federally financed construction
projects are made available to veteran-owned businesses.
of veterans employment is getting attention from Congress, but a key
lawmaker isn’t sure about singling out younger veterans for special
“It is no secret that veterans are facing difficult times
finding and retaining good-paying jobs,” Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind.,
chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s economic opportunity
panel, said Thursday. “Unemployment rates for veterans in some age
groups significantly exceed the rates for nonveterans of the same age,
and that is just not right.”
In terms of sheer numbers, older
veterans face unemployment rates “that often exceeds their nonveteran
peers,” Stutzman said, noting that 63 percent of the 1.1 million
unemployed veterans are 35 and older.
veterans have little or no access to veterans education, training and
retraining programs. They are also the group that tends to have the
highest financial obligations, like mortgages and paying for their
children’s education,” Stutzman said.

domain: news


With the Community Center reaching 20 years of use, the City invested in improvements to the facility in 2021.
Community Services staff proposed improvements to improve the community center with $ 550,000 set aside in the capital budget to begin a longer term vision for the facility.
A summary of the plan by staff indicated that the efficiency and ease of use of the facility had changed over the past 20 years, and changes required modifications to remain relevant to all users.
Staff are considering a phased project that began in 2021 addressing aesthetic issues inside the building. The exterior of the facility was painted in 2020 and no additional attention is needed immediately.
Improvements inside the facility included interior painting, modernizing furniture and fixtures, and renovating the bathroom. New carpets and tiles have also been installed.
Improvements were also made to the audiovisual components of the community center, updating significantly outdated equipment.
The work envisaged for further phasing should be the subject of further consideration and discussion by the Board. This includes a proposal to enclose the lounge in the lobby of the building and a possible addition to the building for fitness and health maintenance activities.
Community Services Director Rachael Goodwin said staff believe the lounge space can be better used as a meeting space and / or dedicated tech space. Improvements made in the fall included setting up ‘knot’ spaces in the lobby for people to meet and relax with friends or work groups.
A proposed addition to the building with a dedicated fitness area is considered a long-term goal, which may take several years for planning and construction.


Want to replace Dell Hard drive with SSD
“I have a dell computer and it comes with a 500GB hard drive that contains Windows 10. Now I want to replace the hard drive with a newly bought SSD. I don’t want to make a fresh install for Windows and all other applications. But how can I transfer all content including OS to new SSD?”
You can clone hard drive to SSD on Dell computer
Cloning Dell hard drive to SSD is the easiest way to transfer all data and Windows OS to SSD. By cloning, you can upgrade Dell hard drive to SSD without reinstalling OS and all applications. Well, how to copy hard drive to SSD on Dell laptop or desktop?
A compressive and professional cloning software
Sometimes, your recently purchased SSD is along with data migration software, such as Intel Data Migration software, Samsung Data Migration software and so on. In such condition, you can perform disk copy via built-in cloning tool. If the new SSD has no such tool or the tool is not working, a reliable and powerful 3rd party hard drive cloning software for Windows 10/8/7, XP and Vista – AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is recommended.
It allows you to clone entire Dell hard drive covering OEM recovery partition to SSD/HDD with two copy methods: Sector-by-Sector Copy and Copy Disk Quickly. The first way clones all sectors on the old hard drive to SSD, requiring that the capacity of SSD larger than the capacity of old hard drive. If your SSD’s storage space is smaller than the old disk’s, you should choose the second way, which only clone used space on the source disk, allowing you to clone hard drive to smaller SSD, if the capacity of SSD is not smaller than the used space on the hard drive.
How to perform Dell hard drive to SSD copy?
To duplicate Dell hard drive to SSD with secure boot, in the first place, you should connect the SSD to your Dell computer and make sure that it can be detected by the OS. For Dell laptop, a USB-to-SATA cable might be necessary. Then, have a look at how it works:
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. In the main console, click Disk Copy Wizard, choose one between two copy ways in the pop-up window and click Next.
Step 2. Select the current Windows hard drive as your source disk and click on Next.
Step 3. Choose the new SSD as your destination disk, check Optimize the performance of SSD.. to align SSD partitions and click Next.
Step 4. In this window, you can adjust the partition size on target SSD. Then, click on Next button.
Step 5. Here you can see a Note saying how to boot from the cloned disk after cloning, please read it carefully and remember it. Then, click Finish.
Step 6. In the main interface, you can review the result of cloning hard drive to SSD. If you are satisfied, click Apply and Proceed to execute the operation.
A reboot is needed as this operation will be performed under PreOS environment.
It is also available to clone OS partition only to SSD via AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.
All data on the target disk will be erased. If you want to keep the files on the destination one, you can back up it using AOMEI Backupper before cloning.
Follow-up work of cloning
After cloning Dell hard drive to SSD, you can keep your original hard drive as storage and SSD for OS if the Dell computer is with more than one drive bays. To do so, you need to enter BIOS to set SSD as the priority in boot order. If you clone GPT to MBR disk or MBR to disk, you need to change boot mode as well. After you boot system from SSD successfully, you can format the old hard drive to free up space. If the computer owns only one drive bay, locate the old HDD and replace it with cloned SSD.


text:
Great HCG phase 3 Appetizer to ta
Important Ingredients for this HCG 2.0 P3 Appetizer Diet Recipe:
Toothpick cherry tomatoes
Basil leaves and drizzle with Balsamic reduction
To reduce vinegar simply bring to a boil
Turn heat to medium low and let simmer until reduced by half or so.
Enjoy this HCG 2.0 P3 Appetizer Diet Recipe to maintain phase of your HCG diet and/or the low calorie phase, ask to join our Private Facebook Community here. Eat well, fit well.

domain: food


text:
A report published in the English Daily Dawn back in Oct 2016 has been a hot topic of an ongoing controversy that recently took a definitive turn.
Scandalous report published by the journalist Cyril Almeida disclosed a high-level security meeting on national defense between military and the government where the government urged the military forces to stop backing jihadist proxy fighters abroad due to the increasing level of diplomatic isolation.
The report quoted “Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military”. Reportedly the meeting included some important most figures like ISI director general, PM Nawaz Sharif, and C.M Punjab, Sahbaz Sharif where difference of opinion was exchanged along with a few heated words.
Pakistan military disregarded the news scandal as “fabricated and planted” and a breach of trust on national security; demanded to identify the loose end, and hold accountability. Pakistani government officials disowned the scandal too.
PM Nawaz asked Pervaiz Rashid to step down from the ministry after he was accused of being the news source of the journalist. A commission led by Justice (r) Amir Raza was established to investigate the Newsgate controversy and final inquiry report of the scandal was submitted today. The 3 people found guilty for the information leak are Tariq Fatemi, Pervaiz Rashid and Rao Tehseen.
Violence against women – or call it gender based violence – is in actual...
With a change in season, our wardrobe changes. So should our beauty regime as...

domain: politics


Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Commuters who leave their cars on streets in Grand Lancy and Chêne-Bourg for the day while they go to work are likely to find that option disappearing by the end of 2010, or in the case of Grand Lancy, sooner, reports the Tribune de Genève. The city of Geneva is currently the only commune in canton Geneva to sell its citizens monthly parking disks, known as macarons, which allow them to leave their cars on the street for indefinite periods
The two smaller communes aim to join the city once details are negotiated with shopkeepers, who want short-term parking solutions in front of their businesses. The disks cost CHF180 a year, a price set by the canton.
Meyrin and Onex are reportedly also studying this option, in order to avoid local parking problems while offering free park-and-ride solutions to commuters from outlying areas.


text:
Scouts has been totally hijacked and turned into an ANTIFA brainwashing outfit. Very few people send their kids anymore because of the rampant pedophilia. This is yet another reason to abandon the Scouts.
Above a still from a video of a ‘scout girl confronting a Nazi’
The Czech scout girl was bused in by the Scouts to oppose an anti-Islamisation rally. Its a pretty sick thing to do, to use scouts to counter ‘neo-nazis’ but this is it, the last ditch. The liberals will do it.
The Scouts even put it on their Facebook. How fucked up is that. UAF Scouts or fucking Lenin Scouts.
Scouts in Northern Ireland are likely being primed in the same way.
Below is a video from a Mosque visit. Having been in the Scouts for a time, I can see these guys are likely earning a community badge.

domain: sociology


text:
I’m forever in awe of the power and strength of Women’s bodies. How the cycles of nature are ever present in the womb. Rebirth and death happening within us every month reminding us that we are forces of nature, capable of epic renewal and creation. It’s an energy of resilience and creation that I see within the spirit of Women and I am here to celebrate us and all of the love, strength and humility we bring to the world!
This print is of my own hands and has been a source of power for me as I tune into the cycles within. Now it’s time to share it with you!

domain: artistic


text:
WINGER PLAYING WATERSTOCK 2007:
May 8, 2007
HOLLYWOOD – Platinum recording artist WINGER is playing Waterstock 2007 in Des Moines, IA at Water Works Park. Besides their slew of platinum hits such as Madalaine, Hungry, Seventeen and more – Winger will be in support of their first album in over a decade. The founding members of WINGER, Kip Winger (bass/vocals), Reb Beach (guitar), Rod Morgenstein (drums), have reunited for their forth record, which is touted as their finest album ever. WINGER is joined John Roth (guitars/vocals) a WINGER member since 1993’s “PULL” album and new comer Cenk Eroglu (keyboards/vocals).
Being the first WINGER album in 14 years it’s not what you would expect. “The new WINGER album” explains Kip, “starts where “Pull” left off and moves into new directions. It mixes some classic Hard Rock like VAN HALEN and early WINGER style, progressive and acoustic elements that may resemble GENESIS, MOTT THE HOOPLE or KING CRIMSON”.
All bands confirmed for Waterstock 2007 are Vince Neil, Warrant, Winger, White Lion, Seven Mary Three, Faster Pussycat, Cold Filtered and Gear Down. The best outdoor music festival of the year takes place Saturday, June 30th at Waterworks Park. Tickets are currently on sale through Iowa Tix for only $27.50. This price is for a limited time only, so buy early and save. We also have 500 Part Pit Passes. Party Pit Pass tickets are $40 and get you side stage access, these will go fast.
For more information go to:
www.wingertheband.com or http://lazer1033.com/WaterstockRock/tabid/786/Default.aspx
Courtesy of www.vqpr.com


Elegance pure white classic Sherwani lightly
embroidered on collar and sleeves.
Off-white banarsi Sherwani matching turban look elevated by golden brown border work dupatta
Off white sherwani with golden turban
Self weaved off white sherwani with light gold
Self weaved Off white sherwani with golden shawl and turban.
Digital print on self weaved fabric along with shawl embroidered.
Self weaved light gold sherwani, with rose gold shawl and turban with matching footwear.
Self weaved Pure black sherwani with matching turban and footwear.
Self weaved Navy blue sherwani, with light gold shawl and turban with matching footwear.
Self weaved beige sherwani, with a light gold Turban and matching footwear.
Self weaved off white sherwani, with matching turban and Footwear.
Self weaved off white sherwani.