Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Questions On Dogs and Cats: EVALUATING YOUR PET'S ...

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OK, now, pay attention!? If you've been reading this blog for long enough, you know that Helpful Buckeye has stressed repeatedly that a pet owner needs to be?familiar with the habits and appearance of their dog or cat.? That is one of the most reliable ways to be able to tell when something just isn't right with the pet.? Awareness of the normal state of events is the first step in the process of catching a disease or illness in its early stages.? Catching an illness early in its development not only gives your pet a better chance of an earlier recovery but also has the potential of saving you some money...and both of those are big pluses.

For the love of your pets: Evaluating your pets'

By Dr. John Beck

My own dog was diagnosed with a heart condition about six months ago. We have some trouble every now and then, but for the most part, his condition is controlled with the medications my veterinarian prescribed. Is there any way for us to know if his "spell" is worth taking him into the vet on emergency or if it is something I can wait on?

Heart conditions are a tricky science. It is usually a blend of medications given a couple of times a day to help maintain your pet's quality of life. Regular visits to your veterinarian are necessary to evaluate how your pet is doing on all the medicines and make sure all of his needs are being met.

The fastest way to evaluate your pet's current state is to try and take his vital statistics - just like a human hospital would get your weight, temperature, blood pressure, etc. upon arrival. You can do the same for your pet.

Mucous membranes are something we always look at when first seeing a patient. Mucous membranes usually refer to the color and wetness of the gum line. A healthy gum line is usually a pretty bright pink and slick to the touch due to the saliva. If a dog is having trouble breathing or making oxygen exchange, the gums can appear purple in color. If the dog is dehydrated, they can feel tacky or sticky to the touch.

Another vital statistic that is regularly checked on a dog/cat is capillary refill time. This is how long it takes for the capillaries (small blood vessels) in the gum line to fill back up with blood after being emptied. To check this, you need to apply mild pressure to the gum line until it turns white, then let go. Count, in seconds, how long it takes for the gum to return to a normal color. If the return time is one to two seconds this is considered normal. Anything over three seconds is considered abnormal.

You can check your pet's pulse by finding the femoral artery that runs inside the pets back leg. The groin section is usually the easiest place to find it. Count how many times you can feel the pulse in 15 seconds then multiply by four. This will give you the number of heart beats per minute. For dogs that are less than 30 pounds, an average heart rate or pulse is 100-160 beats per minute. For a dog over 30 pounds, an average heart rate or pulse is 60-100 beats per minute. The smaller the dog, the faster the heart rate; and the larger the dog, the slower the heart rate. Puppies and cats typically have a pretty quick heart rate regardless of size. They tend to run in the 100-130 beat per minute range.

To check your pet's temperature, you will have to use a rectal thermometer. Adding some lubricating jelly will help with the discomfort. The average dog or cat temperature is 101.5 Fahrenheit. If the patient is very excited, the temperature might be a degree higher. If the patient is very old or calm, the temperature might be a degree lower.

These vital statistics can be taken to help reassure yourself of your pet's condition. If you need more help or have any other questions, please feel free to contact me or your local veterinarian. Adapted from:? http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/jul/14/yl_john_beck_071711_145242/?news&local-news

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Is this Normal? - When to take your pet to the

Adapted from:? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JseqepJ0bbA&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=email

10 Signs Your Pet Needs To See The Vet

Most pet guardians recognize the obvious signs of a pet in distress and would seek veterinary care for all the obvious signs of illness or injury such as bleeding or an animal who can not stand. But what about the more subtle signs that your pet needs help? Every species has its one code, its own tell-tale signs of trouble, and in the animal kingdom, communication can be cryptic to the human eye. One golden rule is to watch for any behavioral shifts which may have an alarming underlying cause..

1.????? Restlessness: Maggie, the 10-year-old calico cat, was always a quiet girl. She preferred to spend most of the day sleeping in a wicker basket. So when Maggie began exploring the house more, particularly at night, her family was thrilled to see her becoming more active. Maggie would pace through the house, checking every room and sometimes let out a single meow. Turns out, Maggie was suffering from a brain tumor that was giving her severe headaches. The pacing was her response to the pain. What looked like a wonderful new sense of exploration, was actually the manifestation of severe illness. Restlessness can be a firm indicator of pain or anxiety. 2.????? Unusual Ways of Getting Your Attention: What do you make of a bunny who normally wanders the living room floor but is suddenly ascending onto the couch? Perhaps he has his ears cocked in different directions instead of the usual symmetrical arrangement. Bunny may be trying to get your attention. A common cause of pain in rabbits comes from their mouths as teeth tend to grow spurs causing painful lacerations and infection, especially in the rear corners of the mouth that can only be viewed with special veterinary instruments. In dogs and cats, frequent barking or meowing that is uncharacteristic for your pet, could be a sign of distress. Any time your pet is persistently turning to you for attention and you are unable to satisfy this pleading with food, water or a walk outdoors, you could be looking at a pet who is in need of care.? In iguanas, face rubbing is a problem and can lead to injury from abrasive metal cages. Environmental changes, health issues or a small cage can provoke the behavior. 3.????? Changes in Body Presentation and Posture: A pet bird who sits with his feathers ruffled out for a long period of time may be suffering respiratory illness See a complete list of bird health warning signs here In rabbits, a hunched and hunkered down posture can indicate stasis, a painful and potentially deadly slow-down of the gastrointestinal tract which is common to rabbits and requires immediate veterinary intervention. And in dogs and cats, you'll want to pay attention if your pet is suddenly sleeping in an unusual position, limping or hesitating to sit down. 4.????? Hesitation to Jump or Climb: A dog who begins to hesitate before jumping into the car or onto the bed may be experiencing arthritis, hip dysplasia or even early signs of neurological disease.

5.????? Going into Hiding/ Becoming Quiet: If your normally social pet begins seeking more quiet time or begins sleeping a lot more, this can be a red flag indicating some form of pain or infection. This is a big one and you'll want to begin paying careful attention to see if you can uncover any other changes so that you can report these to the vet as well. In fact, one cat who recently swallowed a long piece of string that was constricting his intestines was simply noted to be sitting quietly and not bouncing around as he usually does. This change had only begun that morning, but his eyes seemed to say, something is wrong, and fortunately his very astute guardian rushed him to the vet where an x-ray revealed the foreign body and emergency surgery saved his life.?

6.????? Pee & Poo Indicators: Your animal's bathroom habits are an excellent barometer of health which is why its critically important for pet guardians to observe their pets' elimination behaviors. Frequent urination can indicate a variety of sneaky and serious health issues ranging from diabetes to urinary tract infection to kidney failure. In fact, in male cats blockage of the urinary tract can suddenly occur and your cat will be unable to urinate despite desperate attempts. If your litter box is out of sight, you will not notice these red flags. You must see how often your cat is visiting the box. Daily cleaning of the box to look for appropriate quantity of urine is essential, but in multi-cat households, it's harder to spot illness in a single cat through cleaning alone. Changes in bowel movements can indicate anything from simple parasitic infection to intestinal disease to gastrointestinal hemorrhaging. Black poo, poo with red blood or diarrhea that persists are all reasons to see the vet. 7.????? Bad Breath: Geriatric pets are not the only ones who can suffer from dental diseases. Even in kittens as young as four months old, severe dental disease can be present as a result of common viruses and severe pain, even exposed nerves, can evolve quickly. If your pet has foul breath, don't play games with over-the-counter breath freshening tools. First, see your vet to find out if your pet has abscesses, broken teeth, gingival (gum) complications or other oral health conditions that could be causing pain and opening the window to additional disease of major organs including the heart. 8.????? "False" Hairballs or Coughing: You'd be surprised at how asthma in cats looks and sounds like a cat trying to cough up a fur ball. Many cat guardians miss the early signs of asthma because it appears so similar to the old 'hair ball' routine. Viral infections, heart diseases, asthma and worms are but a few of the reasons your pet may be coughing, wheezing or sneezing and it's simply impossible for pet owners to make these determinations on their own. 9.????? Itching: Sometimes food allergies, environmental allergies or external parasites cause itching.? Particularly if you pet is itching at his ears and wincing, painful ear mites or yeast overgrowth may be present.

10.? Not Your Average Vomit: Pets do vomit occasionally but sometimes vomit is an indicator of an emergency ranging from poisoning, an ingested foreign object or serious illness. And, in fact, retching unproductively can also indicate a severe condition in dogs in which their stomach is twisted.

21 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore in

By: Dr. Debra Primovic

There are serious symptoms that should never be ignored in your dog. A symptom is defined as "any problem that can indicate an underlying disease" and may be your first clue to the presence of a life-threatening problem in your dog. Here is a list of 21 symptoms that should never be ignored if you see them from your dog!

1. Pacing and Restlessness. In dogs, pacing and restlessness can be indicate pain, discomfort or distress. Restlessness can be associated with a condition called "bloat" in which the stomach. Bloat and most commonly occurs in large breed or deep-chested dogs. Pacing and restless can be an indicator of a serious problem.

2. Unproductive Retching. Dogs that attempt to vomit and are unable to bring anything up is a common sign of "bloat". You should call your veterinarian immediately.

3. Collapse or Fainting. Acute collapse is a sudden loss of strength causing your dog to fall and be unable to rise. Some dogs that suddenly collapse will actually lose consciousness. This is called fainting or syncope. Some dogs recover very quickly and look essentially normal just seconds to minutes after collapsing, whereas others stay in the collapsed state until helped. All the reasons for collapse or fainting are serious and should not be ignored. See your veterinarian immediately.

4. Not Eating or Loss of Appetite. Anorexia is a term used to describe the situation where an animal loses his appetite and does not want to eat or is unable to eat. There are many causes of a "loss of appetite" and is often the first indication of illness. Regardless of cause, loss of appetite can have a serious impact on an animal's health if it lasts 24 hours or more. Young animals less than 6 months of age are particularly prone to the problems brought on by loss of appetite.

5. Losing Weight. Weight loss is a physical condition that results from a negative caloric balance. This usually occurs when the body uses and/or excretes essential nutrients faster than it can consume them. Essentially more calories are being burned than are being taken in. Weight loss is considered clinically important when it exceeds 10 percent of the normal body weight and is not associated with fluid loss. There are several causes for this, some of which can be very serious.

6. Breathing Problems. Respiratory distress, often called dyspnea, is labored, difficult breathing or shortness of breath. This can occur at any time during the breathing process, during inspiration (breathing in) or expiration (breathing out). When your dog has trouble breathing, he may not be able to get enough oxygen to his tissues. Additionally, if he has heart failure, he may not be able to pump sufficient blood to his muscles and other tissues. Dyspnea is often associated with accumulation of fluid (edema) in the lungs or the chest cavity (pleural effusion). This fluid can lead to shortness of breath and coughing. This is a very serious symptom and should be evaluated immediately.

7. Red Eye. A "red eye" is a non-specific sign of inflammation or infection. It may be seen with several different diseases including those involving different parts of the eye including the external eyelids, third eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea, and sclera (white portion of the eye). It may also occur with inflammation of the structures inside the eye, with glaucoma (high pressure within the eye) or with certain diseases of the orbit (eye socket). Either one or both eyes can become red, depending upon the cause of the problem. Some of the possible causes can be serious and ultimately cause blindness.

8. Jaundice. Jaundice, also referred to as icterus, describes the yellow color taken on by the tissues throughout the body due to elevated levels of bilirubin, a substance that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells. There are several causes for jaundice and regardless of the cause, jaundice is considered abnormal and serious in the dog.

9. Trouble Urinating. "Trouble urinating" can include straining to urinate, frequent attempts at urination, and evidence of discomfort when urinating. Discomfort may be demonstrated by crying out during urination, excessive licking at the urogenital region or turning and looking at the area. There are several underlying causes. Some of the causes if left untreated can result in death in as little as 36 hours.

10. Urinating and Drinking Excessively. These signs are often early signs of disease including kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland problems, uterine infection (called pyometra), as well as other causes. Dogs normally take in about 20 to 40 milliliters per pound of body weight per day, or one to two cups per day for a normal sized dog. If you determine that your pet is drinking excessively, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

11. Fever. A fever is defined as an abnormally high body temperature resulting from internal controls. It is believed that fever is a method of fighting infection. The body resets the temperature control area of the brain to increase the body temperature ? probably in response to invasion of foreign matter such as bacteria or viruses. The normal temperature in dogs is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your pet temperature is high, call your veterinarian.

12. Seizure. A seizure or convulsion is a sudden excessive firing of nerves in the brain. The severity of the seizure can vary between a far-away look or twitching in one part of the face to your dog falling on his side, barking, gnashing his teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling his limbs. A seizure can last from seconds to minutes. Seizures are symptoms of some neurological disorder ? they are not in themselves a disease. They can be caused by several disorders including epilepsy, toxins or tumors.

13. Bruising and Bleeding. Abnormal bruising and bleeding arises with disorders of hemostasis (clotting). Clotting abnormalities are also called coagulopathies, because they reflect the inability of the blood to coagulate or clot. Bleeding from clotting disturbances may occur into the skin, the mucous membranes, and various internal organs, tissues, and body cavities. The impact of such bleeding on the affected individual may be mild or severe depending on the degree of blood loss.

14. Coughing. Coughing is a common protective reflex that clears secretions or foreign matter from the throat, voice box, and/or airways, and protects the lungs against aspiration. It affects the respiratory system by hindering the ability to breathe properly. Common causes include obstruction in the windpipe, bronchitis, pneumonia, heartworm disease, lung tumors, kennel cough and heart failure. Some of the causes are life threatening and all pets with a cough should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

15. Bloated or Distended Abdomen. Abdominal distension is an abnormal enlargement of the abdominal cavity. This term is usually reserved for abdominal enlargement due to causes other than simple obesity. One cause of abdominal distension is abnormal fluid accumulation. Another cause of abdominal distension is enlargement of any abdominal organ including the liver, kidneys, or spleen. Distension of the stomach with air ("bloating") or fluid or distension of the uterus (womb) during pregnancy, can result in abdominal distension. Pressure from the abdomen pushing into the chest may make breathing more difficult and pressure within the abdomen may decrease the appetite. NOTE: It is important to recognize abdominal distension because it can be a symptom of potentially life-threatening diseases and should be investigated thoroughly.

16. Bloody Diarrhea. Blood in the feces can either appear as "melena" which makes the stools appear black and tarry is the presence suggests digested blood in the feces. Melena is different from fresh blood in the stool (hematochezia). Bleeding into the colon or rectum appears as fresh blood in the stool. Bloody diarrhea should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible.

17. Bloody Urine. Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. It may be gross (visible to the naked eye) or microscopic. There are several possible causes including bacterial infections, cancer, stones in the urinary tract.

18. Bite Wounds. Bite wounds are often the result when two animals engage in a fight or aggressive play. Bite wounds, which may only appear as a small puncture wound in the skin, can actually be quite extensive. Once the tooth penetrates the skin, severe damage can occur to the underlying tissues without major skin damage. Some wounds may appear deceptively minor but may have the potential to be life threatening, depending on the area of the body bitten. All bite wounds should receive veterinary attention.

19. Bloody Vomit. Vomiting blood can fresh blood, which is bright red or partially digested blood, which has the appearance of brown coffee grounds. There are a variety of causes of vomiting blood and the effects on the animal are also variable. Some are subtle and minor ailments, while others are severe or life threatening.

20. Lethargy or Weakness. Lethargy is a state of drowsiness, inactivity, or indifference in which there are delayed responses to external stimuli such as auditory (sound), visual (sight), or tactile (touch) stimuli. Lethargy is a nonspecific sign associated with many possible underlying systemic disorders. It may have little to no impact on the affected individual; however its presence may represent severe or life-threatening illness. Lethargy of more than a day's duration should not be ignored, and should be addressed, especially if it persists.

21. Pale Gums. Pale gums or mucous membranes can indicate blood loss or "shock". The possible causes for either blood loss or shock are life-threatening and thus should be evaluated immediately.

Adapted from:? http://www.petplace.com/dogs/21-symptoms-you-should-never-ignore-in-your-dog/page1.aspx Give pet a pat, and an exam while at it

There?s something therapeutic about petting your cat or dog.

No, really: Your petting them could save their life. Depending on the animal, it?s not uncommon for cats and dogs to develop lumps or bumps on or under their skin. During annual veterinary exams, your vet should be checking for these.

In between vet visits ? some even suggest once a week ? it?s good to give your pet a check-over to make sure no new bumps have emerged or that no existing bumps have grown.

The vets at PetMD.com and Southwest Veterinary Oncology suggest starting at the nose and working back to the tail. Check the nostrils for discharge or bumps, and feel your way over their face, ears and neck, not ignoring the skin in their wrinkles.

Open a dog?s mouth (a cat?s, too, if you can) and check for any abnormalities in the gums or tongue.

Work your way down the torso and legs, and check the anal area for bumps or discharge. Go all the way to the end of the tail, getting in between toes and at the points where joints connect.

Most pets will allow and even welcome the stroking: They?ll think you?re petting them, said Dr. Jennifer Arthur of Southwest Veterinary Oncology.

There are at least a half-dozen possibilities of what the lump is and what caused it, so if you do find one, don?t panic.

The first step is to check the same area on the other side. If it?s symmetrical, odds are it?s nothing to be worried about.

If it isn?t, call and describe it to your vet. They may suggest that you come in, or they may just ask that you monitor it during the next few weeks.

It could turn out to be an abscess, a sebaceous cyst, a skin papilloma (wart)?or a variety of other non-fatal things.

If you detect swelling around the lymph nodes (under jaw, in front of shoulders, junction of back legs and front of knees on both animals), see the vet soon. This could be an indicator of cancer, which your vet can detect.

If a vet is unsure, he or she may take a needle biopsy or excise the lump and send it to a pathologist for a report.

Whatever the issue is, if you catch the lump early, treatment options are many.

The next time you have a rough day and need a snuggle, pet like you mean it and give your animal a quick exam.

It?s a simple, free tool for keeping your pet healthy, and they?ll relish attention from their favorite person in the whole world. Adapted from:? http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130401/LIFE/304010005/Pet-column-Give-pet-pat-an-exam-while-it?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1 Any questions or comments should be sent to Helpful Buckeye at: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com? or submitted at the "Comment" section at the end of this issue. ~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~

Source: http://questionsondogsandcats.blogspot.com/2013/04/evaluating-your-pets-condition.html

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Monday, April 29, 2013

PFT: Niners tab Lattimore in fifth? |? Inspired by Gore

NFL Draft FootballAP

Another NFL Draft is in the books, 254 new players with a chance to create a professional future, and 32 teams delighted for the moment with the work they?ve done.

And while there were an abundance of storylines, one thing that stood out about the 2013 NFL Draft was the remarkable restraint many teams showed.

There wasn?t an Andrew Luck or a Cam Newton ? or perhaps even a Ryan Mallett ??in this draft.

But even with the extreme financial penalty for missing on a first-round passer gone, teams didn?t line up to take the chance on a potential franchise quarterback as they have in the past.?Only three quarterbacks were chosen in the first three rounds, the fewest since 2000 (the fabled Chad Pennington-Giovanni Carmazzi-Chris Redman draft).

The Bills fooled us all by taking E.J. Manuel in the first round, and even the Jets withstood the temptation to win the back pages by taking Geno Smith in the second. When Mike Glennon was the only third-rounder, it left names such as Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib for the fourth, where the Eagles and Giants bought low.

Some of the best quarterback business was done by teams that didn?t take one.

The Jaguars might be more needy at the position than any team in the league, with Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne competing. But as bad as that might be, there?s no guarantee any of this year?s candidates are better. So since new general manager David Caldwell didn?t see value, he withstood temptation and restocked a bad team with many other parts they needed ? most of them with speed.

But it wasn?t just at the quarterback position where the smart teams held fast.

After an unprecedented run on left tackles (three of the top four picks), teams with needs there started drafting guards and right tackles and defensive tackles instead of reaching. It would have been easy for the Chargers to move up for one of the top blind-side protectors, but by letting the board come to them, they found a solid starting right tackle in D.J. Fluker. Likewise, Arizona added a guard in Jonathan Cooper who could turn out to be the best value in the draft, and the Titans made Chris Johnson a better running back by drafting guard Chance Warmack (and center Brian Schwenke) to go with big-ticket free agent Andy Levitre.

And not to beat up on Manti Te?o any more than has already happened, the teams that needed him and didn?t draft him deserved notice as well.

The Vikings had a pair of late firsts, and used them on value picks Sharrif Floyd and Xavier Rhodes, both of whom figured to go sooner. Then they made a move for a third first-rounder, not for Te?o, but to take a receiver in Cordarrelle Patterson who has some Randy Moss-ish tendencies. The Bears also skipped an obvious need for a middle linebacker, and took a versatile but raw offensive lineman with good genes (Kyle Long).

The two Super Bowl teams (and two that should push them) exemplified the patience of the weekend as well.

The 49ers stockpiled picks, and used one on running back Marcus Lattimore, who might not play a down for them this year. The Ravens might have had interest in Te?o as well, but took their safety first (Matt Elam) before filling in at linebacker later (Arthur Brown).

The Packers added two running backs in Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin who could make a good team better, and the Seahawks used the benefit of a roster with few holes to take some chances on players with question marks, from running back Christine Michael to defensive tackle Jesse Williams.

Not every team has such luxuries. But the best things might come to the ones that were able and willing to wait this weekend.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/27/49ers-draft-marcus-lattimore/related/

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

CA-NEWS Summary

Train plot suspect dismisses Canadian law, cites "holy book"

TORONTO (Reuters) - One of the two men accused of an al Qaeda-backed plan to derail a passenger train in Canada questioned the authority of Canadian law to judge him, telling a court on Wednesday that the criminal code is imperfect and is not a holy book. Chiheb Esseghaier, a Tunisian-born PhD student, faces charges that include conspiracy to murder and working with a terrorist group.

Biden to join thousands honoring slain Boston officer

BOSTON/CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Thousands of law enforcement agents from around the United States were to attend a memorial on Wednesday for a university police officer who authorities say was shot dead by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, with Vice President Joe Biden to speak at the ceremony. The service at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology honors Sean Collier, 26, who police say was killed by brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on campus on Thursday night. Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a separate shootout with police. Dzhokhar, 19, was captured and criminally charged from a hospital bed where he is recovering from gunshot wounds.

Iraq on edge after raid fuels deadly Sunni unrest

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Gun battles between militants and Iraqi forces killed more than 20 people on Wednesday after a raid on a Sunni Muslim protest camp a day before ignited the fiercest clashes since U.S. troops left. On Tuesday, troops stormed a camp where Sunni Muslims have protested for months against what they see as their marginalization under the Shi'ite-led government, a raid that prompted hardline Sunni tribal leaders to call for revolt.

Baghdad car bomb kills eight people: police

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed and 23 more wounded when a car bomb exploded in eastern Baghdad, police and medical sources said on Wednesday. No one claimed responsibility for the blast, but Iraq's al Qaeda wing and other Sunni Islamist insurgents often hit the capital in their campaign to undermine the country's Shi'ite-led government.

Syrian army seizes strategic town near capital

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad seized a strategic town east of Damascus on Wednesday, breaking a critical weapons supply route for the rebels, activists and fighters said. Rebels have held several suburbs ringing the southern and eastern parts Damascus for months, but they have been struggling to maintain their positions against a ground offensive backed by fierce army shelling and air strikes in recent weeks.

Italy president names center-left's Letta as new premier

ROME (Reuters) - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday asked center-left politician Enrico Letta to form a new government, signaling the end of a damaging two-month stalemate since elections in the euro zone's third largest economy in February. Letta, from the Democratic Party (PD), said he would start talks to form a broad-based coalition on Thursday. It is likely to go to parliament for a vote of confidence by early next week.

Two militants shot dead in Russia's Dagestan

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Security officers shot dead two suspected militants in Russia's volatile North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the epicenter of an Islamist insurgency, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said on Wednesday. Moscow is struggling to quell the persistent attacks by Islamist militants more than a decade after it fought two separatist wars in the adjacent republic of Chechnya.

Embassy attack spreads Libyan instability to capital

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's central government has long had only a tenuous grip on the eastern city of Benghazi, but the bombing of the French embassy in Tripoli shows its control of the capital may now also be under threat. The early morning car bomb devastated France's embassy, wounding two French guards, in the most significant attack against foreign interests in Libya since September's deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi.

Journalist group says Kuwait planning "repressive" law

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait should scrap plans for a "repressive" new media law, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Wednesday, saying the draft legislation would severely undermine press freedom. As the government of the Gulf Arab monarchy faces ongoing opposition protests, the law would steeply increase fines on journalists deemed to have insulted the state.

U.S. seeks to ease Afghan-Pakistan tensions in Brussels talks

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's army chief and a foreign ministry official held "productive" talks on Wednesday on easing tensions between the neighboring states, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who hosted the meeting, said. Kerry cautioned, however, that any results of the Brussels talks would have to be measured in improving relations as NATO winds down its Afghanistan mission.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-news-summary-000526239.html

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Parent-Faculty Alliance eyes education reform ? Local News ? Press ...

SARANAC LAKE ? Parents here gathered to charter a plan for education reform.

During last week?s standardized testing, some 54 students refused or were removed from the high-stakes testing process at Saranac Lake Central School.

But the strike against standardized tests is not the end goal for reform.

A grassroots effort fostered by the Saranac Lake Parent Faculty Education Alliance seeks long-term solutions to top-down standards they feel put undue pressure on students and school budgets, while reducing the value of their teachers? skills.

FILM VIEWED

Don Carlisto, who teaches seventh grade at Petrova Middle School, is also co-president of the Saranac Lake Teachers Association.

He helped organize a showing of the film ?Race to Nowhere,? a documentary that chronicles the effects of ?canned? education. Cited as issues in the film are stress-related illness, an impetus toward cheating and even suicide among teens.

The growing movement toward widespread education reform is supported by New York State United Teachers, Carlisto said.

And lawmakers are closing in on legislation to support it.

?Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan (D-Ridgewood) introduced a bill (recently) to force the state to audit the costs of standardized testing on schools,? he said.

?She introduced another bill that would prevent standardized testing in schools for other than diagnostic testing of students in grades K through 2.?

EDUCATION REFORM

Pulling students from test sessions here sent a message, one the School Board accepted and responded to with a resolution calling for federal and state reform of testing rules.

But the message in ?Race to Nowhere,? produced three years ago in California, left parents nearly speechless.

Nancy Bernstein was one of several parents who obtained rights to show the film.

?We?re interested not only in de-emphasis in standardized testing but also in education reform,? she told the group of about 50 gathered at Petrova Elementary School?s auditorium for the recent screening.

The documentary systematically explores the impact school pressure has on kids, their health, their parents and family time, covering the overload from homework, testing and a demand to achieve a pre-ordained standard.

Comments from kids in the movie summed up their experience.

?How do you expect us to learn if we have to achieve?? one student asked.

After giving up on education altogether, another student talked about why ?if you don?t try, you can?t fail.?

Another student named the education process a ?race to nowhere.?

QUESTIONS FUNDING

Educators and doctors interviewed for the film challenge the way schools are funded, with large amounts of cash provided to the richest districts.

?We don?t invest upfront (in education),? one expert said in the film. ?But we?re willing to pay the cost in prisons and for welfare.?

Another point challenged how education takes over the lives of young people.

?At what point did it become OK for schools to dictate what kids do with their private time?? the feature-length documentary asks.

Many of the observations drew nods of agreement from the Saranac Lake educators and parents who were watching.

DEFINING GOALS

The Parent Faculty Alliance is working toward steps to define goals for education reform in its own community.

With two young children, Sunita Halasz raised an example of peer-to-peer review that works for a consortium of small organic farms in the region.

Her suggestion, which drew loud applause, was that teachers gain credentials from their peers rather than in a top-down government approach.

One poignant comment came from SUNY Plattsburgh professor emeritus Robert L. Arnold, who grew up in Saranac Lake.

?If you get organized, would there be a receptive audience?? he asked the group.

?The message (from the film) is very clear.?

Arnold authored a recent opinion piece in the Press-Republican challenging the pitfalls of top-down education, which he claims leave schools helpless in outlining the future of education for their children.

CORPORATE AGENDA?

Arnold believes mass-produced testing harbors a corporate agenda driven for capital gain.

He taught history.

?I found later on, I knew practically nothing about history.?

As he proceeded to teach, he said, he proceeded to learn.

?I didn?t pay any attention to the (standardized) test,? he said of working with students.

Instead, he worked from historic materials.

Describing the lesson plan to those at the meeting, he drew loud applause.

?We took it (the test) anyway. We did so well we were accused of cheating,? he said.

?Take on that task,? Arnold urged the parents.

Email Kim Smith Dedam: kdedam@pressrepublican.com

+++++

TO LEARN MORE

Read SUNY Plattsburgh Prof. Emeritus Robert L. Arnold's opinion piece on standardized testing at http://tinyurl.com/dxdb5mf.

For upcoming dates and information about alliance meetings, visit the Saranac Lake Parent Faculty Education Alliance Facebook page.

?

Source: http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x210922026/Parent-Faculty-Alliance-eyes-education-reform

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

ITC tosses Motorola's sensor-based complaint against Apple

ITC Tosses Motorola's sensor-based complaint against Apple

If you thought the patent war between Motorola (Google) and Apple was already over, you were mistaken. Though, today's decision by the ITC to toss Moto's complaint against Cupertino regarding the use of sensors to control the interface of a phone, might be one of the final blows struck. The claim over patent No. 6,246,862, was the last patent-in-suit standing from its 2010 complaint against Apple. Now it's been completely invalidated. The decision can still be appealed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and we can almost guarantee the company will take advantage of that option. (In fact, it already is with previous decisions that did not go in its favor.) With courts tossing out complaints left and right, and some companies even willingly withdrawing them, we certainly keep hoping that the era patent Risk is coming to an end.

The ITC tossing out yet another complaint is a big loss for Motorola and Google. But, Apple has lost plenty of its own suits recently. It seems that both sides are settling into a stalemate. And ultimately pushing these competitors to innovate in the market instead of the courtroom is good for consumers.

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Comments

Source: FOSS Patents, ITC (PDF)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/itc-tosses-motorolas-complaint-against-apple/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

FBI: Ill. man planned to join Syrian extremists

CHICAGO (AP) ? The FBI has arrested an 18-year-old suburban Chicago man who U.S. authorities say was planning join an al-Qaida-affiliated group operating in Syria.

The FBI says Abdella Ahmad Tounisi (ab-DUH'-lah AH'-med too-NEE'-see), of Aurora, Ill., was arrested Friday night as he tried to board a flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Turkey.

Tounisi, a U.S. citizen, is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

According to the criminal complaint, Tounisi carried out research online about Jabhat al-Nusrah, or Nursa Front. Nusra Front is the most effective rebel faction fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime. The group is affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq.

The FBI says a bureau employee posing as a recruiter for the group exchanged emails with the suspect.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-ill-man-planned-join-syrian-extremists-194710230.html

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Saturday, April 20, 2013

A fresh take on the Horsehead Nebula

A fresh take on the Horsehead Nebula [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 19-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Nicola Guttridge
nguttrid@partner.eso.org
49-893-200-6855
ESA/Hubble Information Centre

Hubble's 23rd anniversary image

This year marks the 23rd year of observing for the Hubble Space Telescope. Alongside cutting-edge science, the orbiting observatory has produced countless stunning astronomical images. Some of the most striking and beautiful subjects of Hubble's images have been nebulae -- vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust.

This new Hubble image, captured and released to celebrate this milestone, shows part of the sky in the constellation of Orion (The Hunter). Rising like a giant seahorse from turbulent waves of dust and gas is the Horsehead Nebula, otherwise known as Barnard 33. The nebula formed from a collapsing interstellar cloud of material, and glows as it is illuminated by a nearby hot star [1].

The gas clouds surrounding the Horsehead have already dissipated, but the jutting pillar is made of stronger stuff -- thick clumps of material -- that is harder to erode. Astronomers estimate that the Horsehead formation has about five million years left before it too disintegrates.

This nebula is a very well-known object and a popular target for observations, most of which show the Horsehead as a dark cloud silhouetted against a background of glowing gas. This new image shows the same region in infrared light, which has longer wavelengths than visible light and can pierce through the dusty material that usually obscures the nebula's inner regions. The result is a rather ethereal and fragile-looking structure, made of delicate folds of gas -- very different to the nebula's appearance in visible light.

We cannot see infrared radiation with our eyes or with standard cameras, which are designed to detect optical light. To observe these objects, we have infrared-sensitive telescopes or instruments -- for example, Hubble's high-resolution Wide Field Camera 3, fitted in 2009. Hubble's pairing of infrared sensitivity and unparalleled resolution offers a tantalising hint of what we will be able to achieve with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, set for launch in 2018.

###

Notes

[1] Some nebulae form in much more dramatic ways -- like the Helix Nebula, the result of a once Sun-like star blowing off its outer layers, or the Crab Nebula, the remains of a massive star exploding as a supernova.

More Information

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

Hubble also imaged the Horsehead Nebula to celebrate its 11th year in orbit (heic0105: http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic0105/).

Image credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Links

* Images of Hubble: http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/spacecraft/

* NASA release: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2013/12

* ESA Portal release (Herschel/Hubble): http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Herschel/Herschel_and_Hubble_see_the_Horsehead_in_new_light

Contacts

Nicola Guttridge
Hubble/ESA
Garching bei Mnchen, Germany
Tel: +49-89-3200-6855
Email: nguttrid@partner.eso.org


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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


A fresh take on the Horsehead Nebula [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 19-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Nicola Guttridge
nguttrid@partner.eso.org
49-893-200-6855
ESA/Hubble Information Centre

Hubble's 23rd anniversary image

This year marks the 23rd year of observing for the Hubble Space Telescope. Alongside cutting-edge science, the orbiting observatory has produced countless stunning astronomical images. Some of the most striking and beautiful subjects of Hubble's images have been nebulae -- vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust.

This new Hubble image, captured and released to celebrate this milestone, shows part of the sky in the constellation of Orion (The Hunter). Rising like a giant seahorse from turbulent waves of dust and gas is the Horsehead Nebula, otherwise known as Barnard 33. The nebula formed from a collapsing interstellar cloud of material, and glows as it is illuminated by a nearby hot star [1].

The gas clouds surrounding the Horsehead have already dissipated, but the jutting pillar is made of stronger stuff -- thick clumps of material -- that is harder to erode. Astronomers estimate that the Horsehead formation has about five million years left before it too disintegrates.

This nebula is a very well-known object and a popular target for observations, most of which show the Horsehead as a dark cloud silhouetted against a background of glowing gas. This new image shows the same region in infrared light, which has longer wavelengths than visible light and can pierce through the dusty material that usually obscures the nebula's inner regions. The result is a rather ethereal and fragile-looking structure, made of delicate folds of gas -- very different to the nebula's appearance in visible light.

We cannot see infrared radiation with our eyes or with standard cameras, which are designed to detect optical light. To observe these objects, we have infrared-sensitive telescopes or instruments -- for example, Hubble's high-resolution Wide Field Camera 3, fitted in 2009. Hubble's pairing of infrared sensitivity and unparalleled resolution offers a tantalising hint of what we will be able to achieve with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, set for launch in 2018.

###

Notes

[1] Some nebulae form in much more dramatic ways -- like the Helix Nebula, the result of a once Sun-like star blowing off its outer layers, or the Crab Nebula, the remains of a massive star exploding as a supernova.

More Information

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

Hubble also imaged the Horsehead Nebula to celebrate its 11th year in orbit (heic0105: http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic0105/).

Image credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Links

* Images of Hubble: http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/spacecraft/

* NASA release: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2013/12

* ESA Portal release (Herschel/Hubble): http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Herschel/Herschel_and_Hubble_see_the_Horsehead_in_new_light

Contacts

Nicola Guttridge
Hubble/ESA
Garching bei Mnchen, Germany
Tel: +49-89-3200-6855
Email: nguttrid@partner.eso.org


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/eic-aft041913.php

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Friday, April 19, 2013

Wednesday Update for April 17, 2013 - College of Education ...


? *Announcements for the COE Wednesday Important Information newsletter can be sent to ronw@coe.ufl.edu by 2pm on the Tuesday prior; confirmation that your announcement has been received will be provided

Announcements

FEA at UF?s Last Meeting & ?Using Cooperative Learning Strategies? Workshop - TOMORROW
Thursday, April 18th at 7PM in the Norman Terrace Room
Learn about various cooperative learning strategies to use in your future classroom from a current classroom teacher! This will be an informative and interactive professional development workshop that you won?t want to miss! Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/514256085277165/ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FEA at UF?s ?Clothes for Kids? Clothing Drive
Help FEA at UF give back to the Gainesville community! FEA is collecting the following items to be donated to Pre-K ? 5th grade ESE classrooms at a local Gainesville school: Undergarments ;Socks; Pants/Shorts (preferably with elastic bands). Due Date: Thursday, April 18th. Drop-Off Locations: Student Resource Center (SRC) & COE Student Services


SAGE?9th Annual Research Symposium &?Elections?-?April 18
Mark your calendars! The?Student Alliance for Graduates in Education (SAGE)?will be hosting?their 9th Annual Research Symposium on Thursday, April 18, 2013 @ 12-2 pm?in the Terrace Room.?This is a great opportunity to share what you?ve been working on and network with other graduate students and faculty. Many use this opportunity to experience presenting one?s work in a supportive atmosphere before they take it to a State or National convention.?Deadline for submitting proposal forms for a poster presentation is?April 1, 2013. Join us for conversation and lunch.?For more information or questions related to the symposium, please contact Rhonda Williams (rlwms@coe.ufl.edu).?? SAGE will also hold?elections for next year?s officers at the symposium.?These positions include:?President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. If you are interested in running for office, e-mail our current President Elyse Hambacher (elyse@ufl.edu) to enter your name on the ballot.


Internship Orientation for?Spring 2014 Interns ? Thursday, April 25, 2013
Elementary & Special Ed Students who will be doing their FULL-TIME INTERNSHIP in?Spring 2014.? The Internship Orientation is scheduled for:? Thursday,?April 25, 2013?? Norman Room 250
9:30 am ALL STUDENTS


FTCE/FELE Now Given on UF Campus
Taking your teacher certification examinations just got easier!? The Teaching Center, located in SW Broward Hall, is now administering the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) and the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE).? You no longer must leave campus to take these computerized tests.? Go to www.fl.nesinc.com to register.? For additional information, contact Denise Dixon (dixondt@ufl.edu or call 392-2010).


April CRC Career Buzz
Check out our latest edition of the Career Buzz to learn about our events:?? http://careerbuzz.tumblr.com/post/47209919823/april-faculty-staff-buzz .? A few items on our April Career Buzz have passed, but you can always create your own account on Gator CareerLink to get up-to-date access to our events calendar, job postings and more great information!


?New Summer C course Offering:? EDG 6931?Qualitative Research Design in Curriculum & Instruction
Instructor:?Dr. Brianna Kennedy-Lewis,?Summer C:? Tuesdays, periods 4-6
This course will guide students through the process of designing an independent research project from conception through the IRB process.? We will discuss the roles of epistemology, research paradigms, and theoretical frameworks in guiding choices of methodology and data collection methods.? These choices will be grounded in a thorough review of the literature to identify relevant problems in students? areas of interest in curriculum and instruction.? At the conclusion of the course, students will be prepared to implement their proposed study.? This course is open to Ph.D. students with an interest in research related to curriculum and instruction and who have completed at least one doctoral level course in qualitative research methods.? Students should enter the course with a defined area of interest for their study. ?If you do not meet these criteria but believe you could benefit from the course, please contact the instructor at bkennedy@coe.ufl.edu.


Summer B 2013 course offering:? MHS3930 Mindful Living
Mindful Living incorporates weekly reflection papers, group discussions, creative activities, student-led projects, meditation, and the application of mindfulness-based concepts to the individual, relationships, and greater society. This course is open to undergraduates from all majors.? The class structure involves:? Silent Meditation (10 minutes) ~ Group Check In (30 minutes) ~ Discussions on the readings/Group Projects (45 minutes) ~ Break (10 minutes) ~ Creative Activity- (Walking Meditation, Mindful Eating, Music Circle, Body Outlines, Spirit Animal Visualization, Finger Paint, Soul Cards, Get to know each other Games, Team Building activities, Small group discussions, etc. 60 minutes).?? ?There are books about mindfulness or wellbeing we will read, weekly reflection papers, assignments on inner journey, inner critic, dying, and self-love and acceptance. We build a community of people seeking a more loving self. We discover our own creativity in the process of discovering ourselves. It?s an adventure we do together. And that makes all the difference.?- Stephanie Harris.?? All students interested can email Kristenshader@gmail.com for more information and previous syllabi. Mindful Living can be found in the Course Registrar under ?Human Development and Organization Studies.


New Summer Course:? EDF 6938 The Culture of Childhood
Tuesday 12:30 ? 4:45 ~ Thursday 2:00 ? 4:45 ~ Summer A: May 13 ? June 30
Course Description:? This course will pose the question from a cultural perspective: What does it mean to be a child? Students will learn that childhood (from infancy to early adolescence) is not just a developmental stage phase between birth and adulthood, but that it is culturally and socially constructed across historical periods and in different world cultures.? The purpose of this course is to provide students with the analytical and critical skills to examine changing conceptions of childhood from ancient times to the modern era, and to deconstruct images of children as presented through multiple media.?? This blended course will utilize both on campus and online sessions using a mixture of lecture, class discussions, and will include direct observation of children?s behavior at Baby Gator and PK Yonge. The course will be structured around five themes common to all human cultures to illustrate the wide variation in the ways children?s behavior can be examined in relation to cultural norms and expectations. These themes are: family/community relations, education, fantasy/play, work, and sexuality.? This course is intended for graduate students enrolled in anthropology, counselor education, early childhood and elementary education, developmental psychology, family, youth and community sciences, and the health sciences. Contact: Dr. Catherine Emihovich, 352 ? 273 ? 4472, cemihovich@coe.ufl.edu


RED 6346 Seminar in Reading:?Language and Literacies Across Academic Disciplines (Fall, 2013, Thursday Periods 7-9)
This seminar is for graduate students who are interested in using evidence-based language and literacy practices to support learning and inquiry in academic subject areas. As the knowledge that students have to learn becomes more specialized and complex, the language that constructs such knowledge also becomes more technical, dense, and abstract,patterning in ways that enable content experts to engage in specialized social, semiotic, and cognitive practices. In order to effectively engage with the texts of disciplinary learning, students need to develop new reading/writing skills that are more embedded in each subject area, beyond those they have learned in the primary grades. This course illuminates some of the ways language is used in the core academic subjects of schooling and offers strategies aligned with the Common Core State Standards for helping students comprehend, compose, and critique the advanced texts of schooling.


?EDG 6017: Writing for Academic Purposes (Fall, 2013, Wednesday Periods 7-9)
This seminar is designed to enhance the capacity of doctoral students from all academic disciplines to write for academic purposes. It guides students through the entire process of academic writing that includes understanding the task at hand, planning the work, conducting library research, reading to gather information, developing audience awareness, appropriating discursive resources, working with other people?s ideas and voices, and using feedback and editing to improve writing. The course focuses on exploring the ways in which language is used as a creative resource for presenting information, structuring text, embedding perspectives, developing argument, referencing sources, and addressing audience needs in academic writing. It combines focused discussion of key features and issues of academic writing with practical applications through critical analysis of model essays as well as careful critique of students? own writing. The course also provides an insider?s perspective on writing for scholarly publications, including journal/publisher selection, manuscript review process, overcoming rejections, and other tips for getting published.


Summer Course Announcement: Rating Scale Design and Analysis in Educational Research (EDF 7435)
This class will guide students through the entire process of designing a rating scale/questionnaire, collecting pilot data, and analyzing the scale. Through applications of research design, psychometric models, scale evaluation, bias detection, factor analysis, and measurement of change over time, students will build on their knowledge of reliability and validity, specifically in reference to data collected from rating scales/questionnaires. The class will be particularly useful for graduate students interested in developing and/or using rating scales/questionnaires in their research, thesis, and/or dissertation. Prerequisites are EDF 6403 (or equivalent) and either EDF6434 or EDF6436.


Edugator T-Shirts
All sizes of edugator shirts are available for a donation of $15.? Remember, you can access ECC or FEA merchandise at Production Lab hours or any ECC and FEA events.

?Events

Join Florida Education Association (FEA) at UF!
FEA is a College of Education student organization that thrives on integrity, respect, empowerment, and advocacy for education. The organization strives to provide members with professional development and community outreach opportunities, as well as to promote political activism and awareness.

Upcoming Events (all meetings/workshops held in Norman Terrace Room)

  • Last Meeting & ?Using Cooperative Learning Strategies? Workshop - Thursday, April 18th?at 7PM in the Norman Terrace Room

*Join our Facebook group:?http://www.facebook.com/groups/FEAUF/?*LIKE our Face book page:?http://www.facebook.com/FloridaEducationAssociationAtUF -? Please email FEA at UF President, Valentina Contesse, at?FEA@coe.ufl.edu?if you have any questions.

?Opportunities

Long-term substitute position
Bronson Elementary is seeking a long-term substitute to fill in for a teacher who will be out the remainder of the year for maternity leave. ?If any who have completed their internship or are near completing their internship are interested, contact Suzy Colvin ? scolvin@coe.ufl.edu.


Boca Raton Community High School is Hiring for 2013-2014!
Boca Raton Community High School is actively recruiting teachers in all subjects for the 2013-2014 school year.? Please see the attached flyer.


Achievement First is Hiring for 2013-14 Positions
Achievement First is a growing network of non-profit, high-performing, K to 12 urban public charter schools in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island.? Our schools are focused on providing scholars with the academic and character skills they need to graduate from top colleges and to serve as the next generation of leaders in our communities.? Achievement First currently operates 22 schools and will open 10-15 additional schools over the next five years. Teachers participate in the Achievement First Teacher Career Pathway, a systematic, coordinated approach to recognizing and developing great teachers as they progress through five career stages. These stages were developed to celebrate excellent teachers and are accompanied by increased compensation, recognition and professional growth opportunities. We strive to recruit a talented and diverse team of educators, and we believe our students are best served by a team that represents the global community for which our students are entering.? For more information about Achievement First and to apply online, please visit our website at www.achievementfirst.org.


Break Away:? Intel for Change
Break Away will be here AGAIN!!! April 17-19th with an exciting opportunity to tell you about and to help you with your applications.? Stop by the Center for Leadership and Service in Peabody 301 to meet Break Away staff and to hear about their partnership with Intel for a contest for students to get a 10 day trip to India, Kenya or Ecuador to focus on girls education. http://www.takepart.com/intelforchange.? Intel for Change is a program being piloted based on the value that education is a fundamental right for everyone. Girls are disproportionately denied access to education. Through this program, Intel seeks to empower young people with knowledge, first-hand experience, and platforms to scale solutions to ensure that equal access to education is available for all.? If you are selected, you will get a full paid 10 day trip for immersion exposure and service in girls? education in Kenya, India or Ecuador. Learn more here: http://www.takepart.com/intelforchange


Peaceful Paths Internship:? FALL 2013 OUTREACH CHILDREN?S PROGRAM
Peaceful Paths is currently in the process of recruiting for our Fall 2013 Outreach Children?s Program.


New class offered this Fall through the Center for Leadership and Service
FYC4905: Leading through Community Engagement ~ Section 14F0 ? Tuesdays, 5-6 periods ? 2 credits
This course is designed to examine the relationship between service and socially responsible leadership. Students will examine personal responsibility to serve the community and to work for positive change across a variety of social issues. Students will observe their own role at UF, how they can best serve the community, and what impact they intend to make in the future beyond their college years. Self-reflection on personal values and motivations will allow students to examine their own leadership styles and their place within the community.?? Contact the Instructor, Angela Garcia at angelag@leadershipandservice.ufl.edu for more information.


Babysitter needed
Need a babysitter/helper for 2 boys ages 9 and 6, 3 days a week for 3 hours a day from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. Requesting help for at least the summer and much longer into the school year if possible. Duties include:? picking up the kids from school, helping with homework and light household chore. Need a good attitude and flexible person with a clean driving record. Call Jasleen at (408)717-0152.


Summer Nanny (May-Aug)
Seeking student with own transportation and references to care for two children, ages 9 and 12, in our SW Gainesville home. Duties will include overseeing homework and transporting children to events. In May, only after school care is needed (2:30 ? 5pm). In June-Aug, full-time is needed (hours: M-F from 7am ? 4pm).? Pay is $10/hour plus reimbursement for gas. To learn more, please contact Dawn Davisson at dawn.davisson@me.com.


Career Fair ? The Northeast Florida Education Education Consortium
The Northeast Florida Education Education Consortium will conducting a Career Fair on June 24th at the Best Western in Gainesville.? Please see the attached flyer for more information.


America Reads tutoring program is seeking applicants
America Reads tutoring program is seeking applicants for the Program Coordinator and Office Manager positions for the 2013-2014 school year. Federal work study eligibility is needed to apply. Please visit our website at?http://education.ufl.edu/america-reads/?or email read@coe.ufl.edu for more information.


Summer job opportunity for students
Camp Sequoia is an overnight summer camp located outside of Philadelphia, PA for boys who need help improving their social skills. ?We are looking for students who are interested in working at our camp this summer.


Get on the short list for a job with Volusia County Schools
On Thursday, June 6, 2013, Volusia County Schools will be hosting an Invitation-only Instructional?Job Fair for the 2013-2014?school year.?To be?considered for an invitation?you?must?hold certification?in?one of the?following subject areas: Elementary Education;Language Arts; Mathematics; Reading; Science; Special Education.? To express your interest in?being considered for?a Job Fair Invitation, complete?all?three (3) steps listed below by Wednesday, April 17, 2013:? Complete the online employment application:? CLICK HERE TO BEGIN; Complete the Gallup Teacher Insight Assessment using district code 20478221: CLICK HERE; Contact Liz Thayer in Human Resources by email: EMTHAYER@VOLUSIA.K12.FL.US

Archived Newsletters

If you want to read about any of the announcements, opportunities, and events posted in last week?s Wednesday Update Newsletters, or peruse previous newsletters, please visit?http://education.ufl.edu/student-services/category/student-newsletter/

Source: http://education.ufl.edu/student-services/2013/04/17/wednesday-update-for-april-17-2013/

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War medicine now is helping Boston bomb victims

The bombs that made Boston look like a combat zone have also brought battlefield medicine to their civilian victims. A decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has sharpened skills and scalpels, leading to dramatic advances that are now being used to treat the 13 amputees and nearly a dozen other patients still fighting to keep damaged limbs after Monday's attack.

"The only field or occupation that benefits from war is medicine," said Dr. David Cifu, rehabilitation medicine chief at the Veterans Health Administration.

Nearly 2,000 U.S. troops have lost a leg, arm, foot or hand in Iraq or Afghanistan, and their sacrifices have led to advances in the immediate and long-term care of survivors, as well as in the quality of prosthetics that are now so good that surgeons often choose them over trying to save a badly mangled leg.

Tourniquets, shunned during the Vietnam War, made a comeback in Iraq as medical personnel learned to use them properly and studies proved that they saved lives. In Boston, as on the battlefield, they did just that by preventing people from bleeding to death.

Military doctors passed on to their civilian counterparts a surgical strategy of a minimal initial operation to stabilize the patient, followed by more definitive ones days later, an approach that offered the best chance to preserve tissue from large and complex leg wounds.

At the same time, wartime demand for prosthetics has led to new innovations such as sophisticated computerized knees that work better than a badly damaged leg ever would again.

"This is a clear case where all of the expertise that was gained by prosthetic manufacturers was gained from the wars. It's astonishing how well they function and the things people can do with these prostheses," said Dr. Michael Yaffe, a trauma surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

The hospital has performed amputations on three blast victims so far. A few other patients there may yet need them. Yaffe is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, and many other doctors treating Boston blast victims also have had military training.

The military partnered with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to train doctors throughout the United States on advances learned from the wars, said Dr. Kevin Kirk, an Army lieutenant colonel who is chief orthopedic surgeon at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

Help, too, has come from Israel, which for decades has dealt with the aftermath of Palestinian bombs, like the ones in Boston, often laden with nails, ball bearings and other metals.

"Unfortunately, we have great expertise," said Dr. Pinchas Halpern, director of emergency medicine at Tel Aviv's Sourasky Medical Center.

Halpern, who gave lectures in 2005 at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General about responding to attacks, has been in email contact with doctors in Boston this week.

Among the topics he covered in his lectures were how to coordinate ambulances to distribute the wounded to area hospitals according to their type of injury, performing more CT scans than usual to locate deep shrapnel wounds and ways to identify and classify wounds.

Dr. Paul Biddinger of Mass General's emergency department said the hospital took much of Halpern's advice.

"We improved our plans for triage, site security, reassessment and inter-specialty coordination" following Halpern's visit, Biddinger said.

Blast victims can be challenging to treat because they typically have multiple complex physical injuries that may include loss of limbs, fractures, brain damage, and vision and hearing impairment, said Dr. Paul Pasquina, chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

"It's very important that during their acute medical and surgical care that rehabilitation is applied early on, to get them up as soon as possible" to reduce risks from being immobile, including blood clots, deconditioned muscles and other problems that will make recovery more difficult," he said.

A multidisciplinary approach that involves everyone from plastic and orthopedic surgeons to therapists is important, said Dr. James Ficke, chairman of the department of orthopedics and rehabilitation at San Antonio Military Medical Center. He also advises the U.S. Army Surgeon General on orthopedics.

"As a doctor, one of the lessons I learned most dramatically is, I don't have any preconceptions of what they can or can't do as a patient. There was a patient who lost his leg completely and had no hip joint and recently did a marathon in Austin in 4:33."

John Fergason, chief prosthetist at Center for the Intrepid, an outpatient rehab center that is part of Brooke Army Medical Center, said advances include computerized knees that allow amputees with above-the-knee amputations to walk down steep ramps, to walk up steps and go from a walk to a run.

After every war, "you see a tremendous spike in prosthetic innovation," largely because of increased research money, said Hugh Herr, a prosthetic expert at MIT and a double-amputee himself. Federal funds let his MIT lab do basic research on a bionic foot-ankle-calf system, and he founded a company that has commercialized that device.

If Boston victims are generally healthy and motivated, and their legs are amputated below the knees, or perhaps even above the knees, "it's possible they could run the marathon a year from now," he said. "It would take a lot of effort, but it's indeed possible with today's technology."

One amputee's story is encouraging.

Dan Berschinski, 28, used to run marathons but now works with the Amputee Coalition, an advocacy and support organization based in suburban Washington, D.C. He was an infantry officer in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED in August 2009. The blast blew off his entire right leg and most of his left leg. After treatment in the field and in Germany, he was sent to Walter Reed.

His biggest initial challenge was intense pain, treated with narcotic painkillers, and phantom leg and foot pain. Doctors used to consider phantom pain a psychological problem but now consider it real, physical pain. Treatment includes nerve blockers.

Recovery and rehab took about three years, including 10 months of daily physical therapy to strengthen his arms and core ? muscle power he'd need to learn to walk on prosthetics.

The bionic legs he uses cost $60,000 apiece, are hydraulically operated and equipped with microchips and a gyroscope that sense when to relax and stiffen to help him walk. Walter Reed was involved in developing the legs, said Zach Harvey, former prosthetics chief at Walter Reed.

Berschinski used to run marathons but now competes in triathlons ? swimming, biking with his arms and racing in a wheelchair.

"I'm very happy with my progress," he said.

___

Associated Press writers Malcolm Ritter in New York, Lindsey Tanner and Sharon Cohen in Chicago, and Daniel Estrin in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/war-medicine-now-helping-boston-bomb-victims-000246898--spt.html

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