09 Feb 2012

The Iowa/Illinois Regional Auto Show in Davenport Starts Friday - Don't Miss It!

By SourceInterlinkPubs.com

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• Mammals, Birds and Snakes from the Niabi Zoo ? Sunday

• Kadel Farms Live Petting Zoo ? Sunday

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• Kids 12 & younger are FREE with paying adult on Sunday?s Family Day

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09 Feb 2012

Olivia Storjohann named to Fall Dean's List at William Woods University

By Mary Ann Beahon

FULTON, MO (02/09/2012)(readMedia)-- Olivia Storjohann of Eldridge, Iowa, has been named to the Dean's List at William Woods University for academic accomplishments during the 2011 fall term.

To be named to the Dean's List, a student must be full-time and have achieved a minimum 3.6 semester and cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

William Woods University is an independent, professions-oriented, liberal arts-based institution serving the educational needs of both men and women. William Woods has an enrollment of about 3,800 students, and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines in both campus and outreach settings.

The 180-acre main campus is located in the mid-Missouri community of Fulton. Since its founding in 1870, the mission of William Woods has been to provide a quality education while ensuring the development of the individual.

09 Feb 2012

Lectora Online Releases New Features & Enhancements

By Jessica Athey
Lectora Online Releases New Features & Enhancements for Online e-Learning Including a New Live Model Gallery
Lectora Online Version 1.6.2 Includes Features & Updates for Online e-Learning Collaboration
CINCINNATI -- February 9, 2012 - Lectora® Online e-Learning collaboration software releases new features for online e-Learning development including a new Live Model Gallery with several thousand photos for interactive e-Learning development. In addition to the Live Model Gallery, the new features and enhancements for Lectora Online include additional tools to make online e-Learning development much easier and more engaging for learners.
"Lectora users can now add a new level of interactivity to their e-Learning content with thousands of models in multiple poses to fit any course scenario," said Peter Bray, Chief Marketing Officer at Trivantis Corporation. "With the new Live Model Gallery directly within Lectora Online, users have convenient access to a whole host of media resources for all of their e-Learning projects right at their fingertips."
Some of the highlights in Lectora Online Version 1.6.2 include :

  • NEW Live Model Gallery - Choose from more than 5,500 new, unique, high resolution and transparent photographs including 33 models from a variety of backgrounds and professions. Additional photo sets include black and white silhouettes as well as multiple sets of demonstrative hand photographs to fit any e-Learning scenario.

  • Faster Browsing in Media Library Organizer - Save development time while selecting images for e-Learning content. All images in the Media Library Organizer now include thumbnails for a quick preview of all media.

  • Preview Published Page for Reviewers - Reviewers can now preview the published version of a page in a new browser window for an exact look at the final content including any scripting built by the developers.

Lectora Online makes it easy to collaborate on the creation, storage, management and review of online training courses, assessments and presentations. Perfect for teams of e-Learning developers, designers and subject matter experts, Lectora Online provides online access to create and review e-Learning content at any time and in any location.
All new features in Version 1.6.2 are free for current Lectora Online users. For more information and for a free trial, please visit: Lectora Online e-Learning Collaboration Software.
About Lectora Online and Trivantis Corporation
Lectora® is the world's leading e-Learning software used by most Global 2000 companies in more than 125 countries and is offered in six languages. The Lectora line of e-Learning products includes Lectora Online, Lectora Inspire, Lectora Publisher and Lectora Integrator. Trivantis also produces Flypaper™, the leading Flash content creation platform that empowers users to create, edit, share, track and reuse high-impact Flash and video content. Snap! by Lectora® is the easy-to-use PowerPoint plug-in rapid e-Learning software that converts PowerPoint to Flash. Its sister product, Snap! EmpowerTM Flash interactions builder, enables anyone to create Flash content without having to know Flash programming. To round out the Trivantis family of products, CourseMill is the powerful and affordable learning management system (LMS). The latest release, Lectora Talent Management, provides the link between course management and true talent development for companies and organizations. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Trivantis Corporation also has offices in Boca Raton, Phoenix, Paris and London. Trivantis, Lectora, Flypaper, CourseMill, Snap! by Lectora and Snap! Empower are trademarks of Trivantis Corporation.
09 Feb 2012

Jonathan Wallace's Statement on CAT's Decisions

By Jonathan Wallace

Rock Island, IL...Recently Caterpillar Inc. turned down Silvis, Illinois for a plant location citing, "concerns about the business climate and overall fiscal health of the state of Illinois."* Jonathan Wallace, candidate for State Representative, released the following statement regarding Caterpillar's decision to rule out Illinois for future plants:

 

"First a tax increase, then a credit downgrade, and now a major job creator tells it like it is: Illinois has a toxic policy environment for job creation. We need to stymie the tide of failing business confidence by electing leaders who actively engage and cultivate the growth of business, small and large.

 

"We need to hold our elected officials in Springfield accountable for this loss. Another lost business opportunity can be added to State Rep. Pat Verschoore's extensive record of poor policies. It's time for a new era of leadership in Illinois for the sake of job creation and the next generation."

 

*Caterpillar rules out Silvis and other Illinois sites for plant; reasons include business climate, Dispatch Argus, February 8, 2012.

 

###

09 Feb 2012

3 Tips for Finding True Love Any Time of the Year

By Ginny Grimsley
By: Shay Dawkins

So many people go searching for their true love in nightclubs, singles clubs, through online dating sites and among friends of friends. The truth is, finding true love starts right in your own home - or, more accurately, in your own heart.

Before you can find true love in a relationship, you must find it within yourself.

Here are three simple ways to attain true love for you, yourself, and your life as a whole. You'll be amazed at how quickly romantic love will follow.

• Be thankful for everything (including your mistakes). Learn to be thankful for the good things in your life. That will help you appreciate all the small things and give you a happier, positive outlook (which, by the way, is very attractive.) Be thankful for your mistakes, too. Everything in your life, both the triumphs and the stumbles, shape us as people. Mistakes are valuable learning experiences and, when viewed as such and appreciated, regrets and bitterness of yesterday will fade away. Peace and love will enter in to your life immediately!

• Forgive others so that you can forgive yourself. Forgiving is as much for you as  it is for the person who did you wrong. For starters, when you can forgive others, you can forgive yourself. Some of us are harder on ourselves than anyone else would ever be. We need to be as forgiving of our own faults and misdeeds as we are other people's. Holding onto anger and resentment, whether it's directed at someone else or ourselves, robs us of opportunities for joy. Truly forgive whoever's hurt you - you don't have to like them! - and fully experience happiness.

• Find enjoyment and satisfaction in every day. Strive to find the happiness in your average, workaday life. For most of us, a typical Friday will be a much happier day than a typical Monday, but live each average Monday to its fullest as you would live each fun Friday to the fullest!  If you strive to live in love each day, then you will have no regrets. There are many more average days than holidays and vacations - don't waste them! Find satisfaction in your work, enjoy the process of doing a good job and learning new skills, and every day will be an abundance of joy.

In my book, The Good News: How Revealing Delusions In Christianity Will Bring Peace To All (www.thegoodnewsbook.com), I lay out the numerous biblical instructions to love, forgive and be grateful. If we each apply these simple teachings to our own lives, no matter what our religion, we'll create a happier world.

To both the people with a special someone and those without - be thankful. Love and happiness come from within, not from another person. We all have something to celebrate, not only at Valentine's Day but all year long.

About Shay Dawkins

Shay Dawkins is a Tuscaloosa, Alabama, businessman who grew up in Baptist and Pentecostal churches. His observances about how Christianity can be divisive despite being based on one book led to his analysis of the Bible. Check out his YouTube video, "Why It Should Be About Love, Not Religion."

09 Feb 2012

Schilling Supports Bipartisan Budget Reform Efforts

By Andie Pivarunas
Washington, DC - On the very day the Administration expressed "no opinion" about whether the Senate should pass a budget, Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) joined with the majority of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting bipartisan efforts to reform the budgeting process. 

"Neither side of the aisle is blameless for the fiscal crisis we are in, and both are responsible for guiding us out of it," Schilling said.  "The current budgeting process is neither transparent nor accurate, and - if you take a look at the 1,015 days since the Senate last passed a budget - hardly mandatory. 

"The fact of the matter is that we are in a spending-driven crisis with a national debt of more than $15 trillion.   We will be unable to get ourselves out of it unless we seriously develop a credible plan to get our fiscal house in order, grow our economy, and get Americans back to work.  The House has passed more than 25 bipartisan jobs bills that are currently stalled in the Senate and I am pleased to support these two budget reform bills, continuing to fundamentally change how Washington does business and end its spending addiction once and for all."

Schilling this week voted in favor of H.R. 3521, the Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act, put forth by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).  This bill would give the president authority to identify reductions in spending provisions within an appropriations bill, which would only take effect if legislation was passed by an up-or-down vote in both chambers of Congress.  Each dollar of savings from the rescission would be devoted to deficit reduction.  Schilling yesterday supported H.R. 3581, the Budget and Accounting Transparency Act, which would  increase transparency and accuracy in budgeting for federal credit programs, the housing-related government sponsored enterprises, and the publication of budget-justification materials.  More information on these bills can be found on the House Budget Committee's website.

In addition to introducing the Govern Before Going Home resolution in 2011, Schilling has cosponsored the H.R. 3643, the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would prohibit Members of Congress from getting paid should they miss deadlines for annual budget and appropriations bills, and ensures that missed pay could not be recouped retroactively.

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09 Feb 2012

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Discuss President Obama's Blueprint for Economic Revitalization and Job Creation in Iowa

By Randy Stalsberg

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2012- This Friday, February 10, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a roundtable with Iowa agriculture and business leaders as well as Des Moines Area Community College faculty and students to discuss President Obama's efforts to strengthen the Iowa economy. He will also discuss USDA's efforts to support Iowa's rural communities and agriculture sector.

 

Friday, Feb. 10, 2012

9:45 a.m. CST

 

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a roundtable with Iowa agriculture and business leaders as well as Des Moines Area Community College faculty and students to discuss President Obama's efforts to strengthen the Iowa economy.

 

WHERE: Des Moines Area Community College- Room 101

Building 3E

2006 South Ankeny Blvd.

Ankeny, Iowa 50023

09 Feb 2012

Schilling: "CAT's Decision Must Serve as a Wakeup Call"

By Andie Pivarunas

Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement upon Caterpillar Inc.'s announcement that it will not be building its new North American plant in the state of Illinois:

"Caterpillar's announcement, though certainly disappointing, is not at all surprising.  As a small business owner myself, I understand Caterpillar's concerns about Illinois' unfriendly business climate.  With nearly 10 percent of Illinoisans searching for work, we simply cannot afford any more missed opportunities.  If nothing else, this decision must serve as a wakeup call  for our state legislators.  Our state can fix this, but it is long past time to change course.  We need leaders in Springfield to speak out, guide our state out of this mess, and work to create an environment that invites companies to build their businesses here and hire the unemployed men and women of Illinois."

# # #

09 Feb 2012

New Plant Zone Hardiness Map Shows Temperature Shifts

By USDA Communications

A new TV feature  is available on the USDA FTP site. The new TV feature can also be seen on USDA's YouTube channel and seen and downloaded as a video podcast.

FTP Download instructions:

The host: ftp://ocbmtcmedia.download.akamai.com

User name: usdanews

Password:  Newscontent1

Filename for TV Feature: PHZM feature

The new file is in QuickTime Movie (H.264 ), MPEG 4, MPEG2 and HDV.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/usda/

video podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/usda-down-to-earth-video-podcast/id461819504?uo=4

RSS feed: http://downtoearth.usda.libsynpro.com/rss

Please email bob.ellison@usda.gov if you have problems or suggestions.

Also, use this free ftp client if you have problems.

http://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type+client

 

 

 

FEATURE - NEW PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP SHOWS TEMPERATURE SHIFTS

INTRO:  U-S-D-A's Agricultural Research Service has released a new plant hardiness zone map; the first one in twenty two years. The USDA's Bob Ellison has more. (1:55)

 

THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NEW PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP SHOWS CHANGES OF FIVE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WARMER PER HALF ZONE THROUGH MUCH OF THE NATION SINCE NINETEEN NINETY.

 

Dr. Peter Bretting, USDA ARS: We see a consistent shift. Especially in the eastern U.S. of about a half zone warmer than in the prior map.

 

WHY THE CHANGE? DOCTOR BRETTING SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

 

Bretting: It's based on more data from more weather recording stations. And they were processed by a special mathematical formula that takes into account features of the landscape, such as mountains, large bodies of water, urban areas, which cause sometimes heat islands. And it was recorded over a longer period, thirty rather than fifteen years.

 

THE MAP ALSO SHOWS WHERE PLANTS WOULD BE EXPOSED TO SEVERE WINTER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES AND IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR GARDENERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCIENTISTS.

 

Bretting: There are more than eighty million gardeners in the United States and many of them will use this as a reference as will landscape architects, plant breeders. The USDA Risk Management Agency will use these data for certain crop insurance parameters. One application is being able to forecast the spread of weeds or insects that might endanger agriculture.

 

AND THIS NEW MAP IS MUCH MORE ACCURATE THAN OLDER ONES.

 

Bretting: The precision is about a half mile square, which is because of the new computerized technology is more precise than the prior maps, which were e based on sometimes artistic renditions of where zones began or ended.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO ONLINE TO PLANT HARDINESS DOT A-R-S DOT U-S-D-A DOT GOV. FOR THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I'M BOB ELLISON
09 Feb 2012

Schilling, Chu Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reform Small Business Contracting

By Andie Pivarunas

Washington, DC - Along with Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today introduced the bipartisan Building Better Business Partnerships Act.  The bill, which is part of the House Committee on Small Business contracting reform initiative, is intended to help remove bureaucratic impediments for small contractors wishing to do business with the federal government.

Small businesses have proven that they can perform a service or produce goods for the government at a lower cost and often at a faster pace than their larger counterparts, however - as illustrated in this CNBC piece, "Fifth Time's a Charm: Winning a Government Contract" - too many challenges remain for too many businesspeople seeking to break through the bureaucracy. 

Rep. Schilling said, "As a small business owner, I understand that many federal programs intended to help businesses are ultimately too time consuming or onerous to navigate.  Unfortunately, many mentor-protégé programs are no different.  The Building Better Business Partnerships Act would streamline the contracting process, and place the SBA in charge of overseeing and setting standards for mentor-protégé programs based on what we know works.  This bill also adds transparency to the program by requiring the SBA to report on the number of small businesses participating in each program, including the number of those that are women-owned, disadvantaged, HUBZone, or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.  This will help all small businesses to more easily and more effectively contract with the federal government, enabling them to grow, create jobs, and get folks back to work."

Mentor-protégé programs are intended to partner small businesses with established mentors in order to improve the small business' ability to win and perform on contracts and subcontracts, but the 13 federal agency programs lack standardized measures of success and are duplicative.  This creates an unnecessary paperwork burden for participants.  The Building Better Business Partnerships Act allows the Small Business Administration (SBA) to oversee civilian agency mentor-protégé programs in order to promote portability of agreements between the agencies, guarantee that the programs benefit small businesses, and ensure that the mentor-protégé agreement doesn't inadvertently harm the protégé's small business status.  It also encourages equal treatment among small businesses (women- and minority-owned, etc) by authorizing the SBA to have mentor-protégé programs for all small businesses. 

"I hear one question over and over again from small businesses: How do I break into federal contracting?" said Rep. Chu, Ranking Member on the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce.  "With annual spending averaging $500 billion, there is no better way for small businesses to expand during these tough times than through federal contracts.  Unfortunately, only 20 percent of that spending is going to small businesses right now.   The Building Better Businesses Partnership Act of 2012 will help small firms break into federal contracting by making it easier for them to join mentor-protégé programs. Helping small businesses win contracts will help put Americans back to work, and with two out of every three jobs coming from small businesses, this bill will help the true driving force behind America's economy."

As part of the Committee's contracting initiative, two other bipartisan pieces of legislation were introduced today with the goal of creating protections to fight contracting fraud and empowering advocates who fight for small business during the federal acquisition process.  More information on the Committee's initiative can be found here on the Committee's website.

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