text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Teacher Accomodation in Yangon (conclusion) Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Teacher Accomodation in Yangon (conclusion) Goto page 1, 2 Next Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Asia Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:28 am Post subject: Teacher Accomodation in Yangon (conclusion) Last edited by mfinna on Thu Apr 03, 2014 8:23 am; edited 3 times in total Back to top ArgofotoJoined: 28 Aug 2012Posts: 61Location: Philadelphia Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 1:04 am Post subject: I wonder the same thing, Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar) also has high rents, but to me 300 to 500 a month doesn't seem too far fetched... then again I don't have personal experience with rents in """developing""" countries Back to top mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:12 am Post subject: Last edited by mfinna on Thu Apr 03, 2014 8:34 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top ArgofotoJoined: 28 Aug 2012Posts: 61Location: Philadelphia Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 5:13 am Post subject: Thanks but I am not in Mongolia, I want to go to Burma! Apologies for any confusion. I have experience in "developing" countries however as a child visiting my parents' country in Eastern Europe, squat toilet and wood burning stove and all... However, to be honest I have no qualms with this. My primary concern would be disease and medical treatment in Burma... Back to top mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 4:27 am Post subject: Traveling to Myanmar December 2012 Greetings, In the absence of any replies from anyone in Myanmar, will be traveling there next week to see what the accommodation situation is really like. Will also be interviewing at language centers and business colleges (my preference) to see what kind of remuneration can be expected. Thanks again to Teachurrr for the list of schools. Perhaps I can add to it. Long time reader of Dave's but only recently started contributing. Happy to try and answer any questions regarding cheap accommodation, language center work and business colleges while there or upon my return later in December. Will not be interviewing for jobs at primary, secondary or any kind of international schools, so cannot be of any help there. -Fin Back to top Monkey kingJoined: 18 Feb 2013Posts: 12 Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:08 am Post subject: I am in Yangon now and have heard that rent is terrible here. $500 to $600 per month, even as much as $1000. So it is important to try to negotiate accommodation into any work contract here. Back to top bentanddisfunctionalJoined: 19 Oct 2010Posts: 85 Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 11:34 pm Post subject: MonkeyKing I was under the impression from your other posts that you were already living in Yangon and working for Horizon? Accomodation really is a quandry for a lot of people in Yangon right now. 'Western style' apartments/condo's with things we would take for granted -like stable/reliable electricity and water,elevator,semi-furnished are going for outrageous sums-anywhere from US$700-$2000/month plus. There are only a few recognised apartment complexes for foreigners and the landlords haven't been slow to cash in. However with contacts or a bit of legwork it is still possible to find a modest walk-up apartment in a local neighbourhood for $200-400. Keep in mind most apartments are unfurnished and landlords will require anything from 6-12 months in advance with a rental hike probable at the end of your lease as well I agree that you should come to an understanding with your employer about your accomodation allowance or what standard of housing they will place you in on arrival before you take up an offer. Can save a lot of grief.... Back to top mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:56 am Post subject: Teacher accommodation in Yangon (conclusion) Greetings, With respect to the original post, have been here about three months and managed to secure, what is to me, reasonably priced accommodation. In the original post it was stated that I was looking to find what typical Myanmar people rent as far as apartments go. They are to be had, but as the previous poster stated, it takes some legwork and local contacts. I had the help of an adult student that found a place for me in his neighborhood. Previous replies and prices (500USD+) are what I have heard as well, but expect these must be more western style apartments. Did not look at any apartments in this range or above 300USD. The apartment building: Did not look extensively, but from the handful that I saw, and looking around at similar looking buildings, it appears to be a standard, Yangon apartment building. They have 6-8 floors without a lift. There are two units per floor with the stairs running up the middle. Each unit has a front and back balcony in addition to four windows on the lengthwise side of each unit. If you go to the Wikipedia page on Myanmar, half-way down the page in the section on Yangon is a small picture of a typical apartment building. If you've visited or live here, you have seen them. The apartment price: The price was originally 185USD, but when they ultimately saw that it was a foreigner that would be renting, they upped the price to 210USD. Paid just 6 months upfront, could have paid for a year. Was charged one month's rent by the broker but will not be required to pay any further broker fees should I decided to extend a further 6 months. The apartment itself: It is one, long rectangular room, about 20 x 60 feet with both an attached bathroom (squat toilet, no sink or other fixtures) and shower room (shower head, cold water). It is unfurnished. Everything is made of concrete including what would be called kitchen counter-tops. The floor is concrete but 100% covered with a mix of various sized, colored and patterned pieces of linoleum. This seems to be standard flooring. It needs a paint job, but it's not terrible looking, just lived in, I guess. Location: It is not downtown but believe it is considered sub-downtown. It is not "off the beaten path," and do not believe the price is an "off the beaten path" price. It is within walking distance (15 mins) of Shwe Dagon Pagoda. It is a densely populated area. Electricity: Looking at previous bills from the last renter, monthly charge is between 3 and 5 USD. The electricity goes out often daily but not as frequently as before Thingyan. Don't think this is just my building though as the outages seem to affect surrounding buildings as well. Drinking water: Unit already had three empty bottles. Drinking water is supplied by two companies identified by the color of the bottle, white or clear/blue. You can see the delivery folks on the street often. They are the large bottles that you see in front of shops and on the sidewalks for people to drink. It cost .60 cents to refill one bottle. When they come down the street, just clap your hands to get their attention, and they will come up to your flat and either refill or replace your empty bottles. Pay them on the spot, no paperwork, but my place may have already had the service in place, hence the existing bottles. Bath and shower water: Although the landlord doesn't show me a bill like with the electricity, 3USD is the monthly water charge. Trash disposal: In this area, there are people that come down the street with carts, usually in the morning, to collect trash. Just clap your hands to get their attention. EDIT, Have since learned that they will come up to the flat to collect the trash but 500 kyats is expected (.60 usd). Have been running it down to the street myself to sometimes less than enthusiastic cart pushers (small bags to be sorted either way for recycling so may have value anyhow). Occasionally miss them in the morning and end up walking a few blocks to the junction where I know they have a city provided can. Internet: Many internet shops allow you to piggy-back onto their wi-fi signal if you buy a "booster" (about 40USD at downtown computer shops). They charge about 30USD/month for the service. They bought and installed the booster and configured my computer for me for approximately 6USD. It's about as fast as you would expect an internet connection would be at a typical internet shop in Yangon, but not Trader's. You can't watch youtube videos and downloading is painfully slow if it works at all, but can check email and even use Skype. Not sure if this is an option everywhere, but would expect where there are internet shops, they offer it. There are other, licensed options such as Redlink (do a Google search) or using your mobile phone, but I know nothing about them. Conclusion: It's possible to find more local style and priced flats, albeit with a not too unreasonable foreigner tax of nearly 15% of base rent price. Have put as many accommodation related details here so as to be informative and try to help others. Not sure what else to write about the flat or the process but happy to try to answer any questions. For those interested, I was offered a rental for an unfurnished apartment for 300USD, or 500USD fully furnished, apparently with satellite TV, internet, the works (500 not 300). Was not interested in paying that much, so did not pursue it. However, it is quite easy to find. It is a very large, not standard looking, newly built white building with natural wood looking balcony doors and trim. It would be considered by most to be downtown. It is on 48th on the one block between Mahabandoola and Anawratha streets (bound by all three streets). You really can't miss it. Strangely, considering the rental market here, it appears to be largely vacant... Guy approached me on the street while walking the area. Gave me the prices and pointed out the building. Offered to show me one of the flats but was not interested at the time. Would like to say that I am in no way affiliated with the above mentioned rental, have not seen the inside and would repeat that it is quite strange that it is largely vacant. Just trying to be helpful and generate some Dave's ESL karma. EDIT: Would be curious to know and hear about this if anyone checks it out.Last edited by mfinna on Wed Jul 10, 2013 6:33 pm; edited 1 time in total Back to top SayaJoined: 16 Jun 2013Posts: 17 Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 11:31 am Post subject: Renting in Myanmar It is true, apartment prices in Yangon are quite high compared to, say Thailand. If you don't mind living basic (concrete box style) you could probably find something for $100. though generally, you'll be lucky to find somewhere livable for around $200. It seems that $300 is the best price these days , however there are many people looking for apartment shares (let me know if you need any help) Anyway at the risk of seeming self serving, I've developed a guide for new teachers in Yangon on accommodation. Please take a look. I've been teaching here for over three years and I'm happy to answer any questions http://www.sayagyi.com/finding-place-stay-0 Back to top mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:02 am Post subject: Greetings, Livable seems a pretty subjective term. The place I have found for 210USD is quite livable, to me. However would definitely like to know how an apartment for 300 would differ from what I have rented (see apt details above), so as to have a reference point for myself and possibly others looking for housing in Yangon. Your comments and posts are appreciated. I had no luck finding anyone on the ground to comment before arriving. Back to top SayaJoined: 16 Jun 2013Posts: 17 Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:26 am Post subject: Hi yes you're right, it is pretty subjective and it sounds like you've got a pretty good deal there. I'm used to people wanting their apartments to be as close to home as possible and so the price is normally higher...If you want a furnished place, with multiple rooms then it's gonna be more expensive. but yeah if you're unpretentious and want to make a place your own, then it can be cheaper. A word about electricity, if they know you are a foreigner they will charge you more, see if you get your broker to help with that. the place you were talking about, is that the one facing the old secretariat building? Back to top mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:59 am Post subject: Hi Saya, $500 to $600 per month, even as much as $1000. That's a large range with the lower bound nearly double what you've said is a good price these days. Are people getting gouged? 'Western style' apartments/condo's with things we would take for granted -like stable/reliable electricity and water, elevator, semi-furnished are going for outrageous sums-anywhere from US$700-$2000/month plus. That's a very large range with the lower bound more than double what you've said is a good price these days. At least with this comment, according to the poster, we know we need to spend 700 for stable/reliable electricity and water, elevator, semi-furnished. you'll be lucky to find somewhere livable for around $200. It seems that $300 is the best price these days. None of these comments are terribly helpful because we don't really know what you get for those prices. Went in to great detail about the place I found to try and establish a baseline or price point of sorts for newly arrived teachers or people considering a move here that don't mind basic, concrete box style flats. If you could help establish a price point (with details on what that price gets you) for a not basic, concrete box style apartment, it would be really helpful for everyone. I'm used to people wanting their apartments to be as close to home as possible and so the price is normally higher... Normally higher than what? Are you saying that all the people that ask you for apartment advice work at the same place? I live in the vicinity of a few schools, but you didn't know that or where I work in relation to my flat. Not sure what the comment means. Assume you meant closer to work not home, but it's still not clear what this means for a new teacher looking for a place to live, that might possibly not have a job yet. Apartments in the vicinity of schools in Yangon are generally more expensive than apartments not in the vicinity of schools in Yangon? Apartments in the vicinity of schools are more expensive for teachers but less expensive for other foreigners? If the person that rented me this flat knew I was a teacher working in the area, would the price be higher for me, but lower for a foreigner that was not a teacher? I realize that is ridiculous and not likely what you mean but can't otherwise make heads or tales of your comment. Are you perhaps talking about teachers that work and want to live in the Golden Valley neighborhood where there is a high concentration of schools, which also happens to be an affluent area with high rents? That makes sense. If you want to live in the Golden Valley area where many schools and jobs are, you can expect to pay more for rent as it is a very affluent area. Otherwise your comment doesn't make any sense to me nor do I see how living closer to work justifies paying more for rent when work could be anywhere. Just adds more to the confusion and frustration with the housing situation here. Forum members, or at least myself, are happy to finally have someone here who has been on the ground in Yangon, and teaching, for three years, but we need more clear,hard facts, specifics. If you want a furnished place, with multiple rooms then it's gonna be more expensive. How much more expensive? 300, 500, 700, 1000, 2000? Could you be more specific as to what people can expect for "300 seems to be a good price these days"? how many rooms? one bedroom? two? hot/cold water, western/squat style toilet, lift/stairs, AC, refrigerator, TV, other appliances, concrete floor with linoleum scraps, hardwood floors or maybe tile (something other than concrete with linoleum scraps), generator for stable electricity, internet, anything else that would not be included with a basic, concrete box style flat such as the one described in my earlier post? For me, accommodation is a key variable in determining the lifestyle (how much of my paycheck remains after paying rent, typically one's biggest expense) or even the economic viability of teaching in a given country. Happened to be in SE Asia for my last job, so it wasn't that great of a hardship to come here for an exploratory trip. Had I been some where back in the west, with the figures I had heard relative to salaries, and the lack of information on the internet, probably would not have considered coming here to possibly just find out that one has to spend upwards of half their salary on accommodation. Sorry to needle you like this, but you are one of just a few teachers on this forum that have been here for any great length of time, and you've availed yourself to answering questions, which I and surely others are grateful for. Back to it. The price range for not basic, concrete box style places seems to fluctuate wildly and not sure why. Don't think I am alone in having been a bit frustrated if not completely confounded with the housing situation here. Think housing is the number one issue for new teachers here or teachers considering a move here. Although I've found a place that suits me and my budget, may aspire to be more than a language center hack one day, with a higher salary. Any specifics you could provide on a 300USD place ("livable" and "a good price these days") would be greatly appreciated by me and surely others. With such specifics, we could probably guess what the higher priced places are like and at what price(s), with what facilities/amenities, people are just being gouged or taken advantage of. Regarding the apartment building in my previous post, yes, it faces a now vacant government building. Another forum member went to check it out and could not find the entrance. Never saw the entrance myself. It's a rather bizarre structure. The bottom floor appears to be a large, green warehouse of sorts with the apartments sprouting up from the second or third floor. The local guy that stopped me on the street was named Ali. He gave me the details (see earlier post) and his number but number has been lost. Thanks for your help and insights.Last edited by mfinna on Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:57 pm; edited 1 time in total Back to top bentanddisfunctionalJoined: 19 Oct 2010Posts: 85 Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:53 am Post subject: Crikey Mfinna What's with the rant?. PMT?? Back to top mfinnaJoined: 21 Mar 2012Posts: 32Location: SE Asia Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:52 pm Post subject: A rant indeed. Considered adding at the bottom after writing it that the entire post could have been summed up with one sentence: Saya could you give us the specifics on one of these 300/month places with specifics similar to what we would see in traditional newspaper classifieds? For what it's worth... As a language center hack, often working 2-3 part-time jobs, always have to find and pay for my own accommodation, as others do too. Accommodation has often been a deal breaker for me. Had I not already been in SE Asia from my last job, would not have given Myanmar a look. It's frustrating when there isn't a lot of info out there, or worse, when the info is vague and confusing. Had it not been for the local contact, might still be scratching my head as to what kind of value for money is here in the Yangon housing market. Possibly would have plunked down 500 for a place that should be 185-210, because prices run the gamut with no real specifics on value for money. One teacher is paying 350 for basic, concrete box style, almost double the price I paid. I suspect teachers are getting ripped off, and don't have to be. My intention is to help by seeking clarification and details from people that have been here longer than myself, and reporting my own findings too. Have met many foreigners here very surprised that a place such as mine, or any place, can be had for 200 dollars. It's a standard price, give or take 50 dollars, for a typical, basic, concrete box style Yangon apartment. Myanmar people refer to this style as "a hall". They are ubiquitous and can be spotted all over Yangon from the outside as described in my earlier post. The impetus for the rant is that Saya's comments and answers on this topic and another have been vague and not really all that helpful. Seems a sincere guy, and don't think he's intentionally being vague, but makes you wonder if he just bumped the Myanmar threads up to plug his website, ultimately a business with profit motive. Nothing wrong with that. As such though, he's presented himself as something of an expert on teaching and living here offering to field any questions. I have questions, sometimes in long form. Don't think any of my post was pure rant in that points pertinent to the topic were being addressed, albeit some at great length. In my frustration may have gone off the deep end! Thanks for bringing me back. Back to top SayaJoined: 16 Jun 2013Posts: 17 Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:28 am Post subject: Hi Mfinna, I'll admit that my answers have been slightly vague but as you may have guessed the housing situation is pretty erractic and it is really hard to nail down what is available and for what price. Btw , your reply highlighted some comments that weren't made by me but by other people, (Monkey King and bentanddisfunctional), who also highlighted the rising price of the housing market. By "close to home" I meant closer to what they would expect from their (presumably Western) countries. Quote: could you give us the specifics on one of these 300/month places with specifics similar to what we would see in traditional newspaper classifieds? The thing is it's impossible to give specifics for a question like this, because there are so many variables that affect the price of a place.landlords here generally work by themselves. Some may try and push prices up to maximum, others seem to be happy to freeze the prices for years, it can make a huge difference. There is no communication between landlords, especially throughout the city, so any kind of summarization of the housing market is going to be vague. You've done a great job of doing that with the places you looked at and rented, but it may be different throughout the city. That said, I will try and do my best. let's just look at apartments for now, houses are normally about 1000 a month (and rising) Let's start with your basic concrete box hall type on the outskirts (or suburbs) of the city, unfurnished and on the top floor, with no elevator. that's probably going to be around 80,000kyat/month (1 dollar=1000kyat roughly) now, there may be other things you might desire. here's a list being in downtown (or close) furniture (tables chairs and bed) Air con washing machine view of Shwedagon western toilet pressure pump (if you live high up) wooden or tiled flooring internet (usually you get this yourself) cooker hot shower Fridge inverter (backup battery power) I'm not an expert, so don't quote me on this but I would say on average each of these things would add an extra 20 dollars a month to the rent, (obviously some more than others). Then you've got extra intangible things such as the cleanliness and niceness which can add 100 dollars or more on to that. What do I mean by cleanliness and niceness? Well I can imagine an apartment that had all of the list above, but in a rather haphazard way, and where the walls were stained and there were rat holes in the shower room, trash on the balcony, etc...on the other hand there might be a nice place which had been designed tastefully and was fairly well kept. These things make a big difference here. There is also the "Condos" which have elevators and security guards and generators (it's unusual for a normal apartment to have a generator), and sometimes carparks. These places are rising in price, and are quite similar to a "western style" of apartment. these would be at least $700 though I know some which went from $700 to $1500 in the space of a year. I know my answers haven't been specific, but hopefully this has been helpful. I think it would be better if people could describe what they are looking for (or what they have found) and query what a ballpark figure would be (to make sure they aren't being ripped off). 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An Aussie Blogger in the U.S. Looking For Bed
Hey Folks,
Here's a bizarre question for you.
TreeHuggerDave is leaving Dallas today, heading onto LA, arriving around 80.30 pm on 29th, staying until the 4th of October…
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
NFL scouts and general managers get paid a lot of money to do their jobs. But breaking down the performance of major college guys and projecting how they will translate to the NFL and where they should be drafted isn't rocket science. Player projection is never a slam dunk, but it's certainly not hard to know whether a guy from a top SEC school can hold up to the rigors of the NFL.
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Learn how to avoid the most common New Year's resolution mistakes and ensure that your fitness and fat loss goals are successful!
As you've probably guessed, you simply can't listen to the Get-Fit Guy this close to New Year's without getting a few Quick and Dirty Tips about resolutions. In this episode, you'll learn how to avoid the 6 most common New Year's resolution mistakes and ensure that your fitness and fat loss goals are successful!
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Vague goals are difficult to achieve. Examples of vague fitness goals include "run more," "lose weight," or "get stronger." Any of these could be made more specific (and more achievable) by quantifying them. For example, "run a total of 60 minutes each week," "lose 1 pound every 2 weeks until I've lost 20 pounds," and "bench press 5 extra pounds each week until I can bench press my own body weight" are all quantifiable goals in which you can track your progress. You'll notice that those last two examples actually have an end goal in mind, which leads to my next point…
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If there is no start date, end date, or end goal (benchmark) for your resolution, it can be very hard to get started and very hard to complete. After all, imagine if you had to run a marathon with no idea where the starting line, ending line, or any of the middle points are? If you just had to run until someone said stop? Pretty tough! So when you set a resolution, you must set as start date (such as "the first Monday in January I weigh myself") and an end date or end goal (such as "I lose a pound every 2 weeks until May 31, or until I've lost 20 pounds"). If you need help with realistic dates and goals, just head over the Get-Fit Guy Facebook page for more tips.
Mistake #3: Setting Too Many Goals
Depending on your personality, it can be easy to go overboard with your resolution-making. If you wake up on January 1st ready to learn to play a piano concerto, run a marathon, lose 20 pounds, and become a black belt in karate, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. When you make too many ambitious resolutions, the likelihood of not achieving at least one of them, and doing a pretty subpar job at all of them, is pretty high. Despite the temptation to use New Year's as a motivation to get a lot done, it is better and more efficient to focus on just one big goal, and not to become distracted (and overwhelmed) by other dreams.


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Great SUV for big-family expeditions.
Sport Utility Vehicles
Editor: New Car Test Drive
$30,620 Base Price MSRP
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The 2008 Ford Expedition comes in two lengths, the standard model with a 119-inch wheelbase, and the Expedition EL with its 131-inch wheelbase. Every Expedition is powered by a single-overhead-cam 5.4-liter V-8 that is rated at 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment. Every Expedition model is available with either rear-wheel drive (2WD) or electronically engaged four-wheel drive (4WD) that can be driven on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing. A Class III trailer hitch is standard.
Four trim levels are available: the entry-level XLT, the outdoor-styled Eddie Bauer, luxurious Limited, and the new top-of-the-line King Ranch.
The XLT ($30,620) and 4WD XLT ($33,529) come with cloth upholstery with front captain's chairs (driver's seat is six-way power adjustable), a 40/20/40 split-bench seat in the second row, and a rear cargo bin. A tilt steering wheel (leather-wrapped for 2008), front and rear air conditioning with rear controls, remote keyless entry, automatic headlights, alarm and an AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3 player connectivity and rear controls are also part of the package. Exterior standard equipment features 265/70R17 tires on alloy wheels, running boards, roof rails, fog lights, power-adjustable outside mirrors (now heated), and a rear liftgate with flip-up glass and a rear defroster/wiper/washer system. Also added as standard for 2008 are keyless entry keypad, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, overhead console, and illuminated visors. The 2WD models have highway tires and the 4WD drive models have on/off-road tires and front tow hooks.
The XLT EL ($34,145) and XLT EL 4WD ($37,045) are equipped the same as standard wheelbase versions, except they come with a split-folding third-row seat and a conversation mirror.
Options for XLT models include second-row captain's chairs ($530), a manual- ($875) or power-folding ($1370) third-row bench seat, leather upholstery ($1295), rear load-leveling air suspension ($485), a heavy-duty towing package ($395), a premium AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer ($300) and Sirius satellite radio ($195). A Convenience package ($675) offers rear obstacle detection, power-adjustable pedals, power rear quarter windows, and a universal garage door opener. An Off-Road package ($200) for 4WD XLTs has tubular side steps and skid plates.
The Eddie Bauer ($35,865) and Eddie Bauer 4WD ($38,675) are trimmed as outdoor adventure vehicles and are distinguished by a longer list of convenience features as standard equipment, notably the Expedition's unique power-folding split third-row seat. Other standard features include leather upholstery, 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, six-way power adjustable front passenger seat, memory for the mirrors and driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, an AM/FM stereo tuner with 6CD changer, trip computer, conversation mirror, mirror-mounted turn signals, and protective cladding for the lower body panels. The Eddie Bauer EL ($38,515) and Eddie Bauer EL 4WD ($41,415) are equipped like the standard wheelbase versions but have front tow hooks and 255/70R18 tires instead of 17s.
Options for Eddie Bauer models over and above those of the XLT include heated and cooled front seats ($625), new-for-2008 power running boards ($995), power rear liftgate ($495), a navigation system ($1295), rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($1995), the new rear backup camera ($455), and P275/55R20 tires.
The Limited ($38,025) and Limited 4WD ($40,925) add heated and cooled front seats, 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, universal garage door opener, power rear quarter windows, power-adjustable pedals, and 255/70R18 tires on chrome alloy wheels. The Limited EL ($40,675) and Limited EL 4WD ($43,575) are equipped the same but also have front tow hooks.
The new King Ranch ($39,965) and King Ranch 4WD ($42,865) have upgraded Chaparral leather upholstery, King Ran
Walk Around
The Ford Expedition is a truck and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. This is a good identity to have, because Ford trucks continue to have an outstanding reputation for utility, reliability and durability.
Both the long and regular-length versions of the Expedition use many of the components from the Ford F-150 pickup. However, the Expedition features independent rear suspension, chassis technology that improves driving precision, ride comfort, and rear-seat roominess.
This third-generation Expedition features a three-bar grille, large headlights, and a domed hood that combine to deliver a look that's both distinctive and respectable. There are several different wheel designs, including 20-inchers with a chrome finish. The Expedition doesn't have the style of GM's sport-utilities, but at least it avoids the science-fiction look of the Nissan Armada.
Expedition EL models stretch the wheelbase by a foot to 131 inches. Overall, the EL measures 14.8 inches longer than the standard Expedition, and that adds 24 cubic feet of cargo volume, an increase from 108.3 to 130.8 cubic feet behind the front seats.
Both the standard Expedition and the Expedition EL are big vehicles, measuring more than 17 feet from nose to tail. As a result, crowded parking lots can be challenging. The Expedition has a turning circle of nearly 41 feet, while the EL requires 44 feet.
They're also heavy, as even the base 2WD Expedition weighs 5578 pounds, while the base 2WD EL tips the scales at 5825 pounds. The addition of 4WD adds another 235 pounds to the bottom line.
The new King Ranch model can be identified by its gold exterior accents and unique wheel design.
The Expedition comes with running boards as standard equipment. For 2008, power retractable running boards that deploy when the doors are opened are an option.
The 2008 Ford Expedition features a rich blend of finishes, textures and color. Indeed, a fully optioned Expedition King Ranch is the best representation of modern American-style luxury within Ford's lineup. Wood, chrome and leather make the Expedition an inviting place to spend a day on the road. The layout of the gauges and controls is easy to understand and no controls are too far out of easy reach.
Captain's chairs with movable armrests are standard across the four model lines. Leather-upholstered examples are available with a heating/cooling feature that makes them a more comfortable companion in winter and summer. Generous driver's seat travel helps accommodate taller drivers, and it's a perfect match for the Expedition's movable pedals, so a wide range of drivers can be sit comfortably.
The second seating row also reflects Ford's thoughtful approach to passenger comfort, as the standard 40/20/40 bench seat incorporates a center section that slides forward up to eleven inches, bringing a child seat within easier reach of front-seat passengers. Optional second-row captain's chairs with a center-aisle pass-through can be substituted for adult-rated comfort.
Packaging advantages afforded by the Expedition's independent rear suspension enable the third-row seat to deliver more comfort for adults compared to the accommodations provided by the Chevy Tahoe. In fact, third-row room is among the best of any SUV, though three adults won't want to sit in the back for long. The high ride height also makes getting in and out a task for children.
The Expedition's liftgate with its flip-up glass hatch makes access to the cargo area very easy. The Expedition's second- and third-row bench-type seats fold flat into the cargo floor, affording a long cargo area that can be easily loaded. This means you don't have to unbolt the passenger seats and leave them on the floor of your garage every time you're making a serious run to Home Depot. In this regard, the Expedition is much better designed than GM's large SUVs. The Expedition is also available with an optional power-folding third-row seat and electronically powered liftgate to make it even easier to load cargo. However, the seat cushions of the second- and third-row seats are a little slim in order to allow the seats to fold properly.
The Expedition is about more than convenience. A DVD-based navigation system with sizable 6.5-inch screen is available as an option. The rear-seat DVD entertainment system has an eight-inch screen that flips down from the ceiling and also includes two sets of wireless headphones. A plug-in jack for an MP3 player is standard across the line. The Expedition is even a nice place to be when all the entertainment is switched off, as the combination of thick glass and a generous amount of acoustic insulation behind the dash and on the floor makes this a remarkably quiet interior; it's actually possible to have a conversation with the people in the third-row seat while you're at the wheel.
Ford's new rear backup camera is less expensive, but less impressive, than most. The image is shown in the rear-view mirror. It is quite small, no more than three inches across. While the image is useful, obstacles are not as easy to spot as they are in systems that show their images on six- or seven-inch dash-mounted screens.
Driving Impressions
Full-size sport-utilities aren't known for their driving manners, but the latest-generation of vehicles from both Ford and General Motors have made real progress in delivering a more car-like impression.
In this regard, the 2008 Ford Expedition is notably better than the 2008 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. It tracks down the highway with excellent straight-line stability, negotiates forest roads with surprising agility, and absorbs impacts from bumps or broken pavement without straying from its path. While the Tahoe is more prone to bounding over bumps due to its heavy rear axle, the Expedition maintains a surprising calm ride considering its truck heritage. Most of the advantage comes from car-like engineering, a synergy between a rigid frame, high-pressure gas shocks that afford excellent wheel control, and a second-generation, link-type independent rear suspension.
Steering effort is light and easy. The two-speed 4WD system is engaged with a simple rotary knob mounted on the dashboard, and it automatically reduces throttle sensitivity in low range for better traction in slippery circumstances.
The overhead-cam 5.4-liter V8 delivers 300 hp, but it's really tuned to deliver torque, 365 pound-feet of it, for towing. The six-speed automatic transmission runs seamlessly through the gears, keeping the engine from laboring through its rpm range. The result is an impression of reliable power.
We noted some hesitation at throttle tip-in in some situations: Come to a stop sign at the top of a hill, stop, then accelerate, and there was a pause while the transmission engaged and forward momentum began. This could be an annoyance.
The Expedition makes an excellent tow vehicle. With the optional towing package, the standard 4WD Expedition will tow 9000 pounds. A 2WD Expedition is rated at 9200 pounds, a 2WD EL is rated at 9000 pounds, and a 4WD EL is rated to tow 8750 pounds.
For all its comfort and stability, the Expedition is still about utility rather than sport. When it comes to driving, the Expedition feels big and heavy, and while it goes where you direct it, it can take awhile to get there and isn't as alert or sporty as the Chevy or Nissan. The brake discs are large, but a lot of effort is required to get the Expedition slowed down. Nevertheless, the Expedition's overall driving performance is refined for its class.
Among full-size sport-utilities, the 2008 Ford Expedition stands apart with its superior driving comfort and utility package. Ford is right on target with its family adventure concept, and the Ford Expedition is the best vehicle for family vacation travel on the American road.
Kirk Bell contributed to this report from Chicago, with staff reports from NewCarTestDrive.com.
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Views: 1108
I "deal" with it this way:
- I try very hard not to die at all. (I will most likely fail at some point.) Read "Transcend" if you want to know more.
- "If you die. Your conciousness stops to be" It is most likely the truth. I cannot change it. I can only accept it.
- If my conciousness stops, I will feel no pain, sorrow or any other negative emotion or feeling about that.
- There is a large chance that my conciousness stops all the time and that other conciousnesses enter my body after. The "rapid fire conciousness model" I have created for myself provides me with the revelation that "death" is not scary at all. I happens to "my" conciousness all the time.
- The ending of a good party does not change the fact that the party was good. :)
Thats the "easy" part. The hard part is dealing with people that die around you. Those that you love.
- People are matter.
- Matter (for a time) comes together in certain patterns to form people.
- You love certain patterns of matter because those complex patterns reflect waves and energy towards your senses that produce electrical reactions in your brain that gives your consciousness happiness.
- If those patterns stop existing you feel sadness because you expected those waves and energy to continue coming for longer.
- Your predictions and expectations are not in line with reality, this makes you sad.
This is not a solution. You will most likely feel this sadness. But you can mitigate it by either having low expectations. Three dimensional material patterns, even those with intelligence to escape danger and mechanisms to repair and replace bits of themselves when damaged are extremely fragile and temporary and can be disturbed very easily by other patterns. If you wish to negate this sadness, you should not assume that the waves, energies and information contained their-in send out by materials patterns will continue to do so tomorrow, because one day you will be set up for a crushing disappointment.
Other sadness mitigating revelations include:
- The memories of his or her pattern are imprinted into yours.
- The matter that created his pattern is now free to wander and will most likely, in part, be building blocks for new and other material patterns that you will love.
- His or her conciousness has stopped existing, and feel no pain, sorrow or any other negative emotion for its own demise.
All the statements above are scientific truths and therefore most likely correspond with reality. That gives me astonishingly more comfort than any beautiful, poetic lie, religion included.
I loved that.
So what about the reasons why?
We assume that we feel pain so that we can learn to keep our hands away from sharp things etc... I wonder why we feel some other things like fear and sadness. It seems kinda like a balance set by evolution to cause us to rise above the animals around us. Possibly, it's even simpler than that and our brains are saying to us 'Hey quit letting people die' because it reduces the population and our grip on this world. Is 'strength in numbers' what has brought us so far and causes us to feel all these strange things? In the end, the realization that it's only chemical reaction that causes all of it was a great contributor in my not killing myself when i was young so i could grow old enough to realize how silly the notion was to begin with. Maybe if we iradicate religion, all the clouds of confusing notions will roll back and kids will stop doing that. Wouldn't it be great if we could just say to them, 'It's only this chemical reacting with that chemical which was stimulated by this situation that is causing these feelings so just do your homework and stay alive today'?
Thank you for the positive reply and question.
I think the main reason why we evolved to feel sad about the demise of our loved ones is because the people that did not felt this feeling of pain went extinct because our branch of people formed tribes (enhancing our extelligence and the change our children survived) and they did not.
The sad feeling learns us not to stop people from dying, but it learns us to prevent the people we love from dying. Of course our "tribe-feelings" are somewhat outdated and we now love people outside of our "tribe", thus negating much of the evolutionary benefit of this emotion.
"Strength in numbers" gives you an evolutionary advantage over your fellow humans, but of course not on a global scale, only on a tribe scale.
Yes, being conscious of the inner workings and reasons for your emotions is a great way to mitigate the negative once. It also gives you a great answer if your kid asks "Why does it hurt so much?" namely; the truth.
Doing homework is largely pointless because most of the facts learned in school will not be needed later in life nor are they worth the trouble of learning by rote, if it takes less time to find the answer on the internet nowadays. The real answer you want to give kids is "the educational system is outdated and you are right, most of it will be pointless. You should do your homework because it increases the capacity of your brain by training to memorize things and you will earn a degree that is likely to increases your happiness, and grant you a decadent life you now wish for." Its the truth.
Eradicating myth about death and other things will indeed help clear the clouds of confusion for your children.
I think that we often disregard the old lessons left to us by great writers and philosophers because the bible is so prevalent that all that came before was nearly silenced. Think about Achilles from 'The Illiad'. Is Achilles dead? or Homer, for that matter? Achilles chose to die in order to live forever in our hearts.
Socrates did the same in order for his message to live on.
Sure, we have an allotted lifetime but look into the eyes of your children and you'll see yourself. Look at the building you designed or the book you wrote. Even simpler things than that can live on such as some brief but helpful advice to a young person who may go on to do great things. Those great things may produce even longer lasting results.
It's quite possible that all this religion around us has conditioned us to feel fear of what's beyond when the electricity no longer causes our brain to function. I figure that life is what it is and the time we're here is better to focus on.
Sorry to hear about your dad.
Try this with your family... Remember when dad was here and 'he' or 'we' etc...
If the conversation goes toward death then change the subject. Maybe enough times of that might help them accept it too.
It's the best way I know to keep someone alive in my heart.
this thing is hard
lots of people block this subject out of their minds
others find solace in religion and other spiritual systems that promise endless life in some shape or form
i frankly don't know how i am going to survive the deaths of my parents
maybe only by reminding myself im also finite and someday the whole circus will end for me as well)
Not necessary only available to the rich and powerful. Washing machines where only available to the rich and powerful. The same happened to computers and any other technology.
We will one day all be immortal except for catastrophic accidents.
The first immortals in such a sense might already be alive today.
I agree with the rest of your post and also agree that it will probably only be available to the rich and powerful at the beginning.
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Friday, December 31, 2010
46 Miles for 46 Years
This year my birthday run was WET! I couldn't believe it when I woke to 38F yesterday morning with rain and a high of 42 forecast for the day. Crazy.
Topaz and I began at Lake Maria State Park for a snowshoe start to the day. There is only about 9 miles of hiking/snowshoe trail and I didn't want to repeat 5 times. I would be finishing my run on road. Wet road.
It was still dark so I couldn't see the trail conditions, but I sure felt them. Soft. Real soft. The rain hadn't yet begun, just a barely able to feel it drizzle, it might have only been wet fog. My snowshoes sunk only a bit in the beginning, I was able to run the 9 miles on top of the snow most of the time. The thick tree cover and heavy fog kept the trail in OK condition most of the time. Until the fog broke, the light came through and the rain POURED upon us. Running on snowshoe in the pouring rain, I think that is a new one.
I pulled my jacket back on and was surprised that the rain wasn't soaking me to the skin. I was warmer than I liked but I didn't want to get a cold soaking. After a few more hours my snowshoes were no longer necessary. I was sinking completely to the dirt trail. Amazing. I was so glad we went skiing the day before and not today!
Once the sun came up I noticed that Topaz was digging along the trail every once in a while. He would dig a deep narrow hole, looking for something and then when I would get back to him I'd see him eating something! This happened a few times. As he was again digging in the snow I interrupted him and dug in the hole with my finger, wondering what I was going to find and bit nervous about what was going to be at the bottom of the hole. Guess what it was? M&Ms! Someone had been out on the trail and was dropping M&Ms along the way! Topaz enjoyed them. Chocolate is not good for dogs but I had already had a major chocolate episode with our last dog and knew that Topaz had not consumed enough for me to have to worry.
I headed back to the car for a change of gloves, water, SCAPS and VESPA. I had a few gels in my pocket that I was using. I am finding that I really like this VESPA. I seem to recover more quickly since I've been using it. I find that I drink more water, using more salt when using VESPA. I wasn't using Hammer Heed yesterday so the SCAPS were a good idea.
After removing my snowshoes and changing gloves and jacket I was ready to head out again. I tried to get Topaz to drink but he refused. He ate lots of melty snow and rolled in the wet snow constantly to keep himself cool. I had 24 miles in so far and decided to run upon the state park roads for a while. It felt good to run with a longer stride and to have the snowshoes off. The road was gated in spots but I had read on the park website that the blocked off roads were only prohibited to motorized vehicles.
Topaz ran in the ditch most of the time, opting for the soft wet snow instead of the hard packed snow upon the road. Many times he chased after turkey, deer and squirrel and I wouldn't see him for a while. I stopped a few times, listening for him in the woods. He just doesn't run out of energy. I was running out of energy!
By the time 46 miles was done I was beat. I was thankful that I had run Tuscobia the week prior; it made for a great training run for my birthday run! Tomorrow's Polar Dash will be s l o w recovery run as today's 10 miler was.
A birthday celebration dinner at Pittsburgh Blue last night with my family topped off the birthday day. Fabulous!
7 comments:
- SteveQ said...
I've got more mileage for the year than I expected (1876), though the lowest total in 15 years. Haven't run over 30 in one shot since April, though; 46 in December's amazing.
- Iris said...
Nice run! What kind of snowshoes do you use?
- Julie B said...
Hi Iris-since 2003 I've used the same pair of Northern Lights Elites. I see lighter smaller Dions time to time and I just might purchase a pair.
- Happy said...
Happy Birthday! Thanks for being such a great inspiration in 2010--Happy New Year!
Julie, Kathi here
No I do not work for
Brac an longer, but still go there a few days a week and do some contract nursing.
Happy Birthday !!
We are getting to the count down to the Mountain. Jan 23rd. We have been training hard for 6 months.We Need some Nutrition information. You talk about SCaps and Vespa. Were do we get these products and what else would you suggest for Nutrition and energy boosters, Bars, Gels Herbs ect..... It will be and 8 day trip up 19,400 feet. Can you give us a few websites to oder up some of whatever it takes to do the amazing things that you do. ( are the scaps the Succeed Caps? How many would we need to bring? (total of 10 days on the mountain, 3 week vacation, Safari to follow the climb. We will Actually be climbing approx 5-7 hours a day.
Thanks so much and again Happy Birthday. ihtakihtak @ ya hoo. com
- Julie B said...
Hmmm.Didn't think I'd make the 3000 mark for 2010 but I did better than that. 3402. Amazing. Felt like a walk in the park. Really.
- elizabeth said...
I really like my Northern Lites Elites, but when the snow is wet it tends to ball up around the cleats. Does that ever happen to you? If you buy the Dions, let us know how you like them.


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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In Arabic, a rooster is "ديك", "diyk". And that is why a dick is a cock.
This is a record of my journey as a Muslim. I used to be Catholic and belonged to a missionary organisation. After my conversion, I sat on the board of a Muslim converts' organisation and specialised in da'wah programmes, convert management, interfaith issues and apostasy cases. I am an initiate of a Sufi order. As such, the articles and writings tend to cover these areas. All the Arabic and graphics could not have been done without the help of my wife, Zafirah.


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has turned into a tyrant
When we adopted him, we really had NO IDEA what we were getting into. I'd had several cats throughout the years but they were mainly outdoor cats and barn kitties.
Between furniture shredding, closet and other stuff spraying, dog pouncing (in their sleep of course) and Suki bombarding, he has shown us the really bad side of cat ownership.
Throw in an unhealthy dose of "being high strung" and you get the picture that Leo is one neurotic cat.
He's been on meds and Feliway...you name it....and quite frankly, I was sick of it. Leo had worn out his welcome. I decided to give him up for that and another more serious reason...the dogs.
Ginger who used to lovingly clean him and play with him now wants to kill him. Once her attitude toward him changed Mojo picked up on it. They would growl at him and charge him. I knew it was just a matter of time before they teamed up and took him out. The thought of coming home to shredded cat wasn't very appealing.
Before that could happen, I decided to put Leo outside part of the day. I put his old collar back on and basically tossed him out. He had been out with us before lots of times...but never on his own.
I called the shelter I got him from and since they've known what has been going on, they said to do it. They didn't think anyone would want to adopt a high strung, mean tempered cat who only had eyes for yours truly. (he'd even started hissing at Dean and the kids...not good....not good at all.)
The good news is that "King kiss my butt" Leo has turned back into "I'm so glad to see everyone" Leo.
Now he goes in and out of the house with the dogs throughout the day....which totally cracks me up. Most of the time he stays outside...sometimes until 11 PM. He doesn't even mind the rain.
He loves to lie in the sun on the patio..
but when it gets too hot or starts to rain he gets up under the baker's rack...way at the bottom, there is even a tiny dish under there with water in it...for the toads....
I wonder if he drinks out of it?
All our poor lizards have half tails right now...should have warned the poor beasties...a few have become kitty chow...
here he is stalking one now...
Leo hasn't left the backyard yet. He hasn't jumped the fence but I know he might one day. He has been out for three months now and so far, he's been content to stay put.
He walks the fence line and then finds a sunny spot to relax...and watch the squirrels...he almost caught one the other day....he is getting pretty quick.
sometimes he plays with the willow branches when it is windy....he looks like a kitten when he does that.
When he comes in, he greets everyone lovingly...then he'll eat and promptly go to sleep.
All the other fur babies are happier too. Ginger and Mojo greet him now instead of growling at him.....whatever bad vibes he was giving off are gone.....so far...
I hope for good.....
peace is good.


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Who went trick or treating this Halloween?
I only had a few visits this year from the little annoying kids. Got all this left over sweets and chocz though
Trick or treat
Discuss anything in general here, talk to other members, make yourself at home!
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Trick or treat
Once you pop you can't stop
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Evidence grows that Perry wants change at UT
On the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday, Gov. Rick Perry's then-chief of staff called state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, to share some disturbing news.
The University of Texas regents planned to meet in a special telephone emergency session to discuss a new report that assistant football coach Major Applewhite had sexual relations with an adult student during the team's trip to the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
Zaffirini said that when she questioned the need for such an extraordinary meeting to discuss a four-year-old incident, the chief of staff, Ann Bishop, told her the regents were resolute.
"The regents don't want this to become another Penn State situation," Zaffirini recalled Bishop telling her.
To those who have followed the mounting tempest between the University of Texas and the Aggie-graduate governor, the inflammatory comparison provided more evidence that Perry — and his appointees — are on a mission to fire William C. Powers, the well-regarded president of the University of Texas at Austin.
To spotlight Applewhite's indiscretion would undermine the man at the helm of the institution that employs him. After all, the Sandusky affair cost the president of Penn Sate his job.
What started years ago as a philosophical difference between Perry and Powers about the role of public universities had officially devolved into a torrid sex scandal: The revelation of Applewhite's indiscretion took on special significance because university officials had just sacked track coach Bev Kearney for an affair with a student athlete on her team; an anonymous letter turned up suggesting that Powers could not clean house because he dated his future wife while she was a student at the UT law school and he was a professor there.
Last week, sources confirmed that Perry has communicated through emissaries that Powers should resign to avoid an embarrassing regents vote to fire him.
Powers declined to comment for this story.
Asked about reports that the governor had asked his regents to dismiss Powers, Perry spokesman Josh Havens said, "Personnel decisions are made by the board, not the governor."
When asked if Perry had compared the Applewhite incident to Penn State, Havens replied, "Board of regents carry the responsibility to ensure a safe and responsive environment on each of their campuses, and the governor expects them to uphold that responsibility."
Since early February, two regents publicly have demonstrated distrust of Powers — chastising him in public meetings for personnel decisions, making massive, sweeping document requests and prohibiting UT-Austin employees from deleting any emails.
On Wednesday, those regents — Wallace Hall and Brenda Pejovich of Dallas — were joined by two others in voting to spend a half-million dollars to reopen an investigation into the law school foundation's controversial "forgivable loan program."
Former law school dean Larry Sager was replaced after it was discovered he had obtained a $500,000 "forgivable loan" from the privately funded law school foundation. An investigation by the UT System — backed by the state attorney general's office — found no wrongdoing on Powers' part.
Regent Steve Hicks of Austin accused his colleagues of searching for a way to discredit Powers. In veiled language, he challenged his fellow regents to take an up-or-down vote to fire Powers.
"It would be simpler to me, instead of spending the money. If that's the real goal, let's just put that on the table and deal with it," Hicks said. After the meeting, Hicks posted on Facebook that he was "embarrassed" to be a UT regent.
Regents Chairman Gene Powell was absent from the meeting, but he said in an email that he concurred with reopening the investigation.
He also denied that Perry had asked the board of regents to fire Powers.
Last month, the hostilities spilled into public view when Powers' political friends gave ringing endorsements in legislative resolutions listing his accomplishments as UT president and when Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst teared up and said Powers was the victim of "character assassination." A special joint committee of the House and Senate was formed to investigate "micro-managing" by the UT regents of Powers' administration.
Legislators are prepped for a fight: Zaffirini has made her own open records request, demanding to see UT System emails relating to Powers. Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, sent a letter urging regents not to waste taxpayer money on an unneeded investigation but to ask the attorney general to review the matter.
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, sent a letter complaining to UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa that a staff member representing him had been barred from attending a regents committee meeting last week. And the Texas Senate Nominations Committee has not shown urgency in confirming three new Perry appointees to the board of regents.
Zaffirini said she believed the regents were hoping to make life miserable enough that Powers would resign. In fact, several key administrators have resigned their positions in recent months, including UT System general counsel Barry Burgdorf, author of the initial law school foundation investigation, and Steve Leslie, UT vice president and provost, whose office has been inundated with data requests by the regents.
"It clearly amounts to harassment," Zaffirini said. She noted that the new legislative task force on university governance had just admonished the UT regents to drop any "witch hunts."
Why would Perry want to fire the Harvard-educated Powers, who recently was chosen as next president of the Association of American Universities, the nation's consortium of leading research universities?
It might have roots in a May 2008 summit led by Perry contributor and Austin businessman Jeff Sandefer, a former UT adjunct business professor who developed a new model for higher education.
Sandefer instantly drew controversy by insisting that colleges rate their professors by what they "earn" their institutions, based on the number of students they taught. Critics said that system undervalued professors engaged in research or teaching complex subjects to small groups.
In 2011, Perry's new appointees to the UT board began pushing Sandefer's ideas on a resistant UT administration.
The Legislature's ability to defend Powers ends when its members adjourn at the end of May.
If they leave Austin without confirming Perry's new regent appointees, Perry can extend the appointment to three other people of his choice to serve until the Legislature convenes again, in 2015.
Under current law, the regents could vote on any matter before them, though a proposal before the Legislature would prevent them from voting on personnel matters.


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Parents keep an eye out & check your folders for The Square 1 Art samples of your child's artwork! You can order different items with your child's artwork on it and it also helps raise money for our center. Thank you in advance for your support!
Be Sure to check out our Facebook page!
The Community Children's Center News
Dates to Remember
Apr 7th: Bike Day! Remember to bring your helmet and put your name on your bike! Parents are welcome to join us!
Apr 10th-17th: Spring Break! There will be NO 3hr VPK. Classes will resume Tuesday, April 18th.
Apr 14th: Good Friday! The Center will be CLOSED!
Apr 16th: Easter Day. Here are some Easter Traditions for Families:
Apr 19th: Southern SnoBalls is here! Don't forget your $2.00 for a sno-cone!
Week of the Young Child
Apr 24th-28th: Help us celebrate the Week of the Young Child and wear a purple ribbon to honor those who work hard everyday to provide quality child care and education to our children! We will have special activities planned each day this week. Feel free to incorporate them at home as well:
Music Monday! Sing, dance, celebrate, and learn
Through music, children develop math, language, and literacy skills - All while having fun and being active!
TRY THIS: Find the beat to connect music, movement, and math. Practice clapping, drumming, or stomping to the beat of the music while counting.
Tasty Tuesday Healthy eating and fitness at home and school
Kids can practice an astonishing amount of social skills through food. Collaborating on recipes, preparing and serving meals for others to enjoy, and sitting down to food with pleasant conversation and good table manners all involve learning and practicing skills central to a happy social life. Each classroom will be provided with a variety of ingredients to make their own trail mix.
Work Together Wednesday Work together, build together, learn together
When children build together they explore math and science concepts and develop their social and early literacy skills. Children can use any building material—from a fort of branches on the playground to a block city in the classroom, or a hideaway made from couch pillows at home.
TRY THIS: Practice organizing blocks by size! Try building a block tower with large blocks on the bottom and little blocks on top!
Artsy Thursday Think, problem solve, create
Children develop creativity, social skills and fine motor skills with open-ended art projects where they can make choices, use their imaginations, and create with their hands. On Artsy Thursday celebrate the joy and learning children experience when engaged in creative art making. Use any materials—from crayons to paint, clay to crafts!
TRY THIS: Bring art outdoors! Offer dark and light paper, chalk and pastels, and suggest children create their own versions of the day and night sky!
Family Friday Sharing family stories
Engaging and celebrating families is at the heart of supporting our youngest learners. NAEYC applauds family members' role as young children's first and most important teachers.
TRY THIS: Invite parents for a Family Friday breakfast, where children can prepare and share breakfast treats with their families!
We will be offering a FREE 4 year old extension program for graduating VPK'ers starting June 5th-July 28th. The 4-Hour program will be from 8am-12pm Monday-Friday and Breakfast & lunch are included. To reserve your child a spot in our 4 year old extension program you must submit a one-time, non-refundable $50 Registration Fee. Hurry to reserve your spot, space is limited!
Check out our flyer for more information.
April is The "Share a Book" Program Month
Here is how it works:
This month you will find a page of cut outs in your child's family file folder (you will also find extra ones in the front entry way). Please take as many as you want.
Every time you read a book to your child, write his/her name and the name of the book on a cut out and present it to your child's teacher.
At the end of the month the classroom with the most cut outs will pick out a new book for their classroom library and enjoy a healthy snack!!
Remember to keep Reading to your children everyday!
What class will be the next winner?
"Everything we do improves the lives of children."
Child Care of Southwest Florida 6831 Palisades Park Ct. Suite 6 Fort Myers, Florida 33912 You received this email because your child is enrolled at one of the Child Care Centers of Southwest Florida. Our 6 locations: The Children's Learning Center at FSW | Joseph H. Messina Child Care Center | P.A. Geraci Development Center | The Community Children's Center | Children's Garden of LaBelle | Harlem Academy Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails