Albanian Youth Project
Civic Education
Through the Civic Project, the youngsters will have the possibility to contribute in their community. By participating and contributing in the community they will practice how to solve out the community problems; they will develop their research and communicative skills, thus, resulting to realize their civic education. Through the integration of the Civic Project, "Learn by Participating", the youngsters will have new access in their education process in the schools by practicing and communicating with experts of the different organizations acting in this area.
Active citizen
During Civic Project the youngsters will have the opportunity to learn about the practical aspects of the civic participation. The youngsters themselves will identify their needs and community issues they have to tackle, and they will also be the ones to propose the solutions. In such a way, they will practice their knowledge and supported by us they will also widen this knowledge. The project will help identify the active youngsters, who have the will to get involved, and who possess organizational and management skills.
Defining priorities, the rule of law as the means to solve out local community problems, transparency, etc. will be some of the areas where these active young citizens will get skilled.
Cooperation
During the implementation of this project the youngsters will get to know with the best practices of the community work. They will have the chance to be trained, to participate in the implementation process of the projects and to get informed on the community issues they are concerned and interested. During this process they will cooperate with the local power authorities, different actors of the civil society, youth organizations, environment organizations, community, etc. where they will find support and help for their future plans. The web page of the Civic Project will provide to the youngsters the opportunity to join their forces and ideas and realize their goals through these community projects where in the meantime announcement may be published by the Local Power Authorities.
Access to information
In the Web Page of the Citizenship Project, youth will find information about the ways to be involved and work in the youth field. The information will address how to draft and implement a project-idea, how to plan and organize the work with the community, information regarding the practices followed by students and youth organizations in European Union countries and the opportunities to collaborate with them. A considerable space will be dedicated to the Local Government Transparency, giving to the public a way to know the activities of the respective municipalities.
Inclusion in the Local Government Budget
Activities proposed directly by the communities will have part of the required funds foreseen in the Local Governments Budgets.
Aims of the project and indicators
To promote Active Citizenship giving to youth the opportunities; to be involved in decision making and offering solutions for the acute problems of their communities, to become part of debates and social movements, to take part and responsibilities in their communities, thus improving their role and skills as citizens.
To offer the model of active youth who has the will to create, to change and to improve things valuable for the community. This youth can join the ideas and forces with others, in a project plan with a common aim.
To integrate Active Citizenship as part of social issues in high schools and Universities.
Establishment of the Community Action Groups as joint bridge between community and local government, by specifying priorities and by generating solutions with respective project drafts. Inclusion of the community initiatives in the budgets of local governments.
Objectives
Establishment and training of Action Groups in 7 pilot communities.
Development of an interactive web-site that will help by providing information about the work with the community, support information and ideas, and by working together with the communities in realizing the projects they presented
To encourage the best projects through symbolic premiums and to generate financial opportunities for other projects, by promoting them in the web site, in media and during other activities of the Citizenship Project (Ideas Fair, meetings with different donors, agreements with municipalities, etc).
To meet the initiatives and projects of the communities with the programs and local or international organizations, to promote their needs in the collaboration with the communities, and to offer training and education opportunities for the people involved in Citizenship Project.
Civic Education
Through the Civic Project, the youngsters will have the possibility to contribute in their community. By participating and contributing in the community they will practice how to solve out the community problems; they will develop their research and communicative skills, thus, resulting to realize their civic education. Through the integration of the Civic Project, "Learn by Participating", the youngsters will have new access in their education process in the schools by practicing and communicating with experts of the different organizations acting in this area.
Active citizen
During Civic Project the youngsters will have the opportunity to learn about the practical aspects of the civic participation. The youngsters themselves will identify their needs and community issues they have to tackle, and they will also be the ones to propose the solutions. In such a way, they will practice their knowledge and supported by us they will also widen this knowledge. The project will help identify the active youngsters, who have the will to get involved, and who possess organizational and management skills.
Defining priorities, the rule of law as the means to solve out local community problems, transparency, etc. will be some of the areas where these active young citizens will get skilled.
Cooperation
During the implementation of this project the youngsters will get to know with the best practices of the community work. They will have the chance to be trained, to participate in the implementation process of the projects and to get informed on the community issues they are concerned and interested. During this process they will cooperate with the local power authorities, different actors of the civil society, youth organizations, environment organizations, community, etc. where they will find support and help for their future plans. The web page of the Civic Project will provide to the youngsters the opportunity to join their forces and ideas and realize their goals through these community projects where in the meantime announcement may be published by the Local Power Authorities.
Access to information
In the Web Page of the Citizenship Project, youth will find information about the ways to be involved and work in the youth field. The information will address how to draft and implement a project-idea, how to plan and organize the work with the community, information regarding the practices followed by students and youth organizations in European Union countries and the opportunities to collaborate with them. A considerable space will be dedicated to the Local Government Transparency, giving to the public a way to know the activities of the respective municipalities.
Inclusion in the Local Government Budget
Activities proposed directly by the communities will have part of the required funds foreseen in the Local Governments Budgets.
Aims of the project and indicators
To promote Active Citizenship giving to youth the opportunities; to be involved in decision making and offering solutions for the acute problems of their communities, to become part of debates and social movements, to take part and responsibilities in their communities, thus improving their role and skills as citizens.
To offer the model of active youth who has the will to create, to change and to improve things valuable for the community. This youth can join the ideas and forces with others, in a project plan with a common aim.
To integrate Active Citizenship as part of social issues in high schools and Universities.
Establishment of the Community Action Groups as joint bridge between community and local government, by specifying priorities and by generating solutions with respective project drafts. Inclusion of the community initiatives in the budgets of local governments.
Objectives
Establishment and training of Action Groups in 7 pilot communities.
Development of an interactive web-site that will help by providing information about the work with the community, support information and ideas, and by working together with the communities in realizing the projects they presented
To encourage the best projects through symbolic premiums and to generate financial opportunities for other projects, by promoting them in the web site, in media and during other activities of the Citizenship Project (Ideas Fair, meetings with different donors, agreements with municipalities, etc).
To meet the initiatives and projects of the communities with the programs and local or international organizations, to promote their needs in the collaboration with the communities, and to offer training and education opportunities for the people involved in Citizenship Project.
Dr. Jack E. Rechcigl (born February 27, 1960 in Washington, DC) is a soil scientist and agronomist and authority of environmental aspects of
agriculture and the utilization of biodegradable waste and industrial waste for agricultural uses. He is the youngest
director of a research and education center in the Florida system and the recently built Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.
Education and professorship
He is associated with the University of Florida in Gainesville,
where he holds the position of Professor in the Soil and Water Science
Department and Director of the University of Florida's Regional Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, located in Balm, Florida, near Wimauma. Prior
to that, Dr. Rechcigl had served as Associate Director and then Director of the
Bradenton and Dover, FL facilities, which are part of the
University Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS). Before moving to the Bradenton facility in February 2000, Dr.
Rechcigl was stationed, as a researcher, at the UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center at Ona for 15 years.
At the Ona center, he conducted research on the fertilizer requirements of pasture
grasses and the effects of fertilizer on surface and ground
water quality. He also carries out significant research on the
beneficial uses of biodegradable wastes and industrial waste
by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops.
Rechcigl received his bachelor's degree in plant and soil science from the University of Delaware in 1982. He completed his master's and doctoral degrees in soil, crops and environmental sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983 and 1986, respectively.
He joined the faculty of the University of Florida in 1986 as
Assistant Professor, in 1991 was promoted to Associate Professor, and
in 1996 attained Full Professorship. In 1999, he was named a
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor.
He is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, center director in the entire University of Florida system. Soon after his appointment he learned that the UF was planning to abolish the Bradenton Center because of its poor physical condition and old age. Against all odds, with the support of the growers and the State legislature, Rechcigl succeeded in building a brand new modern center in Balm, which is a state-of-the-art and a showplace among all UF/ IFAS centers. Apart from its cutting-edge research in biotechnology, the Center has become an important resource for the growers in solving their problems. In 2006, the Center organized Florida Ag Expo, first of its kind, consisting of a two-day seminar and trade show, aimed at the state's vegetable and strawberry producers. Because of its popularity and success, the University of Florida has made it an annual event.
Research
Rechcigl is recognized internationally for his research on the beneficial uses of industrial waste and by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops.
The primary focus of Rechcigl's research has been on evaluation of the fertilizer requirements for pasture grasses and legumes and determination of the effects of the fertilizer amendments on surface and groundwater quality. His studies have conclusively shown that there is no economic advantage from applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to Bahia grass. As a result of his work, fertilizer recommendations have been revised, eliminating the need for phosphorus and potassium fertilization on major pasture grasses grown in Florida. These revisions have saved Florida cattle producers millions of dollars in fertilizer costs. He is currently extending his studies to other forage grasses.
Rechcigl has also successfully assessed the potential uses of various organic biodegradable wastes and industrial wastes and by-products as fertilizers. Through the support of a million-dollar grant, he has evaluated the potential of using phosphogypsum (a waste product of phosphate mining) as a source of nutrients for crops. These results have generated tremendous interest both in the agricultural and the environmental regulatory community, as well as in international agricultural circles, which has led to invitations for Rechcigl to speak about his research findings in a number of countries. Several of these countries are now using phosphogypsum as a fertilizer where, in the past, it was dumped in the ocean as a waste. He has also been invited to give keynote addresses at several prestigious symposia on the utilization of inorganic and organic wastes in agriculture. Rechcigl's research has generated more than $3 million in grants.
Authorship
Rechcigl has authored over 300 publications, including
contributions to books, monographs, and articles in periodicals in the
fields of soil fertility, environmental
quality, and water pollution. His research has been supported by
research grants totaling over $5 million from
both private sources and government agencies. Rechcigl has been a
frequent speaker at national and international workshops and
conferences and has consulted in various countries, including
Canada, Brazil, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Philippines, France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and has active collaboration with Charles University in Prague, Czech University of Agriculture Prague, Technical University of Ostrava and Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. He also serves on a number of national and international boards, including theCukurova University' Mediterranean International Center for Soils and Environment Research in Turkey.
He is Editor-in-Chief of the "Agriculture and Environment Book
Series." Until recently he was Associate Editor of the Soil and Crop Science Society of FL Proceedings and Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality.
Recent publications
*Insect Pest Management: Techniques for Environmental Protection (Lewis Publishers, 2000)
*Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1998)
*Environmentally Safe Approaches to Crop Disease Control (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1997)
*Soil Amendments and Environmental Quality (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1995)
*Soil Amendments: Impacts on Biotic Systems (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1995)
*Use of By-Products and Wastes in Agriculture (American Chemical Society, 1997).
Recognition
Rechcigl is a member of the American Chemical Society, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy,International Soil Science Society, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, various trade organizations, and the honorary societies of Sigma Xi,Gamma Sigma Delta,Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society, and Gamma Beta Phi. He is also an Eagle Scout.
Rechcigl has been the recipient of numerous awards, including theSigma Xi Research Award, University of the Philippines Research Award, University of Florida Research Honor Award, University of Florida Research Achievement Award, and University of Delaware presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement Award. He was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and Fellow of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences. He also holds an Honorary Professorship from the Czech University of Agriculture Prague.
Rechcigl is married to Nancy Rechcigl and has three children: Gregory, Kevin and Lindsey.
agriculture and the utilization of biodegradable waste and industrial waste for agricultural uses. He is the youngest
director of a research and education center in the Florida system and the recently built Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.
Education and professorship
He is associated with the University of Florida in Gainesville,
where he holds the position of Professor in the Soil and Water Science
Department and Director of the University of Florida's Regional Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, located in Balm, Florida, near Wimauma. Prior
to that, Dr. Rechcigl had served as Associate Director and then Director of the
Bradenton and Dover, FL facilities, which are part of the
University Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS). Before moving to the Bradenton facility in February 2000, Dr.
Rechcigl was stationed, as a researcher, at the UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center at Ona for 15 years.
At the Ona center, he conducted research on the fertilizer requirements of pasture
grasses and the effects of fertilizer on surface and ground
water quality. He also carries out significant research on the
beneficial uses of biodegradable wastes and industrial waste
by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops.
Rechcigl received his bachelor's degree in plant and soil science from the University of Delaware in 1982. He completed his master's and doctoral degrees in soil, crops and environmental sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983 and 1986, respectively.
He joined the faculty of the University of Florida in 1986 as
Assistant Professor, in 1991 was promoted to Associate Professor, and
in 1996 attained Full Professorship. In 1999, he was named a
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor.
He is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, center director in the entire University of Florida system. Soon after his appointment he learned that the UF was planning to abolish the Bradenton Center because of its poor physical condition and old age. Against all odds, with the support of the growers and the State legislature, Rechcigl succeeded in building a brand new modern center in Balm, which is a state-of-the-art and a showplace among all UF/ IFAS centers. Apart from its cutting-edge research in biotechnology, the Center has become an important resource for the growers in solving their problems. In 2006, the Center organized Florida Ag Expo, first of its kind, consisting of a two-day seminar and trade show, aimed at the state's vegetable and strawberry producers. Because of its popularity and success, the University of Florida has made it an annual event.
Research
Rechcigl is recognized internationally for his research on the beneficial uses of industrial waste and by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops.
The primary focus of Rechcigl's research has been on evaluation of the fertilizer requirements for pasture grasses and legumes and determination of the effects of the fertilizer amendments on surface and groundwater quality. His studies have conclusively shown that there is no economic advantage from applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to Bahia grass. As a result of his work, fertilizer recommendations have been revised, eliminating the need for phosphorus and potassium fertilization on major pasture grasses grown in Florida. These revisions have saved Florida cattle producers millions of dollars in fertilizer costs. He is currently extending his studies to other forage grasses.
Rechcigl has also successfully assessed the potential uses of various organic biodegradable wastes and industrial wastes and by-products as fertilizers. Through the support of a million-dollar grant, he has evaluated the potential of using phosphogypsum (a waste product of phosphate mining) as a source of nutrients for crops. These results have generated tremendous interest both in the agricultural and the environmental regulatory community, as well as in international agricultural circles, which has led to invitations for Rechcigl to speak about his research findings in a number of countries. Several of these countries are now using phosphogypsum as a fertilizer where, in the past, it was dumped in the ocean as a waste. He has also been invited to give keynote addresses at several prestigious symposia on the utilization of inorganic and organic wastes in agriculture. Rechcigl's research has generated more than $3 million in grants.
Authorship
Rechcigl has authored over 300 publications, including
contributions to books, monographs, and articles in periodicals in the
fields of soil fertility, environmental
quality, and water pollution. His research has been supported by
research grants totaling over $5 million from
both private sources and government agencies. Rechcigl has been a
frequent speaker at national and international workshops and
conferences and has consulted in various countries, including
Canada, Brazil, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Philippines, France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and has active collaboration with Charles University in Prague, Czech University of Agriculture Prague, Technical University of Ostrava and Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. He also serves on a number of national and international boards, including theCukurova University' Mediterranean International Center for Soils and Environment Research in Turkey.
He is Editor-in-Chief of the "Agriculture and Environment Book
Series." Until recently he was Associate Editor of the Soil and Crop Science Society of FL Proceedings and Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality.
Recent publications
*Insect Pest Management: Techniques for Environmental Protection (Lewis Publishers, 2000)
*Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1998)
*Environmentally Safe Approaches to Crop Disease Control (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1997)
*Soil Amendments and Environmental Quality (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1995)
*Soil Amendments: Impacts on Biotic Systems (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1995)
*Use of By-Products and Wastes in Agriculture (American Chemical Society, 1997).
Recognition
Rechcigl is a member of the American Chemical Society, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy,International Soil Science Society, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, various trade organizations, and the honorary societies of Sigma Xi,Gamma Sigma Delta,Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society, and Gamma Beta Phi. He is also an Eagle Scout.
Rechcigl has been the recipient of numerous awards, including theSigma Xi Research Award, University of the Philippines Research Award, University of Florida Research Honor Award, University of Florida Research Achievement Award, and University of Delaware presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement Award. He was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and Fellow of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences. He also holds an Honorary Professorship from the Czech University of Agriculture Prague.
Rechcigl is married to Nancy Rechcigl and has three children: Gregory, Kevin and Lindsey.
eBoostr is a disk caching software that can use up to four drives including Nand (USB Flash memory) to improve data access speed and latency to cache memory.
Legacy computer life extention
This XP software could be a solution to 2007-2008 Nand memory chip oversupply and price erosion due in part to low adoption of Windows Vista thus ReadyBoost. Because Flash Nand memory is cheaper than RAM and also because of the scarcity of legacy DDR RAM from production switching to DDR2 and DDR3, this caching technology is a cheap solution for improving performance on computer with small amount of SDRAM (below 512MB). Switching these computer from XP to Vista even with ReadyBoost would have made more harm in term of performance.
Note: PC with USB 1.0 can't benefit from this technology.
Cheap Flash memory available in early 2008 has a maximum data rate averaging 25 MB/s. So by using more than one simultaneously it allows reaching the USB 2.0 limit of 60 MB/s (480 Mb/s) and with a much lower latency (~1 ms) than hard disk drives.
Note: Vista's caching technology ReadyBoost can't take benefit from more than one drive.
Legacy computer life extention
This XP software could be a solution to 2007-2008 Nand memory chip oversupply and price erosion due in part to low adoption of Windows Vista thus ReadyBoost. Because Flash Nand memory is cheaper than RAM and also because of the scarcity of legacy DDR RAM from production switching to DDR2 and DDR3, this caching technology is a cheap solution for improving performance on computer with small amount of SDRAM (below 512MB). Switching these computer from XP to Vista even with ReadyBoost would have made more harm in term of performance.
Note: PC with USB 1.0 can't benefit from this technology.
Cheap Flash memory available in early 2008 has a maximum data rate averaging 25 MB/s. So by using more than one simultaneously it allows reaching the USB 2.0 limit of 60 MB/s (480 Mb/s) and with a much lower latency (~1 ms) than hard disk drives.
Note: Vista's caching technology ReadyBoost can't take benefit from more than one drive.
The Eighth Hour Romance is a Pop-Punk band from Lakeland, Florida. The band was formed in 2005 and has continued playing shows locally in Central Florida since then. On December 6, 2006 the band released their first EP called, You Need This More Than I Do. The band has another EP being recorded, with a release date set for February 2, 2008.
Break Up
On January 13, 2008, the band announced that their last show would be on February 2, 2008 and they would be breaking up and moving on to other oppurtunities after that.
Guitarist Jay Aden has already confirmed that he will start a band called Iris, where he will be the lead vocalist and guitarist.
No other members have confirmed whether or not they will start a musical project.
Members
* Sean Croteau: vocals and guitars
* Michael Santiago: bass and vocals
* Luke Enfinger: drums
* Jay Aden: guitars and vocals
Break Up
On January 13, 2008, the band announced that their last show would be on February 2, 2008 and they would be breaking up and moving on to other oppurtunities after that.
Guitarist Jay Aden has already confirmed that he will start a band called Iris, where he will be the lead vocalist and guitarist.
No other members have confirmed whether or not they will start a musical project.
Members
* Sean Croteau: vocals and guitars
* Michael Santiago: bass and vocals
* Luke Enfinger: drums
* Jay Aden: guitars and vocals