The NWS just issued new advisories for the east coast. They’ve upgraded the watches in NC/Virginia to warnings and have extended the watch north to Maryland and just south of Jersey.

Here’s a link to the new advisory:

And here’s one to the map:

A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED
STATES FROM NORTH OF SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER…INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE
SOUNDS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA
NORTHEASTWARD TO SURF CITY.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT…

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* NORTH OF SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA
BORDER…INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS
* CAPE FEAR TO SURF CITY

INTERESTS FROM VIRGINIA NORTHWARD TO NEW ENGLAND SHOULD MONITOR
THE PROGRESS OF EARL.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES…INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS…PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES…PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

Source:

According to the American Heart Association, one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, the rate is higher in African Americans. People who suffer from high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease, kidney disease and renal failure. Sufferers are also at a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure, has no symptoms but is easy to diagnose by your doctor. While there are no symptoms, there are causes. See the list below to see if you fall in the high risk category and make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly and consult a doctor if it is high. High blood pressure registers at 130/80 or higher.

Causes of high blood pressure:

Genetics – Family history plays a major roll in the likely hood of developing high blood pressure. Just as hair color, height and eye color runs in families so does high blood pressure. While you can’t control your heredity you can take steps to lead a healthy lifestyle that will cut down on your chances of developing hypertension.

Poor Diet – Salty and fatty foods, specifically those that contain high concentration of saturated fats are major contributors to hypertension.

Obesity – People who are overweight have a higher rate of high blood pressure.

Lack of physical activity – Excersize helps the heart in many ways and conversly an inactive lifestyle can lead to high blood pressure.

Age – As people get older their risk of developing hypertension increases.

Stress – People who reported high levels of stress were more likely to have high blood pressure.

Drinking too much alcohol – Anything more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women can lead to high blood pressure.

Smoking and second-hand smoke – Smoking temporarily increases blood pressure and can damage arteries. Even second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Take this quiz from the American Heart Association to see if you are at risk for high blood pressure.

Quality teachers in the classroom

There should be more investment in good teachers, says Sarah Wessling, who received the National Teacher of the Year award from President Obama in April. Wessling, who teaches high school English in Iowa, is known for keeping her classroom exciting. Instead of having her students write traditional papers for homework, their assignments include writing songs, public service announcements and grant proposals.

“I remember the teacher who made a difference to me,” Wessling said. “And it reminds me how important it is to have that person in the classroom.”

Stop the testing obsession

Tests are a routine method of assessing school performance, but Gloria Allen, an elementary school science teacher in Washington, D.C., said some educators and parents put too much weight on a child’s test scores.
Instead of focusing solely on test performance, which may represent only one day of a student’s achievements, more attention should be placed on how a student performs the entire year, said Allen, who received a science teaching award this summer.

“There needs to be a better way of quantifying what we are doing,” she said.

Promote digital literacy

We may be in the internet age, but many school districts across the country still have inadequate access to computers, said Bruce Penniman, a former high school English teacher in Massachusetts who won several teaching awards in his 30-plus-year career. Access to technology may be especially limited in a bad economy, but many teachers agree that computers in the classroom can be a vital learning tool.

“The whole question of resources is always a big one,” said Penniman, who now works as a writing consultant. “We are still in an educational system where the kind of resources available depends on the ZIP code, and that’s really a tragedy.”

More teacher collaboration

Two minds together can be more successful than one, says Zanetta Robinson, a Florida middle school English teacher. Workshops and online training programs that allow teachers to collaborate can be useful for sharing effective teaching methods and not-so-successful classroom experiences.
“Unfortunately, you get a great foundation in school,” said Robinson, who won an early career teaching award. “But I think everyone understands theory and practice can be two different things.”

Find alternate sources of funding

The economic crisis is bad news for public schools. Even though schools across the country are tightening their budgets, schools should develop other ways to get money, said Bonnie Embry, who has garnered multiple awards for teaching elementary school science in Kentucky.

“While funding is vital to existing and expanding programs, schools need more initiatives that capitalize on the time, resources and knowledge of members of the community,” she said.

Improve parent-teacher relationships

Schools should take the time to develop relationships with parents, said Sally Hunter, a fourth-grade teacher at an elementary school in Texas. Parents are essential to a child’s success at school. Moms and dads should get involved inside and outside the classroom, she said.

“Schools should be a partner, not the sole proprietor of education,” said Hunter, who was honored with a social studies teaching award this year.

Year-round schooling

This proposal might make some students gripe, but year-round schooling could help them succeed academically, suggests Michael Koren, a Wisconsin instructor who has earned accolades for teaching middle school social studies. Koren says that over the three-month summer break, students lose a lot of information they learned during the school year. Another of Koren’s ideas: shifting school hours to accommodate parents’ work schedules so they can spend more time with their children.

“We need to change those paradigms,” he said.

Embrace creativity and risks

Byron Ernest, a third-grade science teacher, recommends placing an emphasis on schools becoming “learning organizations.” That means constantly trying new ideas and open inquiry, says Ernest, who received the 2010 Indiana Teacher of the Year award.
“Risk-taking must be commonplace and encouraged if this reform is to be successful,” he said.

Meet basic needs

Many families have been affected by the economic downturn, and schools should try to help families in need, says Debra Calvino, a math teacher who won the 2010 New York State Teacher of the Year award. She has noticed more homeless children entering the classroom.
“Until their basic needs are met and they are developmentally ready, all the best teachers, all the best programs and all the best techniques will not be able to help them learn,” she said.

Do you have an idea on how to fix our schools?

Source:

Trivia:

In 1984 a French fan committed suicide because he couldn’t have surgery to look like Jackson

The video for Scream was the most expensive ever at £3.8 million.

A library once accused the singer of owing $1 million in overdue book fines

Jackson was a vegetarian

He won an MTV award for Best Movie Song in 1994. It was for Will You Be There from the movie Free Willy

Trivia:

His total lifetime earnings from music are estimated at $500 million

Jackson regularly wore a black armband to remind people of children suffering around the world.

The moonwalk was picked up from street dancers

Little Richard wanted to be played by Jackson in a biopic

Jackson had a pet python called Crusher

Trivia:

Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State Anthem, South Carolina on My Mind.

He has waxworks in five Madame Tussauds museums across the world. Only Elvis Presley and Madonna have more.

He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide

His favorite superhero is Morph from X-Men

He had a pet ram called Mr Tibbs

Trivia:

Two of his other albums – Bad and Dangerous – are also among the world’s best-selling records

He popularized dance moves including the robot and the moonwalk

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice

He won 13 Grammy Awards

Billie Jean was the first video by a black artist to air on MTV

Trivia:

Two of his other albums – Bad and Dangerous – are also among the world’s best-selling records

He popularized dance moves including the robot and the moonwalk

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice

He won 13 Grammy Awards

Billie Jean was the first video by a black artist to air on MTV.

Trivia:

He was born on Aug 29, 1958

At the Brit Awards in 1996 Pulp front man Jarvis Cocker took exception to his bombastic performance of Earth Song and ran on to the stage

Jackson was very fond of Mexican food

In 1993 Jackson’s dermatologist said he had a rare skin disease called vitiligo, which causes sufferers to lose pigmentation in their skin

Thriller is the world’s best-selling record of all time with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide