| 2 TPS bus drivers resign after convictions surface
Tulsa Public Schools announced Monday that it had allowed two school bus drivers to resign after learning in recent weeks that they are convicted felons.
Tanza M. Bryant, 41, and Joycelyn L. Lowe, 36, left the district after administrators confronted each with court records documenting their felony convictions related to shoplifting, said Roger Holder, TPS' compliance officer.
District policy prohibits employing anyone with any felony conviction or any misdemeanor conviction involving drug or sex offenses in the last 12 years.
Bryant was hired in August and Lowe in October, TPS records show.
Holder said he had learned in December that the company TPS contracts with for nationwide background searches on prospective employees, USIS, was only checking records dating 10 years.
Cougars on the prowl
"What's a cougar-woman?" Barbara Walters asked recently on "The View," in that Barbara Walters way of hers: part journalist, part socialite with a dirty mind. And thus, the archetype of the cougar - the sexy older woman who seduces younger men - reached the ears of a woman in sensible pumps. Another cultural boundary had been breached. But don't fret, Barbara; you're not too late. If Mrs. Robinson came first, and Samantha on "Sex and the City" gave hope for broad acceptance, the cougar has now become a full-fledged pop-culture punch line. Last summer, NBC gave us "Age of Love," a dating show that pitted 20-something "kittens" against 40-something cougars in pursuit of one hot Australian man. (The winner, no surprise, was 25.) In last fall's straight-to-DVD movie "Cougar Club," Faye Dunaway vamped as the oversexed wife of a college grad's boss-to-be.
AOL Personals – Zogby Poll Probes American Views on Love and ...
Dulles, Va. and Utica, New York. More than 4 in 10 Americans (44%), including 50% in their 20s dont believe that they need to be married to validate the commitment of a long-term relationship, according to a survey from AOL Personals (http://personals.aol.com) and Zogby*. This is just one of the many findings from a new interactive survey of Americans age 20 to 69 that tackles how different generations view a wide range of relationship issues from love to soul mates, money and trust. While many dont believe marriage is the ultimate symbol of commitment, there are significant differences among older and younger adults regarding how they view dating while nearly half of Americans said they would date someone who is not interested in a long-term relationship, older adults tend to be more open to dating without fixating on how long a relationship might last.
Doctor's advice - She's an independent young woman
Good day doctor, I am a 22-year-old young lady, and I have been told that 'independent females' always seem to have problems with males who deem themselves to be God's gift to women. Well, I am dating a young man like that, who is a year older than me, and who seems very naive and narrow-minded. Also, he appears rather intimidated by me. But the big problem is his interfering mother and his meddling aunt! His 'Mama' does not like me, and claims that I am 'the wrong star sign' (Leo)! In fact, the control that his beloved mother has on him is upsetting to me. She is already having converse about her future grandchildren, and saying that I could not care for them in the way that she can. I think I am falling in love with this boy, but I can't cope with his awful mother, who continuously interferes with our relationship.
Natalie Portman - more than a woman
Society's attitude to powerful women has scarcely changed in the 472 years since Anne Boleyn was beheaded at the Tower of London, concludes the actress Natalie Portman, who portrays Henry VIII's unfortunate second wife in The Other Boleyn Girl. "You do see how people were calling her [Anne] a witch for having power, and people do that still," argues Portman. "I mean, we still demonise women in power and we still make them targets of ridicule. It's so easy to call them names and criticise them for having power, for making changes, for being strong. Like Hillary Clinton, who I think is so very smart. It's interesting to me that that taboo is still in place," she says. In recent years, the focus of public criticism has switched to female celebrities.
Everyone is afraid: the world according to Abou Jahjah
Unions such as the socialist FGTB/ABVV with one million members in its Flemish section almost half the working population can do a lot. I myself was in one of the two biggest trade unions in Belgium, having advanced to a leading position of responsibility for their migrant worker policy. Mine, however, turned out to be a purely ceremonial function. I had no notion of cultural or identity politics at that stage. I was not alone being paid to combat discrimination in the labour market. I had fifteen colleagues alongside me. But they didnt let us get on with it. We were encouraged to organise events to enhance the unions profile, and that of the socialist party to which it was linked. That was it. We were certainly not intended to have any structural impact on the problem.
The Decline and Fall of NATPE
Everyone with even the faintest appreciation for films and TV knows that the Oscar awards are about to unfurl, with full speed preparation, following the end of the writers' strike. But comparatively few people outside The Industry know about what is – or more accurately, was – perhaps Hollywood's most important day outside of the annual Oscars and Emmys: the NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) Conference, held annually in Las Vegas. (In the past, it sometimes alternated with New Orleans, but Hurricane Katrina put a stop to that.) NATPE originally began as a spinoff of the National Broadcasters' Association's annual conference in the mid 1960's, but its glory days really began in the early ‘70s, when the FCC's Prime Time Access Rule, was first implemented.
Coke susbidiary SPC Ardmona cuts 50 jobs
COCA Cola Amatil subsidiary SPC Ardmona has cut 50 staff from its permanent workforce, citing drought and increasing import volumes of processed fruit and vegetables. SPC said the restructure resulted in both redundancies and a number of vacant positions not being filled. "We regret having to take this step,'' managing director Nigel Garrard said. "We have been dealing with the effects of this drought and the competition from imported products for some time, and have managed to keep the business profitable and our growth plans on track.'' "However, to remain competitive, we have had to make the hard decision to take further costs out of the business and restructure our operations.'' Mr Garrard said the cost of the restructuring would be covered by operational and other cost savings across SPC and the wider Coca Cola Amatil group.
Three from Limestone named players of week
Thomasville, N.C. -- Limestone College's Christian Munn, Brendan Storrier and Matt Pinder were recognized as NCAA Division II Conference Carolina Players of the Week on Wednesday. Munn, a member of the men's tennis team, aided the Saints in an 8-1 win over North Georgia at the No. 4 singles flight. Along with doubles partner Thomas Olliveier, Munn also picked up a win at the No.1 doubles flight and was 2-0 for the week. Storrie, a junior, received Offensive Player of the Week honors as a member of the men's lacrosse team after recording 13 points from seven goals and six assists in his first two games. Senior defender Matt Pinder, also of the men's lacrosse team, anchored a Limestone defense that only allowed three goals in the Saints' season opening 22-3 win against Lees-McRae.
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