Notes consumer dissatisfaction with Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Highlights legislative efforts aimed at a patients' bill of rights, including the political partisanship involved. (HTH)

Responds to an article by Strubell, "Language, Democracy, and Devolution in Catalonia," arguing that the nationalism that already exists is viewed as the norm and suggesting that the Catalan nationalism and its attempts at affirmative action are menacing. The paper worries that demographic realities might push Catalan nationalism into…

Discusses the advantages of placing school handwashing stations in the adjacent hallway in terms of space conservation, traffic management, cost savings, and facility maintenance. Also addressed are issues of privacy, meeting American with Disabilities Act requirements, and reducing vandalism. (GR)

Describes a facilities-management software program that helps managers better document and understand maintenance backlogs, improvements, and future cyclic renewal needs. Major software components are examined including a software tool that filters, groups, and ranks projects to help determine funding requests. (GR)

Describes how a metal roofing system can offer a variety of cost and design benefits when retrofitting a facility. Discusses the available options in metal roofing systems, steps to take when initiating a retrofit, and suggested precautions, such as moisture control, when installing the new roof. (RJM)

Discusses the decision process for replacement or renovation of aging school bleachers. Topics address building code adherence, bleacher safety inspection, bleacher repair tips, and floor-traction power retrofitting. (GR)

This study considers the relationship between Cajun ethnicity and the intergenerational transmission of the French language. The commonsensical assumption of a positive relationship between ethnic identity and language transmission is questioned. It is suggested that if an ethnicity is associated with socioeconomic disadvantages, then the greater…

Assimilation and multiculturalism are seen as two opposing ideas. A balance between cultural similarities and differences is needed. Diversity within cultural groups must be accepted in order for cultural diversity to be valued by all cultures. Multicultural education needs to focus on valuing diversity without devaluing similarities. (MMU)

Reveals how Ohio's Central State University avoided state closure with a bold mission to rebuild both the academic programs and the facilities. What the new century holds for maintenance, software, card systems, contract services, and security and online purchasing are discussed. (GR)

Other languages in Israel, such as Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, and Judeo-Persian suffer from a serious lack of well-prioritized efforts in accord with their specific language planning needs. This current insufficiency of funds and effort may lead to the early demise of most Jewish languages other than Hebrew in Israel, with the exception of…

Outlines some of the key complexities and controversies that surround the advocacy of minority language rights, most notably via the movement of linguistic human rights (LHR). Argues that while the LHR movement has much to offer, particularly in articulating how minority languages might come to enjoy some of the privileges accorded majority…

Several studies identifying establishing operations for negatively reinforced behavior among nine adults with developmental disabilities are reported. After verifying through functional analysis that self-injurious behavior was maintained by escape, some establishing properties of task demands were investigated by systematically altering task…

Discusses how the talking drum has been a viable cultural voice for many West and Central African cultures in the acquisition of literacy. Emphasizes musical character of tonal languages and the use of the talking drum for literacy purposes. Proposes research questions regarding function and use of music and language; describes role of the talking…

Examines one stage of ethnic identity formation and its affects on attitudes toward the heritage language among a group of Americans of Asian descent in the United States. Studied published narratives to discover whether feelings of ambivalence and evasion experienced by this population toward their ethnicity extended to the heritage language, and…

A well-planned maintenance program will prolong a new school building's life expectancy and save enormous sums. A maintenance program should include a facility inventory, a building archive, management of punch-list and warranty items, custodial service, proactive maintenance, a maintenance schedule, and energy conservation features. (MLH)