The Bezos Scholars Program @ the Aspen Institute is a year-long leadership
development program for public high school juniors and educators to put their education into action. It begins with a scholarship
to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival and continues through the following school year when Bezos Scholar teams return home to
launch sustainable, Local Ideas Festivals that transform their schools and communities.
For ten years Scholar teams have mobilized communities around a range of
critical issues to alleviate rural poverty, increase digital literacy, create healthier food environments, inspire conservation
leadership, and more.
Are... You... Kidding?
FREE
Ivy League & Prestigious College
Courses On Line
from schools such as
Harvard -- Yale -- Princeton
-- Columbia -- Brown -- Stanford
University of Pennsylvania -- University of Michigan
Carnegie Mellon -- Duke -- Emory --
Vanderbilt -- Rice
MIT -- Cal Tech -- Georgia Tech -- Mt Sinai
School of Medicine
Berklee School of Music
U of CA Berkeley -- U of CA San Fran --
U of CA Irvine
U of Texas System -- U of Maryland / College Park
U of Illinois / Champaign Urbana
Ohio State University
University of Toronto Canada
University of British Columbia, Canada
Ecole Polytechnical Federale de Lausanne
London International Programme
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
U of Melbourne, Australia
University of Edinburgh
NO!It's True.
You can attend these top university classes
online for $0.00
And, similar college and class offerings are just beginning.
Many people are aware that "BMOC" means "Big Man On Campus."
Currently, few people are aware that "MOOC" means "Massive Open
Online Courses."
Yet, this fact is about to change.
"Massive Open Online Courses," MOOCs, harness
the power of their huge, worldwide enrollments to teach in new ways, applying crowd-sourcing technology to discussion
forums and grading plus enabling professors to use online lectures and reserve on-campus class time for interaction with
students.
This is more than exciting; it is a paradigm shift which I have
always felt more powerfuk than necessary than
1) that education far too expensive -- though I was
blessed with parents who made the sacrifice to pay for my Ivy League schooling;
2) that education got in the way of real learning -- somehow I
always found more learning in a Nat Geo article than a ten week course;
3) that it took far too long with too many incremental steps
to transfer knowledge -- 10 weeks, or 1680 hours to cover 36 credit hours was/remains nuts; and
4) that one can "shoot the moose from the lodge."**
Today, the Internet has so many facets and values to so many
people; email... websites... apps... games... shopping... downloads... and more.
Education is not new to the Internet. Before it,
correspondence course which rose out of the U.S. Postal Systems improved ability to deliver mail nationwide lead to the craze
wave of correspondence degrees in the early 1900s. Over the past decade or so, via the Internet, the University of Phoenix
grew from obsurity... to an online classroom... to a physical presence in numeropus location throught the country. However,
it is fee based.
College Campuses are great. They are where you physically
meet people and broaden your social knowledge. However, all this is ancillary to learning which is for the most part
singular: You read books alone... write notes in your own style... and if there is one, take a test alone.
If there is one thing that classes do offer, it is the AWARENESS
of classmates' minds by the questions they ask... and, the experience they bring.
Fuse the ultimate tele resource with the ultimate value of physical
class... and,
welcome to the new world of truly world-class TELE education
via the Internet where virtual class size is unlimited... experiences are worldwide... thinking is totally diverse...
to the point that it even challenges the talents of the wizened professors.
Free education. It is a grand time for humankind.
** The origins of the fourth point is a little embarrassing; but since
it has been THE ANCHORING PHILOSPHY of my business life... and now excitment for free, quality online
education,.. I must confess it; truly
for the first time.
Setting the scene:
Sixth Grade... Plunkett School...
Pittsfield MA... Men's room with the massive old fashioned urinals:
Lights, camera, action:
There I am... standing as far back from
one as possible... challenging the top force of my stream for a new distance record.
In walks Mr. Murphy... the Principal.
No stranger to his office or him, he sarcastically chirps...
"Sottile, you can't shoot the moose from
the lodge!" And storms out in disgust.
I mutter to myself in school-yard defiance... "Ya.. I'll bet you can!"
Fast Forward: In 1977,
after the inefficiency of trudging through field sales territorities for three companies, I pulled up to a Telex/TWX
machine of the third, and pioneered TELE (Greek word for REMOTE) APPROACHES to
structuring, selling, and closing business (figuratively speaking... shooting the moose from the lodge). This
was before big-ticket telemarketing became a norm... and long before the Internet, which to me is the ultimate TELE
RESOURCE. Even in this hyper-sensitive time of mentioning the word "shooting," the
Internet is the ultimate "arm" for shooting the moose from the lodge.
I believe that
used correctly, the
Internet will be "the weapon"
for winning world
peace through the
exchange of knowledge.
Your third grade teacher said that you had a problem with ath. You gave up on math;
and, you forever eliminated two-thirds of the jobs available in this world. Somebody decided the Navy needed a cook.
After your hitch, you opened a restaurant. Mother was a nurse. Now you are. Why are you? Where are
you? Becasue you want to be there? Think about it. Maybe you ought to be somewhere else. Maybe it's
no too late to figure out where, and how to get there.
Advertising
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SOTTILE PARK
In the Heart of Downtown
In The True Heart of The Berkshires
Pittsfield Massachusetts
WHITE 750
THE JACKIE & SHADOW STORY
THE BIG BEAR BALD EAGLE STORY
"JACKIE & SHADOW"
The Big Bear bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, have been nesting in Big Bear Valley since 2013, This is the first time
in three years that they have successfully hatched eaglets. In 2019, they had two chicks; and in 2022, they had one. This
year they had three eaglets, but one of the three eaglets that hatched in early March did not survive a storm. It passed
away on March 13, 2025.
NAMING CONTEST
The "Friends of Big Bear Valley" (FOBBV) are hosting a naming contest for the two surviving eaglets.
The Friends are inviting the public to submit name suggestions until March 28, 2025.
The FOBBV is asking for gender-neutral name suggestions and is accepting donations of $5 for one entry, $10 for three entries,
or $25 for 10 entries. The final names will be chosen by Big Bear Valley elementary school students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th
grades. The winners will be announced on April 1, 2025.
EAGLE CAM
The FOBBV operates a 24/7 live webcam of Jackie and Shadow's nest, which has drawn thousands of viewers worldwide.
The organization relies on donations to maintain the livestream, which is free from advertisements. Donations are appreciated!
The Bald Eagle is a large, powerful bird that has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782. It is a member
of the Accipitridae family and is found near large bodies of water throughout North America. Here are some key facts about
the Bald Eagle:
EAGLE BEHAVIOR & HABITAT
SIZE: 3 feet in length, 6-7 feet in wingspan, and 10-14 pounds in weight.
HABITAT: Found near large bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and coastlines.
DIET: Primarily feeds on fish, but also eats other small animals and carrion.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Listed as a species of Low Concern, but was once endangered due to habitat destruction, hunting, and
pesticide use.
INTERESTING BEHAVIORS
Bald Eagles are known for their impressive eyesight, which allows them to spot fish up to a
mile away. They are also skilled thieves, and have been known to steal food from other birds.
NESTING: Bald Eagles build large nests, called eyries, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure 10 feet wide and 6 feet
deep. These nests are often used for many years and may be added to over time.
MATING: Bald Eagles form long-term monogamous relationships, with some pairs staying together for up to 20 years.
BREEDING: Bald Eagles typically breed between March and May, with the female laying 1-4 eggs per clutch.
HUNTING: Bald Eagles are skilled hunters, using their sharp talons and strong wings to swoop down on their prey. They can
also steal food from other birds, such as osprey and hawks.
MIGRATION: While some Bald Eagles are migratory, others are resident birds that stay in their year-round territories.
Some Bald Eagles migrate from Canada and Alaska to the contiguous United States each winter, while others remain in their
year-round territories. Those that migrate typically travel in large groups, often with other species such as osprey and hawks.
HUNTING TECHNIQUES: Bald Eagles are skilled hunters, using a variety of techniques to catch their prey. Some of their methods
include:
DIVING: Bald Eagles will swoop down from high altitudes, using their sharp talons to snatch fish right out of the water.
PERCHING: Bald Eagles will perch above a body of water, scanning for fish and other prey below.
STEALING: Bald Eagles will steal food from other birds, such as osprey and hawks.
PREY: Bald Eagles primarily feed on fish, but will also eat other small animals such as; rabbits, squirrels, mice, and
carrion.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and The Migratory Bird Treaty Act Overview
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) are two federal laws of the United
States that protect birds, including eagles. Here's a brief overview of each act:
BALD EAGLE CONSERVATION STATUS
The Bald Eagle is no longer considered an endangered species in the United States. In 2007, the federal government removed
the Bald Eagle from its endangered species list, and in 2024, New Jersey removed the Bald Eagle from its endangered species
list, citing a remarkable comeback for the species.
Regardless, the Bald Eagle's status remains of "special concern" in New Jersey, and the species is still protected under The
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
proposed listing three subspecies of the Bald Eagle as endangered and two species as threatened under The Endangered Species
Act.
It's worth noting that while the Bald Eagle is no longer considered endangered, conservation efforts are still necessary to
protect the species and its habitats. Ongoing monitoring, habitat preservation, and public education are key to ensuring the
species' continued success.
THE PROTECION LAWS: Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA):
was enacted in 1940 to protect Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles
The Law prohibits the taking, possession, sale, purchase, barter, transportation, and exportation of bald and golden eagles,
including their parts, nests, and eggs
The Law allows for certain exceptions, such as: •
Permits for scientific research, education, and conservation
• Permits for Native American tribes for cultural and spiritual purposes • Permits for the use of eagle parts
in traditional crafts and ceremonies
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA):
was enacted in 1918 to implement international treaties with Canada, Mexico, and Japan to protect migratory birds
The Law prohibits the taking, possession, sale, purchase, barter, transportation, and exportation of migratory birds, including
their parts, nests, and eggs
Covers over 800 species of birds, including waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, and game birds
The Law allows for certain exceptions, such as: • Permits for hunting and trapping under specific regulations •
Permits for scientific research, education, and conservation • Permits for the use of bird parts in traditional crafts
and ceremonies
KEY PROVISIONS & PENALTIES
Both acts have similar provisions and penalties for violating the laws. Some key points include:
Penalties: Up to $100,000 in fines and/or up to one year in prison for individuals, and up to $200,000 in fines for organizations
Permits: Required for activities such as hunting, trapping, and possession of bird parts
Reporting: Required for the sale, purchase, and transportation of bird parts
Import and Export: Prohibited without a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service
Sottile Park Online Worldwide (SPOW) is a virtual cybercast park, offering users the ability to explore various locations
around the world through established web links. The cyber portal is named after Anthony W. Sottile, civic leader & family
man from The Heart of The Berkshires of New England. Virtually located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, SPOW! allows users to
"travel around the world in one day" or "visit the world in 80 seconds." The website provides media links, add-ons, and promotional
tools for users to enhance their knowledge and experience, online.
Copyright 2010 to Present JDS / John David Sottile
