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Link: Transit megaprojects and the battle between form and functionBy · Published in 2014
As long-time readers (or even recent converts to the site) know, I am not a particularly big fan of the Port Authority's PATH Hub at the World Trade Center site. It's a monument to an architect and a mall ahead of a transit center. Already, what's opened has been both overwhelming and less than impressive with narrow staircases and insufficient access to the platforms. As form and function pull at a limited pool of dollars, the PATH Hub is the epicenter for the debate.
Yesterday, The Atlantic's CityLab published a piece of mine on that very topic. It's the culmination of years of railing against the price tag and design of the PATH Hub. I'm not against great design for transit, but as it does at Grand Central, the design should flow from the function. Santiago Calatrava's monstrosity does just the opposite as form overwhelms function.
An excerpt:
From a practical perspective, where Grand Central seamlessly integrates commuters with its purpose as a rail depot, the Port Authority's new hub fails its customers, the PATH-riding public. One platform is already completed, and its design flaws are obvious. Staircases are too narrow to accommodate the morning crowds who come streaming out of the trains from Hoboken, Jersey City, and beyond, while the narrow platforms quickly fill with irate commuters. Anyone trying to catch a train back to the Garden State risks a stampede. The marble, bright and sterile, picks up any spill, and a drop of water creates dangerously slippery conditions until a Port Authority janitor scurries out of some unseen door, mop in hand. Passenger flow and comfort, two of the most important elements of terminal design, seem to be an afterthought. The PATH Hub is shaping up to be an example of design divorced from purpose.
The price tag too creates consternation among those fighting for sparse transit dollars. For $4 billion, the Port Authority could have extended PATH to Brooklyn, built a one-seat ride from Lower Manhattan to JFK Airport or helped cover the cost overruns from the dearly departed ARC Tunnel. For $4 billion, the MTA could build out most, if not all, of another phase of the Second Avenue subway or the lost 7 line station at 41st Street and 10th Avenue five times over. At a time with real needs for regional transportation improvements, a $4 billion missed opportunity stings….
In his writings and lectures on "Why Architecture Matters," the architectural critic Paul Goldberger writes: "When architecture is art, it does not escape the obligation to be practical, and its practical shortcomings should not be forgiven." Politicians choose architects who create buildings with visual designs that leave a mark in the public memory. For an occasional visitor to Lower Manhattan, Calatrava's building is a sight to see, but for an occasional PATH rider, Caltrava's platforms and staircases are a reminder that transit users in the eyes of celebrity crafters are afterthoughts. The riders don't post photos to Instagram and swoon over a stegosaurus-like structure rising out of the ashes of the Twin Towers; they grumble about narrow staircases and shoddy construction.
Please do go read the full piece at CityLab. I try to end it on an upbeat note. We as a society used to design great buildings that were also functional. If we try hard enough and focus properly, I'm sure we can do it again.
42 Responses to "Link: Transit megaprojects and the battle between form and function"
From above, it looks like the world's biggest toothpick dispenser.
Which isn't any better than a stegosaurus, but as noted, the transit part of the terminal was never what this was all about. It was the above-ground section that the builders cared about, much in the same way Robert Moses not only disliked subways, he hated vehicular tunnels, seeing them as nothing more than bathroom walls with paving that could never come close to matching the graceful magnificence of his bridges that all of New York could see.
Was that it? Or did moses just focus on bridges being much cheaper? A Brooklyn battery bridge that he favored might have had twice as many lanes for the same price as the tunnel.
Maybe true, but read Caro, to see Moses' true motive.
Cliche check, Paleontology Division: Folks gotta stop being so Jurassic. It's more like Ankylosaurus, Cretaceous period.
And, yes, that's nitpicking. But no less intense than some transit advocates arguing about differences in the A Division and B Division.
To be fair, there are legitimately some differences between the A and B Divisions; however, these primarily stem from design choices back to the origins of the IRT, IND, and BMT. These differences are kept for practicality purposes; that said, they still have more in common than LIRR and Metro-North.
I'd like to see a comparison of cost per traveler for PATH's Calatrava station vs. the MTA's new Fulton Street station.
That's comparing apples to carrots.
More like apples to ducks.
Are PATH passengers special or something!?
Sure we are. One can infer from Mr. Kabak's constant numbers comparison — though I dare not say he implies — that we are inferior, at least from a transit ridership/political perspective. And perhaps he is right on both counts.
Your trolling is awarded 0 points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
For 2012, the WTC station had 12,942,580 passengers. That translates to ~35,460 per day.
In contrast, the Fulton Center stop has 64,461 per day in 2013 (for 2012, the figure was 62,779).
The WTC average figures are a bit cooked in my opinion. The weekend figures are suppressed by the fact that (1) weekend service is spotty (this year non-existent) due to construction; (2) WTC is a hub below an active construction site. I'd expect that weekend figures will be up dramatically in 2015 compared with 2012. The weekday figures are already over 40,000, and that's without the occupancy of a single tower of the four planned towers at the site. Two of those towers will start seeing tenants during or before next year. In short, the passenger numbers are not that far apart.
So if the number of WTC passengers rises by about 80% (hard to imagine), it will be about equal to the number at Fulton Center.
Meanwhile, the WTC stop is three times as expensive as Fulton.
…and the platforms and staircases are too narrow, and the floor surfacing is slippery and inappropriate.
Whereas at Fulton, they opened up the platforms by removing clutter, and added staircases. You know, like you do if you are trying to accomodate a lot of people.
I still don't understand why ridership is the chief comparison here. The biggest problem with the PATH Transit Hub is that it's called the PATH Transit Hub when really it represents the umbrella term for all of the below-ground elements of the entire World Trade Center complex (minus the Calatrava dinosaur), which happen to include a PATH station.
So, that being said, if we compare the yearly revenue generated by the PATH Transit Hub vs. the yearly revenue generated by the Fulton Center, I think the numbers would be much more reflective of the construction costs. In terms of ridership, sure the Fulton Center will have more for now, and perhaps for the foreseeable future. But in terms of use by non-passengers, the Fulton Center will not come close to the PATH Transit Hub, which includes over 200,000 square feet of top-tier retail space and will be directly connected to all of the World Trade Center properties as well as Brookfield Place. This retail space, by the way, is over three times as much retail space as the Fulton Center. And I say "top tier" because it is important to note that these square feet are commanding higher prices per square foot than the Fulton Center. The MTA pushed for an Apple Store in the Fulton Center, but guess where the Apple Store is opening up downtown… I don't think a single tenant has been announced for the Fulton Center. The PATH hub also enhances the PANYNJ's surrounding buildings which all link directly into the underground complex. This will help support higher rents in their buildings (if they can eventually find tenants for 1WTC…).
So yes, if you are using ridership as your benchmark, the Fulton Center will win out. But the PATH Transportation Hub is not solely about transportation. It's also about enhancing the PANYNJ's properties and generating revenue through the largest luxury retail space in lower Manhattan. As a transportation investment, it's hard to square the $4 billion cost considering total ridership compared with, say, NY Penn Station or even the Fulton Center. And we have both read about the reasons why that price is so much higher than originally anticipated. But the transportation hub is really about so much more than just transportation.
If the PATH station had been designed properly, that might be fine.
But it wasn't. The platforms and staircases aren't doing what they need to do.
As far as I know the platforms where designed in the late 60s/early 70s when they were rearranged for the original World Trade Center.
How about a radical idea? A transportation hub that's at least mainly about transportation? You're apologia attempts to justify absurd cost over-runs, lousy design and construction quality of a train station, because it's "about so much more than transportation". A ridiculous excuse!
Excellent piece, and it speaks to many of the observations that I've noted here and on my own blog. The design put function a distant second to form, and the form is debatable. I'm sure it will be a favorite on Instagram and photo sharing sites for years to come, as commuters grumble about the incessant problems with the platforms, the access to platforms, and counter commutes.
The thing is that the Port Authority had all kinds of tools at its disposal to mitigate any of Calatrava's issues with the designs – particularly foot traffic and flow through to the platforms. There's software packages that can model how a given setup will work. It would appear that they ignored this.
Mind you, all the problems with the new platform in service is taking place with an 8-car train. The Port Authority plans on extending cars to 10-cars, particularly on the Newark-WTC line. If the remaining platforms have setups similar to the Hoboken-WTC line currently in service, you're going to have several hundred more people trying to get up the same cramped stairs and escalators with the same issues for counter-commuters.
It's a mess, and there's no one left to blame but the Port Authority officials who signed off on the mess. Can anyone (Gov. Christie or Gov. Cuomo) hold them responsible? I doubt it. They just want to see it done so that they can hold the ribbon cutting ceremonies.
Ben, you've really hit on the crux of the issue with the WTC hub in this post. In truth if you look at the surface level foot traffic connecting from Fulton St to the World Financial Center, and soon to the WTC towers, there will be a tremendous amount of foot traffic through the transit hub. That being said, it seems like almost all function was sacrificed in many places. The Dey street corridor, for example, was narrowed and will be an utter nightmare once this is all open. The path train stair cases are horrendous, and the platforms too narrow to really feel comfortable. They're nice off peak when no one is there but in the heat of rush hour, the stegasaurus-sized problems rear their heads.
Unfortunately, the folks at PATH appear to not understand pedestrian flow. The way that they organize the flow of escalators at JSQ is a clear example of this. They create massive choke points of crossing traffic. I'm highly disappointed that the new PATH hub is so poorly designed from a user standpoint. My only question,
Is it too late to create wider platforms before the whole project is too far along?? It probably is, oh well. This will certainly be a useful case study of how important it is to start with function and add form later.
It's too late to change the platform width. That's set by the track geometry and space for mechanicals and other underground components.
The one place where they might be able to improve matters is the access to the platforms – either by replacing escalators with stairs, or putting additional staircases in. Even then, that might not be possible due to the way that they designed the platforms with minimal columns supporting the levels above.
As this writer noted in the CityLabs comment section for Mr. Kabak's piece, the platforms, and staircases, for other portions of track level do appear to be wider, more able to handle customer flows.
And there's that Stego reference again. (Buzzer sounds.) Whatever the presumed ugliness of the Calatrava station, it doesn't look anything like a Stegosaurus to me. Or to 3rd and 4th graders I've talked to — and who knows dinosaurs better than that age cohort?
An important difference between GCT and the PATH Hub
GCT was built by a for profit entity with the express goal of enhancing those profits, i.e. making GCT as usable and as appealing as possible to build ridership.
I understand the "for-profit" moniker is the difference. But PANYNJ does not receive government subsidies. It's not the MTA or NJTransit or Amtrak. Its "profits" on the PATH hub are just as important to it as GCT profits were to the Vanderbilts. On the other hand, you can argue that Penn Station doesn't matter as much to Amtrak because they get billions of dollars in subsidies to cover losses throughout their system. They even mortgaged Penn Station and have done very little to generate non-train revenues or improve the station. But PANYNJ, in building such an expensive hub, is keenly aware of the ability to generate additional revenues through the retail and real estate elements of the PATH Station. They need the PATH Hub to be as profitable as possible. And judging by how quickly the retail spaces were snatched up, I think they should be making significant money as soon as it opens. One WTC on the other hand…
Sounds good in theory, but only in an alternate universe. In this universe, the PA's ability to print money at its bridges and tunnels covers the runaway cost of this vanity project. Even if you believe that high crossing tolls promote some societal benefits like reduced pollution the cash they generate would still be better spent on the types of things Ben suggested like subsidizing ARC or the PATH to Brooklyn.
Perhaps true, but I really don't see what the problem is beyond the cost overruns. I don't think it looks all that bad, but being visually challenged may cause me to miss the esthetic flaws.
Keep in mind also what you see at the WTC is what you could call "the Westfield look." If you take a jaunt to Garden State Plaza, you'll see what I'm referring to as the mall gets renovated.
Pedestrian flow doesn't work right and the floors are inappropriately slippery.
Those are *real* design problems. Priority one should be to make the station function as a station, and that wasn't done.
Of course the floor problem can be fixed with a thin layer of concrete. As for Calavatra's artistic vision, well, f*** that.
They were planning on subsidizing ARC at 3 billion for the construction costs.
Here's the thing. If the year were 1999, and they were deciding how to allocate capital spending for the next decade, I would agree with you. There are certainly plenty of other projects that were more time-sensitive. But following 9/11, the mandate was made, there must be a rebuilding of the WTC site, and through the public debate, the current vision for the WTC was born. This meant doubling down on the resurgence of Lower Manhattan and trying to establish downtown as not only the great commercial center it once was, but also the retail and residential center it never was. It's hard to remember just how different the WTC area was in the 1990s, let alone the 1980s and 1970s. The PANYNJ chose to invest in a site plan that incorporated significant retail and public elements. The PATH station is called a transportation hub, but it is so much more than that. It connects the entire WTC site with the Fulton Center and Brookfield Place. It will have more than 200,000 square feet of retail space. And but for the underground complex, it would be impossible to facilitate an above ground open space memorial park.
Being that PANYNJ had to rebuild the WTC, I'm pleased that they went all in on the complex in order to make it worthy of New York City. There are certainly valid criticisms in terms of cost overruns and other things discussed on this site as well as other publications. This happens across most public construction projects unfortunately. But in terms of scope and aim, I'm very pleased they were not timid in their design. I could hear the cries of "Penn Station Downtown" had they significantly scaled things back… It will be a truly enjoyable space when completed, and one of the grandest and most functional the city has seen in a long time.
also the retail and residential center it never was.
It used to be farmland. I'm sure sometime between when they built the wall and today there was residential and retail there.
Resident population in lower Manhattan rose from around 5000 at the turn of the 19th century to a high of around 20000 in 1850 before falling to and staying in the 10000 range from the late 1800s through the 1980s, when Battery Park City and urban renewal brought new residential developments in previously industrial and commercial areas. But the real growth began in the late 1990s when the city started the current economic and residential boom that has seen tremendous growth throughout the city, including lower Manhattan where population has increased by over 400% over the last two decades. The creation of new retail spaces and public parks and plazas is integral to this transformation. Radio row was a shabby collection of old, low density construction, nothing worth getting nostalgic over.
It doesn't count if it's not upscale retail and condos for rich people?
Lower Manhattan was never a residential or retail center for anyone, rich or poor, until the last two decades. In the first decade, it was very much an affordable neighborhood. Look at developments at south BPC or older developments on Greenwich Street. Since then, development has exploded and market forces drove prices up.
I don't understand what you are arguing. You seem to just be making unconnected comments. My point, which I think I've backed up with facts, is that the WTC developments currently under construction help compliment the overall transformation of Lower Manhattan and will help cement it as not only the commercial center it's been in the past but also the residential and retail center it never was. A few blocks of radio stores and sporadic residents did not make Lower Manhattan a retail or residential center in the past.
Just because it's been commercial in your lifetime doesn't mean it's never been. There have been things going on down there since the last glacier receded. At the time there was an actual wall where Wall street now is, it was swampy where the World Trade is. Sometime between now and the time the last glacier receded it's had many uses. The people making their living on Radio Row were engaging in retail. It may not have been their primary focus but an individual could go into those stores and buy one thing at a time. The apartments over the stores may have been converted to storage but they were apartments at one time. The landmarked and preserved townhouses up in Independence Plaza were and are townhouses. The farmland was developed into housing, the housing redeveloped into commericial and it was re-redevloped. It's being re-re-re-developed. Things may have been different since you were born.
…. an electronics store
For some reason, the station always looks better to me at night. Maybe it's just because the crowds have thinned out, but it seems more impressive at night. Like many people, I'm hoping that it looks fantastic at all times of day when it's completed.
Practically any building looks better at night. Especially with what they can do with lighting these days. If you're defending a building based on what it looks like at night, you've lost the argument.
Like it or not, the Hub will become an instant landmark that will be the dominant image associated the WTC complex and that is a positive thing.
Absolutely! With all it's flaws, it's still going to attract plenty of travelers, shoppers & onlookers. And in the end that's the point regardless of what it looks like.
Could you imagine the outcry if the PA said we're not going to rebuild beyond the temporary PATH station? They would be accused of being unpatriotic & giving in to the terrorists blah, blah, blah & everybody here instinctively knows that.
What if they said "We're not going to rebuild the current functional station, but we are going to take the $4 billion and build a brand new rail tunnel to Lower Manhattan instead?" I think people would be in favor.


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the usual Kings of Leon narrative is that they're wildly more popular in the UK and less adored in these United States. If the devotion on display at the Paramount was any indication, their fortunes have changed or the overseas fanbase is just unbearable.
Posted on Oct. 21st, 2008 at 10:36 am | Link | Leave a comment | 3 comments | Share | Flag

subset: commoncrawl


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Memorial weekend was a true cooking marathon. We headed to northern Minnesota to my in-laws for the weekend with my sister and her hubs. Cooking has become a new obsession for me. Wait what? Your job is food, you didn't always love to cook? Nope. Fact. I wasn't always a gal of the kitchen.
Between Megan's (you know THE Megan) love of cooking and our program development, I've thrown myself into ring like no other.
Memorial weekend was all about new recipes. Here's a few of our faves. They are largely Whole30 and Paleo approved for those looking for a good sugar clean up. Heck, I'm killing candida as we speak.
So many recipe 'loves,' it's hard to call out faves, but this Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice was the bomb.
We took that to some Ginger Chicken. Done and done.
A holiday weekend and sweet potatoes seem to go hand in hand.
And a GIANORMOUS green salad. Check out our Instagram for the full recipe for this killer salad dressing.
Garbage Stir Fry with Cabbage. Basically the easiest and tastiest damn thing around.
Thanks nom nom paleo and A Girl Worth Saving for giving us a weekend full of taste, happy bellies and ENERGY. Remember… food = fuel. fuel = energy. #yesplease.


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1. Of all the tools and gadgets you own which do you most enjoy using?
I'd have to say my gardening tools. I love to be outside in the garden. It brings me so much peace, not to mention time away from my busy life.
2. When (if ever) is impatience a virtue?
My close friends know that my childhood wasn't ideal. Instead of using a poor childhood as an excuse not to better myself I use that impatience for a better life as a catalyst for change.
3. What temperature do you keep your thermostat set to in winter? Do you have another way to heat your house besides a furnace of some type?
Thermostat is set to 72. We have a wood burning stove in our finished basement.
4. Do/did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents?
I had a close relationship with my grandfather. He passed away a few years ago. Before he passed I made him a scrapbook of his years in the Navy. He served during WWII. He loved it and I think it's the only time I've ever seen him cry.
5. When did you last have a family portrait taken?
1999. UGH! Time for a new one!
6. What does the word patriotism mean to you?
When I think of patriotism, think of pride and love for the country we live in. Respecting and honoring the military and veterans. Hanging the USA flag proudly, saying the Pledge of Allegiance in school. Also simple things like helping your fellow neighbor, apple pie, and 4th of July.
7. Do you like to play cards and if so, what's your favorite card game?
LOVE IT! Gin rummy and Pinochle.
8. Insert your own random thought here.This is the first Wednesday Hodgepodge I have done. Check out Joyce's blog to join in the fun!


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When I want to get from A to B by bike, I try to find routes where I can reach my destination most efficiently and comfortably. Living in Central Florida, which is mostly pancake-flat, I don't have to worry about hills. I want a direct route that has minimal conflicts (with pedestrians, other bicyclists, debris, roadkill, what have you) and the ability to maintain a good pace. Off-road trails offer mobility, but they often lack access to destinations and feature hazards of their own, like dogs on long leashes or groups of slow-moving walkers. So I take the streets, often busy with commuters, delivery trucks and distracted drivers.
Creating a culture of on-street bicycle riding takes time and education, but it does not have to take a lot of money. Well-designed bicycle networks provide economic value for the same reason highways and rail lines do: they improve access and mobility. When integrated into a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plan, the two elements of access and mobility have the greatest power of improving the culture of bicycling as transportation, and defining a positive brand identity for a region, community or neighborhood, generating economic returns in several ways.
Different types of bicyclists clearly need different strategies to account for varying levels of experience and comfort. Destination-oriented cyclists benefit from a direct, well-defined routing plan that offers good flow and reduced conflicts. Most cities and urban areas have the basics for such a network already in place using existing streets. Lower speed streets (
Which Bike Facilities?
The knee-jerk response of many agencies is to add bike lanes or other expensive retrofits for separated on-street facilities. They are often poorly designed to reduce costs.
Even when properly designed, that approach results in a patchwork of roads with bike lanes and no real continuity of network for most communities.
What's needed is a coordinated strategy creating a lower cost shared network to make cycling more accepted and inviting. By using streets that best exhibit a few key traits, a plan for shared streets serves motorists and bicyclists equitably, offering both mobility and accessibility. Using shared lane pavement markings ("sharrows") and clear signage does not require right-of-way, offering a more cost-effective and publicly-accepted way of building a network providing mobility and accessibility, generating greater demand. It can have the added benefit of slowing down motorized traffic in appropriate locations, and there is evidence that bicyclists spend more money than auto drivers.
Six Key Considerations
Selecting the right streets to place bicycling on a more equitable level as cars can have profound effects on personal mobility and economic development. There are six considerations to creating a preferential on-road network offering shared space for bicycle- and car-drivers:
- Continuous Traffic Flow. A network of well-spaced collector or minor arterial streets with few stop signs or signals that traverse a city or neighborhood is good for motorists as well as bicyclists. It serves as the backbone of a good bicycling community. A smooth asphalt, non-brick, surface is important. Too many stops at signs or signals disrupts the flow and introduces safety issues for cyclists. These are the bikeways or bike boulevards that link different parts of a community together east to west, north to south.
- A Connected Network. Cyclists don't mind riding 1/2 mile or so out of direction to traverse a network of streets offering good flow and fewer conflicts. Stitching this network of different types of streets with distinctive signage, pavement markings, banners and clear maps further reinforces the emphasis on primary routes where cyclists are invited and should be expected.
- Capacity Availability. Very experienced cyclists will ride in heavy traffic, but it's intimidating for others. There are many 2- and 4-lane roads operating well below capacity much of the day, making it easy for motorists to safely pass cyclists controlling the lane.
- Acceptable Speed Differential. As traffic speeds rise, the need for designated bike lanes or paths increases. Roads with operating speeds of 25 to 35 mph create a more comfortable environment for bicyclists averaging between 10-20 miles per hour without the need for physical separation. Shared lane markings and the presence of bicyclists using the lane can help keep traffic at the desired target speed.
- Education. Many motorists don't get that sharing the road means one at a time, not riding side-by-side. Similarly, many cyclists do not follow the laws of the road. Using sharrows and adding signage reinforces a message that bicyclists belong and where they should ride in the lane. This must be augmented by educational messages and specific training for law enforcement, cyclists and motorists.
- Enforcement. Laws vary state to state, but roads with travel lanes less than 14' wide are not suitable for side-by-side sharing. Police play an important role in educational and enforcement efforts so that both car drivers and bicycle drivers operate safely and with respect for each other. It's critical to get law enforcement on board for an on-street cycling strategy.
Taking those steps to build a citywide network one street at a time will prove effective at both attracting riders and sustaining economic vitality for a more mobile and accessible community.


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And readers, you've come to the right place, because today the blog is going to filled with endless home inspiration from all over blogland! Please stick around and check out some of the links at the end of this post {and when you do, tell them we sent you}.
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I strongly believe that you should make every inch of your space work for you, which is why I love that Melissa, of A Prudent Life, turned an awkward corner in to her very own home gym!
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Since last Sunday, I've been reflecting on how much love is so prevalent in all situations. Just a simple loving-kindness approach can just soften all challenges. Love is so important in conversations as well. Earlier this week, I spent some time bonding through conversation with my partner and brothers. I really appreciated the time together because it was just so precious and a sign of more bonding in the future. As I gratefully sat among such extraordinary men, I felt an unspoken respect, care, and love among us. There were vibes of acceptance and just real conversations, which all derives from the power of love.
"I believe in the immeasurable power of love; that true love can endure any circumstances and reach across any distance." – Steve Maraboli
The ability to share challenges with my loved ones inspired me to realize the power of love, and how it can take us through even the darkest days. I've been thinking about all of my challenges in life and the hardships that can seem so unpredictable. However, at the end of the day, love truly wins. Nothing else matters except love. With this acknowledge, I feel like I gave up any resistance or any need to control.
The combination of the quote "Let go and Let God" and the ability to keep love as my compass allows me to know that I can make it through anything. Love is like an umbrella with many critical components that can help you get through anything. Under the umbrella of love would be acceptance, respect, empathy, compassion, and resilience, which provide great strength to individuals. There is a serious power in the umbrella of love. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the "what is" and fail to realize love can take us through everything and anything. We get so worried about the unknown, the changes in life, and fail to understand that the "unknown and changes" will allow us to transform into our true essence. Our true essence is love.
I am so grateful to have lots of love from my partner and brothers. This week has been quite eventful for me in regards to my health, and just knowing that I have them as my support group and foundation to true love, I know I can make it through every day. The beautiful thing is the love that I feel for my partner and brothers is simply the love coming directly from my heart, and just reflecting onto me. The specific gem seriously brings lots of happiness to me because it allows me to know that I am allowing love to be the guide of my life.
As we approach the weekend, I hope you will enjoy each day by putting love first. Love will get you through. Thank you for reading this post and for your contribution to this week's discussion.
Much Gratitude and Love,


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IT Reframe is me, Pat Dengler. I was born and raised in Southern California (I love it here!). My parents were European and I am lucky to be a traveler since my first trip overseas at 18 months old. I still go back to visit my extended family regularly and I maintain a small country house just outside of Lyon, France. You can see it here on Airbnb
IT Reframe is about creating and molding technology solutions for your specific needs. No more, no less.
New to computers? Need to upgrade? Moving into a new space? Help with a project? Manage kids screen time? Safeguard photos? Tech just isn't working right?
In addition to my long-time favorite tech from Apple, Inc, I love all sorts of gadgets, I have a keen interest in home automation. My home is a test lab for controlling lights, power outlets, door locks, surveillance cameras, sprinklers, heating and air, speakers, home media remote control. I also love digital Photography.
Helping my clients connect with their technology is my goal. I like to leave clients with a solution that they can manage, not one that's out of reach or too complicated.
Check out the Blog for recent news and information, and my Links page for gear, friends, and businesses that I believe in. How can I help you?


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Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Toffee
Courtesy of Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
2 cups sugar
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 tsp. coarse sea salt
- In a saucepan, combine butter and sugar, and bring to a boil. Over medium-high heat, keep stirring until it turns a deep amber color.
- Remove from heat and pour onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until cool and solid to the touch.
- Melt chocolate chips in a glass bowl over a pot of gently boiling water. When the chocolate is smooth, pour it over the toffee and spread with a spatula. Sprinkle sea salt, and then refrigerate until cooled and solid. Break into irregular pieces.


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Jenna Fischer's pregnancy will be worked into "The Office"
Since the season finale of The Office (and Steve Carell's departure) earlier this year, every cast member of the hit NBC show has been disappointingly tight-lipped about what's to come for season eight. Sure, now we know Emmy giant James Spader has been cast as CEO of Sabre, Dunder Miflin's parent company. But we want more info.
Luckily the sneaky sneaks at NY Mag's Vulture got a great scoop. It turns out Jenna Fischer's real-life pregnancy (her first) will be written into the new season. It's true. Pam and Jim will be having their second child. Here's what Fischer told Vulture:
Pam will be pregnant when the season starts. Pam and Jim snuck away last season on Valentine's Day, and they had sex. The story is that they conceived this baby at that time and were keeping it a secret until we come back from the summer.
I was hoping for more of a immaculate conception-themed storyline, but ok. I guess unprotected sex on Valentine's Day works, too.
In even bigger news, it seems a replacement has been chosen for Carell, but Fischer (naturally) is not allowed to spill the beans. We'll just sit and wait, I guess.


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MonSolar we create future
Growing together since 2004
What we do today, it will affect tomorrow
For that reason Monsolar bets on clean energy respectful with environment to improve people's life.
Monsolar was born with this principle and it still is. Since 2004, three young professionals in renewable energy sector decided to found MONSOLAR.
Many things have changed since then but they are always loyal to this principle.
To be leaders is not our objective, but leadership is the result of being sure of what is important.
MONSOLAR wants to offer you the last technology in order to obtain the best working in renewable energy.
To sum up: for us you are the most important thing.
And for you and all our costumers, we do a continuous effort to install the most innovative technique, used by the best specialists with high qualifications and specialized in their own area, obtaining a big profitability and being respectful with environment.
MONSOLAR provides its costumers with efficient solutions in technical and economical areas with the use of new technologies in renewable energy.
We carry out an effort to guarantee a complete service turnkey from engineering to installation, put into operation, maintenance and guarantee.
This effort and the results obtained till now, has placed us at the top of this sector.
A series of values was born when MONSOLAR was founded. They are the basis and the energy we work upon to do our daily activity.
We use new technologies to satisfy the energetic needs in our society, being responsible with environment and providing profitability to our costumers.
The happiness of our costumers for a well done job and the results obtained.
Innovation as a tool to develop our company.
Research of maximum quality in product and services.
A sustainable development in all our processes and activities.
Continual progress. This premise includes being always in movement; innovating and offering new products and services, strengthening all the scopes (areas) and services. In conclusion: improving everyday.
And then, there was Light!
Get the sun energy and turn it into electrical energy.
It seems easy but it needs advanced technological systems which enables this transformation.
In MonSolar, we have experts with great experience in doing projects, installation and photovoltaic systems maintenance of which electrical energy can have different application in household, industrial or public.


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Company Profile
What Makes Lakani Tours So Special?
The Lakani World Tours logo is intentional in its design, resembling the directional points on a compass, symbolizing the fact that we operate tours to all corners of the world. More importantly, these four arrows represent the fundamental principles that have been essential to our success.
Quality & Value
Lakani World Tours programs feature the best that an area has to offer. While we recognize that quality does not come cheaply, we provide value through our experience and strong relationships with proven suppliers.
The Lakani team provides honest answers, objective advice, and strong commitments. We also offer the usual industry assurances and safeguards: we are a registered California Seller of Travel. Naturally, references are available.
Experience & Innovation
Heidi's team of seasoned industry veterans share her vision to provide the very best in travel based on their unparalleled experience, judgment, and insight.
We believe that attitude is everything. Service begins the first time you call us and continues throughout your entire journey. We anticipate the desires and expectations of discerning travelers.


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Web of Secrets
Some family history is too dangerous to be revealed. Sarah Baker's search for the truth about her adoption uncovered a tangled web of deadly secrets...
A phone call from a blackmailer turned Sarah's life upside down. The man claimed to know the circumstances of her illegal adoption thirty years ago. He also revealed some shocking facts about her real parents.
Rather than have the blackmailer go public with the information and risk her husband's career, she agreed to a one-time payoff. Their situation was far from resolved, and doubts about her heritage put a strain on their once ideal marriage.
Sarah still didn't have verification of the truth. She needed more details. Were there any brothers or sisters, or other family members nearby? Had the same blackmailer approached them too?
Hiring a Private Investigator seemed the only option, but it meant opening a Pandora's box. Sarah needed confirmation and closure, and was willing to take the risk. Ex FBI investigator turned P.I. Joe Coopersmith was up to the task, but working on a thirty-year-old mystery wouldn't be easy.
Joe didn't realize it might also turn deadly...
Purchase Now
I started this book this afternoon and had read all 195 pages by tonight. Web of Secrets is very fast paced and I couldn't stop reading...just turning pages, becoming more absorbed with Sarah's story. There's a lot of racial issues in this book that I just couldn't get, meaning I don't get some people's ignorance. When Sarah finds out that she could be part African American her husband tells her to drop it because of what it could do to his career. Other characters in this book have similar problems with their loved ones (or themselves) not being able to deal with it...Take a peek at the first chapter. He reeled me in from that first moment..."
Heather M.
Reviewer -
The 24/7 Mom
Web of Secrets has everything a good mystery should have. It has the interesting and competent P.I., secrets from the past, and multiple mysteries that need resolution. It Caught my interest immediately with the initial set up of a story from the past.
The character of P.I. Joe Coopersmith, the fifty-something, former FBI investigator is likable and in the story he has a way with people that gets results. There is fast paced action and several twists in the story that kept me wondering where it would go next... I hope this is just the first book featuring P.I. Joe Coopersmith.
L. Brandau
Reviewer -
Book Visions
This book is filled with twists and turns, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, it changed again...I loved the characters, especially the private investigator. He had a big heart, and truly cared about his clients. I got lost in the story, and wished that it didn't end. I wanted to see how the relationship between the characters transpired, after the mystery was solved. Thumbs up for this one!"
Janet Ruth
Reviewer -
Along the Way


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Hello Dwellers and Welcome To The Basement… This is Tales From The TARDIS!
We're up to part five of the Keys of Marinus, titled Sentence To Death…
Following escaping the Ice Soldiers and Vasor, Ian finds himself accused of the murder of Eprin, who just so happens to be a friend of Altos, who discovered the last key before his death… the key is missing, and on top of being accused of murder, Ian is accused of theft… because if you're knocked out and something is missing, you're instantly the criminal.
To really put a cherry on the cake, the legal system of the city is that of the 'guilty until proven innocent' variety… so basically Ian is already guilty of the crimes, and is sentence to death unless he can be proven innocent. I'm willing to bet this legal system was put in place for population control purposes. But don't worry has the best defense counsel around… The Doctor!
Okay… he's boned…
The case is postponed for two days to allow a fathering of evidence and to find out what really happened to Eprin. A guard named Aydan is implicated in the murder, and Barbara and Susan go to investigate, talking to his wife Kala. Kala is about as helpful as a fish out of water, and when Aydan find out, he orders Barbara and Susan out of his home… and in a bit of uncomfortableness… a slap and a scream from Kala is heard…
Domestic Violence… for when you need to get across that someone is obviously a bad guy!
During the trial, The Doctor uses Sabetha as a witness and tricks Aydan into confessing by claiming that one of the keys they found came from Aydan's hiding place… and Aydan is promptly killed before he can implicate anyone else. It's actually a well done scene, cause obviously The Doctor and Sabetha are setting Aydan up, you can see it from a mile away.
But… Ian is still accused of the crimes… and to top it off… Barbara Sabetha and Altos are called out of the trial area, where they get a call from Susan who has been kidnapped, saying that the people who took her will kill her if they don't stop investigating!
This is the first episode of this story that is seeing an obvious carry over to the next installment, since our heroes are not traveling to a new destination, and so everything is being stretched out a bit… giving me the feeling that while the first four parts were written to contain everything needed for them within their individual stories to make up the hole, either the mystery here was too long or the ending of the story is too short to keep with the theme of one location for each chapter. Or they really liked the court room set.
Anyway, that's all for this week, next week we'll wrap up the Keys of Marinus with part 6.
Till next time!


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Inmarsat BGAN - Mobile Broadband, M2M, Telemetry and SCADA, BGAN M2M, M2M
EXPLORER 540 BGAN M2M Terminal
The world's first BGAN M2M terminal designed to operate on both Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) and cellular 2G/3G/GPRS networks.
EXPLORER 540 delivers always available connectivity for all critical SCADA/M2M monitoring and control applications.
Near global coverage for SCADA/M2M Internet connectivity.
Low power consumption. Easy to install.
The Hughes 9502 IP satellite terminal provides reliable connectivity over the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) for IP SCADA, telemetry and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications.
Low power consumption for SCADA & M2M applications.
Easy to install.
Near global coverage – single solution for your communications requirements.
- Hughes - HNS
- Low-Data
- Voice
Inmarsat and Hughes have jointly developed a solution that services border forces, police, security and military groups can utilize for covert/discrete applications. An unmanned concealed broadband satellite terminal with global coverage. Low profile BGAN supplies the high speed IP communications needed to make electronic surveillance and intelligence a powerful force multiplier.
- Hughes - HNS
- Hi-Data
- Video
- Voice
Smaller than a standard laptop and weighing less than 1.4 kg, the Explorer 510 BGAN satellite terminal is easy to carry along when travelling the world. It supports your need for performance and provides simultaneous high quality voice and broadband Internet access at speeds up to 464 kbps. Built-in wi-fi allows easy connectivity from portable devices and the Explorer Apps enable you to make satellite phone calls via your SmartPhone. Connect an optional LTE Modem and turn the 510 into a communications SmartHub to use cellular when available and the Inmarsat BGAN network when out of cellular range.
- Cobham
- Fax
- Low-Data
- Voice
The Explorer 710 BGAN from Cobham is the lightest, smallest and fastest Class 1 BGAN terminal to date, with streaming rates up to 650kbp/s.
Portable and reliable Internet connectivity on a near global basis.
- Cobham
- Fax
- Hi-Data
- Video
- Voice


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Fixit Sculpt is a fantastic sculpting compound for custom action figures. It is similar to Apoxie Sculpt, but has a firm clay-like feel that resists sagging and drooping, and holds detail & impressions better. Luke started using Fixit Sculpt 6 months ago, and it is now his top choice in sculpting clay.
* FIXIT® is a self-hardening, 2-part product (A & B must be mixed)
* Blends and smooths easily with water
* Clay/putty-like consistency
* Firm feel for modeling/tooling
* Resists sagging and drooping
* Holds details and impressions
* Flat matte finish, accepts paints & stains
* Sand to lighten color
* Extremely adhesive, durable and strong; stands up to UV, fuels, outdoors, etc.
* Adheres to almost any clean surface including antler, bone, ivory, ceramic, fiberglass, foam, glass, metal, plastic, stone, wood, more!
* Waterproof
* 0% shrinkage
* Open working time about 4 hours, cures hard overnight (24 hour full cure)
* Can be seamlessly feathered before set-up, or can be tapped or drilled, sanded, filed, painted, or otherwise finished to match the repaired item
* Non-hazardous; no solvents or fumes
* Conforms to ASTM D4236
* Easy clean-up with Aves® Safety Solvent or soap & water
Luke used Fixit Sculpt for the modifications he made to his Galactus statue:


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Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care Among Low Birth Weight (LBW) and Preterm Infants (KMC)
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01776281
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : January 28, 2013
Last Update Posted : January 28, 2013
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
- Hypothermia, infections ,and ineffective breastfeeding are some of the commonest causes of deaths among premature and low birth weight LBW infants. Even if the infants are born in facilities, incidences of cold stress are possible due to insufficient resources, space and incompetent practices to manage hypothermia in the immediate postnatal period. Kangaroo Mother Care is a well-known intervention to address the issues related to preterm births, such as hypothermia, infection and prolong hospitalization.Besides significant outcome of KMC interventions for preterm infants, no interventional study has been found in literature in Pakistani context. Looking at the potential benefits of KMC in reducing the related complications of prematurity, the study aims to identify the effectiveness of KMC among preterm and LBW infants born in secondary hospital of Aga khan University hospitals.
Hypothesis I Ha: KMC is effective in reducing the incidences of hypothermia among preterm and LBW infants as compared to the usual care.
Hypothesis II Ha: There is a difference in breastfeeding behavior and breastfeeding outcome among experimental and control group.
Secondary Hypothesis Hypothesis I Ha: There is an association between KMC and frequency of suspected infections during hospitalization.
Hypothesis II Ha: There is a difference in length of stay among experimental group and control group.
Hypothesis III Ha: There is a relationship between KMC and weight gain of infants till four weeks.
Hypothesis IV Ha: There is difference in rate of hypothermia among experimental group and control after discharge from hospital.
|Condition or disease
|LBW Preterm
|Behavioral: Kangaroo Mother Care Behavioral: Standard Care
|Phase 2
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|82 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|Single (Care Provider)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care Among LBW and Preterm Infants:A Randomized Control Trial in Karachi
|Study Start Date :
|March 2012
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|August 2012
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|August 2012
Experimental: Kangaroo Mother Care
Other than routine clinical care per hospital policy. Infants will receive skin-to-skin contact for minimum one hour daily during hospital stay and at home till one month.
Behavioral: Kangaroo Mother Care
Active Comparator: Standard Care
Routine incubator or cot care with breastfeeding support from nurses as per policy.
Behavioral: Standard Care
- Breastfeeding outcomes [ Time Frame: 30 days ]
Comparison of breastfeeding frequency per day, method of feeding. (partial/ exclusive)in hospital and at home.
Breastfeeding behaviour by using preterm Infants breastfeeding behaviour Scale(PIBBS).
Follow-up till one months by calling and record keeping of breastfeeding status.
- Rate of Infection [ Time Frame: 1-2 weeks(During hospital stay) ]frequency of presume sepsis and need for antibiotics.
- length of stay [ Time Frame: 1-2 weeks ]Total days in hospital during the recruitment period.
- weight gain [ Time Frame: 30 days ]After discharge observation for weight gain in Follow-up visit.
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|up to 1 Week (Child)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Any preterm neonates (< 37 weeks of gestation by maternal dates)
- Low birth weight infants less than 2500 gm.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Infants with brain hemorrhage, congenital abnormalities.
- Infants needed double phototherapy.
Exclusion of Mother:
Mothers with severe depression, sickness with intensive care requirements. Mother who refused to participate. Mothers who delivered live multiple babies.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01776281
|Seema Hyderali
|Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, 74500
|Study Director:
|Rozina Karmaliani, PhD
|Aga Kahn University School of Nursing and Midwifery
|Study Director:
|Zulfiqar Bhutta
|Responsible Party:
|Ms Seema Hyderali, Student, Aga Khan University
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01776281 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|January 28, 2013 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|January 28, 2013
|Last Verified:
|January 2013
secondary hospitals
Premature Birth
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Obstetric Labor Complications
Pregnancy Complications


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How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Daubert Motions & Procedure – Blog 6 of 9
Post Series: How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony
- 1.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Introduction – Blog 1 of 9
- 2.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Explanation of Daubert & The Frye Standard – Blog 2 of 9
- 3.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Hypothetical Construction Examples under Daubert – Blog 3 of 9
- 4.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Conduit & Hybrid Expert Witnesses – Blog 4 of 9
- 5.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Selection of Experts/The Role of the Attorney – Blog 5 of 9
- 6.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Daubert Motions & Procedure – Blog 6 of 9
- 7.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: The Expert's Perspective under Florida's Daubert Standard – Blog 7 of 9
- 8.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: Effectively Discrediting the Expert at Trial – Blog 8 of 9
- 9.How to Effectively Attack & Defend Expert Testimony: The Conclusion – Blog 9 of 9
Without question, a successful Daubert motion can deal a devastating blow to an opposing party's case. However, there are several considerations when determining whether to file a Daubert Motion. Simply because an opposing expert may have weaknesses does not necessarily mean that it is wise to seek exclusion at a Daubert hearing before trial. In Federal court, where Daubert has applied more than 20 years, the attorney should research Daubert orders already published by the District court. This may reveal a pattern of the particular Judge. Filing a Daubert motion could simply be a waste of your time and your client's money. Further, you risk aggravating the Judge, who will be wondering why you do not already know of the Daubert precedent in his or her courtroom. Perhaps a more important reason to consider whether to file a Daubert motion is that doing so will show your hand to your opponent. If you lose the motion, your opponent will be better prepared to rehabilitate the expert as best he or she can before trial. Additionally, after undergoing an evidentiary hearing in connection with the Daubert motion, the expert will be better prepared to withstand subsequent cross-examination at trial. Moreover, if you do not have strong grounds under Daubert to exclude an expert, a hearing on a Daubert motion allows your opponent to educate the court as to the qualifications of the witness. In bench trials in particular, the Daubert motion allows your opponent to give the court a preview of the strengths of his or her case before trial. In the end, it is generally better to limit Daubert motions to only those circumstances where there is a strong chance the court will grant the motion. While adoption of the Daubert standard emphasizes the court's function as gatekeeper to prevent unreliable expert testimony at trial, be mindful that it is not a substitute for vigorous cross-examination. Furthermore, electing to forego a Daubert motion does not waive the right to challenge the witness at trial. Section 90.705(2) of the Florida Evidence Code allows a party against whom an opinion is offered to voir dire the expert on the underlying facts or data for the opinion at trial. The court can still exclude the expert at trial if there is an insufficient basis for the opinion. Even where the court allows the expert to proceed to express the opinion before the jury, cross-examination of the expert may be much more effective when the expert's weaknesses were not exposed before trial in a Daubert motion. If the trial attorney does decide to file one or more Daubert motions, the trial attorney needs to confirm the appropriate procedure for hearing the motion. In Federal litigation, deadlines for Daubert motions are generally included as part of the Case Management Order. Federal judges often conduct live evidentiary hearings in advance of trial to determine whether an expert will be permitted to testify. However, it is not always necessary to have live testimony. The parties may agree to rely on deposition testimony and submission of exhibits, such as recognized testing protocols, by affidavit. The nature of the Daubert hearing often depends on the size and complexity of the case. Most Florida circuit courts have not yet developed specific procedures for Daubert hearings. However, the Rules of Civil Procedure provide a mechanism to address the question of Daubert hearings. Rule 1.200, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, allows the court or any party to schedule a Case Management Conference. Deadlines for scheduling disclosure of expert witnesses and Daubert hearings can be set at such conferences. Similarly, Rule 1.201 provides for Case Management of Complex Litigation, such as multi-party construction defect cases. Attorneys should use the Case Management rules to manage disclosure of experts and their opinions, as well as to provide for deadlines and the type of hearings to be used for Daubert motions. Parties should confer with one another and the court during Case Management Conferences as to any uncertainties involving Daubert motion procedure. Remember that the proponent of expert testimony bears the burden of proving compliance with the Daubert standard by a preponderance of the evidence. See Cook Ex Rel. Estate of Tesler v. Sheriff of Monroe Cnty., 402 F.3d 1092, 1107 (11th Cir. 2005). The proponent of the expert does not have to prove the expert is indisputably correct or even that the expert used a generally accepted theory or method as was required by Frye. Phoenix Ins.Co. v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co. of Kansas, 2013 US Dist. Lexis 12498, 2013 WL 459, 4529 (D.Colo. 2013). The proponent of the expert must show that the witness has sufficient expertise, has used a methodology that is reliable, relied on sufficient facts and data, and reliably applied the methodology. Judges have latitude in making Daubert determinations and review in federal courts is by an abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Brown, 413 F.3d 1257, 1266 (11th Cir. 2005). Florida courts held under the prior Frye standard that review of decisions to exclude an expert was de novo. Brim, 695 So. 2d at 274. However, at least one post-Daubert court in Florida has held that decisions to exclude an expert are subject to an abuse of discretion standard. Baan v. Columbia County, 215 Fla. App. LEXIS (1st DCA Dec. 8, 2015).


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Admissions and German Student Service Center
The Diploma
Successful graduates receive the diploma of a Medical Doctor (M.D.), entitling them to enter the medical profession. As recognition of its high level, our medical training was accredited by several foreign countries, including the United States. Our former students pass state examinations of various countries, including USMLE, with well above the average results.
Dentistry students acquire a D.M.D. degree.


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Project Partners:
Gulf Coast Joint Venture
Project Funding:
Gulf Coast Joint Venture
Project Abstract:
The Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a permanent resident of the Texas Gulf Coastal Prairies with local breeding populations joined by migratory northern birds during the winter. Although the global population of Loggerhead Shrike is estimated at 4.2 million, the Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan shows steep population declines similar to other grassland bird species. Because of the population declines, the Loggerhead Shrike is a species of concern in the Partners in Flight (PIF) Gulf Coastal Prairie Bird Conservation Plan authored by the Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV) and the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO).
Possible reasons for shrike population declines are numerous, but most can be linked to habitat change or loss. The actual process of the declines remains poorly understood, but evidence suggests loss of habitat in both the breeding and winter ranges is the most important factor. Changes in farming practices including cleaner farming and larger fields has resulted in the removal of shrike hunting perches which appears to be a significant contributor to population declines in some areas. On the Texas Gulf Coast, resident shrikes appear to defend the best quality habitat throughout the year, which may reduce the availability of optimal habitat for wintering migratory shrikes. In addition, expanding residential and commercial development has eliminated large areas of natural habitat. One aspect that we are very interested in pursuing at GCBO is to determine the patterns of use of urban vs non-urban landscapes among the migrant shrikes and whether they overlap significantly with resident birds.
Loggerhead Shrikes appear to colonize and utilize urban and suburban landscapes in several areas of Texas though the habitat parameters associated with this are not well defined or studied. Loggerhead Shrikes inhabit grasslands and other sparsely vegetated habitats where scattered woody vegetation and other substrates provide perch sites for foraging. Many urban landscapes, such as parks, cemeteries and university campuses provide short sparse vegetation, a variety of perches, and nesting cover that shrikes appear to use as suitable nesting territories. The increased use of suburban and urban areas may be a result of habitat loss but this has not been confirmed. While shrikes appear to be attracted to urban park-style landscapes, their reproductive output relative to shrikes in non-urban environments has received little attention and has not been adequately studied. Most bird species are attracted to urban areas, however birds nesting in urbanized areas may be exposed to potential threats including increased predation by animals associated with humans and increased disturbance to foraging, nesting and chick rearing due to human activity.
GCBO has initiated a pilot study to investigate Loggerhead Shrike use of urban environments near our sanctuary in Lake Jackson. We have also initiated surveys of urban parks and campuses in Houston and Sugarland, thanks to the help of students Kristy Yu and Katrina Luu from the University of Houston and GCBO research associate Dr. Lijin Zeng. We are gearing up for continued work on this initiative this coming spring where we are planning on trapping and uniquely color banding shrikes so that we may follow their habitat use patterns and evaluate their productivity in different areas.


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Vincenzo, (Catholic blogdoms very own photo shop ninja master) has produced my colorful new header specifically showcasing the Galactic quadrant, my brain, and his talent. He said it took him about 45 minutes of his life ( Which he will never get back :O ) and the poor fellow wasn't even compensated for his kindness towards me. In return, I give to Vince- the origins of the Vulcan hand salute. God bless you Vince and thank you.
*FYI, This is a temporary header, posted out of gratitude. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do.
I'd also like to point out the geeky ninja master belt has a knife holster which also doubles as a geeky cell phone cradle. It might be interpreted as inappropriate but I don't post naughty.


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The increasing prevalence of Dementia in the UK poses a huge challenge to care providers, local councils, the central government and families. The Huffington Post reports that "deaths related to Dementia will quadruple by 2040, overtaking cancer as the UK's biggest killer." The Alzheimer's Society UK estimates there are currently 850,000 people living with Dementia in the UK, with 1 in 6 people over 80 suffering from the disease. However, the disease affects a wide range of the population, including over 40,000 people who are under the age of 65. Despite the fact that Dementia is one of the main causes of disability later in people's lives (ahead of other conditions like cardiovascular disease and stroke), the UK spends much less on Dementia care and research in comparison.
Recent studies and events have demonstrated that the most effective path to effective Dementia care is taking a person-centred approach. Jane Ashcroft, CEO of Anchor, one of the UK's largest non-profits dealing with housing the elderly stated, "Each person is a unique individual with a rich history of experiences, knowledge, preferences, desires and personality." Evidence suggests that people we support with Dementia respond better to more sensitive person centred care, which puts the person you support at ease and makes the work of the service provider easier.
It is important to remember that with no clear cure for Dementia in sight, the social care sector need to develop effective strategies to deal with patients suffering from Dementia in order to deal with the increasing number of diagnoses. Service providers must be attentive to the needs of the people they support, while managers need to ensure that their staff are adequately trained to deal with the demands of this disease. The goal must be to develop strategies and systems for care providers to maximize the wellbeing and happiness of patients.
Here at BVS Training we have tailor-designed a number of training videos specifically to UK legislation and best practice. Titles relating to Dementia and person-centred care are: Principles of Person Centred Care, Understanding Dementia, Dementia Care for Managers and Supervisors, Dementia Care in the Care Home and Dementia Care in the Domiciliary Setting.
We also offer bundles of our Dementia care training courses. The Dementia Care bundle is suitable for Care Homes and we also have the Dementia Care in Domiciliary Settings bundle.
All of our social care training courses are aligned to the Skills for Care (Care Certificate) standards and include access to our training materials. These include CPD Certified Certificates, Lesson Plans, Handouts and Assessment Quizzes.


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Solar Panel Price In Bangladesh 2018
Today we will tell you about solar panel price in Bangladesh Price of solar panel in Bangladesh and worldwide had declined more then 90% in last 10 years. The price of a solar panel of 100 watt was approx 1.5 lakh takain the beginning of 21th century but now in 2018 you have to pay only 5000 taka for a high quality solar panel of 100 watt.
solar panel are becoming very popular in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a sun shine country with more then 340 sunny days.
Now we will tell you about the solar panel price in Bangladesh now in 2018 . There are many solar panel manufacturers Bangladesh. we will give you some top solar panel companies list with their prices.
1. Vikram Solar panel price
Vikram is a Tier 1 company with large scale manufacturing facility. Price of vikram solar panels are approx 36 to 38 taka per watt.
2. Su kam solar panel price
Su kam is a leading inverter and battery manufacturer. Now it is also marketing solar panels. Solar panel price of su kam is approx 40 to 43 taka per watt
3. Tata solar panel price
Tata solar is very old solar company in. Solar panel price of tata solar panel is 48 to 52 taka per watt.
Also have a look on price of some international high quality solar panel manufacturers.
Trina solar panel price in Bangladesh is Rs 30 to 32 per watt and Canadian is also same price.
International brands are much cheaper even with better quality Thats the reason more the 70% panels used in Bangladesh are from international manufacturer like Trina and others.
So this was an article in brief which gives some knowledge on solar panel prices india.
If you have any question regarding solar panel price feel free to coment below.


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Alden S. Farber, 79, of Woodstock Meadows, Woodstock, died Friday at her home. Wife of the late William J. Farber, Jr., he died in 1995. Born September 25, 1928 in New Britain, daughter of the late Everett Goff and Fern (Redden) Shepard. She had made her home in Woodstock most of her life, a long time active member of the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, and served as the kitchen manager for many years. She worked at the Woodstock Hill Post Office, as a postal clerk for over 25 years, she retired in 1975.
She leaves her children: Phillip Farber of Portland, OR, Jim Farber of Danielson, Jane Farber of Woodstock; her siblings: William Shepard of Virginia Beach, VA, Don Shepard of Plainfield; two grand children: Ellen Polumbo of Danielson, Andrew Farber of Woodstock; great grandchildren: Devon Polumbo of Danielson, Lillian, Montana, Max Penington all of Oregon. She was predeceased by her siblings: Everett Shepard; Jane Morse.
A Memorial Service will be Saturday, December 1st at 2:00 PM at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Woodstock Hill. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of NECT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Arrangements by Smith & Walker Funeral Home, Putnam, CT. To share a memory with her family �Light a Candle� at


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That modern agriculture is incredibly productive - much more than the past - is undeniable. These USDA data, for example, suggest we produce about 170% more agricultural output now than in the late 1940s. I have argued that these these increases in agricultural productivity are signals of improved sustainability. Some people believe the the productivity improvements have been accompanied with offsetting externalities or degredations in animal welfare. A different kind of critique is that modern crops - despite being more productive - aren't as high "quality." For example, this piece in Politico by Helena Bottemiller Evich, titled "The great nutrient collapse" discuses evidence that vitamin content of crops has fallen as yields have increased, and there is the often-heard complaint that tomatoes don't taste as good as they once did.
There is some biological basis for these latter concerns. If a crop breeder selects plants for higher yields, they are selecting plants that are spending their energy and nutrients into producing bigger seeds and fruits, which is energy that could have gone (in lower yielding plants) to growing leaves or roots or other compounds that affect taste and vitamin content.
I had these thoughts in the back in my mind when I came across the Midwest Vegetable Trial Report put out by researchers at Purdue and other Midwestern universities. The report compares different vegetable varieties in terms of yield and other output characteristics. I noticed for a couple vegetables - green beans and sweet corn - there were also measures of taste for each variety. Granted, these were not full-on scientific sensory evaluations and they involved small numbers of tasters, but still I thought it would be useful to test the conjecture that higher yielding varieties taste worst.
Some researchers from University of Kentucky put together the green bean report. They compared the performance of 19 different varieties of green beans. The most productive variety (named "Furano") yielded 785 bushels over six harvests, whereas the lowest yielding variety "Slenderette" only produced 233 bu/acre in six harvests. As the image below reveals, however, there was only a weak correlation between taste and yield. The correlation was negative (-0.26), but not particularly large. About 6.6% of the variation in yield is explained by taste. The best tasting variety "Opportune" had a taste score of 4.1 (on a 1=poor to 5=excellent scale) and a yield of 557; the worst tasting variety "Bronco" had an average taste score of 2.3 and a yield of 543. So, the best tasting bean had better yield than the worst tasting bean. Overall, the results below provide some weak support for a yield, taste trade-off.
The report also provided production and taste data on supersweet corn (this part was authored by Purdue researchers Elizabeth Maynard and Erin Bluhm). They compared 16 different types of bicolored supersweet corn (they also evaluated two varieties of white and two varieties of yellow, which I'm ignoring here). They had tasters rate "flavor" on a 1 to 5 scale. As the figure below shows, there is actually a positive correlation between flavor and yield, as measured by ton/acre. The correlation is 0.15, but the relationship is weak. The authors also report yield in a slightly different way, ears/acre, and by this measure the correlation is slightly negative (-0.09).
These results don't necessarily negate the idea that the taste of vegetables has declined over time as higher yielding varieties have been adopted, but they do suggest that in 2017, among the particular varieties tested and among the few tasters asked, there is only a very weak correlation between taste and yield for green beans and supersweet corn.


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Homemade Soup(s):
Cream of Potato
Corn Cheese Chowder
Lunch Features**: $9.00 **Click on lunch menu on side bar to see other choices!
Glazed Grilled Salmon Salad
Mac and Cheese BBQ Pork Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Fries
Turkey and Cheese Panini with pickled peppers and special sauce served with Fries
Ty Guy's BBQ Chicken Sandwich topped with Slaw and Fresh Cut Fries
Italian Grill Sandwich and a side
"The Best Reuben in Blair-Bedford-Huntingdon Counties!"
Hot Sausage Sandwich and side
Buffalo Chicken and Cheese Sandwich and Fries Bleu Cheese or Ranch?
Mamie's Tuna Melt
Roast Beef Panini and side – roast beef, cooper sharp cheese, dried tomato special sauce, sweet pickled peppers and onion
Barry's Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwich on Garlic Toast …and side Hot peppers or Horseradish?
Burger Mania!!!!Big Juicy Burger – Fresh Cut Fries
- "Any Way You Want it!!!" Burger
- Pepper Jack Cheeseburger – our own pepper sauce, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion
- Steakhouse Burger topped with onion frizzles and homemade steak sauce
- Jalapeno Popper Burger
- Bacon BBQ Cheese Burger
- Mushroom Swiss
- Mamie Burger …special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions
Philly Style Chicken Cheese Sub and Fries


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|Free Download Software GOM Player 126.96.36.19989
As with any other software software, GOM Player also constantly updating its version. Another goal is not to correct errors in previous versions. the latest version of GOM Player. latest version of GOM Player is GOM Player 188.8.131.5289. the latest version of the many mistakes that have been repaired . so , if your computer has not installed the latest software , it is suggested to install this software immediately . you can download it for free via this blog.
Download GOM Player 22.214.171.12489 Free
Download Setup File from Downloader (100% Working Link)


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Tailgater Team Challenge
Calling all tailgater trendsetters! Come out and enter the Tailgater Team Challenge to see if the judges will shake their tail feather for your tailgater chicken wings!
- This is a chicken wing and drumettes competition
- Entry fee is $75/team for a maximum of 2 people per team
- Entry fee includes entry for two into the Big Q plus 25 pounds of chicken wings/drumettes the morning of the competition
- Sampling plates and napkins will be provided
- All other barbecue equipment and supplies must be provided by the team
- Space is limited to the first 20 teams
- The winning team receives a trophy, bragging rights plus $250
Approximately 25 pounds of wings/drumettes will be supplied to each team the morning of the competition. The winner of this competition is determined by a panel of celebrity judges. Each team will sample out two pieces (wing/drumettes) or an approximate two (2) ounce portion for public tasting requiring a ticket be redeemed by guest. Tickets will be turned in at the end of the competition and will be counted.
Registration includes a 10 ft. wide x 10 ft. space, admissions into the Big Q for the team. Power is not provided. Hot coal must be placed in coal buckets, provided, or removed by team at end of the competition. Teams must be in place no later than 10 am and ready to serve by 1 pm. Teams must stay in place until end of Big Q Awards Ceremony starting at 5 pm.
Registration fees are non-refundable after June 1, 2018.
Directions and additional information will be sent to you prior to the competition.
Tailgater Challenge Teams
Short Mommas BBQ Sauce
Over Watch Cooking
Lola's Market
GeeQ BBQ
Coal Meisters
Big Trouble BBQ


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- FOM German-Sino School of Business & Technology ›
- The school ›
- Cooperations
Successful for over 10 years?
Cooperations with partner universities in China are the result of a long-standing relationship based on trust. FOM has been engaged in dialogue with the universities for over 10 years with the aim of promoting the collaborative study programmes. Numerous milestones have been reached in this period. The range of programmes is one of Europe's biggest exchange programmes with Chinese universities.
A review of over 10 successful years
FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH cooperates with four Chinese universities and by 2012 had successfully taught over 2000 graduates.
Shanxi University of Finance and Economics and FOM sign a contract to offer a collaborative study programme. The collaborative study programme is officially approved by the provincial government of Shanxi and China's Ministry of Education.
Intake of 126 SUFE03 students.
Visit from high-ranking Shanxi delegation under the supervision of the then party secretary of the province of Shanxi, Chengping Tian. Shandong Agricultural University and FOM sign a collaboration agreement.
Alongside study programmes in Langfang, a second study centre opens in September 2003 in Tai'an (province of Shandong) in cooperation with the Shandong Agricultural University (SDAU).
Arrival of students in the year SUFE03. The first 109 students begin their main course of study in Essen.
Graduation of first intake of students from the year SUFE03
Dr. Colsman, former chairman of the BCW foundation board is appointed honorary professor of SUFE. FOM and SUFE's first collaborative business symposium is successfully organised in Essen.
Ceremonial event at the official opening of the Olympic Games in Peking. Consul Ji of the general consulate of the People's Republic of China in Frankfurt attends the event.
The cooperation agreement between SUFE and FOM is extended. FOM and SDAU's second collaborative business symposium is organised in Tai'an.
During a visit from former SUFE President Prof. Yuan, an important document on the continuation of the programme is signed. The semester is officially opened by SUFE08-year students in the presence of Consul Zhao from the general consulate of the People's Republic of China in Frankfurt.
Graduation of SUFE08-year students in Taiyuan. Talks between the two university administrations.
The 2000th graduate successfully completes the collaborative study programme.
Contact person
The road to success
Huiwen Ren: Huiwen Ren completed his Diplom course at FOM in 2007 and from 2008 was employed by Siemens AG in Peking. He has worked as an assistant to the Executive Board of Volkswagen AG in Peking since 2010.
Mengmei Zhu: Mengmei Zhu completed her Diplom course at FOM in 2008 and has been working as a Business Manager with China Telecom in Frankfurt am Main for the past five years. Mengmei successfully completed an MBA at FOM Frankfurt and also attended FOM's Summer Conference in the USA while continuing to work.
Zhuolin Sun: Zhoulin Sun completed her Diplom degree at FOM in 2009 and now works for Thyssenkrupp AG.
Yi Yang: Yi Yang completed her Diplom degree in 2008 and a Master's degree in 2010 at FOM. Since graduating, Yi Yang has worked for the Bank of China in Düsseldorf.
Ping Li: Ping Yi successfully completed her Bachelor degree at FOM in 2009 followed by a Master's degree in 2011. Ping Li is now completing her doctoral degree at a prestigious university in Bavaria.
Yanyan Zhang: Yanyan Zhang successfully completed her Diplom degree at FOM in 2009 followed by a Master's degree in Frankfurt am Main. She has worked for Ernst & Young in Frankfurt am Main since 2012.
Weilei Wang: Weilei Wang completed her Bachelor's degree at FOM in 2009 and now works for Bayer (China) in Beijing.


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Crucial cup tie for Millwall as potential windfall awaits
MILLWALL could be in line for a significant financial boost if they get past Wycombe in the FA Cup second round this Saturday.
A high-profile third round draw against one of the big Premier League sides could potentially be worth up to £750,000 to the club, according to Andy Ambler.
After the Chairboys this weekend the Lions travel to Southend on Tuesday for the southern section semi-final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
And while Millwall are potentially just two rounds away from Wembley in that competition, chief executive Ambler said it's the FA Cup that would offer the more immediate financial benefit.
He explained: "The JPT isn't the biggest boost to the club, but obviously a Wembley appearance would be. You only really make money in the JPT when you get to Wembley.
"We've been to Wembley three times since John Berylson took over the club and we'd love to do it a fourth time.
"It's more about just winning games and competitions. Now we've got to within touching distance, I guess, we'll be going all out to get there. Will it be a financial boost? We'll still lose money this year, that's where we're going to be.
"The Wycombe game is massive, however. We need to beat them and get to the third round. We haven't had that lucky Arsenal or Manchester United away draw that other clubs have had.
"If you can get one of those two that could potentially bring you in three-quarters of a million pounds. So you could look it and think that's a lot of money for a club in League One.
"Both the Wycombe and Southend games, for different reasons, are big games and a stepping stone to some well-needed cash.
"But we've got to get past Wycombe first and that won't be easy. Both clubs will be looking at that thinking, 'We need to get through this round' and then crossing fingers for the draw."


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Looking for funding for your creative project? Here's how to use Kickstarter to successfully raise money for a creative project and now there's an iPhone app for Kickstarter.
Did you know that you can submit your self portrait to Artists Self Portraits in the smartphone era?
There can be beauty in lost, abandoned buildings and places. A vintage object carries its story on its sleeve. The beauty of broken Macs: photos of abandoned Apple kit found by explorers.
Quotes can be so inspiring, can't they? Illustrator Lisa Congdon has designed a photography journal full of inspiring quotes from the masters of photography.
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau


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The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has denied recent media reports that it is searching valet-parked cars at a US airport.
Media reports during the previous week quoted a passenger as saying that her car was searched by TSA officials at the Rochester International Airport in New York.
A TSA official said on the official TSA blog that its officers were neither inspecting cars nor "mandating that they be searched."
The official added that each airport authority as well as local state and local law enforcement agencies are responsible for securing the airports and the car searches at the airport in the news reports were carried out by an employee of a car parking service.


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The Rain in Spain/
O.k. we are not in Spain but nothing rhymes with Portugal. It was rainy and cold again today. It reminds me of fall, a season that I absolutely adore when it is, you know, actually the proper time of year. I´m not a big fan of fall when I am on my summer vacation. We spent the whole day trying to find things to do and, in the process, had a pretty good day. Miguel spent time with his grandfather, Luis, feeding the pigeons. These are not random birds but racing pigeons and Luis takes them seriously. I am sitting here surrounded by the trophies that prove it. I don´t know what all Miguel and Luis do out there but it took up a lot of time this morning and Miguel felt very useful. Miguel and Zeca played in the yard for awhile making soup with water, rocks, sticks and weeds. The mess and the wet clothes made me edgy but also made me remember all the times I did the very same thing as a child. I realized that I don´t let my kids get dirty often enough. As I was letting go of my issues of control and starting to smile and enjoy watching them play, Zeca found an old chicken bone in the yard with some fatty meat still attached and promptly put it in her mouth. That was that. Then, we decided to go to the beach and walk around. We knew it was too cold to swim but we needed to get away from the house for awhile. As we were walking to the car, Miguel and I noticed snails...really cool snails with long shells (not the round spirals of my youth). We watched them for awhile and I realized that I´ve never seen a snail in Minneapolis. We must not have them there. I could have watched them for a long time but Zeca was strapped in her car seat (to prevent her from eating the beautiful snails) and she was not happy to sit there while we explored nature. We headed to the beach and the waves were enormous. They were those large, foamy waves that truly crash like misty thunder on the beach. There was a red flag flying today which means that the conditions are dangerous - no swimming because of the large waves and strong undertow. After walking around awhile, hunting for sea shells and finding mostly those of lupini beans, we headed back to the house. The lawn care people were working at Quinta da Loia today. One of the most striking images of my day was looking into the back yard and seeing an older woman in a dress that came to mid-calf with an impressively large gas powered weed whacker strapped on to her. The dress and the weed whacker - I had to stop and watch. The rest of the day is a blur of playing ball outside, playing cards, chasing Zeca and eating. Then, the kids went to bed...easily. The weather is supposed to improve and we are hoping that we will be able to swim soon. Miguel is ready to get back in the water and, even today with the clouds and the need for jackets said, "You know what today is? A beautiful day for the pool!" We are hoping that Miguel´s eternal optimism is finally rewarded.


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- Page 1 Nikon CoolPix S550 Review
- Page 2 Nikon CoolPix S550 Review
- Page 3 Nikon CoolPix S550 Review
- Page 4 Features table Review
- Page 5 Test shots – ISO performance Review
- Page 6 Test shots – Detail and lens perfomance Review
- Page 7 Test shots – Exposure evaluation Review
While trying to decide on how best to describe the S550, the word that kept coming to mind was "likeable". It's a relatively simple camera, and the design reflects this. The overall style is very unassuming, a simple rectangular shape with a minimum of extraneous decoration. The body is made of aluminium, and finished in a pleasant brushed texture. It is available in silver, dark blue or the gunmetal colour of my review sample. It is a very small camera, measuring just 90 x 53.5 x 22 mm, and weighs only 135g including the battery.
The control layout is very simple, with just a D-pad and four buttons on the back panel. Thankfully Nikon has opted for a normal four-way pad this time, rather than the unwieldy rotary control found on the S600 and S500. It is a lot less fiddly and frustrating to use than either of those models, and despite the small size it is very comfortable and easy to hold. Another welcome difference to some of the other S-series models is that the S550 has shooting priority, which means that half-pressing the shutter button cancels the menu and returns the camera to shooting mode, so you're far less likely to miss a spur-of-the-moment shot.
The controls are also quite straightforward, with a Mode button that selects between the various basic shooting options, including the smile-detection shutter, a high-ISO mode, movie mode, sound recording and a 15-program scene mode, as well as the basic set-up mode.
The main shooting menu is also very simple, with only seven entries over two pages, but it does include some useful and novel items, such as an interval timer, manual focus point selection, and a new feature called Distortion Control, which digitally corrects lens distortion at wide-angle zoom settings. I've seen this before on a couple of camera, particularly some recent Fujifilm models, but it's new to Nikon. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to work terribly well in this instance, over-correcting wide-angle barrel distortion at close range and producing pincushion distortion instead.
The Electronic Vibration Reduction system on the other hand works extremely well. This is a genuine digital image stabilisation system, rather than other "digital shake reduction" modes which just increase the ISO setting. Similar systems have been used on digital cameras for a while now, and the technology is quite well developed. It does result in a slight reduction in overall image quality and slower performance, but I found I was able to take blur-free shots at some very slow shutter speeds, as low as 1/15th of a second even at longer focal lengths.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.


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Below you'll find some of my work.
These downloads are for personal use only. If you'd like to use them commercially please get in touch with me.
To download the wallpaper pack simply click on the design you like.
(Be advised the wallpaper pack will be in a .zip file and some wallpaper packs may be over 50MB.)


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What we know so far (some quotes courtesy of Dallas at Loving True Blood in Dallas) -
Jeff Abbott says -
"no never wrote a horror novel but I will have a supernatural story out in an anthology Charlaine Harris and Toni Kelner are doing next year called Death's Excellent Vacation"Jeaniene Frost says -
One For the Money, a Cat and Bones short story in the DEATH'S EXCELLENT VACATION anthology, comes out August 2010. The short story is set after the events of DFAEG.Chrstopher Golden says -
My story in DEV is...weird. It's called "Thin Walls" and resounds with sex and death. It starts with a lonely widower in a hotel room, forced to listen to the raucous sex going on in the room next door, and gets unsettling from there.Chris Grabenstein says -
"I'm excited to report that my short story 'The Demon in the Dunes' will be in Death's Excellent Vacation anthology"Toni L.P. Kelner says -
"This past couple of weeks I've been working on a short story for Death's Excellent Vacation, the next anthology Charlaine and I are editing. The anthology is all about supernatural beings on vacation, kind of an urban fantasy beach book. And even before we decided to do this anthology, I'd had this character in mind to write a short story about: "Pirate Dave." Read Toni's post on the writing of" Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park"Katie MacAlister has short story entitled:'The Perils of Effrijim' featuring the demon Jim from the Dragon books.
Sharan Newman says -
I'm one of the "and others" but the others are so accomplished that I"m happy to be among them. It was fun to write fantasy again. My story is about a group of American leprechans at a family reunion in Ireland.Lilith Saintcrow says -
My story, The Heart Is Always Right, focuses on a gargoyle who wants to visit Fiji.
Sarah Smith will also have a story about Superman and the Eight Immortals, "The Boys Go Fishing"