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Gathering PreyLarge Print - 2015
From the critics
Community Activity
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This is book number 2 that I've read from this author and I've found the ones I've read to be quite enjoyable. I have his latest book on hold and I'm sure it will be just as good.
Lucas Davenport #25. Davenport must find out who has been killing Travelers, in a case that reaches across state lines.
Will the chase ever end? It seems like they were so close so many times to catching Pilate. But the drama and suspense kept on going. Love Lucas Davenport!
First of John Sanford's books I have read and I think I will now go back to the first in the Prey series and read them all. Not often a Pulitzer winner for reporting writes fiction so well. I recommend his web site and you should read through his dispatches from his visit to Iraq. John Roswell Camp is the real name guess he was afraid his fiction would spoil his rep as a serious correspondent.
Nothing like a new Lucas to curl up with and a long weekend to do it in as they are inevitably un-put-downable!! Found this to be better than his average as well: the 'Travellers' got under my skin and I was very glad when Lucas got involved. Also, I really like Letty and would like to see more of her, preferably partnered with Lucas, in the books. Love her attitude!
I didn't think I was going to like this book as much as I did since the subject matter was not something I was really interested in, but it turned out to be quite good
I just finished this one.
I did not enjoy it.
Pity as I love this author and both the Davenport and Flowers series.
Sandford's success in writing is that while he writes essentially police procedurals, they are both closer to actual dialogue, plus realistically-based office interactions: the dedicated, hard worker versus the management sleaze [usually nepotistic or politcal appointments] - - something many, if not most people, can attest to.
Typical fine craftsmanship from Sandford, although still have to call the YA book, Uncaged, his best [written with his co-author wife]. Interesting to see how he handles his upcoming SF debut, Saturn Run?
SummaryAdd a Summary
Will the chase ever end? It seems like they were so close so many times to catching Pilate. But the drama and suspense kept on going. Love Lucas Davenport!
They call them Travelers. They move from city to city, panhandling, committing no crimes-they just like to stay on the move. And now somebody is killing them. Lucas Davenport's adopted daughter, Letty, is home from college when she gets a phone call from a woman Traveler she'd befriended in San Francisco. The woman thinks somebody's killing her friends, she's afraid she knows who it is, and now her male companion has gone missing. Letty tells Lucas she's going to get her, and, though he suspects Letty's getting played, he volunteers to go with her. When he hears the woman's story, though, he begins to think there's something in it. Little does he know. In the days to come, he will embark upon an odyssey through a subculture unlike any he has ever seen, a trip that will not only put the two of them in danger-but just may change the course of his life.
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Profile in Excellence: Seeing Desert Flowers
March 17, 2005
Editor's Note: Oklahoma Baptist University alum Bruce Bell, a 1958 graduate, is a 2005 recipient of the OBU Alumni Association's Profile In Excellence Award. The award is given to a former student who has "demonstrated recognizable accomplishment in his or her profession, business, avocation, or life service in such a way as to bring pride and honor to the University." Each year, Profile In Excellence recipients are featured in OBU Magazine.
Dr. Bruce Bell works in the Hispanic communities of Oklahoma City, serving families through his medical practice. For Bruce, this is a mission field. He takes no insurance. His charge: only $10 per visit. And if his patients can't afford payment, he services them anyhow.
This structure assures that Bruce helps the most needy in the community, a decision that he credits to his long experience with Jesus. But his relationship with Jesus and allowing him to guide his actions - this took time.
"I was converted at age 7, but I hated church," says Bruce Bell, '58. "I thought it was the most ridiculous thing. I was bored, and it got under my skin all the time. So, I would count heads, count hats, count bald heads, anything to pass the time." This would all change several years later when a traveling evangelist asked a simple question that sounds clichéd today. "If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven?" the evangelist asked. "I had never heard that question asked before," Bruce says. "And the Holy Spirit began to approach me. I don't know what the preacher preached that night, but I began my journey then."
Bruce combines this memory with a growing curiosity about God's creation. "I became fascinated with the outdoors, especially the creek going by our house. I wanted to know about how creation worked. I saw a film around that time that magnified the view of the desert where you could see small flowers with stems and petals growing all over the desert floor. It was as if God was asking, 'What do you think about that?' I couldn't turn him away, this God who cared so intimately about his creation and its details.
"In my experience I've learned to listen and keep on listening to what God says about the Bible and everything else. Before I came to OBU, I was pledging at a University of Oklahoma fraternity. But I received a scholarship to OBU, so I changed direction. The OBU professors were not like any professors I had seen before. They had a commitment to students outside of the classroom. And it was at OBU that a group of us packed into several cars to make the journey to Nashville, where Billy Graham was holding a crusade. There, my eyes began to open to other people from other nations.
"I was only vaguely interested in medicine at the time. During my senior year, post Korean War and a Vietnam War looming, I received my draft papers. The next thing I knew I was an enlisted soldier.
"I got out before I became an officer because I had an opportunity to apply for medical school and continue in the Reserves. In my residency at St. Anthony Hospital, God reinforced what he wanted to do in my life. There, I learned from the nuns, who had a dedication that was pure, simple, and direct. The nuns were feeding the homeless before it was popular. I left for private practice with a great appreciation for mission work."
Through the years, he and his wife Barbara Stine, '58, have had ample opportunities to do short-term medical missions to such places as Haiti and Taiwan, mainly through Trinity International Baptist Church, their church home. And, four years ago, with his five children grown and established in their careers, he felt a new venture afoot. His experiences and the prompting of the Holy Spirit provided the context to question the focus of his work and how he could help needy people in Oklahoma City.
Knowing that more than 140,000 Hispanic people live in and around the city, Bruce explored how to change his price structure and location. "It was two years ago that I moved to this location," Bruce says. "I simply retired altogether from my old practice. Here, I don't accept any insurance or Medicaid. I just charge $10 and if families can't pay it, I don't worry about it."
In the lobby, a listing of Spanish churches is provided alongside Spanish New Testaments and other Christian literature. "This is just a start," he says. "I'm able to see about 100 people each week, but there is more to be done. That's the next piece of this work, to get more people interested in helping others who can't afford basic services; people that live right here in our communities."
Bruce Bell is one of 12 former students who will receive the Profile in Excellence Award in 2005. The award is given by the OBU Alumni Association in recognition of service and leadership.
Click the following link to view a full list of previous Profile in Excellence recipients.

subset: commoncrawl


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With its long experience, Argex presents itself as a 'young', dynamic and flexible company. From its home base in Burcht/Zwijndrecht, Belgium, Argex distributes its expanded clay grains onto the national and international market.
As being manufacturer and distributor of lightweight grains Argex distinguishes itself by thinking along with its customers in order to offer unique solutions.


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Isn't SEO Dead ?
SEO ( Search Engine Optimisation ) is about … putting the name of a website out there; creating links and references back to it; promoting a site and it's product or service offering. This results in the website getting more notice and attention from both people and search engines. Techniques change, but the strategy will alway…Read more


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(Reuters) – Health insurance premiums for low-cost Obamacare plans in 16 U.S. cities will fall slightly in 2015 as competition helps drives down price for the new subsidized individual health plans, according to a study Friday from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Kaiser analysis found that the premiums for the second lowest cost silver tier plan, upon which government tax credit subsidies are based, will fall compared with 2014 prices by an average of 0.8 percent in 7 of 16 major cities.
If the trend holds across the country, the study said, the lower benchmark premium could mean that the government subsidies are less overall and there are more tax savings.
Private insurers began selling new health insurance plans for individuals last year for coverage starting in 2014. Plans for 2015 insurance coverage will be up for sale starting on Nov. 15, 2014 when enrollment opens.
Kaiser found that among the biggest changes in pricing were a decline on average of more than 15 percent in Denver to $211, of 11 percent in Providence, Rhode Island to $260 and of nearly 10 percent in Seattle to $254.
In Nashville, Tennessee, the silver premium price will rise 8.7 percent to $205, while Burlington, Vermont will have a 6.6 percent rise to $440 and Portland, Oregon will go up 6 percent to $213, the study said. The premiums exclude income-based government subsidies.
Including these tax credits, the average in the 16 cities would be a monthly premium of $208 versus $209 a year earlier, the study found.
Premiums for the lowest tier plan, bronze, are increasing an average of 3.3 percent in 2015, the study found.
Kaiser looked at plan premiums before and after federal tax credits for a 40-year old single adult who is a non-smoker and earns $30,000 per year.
(Reporting by Caroline Humer; Editing by Grant McCool)
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Recipe from Elsie of Ore.
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup white sugar
3 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. dried basil
1/2 t. dried savory
1/2 t. dried thyme
3/4 cup butter
1/2 shredded carrot
1/3 milk
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated or shredded)
1 t. oregano
1/4 t. rosemary
2 t. sage
1. preheat oven to 400 F
2. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl
3. Cut in butter
4. Stir in milk and egg until just moistened
5. Drop batter in 1/4 cup portions onto ungreased cookie sheet
6. Bake 12-14 minutes or until light golden brown.
Serve warm (they are good with ranch dressing!)
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


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A low-solids acrylic coating that protects the surface with little change to the appearance of the material. This treatment maintains a breathable surface.
The Stone Enhancer series contains two film-forming, acrylic protective coatings for stone surfaces that help to protect against water penetration, erosion, freeze-cracking, water and oil stains, and a variety of other damaging environmental elements. These products help to deter unsightly stains caused by mold and mildew. Surfaces treated with these products can easily be cleaned using deionized water and a mild detergent such as Presto's Green-Kleen®. Stone Enhancer MD and HD improve stone material in different ways:
Stone Enhancer ® MD: Invisible, film-forming, acrylic-based protective treatment leaves an enhanced shine on stone while maintaining a breathable surface
Stone Enhancer ® HD: Film-forming, acrylic-based protective treatment leaves an enhanced shine on stone surfaces. This treatment does not allow a breathable surface.
LimitationsNot suitable for below-grade applications.
Horizontal or VerticalCan be used on either horizontal or vertical surfaces. Horizontal surfaces may need reapplication sooner than vertical surfaces.
Intended SurfacesUse to seal all types of stone surfaces, including concrete, precast, GFRC, natural stone and masonry.
Surface PreparationComplete all caulking and surrounding construction substrate applications prior to using this product. Newly installed stone or grout must be allowed to cure before application. Protect against personal contact with this and all chemical products. Prior to the application of this product, ensure the stone is completely clean and free from all dirt, staining and biological growth using any of Presto's stone cleaning products.
Make sure to thoroughly rinse the material to ensure no product is left behind on the surface prior to sealing. Any residue left on the surface can interfere with the protective coating. The use of deionized water is required to achieve full product performance. Never apply to a damp or wet surface. Do not apply in below freezing temperatures. Protect any unintended areas.
ApplicationUse a low-pressure sprayer, roller, brush, sponge or lambs wool applicator. Product may also be back rolled. Do not dilute; apply full strength. Apply product to create an even coat on the surface. Allow product to saturate surface. Do not allow product to pool on the surface and dry, or protection will be uneven and a residue may form. Remove excess material with a rag or towel.
A second coat may be needed for porous, absorbent surfaces or for superior protection. Subsequent coats should be applied in the same manner as the first while the initial application is drying. Never apply a second coat if two coats were not tested and approved prior to use.
Protection will begin immediately after sealant dries on the surface. Cure time for maximum water and stain protection is 24-72 hours. Protect surface from contact with water for at least 48 hours. Application rates, concentration, temperature and humidity can impact dry and cure time. Use towels or rags to polish the surface.
In many instances, a combination of different stone cleaning products is necessary for various stone surfaces depending on their level and type of staining. Presto offers a complete line of stone cleaning products for all situations, including:
CleanupClean tools and equipment with mineral spirits. In the event Stone Enhancer is allowed to come in contact with adjacent surfaces, dries and is difficult to remove, use one of the following surface restoration products:
Suggested Maintenance
For ongoing maintenance of the protected surface, we recommend the use of Green-Kleen diluted 10 to 1 with water, preferably heated
deionized water
. Apply the diluted product to the surface. Allow to sit for one or two minutes and scrub with a soft bristle if necessary to remove build up. Then gently rinse the surface clean with low pressure. For exterior vertical surfaces, we recommend cleaning the surface every 2-3 years in order to retain a clean appearance and preserve the previous restoration. High pressure is not needed and may damage the surface coating or weaken its performance. This maintenance cleaning is not mandatory to ensure the coating will last as stated in the warranty and is only a recommendation.
The information provided by Presto for the safe and effective use of this product, and all of our products, is believed to be good and accurate. However, due to the many different possible applications of this product, careful considerations should be made when selecting its suitability for each surface.
The information provided should never be substituted for individual testing to ensure the product's compatibility with each surface intended for use. The purchaser shall assume all responsibility for determining the suitability of this product. When used as intended, this product will perform as stated. No other warranty can be made for this product, verbally or written.
Presto warrants this product to be free from defects. In the event this product is found to be defective, we will provide a sufficient amount of product to replace the defective product.
View Our Precast & Concrete Before & After Pictures
View our Stone Restoration Pictures Featuring projects that utilized our many products for their building's restoration, maintenance or cleaning project.
After cleaning or sealing stone surfaces, the glass windows and metal frames almost always need to be cleaned, and many times window spots and stains will need to be removed as well. View our glass and metal products that compliment our stone restoration and protection products.
Don't Forget the Glass & Metal Surfaces
Stone Enhancer HD is Special Order Only. Call for Pricing and Availability.
View All Products > Architectural Precast, Concrete, Brick & Block Restoration Products > Stone Protection Products > Stone Enhancer Series >


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F1, Rally and motorsport forums
#automobile, motorsport, racing, autos, cars, auto, formule, formula, rally, alms, mans, alonso, button, schumacher, raikkonen, hamilton, rosberg, vettel, verstappen, ricciardo, ocon, bottas
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An automobile club for the enthusiast who enjoys the last of the big GM cars. The rear wheel drive B and D bodys.
b-body, badass, england, caprice, roadmaster, fleetwood, cars, rear, wheel, drive, d-body
The SUNSHINE COAST MUSTANGERS are Ford Mustang automobile owners who live on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada.
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streetkenji : untuk member2 automobile beramah mesra dan bertukar - tukar pandangan sesama member.
ClubLogan. com Mahindra Renault Logan Forum and Blog.
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Honda Civic 7th Generation. Team ES Singapore. Car Automobile Civic Honda Singapore Rides
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cars, bike, bikes, automotive, #automobile, chopper, manual, restoration, formula, volkswagen, porsche, camper, lamborghini, alfa, romeo, veloce, publishing, book, books, motorcycles


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We can't reveal our first drive impressions of the 2010 Chevy Camaro until Friday. But they sure as hell can't stop us from showing this exclusive first baby-Bumblebee-of-a-burnout caught on video.
We've brought you a lot of "firsts" along this long, dark path we've traveled from concept to the new Chevy Camaro including the EPA fuel economy numbers, the Camaro SS 0-to-60 time and the Nurburgring lap numbers this morning. But none gives us greater delight than this — the first tire-smoking burnout provided for us by none other than GM's Al Oppenheiser. He's the Chief Vehicle Engineer of the new Camaro.
We kind of wish we'd had the time necessary to add the almost-a-prerequisite waving 'merican flag fading in and out of the video and "America, Fuck Yeah!" playing in the background.


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We have been finding good homes for healthy puppies for 15 years. Let us help you find the perfect puppy.
We now have Labrador Retriever puppies for sale. These puppies come from excellent Retriever breeders. Labradors make excellent family pets. They are very smart. They are used in human assistant programs. They are also used on the police force for special duties. Labradors are a dog for all ages.Greenfield Puppies, Pennsylvania
All our boxer puppies come with a vet check and registration papers. Let us help you find the boxer puppy that is right for you.
All our puppies are health guaranteed. We specialize in healthy family pets. All our puppies have the proper health provided to them.
Check out www.greenfieldpuppies.com. All the information and pictures are there for you to view. We now have shipping available.


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No announcement yet.
Cyberdyne's HAL finally in the US.!
new posts
Cyberdyne's HAL finally in the US.!
Cool and all, and not meaning to rain on their parade, but I don't see much new there from the existing exoskeletons out there.
What's the price comparison with the ReWalk?
Show me video of a high SCI putting it on unassisted, standing unassisted and walking up stairs unassisted.. then you've really got my attention.
But for my money I'm still really trying to find somewhere I can try the Indego. Estim combined with an exoskeleton.. now someone was thinking for once, this I really want to try.
HAL is extremely different on how it works and is only designed for therapy use to help you train and strengthen your signals to trigger your muscles. Iv walked in indego a bunch for therapy but they are completely different. indego is for more complete injuries trying to get some activation or just wants to walk/stand because it can fully support your weight and initiate/control your step off of your hip movement. HAL is only for therapy use to help you regain functional movment/control and you need some residual signal getting to you muscles for it to work. With HAL you have total control of what the robot does by sending signals to your muscles and it only assists in the intended movment. Both are very good devices and have their place in the recovery world.
Mav - I didn't realize it was only for theriaputic purposes, but I did catch the fundamental difference in it's technology.
I am curious tho - in the demo he said he was generating the movement, yet his own leg wasn't moving. How was that?
What is your reaction as a user? Is this thing expediting recovery in a clear way? Is it akward to use? Is it comfortable?
Thanks for the post. We are luck to live in an era of ever expanding technology.
Originally posted by Other Bruce View PostI am curious tho - in the demo he said he was generating the movement, yet his own leg wasn't moving. How was that?Co-founder & CTO of MYOLYN - FES Technology for People with Paralysis - Empowering People to Move
As a user Im extremely hopeful. HAL is helping me be able to gain control and learn how to fire my muscles at the right time and even isolated movements not just walking.I'm 2.5 years out from my injury Iv tried many different therapies and I've seen the biggest changes of my recovery since I started using hal. Iv seen big increases in my body weight supported walking distance and time. My foot placement and respiratory function have improved. I'm starting to get some new sensations in my legs too. This is definitely frustrating to use at first only because you have to figure out how to fire the correct muscle to make it work but that makes it soo worth it! Everything iv done in the past I just tried to do the movments not knowing if I was using the correct muscles.
Originally posted by NW-Will View PostMaverick15
have you tried the ReWalk ?
Locomat ?
So if you can't generate any muscle signal the HAL won't activate ?


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New For 2014
Several mechanical changes introduced last year for the Explorer Sport trickle down to all models, including larger brakes, a larger brake master cylinder, and solid steering-rack mounts that improve steering feel. Heated second-row seats and adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning join the options list for Limited models. There are also two new paint colors, sunset and dark side.
Vehicle Summary
The Ford Explorer has come a long way since it launched in 1990. The current generation, the first to use unibody construction, debuted for 2011 with a modern design, heaps of technology, and a more carlike driving experience. The Explorer still has available four-wheel-drive, a 5000-pound tow rating, and an electronic terrain management dial with off-road mode, but it's clearly a crossover for the suburbs rather than the sand dunes. Although it is one of Ford's most popular models, the three-row Explorer doesn't sell nearly as well as the two-row Escape. However, its greater size and capabilities ensure it remains an important part of the Ford lineup.
Now in its fourth year, this generation of the Ford Explorer remains an attractive choice in the crowded and competitive three-row crossover segment. The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 that is smooth and powerful enough to satisfy the majority of buyers. An optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder sacrifices a little bit of power and returns better fuel economy than the V-6, but it is only available with front-wheel drive. Drivers who need or want more power can pick the Explorer Sport, which has a 365-hp, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, as well more aggressive bodywork, 20-inch wheels, and sportier programming for the standard all-wheel-drive system. However, it is expensive and returns the lowest fuel economy of any Explorer.
Despite its size and weight, the Ford Explorer drives very well, if without excitement. The steering is well weighted and the standard six-speed automatic transmission is smooth, although the suspension can feel floaty. We previously criticized the Explorer for weak brakes and poor pedal feel, but Ford has addressed both issues for 2014 by upgrading the entire braking system. In our latest three-row crossover comparison test, we faulted the Explorer's cramped interior and meager visibility. Thick roof pillars and a high beltline make it difficult to see out of the car, while wide door sills hurt ease of entry. Moreover, the interior feels smaller than the large exterior dimensions would suggest — space in the second and third rows of seats is tight. Ultimately, the Ford Explorer lost out against the Honda Pilot in our first round of comparison testing voting.
The Explorer's long list of available features includes a panoramic sunroof, a self-parking system, adaptive cruise control, and more. Safety gadgets include inflatable rear seatbelts, a feature called Curve Control that slows the Explorer if it's entering a turn too quickly, a backup camera, lane-departure warning, trailer sway control, and blind-spot monitors. Even after multiple software updates, the optional MyFord Touch infotainment system remains difficult to use and unreliable, so we'd avoid it if possible.
You'll like:
- Long list of safety features
- Stylish design
- Fuel efficient 2.0-liter engine
You won't like:
- Middling outward visibility
- Gets pricey with options
- MyFord Touch still not great
Key Competitors
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Honda Pilot
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Nissan Pathfinder


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Bison deserve a home on the range
You sleeping relick of the past
if I but had my way
I'd cloth(e) your frame
with meat and hide
an(d) wake you up to day.
– C.M. Russell, 1908
Montana cowboy artist and favorite son Charles M. Russell penned those wistful words underneath a sketch he made of a sun-bleached buffalo skull poking through prairie grass. But that was 104 years ago, at a time when returning buffalo to the Northern Plains had to seem about as likely as reanimating the weathered bones he drew.
Russell's lifetime -- 1864-1926 -- witnessed the commercial slaughter and near-extinction of buffalo, elk, deer, antelope and nearly every other edible, usable or annoying critter inthe West. Russell lived barely long enough to witness the beginning of America's wildlife conservation movement. Perhaps he hoped that the movement would succeed, but he surely couldn't predict the extent to which it has.
It's hard to overstate that success. Today, our country has abundant wildlife. We've brought back the big game, waterfowl, predators, furbearers, raptors and upland birds that Russell and his contemporaries wrote off as gone for good. Here in Montana, they're thriving in the wild, except for one -- the buffalo.
We have bison aplenty in Montana, but they're privately owned and raised as livestock or held captive behind high fences for tourists to photograph. And some 4,700 wild bison are hemmed in inside Yellowstone National Park, confined not by fences but strict state policy. Nowhere in Montana -- or anywhere else in North America, for that matter -- do bison roam free in their native prairie habitat.
But change is on the horizon of eastern Montana's mixed-grass prairie.
Montana is taking the first step toward restoring wild bison. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently completed a series of meetings across the state, to identifying public issues to include in an environmental impact statement and comprehensive plan for managing bison -- as wildlife, not livestock or park escapees.
Meanwhile, in May, Montana presented the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes with 63 genetically pure bison captured from Yellowstone National Park to start a herd on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana. Those bison were welcomed to their new pasture with cheers and tears of joy.
Not everyone's cheering, though. Many ranchers oppose restoring bison even on public land. Some have gone to court in an attempt to block Montana's gift of bison to the Fort Peck tribes. Stock growers see wild bison as a possible source of diseases, a destroyer of fences and a competitor for grass that cattle could eat. In a recent public meeting, one rancher likened the proposal to restore wild bison to the movie "Jurassic Park."
Their opposition may be overblown, but the ranchers do have valid concerns. The National Wildlife Federation advocates bison restoration but is making it clear that it hears and understands the concerns of ranchers. The National Wildlife Federation has pledged to work hard to resolve potential conflicts. We must ensure that bison restored to the wild present no threat of disease, and that, when they cross onto private lands, they don't create more problems than other wildlife do.
Given that commitment, we should focus on where and how to restore wild bison, not whether we ought to do so. The "where" is easy: It's hard to imagine starting anyplace other than the vast national wildlife refuge named after Russell himself.
The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge sprawls over 1.1 million acres of prairie and rugged breaks. This remote, wild, high-quality native bison habitat has the three things wild bison need: grass, water and space. The refuge is largely surrounded by public lands, and its primary mission is wildlife conservation. It's just waiting for bison to make their comeback.
Ranchers can help guide restoration, but first they'll need to agree to take a seat at thetable. Conservation and stewardship are matters of balance, not all-or-nothing approaches. Stock growers must know that better than anyone. Indeed, most ranchers understand thatthe "no livestock grazing on public lands" position espoused by some environmental groups is an extreme opinion, held by very few.
But conservationists think that the "no bison on public lands" position taken by thelivestock industry is equally extreme. Saying there's no room for wild bison anywhere in Montana's 147,000 square miles defies common sense.
We won't be seeing wild bison in great numbers or in many places. Even the West's wildest prairies are too fragmented or developed for that. But just as we've done with other wildlife, we can restore wild bison to prairie habitat on the Russell refuge and some tribal lands.
Restoring bison may spark debate now. But when future generations look back, nobody will doubt we did the right thing. We have an opportunity with bison that earlier generations could only dream about. It's time to seize that opportunity.
Tom France is a contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of High Country News (hcn.org). He the National Wildlife Federation's regional executive director and counsel atthe Northern Rockies and Prairies Regional Center, in Missoula, Montana.


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No ma'am.
By joshdb50 | Posted December 27, 2012
CNN PRODUCER NOTE joshdb50 was a Marine and was deployed to Afghanistan between the years of 2004 through 2005. Although he is no longer in the military he acknowledges that he owns gun. He says he does not believe the government needs to what guns he owns because he believes registration would lead to confiscation. He says the laws that are in place for gun control are plenty, and adding more laws will remove a means of defense for people. 'I own the guns I own because I acknowledge mankind's shortcomings instead of pretending like they don't exist. There are evil men in this world and there just may be a time when I need to do the unthinkable to protect me or my family,' he said.
– Jareen, CNN iReport producer
Senator Dianne Feinstein,
I will not register my weapons should this bill be passed, as I do not believe it is the government's right to know what I own. Nor do I think it prudent to tell you what I own so that it may be taken from me by a group of people who enjoy armed protection yet decry me having the same a crime. You ma'am have overstepped a line that is not your domain. I am a Marine Corps Veteran of 8 years, and I will not have some woman who proclaims the evil of an inanimate object, yet carries one, tell me I may not have one.
I am not your subject. I am the man who keeps you free. I am not your servant. I am the person whom you serve. I am not your peasant. I am the flesh and blood of America.
I am the man who fought for my country. I am the man who learned. I am an American. You will not tell me that I must register my semi-automatic AR-15 because of the actions of some evil man.
I will not be disarmed to suit the fear that has been established by the media and your misinformation campaign against the American public.
We, the people, deserve better than you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joshua Boston
Cpl, United States Marine Corps


text:
A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ed. J.B. Bury with an Introduction by W.E.H. Lecky (New York: Fred de Fau and Co., 1906), in 12 vols. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1681,
A 12 volume set of Gibbon's magisterial history of the end of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest works of history written during the Enlightenment.
The text is in the public domain.
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.


text:
Fair Grove Lions Club
Brad Jones
Contact: email@example.com
Brad Jones joined the FOX8 News team in January 1998. He began his broadcasting career in East Tennessee. After graduating from East Tennessee State University, Brad started in radio news at WKPT in Kingsport, eventually learning the television side of broadcasting there as well.
In 1984, Brad entered graduate school at the University of Georgia where he earned a Masters Degree in Journalism. Then, he landed in Roanoke, Virginia at WSLS. There, Brad anchored the noon newscast with Cindy Farmer. It's a partnership that continued throughout the years and across the miles. Now each day Brad and Cindy help viewers get their day started on the FOX8 Morning News.
Since, 1987, Brad has lived and worked in the Piedmont, first at WFMY and now at FOX8. Brad is married with three children and when he isn't working with Boy Scouts, he enjoys restoring old radios and jukeboxes.2016 Thomasville Christmas Parade Grand Marshal
Fair Grove Lions Club Thomasville, North Carolina


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EDMONTON - It's been a memorable year for our city's Arts & Life scene, and it's time to look back at the highlights, provided by Journal writers and our readers.
Thursday, Dec. 27: The best shows of 2012
Friday, Dec. 28: The best movies and books
Saturday, Dec. 29: The best CDs
Monday, Dec. 31: The best outings/vacations
Some of our Journal writers are lucky enough to go out for a living — to plays, musicals, Fringe productions, festivals, big Rexall concerts, intimate evenings at small local venues. We allowed a few of them — including veteran theatre writer Liz Nicholls and music writer Sandra Sperounes — to provide more than one show highlight of the year — to do otherwise would have been cruel.
But for the most part, here are our writers' and editors' picks for the one best show they saw in Edmonton in 2012:
If you go out to the theatre for a living, and you see lots of shows, you're entering a labyrinth of anxieties and doubts to single out "the best of the year." Theatre doesn't work on the Gregorian calendar year anyhow; I've always thought of New Year's Eve as the first opening night after the Fringe. I'll get back to you later on the outstanding stage experiences of the season now in progress. Meantime, the editor has given me a dispensation: Herewith, five memorable productions, and nights out in the theatre (in no particular order).
- Tom Wood's vigorously earthy, joyful production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Citadel Theatre. From the lovers who knock about the woods in mounting confusion — especially the very funny exasperation of Shannon Taylor's Helena — to the "rude mechanicals" led by Julien Arnold, riotous and heartbreaking as Bottom, the production returned Shakespeare's great romantic fantasy, often tortured into whips and leather, to its joyful essence.
- The magical powers of the imagination were once again vindicated in Stewart Lemoine's exhilarating Pith!, remounted in honour of Teatro La Quindicina's 30th anniversary with a new generation of actors. An adventure on a bare stage that takes the characters on an exotic journey into human connectedness, Pith! is a homage to theatre itself; that's the heart of the matter.
- The sublime nature of lowball silliness: Nothing to sniff at, my friends. I saw the apotheosis of farcical ingenuity in New York last summer. Nicholas Hytner's splendidly hysterical production of One Man Two Guvnors, which crossed the pond from the National Theatre in London, is an adaptation of the 18th century Goldoni farce Servant of Two Masters. In the lead role of the increasingly beleaguered deal-maker valet was the remarkable Brit cherub James Corden. For involuntary out-loud laughter and screaming, with no ulterior motive, this experience topped the field.
Belinda Cornish's new and affectionate English comedy Little Elephants, which premièred at Shadow Theatre, gave us a family of vague, loopy eccentrics, whose route into the secrets of the past is elliptical. They're not into North American confrontations and angst. The fun is in avoidance, and the family members are virtuosos of the tangent.
Since I'm the beneficiary of a dispensation from the editor, I'm going to press my luck, with two brilliant solo shows. Both were fast, furious, funny and touching. Neither stooped to exposition, a kind of death in the theatre. The narrative emerged; it wasn't explained. Jon Lachlan's Big Shot is an explosion of urban characters who intersect, on a bullet trajectory toward tragedy. In Chris Craddock's Moving Along, a man ricochets through his past, abruptly detouring every time the going gets too visceral. Both were superbly produced, by Surreal SoReal Theatre and Theatre Network, respectively.
— Liz Nicholls
Is there really any contest? Paul McCartney's two sold-out shows at Rexall Place — by a long and winding road.
Even if you're not a fan of The Beatles, Wings or his solo work, Macca's music is in our DNA. As he played Eleanor Rigby and Band on the Run, I felt like I was being called to the mother ship — and I was helpless to resist.
Of the two magical mystery tours, I'm not sure which one was my favourite. McCartney seemed chattier and looser during the first concert, but his voice and band sounded better during the second.
Runner-up for best show? Refused at Edmonton Event Centre. The reunited Swedish punks played an explosive set of anti-capitalist, satirical tunes. Frontman Dennis Lyxzen was a live wire, jumping from the top of a speaker, while Jon Brannstrom hunched over his guitar, looking like he was gearing up to smash it — echoing what Paul Simonon did to his bass on the cover of The Clash's London Calling.
In fact, seeing Refused is what I imagine it was like to see the late great British punks in their heyday.
— Sandra Sperounes
Edmonton's inaugural Interstellar Rodeo sticks out as the show that deserves the most kudos. Although many other exciting concerts and festivals rolled through town this year, all the stars aligned for the three-day food, wine and music event. It was well-organized, the lineup rocked, and the atmosphere was energetic and intimate. Simply divine.
— Amanda Ash
How often do you get to see a legend like Paul McCartney? Even though our seats were up in section 305, it was a thrill just to be there. He played all the Beatles favourites, a few vintage Wings hits and even surprised us with pyrotechnics during Live and Let Die. The man showed off his musical chops on guitar, bass and piano. And the one benefit of being up in the rafters, according to music writer Sandra Sperounes, was that Sir Paul's voice was more powerful higher up in the arena. For much of the night it was like a giant singalong; everyone knew the lyrics to every song on the playlist. Touching tributes to his former bandmates, a thoughtful gesture to the Pipes and Drum Band of the Edmonton Police Service, his onstage presence — Paul McCartney is the ultimate showman.
—Barb Wilkinson
Skipping past an excellent Iron Maiden-plays-the-hits show, with the added bonus of Edmonton's own Striker proving they can hold their own with the big boys, my vote goes to a much smaller gig, the Doers reunion at Wunderbar. Maybe it's because I never saw them in their prime, when they were the closest Canada ever got to the Minutemen, or maybe it's because small, sweaty, cramped bars are more my style, but this one killed.
—Tom Murray
I tried but I couldn't do it, I couldn't pick ONE best show. There were too many that rocked my world. So, here is a sampling of my favs. My best visual art experience was Saltus Illuminati, a painting installation at the Art Gallery of Alberta by the late Arlene Wasylynchuk. Sixty-six glowing trees (made from Lexan sheets and lit within by LED light ropes) recreated a forest being attacked by mountain pine beetles. The effect was both beautiful and haunting.
My best musical performance in Edmonton was Leonard Cohen (I saw Sir Paul in Vancouver or it would have been a tie), still poetic and soulful at 78 years. Cavalia, a magical, multi-sensory experience — horses, sensational costumes and effects, live music, expert riders and acrobats — took my breath away. The Alberta Ballet's spectacular offering Love Lies Bleeding, featuring the music of Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, was a dazzling blend of choreography, visual and musical elements. Finally, the chance to see John Ullyatt strut his stuff in The Rocky Horror Show at the Citadel was a night of terrific fun and laughter, especially when the audience participation kit held everything from toilet paper to a flashlight.
— Janice Ryan
I saw some fabulous shows this year, including The Rocky Horror Show at the Citadel, Jersey Boys at the Jubilee and gentlemanly Leonard Cohen at Rexall. But what show could ever compete, this year or any year for the rest of time, with Paul McCartney's two-night tour de force in Edmonton at the end of November? McCartney's songs have been the soundtrack to my life since I was old enough to own my own transistor radio and it was inspiring to see him, at 70, still the best performer on the planet.
—Keri Sweetman
I had so much fun at the latest music festival to take up residence in Edmonton — Interstellar Rodeo. Held at Hawrelak Park in the amphitheatre, it was a small festival, attracting a few thousand fans. I love Gillian Welch, and was thrilled to hear her in person for the first time on the Friday of the three-day event. But equally exciting was dancing to the music of Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys, a band that was new to me, and turned me into an instant fan.
I attended only the first evening of the festival, but won't soon forget its yellow-hot, blue-skied bliss. The music filled me up, as did food from a number of food trucks that circled the amphitheatre like a fragrant wagon train. I also loved the way the upstart music festival suggested (and sold) wines paired with each of the 16 acts on the weekend-long bill. I can't wait for next year's performance. I'm buying a weekend-long pass.
— Liane Faulder
The Labour Day weekend Sonic Boom show has become an annual event for me, my kids and our closest friends, so my perspective on this year's version is a bit coloured by nostalgia. Still, it's rare to find a rock show that's family-friendly enough to satisfy four preteen boys and their moms, but this one is. The lineup at this year's event threatened to disappoint when Incubus cancelled at the last minute, but fill-in headliners Linkin Park impressed us all in their first Edmonton show.
— Marta Gold
The hype that preceded Cavalia's arrival to Edmonton was unprecedented, so much so that I expected the horses to sprout wings and fly around the big-top tent as part of the show. They didn't, of course, but the spectacle of watching the interaction between the equine stars and their human handlers was still nothing short of magical.
— Jamie Hall
The Sound of Music at the Citadel. Schmaltzy and dumb but irresistibly great, with Josée Boudreau somehow outshining Julie Andrews.
— Richard Helm
To be honest, I'm not certain Teatro La Quindicina's smart, highly successful remount of the wonderful Stewart Lemoine play Pith! was really my favourite show of 2012. That's a tall order in a year of lucky trips to Paris and New York. But there isn't a moment's hesitation in congratulating my favourite company on its remarkable 30-year run, which was duly sent up in a terrific anniversary season. An absolute treasure among Edmonton institutions, Teatro continues to make this city a livable place. Chimo!
— Alan Kellogg
Again with the caveats, but watching my mother twist and shout in the third row of Paul McCartney — an actual Beatle in our midst — filled me with a forgotten joy. That show was impossibly fun, though a Slow Learners/Lad Mags show at a Vancouver's Antisocial Skateboard also hit me pretty hard. In terms of audience participation, Coldplay's blinking glow-bands on the wrists of a sold-out Rexall audience was a brilliant spectacle, but the best single concert I saw was Future of the Left at SxSW in Austin, Texas, runner-up to Alejandro Escovedo covering Sex Beat at the Continental Club at the tail end of the same festival.
— Fish Griwkowsky
The very best show I saw in 2012 was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a haunting adaptation of Mark Haddon's acclaimed novel, created for the stage by playwright Simon Stephens and director Marianne Elliott. It was staged by London's National Theatre — but I got to see it at West Edmonton Mall, when Cineplex rebroadcast a live London performance. The cast, led by Luke Treadway as the autistic math savant who solves a private, painful family mystery, was stellar. But the real magic was to "be" in the London theatre with a live audience, to be immersed in a truly outstanding piece of stagecraft, without ever leaving WEM.
— Paula Simons
So many things threatened to sink The Weeknd's show in Edmonton that it's a miracle I remember it lovingly. I showed up way too early, it was at the dreaded Edmonton Event Centre, and the all-ages crowd was made up of kids so young they didn't know how to express their desire for an encore (just clap and yell, guys). Thankfully, Abel Tesfaye's voice was the saviour of the show. If you've never heard him sing, do yourself a favour and have a listen. It's audaciously good, and heard live, it's nearly inconceivable.
— Stuart Thomson
One of the first shows I saw as a Fringe reviewer at the festival last August, Going To St. Ives, remains at the top of my list. It revolved around the interaction between May N'Kame (Patricia Darbasie), mother of a brutal African dictator, and Dr. Cora Cage (Belinda Cornish), who treats N'Kame for glaucoma in the British town of St. Ives. These two skilled actors overcame the limitations of their church-basement stage to turn in emotionally taut performances.
As a proud papa, I must also mention how much I enjoyed Essay, my daughter Sarah Feutl's first Fringe play.
— Gordon Kent
Hands down, Leonard Cohen at Rexall Place last month was the best show I saw this year. I had read his poetry and learned to sing Suzanne at school with the other kids in my Grade 4 class, but had never seen him perform live before. There were 9,000 people at the show but he made Rexall feel as intimate as a nightclub that night. His stamina was amazing, putting on a three-hour show. We had to pack it in as he was about to start his third encore shortly before midnight on a weekday. And maybe it's because I regularly write about fitness, but I couldn't help but be in awe at that cat's ability to easily drop to his knees and get back up without using his hands as well as skipping and running offstage after a set. I want what he's having so I can be like that when I'm 78.
— Chris Zdeb
Paul McCartney in Edmonton. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I've been a Beatles fan for as long as I can remember and I've always said that if I could see anyone in the world perform, Paul McCartney would top the list. Looks like I need to update that list now.
— Caroline Gault
A Wake (Mindhive Collective, Fringe Festival): Not "best" but in a year that saw the Fringe dominated by Bring-Your-Own-Venues in name only (where many companies, my own included, used the site-specific option primarily to guarantee a run of performances at peak hours), Mindhive was one of the few collectives fully embracing the concept with a quirky, charming, tasteful and unsettling performance set inside a funeral chapel. The ingenious lighting, the instantaneous transitions between proscenium and alley, the performers climbing over pews to whisper lines heard only by you, and the gorgeous five-piece band all coalesced into one of the more unforgettable Fringe experiences of my life.
—David Johnston
Progressive Polygamists at the Fringe this summer. A couple of sassy, smart B.C. comedians who play "sister wives" in a gut-splitting satirical hard sell on polygamy.
—Liz Withey
And our readers liked …
What a privilege it was to be present at the interview with Alexander McCall Smith hosted by Todd Babiak at the Winspear Centre on Oct. 23, 2012, during LitFest! What an honour it was for me to meet my favourite author. Alexander McCall Smith's most delightful characters bring me many smiles and hearty "belly laughs." In a world that is at times almost too sad to bare, I eagerly look forward to my special time with the most intriguing characters found in the novels of Alexander McCall Smith! I am so happy that there is always a "next" book!
— Doris Pinkoski
In June, Old Strathcona Centre Community League became found space for this roving production where audience followed actors through playground, basketball courts and hockey rink. Oberon (Perry Gratton) released Titania (Georgia Irwin) from his spell, causing her to fall in love with Bottom, the ass, played by audience member Darren Paul. The Common Ground Arts Society put on Found Festival, the first event of its kind in Edmonton. Midsummer's Lucid Dream was adapted and presented by Thou Art Here Theatre, run by Neil Kuefler and Andrew Ritchie.
— Joan McCracken
Earlier this year my heart almost stood still as I listened to the late Stan Rogers' son, Nathan, sing his father's songs. Then Nathan performed his own music in both a solo workshop at the 2012 Folk Festival and as a part of the trio Dry Bones. The previous years have not been bereft of the wonderful Rogers talent. Garnet may have lost his brother but somehow found himself. What a gifted writer/performer he has become.
Where will life take Nathan Rogers? Folk singing? Tuvan throat singing? With his rich voice and versatility, I can hardly wait to hear!
— Jeanne Jorgensen
Waawaate Fobister plays the trickster Namabush, the "two-spirited" main character, his/her hockey star lover, the floozy sister, the proud mother, the silly virgin girl in Agokwe. He flips from passionate lover, to bold masculine mate seamlessly. Agokwe means "two spirited." The play provides a rare glimpse into the history, spiritual life, and harsh reality of one who is "beyond gender" definition in contemporary society. The one-man performance is brilliant, the stage and set beautiful, sounds, culturally relevant, and the script, gripping. This work is deserving of the countless awards received.
Alberta Aboriginal Arts and Workshop West presented this important artistic work at Catalyst Theatre. It was a powerful, sensitive message of awareness and understanding of "Agokwe."
— Maxine Newbold
The best event of 2012 was Alberta Culture's end-of-summer Block Party on Edmonton's downtown 104th Street. The weather was good. People came, glowed and bonded around terrific music vibes from DJ Beat Burglar, Politic Live, Mad Bomber Society and Shout Out Out Out Out. There was a good feeling among everyone.
Mayor Mandel was peppy in his welcoming speech. The Minister of Culture, Heather Klimchuk, was there. There was food, art and general happiness.
I loved the genuine feeling of pride that this was our Edmonton music and our scene. And it was all free.
— Wilfred Kozub
The best concert I saw was Rush and Martyn Joesph, though I am going to speak about Martyn Joesph's side session on the Saturday afternoon at the Folk Festival. The Folk Fest is one of the best experience for music lovers. The place radiates love, fun, community and embraces world music under one bright rainbow canopy. Martyn Joesph is a Welsh singer-songwriter who sings Celtic and folk around life issues. He jumped off the stage and walked among the patrons sitting on the lawn, playing his guitar and singing, and then he sat down in an empty low-legged chair and played. I thought 'how cool is that!' Later that evening at the volunteer after-party held at the Westin, I approached him and thanked him for being so real. Only at the Folk Fest.
— Shelley Morrison
Crystal Castles at Edmonton Event Centre. For once I didn't notice that ugly pillar. I also didn't realize I'd be deaf for two days after, but it was so worth it.
— Daniel Pietraszewski
Bon Iver at the Jubilee Auditorium
— Stefan Makowski
Miranda Lambert with the Pistol Annies at the Encana Centre in Dawson Creek, B.C. The Jersey Boys at the Jube were a close second.
— Denise Kennedy
Thought I would write about the Oysterband performance I attended with friends last month. I have seen the lads perform a few times before and have always enjoyed their concerts and music (live and recorded). But Oct. 12 at the old Bailey Theatre in downtown Camrose was a highlight for me. The Bailey is an intimate setting for live music, which has been tastefully remodelled to retain its charm, complete with a cosy wee café.
John Jones and the boys were in absolute fine form right from the first song (Over the Water) until their encore finale. The final song, Put of the Lights, was performed without microphones off the stage ... about six feet in front of my friends and me. And after the show, all band members willingly chatted with the patrons over a beer. For me, it doesn't get much better.
Over the years, Oysterband's music has grown richer and this evening, shared with good friends, was one of those enriching musical experiences.
— Al McCalder
Next to Normal at the Citadel. So many different elements and songs. Great for anyone.
— Fiona Jobin
The Parachute Club at Folk Fest (because I finally met Lorraine Segato after 30 years of waiting).
— Derek Wicks
Charlie Musselwhite playing encore song Christo Redemptor at the 2012 International Blues Festival at Hawrelak Park. Out of this world — literally!
— Audrey Handfield
The best concerts I attended in 2012: Brian Wilson, Tony Bennett and John Pinette. Plus, Always Patsy Cline (in Westlock).
— Jason Broder
Cavalia was by far the best show I saw in 2012. OK, it was the only show I saw this year, but I would count it among the best I've ever seen.
With a mix of awe and fear, I watched the performers stand upright on their horses. I was about to say to my mom, age 65, "imagine being the mother of one of those performers …" Before I could get the words out, my mom — eyes lit up — announced to me: "I used to do that on my horse!"
— Laurie McCaffrey
The Rocky Horror Show at the Citadel.
— Barb Gendron
My best concert was a whole week of concerts as Choralies, when French choirs from across Canada and beyond convened in Edmonton in July.
The highlights included an African music adventure with Kokopelli, the 75th anniversary gala concert of our own Chorale St-Jean, and a three-hour finale with all participants at the Winspear.
— Cecily Mills


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Last May, SpaceX's Dragon capsule became the first commercial spacecraft in history to visit the International Space Station. This morning, the private spaceflight company will attempt to do it again.
SpaceX's second cargo delivery mission to humanity's outpost in space is set to lift off at 10:10 ET, atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket. Watch it live, with coverage beginning at 8:30 ET, here on io9 (see below) — or via SpaceX's webcast page beginning at 9:30 ET.
The resupply mission is the second in SpaceX's 12-mission, $1.6-billion deal with NASA, and a crucial proving step on the company's path to delivering humans to and from the ISS. Every successful cargo delivery instills a little more confidence in the burgeoning private spaceflight sector, and adds another feather to SpaceX's cap of credibility. We're talking about crucial proof-of-concept — not just for crewed missions to and from the ISS, but to the Moon, asteroids, and Mars.
Live video for mobile from Ustream


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Funnyman Conan O'Brien and his wife Liza and their two kids adorableNeve, 7, and Beckett, 5 at a friends house for a birthday party birthday party on Saturday (June 26).
Posted by Alisa / Labels: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale / Comments: (0)
Gavin Rossdale performed with his band Bush at this year's 30th anniversary of the Taste of Chicago in the Windy City at the concert wife Gwen Stefani and their boys Kingston 4 and Zuma 1 and a half on Saturday (June 26).
Actress Katie Holmes and her beautiful 4-year-old daughter Suri were spotted at Whittamore's Farm in Markham, Ontario yesterday (June 27).


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The men and women who open the wine in "our house" unanimously preferred the humble Oxo Waiter's Corkscrew ($11.99). They like it because it's about the size of a pocketknife, fits neatly in a pocket, and is unobtrusive during a business lunch. With its rubber handle and rounded shape, the Oxo is easy on the hand. But even our waiters will tell you that this one requires technique. You need to have a feel for how to position the tool and when to pull the cork -- skills acquired with practice. (Available at oxo.com.)
What Works Best
The Pedrini 7 Soft Grip Corkscrew ($9.90) requires a bit of twisting to insert the spiral, but when you press down on the wings the cork rises smoothly. You can't beat it for the price, and there's a built-in bottle opener. (Available at target.com.)
Travel Size
The slim Metrokane Velvet Pocket Corkscrew ($20) has a rubberized finish and a nonstick-coated coil that glides right into (and out of) the cork. Perfect for tailgate parties and picnics. (Available at metrokane.com.)
Fail-Safe Product
It's not a medieval instrument of torture, but it looks like one. Of all the models we tested, the Vacuvin Wine Master ($64.96) came closest to being fail-safe. This is the one to get if you -- or someone on your list -- open many bottles at once. It's effortless to operate. (Available at corkscrew.com. )
Easy to Use
The comfy rubber handle on the Oxo Good Grips CorkPull ($19.99) is a snap to rotate; just keep twisting until the cork comes up. To remove the cork from the spiral, twist in the opposite direction. Although this was a favorite, it does take up space in the drawer because it's so chunky, and the built-in foil cutter is awkward to use. (Available at Available at oxo.com.)
Ultimate Investments
This costs as much as a weekend at a charming bed-and-breakfast, but the Screwpull Elegance Lever Model ($150) looks like a work of art and performs like a precision machine. Made of cast metal, it's extremely durable and is a great find for wine connoisseurs who often open wine at the table. Comes with a foil cutter, spare coil, and display base. (Available at specialty stores. For information visit www.lecreuset.com.)
What Not to Buy
Don't waste your time or money on two-pronged cork pullers, which fit around the cork and tend to push it in instead of pull it out; or plain corkscrews, consisting of a coil screw and straight handle that form a T (they require a lot of muscle power). And we found Cork Pops dangerous on two counts. First, you need to insert a long needle into the cork, then you dispense a gas from a tiny canister to release the cork. If there's any carbonation in the wine, the bottle could break or the cork could fly out fast.


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DT TruSoft golf balls provide exceptionally soft feel on every shot. DT TruSoft delivers very low spin in the long game for impressive distance along with short game playability. This golf ball features a very low compression, fast solid core, our softest pure ionomer cover and a spherically tiled 376 tetrahedral dimple design.
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Port Douglas is a celeb-favourite holiday destination and you only need to visit once to see why. With access to the Great Barrier Reef, award-winning dining and a variety of luxury hotels, there's so many reasons to holiday here with your family, partner or solo. Regardless, you'll always find something exotic and fun to do.
And, here's how you could spend 48 luxurious hours in Port Douglas.
Snorkel or scuba-dive on the Great Barrier Reef to see tropical marine life in full action. You can also sail to the Low Isles or join a liveaboard boat to sleep on the reef.
And, if you're visiting between July and September, you can even swim with minke whales on the Ribbon Reefs.
A stretch of sand so beautiful, you'll pull the car over instantly. Four Mile Beach remains largely undeveloped, so you can spend the day frolicking on the beach, have a picnic or wade in its warm waters. There are rock pools at the northern end of the beach, so little ones will love exploring as well.
Port Douglas offers relaxation and a therapeutic environment. If you're in need of some retail therapy, it's got that too. This compact shopper's Nirvana has everything from large department stores and retails chains to surf shops and souvenir outlets. If you need a hand finding where to shop, check out this retail guide.
Head straight for Macrossan Street, the beating heart of Port Douglas where you can taste the tropics at over 60 restaurants and cafes. From alfresco seafood dining to delectable international cuisines, there's so much on offer and everything is fresh.


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Stocks Tumble on Cyprus Fears
Stocks pared the worst of the session's losses in late trading after a day of being whipsawed by the latest developments from Europe's debt crisis. Matt Jarzemsky reports. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... the people that know he's now a slight gain full points out that spending a lot that night negative ... last night the slight lost four point four percent down ... four points down this the SB aam points found that the government doesn't even explain it to us his own such ... some ... business hopelessness ... yet you Cyprus ... again Cyprus is rising from relative obscurity to be the main road the main story for for markets certainly maybe this week ... I mean aam ... what is the one it's a quarter percentage point DFO the entire GDP of ... the euro zone so ... it is ... I mean it's not ... yet I mean that the banning of the people and often times in the meantime so when the entire GDP Brett ... Lee County the economy's very small on that the worry though for a lot of U S investors is this ... this planet Cyprus had to help fund ... this bailout that on the ECB in time to try to get that was that was to come up with was ... there when it essentially breach into the savings accounts ... of ... people to board what bank depositors in Cyprus ... as of the worries of ... by saying that christening getting scared depositors and in Spain Italy ... other kind of more important parts the euro zone and that that would weaken of the overall financial system of your guests and some investors on the back of the state they seem to pile into consumer staple stocks like soap making companies ... with prices so yet I think that Clarice I mean that's the why it's certainly a defense to corner the market also there was a stock specific news there today up Walgreen and an ... honors for spring and the drug distributor agreed to a new ... drug distribution deal isn't with that that sent both of their shares look tired of it is normal but when you're expecting the economy to slow down to buy stuff people ... to buy stocks in ... the pretty stuff people at the bottom yet ... but it is nice red dress so yes shampoo Staples telecommunications shares utilities images of the kind of defensive groups that those groups also can pay higher dividends to their ... in flight to


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Monterey County Computer Forensics Investigations
John A. DeMarr PI is proud to offer a complete range of background checks to our clients in Monterey County.
On May 12, 2017, a massive cyber-attack hit over 200,000 computers worldwide. The ransomware virus encrypted the information on infected computers, and then demanded payment for the files to be restored. Global havoc resulted, which even included the shutting-down of a portion of the British National Health Service.
The so-called Wanna Cry virus outbreak this year proves what we at John A. DeMarr PI have always known: that cybercrime is everywhere, even as close to home as in Monterey County.
At John A. DeMarr PI we offer a full range of computer forensics and anti-cybercrime services to our clients in Monterey County. Our capabilities include:
- identifying weaknesses in a computer's security,
- repairing breaches in the system,
- assessment of possible future threats,
- complete forensic investigations of cell phones (where necessary),
- electronic surveillance countermeasures (ECM), and
- real-world follow up on any threats we uncover.
At John A. DeMarr PI we can keep your computer – and, by extension, you – safe. For further information about our computer forensics services, please click on the link.
If you believe that your computer's or device's security has been breached, please contact us at 877-433-6277 as soon as possible. The damage done by cyber-attacks can get worse by the minute. You may also use the email form below to contact us.
Our services may also be ordered using our online and .pdf order forms. Please click on the link for full instructions.
Monterey County Computer Forensics Investigations – Free Consultation
Please fill out this form to contact us. We will reply within 24 hours.


text:
This limited edition Disk, designed by Victoria Deregus, comes with a numbered and signed certificate of authenticity. Printed on a .045" thick aluminum sheet, this print is crisp, high gloss, lightweight, and water resistant. It comes with a proprietary 1/2" aluminum shadow mount allowing for easy installation.
Hi there !!! Welcome to my open store :) All goods designed by Victoria Deregus. See more great designs at my storefront. Find something made for you :) Big thanks & Have a great day !!!


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Category: Alumni
Darlene Brannigan Smith, B.S. '78, M.B.A. '80, dean of the Merrick School of Business (photography: Howard P. Fink)
Lelani L. (B.S. '12) and Jerry Hill (photography: Howard P. Fink)
Edward Meerholz, B.A. '71, M.P.A. '78; Sally H. (B.S. '83) and Wendall B. Leimbach, surrounded by costumed revelers (photography: Will Kirk)
George F. Politz, B.S. '61; Marvin L. "Hank" Majewski, B.S. '61; and Frank A. Szymanski, M.S. '77 (photography: Jim Burger)
UB's 1973 wrestling team: back row: Patrick Clisham and Ray J. Armillei, B.A. '76;
middle row: James G. Hebbel Sr., B.S. '74;
Bob Long, B.S. '76;
Vonnie Brewer, B.S. '76; and Ray Haney (coach); front row: Billy D. Weber, B.S. '76;
Bruge Bagley, B.S. '75;
Michael T. Tsottles, B.A. '77; and Rory Cunningham (photography: Jim Burger)
Steven Sanchez, graduate student, Accounting and Business Advisory Services program, and Thomas L. Milan, B.S. '65 (photography: Larry Canner)
Holly Russell and John H. Hennessey, B.A. '74 (photography: Howard P. Fink)
Kate Lawless, M.A. '12; Alicia Kenny, M.A. '12; and Hannah-Love Shibley, M.A. '12 (photography: Howard P. Fink)
Yasmin N. Harris, M.S. '83, and Lillian J. Carter, B.S. '99
Loretta D. Brown, B.A. '00, and Latoya B. Green, B.S. '08
The photo in our last issue sparked some fond memories of a criminal justice class at Fort Meade.
Melvin Bandell, A.A. '56, looks back on his time at the Baltimore College of Commerce, which merged with UB.
Alumnus Oleh Voloshyn, M.S. '99, showed his UB pride when he traveled home to Lviv, Ukraine.
It's more than the family dynamic that ties Kathleen Skullney, Susan O'Neill and Dan Nagle together.
Filmmaker Sylvia Allen, B.S. '00, uses her award-winning short film to spur dialogue on domestic violence.


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Child's Chronic Illness Can Affect the Whole Family
SATURDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Parenting a chronically ill child can cause stress that affects the whole family.
That's the finding of researchers who reviewed 96 studies conducted in 12 countries between 1980 and 2012. The studies included families in which there were children up to age 21 with asthma, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and sickle cell disease.
The demands of care sometimes created greater stress for parents than the severity or length of their child's illness, according to the findings published recently in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.
Along with their usual parenting duties, parents of chronically ill children have to deal with special situations such as doctor or therapy appointments, medical treatments, hospitalizations and school issues that can overwhelm parents while they try to integrate the ill child's needs into the family routine, the Case Western Reserve University researchers said.
Parents in the studies reported experiencing added stress from watching their child in pain, from worrying about the child's vulnerability and from explaining the health problems to people outside the family.
Study co-author Rebecca Hazen, a psychologist and assistant professor in the pediatrics department, offered some stress reduction tips for parents with chronically ill children:
Fifteen percent of U.S. families have a chronically ill child with special needs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more for parents about coping with chronic illness.


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Four years ago I was an environmental archaeologist focused on prehistoric peoples living in the Great Lakes and Northeast with plans to remain on the academic track. I specialized in research on how humans modified their environment through the analysis of microscopic plant remains. My layman's description was that I looked at the burned remains of a prehistoric person's dinner. Today, I'm an evaluator for the Institute of Museum and Library Services* and focus on the social impact of cultural organizations such as museums, archives, and libraries.
The obvious question is what does one have to do with the other? On the surface, not much. But I employ my training as an anthropological archaeologist almost daily.
I used to think about how prehistoric peoples used, modified, and moved around their environment. This involved consideration of local and regional environmental resources (water, raw materials, seasonally available food resources, etc.) and where, when, and how/if people accessed them. Now I consider why people are visiting museums and libraries and the resources available to them through these institutions. I think about how people move around a modern landscape (e.g. walking, biking, car, etc.), barriers or impediments that might affect their access to museums and libraries (e.g. safety concerns, cost, transportation, walkability), seasonally vs. year-round available programming (e.g. summer and other school breaks, services for retirees or unemployed persons), and local/regional issues of cultural significance. My conception of people and their environment has moved from a primarily natural environment to a primarily built one. The issues and questions I address in my current work are not ones unfamiliar to archaeologists either; it's the tangibility that differs. It's possible for me to collect information directly from the folks I'm studying rather than relying solely on the artifacts of their past activities**.
So instead of this:
I now think about this:
My archaeological training has also meant I've worked in the very kind of institutions my agency funds. Generally speaking I'm familiar with the processes, resources required, and the kinds of constraints cultural institutions face (e.g. limited budgets or staffing, space constraints, collections care, etc.). As an evaluator these issues are already on my radar when thinking about how best to implement evaluation methods, appropriate questions to ask, and relevant information to collect.
I may no longer be spending my days in an archaeological trench but the interdisciplinary training I received enables me to make connections related to policy and how people operate in and conceive of their world in ways that others might not.
*The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
**With the caveat that some historical archaeologists are able to do this as well


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Men are notoriously hard to buy for. Not any more! No matter what he's into we've found the perfect gifts for men he most definitely won't be donating to Oxfam!
It's no urban myth that we tend to dread looking for that perfect present for the men in our lives, so we've put together our handy guide to the dos and don'ts to bear in mind when buying gifts for men.
Gifts For Men Dos:
Do try and give him something he wouldn't buy himself
When buying gifts for men experience gifts, or luxurious treats that he might not fork out for himself are always a good idea. Let's face it, it'll hardly be on top of his list to run out and book helicopter flying lessons for himself!.
Do opt for the classic gift option
His favourite book or album in a specialised format (an anniversary edition or vinyl) always make a great gift for him, and he'll appreciate that you put thought and care in giving him something he'll always remember.
Do remember that its okay to play it safe
If you know that he'll love something, don't be afraid to play it safe. If he loves sport, buy him a gift of tickets to see his favourite team; if he's a movie buff get him that box set he keeps meaning to get. Even you're not exactly filled with joy at the thought of spending all day in a field/ watching re-runs of Top Gear, he'll love it so your job is done.
Do keep it simple
We don't mean simple as in buying him a pair of socks- more that you don't have to spend hours making a handmade birthday card to show you care. It's the thought that counts and if you stick to what you know he'll like (you'll most likely have an in depth knowledge of this) chances are he'll be very happy.
Do stay away from gifts for him that you think might be a bad idea
Chances are, your instinct's will be spot on.
Gifts for Men Don'ts:
Don't give him anything with an obvious monetary value
Never, ever give cash!. Not only is it supremely impersonal, it shows a distinct lack of imagination. Plus do you really want him to know the exact monetary worth that you put on him?.
Don't give him anything his Mother would buy him (unless you are his mother!)
For obvious reasons!
Don't get him something you wish he would wear/use
In other words, don't buy him a gift that you think might encourage him to change. It may seem like a bright idea, but there's a good chance it could backfire and you don't want to get a bad rep for what we're sure are your super gift buying skills. The best gifts for him are gifts that he (rather than you!) likes.
Don't over think it
If you're feeling super stressed about it, trust your instincts and go with what you know he'll enjoy. Choosing a gift for him should be a pleasure, not a chore.
When someone you love is feeling down in the dumps, cheer them up with a dose of powerful medicine - in the form of laughter, of course. These digitally printed numbers...Price: £25.00 From The Letteroom
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Slippers have never made the most interesting of gifts, until now! These stylish slip-ons are composed of smooth leather and are customary Chursh - handmade, timelessly stylish...Price: £95.00 From Selfridges & Co Ltd
Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. When he finds a neighbour's murdered dog, his whole life gets terrifyingly shaken. Christopher loves lists,...Price: £5.05 From Play.com
This classic slip-on from Fin's with it's super-soft lining and suede heel-toe patches are the perfect way to bring a little luxury to Winter mornings. Beautifully gift boxed,...Price: £49.50 From Fin's
Not many books translate well onto the screen, and even fewer from one culture to another, but High Fidelity has been beautifully adapted to fit American culture. John Cusack...Price: £3.99 From Amazon
We've all had that split second realisation. The panic! This is a gift emergency. Never fear, we've got some great last minute gifts to bail you out.Read more


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Eleganza Double Faced Satin Ribbon 6mm x 20m Burgundy Ribbon
Eleganza Double Faced Satin Ribbon 6mm x 20m Burgundy
Width: 6mm
Length: 20 meter
Sold by the Reel
Premium quality double faced sitched edge ribbon on a roll with a superior satin finish. Widely used for gift wrapping and packaging, wedding bouquets, crafts, scrapbooking, wedding cakes, hair bows and headbands, wedding invitations and card making.
Mainland UK Delivery - DELIVERIES RUNNING AS NORMAL
(Over 1 Metre Length) 2 Working Days* £9.99 + vat
(Furniture, Large/Heavy Items) 3 - 5 Working Days £59.99 + vat
Any items that fall within the oversized or pallet delivery options will state this in the product description.
*Orders placed by 12 noon Monday-Friday are generally despatched on a 2 working day delivery service (unless otherwise stated in product description). During busy periods this may increase to a 3-5 day service.
To check the current status of delivery timings before placing an order, please call our office team on 0151 334 0818.
For additional delivery locations/options click here
We understand that sometimes products need to be returned. If your item is faulty, damaged, or simply no longer required, our office team will help you out.
We accept returns within fourteen working days from receipt in an unused and resalable condition*
*For full return instructions and guidance please click here


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Deep in the West
Destination: Muleshoe
Travel time from:
Austin – 8 hours
Brownsville – 12.5 hours
Dallas – 7 hours
Houston – 10.5 hours
San Antonio – 8 hours
Lubbock – 1.25 hours
El Paso – 6.5 hours
Once part of the XIT Ranch, Muleshoe is home to sandhill cranes and prairie dogs.
By Dyanne Fry Cortez
Don't be put off by the name. While it may sound like little more than a dusty hoofprint in a field, Muleshoe offers a colorful history and abundant wildlife opportunities for those who make the trek.
Muleshoe is almost at the edge of Texas, perched on the High Plains of the Panhandle, occupying land that once was part of the vast XIT Ranch. The city is named for the Muleshoe Ranch, owned by E.K. Warren and his son Charles, who bought several pieces of the old XIT. The town sprang up in 1913 when the railroad tracks came through.
Almost a century later, Muleshoe is proud of its ranching heritage and slightly quirky name. At the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, there's a life-sized statue and historical marker dedicated to the mule, which is also the school mascot. Giant mule shoes mark the entrance to the Muleshoe Heritage Center, where the old Muleshoe Ranch cookhouse is one of several restored buildings on display.
On this trip, our first stop is the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge 20 miles south of town. Established in 1935, it's a great place for bird watching. Three saline lakes and a handful of playa lakes provide a winter home for sandhill cranes and a rest area for ducks and geese that travel the North American Central Flyway.
Or they might, if they had any water. We're visiting in the fall of 2011, a year of exceptional drought. Still, refuge manager Jude Smith isn't ready to give up on the waterfowl season just yet. The place caught a little rain in August, courtesy of the New Mexico monsoons. Some ducks stopped by in September. A storm front is headed this way, expected to arrive tonight. Everyone hopes it will bring more rain.
Cranes aren't the only attraction here. There are 320 species on the bird checklist, including the lesser prairie-chicken, which is known to nest in the area. A prairie dog town is popular with visitors.
"The dogs have never been shot at, so they don't fear people. They'll sit up and bark at you," says Smith. The refuge is open every day for bird and wildlife watching. Public roads offer drive-up access to the larger lakes, the prairie dog viewing zone and a picnic/camping area. An additional 20 miles of trails and service roads are reserved for hikers and nonmotorized bikes.
At the visitor center, we meet Sammie Simpson, chair of the Bailey County Historical Commission and one of the refuge's interpretive volunteers.
Simpson doesn't claim to be a wildlife expert. She's after the human story. Before settlers moved in, planted crops and learned to pump water from the Ogallala Aquifer, this dry plateau was a forbidding place. Army Capt. R.B. Marcy, commander of the 1849 Santa Fe Expedition, described it as "a land where no man, either savage or civilized, permanently abides … even the savages dare not venture to cross it except at two or three places, where they know water can be found."
One of those routes went from present-day Portales, N.M., to the general vicinity of Lubbock. Known first as the Trail of Living Water, then as the Comanchero trade route and eventually as the Fort Sumner Road, the route was used by prehistoric toolmakers, nomadic Kiowa and Comanche tribes, Army survey crews and other peoples who passed this way.
"It is just an ancient trail," says Simpson. Local historians have strong evidence that the route went through the refuge at White Lake.
Simpson takes us on a tour of the maintenance barn and manager's residence, built by the Works Progress Administration in 1938. The barn is still in use. The house is currently unoccupied; historians are restoring two rooms to their original condition. WPA workers also planted trees, built roads and constructed dikes to help retain water in the saline lakes. A small exhibit shows the tools they had to work with: a wheelbarrow and a horse-drawn Fresno Scraper. "The rest was done by hand," says Simpson.
Walking back to the visitor center, we lean into a strong wind that threatens to push us backward. "Does it blow like this all the time?" I ask.
"No," says Simpson, "but it does it a lot." We'd figured on camping here tonight, but we're having second thoughts. Cooking dinner in this gale would not be fun — and there's that storm forecast. We decide to drive into town and get a room at the Heritage House Inn.
Heading out, we spy an ornate box turtle crossing the road. It seems untroubled by our truck, but when I lean out the window with a camera, the turtle speeds up and fades into the roadside vegetation.
The storm hits around 2 a.m. Daylight brings chill gray skies and puddles on the parking lot. No problem: we brought jackets.
After a visit to the mule monument, we take a ride up U.S. 84 to Farwell, the last town this side of the Texas-New Mexico state line. We find the Apple Shack, a modern country store with baskets of red apples and shelves stocked with sauces and jams. The front counter tempts us with free samples. We leave with a bottle of jalapeño ketchup and a jar of strawberry preserves.
Back in Muleshoe, we lunch at the Dinner Bell, which has a noon buffet every day of the week. Today it's fried chicken, mashed potatoes, enchiladas, tostadas, a salad bar, slices of watermelon and a pink cake with cherries on top. The regular menu features sandwiches and charbroiled steaks. I order a patty melt, while my spouse gets a burger and fries. Our plates contain more than enough food to fortify us for an afternoon of sightseeing.
The Muleshoe Heritage Center began with a Santa Fe Railway depot. The station closed in 1982. The railroad offered to donate the depot if the community would pay to move it. Two organizations were born: a Student Community Action Club and the nonprofit Muleshoe Heritage Foundation. The county donated a plot of land, and volunteers got busy fixing up the depot as an office and community meeting hall.
"We thought it was the only building we would have," says Dolores Harvey, hostess and tour guide at the Heritage Center. It didn't turn out that way. When the restored depot was dedicated in 1987, the foundation had also acquired the Muleshoe Ranch cookhouse and a two-story house from the John N. Janes ranch east of town. Today, the center is a village of historical structures, most relocated from somewhere in Bailey County. The display includes a one-room schoolhouse, a WPA-era granary, a half dugout and a boarding house that hosted prospective land buyers in the early 1900s.
Buildings look almost lived-in with period furniture and décor, historically appropriate table settings and vintage readers on the schoolhouse desks. Some items come with first-hand memories attached. A former student built a clay model of the outhouse that once stood on the school grounds. A woman who lived with her grandparents in the Figure 4 Ranch house donated her old bedroom suite, with the bedspread she made as a 4-H project years ago.
The Janes house is a grand place with a ballroom upstairs and a walk-in safe in the basement. It was one of the first homes in the area to have indoor bathrooms. Some original fixtures are still there, as is the original kitchen sink. The house was built in 1915 from a mail-order kit. Pre-cut lumber and other components were shipped by rail and assembled on site. Several years after acquiring the house, the foundation located a copy of the original sales order: total cost $2,763.53.
Volunteers have done much of the work at the Heritage Center, but the organizations that support it have also raised money to buy additional land and finance future projects. One major fundraiser is the Tour de Muleshoe, a bike ride held each year on the second Saturday in June. It's a ride, not a race, Harvey says. Last year, more than 200 riders paid the $25 entry fee.
Leal's Mexican Restaurant is a Muleshoe landmark. It grew out of Jesse and Irma Leal's tortilla factory in the 1950s and was the first in a family-owned chain that now operates restaurants in Amarillo, Plainview, Henrietta and Clovis, N.M. Locals tell us it's a good place to eat, but we never get there. Daylight is waning, and we want to see what's happening at the wildlife refuge after last night's rain.
Yesterday's wind has settled to a refreshing breeze. As we approach Paul's Lake, a flock of ducks rises from the upstream side of the dike. The depth gauge reads just less than 6 inches. The lower lake is a wide, flat pool, so still that clouds are reflected on its mirror-like surface.
The campground contains a dozen picnic tables set at intervals around a circular drive, three water faucets, barbecue grills of various sizes and two sturdy outhouses. There are a few small trees, none big enough to provide shade, but we don't need shade just now.
Our weekend wildlife tally includes a covey of barely seen quail, a Harris's hawk, three box turtles, a half-dozen prairie dogs, some unidentified ducks, a fast-moving coyote, one hairy tarantula and several colonies of red harvester ants going quietly about their business.
Retreating clouds fan across the eastern horizon, turning brilliant pink in the last rays of the setting sun. Stars appear in the clear sky overhead. There's dampness in the draw below and a smell of sage on the air. I could stay here for days, if the wind didn't blow too hard.
• Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, 806-946-3341, www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/muleshoe
• Muleshoe Heritage Center, 806-272-5873, www.muleshoeheritagefoundation.org
• Tour de Muleshoe, 806-272-3487, www.tourdemuleshoe.com
• Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Visitors Center and National Mule Memorial, 806-272-4248
• Dinner Bell, 806-272-4080
• Leal's Mexican Restaurant, 806-272-3304
• The Apple Shack, 806-481-8682
• Heritage House Inn, 806-272-7575 or 800-253-5896, www.heritagehouseinn.net
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See more stories on TP&W magazine's Travel page