text:
I am planning for Christmas and hoping to upgrade my rice cooker. I am interested in opinions from my seasoned veterans regarding which automatic rice cooker you recommend. I am willing to invest a little bit but I don't want to waste money. Who does? Please advise.
[I like your handle, BTW.]
Try Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&Description=ri.... This will give you a listing (by price) of rice cookers currently available at Newegg.com. Prices range from $20 - $440 !!! (Ouch!).
Benefits of using Newegg... 1) You can pay with Paypal. 2) No sales tax (well, not for me). 3) If you register and sign up for their weekly EggXclusives newsletter, you'll find (within a month or two) a Rice Cooker in one of their newsletters with one or more of the following: sale price, plus a promo code for an even better price, plus free shipping! (I got my mine for $30, no tax, no S&H; instead of $70, plus tax, plus S&H.) Pick the ones you like, and wait for the sale. You can also select out-of-stock items to "Auto-notify" you when they become available, and select "Price Alert" on price drops... very helpful.
Stay away from non-stick or Teflon coated pots; in fact, make sure you go with a stainless steel pot.
My thinking here was simple... "I'm going to buy a rice cooker from a well-established, reputable ASIAN brand, that's SOLD IN ASIA." So, I personally own a mid-priced TATUNG rice cooker and a TATUNG Water Pot. BTW, my next rice cooker will be a Zojirushi. I simply could not recommend Black and Decker or any other such brand. I mean, come on... We're cooking rice here, not nails. Of course, if you can spring for a Zojirushi... Well, duh.
I realize this seems like a testimonial sales-pitch for Newegg... Sorry about that. But... seriously, that's where I did my research for (and purchased) my rice cooker. I buy most of my electronics from them because nobody else can beat their prices and policies. One more thing, read up on the product reviews there, too... they were also a big help. Just keep in mind, that there are people in this world that can't even cook rice in a rice cooker... that doesn't necessarily mean the product is at fault. [Grin.]
Let us know what your top choices are. Maybe you can get some more specific feedback.
Aren't all Zojirushis teflon-coated?
My flickr food photos account:
Thanks for your input. I will be surfing the net today.
After 20+ years of a 10-cup, one-click Japanese rice cooker, that I didn't use very often, I bought a 3-cup National rice cooker with several different settings that I use 4-5 times a week. (National was a division/label of Panasonic and may not be available any more.) The smaller size is much more reasonable for my 2-person household. And I can still cook enough to have a freezer stash. The two features that I would recommend to you are 1) a timer, and 2) a non-stick interior . We usually have steel-cut oatmeal in the morning and these two features make prep and cleanup very easy. I can avoid a little a.m. hassle by setting up the oatmeal the night before, and I only have to stir when I add the water and just before serving. When I use the timer setting for rice, the washed rice actually gets time to sit before cooking - which really does make a difference!
new2bento, have you taken a look at this page? I hope it can answer your questions. I don't recommend a specific model, but I am a fan of Zojirushi. Tiger would be my second choice.
The Big Onigiri.
- Wherever you go, there you are. -
new2bento, have you taken a look at this page? I hope it can answer your questions. I don't recommend a specific model, but I am a fan of Zojirushi. Tiger would be my second choice.
Any recommendations for UK readers?
I'm very happy with my Sanyo ECJ-FS50EU - another Justbento reader said that their own broke within 3 months but I've been using it heavily since April and there have been no problems.
(my review is the comment above this one)
I saw the Sanyo ECJ-FS50UK version on sale at the Japan Centre earlier this year but there's no sign of it now on the online part of their store.
This website says they will be selling them again soon (£89)
A Zojirushi model would cost £130 and upwards
new2bento, have you taken a look at this page? I hope it can answer your questions. I don't recommend a specific model, but I am a fan of Zojirushi. Tiger would be my second choice.
Any recommendations for UK readers?
I'm like Maki and a Zojirushi fan. Arkonitebabe, I live in the UK too and bought a Zojirushi from Yum Asia after doing lots of research and coming across Maki's sites on Google.
I previously owned brands like Tefal, Sanyo and other (non-brand) cheaper rice cookers and they just kept on breaking so I decided to get the very best...I am sooooooo happy with my TGQ10, it's far better than the other rice cookers I had. I have started to use the timer function (now it's got a bit colder!) to have my oatmeal ready for when I wake up for brekkie and then before I leave for work I set it so there's cooked rice waiting when I get in!
Definitely, definitely recommend Zojirushi!
Thanks Jude, I'm going to start saving the pennies for one!
Thanks Maki, will copy and read thoroughly.
Maki, another source in UK for Fuzzy Logic rice cookers is
I have just ordered one from them and it will be delivered soon. I'll be reviewing it on my blog when I get a chance to play with it!
I'm interested in your opinion on the CookJapan rice cooker as I'm thinking about getting one too- what is your blog address? Have you tried brown rice in it?
I just wanted to say a big thank you to Maki for the blog and all the informative articles on rice and rice cookers. I live in the UK and was looking for a rice cooker, I bought a Zojirushi from Yum Asia who Maki wrote about on the Just Hungry section. I received it two weeks ago and all I can say is wow! The Japanese guys at Zojirushi really know how to take an appliance and build it to the highest standard.
I've just discovered that I can cook risottos, cheesecake, stews and even yoghurt in it, so the next thing I'm going to buy is this book http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Rice-Cooker-Cookbook-Porridges/dp/1558322...
Has anyone else used this book?
I have been using Beth Hensperger's Rice Cooker book since it was published. It is invaluable if you are interested in using your rice cooker for an amazingly wide variety of rice and non-rice dishes. The instructions detail the type and size of cooker for each recipe and offers a lot of information about varieties of domestic and imported rices. I've learned a lot and really enjoy the book. Like all cookbooks there are some dud recipes but I still give it my highest praise.
You mention yoghurt....where would I find instructions for making yogurt in my rice cooker. I would be sooooo happy...
As far as rice cooker recommendations - I love my Zojirushi (sp?) Neuro Fuzzy 10-cup rice cooker with non stick bowl. I've been using it several times of week for five or six years. I do not recommend the Aroma Rice Cooker that they sell at Costco - perhaps I'm not patient enough to work out the right proportions for that particular cooker but I end up with undercooked rice.
You don't need a rice cooker or any other fancy gadget for making yoghurt. I make a litre of it every week or so in a thermos flask. I add about a cup of milk powder to a litre of milk (I like my yoghurt thick), heat it to 40 deg C in the microwave, add a tablespoon of last week's yoghurt, mix it thoroughly, then leave it in the thermos flask overnight. The milk is already pasteurised when I get it in bottles, but if I get it from a farm I pasteurise it first. I've been sub-culturing the same yoghurt for the last eight months or so, and it's still delicious.
My blog is Food and Shoes
I recently upgraded my rice cooker from Tiger brand, with regular cook/keep warm, to Zojirushi Induction. While searching around, I found one of their FAQs helpful:
Q5. Which is the right rice cooker for me?
A5. It depends on what you're looking for in a rice cooker. Will you be cooking brown rice? Porridge? Do you need a timer function to ensure your rice is ready when you get home from work or wake up in the morning? If you don't need all those features, a non-micom conventional rice cooker is the right one for you. If you are looking for something more sophisticated, micom or even an IH rice cooker would be the smart choice with its brown rice and porridge functions, reheating cycle, timer and other features. If you want the most advanced features and the best tasting rice in town, we recommend the Pressure IH rice cooker. See How to Choose and Compare (http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/how_and_chart/comparison_pdf/Zojiru...) to compare the features available with our many models of rice cookers.
The main reasons I wanted to upgrade were for the timer function and avoid boil-over when cooking brown rice. I haven't tried cooking brown rice in it yet, but here are my observations so far:
It takes longer to cook (white rice: 45-55 min. compare to 25 min. on my old one.)
The induction technology generates an soft but audible rotating sound when the rice cooker starts. The sound cycles on-off during keep warm (more like a buzzing sound though).
I'm currently using Japanese white rice called "Haruka". It's not really short grain like previous brands I've tried, it's more like medium grain. Anyway, with that, the rice came out drier than my old rice cooker when I use the water amount recommended in the manual. I have to add more water and use Softer setting. The manual doesn't differentiate the grain size nor does it have water amount correction for long/medium grains, and it implies short grain for all available cooking options.
Can't wait to finish up this 20lb bag of Haruka rice! I'm not enjoying it even w/ fancy rice cooker.
I have been considering buying this one http://www.aroma-housewares.com/kitchen/appliances/ARC-856.html?id=8n6Vz... for myself, but I'm a little worried that the price is too good to be true. Has anyone used Aroma's better rice cookers? My only experience so far is with the tiny, cheap, glass lid cookers, so I'm sure it would be amazing by comparison, but could it even begin to compare to a Zojirushi?
I have been considering buying this one http://www.aroma-housewares.com/kitchen/appliances/ARC-856.html?id=8n6Vz... for myself, but I'm a little worried that the price is too good to be true. Has anyone used Aroma's better rice cookers? My only experience so far is with the tiny, cheap, glass lid cookers, so I'm sure it would be amazing by comparison, but could it even begin to compare to a Zojirushi?
Hi Jenni,
The aroma rice cooker you mentioned will certainly be better than the 'pointless and messy!' glass lid rice cookers which you have been using. Although I don't understand how it can be a 6 rice cup cooker but also make 12 cups of rice? A normal sized household would rarely need more than a 5.5 cup rice cooker and 10+ cups only for very big rice eaters or large families.
If you actually go into a store and compare a Zojirushi rice cooker with that of most brands it is immediately obvious that the build quality is much higher in the Zojirushi japanese brand. Usually the inner bowls, electronics and overall appearance do not usually come close to the Zojirushi when you see the cookers side by side. I did quite a bit of research on rice cookers myself and found that there are literally hundreds of electronic rice cookers made to all sizes and shapes and prices but most are made in China and are often of quite poor quality (they are not true Japanese rice cookers). With the likes of Zojirushi, Tiger etc you get an efficient and long lasting machine because that is the minimum which the Japanese would expect from a kitchen appliance.
I guess it's just a case of personal choice. I use my Zojirushi everyday and so it's very important to me in the Kitchen in the same way as I use my gas stove everyday and want durability. If you are just starting out with trying rice dishes then a cheaper model such as the aroma may be worth a try but then you can always move to a Zojirushi when you start regularly eating rice or have any problems with your aroma.
I hope this helps
I agree that a side-by-side comparison will help. My parents have Aroma and the rice sticks to the bottom of the pot so you have to soak it well before you wash. I think if Aroma costs $70, you might as well spend $100-120 on Zojirushi Fuzzy Logic; it is cheaper than induction kind (I paid $240 when it was on sale, 5.5 cup) but works very well too. The capacity can be confusing for some. My old Tiger brand is "3-cup capacity" meaning I can only use 1.5 cup raw rice, it makes 3 cups cooked rice. I've cooked more in it, but it will boil over and you'll have to clean the mess on and around the rice cooker.
I have owned a Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker for almost two years. I love it. Perfect rice every time, and the rice cooker is so cute that we call it "porquinho" (little pig) and gets a pat on its back from us almost every time we pass: even guests comment on it if they happen to venture into the kitchen. I also make delicious rice pudding for cold winter mornings using the overnight timer function. The rice cooker is so easy use that my Brazilian housekeeper who is generally not a fan of appliances (for example, she doesn't want to have a dishwasher in the house) swears by it, too, and uses it daily - the traditional Brazilian way of cooking rice involves salt and oil and produces a lot of burned kettles, whereas the Zojirushi is a breeze to clean. We have the 5-cup model and it's a great size for a family where we need to prepare food for 3-4 adults and one toddler.
Quick question guys, what is the opinion of the Cuckoo brand? I've seen a good deal on one and it's slightly cheaper than a Sanyo one so was wondering. Thanks.
My family has had a Zojirushi rice cooker for as long as I can remember (the same one). When I moved in with my girlfriend, we bought a little 3-cup Zojirushi that has been used 2-3 times a day (we like fresh rice) for a few years now. It has been absolutely perfect. It makes great rice every time, never any burned or soggy parts, and we have used it for congee occasionally. If I absolutely must say a bad thing about it, the little condensation collector can start to smell if you let it dry out without cleaning it, but this is such a minor quibble that I barely even want to bring it up. I would enthusiastically recommend it.
I received the Zojirushi 3-cup micom rice cooker for Christmas, and I love it! It's the perfect size since I;m just cooking for one, but it would work for a small family as well. It makes lovely rice every time, and I love not having to worry about cooking the rice on the stove anymore. My favorite thing about it is timer function. This is pretty much invaluable to me. Now I can have fresh rice ready for breakfast whereas before I would just heat pre-cooked frozen rice which is fine but far from as good as fresh rice. I also love have sweet brown rice "porridge" for breakfast and I could never really make it before because it takes too long to cook for the mornings. It's not technically a porridge, but I use a little more water than you would otherwise, about 1 part rice to 2.5-3 parts water. In the morning I added a chopped date, chopped walnuts, and cinnamon to the sweet brown rice and I have a delicious breakfast that tastes so much better than oatmeal. I find the rice turns out better if you make a bigger batch. So I usually make about 4 cups and make whatever rice I won't be eating into onigiri that I freeze for later.
Does anyone have any suggestions about buying a rice cooker with timer in Italy? The problem is that all the rice cookers I have seen so far in Italy do not have a timer function, which is essential to me. My best choice would be the 3.5-cup micom rice cooker by Sanyo, but I have no idea where to find it, or whether it would be possible to have it shipped to Italy at a reasonable price...
Noi siamo usciti fore
del maggior corpo al ciel ch'è pura luce:
luce intellettüal, piena d'amore;
amor di vero ben, pien di letizia;
letizia che trascende ogne dolzore.
I believe the Sanyo rice cooker you're referring to is the ECJ-FS50EU model.
I have this and am really happy with it, but I bought it in Japan.
The Japan Centre in London only has the ECJ-FS50UK model and won't send it to Italy.
Unless you buy it from somewhere like the Rakuten site and pay or shipping to Italy, the only suggestion I have is that you contact Sanyo Europe and ask them. http://eu.sanyo.com/portal/About-Us/Network-search/
From what I can tell, it was marketed in Spain some time ago as a 'Petit Gourmet' machine, but this trail has dried out and the website that was set up for it is now redundant.
It's even become harder and harder to find this cooker in Japanese sites, I guess there are other newer models available now.
Does anyone have any suggestions about buying a rice cooker with timer in Italy? The problem is that all the rice cookers I have seen so far in Italy do not have a timer function, which is essential to me. My best choice would be the 3.5-cup micom rice cooker by Sanyo, but I have no idea where to find it, or whether it would be possible to have it shipped to Italy at a reasonable price...
We sell Zojirushi rice cookers in the UK and Europe - Maki mentioned us a while ago on his Just Hungry blog and we notice someone else on here mentioned us too!
Esperanza, 3 cup rice cooker models with timers are available for shipping to Italy. For example, we have a 220-240v Zojirushi 3 cup model which has a timer on and we ship to Italy too - we also offer a 12 month warranty on all the products we sell. The timers on the Zojirushi's are for up to 13 hours in advance and really are good for having rice cooked for when you want it...we definitely wouldn't be without ours!
We hope this is ok posting here to help Esperanza out!
Hey there guys.. I have a question.
I cannot afford a Zojirushi rice cooker, but I've found an alternative that I'd like an opinion on?
I recently saw this Aroma 10 cup rice cooker at Walmart for $40...
with a time, keep warm button, white/brown rice, etc.
It sounds like a great deal to me, since I'd like to have a steamer option too (which it has).
Are Zojirushi rice cookers that much better than all other rice cookers? (as far as I know from this thread, it sounds like it :( ... )
I'd really only be cooking for 2 or 3 (maybe more on rare occasion)... so there's no need for 10 cups (says it cooks 20...)
Should I save my money for something a bit better? I really can't afford anything more than say 50$. It got an average of 4 stars between amazon and walmart websites. My boyfriend has an 8 cup one that works okay, though it's a little different than this model, same brand.
It's to take with me for college. Should I just go with something more basic? We aren't extremely avid rice eaters, eating mostly 1-2 times a week (Though I want to start bento-ing, so I might get a little bit more use of it)
idk but Zojirushi rice cookers are the only ones i know that are 3 digit priced, and I hear there are some special features about them, though I think they'd be too small for my cooking
Well, Zojirushi cookers are just really well made, so over the years they pay for themselves. They come in several sizes and several types by the way (they are one of the top kitchen small appliance makers in Japan, and Japanese people tend to be very picky about quality).
I have never used Aroma cookers myself, but they seem to get generally positive reviews on Amazon.
I used a $15 3-cup Aroma cooker for years in college, and while I'm so happy to have upgraded to my nice Sanyo, the cheapo one worked very well for me as long as I had the time to soak the cooker pot afterwards. I went through two of them in about 6 years before I upgraded, and I do miss the steamer rack.
I have an aroma rice cooker I've used for approximately 2 years now. It works okay for me - They are right though, brown rice has to be washed and soaked for it to not stick to the bottom or burn. I bought mine for 39 dollars at Sams Club. I do not use it everyday, but for a starter rice cooker it's great.
After 2 years, it's done it's job and i'm now ready to upgrade to a newer, better version and will probably invest money in my next one. I honestly was not sure how much I'd like it or how much I'd use it and didn't want to pay 150 for my first rice cooker.
Okay. now I have a new question.
Does anyone know if there is a significant difference between rice cookers like this one
and fuzzy logic (aside from the rice portion size?)
I found this rice cooker:
Which has been already mentioned. I'm sold on the fact that it's sensor logic, but I must stop myself first and ask "What's so different about this one than the other rice cookers (aside from looks as well) "... I was tempted to buy it just because it's the sensor logic... but if there's nothing special, I don't think I should get it. o_o i know it probably doesn't compare to the zoijirushi, but all the same it's "sensor logic", just not high end.
Can I ask, do I really need to invest in a rice cooker? Ever since I started cooking rice I have always got it perfect in a pan (I know I have been surprised too) and without burning the bottom! Just seems to be an extra expense, or am I overlooking something here?
I'm not short, I'm fun sized ^_^
I think the reason we get rice cookers is really for the convenience of them. It's totally up to you if you want to buy one, and even then, you don't have to get the best of the best.
what's great about them is that you just "set it and forget it" until the rice is done.. there's really no need to have to keep an eye on it or worry to much about burning etc. & there's also the factor that some rice cookers have the "keep warm" option so that your rice stays warm for a few hours.
Some rice cookers will cook other types of rice for you as well.. so you won't accidently mess up on a batch ie. brown rice... although this may not be a issue for you
I don't have one and never will. I have too many kitchen gadgets as it is, and my rice comes out just fine without a rice cooker.
Take a look at this forum discussion where people on both sides of the argument weigh in.
Hi everyone! *wave*
This isn't so much a question of a reccomendation for a rice cooker (though it may evolve into one, as you will see!), but I hated to start a new thread as I do think it's relevant here.
My question has to do with expected lifespans of a rice cooker.
I've had my rice cooker (I think it's an Oster) for almost 21 years. Have used it regularly, though not weekly, throughout that time. Recently, I noticed that my rice wasn't cooking fully. I thought at first that I had lost my touch for adding the right amount of water, but a few days ago I carefully measured the water, and still had crunchy rice after the first cycle. My husband and I decided to experiment. First we added more water and left the cooker on Warm for ten or fifteen minutes, but the rice still wasn't fully cooked, so we added more water and ran it through another full Cook cycle, and it was perfect.
So now I am thinking that maybe my rice cooker is losing efficiency. Thing is, I'm not the type to replace something until it just stops working completely. I'm planning to figure out what the workaround is - how much extra water and how many extra cycles to go - so that I can, once again, have the convenience of set-it and forget-it rice.
But I'm interested to hear your comments and experiences with rice cooker longevity.
Also, on the topic of non-stick coatings, I'd really prefer not to have it. Are rice cookers still made that don't? I've seen some clay ones; what are the benefits and tradeoffs of clay? Other comments?
It does seem as though your rice cooker is breaking down. 21 years is a great lifespan for any appliance though. Mine is a bit older even I think (I know I've had it for about 15 years, but my mother had it before me and I am not sure how long she had it, but it was at least 5 years).
I think that basic rice cookers have plain aluminum inner bowls. A few very expensive rice cookers, mostly sold just in Japan, have cast iron inner bowls to mimic the "tetsugama" (traditional cast iron pot) that rice used to be cooked in. Most rice cookers these days come with inner bowls that are coated in some way though. You'd have to look at the descriptions for individual models to see what they have.
Thanks very much!
I think I will probably treat myself to an upgrade sometime in the next year.
A co-worker of mine gave me this rice cooker earlier this week: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NP-HBC10-Induction-Heating-Stainless/dp/...
It's in wonderful condition, but has no manual or accessories (rice paddle, etc). I've never owned a rice cooker before, so I'm at a loss with how to operate it! Any ideas?
Hello Wyatt's Mom
Congratulations on your new rice cooker, it's a beauty!
The manual itself is easy to get hold of
( the main page for your cooker is here: http://www.zojirushi.com/products/nphbc )
I'll leave it to someone else with a zojirushi to advise you further. I believe your next step will be to ascertain what measurement of rice you'll need to make up a rice cooker cup. I don't want to advise you on this because I suspect we do it wrong in our family and have a higher rice to water ratio than is recommend (the rice cooker cups we use have a marking saying 1/2 a cup and then 3/4 cup near the top rim, when measuring cups for the rice cooker I will fill it up to the near top - the 3/4 mark - twice and put enough water in the machine to come to the 1.5 cup level. But this is how we like it)
Thanks so much, Loretta! After reading through the reviews on Amazon, I feel pretty confident that the missing rice cooker cup is about 3/4 of a cup (American measurements). I'll have to do some trial runs to be sure, but I'm excited to start using my new-to-me rice cooker!
Hi Wyatt's Mom,
The standard measuring cup included with rice cookers is 180ml, this might help you in measuring out the correct amount of rice!
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Breaking News Emails
It wasn't the semi-trucks rumbling down country roads, or the dust, or the natural gas wells that popped up around their homes that finally got to residents of Azle and Reno, Texas. It was the earthquakes.
These weren't major quakes, magnitude 3.6 was the biggest, but no one in those North Texas towns had ever felt tremors before. Now in just three months, between last November and January, 34 quakes large enough to be felt shook homes, cracked walls and foundations, scared horses and pets, and opened a few sinkholes.
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The ones you can feel have since stopped, but smaller ones continue: some 300, in addition to a 1,000 or so tiny tremors, says Heather DeShon, a Southern Methodist University seismologist leading a team studying the outbreak in the area about 20 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
Oklahoma Earthquakes Caught on CameraJune 20, 201400:43
Locals, and their elected leaders, are convinced the quakes are due to the nationwide drilling boom sparked by a process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The process forces a mix of water and chemicals into underground rocks to free trapped oil or gas.
Once used, the mix of water and chemicals is typically gotten rid of by injecting it into a disposal well. It's that step, not the oil or gas production itself, that can trigger quakes by loosening seismic plates, studies in other areas of the country have concluded.
The industry and Texas regulators say that hasn't been proven in the Azle-Reno area and are asking locals for patience while DeShon's team comes to a conclusion. Azle Mayor Alan Brundrett had other thoughts, telling MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show last January that "we definitely need to get the wells shut down."
Reno Mayor Lynda Stokes says it's not right to ask for patience when residents are on edge, fearing another outbreak and worse damage. "There are studies out there" showing the connection, she tells NBC News. "I feel they are dragging their feet."
The bad blood in Reno and Azle has happened elsewhere in Texas and across the country.
"Of all the problems with fracking, fixing earthquakes is one of the easier ones."
How did it get to this, especially in a pro-energy state like Texas?
"Fracking came so quickly, much more quickly than we could figure out how to do it right," says Russell Gold, author of "The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World".
Thousands of disposal wells were approved "without asking if there were active faults nearby," adds Gold, whose full-time job is reporting on energy issues for the Wall Street Journal. The fracking boom has brought "energy to our backyard," he adds, and sometimes that creates fear. "Earthquakes are a very palpable example of that."
As a result, communities are getting more vocal, even in Texas.
"Without question, local governments are demanding a say in regulating oil and gas," says Gold. "That's setting up a rather intense arm wrestling match between local and state governments."
The industry is regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission, which has stood its ground, saying it needs to wait for the scientific report before taking any action.
"There has been no scientific proof that a specific disposal well or wells have caused the Azle-area earthquakes," says commission spokeswoman Ramona Nye.
At a public forum last Wednesday, residents made clear they disagree.
Fracking for fiscal success?Jan. 18, 201403:36
The dozens in attendance broke out into applause and cheers when Stokes, asked what residents want, was blunt: "I think they want to shut those wells down."
Residents also didn't like hearing from DeShon that her team's study could take a year to complete.
For all the tension, the issue is one that can be resolved, says Gold.
"Of all the problems with fracking, fixing earthquakes is one of the easier ones," he says, citing options like reducing injection pressure, recycling the wastewater and not placing disposal wells near fault lines.
Azle Mayor Brundrett agrees. "It's not that all injection wells are bad," he told MSNBC. "You do research before you choose a location for an injection well."
Gold says "the trickier issues" raised by fracking include air emissions, methane leaks and protecting aquifers from wastewater.
The range of issues has led to anti-fracking, or at least more regulated fracking, movements across the country. Bans or restrictions by dozens of local governments and even some states are being challenged in court by the industry.
Gold takes the view that the U.S. needs energy and so it might as well produce it here where it can better control the health and safety impacts, rather than import it from countries with laxer regulations.
"Let's figure out how to produce it in a way that's environmentally acceptable," he says. "That's our challenge. We're meeting it, but it takes time."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Improvement drove Matt Yonkovich.
The Kaneland senior entered the 2013 prep golf season with a bounty of accolades. Just when it seemed like Yonkovich had reached his apex, as if there was no way he could push the ceiling any higher to get better, he did just that this fall on the state's grandest stage.
At the Class 2A state meet, benign opening round conditions deteriorated on Day 2. The winds gusted. Greens dried out. And treacherous scoring conditions yielded a plethora of marks in the bogey, double bogey and dreaded "other" scoring columns.
Yet, it was Yonkovich who further proved his ability to top expectations. Yonkovich fired off a 1-over-par-72, which tied for the second-best score on the day and resulted in a fifth-place finish, leading him to be named the 2013 Daily Chronicle boys Golfer of the Year.
"I really wanted to post a good score at state, I wanted a spot in the top 10," said Yonkovich who is still undecided on where he will play college golf next year. "I wanted to go low and despite the conditions, just went out and pulled off shots. They were the same hard conditions for everyone. I just went out there and hit the ball. There was no use in complaining about the weather, that wasn't going to change anything."
It was fitting Yonkovich didn't let the weather on the second day at state alter his approach. Reliability was a hallmark of his three-year varsity career.
"It was all about consistency with Matt," Kaneland coach Mark Meyer said. "We used his score in 44 consecutive competitions. Since midway through his sophomore year, we have counted on his score."
There was no secret to his steady scoring and role as the Knight's anchor at No. 1 the last two years: practice. In the summer it was participation in as many Illinois Junior Golf Association and Mid-American Junior Golf Tour events as possible.
The heightened level of competition at the exclusive events was cut throat. Against the best players in the state and region, low scores were a must to be competitive.
"Improvement all depends on how much you want to practice," Yonkovich said. "Playing in the summer really got me in the mode for the high school season. I played a lot of in-season practice rounds and spent a lot of time at the range."
Time that earned Yonkovich his second straight Player of the Year honors.
Previous Boys Golfer Player of the Year
2012: Matt Yonkovich, Kaneland
2011: Jon Nugent, Sycamore
2010: Alex Bremner, Indian Creek
2009: Andrew Morreale, DeKalb
2008: Trace Royer, DeKalb
2013 Daily Chronicle All-Area Boys Golf Team
Matt Yonkovich, sr., Kaneland
The 2012 and 2013 Daily Chronicle Boys Golfer of the Year anchored the Knights' lineup for two seasons. His fifth-place finish at the Class 2A state meet capped an impressive prep career.
Brody Kuhar, sr., Kaneland
Golf is a part of everyday life for Kuhar.
"Brody grew up on a golf course," Kaneland coach Mark Meyer said. "Golf encompasses his personality. He's a grinder and one of the hardest workers I've coached."
Tommy Lucca, so.,Genoa-Kingston
Acclimation to the big stage of the state tournament was supposed to be Lucca's focus. Yet, the Class 2A state qualifier continued a hot streak that started in regionals with an opening round 76 and a 14th-place tie after Day 1. He finished his first state tournament in 36th place at 19-over par and has two years to top his best prep performance.
Jacob Cook, jr., DeKalb
An anchor for the Barbs, Cook was the steadiest scorer and a leader of a studious young team that immersed itself in shot preparation.
The Barbs posted a second-place finish in the Northern Illinois Big 12 Tournament.
Nick Adamczyk, so., Genoa-Kingston
Stephen Cannell, sr., Kaneland
Austin Freeman, fr., DeKalb
Payton Gatz, so., Indian Creek
Connor Hoyle, so., DeKalb
Ben Melms, so., DeKalb
– James Nokes, firstname.lastname@example.com


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coltraning wrote:look at the false idol whale run for cover before the wrath of the rabbit
No, you got it wrong... my whale was pulling a Randy Moss on your phony rabbit.
Moderators: Mr. Crackerz, JREED, Guybrush, 32
tHe_pEsTiLeNcE wrote:#32 wrote:Jesus was a carpenter
SoCooLBob wrote:As an example of several elements of many discussions.migya wrote:Like I've said, people that have a belief or faith, it's with them. I just like to make a logical decision on what I know and have discovered - It is why we have a brain and intelligence!
If, in the setting of any goal or in the solution to any problem, YOU determnie that a Logical Decision is the key ... then that is probably where you put your "faith." Logical decisions are a good thing.
I would certainly agree that logic and decision making have their place.
The question might then be do we have a soul? Logically? How do we determine that? With our brain? If we have a soul then what's it for and how do we use that?
Belief is something we "do."
Belief is something we "choose."
I don't believe that
The "logical" part for me is to recommend to do one's best to choose those beliefs that will result in you achieving your best ... naturally, spiritually, religiously, even logically, perhaps, I always have a tendency to add ... achieve your best for yourself AND others.
Is it logical to ASK God for the answers?
Is it logical to suggest that in the past when I've ASKED God for the answer to a particular question, for the help that I needed to achieve a goal ... that I got it.
Scientists "believe" in some things that work every time and place their "faith" in those things they perceive to work every time.
I have a tendency to think that God created Science.
Even more importantly, for me ... I"ve discovered that as I set and achieved goals I wanted to set and achieve more.
Many times, the things I perceive my heart to want ... and my mind ... may not simultaneously be perceived as achieveable by me.
In ALL those situations I want and prefer HELP.
I have found "The Big Fellow's" Help Is Most Significant
I think so ... but I also think that the answers that come ... may not be "logical." They may be right, they may have incredible value ... but not be logical.
migya wrote:
I believe that we live in a world that is very negative and thus influencing the nurturing of the insecure and negative. Therefore it is essential for most people to believe in a higher power to get through hard times and for the feeling of assistance - That is alright and something i fully agree with and support because it allows individuals to feel more positive inthis fascist contolled existence (so far at least, things will change). I look at the whole picture of EXISTENCE - This world, this universe and any other universe that may exist! I therefore try to go above the insecure as often as possible and try to look at the ultimate truth as often as I can, because it is what's real and why look at what isn't.
As far as soul - I don't believe we are just a heap of flesh! We are all sovereign spirits that live in this realm for now and are working our way up to being sovereign HERE.
migya wrote:humanity as a whole is being dictated to


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|Visit our store!
by Leon Pantenburg
I like stuff that works. Some of these items include my Cold Steel SRK survival knife, Ruger 10/22, a Swiss Army Classic keychain knife, my Gerber folding saw and a 42-ounce enamelware cup. Included in this list is a Boy Scout Hot Spark ferrocerium rod.
Because of its reliability, a Hot Spark is included in my keyring and Altoid tin survival kits. Backup ferro rods are also scattered throughout my gear. They don't weigh anything, or take up any space, and the ferro rod firemaking technique, properly done is utterly reliable. (Check out the ferro rod firemaking video!)
The Boy Scout Hot Spark on my keyring survival kit costs about three dollars at any scout store. It has a good handle and the ferro rod is very effective. Because it is easily included and convenient, it will be taken along.
Here's why I carry a ferro rod:
- Extreme reliability: A ferrocerium rod, when scraped with a hardened steel striker, will produce sparks with temperatures of up to 5,500 degrees. These sparks will readily ignite many forms of tinder. (Check out the video on finding tinder under survival conditions) A ferro rod is also good for hundreds, if not thousands of fires. Matches, lighters and many other methods are finite.
- Compact and easy to carry: That means you can carry several as backups.
- Work under conditions that would disable other firemaking methods: This is one of the
most important reasons to carry a ferro rod. Butane lighters are easily disabled by cold and moisture or a grain of sand. Matches are unreliable and degenerate over time. Every firemaking method has some disadvantage, but I believe a ferro rod has the fewest.


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Investing Strategies for the New Energy Era
Executive Summary
- The criticality of innovating better storage solutions
- The pros & cons of investing in energy inputs (coal, oil, etc.) or new energy technologies
- The impact of increased carbon taxation & higher oil prices
- Watch where global energy demand is shifting
- The four ripe sigmoidal growth opportunities
- Why coal remains the king of fuel
If you have not yet read The New Future of Energy Policy, available free to all readers, please click here to read it first.
As oil went through a price revolution starting in 2004, the venture capital community embraced an array of greentech start-ups. But the first wave of these, which centered on biofuels and other liquid-based replacements for oil, were destined to fail – and fail they did. It has apparently taken a period of digestion and reflection for investors, innovators, and venture capital to quantify better which areas are more promising in the new energy landscape.
Just recently, for example, investment vehicles controlled by Peter Thiel and Bill Gates were among those who funded energy storage company LightSail, which is exploring the use of compressed air as a method for energy storage. This is meaningful.
It indicates an awareness that not only is global energy demand switching over to the grid, but also, that the grid of the future will need much greater flexibility. So, yes, the grid is the future. But storage – the ability to retain surplus electricity for release at a later time – will be crucial. The reason is that the blend or mix now developing: coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydro, utility-grade wind, and solar (including residential solar) will present a challenge to the grid with its enormous variability in supply.
Storage, to use an economics term, allows for intertemporal supply: the ability to spread power over time. Whether or not LightSail's technology works and is commercially scalable is a question that awaits an answer. But to target investment in this area, rather than in algae fuels, is right on the mark.
And the need for storage is already becoming critical. The "variability problem" is especially a concern...
Looking for a financial adviser who sees the world through a similar lens as we do? Free consultation available.Learn More »
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19 Comments on Investing Strategies for the New Energy Era
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PARIS, July 3 (UPI) -- The 100th Tour de France will be contested June 29-July 21 covering 2,161.75 miles. The race begins in Porto-Vecchio on Corsica and ends with the traditional ride down the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Following is the race schedule, listing date, starting and finishing locations, distance, stage type, stage winner, time and overall Tour de France leader.
June 29: Porto-Vecchio to Bastia; 132.4 miles; flat stage; Marcel Kittel; 4 hours, 56 minutes, 52 seconds; Marcel Kittel
June 30: Bastia to Ajaccio; 96.9 miles; medium mountain stage; Jan Bakelants; 3 hours, 43 minutes, 11 seconds; Jan Bakelants
July 1: Ajaccio to Calvi; 90.4 miles; medium mountain stage; Simon Gerrans; 3 hours, 41 minutes, 24 seconds; Jan Bakelants
July 2: Nice; 15.5 miles; team time trial; Orica Greenedge; 25 minutes, 56 seconds; Simon Gerrans
July 3: Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille; 142 miles; flat stage; Mark Cavendish; 5 hours, 31 minutes, 51 seconds; Simon Gerrans
July 4: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier, 109.7 miles, flat stage
July 5: Montpellier to Albi, 127.7 miles, medium mountain stage
July 6: Castres to Ax 3 Domaines, 121.2 miles, mountain stage
July 7: Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre, 104.7 miles, mountain stage
July 8: Rest day
July 9: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Saint-Malo, 122.4 miles, flat stage
July 10: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel, 20.5 miles, individual time trial
July 11: Fougeres to Tours, 135.5 miles, flat stage
July 12: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond, 107.5 miles, flat stage
July 13: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon, 118.7 miles, medium mountain stage
July 14: Givors to Mont Ventoux, 150.7 miles, mountain stage
July 15: Rest day
July 16: Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap, 104.4 miles, medium mountain stage
July 17: Embrun to Chorges, 19.9 miles, individual time trial
July 18: Gap to Alpe-d'Huez, 107.2 miles, mountain stage
July 19: Bourg-d'Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand, 127.1 miles, mountain stage
July 20: Annecy to Annecy-Mont Semnoz, 77.7 miles, mountain stage
July 21: Versailles to Paris, 83 miles, flat stage


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Read the original story here in The Oregonian.
Hundreds of Portland State University students boarded buses to CityTarget Tuesday night to buy dorm room essentials and hang out with new friends at the store's first Back to College Night.
About 800 to 1,000 students -- mostly freshmen -- were expected to attend, said store manager Vincson Green.
From 10 to 11 p.m., Target closed the store to regular customers and blasted pop music while employees directed students to bedding, electronics and boxes full of $2 hangers.
Many students had already bought furniture, at Target or elsewhere, while moving in over the weekend.
"I already did my shopping before, so everything's already decorated," said Whitney Diggs, 18, who said she only needed to buy a hat.
Freshman roommates Haley Moore and Becky Martin, both 18, were looking for Christmas lights and other decorations for their dorm room. They planned to spend up to $50 combined.
Retailers expect a slump in this year's back-to-school shopping season, which started in early July and continues through this month.The National Retail Federation projected that families would spend an average of $635, compared to $689 in 2012. In the Western U.S., the federation expected shoppers to spend just $627.
Freshman Aimee Ritter, 18, said she came to buy items she hadn't known she needed, like a wall hook for her keys. "I've been looking around at other kids dorms and getting ideas for what I should have in mind," she said.
Target's pharmacy and the Starbucks in the lobby both stayed open late for the event. Starbucks offered free samples of pumpkin bread, lemon bread, pumpkin spice lattes, salted caramel mochas and chocolate chai tea lattes.
"We're trying to make it a party atmosphere," Green said. If the event is successful, the store would consider lengthening it to multiple hours and including other local schools in future years, he said.
CityTarget opened at Southwest 10th Avenue and Southwest Morrison Street in July.
"We want the students to realize that we're here," Green said.
-- Nicole Friedman


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DailyDirt: Learning How To Do Math Like A Boss
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
- Math classes are usually taught as a progression of skills, starting with counting, then adding/subtraction, then multiplication/division, then algebra, maybe some geometry/trig, and ending in calculus. However, a growing trend of abolishing this artificial math progression could have toddlers learning calculus concepts -- and other "advanced" math topics -- in a non-linear order. [url]
- Psychologists see evidence that preschoolers have a natural ability to do basic algebra before they ever sit in a classroom. This ability seems to come from kids' "Approximate Number System" (ANS) or "number sense" -- which allows children to solve simple algebra problems without a systematic logic. Researchers would like to figure out how this number sense breaks down as kids go to school and appear to lose these inherent abilities. [url]
- There's a trend to try to teach *everyone* how to program, but maybe if we're really serious about doing that, we should change the way programming is done. Forcing humans to think like computers isn't going to make programming very popular, so making human-friendly programming languages might be the way to go. [url]


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Product Details
Rectangular Auxiliary Tank with Install Kit and Fuel Gauge (AUX30RIKFLG) by Aluminum Tank Industries®. Tank Capacity: 30 Gallon. Finish: Bright. Material: Aluminum. Dimensions: H: 9" x L: 48.5" x W: 19". Tank mounted fuel gauge included. This in-bed auxiliary fuel tank is the safest and the toughest fuel tank on the market. The DOT-approved HD polished aluminum fuel tank can provide fuel supply to your engine or factory tank which makes it perfect for on-the-go refueling. It connects to the factory tank via the factory filler using the unique installation kit that comes with the tank so you can drive for miles and miles without having to stop at a filling station.
Notes: Transfer Tanks can be Used to Transport Diesel Fuel.
- Excellent solution for the on-the-go fuel supply
- Refuels the factory tank, engine or other fuel operated devices
- Fully baffled to reduce movement of contents
- Premium quality aluminum construction for strength and durability
- Fuel filler cap prevents the elements from getting into the tank
- Quick and easy installation without any wires or switches needed
- Comes with hold down brackets to keep in place
- Built to meet or exceed DOT standards for fuel tanks
- Has been subjected to visual, pressure and leak detection test
- Clean and free of debris inside and outside of the tank
- Backed by 1-year limited lifetime warranty
Choose the safest and the finest quality fuel tank on the market built to meet or exceed DOT requirements for fuel tanks. Manufactured by Aluminum Tank Industries which has an expertise in legal aluminum tanks for trucks, this top-of-the-line transfer tank is hands down of the highest quality and dependability. This outstanding quality transfer tank is perfect for transporting and refueling fuel in the bed of your pickup truck. Refueling is made as easy as ABC with this Aluminum Tank Industries fuel tank. With a host of top-end features, this versatile and highly functional product is sure to blow you away.
One of the great advantages of this premium grade fuel tank is that it can be used not only to refuel your vehicle to keep moving, but also to supply fuel to the engine of machinery, equipment and other fuel operated devices. This fuel tank is a must-have for those who want all that functionality of having on-the-go fuel supply. It has the ideal shape for a truly custom fit into your specific application so the installation is a breeze. This fuel tank secures with hold down brackets that will keep it firmly in place while on the go. The fuel tank is fully baffled to reduce movement of its contents. Expertly crafted from high-grade aluminum, this tank offers a perfect combination of exceptional durability and light weight. Made to be as strong as adamant, it can withstand the most rugged conditions.
Offering the ultimate balance of superior quality materials and an eye-catching finish, this state-of-the-art fuel tank provides a handy way for on the go fueling while giving your truck a sleek, custom look. All of the Aluminum Tank Industries fuel tanks undergo strict quality control with rigorous visual inspections and testing for pressure and leak detection. This helps to ensure their compliance with all DOT requirements and other industry standards. The Aluminum Tank Industries tank has a fuel cap that protects the tank from rain and contaminants.
Aluminum Tank Industries® is an indisputable leader in legal aluminum fuel tanks, utility boxes and custom fabricated products for commercial grade and private use. The company has unwavering commitment to building the finest quality, safest and toughest auxiliary fuel tanks, DOT-approved refueling tanks, transfer tanks, double wall tanks, DEF tanks, etc. They're available in a variety of gallon capacities for short and long trips and made durable to stand up to the toughest conditions. Premium grade refueling tanks are perfect for the safe transport of gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, etc. Aluminum Tank Industries boasts its FUEL SHOTZ installation kit, a unique system that connects an auxiliary tank to the factory tank to keep it full. For refueling tanks, it offers electric transfer pumps and manual transfer pumps with proven dependability and efficiency to refuel the vehicle, the engine of machinery and other fuel operated equipment. Aluminum Tank Industries also offers FUEL SAFE tank and toolbox combos. Secure "Built like a tank" toolboxes keep tools and equipment organized and secure with full access as well as on the go fueling. The brand's line of fuel tank accessories, including lockable tank caps and Rochester mechanical fluid level gauges will come in handy to get the most of your tank.


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The sun is rising on the beach, and you've got no care in the world. Put your feet up, lean back with your shades on, and enjoy the sound of the ocean with the sunshine on your face. This is a great day!
This also makes great background music for a town, perhaps one on the ocean or by the bay.
Breezy Sunrise comes complete with looping (1:00) and full (1:03) variations.
This is great game music, for more game music please see my Game Loops collection.
If you use my music, please fill out this short survey so I can serve you better in the future!


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Dive Solo
Posted 28 July 2007 - 08:06 PM
Olympus E-520, TLC arms, Inon Z-240s, 50mm, 14-42mm woody's diopter
Posted 28 July 2007 - 08:13 PM
My advice to any one who is solo diving is to dive within the limits of your training / experience , exercise caution and listen to the inner you.
Posted 28 July 2007 - 09:10 PM
Quite often while play diving I will forget to look at my air only to find out after 90 mins that it is low as the tank got harder to breath from. Still gives me plenty of time to come up. What happens after a while one just gets to know when it's time without looking at any gauge especially if it's a site you have dived hundreds of times before.
I use to sit at 22 meters and fill my BCD up and watch it float up to the surface. After abit I would slowly swim up to the worried look of the folks on the boat. .
Mind you it's abit hard to do this on a commercial dive boat without getting into trouble .
Seriously coming up from 14 meters or shallower without any air is no big deal really if you are a comfortable free diving water person that can free dive down to that depth anyhow. So the only other real dangers are heart attack or you get bitten and that can happen anywhere. You should also get to know the animals and what they do....like not swimming closely right over the top of a Ray like someone we all knew did.
Deeper depths and where a safety stop is really needed it's best to dive with someone but make sure they are not a lollipop diver and you have to end up looking after them.
But I don't recommend anyone do as I do though.
Amphibico Phenom & EVO PRO & Navigator 900
Share Your Underwater Videos | www.flykam.com.au
Posted 28 July 2007 - 09:49 PM
As it turned out I really enjoyed being down there by myself with no one else to look after or worry about. I carry a SpareAir which would easily get me to the surface as our average dives were in the 35 to 45 fsw range. I could concentrate on my subject and move along as I needed to, not as my wife got bored and wanted to marathon swim over to the next set of rocks or kelp.
I even added 10 to 15 minutes to my bottom time because I wasn't moving around on someone else's whim!
I wouldn't recommend this practice to just anyone. You have to plan ahead for any emergency and be very comfortable in the water by yourself. As I came back to work earlier this week I heard a story of a coworker's husband diving solo in San Diego and being found by a kayacker floating face down! It was a sad day for everyone, but could this "ACCIDENT" have been avoided if he was diving with a "BUDDY"?
Earlier this year, an owner of a local dive store was teaching an ice diving class in a lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He decided to dive solo off of his guide line. He wasn't seen for another two days...under the ice. Could this have been prevented if he had a buddy or attached himself to the line?
Bottom line, dive agencies have set standards that are meant to be followed for a reason. I'm not saying that I follow every one of them, but when I break a very basic rule, I am accepting the possibility that I may not be returning to the boat. Dive Safe!
Nikon D80, S&S DX-D80, YS-110 x 2, TTL III, ULCS, 60mm, Tok 10-17, Sig 17-70
Back-up: Sony DSC-P10, Inon D2000
Posted 28 July 2007 - 10:05 PM
If you mean having an assigned buddy for each dive then I would imagine most of the posters here dive solo!! I am one of the nutters who does this for a living so really in effect I'm diving solo everyday. That said there are a lot of people around. I don't have a pony bottle on the dailies. I wear really big freediving fins and can kick like a mule in an out of air situation
Staying within my limits!! I've been in some pretty crazy situations where any manner of things could have gone wrong, and during some of those times if I'd have listened to the 'Inner Me' well I wouldn't be writing this now. Sometimes you need to do the exact opposite of what should actually be the apparent sensible thing to do. Personally I put it down to what your own personal comfort level is. If you are happy to stay around 25m playing in the nicely lit waters then so be it. If on the other hand you are happy to drop solo to 60m to the floor of a cave (the roof being at 30m) in order to potentially catch a fleeting shot of a Tiger, Thresher or Hammerhead, then again so be it.
Even on trips, I tend to hang with other 'Imagers' so we all do our own thing and tend to end up solo on most dives. I think most serious snappers tend to respect the fundamental laws of the sport but put on some kind of bravado when asked about solo diving. It can still bite, so long as you respect, understand and accept that then its down to you to set your own comfort level. I guess you only feel vulnerable if you put yourself in a situation you are not happy with. Like I said it all comes down to acceptance of the situation you choose to put yourself in. I actually prefer to be solo. No one to bugger up my shots, but thats another topic eh?
The Sharks of the Forgotten Islands
- A Natural History Documentary -
Posted 28 July 2007 - 11:11 PM
Anyone who has dove with us has heard our little "rattle code"...
We each carry a rattle and have several signals. Much like hand signals but more useful when you cannot see the other person. Very often I am down at 100' shooting some WA subject and she may be up at 25' taking macro, so we have adapted.
I agree that the "rule of thumb" should be to know your limits.
I am really annoyed when operations will not allow solo diving because IMHO I'm safer solo than with an "assigned" buddy. Simply assigning a buddy for the convenience of the operator places my buddy at risk since
I'm likely to be concentrating upon the photographic subject and really doesn't do me any favors because I rarely feel comfortable with the skill of my newfound partner.
Let us all admit that we photo types are really crappy buddies and each dive with a camera is basically a solo dive for someone.
Kudos to boats like the Ocean Rover which allow solo diving. I'm less than happy with some of the Aggressor boats which do not.
Posted 29 July 2007 - 12:21 AM
so when i take pictures i always go solo
i dont take any pony bottles or spare airs or stuff like that
if i go by myself on the housereef i never go deeper than twentyfive meters and thats it> sometimes i go photodiving with my girlfriend but even then it ends up being a solodive> camera and buddysystems just dont mix>
if thet is a good thing or not? maybe not but i think most photographers handle it this way
Posted 29 July 2007 - 01:12 AM
i have to say i pretty much always dive solo as long as i know the site fairly well and know i can get out of the water safely when i surface. (like do i trust the boat staff that they won't go without me it's only happened to me once)
though i would echo the previos post that said you should stay within your own limits. good advice.
the most stressful dive ive ever been on is when a guide asked me to buddy with another photographer.....jeez what a pain in the ass that was. we were both trying to dive solo within the confines of looking after each other. it would've been a lot easier and less stressful if the guide had of told us we could both dive solo.
Posted 29 July 2007 - 01:40 AM
I always dived well within my limits and never took any risks.
Posted 29 July 2007 - 09:41 AM
Posted 29 July 2007 - 10:05 AM
... but I gear up with independent or manifolded twins deeper than 20ish meters, since I know that my focus, so to speak, is in the viewfinder, and my "buddy" doesn't exist if not in that small window.
If I stop for a shot, when I'm travelling on my own, I expect the other divers to disappear into the blue (or the green in the UK). If I can work with a "buddy" for some shots, then that's a real bonus. I warn the team about the siren song of the image in the viewfinder, and that I'm trying to be self-sufficient in the water. I guess that I adopt the mind-set of the solo diver, but don't set out to dive with complete independence.
I am more concerned about the way buddies work: the team needs to be well-matched and comfortable together, and a team of more than two divers is a recipe for one getting lost.
I'm working on turning my children into underwater models, so that I can avoid the temptations of going solo!
A buddy:
A "buddy":
Flickr galleries
Photobox; images on sale!
The Fin Foundation
Nikon D800 in Nauticam housing...
Posted 29 July 2007 - 03:56 PM
Posted 29 July 2007 - 04:56 PM
Posted 29 July 2007 - 08:27 PM
Inexperienced divers should be accompanied by a divemaster who is trained to keep an eye and offer assistance and experienced divers should be permitted to go off on their own.
But what if the experienced diver gets into a bind? Sure it happens, but I would love to see statistics as to how often an experienced diver gets into trouble AND is successfully rescued by their buddy. I'd bet not very often. The kind of trouble that experienced divers get into, about all the buddy can do is bring back the corpse.
The only problem with this is that how do you decide who qualifies as "experienced."
And then comes the underwater photographer. The underwater photographer complicates things further. Even experienced divers are rarely an appropriate buddy for a photographer. Not many people are prepared/willing to dive at the pace of a photographer: swimming around looking for something interesting, and then parking there for 15 minutes. I find that nearly every time I start off with a buddy, they have abandoned me before I am finished with my first subject.
Since I stared diving with a dSLR, I almost always end up diving solo, even when I am diving with friends who are equally experienced. That said, I feel that my hole in my photography is that my photos very rarely include a model.
The ideal solution for photographers is to hire a guide to help search for subjects and double as a model. This kills two birds with one stone, I get what I want (both a model and someone to look for interesting critters) AND I get a buddy who won't abandon me (which makes the lawyers happy on commercial dive boats).
Unfortunately I do not have the extra cash to hire a guide for every dive. So I am just careful to choose destinations / boats which will let me dive solo. If only I could convince my wife to learn to dive so that she could model for me.
Canon 5D Ikelite Housing and strobes
15FE | 24/2.8 | 35/1.4 | 85/1.8 | 150/2.8 macro
Posted 31 July 2007 - 12:12 AM
Edited by nopro, 31 July 2007 - 12:15 AM.
Posted 31 July 2007 - 12:32 AM
I went out on a dive boat this past Saturday with 10 other divers who the divemaster buddied up initially but then left it at thier discretion if they would continue the day that way. For me, being tankless, he just shrugged his shoulders about matching me with anyone. None the less the boat anchored in 40' then 60' waters which for everyone else was probably great, for me it meant long long dives to get photos. I do wear a bright red hood and carry a water whistle for signaling though if I get separated. He did a good job watching me though and even signaled me from the boat when he spotted surfacing turtles and even a HUGE school of Bonita.
This was my dive buddy from the first anchorage!
Edited by Islandbound, 31 July 2007 - 12:36 AM.
Posted 31 July 2007 - 01:18 AM
Paul Kay,Canon EOS5DII SEACAM c/w S45, 8-15, 24L,35L, 60/2.8 (+Ext12II) & 100/2.8 Macros - Sony A7II SEACAM 28/2 & 50/2.8 Macro - UK/Ireland Seacam Sales -see marinewildlife
Posted 31 July 2007 - 02:10 AM
I figured out what was wrong breathing of my buddies octopus, but then realised i could use my own.... normally I have the other stage hanging from my neck, but now the cord was broken so I didnt automatically reach for it.
The practice I need is in opening and closing my own valves....Needless to say I triple checked the valves after that dive....
My photo's on flickr
Crop the world ! (Using Canon 70D, 60mm, 100mm, 10-17mm FE, Ikelite)
Posted 31 July 2007 - 02:49 AM
Posted 31 July 2007 - 04:52 AM
The other side is the fact that you have to know the site, be confident and have sufficient redundancy
GATES DEEP EPIC Based in Sydney


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Melges 17 US National Champion Crowned, Larry Brand Memorial Trophy Awarded
31 August 2009
The temperature was cool but the racing was HOT today. Absolutely picture perfect Melges 17 race conditions on Glen Lake today. Crystal Blue water, white caps, sunshine and Melges 17's lined up for some fast sailing on this beautiful Sunday morning. The fleet was eager to get on the water for the 10am start. Jamie Jones the event PRO announced that it would be a 3 race day completing the championship with 10 overall races in the event. Lots of racing, great parties and a ton of fun was had by this fleet over the weekend!
Proven to be fast at this years ILYA Championship on Minnetonka in big breeze, Derek Packard from Minnesota jumped on the opportunity today scoring a bullet in the first race. He was never really challenged as he escaped every time downwind with exceptional technique and speed. Coye Harrett and Mike Dow fought for second and 3rd at the end. Brian McMurray was in the hunt with Harrett and Dow but fouled a boat on his final jibe, then tipped in a big blast. This put the McMurray team back in the standings after a stellar day on Saturday.
The PRO rattled off a 2nd heat right away. Rob Terry from Crystal Lake, Michigan had to fend off Derek Packard and Sean Fidler in this race. All three exchanged positions upwind on the final beat but Terry did a nice job of picking lifts, tacking on the competition when he had to and then extending on the downwind run. Good teamwork put this team in place for the bullet at the finish line.
Sean Fidler had a good first race today and then followed it up with a solid second race ensuring that he and his wife Tiffany would be the 2009 Melges 17 National Champions. They sailed smooth, consistent and smart through the entire series never really getting to an edge of the race course the entire regatta. They stayed close to the competition in every race and most times passed boats at the end of races in order to ensure a good result. They certainly showed off their sailing skills in this regatta. Congratulations Sean and Tiffany!
Race 3 kicked off right away and it was a mix bag of leaders. Not one boat really hung on for very long in the lead. Fidler was leading for a while, Harrett for a while, the two Toms (Munroe) were winning but it was USA-8 – Tom Paine and his brother that held on to win – they sailed fantastic and it was great to see them win. Great going!
Brad and Jandy Sprouse put on an exceptional National Championship for this class. All of the competitors thanked them at the awards presentation. It was not just them but an entire yacht club that assisted in organizing and running this years Melges 17 National Championship. Thank you Brad and Jandy and thank you Glen Lake Yacht Club - incredible event!
Brad and Jandy passed out beautiful Waterford Crystal awards to the top 6 in this years Nationals. Congratulations to the winners and congratulations to the new National Champions: Sean and Tiffany Fidler. They were so psyched to win but most important, they were so excited about the boat and this new one-design class. The Melges 17 is a growing sportboat class and with people like Sean, Mike Dow, Coye Harrett, Mary Anne Ward and countless of others we can assure you this boat will be around for a long time with a lot of exciting sailing.
View Photo Gallery
FULL RESULTS (After 10 Races)
1.) Sean Fidler : 1-1-[7]-4-1-1-4-4-2-3 = 21
2.) Coye Harrett : 3-10-5-3-[11]-3-1-2-11-2 = 40
3.) Mike Dow : 4-2-1-7-3-7-[14]-3-7-6 = 40
4.) Rob Terry : 6-9-3-[10]-6-2-9-10-1-7 = 53
5.) Mary Anne Ward : 2-5-4-6-5-8-10-5-8-[19] = 53
6.) Tom Munroe : 5-[11]-9-8-9-6-6-6-5-4 = 58
7.) Brian McMurray : 8-4-[16]-1-4-9-3-16-13-5 = 63
8.) Lesa Gutenkunst : 12-3-2-[19]-10-5-7-7-12-9 = 67
9.) Derek Packard : 10-[16]-10-2-16-11-2-1-4-14 = 70
10.) Jim Hilgard : 11-12-6-12-2-12-8-9-3-13 = 75
11.) Bob Heathcote : 7-6-13-9-13-13-[17]-13-6-10 = 90
12.) Bill Fauntleroy : [15]-13-15-14-8-10-5-8-10-8 = 91
13.) Tom Payne : [19]-8-18-11-7-14-12-14-17-1 = 102
14.) Jack Kerby Miller : 14-14-12-13-12-4-11-15-16-[19] = 111
15.) Brad Sprouse : 9-7-17-5-14-15-[19]-18-14-19 = 118
16.) Bob Clark : 13-18-13-[19]-19-16-16-11-9-11 = 127
17.) Greg McCliment : 16-17-8-[19]-17-17-15-17-15-12 = 134
18.) Andy Wynkoop : 17-15-11-15-15-[19]-13-12-18-19 = 135
Stay tuned to Melges17.com for class updates and the announcement of the 2010 Melges 17 Racing Schedule.


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Redford & Hamm
Didn't think you'd have a problem seeing photos of Jon Hamm every day in Europe. He's really been hustling out there. They're still in Cannes for MIPCOM, he and Elisabeth Moss, today with Robert Redford in support of the Sundance Channel. Sundance, January, Howl, Ginsberg, the Beats, Kerouac, On the Road, I love it when a proper sentence isn't necessary.
Apparently a few British papers took shots at Redford for his appearance. Said he looked "craggy and tired". Um, he's 74.
As for Jon Hamm, if you haven't read the piece in Elle, well, I'm about to make you adore him more. Get ready.
First, I love how John Slattery describes him:
"Inside the face of a matinee idol lurks a full-on comedy nerd." Cute, right?
As for his style, and his refusal to dress like a hipster:
"I'm, like, Come on, man, you're 40, you have kids, what are you doing? Unless you're Brian Grazer, that's no one's look."
Is he faithful?
"I'm not a cheater. I've never cheated in my life." I believe him. Am I dumb?
And then it's how he talks about his relationship with Jennifer Westfeldt, what it's like now that he's the biggest star:
"It's incredibly complicated. In many ways, when Jen and I met, the situation was reversed. But it's all about how you deal with it day to day…. A rising tide lifts all boats. You want to be like, 'Jump on my back and let's go!' rather than, 'I made it!' and then pull the rope up behind you and say, 'Sorry!'"
F-ck that is honest. So honest. How often is a celebrity honest?
And that persistent question – why are people so insistent on marriage? What about marriage?
"It couldn't be a simpler answer. Marriage doesn't really mean anything to me. I feel like in many ways marriage is more for the families [of the couple] than for the people involved, so I don't gravitate to it. But I've also said that the minute Jen is like, 'You need to marry me,' I'll be like, 'All right!' We are both on the same page. Although that may shift; I don't know. I don't need to be married, but I feel married."
And finally... Jon Hamm's thoughts on reality twats:
"Spencer Pratt and Heidi Whatever—I'm sorry, they don't deserve it. They haven't done anything, and they are celebrated for nothingness."
Fist pump. Sigh. Click here to read the entire article.
Photos from Wenn.com


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netwolf wrote:penny lane wrote:Will have to wait for the games over the weekend if the Russians
are being shown. Didn't see Sidney till he was full-fledge
penguin & that's working well.
nice to hear Kovy is the captain of the Russians.
Get up early tomorrow. I believe Russia-Kazahkstan starts at 5am Saturday morning.
with coffee, might just do that! will this game be like Ottawa/Pens?


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Friday, 13 September 2013 01:27 PM
Fear in Asian financial markets of what the Fed might do may have been greatly exaggerated, judging by how little foreign investment that entered Asia during the past four years has left so far in anticipation of tighter U.S. monetary policy.
Government bonds, currencies and equities in Asia have sold off since April after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled it will soon cut back its bond-buying program, effectively beginning a tightening in its nearly five-year super-easy monetary settings.
Yet, despite a bloodbath in emerging markets in June that sent stock markets in Asia to multi-year troughs and currencies such as the Indian rupee to record lows, both the anecdotal evidence and the data suggest very little money has left Asia.
Going purely by foreign exchange reserves data, emerging Asia's top 10 economies, from China to the Philippines, received inflows worth $2.1 trillion between November 2008 and April 2013, the period when the Fed pumped massive amounts of cheap money into markets.
Since April, about $86 billion, or 4 percent of that cash, has left Asia. Half of those outflows have been from China.
That's pretty modest by most standards for financial markets, typically prone to buying the rumor and selling the news.
Currency reserves may not be the best barometer to estimate fund flows since the numbers include the impact of central bank intervention, possibly current account flows and fluctuation in the values of currencies.
But other independent measures of capital flows point toward the same conclusion. Deutsche Bank estimates that foreign investors have withdrawn roughly $19 billion from Asian local currency debt markets between June and August. Despite that, net flows for the year are a positive $5 billion and the outflows pale when compared with inflows of $203 billion since early 2009.
"Ten years of large capital flows into emerging markets cannot be unwound in 10 weeks," said Stephen Jen, co-founder of London-based investment firm SLJ Macro Partners.
Jen reckons that because emerging market assets were treated as safer than vulnerable developed markets during the years of easy money, any meaningful recovery in those developed markets would lead to more outflows from emerging markets.
Jen said in a note to clients this week: "... the risks of a 'sudden stop' in capital flows into emerging markets will remain high."
The Fed first embarked on its quantitative easing policy to revive an economy devastated by the 2008 financial crisis in November of that year, when it snapped up $1.3 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities and bonds in a program that ran until March 2010.
A second round of easing was between November 2010 and June 2011, when the Fed printed an additional $600 billion buying long-term Treasuries. QE3 was announced in September last year and is open-ended, with the Fed purchasing $85 billion of bonds and mortgage-backed securities a month.
That cash, and the cheap near-zero rates in Europe channeled trillions into high-yielding emerging markets. In all, $3.05 trillion of foreign money was pumped into emerging markets since 2009, data from the Institute of International Finance showed.
Only $231 billion of that was official money, so theoretically a good chunk of cash which isn't a dedicated allocation by funds to specific countries could leave if the Fed starts normalizing interest rates.
But the money has been slow to leave. And analysts looking for guidance from previous episodes of Fed policy tightening, such as in 1994, 1999 or more recently 2003, run foul of overlooking key differences in the situation.
First, the Fed is merely talking of reducing bond purchases, for which there are no historic parallels, rather than raising rates. It has pledged to keep short-term rates near zero until mid-2015.
Secondly, no one's quite sure how soon the cheap money will vanish or what the accompanying U.S. economic revival will look like.
Thirdly, the climb in U.S. yields has been modest: even after a 110 basis point climb since April, 10-year yields are at 2.9 percent, less than half the levels in 2000 and far from peak yields of 8 percent during the 1993-1994 cycle.
Morgan Stanley estimates that since the beginning of the sell-off at the end of May, emerging market funds have seen $24 billion of outflows, which is nearly 10 percent of their assets under management but a fraction of inflows into these funds since 2009.
Equities have been spared the brunt of the selling so far, possibly because investors still view the sell-off as one spawned by a climb in long term U.S. yields.
Rising U.S. yields would raise the cost of holding assets funded in dollars and undermine high-yielding bonds in Asia whose yields are pegged to Treasurys. The consequent rise in the dollar and capital outflows have pushed Asian currencies down.
But rising U.S. yields could be good news for equities if they are accompanied by stronger global growth, which would mean improved global demand and higher corporate earnings. Unless, of course, yields spike to levels that generate a fear of inflation, higher funding costs and extreme volatility across markets.
MSCI's emerging Asian index is down 11 percent since the end of May, giving up a fraction of the 153 percent gains since late 2008. Jakarta's stock exchange had risen 380 percent between November 2008 and May this year. Since May, it has given up a mere 24 percent of value.
In contrast, Indonesian bonds, typically less volatile than stocks, have fallen so fast that yields are up 350 basis points this year, giving up a third of the rally since 2008. Likewise, JPMorgan's emerging market bond index has fallen 10 percent this year.
"This issue is more fundamentally about local fixed income than about equities," said Michael Kurtz, chief Asian equity strategist at Nomura. "When money is coming out of local fixed income and the currency gets volatile, equities get dragged along for the ride."
The numbers bear that out. Stock market data show $916 million has left Indonesia so far this year and $3.8 billion has exited Thai stocks. In India, where a record high current account deficit has frightened foreign investors, the stock index is still up nearly 3 percent and 75 percent, or $11.5 billion, of foreign money invested in stocks this year still remains in the country.
Markets such as the Philippines and Korea, seen as less vulnerable to volatile capital flows have been spared selling. The Philippines has seen inflows of $1.4 billion so far in 2013.
The selling in equities has also been a fraction of what foreigners hold in those markets. In Korea, they hold $308 billion worth of stocks, $117 billion in Malaysia, $204 billion in India and $123 billion in Thailand, according to Credit Suisse estimates.
Meanwhile the bond selling in emerging Asia markets has been relatively more severe. Foreign holdings in Indonesia, a market which had heavy foreign participation in local currency debt, are down to $27 billion, which is about 30 percent of total outstanding bonds and down from a peak of 35 percent. And the selling could intensify as bond fund managers face redemptions, analysts say.
"We could see further redemptions in emerging market local currency debt funds, putting pressure on the regional cash bond markets," Deutsche said, referring to the decline in local currency bonds.
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The Parasite Life Cycle
In some regards, internal parasites are no different than other organisms. Most start out as an egg. The egg matures into a larvae. The larvae matures into an adult. The adult lays eggs. The life cycle starts over. However, internal parasites spend the majority of their life cycle inside your horse's stomach or intestines.
With equine parasites, usually the eggs or larvae are deposited onto the ground in the manure of an infected horse. Your horse then swallows the eggs or larvae while she grazes in the pasture. These juvenile parasites then mature into egg-laying adults in your horse's gastrointestinal system. In some worm species, the larvae migrate into other organs, such as the lungs or liver, to mature before returning to the intestines as adults to lay eggs. These eggs are then passed from your horse into the pasture where either she or another horse consumes them to start the life cycle over again.
Common Parasites Defined
There is a range of common internal parasites that can infect your horse. Understanding how each develops and the signs your horse may exhibit when infected by a given worm allows better parasite control. There are a variety of oral medicines, which are technically known as "dewormers" and commonly called
wormers available to help treat strongyles, roundworms, pinworms, lungworms, tapeworms, and more.
Large Strongyles (bloodworms, redworms, palisade worms)
Life Cycle: Start out as eggs, which hatch into larvae that are consumed by horses as they graze or drink infected water. The larvae mature in the intestinal tract. One type (Strongylus vulgaris or bloodworm) migrates into the blood vessels of the intestines. Their entire life cycle takes about 6 to 7 months. The other two types (Strongylus edentatus and Strongylus equines) migrate into the liver. Their entire life cycle takes about 8 to 11 months.
Effects: Heavy bloodworm infestation can cause severe or even fatal colic or blood vessel ruptures that lead to extensive blood loss. Other large strongyles cause less severe damage. Other signs include weight loss, anemia, or colic.
Control: Frequent deworming is important. Use an Ivermectin-based
wormer for broad-spectrum control.
Wormers containing fenbendazole also offer additional control of certain mature stages of strongyles.
Effects: If large numbers of larvae emerge at once, they can cause severe health problems, including diarrhea, weakness, muscle wasting, and colic.
Control: Frequent deworming is important. Use an Ivermectin-based
wormer for broad-spectrum control.
Wormers containing fenbendazole also offer additional control of certain mature stage strongyles.
Roundworms (ascarids, large roundworms)
Life Cycle: Horses become infected with roundworms by swallowing the eggs in contaminated hay or water. In the stomach, the eggs develop into larvae which migrate to the liver and the heart and to the lungs, where they are coughed up and swallowed. Once back in the stomach, they develop into egg-laying adults. The life cycle takes about three months.
Effects: Most damage occurs as roundworms migrate through the body. They cause coughing, pneumonia, liver damage, diarrhea, and colic. Large numbers of adult roundworms can cause intestinal blockage or rupture. Other signs include unthriftiness, pot belly, rough hair coat, and slow growth.
Control: Frequent deworming is important. Use an Ivermectin-based
wormer for broad-spectrum control. It is important to note that horses acquire some immunity to roundworms as they age. Foals and horses younger than two years of age are much more susceptible to roundworm infection than older horses. When first dewormed, foals older than three months are more prone to colic. Consult your veterinarian regarding this condition.
Effects: Tapeworm infestations can lead to colic, rough hair coat, slow growth, and other conditions due to nutrient deficiencies. In addition, heavy tapeworm infestation is considered to be a significant cause of colic.
Control: Typically, regular use of an Ivermectin-based
wormer for broad-spectrum control is combined with a specialized
wormer containing pyrantel pamoate.
Lungworms (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi)
Life Cycle: Larvae are ingested while grazing. They then migrate through the body to the lungs where they mature into adults and lay eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae in the lungs, are coughed up and swallowed into the stomach, and then passed out in the manure. The entire life cycle takes about 28 days. Typically, this worm infects donkeys, but it can sometimes be found in horses pastured with them.
Effects: Horses with lungworms may show coughing or respiratory problems, especially when exercising.
Control: Frequent deworming is important. Use an Ivermectin-based
wormer for broad-spectrum control.
Effects: The egg masses are extremely itchy. Horses with pinworm infections will sometimes rub their tails until all the hair is pulled off. Adult pinworms (about 1-3/4 inches long) may be seen around the anal area, along with a clear discharge (the egg masses).
Control: It is important to use disposable wipes or paper towels for cleansing the area under the tail, rather than reusable sponges or rags, to avoid spreading the eggs and infection.
Wormers containing Ivermectin, fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, piperazine, moxidectin, and praziquantel can help control pinworms.
Stomach Worms (Habronema muscae, Habronema microstoma, Draschia megastoma, Trichostrongylus axei)
Life Cycle: Stomach worms are transmitted to horses by flies, which transfer the stomach worm larvae when they land on the horse's legs or muzzle or eyes, and the larvae are licked off and ingested.
Effects: There are several types of stomach worms and usually they don't cause much more of a problem than mild diarrhea. However, if the stomach worm larvae get into open sores on the horse's skin, or into the moist areas around the eyes, they can cause a serious skin condition called "summer sores" or "swamp cancer". The body responds to the irritating presence of the stomach worm larvae by forming a lesion called a granuloma, a raised sore that doesn't heal. A granuloma is very itchy and the horse will rub and scratch at the sore, sometimes causing severe trauma to the area.
Control: Frequent deworming is important. Use an Ivermectin-based wormer for broad-spectrum control.
Effects: Hair worms in small numbers usually do not cause the horse any medical problems, but a heavy worm burden can lead to watery diarrhea and severe weight loss.
Control: Similar to other stomach worms, frequent deworming is important. Use an Ivermectin-based wormer for broad-spectrum control.
Threadworms (Strongyloides, Strongyloides westerii)
Life Cycle: Mostly a concern in foals, larvae are ingested in the mare's milk or by threadworm larvae present in the bedding, which can penetrate the foal's skin. The larvae migrate through the lungs and small intestine. The life cycle takes only about 2 weeks.
Effects: The main concern from threadworms is diarrhea.
Control: An Ivermectin-based
wormer suitable for foals helps control threadworms. Generally, foals become immune to threadworms by the time they are about 3 months old.
Effects: Although bots can cause damage to the tissue of the horse's mouth and intestinal tract, most horses do not show signs of serious diseases from bots. However, very large numbers of bots have been associated with gastric ulcers.
Control: Use an Ivermectin-based wormer for broad-spectrum control.
Filarial parasites (Onchocerca cervicalis, neck threadworm microfilariae)
Life Cycle: The adult worms of this parasite live in the nuchal ligament, a very thick, elastic ligament that runs along the horse's neck between the withers and the poll. Larvae from these adults migrate to the skin. The larvae are eventually ingested by insects, especially the Culicoides gnat.
Effects: Larvae burrowed into the skin can cause inflammation so intense that some horses will scratch and roll until the skin is red and the hair is rubbed off. Usually the irritation is in the skin of the forelegs, chest, eyelids, and withers, and along the middle of the belly.
Control: Use an Ivermectin-based wormer for broad-spectrum control.


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If you ever found yourself thinking that Sonia Braga or Scarlett Johansson had a sexy chin, or were oddly attracted to the mandible of George Clooney or Brad Pitt, you may be a victim of your genes.
Or not, as it turns out.
Some anthropologists believe sexual selection has driven the evolution of faces toward an ideal set of characteristics -- perfect shape, eyes, chin -- common across many cultures. The face, according to the theory of universal facial attraction, serves as a "reliable signal of mate quality" in our evolutionary drive to replicate our genes in future generations.
But before you spend serious money to sex up your mandible -- as some 20,000 Americans do every year -- you might read a study from Dartmouth College that deals a hard blow to the notion that chin selection is narrowing the comely-homely divide.
There simply is too much geographical difference in chin shape to justify the universal facial attraction theory, according to the research, published this week in PLOS One.


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Songwriters Ahrens and Flaherty celebrate 30 years
NEW YORK (AP) — The songwriting team of composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens has lasted longer than many marriages — 30 years, a number that even shocks the duo.
"It's insane. I like to say we started at 7," Ahrens says, laughing.
"It's such a big number and it's so exciting," says Flaherty. "You either embrace it or you hide from it."
They've chosen to embrace it with a series of six concerts over three evenings ending Saturday at the Broadway nightclub 54 Below featuring their songs sung by a rotating cast of Broadway stars including Stephanie J. Block, Jeremy Jordan, Annaleigh Ashford, Marin Mazzie, LaChanze and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
It's a chance to look back at a career that includes the Tony Award-winning musical "Ragtime," the Academy Award-nominated "Anastasia" and the celebrated shows "Once on This Island" and "Seussical."
But the duo isn't resting on any laurels. They've collaborated on the score for the upcoming Broadway musical "Rocky," starring Andy Karl and Margo Seibert, and "Little Dancer," a musical making its premiere at the Kennedy Center next year. One of their old shows, "Lucky Stiff," is being made into a movie directed by Christopher Ashley.
The Associated Press sat down with the talented pair to ask how they met, the way they approached "Rocky" and the secret to staying together.
And yes, they do finish each other's sentences.
AP: You met in 1982 at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. How did you join forces?
Flaherty: Me being the strange person that I am, I waited for the last class assignment. I'm walking down the street and Lynn is walking away and I'm thinking, 'Schmuck, turn around.' I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise and I turned around and yelled, 'Do you want to write a song together?' And she said, 'OK.'
Ahrens: I was so shocked.
Flaherty: I had come out of the classical conservatory world where I would hide away in a little room and score everything and try to think important thoughts. And Lynn was much more of a free, almost improv kind of gal. We worked totally differently and I thought, 'This could be really good ...'
Ahrens: ... Or really bad.
Flaherty: Or really bad. But we owed it ourselves to try. We had so much fun writing that first song. Then we wrote the first show and then the next show and then the next show. And here we are, 30 years later.
AP: What's the secret to staying together?
Flaherty: I know how to deal with her now. (Laughs.)
Ahrens: We always got along really well and I think, as the years have passed, we've learned to be just more open and more relaxed about accepting that he might not like my lyric or I didn't like his melody. We've become more flexible.
AP: A musical based on the film "Rocky" initially sounds crazy. How did you first react?
Flaherty: I said, 'Lynn, sit down.'
Ahrens: He told me the project and the first thing out of my mouth was, 'That's crazy! I don't even like boxing.' And then my husband scolded me. He said, 'Just look at the movie. Just read the screenplay.' He immediately thought it was an amazing idea. So I looked at the movie, read the screenplay and I fell madly in love.
AP: It's an original score, but the "Rocky" theme is used as well as "Eye of the Tiger." How did you navigate that?
Flaherty: The theme that everybody knows from the first 'Rocky' is so much a part of the musical DNA of that character and that story that I think we'd be crazy to deny or pretend that it doesn't exist. Either you deny it and run away from it or you embrace it and think, 'How can I take this and do something surprising and unexpected and fresh and organic?'
Ahrens: It's an iconic movie and there are moments in it that everybody knows — running up the steps, ice skating with Adrian, the raw eggs. If you ignore some of them, I feel like it's cheating. You have to take them and theatricalize them.
AP: Any advice to upcoming composers and lyricists?
Ahrens: This is the God's honest truth, whenever we set out to write a show, all we wanted to do is write that show. If it's good, it'll find a home. We fall in love with the character and go from there. I think that's good advice for anybody. You can't predict who's going to love the show or who's going to put it onstage. The point is to keep writing, keep writing. Because that's the life you're living.
Flaherty: Yes, and exciting work can be done anywhere as long as you have exciting people to do it with you.
Online: http://54below.com/artist/ahrens-flaherty
Mark Kennedy can be reached at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits


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Uplifting, groovy and simply funky! This rousing track reminds a little bit of the good old 70 era with its loud colours. A funky Wah rhodes piano plays the typical blues coloured chord progression and gets solid support from a pumping bass, driving drums, super cripsy bongo patterns and a hot brass section playing nice crescendos!
Perfect for fashion presentations, corporate or lifestyle projects which need refreshing and driving music! – WAV & MP3 included!
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Funny Dogs with Eyebrows Will Make You Laugh Out Loud
Pets sometimes find themselves the butt of jokes at the hands of their, so called, human friends. It's harmless fun, well unless you're the pet and you find yourself in a YouTube video. That's what happened to these poor pooches when their human handlers decided to give them eyebrows.The eyebrows are quite expressive, large, over accentuated and in some cases not welcome at all. Be sure to check out the chihuahua who is not the least bit amused at being decorated with tape eyebrows. Some of the dogs just have naturally funny eyebrows, and they know how to use them.
Check out these hilarious dogs with eyebrows
Have you ever done anything crazy to your pet?