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|Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachians in North Carolina.
|United States, Canada
|Newfoundland and Labrador[1][2], Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee
|Highest point
|Mount Mitchell
|- elevation
|6,684 ft (2,037 m)
The Appalachian Mountains (ˌæpəˈleɪʃǝn) or [æ.pəˈlæ.tʃənz], often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. Definitions vary on the precise boundaries of the Appalachians. The USGS defines the Appalachian Highlands physiographic division as consisting of thirteen provinces: the Atlantic Coast Uplands, Eastern Newfoundland Atlantic, Maritime Acadian Highlands, Maritime Plain, Notre Dame And Megantic Mountains, Western Newfoundland Mountains, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Valley and Ridge, Saint Lawrence Valley, Appalachian Plateaus, New England province, and the Adirondack provinces.[3][4] A common variant definition does not include the Adirondack Mountains, which are often said to have more in common with the Canadian Shield than the Appalachians.[5][6][7]
The range is mostly located in the United States but extends into southeastern Canada, forming a zone from 100 to 300 miles (160 to 480 km) wide, running from the island of Newfoundland 1,500 miles (2,400 km) south-westward to central Alabama in the United States (with foothills in northeastern Mississippi). The system is divided into a series of ranges, with the individual mountains averaging around 3,000 ft (900 m). The highest of the group is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet (2,037 m), which is the highest point in the United States east of the Mississippi River.
The term Appalachian refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range. Most broadly, it refers to the entire mountain range with its surrounding hills and the dissected plateau region. However, the term is often used more restrictively to refer to regions in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains, usually including areas in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina, as well as sometimes extending as far south as northern Georgia and western South Carolina, as far north as Pennsylvania, and as far west as southern Ohio.
The Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma were originally part of the Appalachians as well, but were disconnected through geologic history.
While exploring the northern coast of Florida in 1528, the members of the Narváez expedition, including Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, found a Native American town whose name they transcribed as Apalachen [a.paˈla.tʃɛn]. This name and its pronunciation were applied to the Apalachee Native Americans, as well as a nearby body of water, now spelled Apalachee Bay, to the Apalachicola River, Apalachicola Bay, and the Apalachicola Native Americans, and to the city known as Apalachicola, Florida.
The word Apalachen was also applied to an inland mountain range, and through the course of time it became applied to the entire range and its spelling was changed.
In southern U.S. dialects, the mountains are pronounced as the [æ.pəˈlæ.tʃənz], with the third and fourth syllables sounding like "latch". In northern U.S. dialects, the mountains are pronounced as the [æ.pəˈleɪ.tʃənz] or [æ.pəˈleɪ.ʃənz]; the third syllable is like "lay", and the fourth is either "chins", "shins", or "shuns".[8]
The whole system may be divided into three great sections: the Northern, from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador to the Hudson River; the Central, from the Hudson Valley to the New River (Great Kanawha), in Virginia and West Virginia; and the Southern, from the New River onwards.
The northern section includes the Long Range Mountains and Annieopsquotch Mountains on the island of Newfoundland, Chic-Choc Mountains and Notre Dame Range in Quebec and New Brunswick, scattered elevations and small ranges elsewhere in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Longfellow Mountains in Maine, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and The Berkshires in Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Metacomet Ridge Mountains in Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts. The central section comprises, besides various minor groups, the Valley Ridges between the Allegheny Front of the Allegheny Plateau and the Great Appalachian Valley, the New York - New Jersey Highlands, the Taconic Mountains in New York, and a large portion of the Blue Ridge. The southern section consists of the prolongation of the Blue Ridge, which is divided into the Western Blue Ridge (or Unaka) Front and the Eastern Blue Ridge Front, the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, and the Cumberland Plateau.
The Adirondack Mountains in New York are sometimes considered part of the Appalachian chain but, geologically speaking, are a southern extension of the Laurentian Mountains of Canada.[5][6][7]
In addition to the true folded mountains, known as the ridge and valley province, the area of dissected plateau to the north and west of the mountains is usually grouped with the Appalachians. This includes the Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York, the Poconos in Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny Plateau of southwestern New York, western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. This same plateau is known as the Cumberland Plateau in southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, western Virginia, eastern Tennessee, and northern Alabama.
The dissected plateau area, while not actually made up of geological mountains, is popularly called 'mountains', especially in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, and while the ridges are not high, the terrain is extremely rugged. In Ohio and New York, some of the plateau has been glaciated, which has rounded off the sharp ridges, and filled the valleys to some extent. The glaciated regions are usually referred to as hill country rather than mountains.
The Appalachian region is generally considered the geographical dividing line between the eastern seaboard of the United States and the Midwest region of the country. The Eastern Continental Divide follows the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia.
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile (3,500 km) hiking trail that runs all the way from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia, passing over or past a large part of the Appalachian system. The International Appalachian Trail is an extension of this hiking trail into the Canadian portion of the Appalachian range.
The Appalachian belt includes, with the ranges enumerated above, the plateaus sloping southward to the Atlantic Ocean in New England, and south-eastward to the border of the coastal plain through the central and southern Atlantic states; and on the north-west, the Allegheny and Cumberland plateaus declining toward the Great Lakes and the interior plains. A remarkable feature of the belt is the longitudinal chain of broad valleys—the Great Appalachian Valley—which in the southerly sections divides the mountain system into two subequal portions, but in the northernmost lies west of all the ranges possessing typical Appalachian features, and separates them from the Adirondack group. The mountain system has no axis of dominating altitudes, but in every portion the summits rise to rather uniform heights, and, especially in the central section, the various ridges and intermontane valleys have the same trend as the system itself. None of the summits reaches the region of perpetual snow.
Mountains of the Long Range in Newfoundland reach heights of nearly 3,000 ft (910 m). In the Shickshocks and Notre Dame ranges in Quebec the higher summits rise to about 4,000 ft (1,200 m). elevation. Isolated peaks and small ranges in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick vary from of 1,000 - 2,700 ft (820 m). In Maine several peaks exceed 4,000 ft (1,200 m)., including Mount Katahdin (5,267 ft). In New Hampshire, many summits rise above 4,000 feet (1,200 m), including Mount Washington in the White Mountains (6,288 ft), plus Adams (5,771), Jefferson (5,712), Monroe (5,380), Madison (5,367), Lafayette (5,260), and Lincoln (5,089) In the Green Mountains the highest point, Mt. Mansfield, is 4,393 feet (1,339 m) in elevation; others include Killington Peak at 4,226 ft (1,288 m)., Camel's Hump at 4,083 ft (1,244 m)., Mt. Abraham at 4,006 ft (1,221 m)., and a number of other heights exceeding 3,000 ft (910 m).
In Pennsylvania, there are over sixty summits that rise over 2,500 ft (760 m); the summits of Mount Davis and Blue Knob rise over 3,000 ft (910 m). In Maryland, Eagle Rock and Dans Mountain are conspicuous points reaching 3,162 ft (964 m). and 2,882 ft (878 m). respectively. On the same side of the Great Valley, south of the Potomac, are the Pinnacle (3,007 ft) and Pidgeon Roost (3,400 ft). In West Virginia, more than 150 peaks rise above 4,000 ft (1,200 m)., including Spruce Knob (4863 ft), the highest point in the Allegheny Mountains. A number of other points in the state rise above 4,800 ft (1,500 m). Thorny Flat (4,848 ft) and Bald Knob (4,842 ft) are among the more notable peaks in West Virginia.
The Blue Ridge Mountains, rising in southern Pennsylvania and there known as South Mountain, attain in that state an elevation of about 2,000 ft (610 m).; southward to the Potomac its altitudes diminish, but once in Virginia the Blue Ridge again reaches 2,000 ft (610 m). and higher. In the Virginia Blue Ridge, the following are the highest peaks east of the New River and north of the Roanoke River: Mary's Rock (3,523 ft), Stony Man (4,031), Hawksbill Mountain (4,066), and Peaks of Otter (4001 and 3875). South of the Roanoke River, along the Blue Ridge, are Virginia's highest peaks including Whitetop Mountain (5,520 ft) and Mount Rogers (5,729 ft), the highest point in the state.
Chief summits in the southern section of the Blue Ridge are located along two main crests— the Western or Unaka Front along the Tennessee-North Carolina border and the Eastern Front in North Carolina— or one of several "cross ridges" between the two main crests. Major subranges of the Eastern Front include the Black Mountains, Great Craggy Mountains, and Great Balsam Mountains, and its chief summits include Grandfather Mountain (5,964 feet (1,818 m)) near the Virginia-North Carolina border, Mount Mitchell (6,684 feet (2,037 m)) in the Blacks, and Black Balsam Knob (6,214 feet (1,894 m)) and Cold Mountain (6,030 feet (1,840 m)) in the Great Balsams. The Western Blue Ridge Front is subdivided into the Unaka Range, the Bald Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains, and the Unicoi Mountains, and its major peaks include Roan Mountain (6,285 feet (1,916 m)) in the Unakas, Big Bald (5,516 feet (1,681 m)) and Max Patch (4,616 feet (1,407 m)) in the Bald Mountains, Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet (2,025 m)), Mount Le Conte (6,593 feet (2,010 m)), and Mount Guyot (6,621 feet (2,018 m)) in the Great Smokies, and Big Frog Mountain (4,224 feet (1,287 m)) near the Tennessee-Georgia-North Carolina border. Prominent summits in the cross ridges include Waterrock Knob (6,292 feet (1,918 m)) in the Plott Balsams.
In spite of the existence of the Great Appalachian Valley, the master streams are transverse to the axis of the system. The drainage divide of the Appalachians follows a tortuous course which crosses the mountainous belt just north of the New River in Virginia; south of the New River the rivers head in the Blue Ridge, cross the higher Unakas, receive important tributaries from the Great Valley, and traversing the Cumberland Plateau in spreading gorges, escape by way of the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to the Ohio and Mississippi, and thus to the Gulf of Mexico; in the central section the rivers, rising in or beyond the Valley Ridges, flow through great gorges (water gaps) to the Great Valley, and by south-easterly courses across the Blue Ridge to tidal estuaries penetrating the coastal plain; in the northern section the height of land lies on the inland side of the mountainous belt, the main lines of drainage running from north to south.
A look at rocks exposed in today's Appalachian mountains reveals elongated belts of folded and thrust faulted marine sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks and slivers of ancient ocean floor, which provides strong evidence that these rocks were deformed during plate collision. The birth of the Appalachian ranges, some 300 million years ago, marks the first of several mountain building plate collisions that culminated in the construction of the supercontinent Pangaea with the Appalachians near the center. Because North America and Africa were connected, the Appalachians form part of the same mountain chain as the Anti-Atlas in Morocco. To the northeast, the same mountain chain continues into Scotland, from the North America/Europe collision.
During the middle Ordovician Period (about 496-440 million years ago), a change in plate motions set the stage for the first Paleozoic mountain building event (Taconic orogeny) in North America. The once-quiet Appalachian passive margin changed to a very active plate boundary when a neighboring oceanic plate, the Iapetus, collided with and began sinking beneath the North American craton. With the birth of this new subduction zone, the early Appalachians were born. Along the continental margin, volcanoes grew, coincident with the initiation of subduction. Thrust faulting uplifted and warped older sedimentary rock laid down on the passive margin. As mountains rose, erosion began to wear them down. Streams carried rock debris down slope to be deposited in nearby lowlands. The Taconic Orogeny was just the first of a series of mountain building plate collisions that contributed to the formation of the Appalachians, culminating in the collision of North America and Africa (see Appalachian orogeny).
By the end of the Mesozoic era, the Appalachian Mountains had been eroded to an almost flat plain. It was not until the region was uplifted during the Cenozoic Era that the distinctive topography of the present formed. Uplift rejuvenated the streams, which rapidly responded by cutting downward into the ancient bedrock. Some streams flowed along weak layers that define the folds and faults created many millions of years earlier. Other streams downcut so rapidly that they cut right across the resistant folded rocks of the mountain core, carving canyons across rock layers and geologic structures.
The Appalachian Mountains contain major deposits of anthracite coal as well as bituminous coal. In the folded mountains the coal is in metamorphosed form as anthracite represented by the Coal Region of northeastern Pennsylvania. The bituminous coal fields of western Pennsylvania, western Maryland, southeastern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and West Virginia is the sedimentary form. Some plateaus of the Appalachian Mountains contain metallic minerals such as iron and zinc.
The floras of the Appalachians are diverse and vary primarily in response to geology, latitude, elevation and moisture availability. Geobotanically, they constitute a floristic province of the North American Atlantic Region. The Appalachians consist primarily of deciduous broad-leaf trees and evergreen needle-leaf conifers, but also contain the evergreen broad-leaf American Holly (Ilex opaca), and the deciduous needle-leaf conifer, the Tamarack, or Eastern Larch (Larix laricina).
The dominant northern and high elevation conifer is the Red Spruce (Picea rubens), which grows from near sea level to above 4000 feet (1219 m) above sea level (asl) in northern New England and southeastern Canada. It also grows southward along the Appalachian crest to the highest elevations of the southern Appalachians, as in North Carolina and Tennessee. In the central Appalachians it is usually confined above 3000 feet (914 m) asl, except for a few cold valleys in which it reaches lower elevations. In the southern Appalachians it is restricted to higher elevations. Another species is the Black Spruce (Picea mariana), which extends farthest north of any conifer in North America, is found at high elevations in the northern Appalachians, and in bogs as far south as Pennsylvania.
The Appalachians are also home to two species of fir, the boreal Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), and the southern high elevation endemic, Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri), which is confined to the highest parts of the southern Appalachian mountains. By contrast, Balsam Fir is found from near sea level to the tree line in the northern Appalachians, but ranges only as far south as Virginia and West Virginia in the central Appalachians, where it is usually confined above 3900 feet (1189 m)asl, except in cold valleys. Curiously, it is associated with oaks in Virginia. The Balsam Fir of Virginia and West Virginia is thought by some to be a natural hybrid between the more northern variety and Fraser Fir. While Red Spruce is common in both upland and bog habitats, Balsam Fir, as well as Black Spruce and Tamarack, are more characteristic of the latter. However Balsam Fir also does well in soils with a pH as high as 6 [10].
Eastern or Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is another important evergreen needle-leaf conifer that grows along the Appalachian chain from north to south, but is confined to lower elevations than Red Spruce and the firs. It generally occupies richer and less acidic soils than the spruce and firs and is characteristic of deep, shaded and moist mountain valleys and coves. It is, unfortunately, subject to the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an introduced insect, that is rapidly extirpating it as a forest tree. Less abundant, and restricted to the southern Appalachians, is Carolina Hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana). Like Canada Hemlock, this tree suffers severely from the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
Several species of pines characteristic of the Appalachians are Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus ), Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana), Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida ), Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens) and Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata). Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) is a boreal species that forms a few high elevation outliers as far south as West Virginia. All of these species except White Pine tend to occupy sandy, rocky, poor soil sites, which are mostly acidic in character. White Pine, a large species valued for its timber, tends to do best in rich, moist soil, either acidic or alkaline in character. Pitch Pine is also at home in acidic, boggy soil, and Table Mountain Pine may occasionally be found in this habitat as well. Shortleaf Pine is generally found in warmer habitats and at lower elevations than the other species. All the species listed do best in open or lightly shaded habitats, although White Pine also thrives in shady coves, valleys, and on floodplains.
The Appalachians are characterized by a wealth of large, beautiful deciduous broadleaf (hardwood) trees. Their occurrences are best summarized and described in E. Lucy Braun's 1950 classic, Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America (Macmillan, New York). The most diverse and richest forests are the Mixed Mesophytic or medium moisture types, which are largely confined to rich, moist montane soils of the southern and central Appalachians, particularly in the Cumberland and Allegheny Mountains, but also thrive in the southern Appalachian coves. Characteristic canopy species are White Basswood (Tilia heterophylla), Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus octandra), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), White Ash (Fraxinus americana ) and Yellow Birch (Betula alleganiensis). Other common trees are Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Shagbark and Bitternut Hickories (Carya ovata and C. cordiformis) and Black or Sweet Birch (Betula lenta ). Small understory trees and shrubs include Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). There are also hundreds of perennial and annual herbs, among them such herbal and medicinal plants as American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa).
The foregoing trees, shrubs and herbs are also more widely distributed in less rich mesic forests that generally occupy coves, stream valleys and flood plains throughout the southern and central Appalachians at low and intermediate elevations. In the northern Appalachians and at higher elevations of the central and southern Appalachians these diverse mesic forests give way to less diverse "Northern Hardwoods" with canopies dominated only by American Beech, Sugar Maple, American Basswood (Tilia americana) and Yellow Birch and with far fewer species of shrubs and herbs.
Dryer and rockier uplands and ridges are occupied by Oak-Chestnut type forests dominated by a variety of oaks (Quercus spp.), hickories (Carya spp.) and, in the past, by the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata). The American Chestnut was virtually eliminated as a canopy species by the introduced fungal Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectaria parasitica), but lives on as sapling-sized sprouts that originate from roots, which are not killed by the fungus. In present day forest canopies Chestnut has been largely replaced by oaks.
The oak forests of the southern and central Appalachians consist largely of Black, Northern Red, White, Chestnut and Scarlet Oaks (Quercus velutina, Q. rubra, Q. alba, Q. prinus and Q. coccinea) and hickories, such as the Pignut (Carya glabra) in particular. The richest forests, which grade into mesic types, usually in coves and on gentle slopes, have dominantly White and Northern Red Oaks, while the driest sites are dominated by Chestnut Oak, or sometimes by Scarlet or Northern Red Oaks. In the northern Appalachians the oaks, except for White and Northern Red, drop out, while the latter extends farthest north.
The oak forests generally lack the diverse small tree, shrub and herb layers of mesic forests. Shrubs are generally ericaceous, and include the evergreen Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), various species of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), a number of deciduous rhododendrons (azaleas), and smaller heaths such as Teaberry ( Gaultheria procumbens) and Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens ). The evergreen Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) is characteristic of moist stream valleys. These occurrences are in line with the prevailing acidic character of most oak forest soils. In contrast, the much rarer Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) demands alkaline soils and generally grows where limestone rock is near the surface. Hence no ericaceous shrubs are associated with it.
The Appalachian floras also include a diverse assemblage of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), as well as fungi. Some species are rare and/or endemic. As with vascular plants, these tend to be closely related to the character of the soils and thermal environment in which they are found.
Eastern deciduous forests are subject to a number of serious insect and disease outbreaks. Among the most conspicuous is that of the introduced Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), which infests primarily oaks, causing severe defoliation and tree mortality. But it also has the benefit of eliminating weak individuals, and thus improving the genetic stock, as well as creating rich habitat of a type through accumulation of dead wood. Because hardwoods sprout so readily, this moth is not as harmful as the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Perhaps more serious is the introduced Beech Bark Disease Complex, which includes both a scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) and fungal components.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries the Appalachian forests were subject to severe and destructive logging and land clearing, which resulted in the designation of the National Forests and Parks as well many state protected areas. However, these and a variety of other destructive activities continue, albeit in diminished forms; and thus far only a few ecologically based management practices have taken hold.
Animals that characterize the Appalachian forests include five species of tree squirrels. The most commonly seen is the low to moderate elevation Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Occupying similar habitat is the slightly larger Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) and the much smaller Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans). More characteristic of cooler northern and high elevation habitat is the Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), whereas the Appalachian Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus), which closely resembles the Southern Flying Squirrel, is confined to northern hardwood and spruce-fir forests.
As familiar as squirrels are the Eastern Cottontail rabbit (Silvilagus floridanus) and the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The latter in particular has greatly increased in abundance as a result of the extirpation of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus ) and the Eastern Cougar. This has led to the overgrazing and browsing of many plants of the Appalachian forests, as well as destruction of agricultural crops. Other deer include the Moose (Alces alces ), found only in the north, and the Elk (Cervus canadensis), which, although once extirpated, is now making a comeback, through transplantation, in the southern and central Appalachians. In Quebec, the Chic-Chocs host the only population of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) south of the St. Lawrence River. An additional species that is common in the north but extends its range southward at high elevations to Virginia and West Virginia is the Varying or Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus). However, these central Appalachian populations are scattered and very small.
Another species of great interest is the Beaver (Castor canadensis), which is showing a great resurgence in numbers after its near extirpation for its pelt. This resurgence is bringing about a drastic alteration in habitat through the construction of dams and other structures throughout the mountains.
Other common forest animals are the Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis), Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Woodchuck (Marmota monax), Bobcat (Felis rufus), Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and in recent years, the Coyote (Canis latrans), another species favored by the advent of Europeans and the extirpation of the Gray Wolf.
Characteristic birds of the forest are Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Barred Owl (Strix varia), Screech Owl (Megascops asio), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), and Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), as well as a great variety of "songbirds" (Passeriformes), like the warblers in particular.
Of great importance are the many species of salamanders, and in particular the lungless species (Family Plethodontidae) that live in great abundance concealed by leaves and debris, on the forest floor. Most frequently seen, however, is the Eastern or Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), whose terrestrial eft form is often encountered on the open, dry forest floor. It has been estimated that salamanders represent the largest class of animal biomass in the Appalachian forests. Frogs and toads are of lesser diversity and abundance, but the Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) is, like the eft, commonly encountered on the dry forest floor, while a number of species of small frogs, such as Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), enliven the forest with their calls. Salamanders and other amphibians contribute greatly to nutrient cycling through their consumption of small life forms on the forest floor and in aquatic habitats.
Although reptiles are less abundant and diverse than amphibians, a number of snakes are conspicuous members of the fauna. One of the largest is the non-poisonous Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta), while the Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is among the smallest but most abundant. The American Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and the Timber Rattler (Crotalus horridus) are poisonous pit vipers. There are few lizards, but the Broad-headed Skink (Eumeces laticeps), at up to 13 inches (33 cm) in length, and an excellent climber and swimmer, is one of the largest and most spectacular in appearance and action. The most common turtle is the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), which is found in both upland and lowland forests in the central and southern Appalachians. Prominent among aquatic species is the large Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), which occurs throughout the Appalachians.
Appalachian streams are notable for their highly diverse freshwater fish life. Among the most abundant and diverse are those of the minnow family (Family Cyprinidae), while species of the colorful Darters (Percina spp.) are also abundant.[11]
A characteristic fish of shaded, cool Appalachian forest streams is the Wild Brook or Speckled Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), which is much sought after for its sporting qualities. However in past years such trout waters have been much degraded by increasing temperatures because of timber cutting, global warming and by pollution from various sources.
For a century, the Appalachians were a barrier to the westward expansion of the British colonies (or, from a different perspective, a major protection to the Native American tribes living to the west of the mountains). The continuity of the mountain system, the bewildering multiplicity of its succeeding ridges, the tortuous courses and roughness of its transverse passes, a heavy forest, and dense undergrowth all conspired to hold the settlers on the seaward-sloping plateaus and coastal plains. Only by way of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, and round about the southern termination of the system were there easy routes to the interior of the country, and these were long closed by powerful Native American tribes such as the Iroquois, Creek, and Cherokee, among others. British expansion was also blocked by Spanish colonies in the south and French activity throughout the interior.
In eastern Pennsylvania the Great Appalachian Valley, or Great Valley, was accessible by reason of a broad gateway between the end of South Mountain and the Highlands, and here between the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers settled many Germans and Moravians, whose descendants even now retain the peculiar patois known as "Pennsylvania Dutch". These were late comers to the New World forced to the frontier to find cheap land. With their followers of both German and Scots-Irish origin, they worked their way southward and soon occupied all of the Shenandoah Valley, ceded by the Iroquois, and the upper reaches of the Great Valley tributaries of the Tennessee River, ceded by the Cherokee.
By 1755, the obstacle to westward expansion had been thus reduced by half; outposts of the English colonists had penetrated the Allegheny and Cumberland plateaus, threatening French monopoly in the transmontane region, and a conflict became inevitable. Making common cause against the French to determine the control of the Ohio valley, the unsuspected strength of the colonists was revealed, and the successful ending of the French and Indian War extended England's territory to the Mississippi. To this strength the geographic isolation enforced by the Appalachian mountains had been a prime contributor. The confinement of the colonies between an ocean and a mountain wall led to the fullest occupation of the coastal border of the continent, which was possible under existing conditions of agriculture, conducing to a community of purpose, a political and commercial solidarity, which would not otherwise have been developed. As early as 1700 it was possible to ride from Portland, Maine, to southern Virginia, sleeping each night at some considerable village. In contrast to this complete industrial occupation, the French territory was held by a small and very scattered population, its extent and openness adding materially to the difficulties of a disputed tenure. Bearing the brunt of this contest as they did, the colonies were undergoing preparation for the subsequent struggle with the home government. Unsupported by shipping, the American armies fought toward the sea with the mountains at their back protecting them against British leagued with the Aboriginals. The few settlements beyond the Great Valley were free for self-defence because debarred from general participation in the conflict by reason of their position.
Before the French and Indian War, the Appalachian Mountains lay on the indeterminate boundary between Britain's colonies along the Atlantic and French areas centered in the Mississippi basin. After the French and Indian War, the Proclamation of 1763 restricted settlement for Great Britain's thirteen original colonies in North America to east of the summit line of the mountains (except in the northern regions where the Great Lakes formed the boundary). Although the line was adjusted several times to take frontier settlements into account and was impossible to enforce as law, it was strongly resented by backcountry settlers throughout the Appalachians. The Proclamation Line can be seen as one of the grievances which led to the American Revolutionary War. Many frontier settlers held that the defeat of the French opened the land west of the mountains to English settlement, only to find settlement barred by the British King's proclamation. The backcountry settlers who fought in the Illinois campaign of George Rogers Clark were motivated to secure their settlement of Kentucky.
With the formation of the United States, an important first phase of westward expansion in the late 18th century and early 19th century consisted of the migration of European-descended settlers westward across the mountains into the Ohio Valley through the Cumberland Gap and other mountain passes. The Erie Canal, finished in 1825, formed the first route through the Appalachians that was capable of large amounts of commerce.
Appalachian flora and fauna-related journals:


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I'm mostly concerned with the serial port, SPI port, I2C and PWM. Are they hardware, or bit-banged?
How much overhead does Sketch add?
What is the instruction cycle time of the Atmel chips?
Or - if someone could point me to a (hopefully single) source for the above information, I would be most appreciative.
Also, PicBasic creates macros that then call the Microchip assembler, so it produces an ASM file. If you want to know what the compiler is doing, you can look at the created ASM file. I don't see anything like that in Sketch. Is there a way I can see the actual instructions being programmed into the ATMEL?
I can't find any good explanation of how to use interrupts in Sketch.
I have searched the forum, and I can't find any good explanation of how to use interrupts in Sketch.
and very little of it is interrupt-driven.
If I have a routine that looks for serial input, and I have a really long DELAY statement, will it capture long strings while it is in the DELAY period?

subset: commoncrawl


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Resource management is ideal for environments that consolidate a number of applications on a single server.
The cost and complexity of managing numerous machines encourages the consolidation of several applications on larger, more scalable servers. Instead of running each workload on a separate system, with full access to that system's resources, you can use resource management software to segregate workloads within the system. Resource management enables you to lower overall total cost of ownership by running and controlling several dissimilar applications on a single Solaris system.
If you are providing Internet and application services, you can use resource management to do the following:
Host multiple web servers on a single machine. You can control the resource consumption for each web site and you can protect each site from the potential excesses of other sites.
Prevent a faulty common gateway interface (CGI) script from exhausting CPU resources.
Stop an incorrectly behaving application from leaking all available virtual memory.
Ensure that one customer's applications are not affected by another customer's applications that run at the same site.
Provide differentiated levels or classes of service on the same machine.
Obtain accounting information for billing purposes.


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Main Content
Historic Theater Initiative
State Theater Marquee
Anderson, IN
Photo: Gene Gladson Collection at DHPA
Every downtown had one. It was the grand old opera house or the movie palace built in the bustle of the city center. In the late 1800s and the early 1900s, these venues served as the heart of entertainment in most communities. Such theaters were great places for first dates or for catching the newest flick. Sadly, these historic treasures have begun to fade away. The creation of "talkies" signaled the demise of opera houses. Single screen theaters, unable to compete with the multi-screen, big box theaters have ceased their cinemagraphic functions, becoming venues for other uses. In many cases, owners have stripped the equipment, leaving just the shell of a building. Despite our fascination with cars, even the drive-in theaters have largely been unable to survive. Consequently, the last quarter of the twentieth century has witnessed the endangerment of these theaters that were once a staple of our society.
What can be done to preserve these historic structures? This is the question the DHPA hopes to answer through its Historic Theater Initiative. The DHPA announced the new initiative at the 2002 Cornelius O'Brien Conference on Historic Preservation in Terre Haute. The goal of the Historic Theater Initiative is to offer a resource to main street organizations, not-for-profits, and for-profit corporations that own historic theaters, opera houses, and drive-ins.
Preservationists, theater owners, film collectors, arts and culture promoters, and tourism experts have been convening to advance the Initiative. The committee has determined that the first objective is to determine the scope of the problem. Everyone is familiar with one or two endangered theaters in their hometowns. But exactly how many were there? How many are left? What is their condition? Once the survey is completed, we will bring together owners of these structures for round-tables, conferences, and workshops to determine what is needed in order for these structures to survive. Staff and members of the committee will also create resource guides and preservation pamphlets for the owners to use.
We hope that through this project leaders in the preservation community will partner with owners of these historic resources to help preserve the heart and culture of our downtowns. If you are interested in participating in the Historic Theater Initiative, or to make sure we have your favorite venue on our list, contact the DHPA at 317-232-1646.


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Breakup: enduring divorce
a book by Leo Averbach
A brutally honest tale of divorce. Written as a journal in real time, Averbach's narrative interweaves his traumatic divorce with his psychotherapy. Two transformations unfold at once: Averbach's marriage disintegrates while psychotherapy builds up something new, creating a compelling, unforgettable memoir.
About Breakup
A breakup story written by a man.
A portrayal of divorce executed from the inside.
A unique account of the role of therapy in recovery.
"Leo Averbach relates the process of experiencing the hurt, anger, and pain of betrayal and loss in full and uncut." – Deborah L. Baker. Reader's Choice.
"…a sensitive, insightful, detailed and inspiring book." – Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. Psychotherapist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
"Leo Averbach has been there…inside the hell of divorce." – David Knox, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology at East Carolina University, Marriage and Family Therapist.
"Gritty and powerful, Breakup is an emotion-filled, heartrending read." – Cherie Mangum. Apex Reviews.


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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 5 results[ Title]
Filters: Author is Lopez-Valdes, Francisco J [Clear All Filters]
Kinetics of the cervical spine in pediatric and adult volunteers during low speed frontal impacts." J Biomech. 2012;45(1):99-106."
Kinematic Comparison of Pediatric Human Volunteers and the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Anthropomorphic Test Device." Ann Adv Automot Med. 2010;54:97-108."
Comparison of kinematic responses of the head and spine for children and adults in low-speed frontal sled tests." Stapp Car Crash J. 2009;53:329-72."
Assessment of a three-point restraint system with a pre-tensioned lap belt and an inflatable, force-limited shoulder belt." Stapp Car Crash J. 2011;55:141-59."
Analysis of spinal motion and loads during frontal impacts. Comparison between PMHS and ATD." Ann Adv Automot Med. 2010;54:61-78."


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The Volvo ECR58D mini excavator features a powerful Volvo engine and perfectly matched hydraulic system to deliver high performance, excellent control... Read moreContact us Download the ECR58D brochure, with all the details and specifications. (PDF, 2.2MB)
The Volvo ECR58D mini excavator features a powerful Volvo engine and perfectly matched hydraulic system to deliver high performance, excellent control and low fuel consumption, whether working in road construction, utilities, landscaping or any other application.
Here are the key specifications for this product model. Want more details? Download the brochure or contact us.
|Volvo D2.6A
|Gross power
|36.5 kW
|Net power
|35 kW
|...at engine speed
|2,000 rpm
|Operating weight
|5,700 - 7,000 kg
|Bucket capacity
|0.08 - 0.24 m³
|Travel speed, low / high
|2.1 / 4.2 km/h
|Slewing speed
|9.2 rpm
|Breakout force
|34.6 kN
|Tear out force (arm breakout force)
|26.1 kN
|Overall width
|2,000 mm
|Overall length
|5,550 mm
|Main hydraulic pump max. flow
|126 l/min
Image illustration only. Production machines may differ in appearance and features vary between markets and models.
Only with Volvo attachments do you get what you wanted when you bought a Volvo in the first place – maximum productivity and uptime. Volvo develops and offers a wide range of attachments which brings you unmatched flexibility and versatility, making it easy for you to develop job opportunities and to get the job done with increased productivity. Displayed attachments may not be available in all markets. Consult your dealer for specific availability.


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Logistics Logistics Certification
SGS understands that logistics is about much more than moving goods from one place to another, so we offer a range of services – including audits and certification – that cover all aspects of your business.
To give you the peace of mind you need, we will typically begin with an audit of your logistics situation. We then make recommendations about how you can improve your business through certification and by meeting standards. These include IFS (International Featured Standard) Broker Certification and IFS Logistics Certification, BRC Storage & Distribution Certification (from the British Retail Consortium), TAPA (Technology Asset Protection Association) and ISO 28000 Supply Chain Security Management.
Our services not only help you to run your business more smoothly, but let you demonstrate your commitment to delivering goods on time, on budget, safely and intact. To complete the package, we offer training for your staff and management.
As the world's leading testing, verification, inspection and certification company, we offer you unsurpassed accuracy, highly experienced specialists, state-of-the-art examination methodologies and a global reach.
Contact us today to find out more about our comprehensive range of logistics certification services.


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Posts Tagged 'pasadena'
Blue Skies Smiling At Me: Activision & Autism Speaks Team-Up
Sky High…
At SkeletonPete we've been fans of Activision's Skylanders, since Ken Pierce (PiercingMetal.com) and I first experienced a pre-release demo of Spyro's Adventure at the Toy Industry Association Toy Fair almost six years ago. The combination of video game play with collector figures that "entered" the screen was a stroke of genius. Since then the company has built success upon success, turning the product into a collossal licensing franchise. Along the way the characters have been giant-sized, captured in crystal traps, split into swappable pieces, presented as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, and more recently given supercharged vehicles to traverse land, sea and air. Our first encounter with the Superchargers was at last summer's Toy Insider Sweet Suite press event. Check the images below.
Read the rest of this entry »


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Top Stories
Punter Southall Aspire, a leading UK workplace savings and pensions business has appointed Andrew Roddie as a Senior Consultant in its Edinburgh office, to support the company's growth in Scotland.
Andrew works with Punter SouthallAspire's corporate clients overseeing group pension schemes, with a focus on good governance and employee engagement. Andrew joins a team of four DC consultants in Edinburgh and his appointment enables the team to concentrate not only on client servicing but to grow the client portfolio.
Andrew has worked in reward consultancy and provision for the past decade and is highly experienced. He joins from Capita Employee Benefits, where he spent almost four years as an Engagement Consultant. Prior to this, Andrew was Senior Client Advisor at Mercer UK, and he has also worked for Royal London and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Commenting on his new role Andrew said, "I'm really excited to join Punter SouthallAspire's Scottish team. I see this role as a huge opportunity to develop my skills in an innovative organisation with ambitious growth plans.
"The leadership team here is very visible and they encourage people to succeed which was a key attraction of the role. I'm looking forward to learning from some of the best people in the industry and further developing my career in one of the largest DC teams in Scotland."
Punter SouthallAspire's DC team in Scotland has 10 employees. Andrew reports into Nick Frankland, Principal at Punter Southall Aspire, also based in Edinburgh.
Nick Frankland said, "Andrew has a great deal of experience working with some of the leading reward and benefits companies. Punter Southall Aspire is growing fast and the pensions and savings world is constantly evolving, bringing fresh opportunities and challenges for clients so this is an exciting time to join the company.
"Andrew will be helping existing clients navigate the complexities of the world of pensions and also helping the DC team win new business in Scotland. Clients will benefit enormously from Andrew's highly personable approach and expertise in helping them meet their pensions and benefits objectives."
Top Stories
Three questions the financial services industry must answer in 2021
Xformative, a Mastercard Start Path recipient, shares what these questions mean for fintech partners and their innovations
This year, fintechs and institutions alike pushed the limit on how fast, innovative, and digitally-savvy they could be. Buzzwords like cloud and faster payments made headlines, but 2021 will be about refining best practices and putting them into action. Xformative believes that more industries should benefit from digital payments and that it's not just about faster payments, but the option to offer multiple methods.
- Which industries are lagging in the digital payments space and why? The pandemic forced financial institutions and their partners to move digital transformation into a new phase of maturity. But this doesn't mean every industry has transformed, there are still laggards. According to a survey of more than 1,400 American freelancers and contractors, conducted by Bill.com, more than half said they were still receiving their money in the form of a physical check. Checks still exist in spaces like Property and Casualty, though we did see some reassuring industry changes this year. The year ahead will require businesses to offer more payments flexibility outside of physical checks to meet the payment needs of their gig workers, freelancers, and contractors. Businesses will rely on technology partners to bring them up to speed and simplify the payments process.
- How can fintechs overcome the challenges of building in the cloud? Most businesses want to architect using a select cloud provider, or at least offer cloud-based services, to remain competitive in today's fast-paced, disruptive landscape. There are assumptions that cloud architecture will inherently be less expensive to operate than legacy mainframe systems, but for many, these assumptions have turned upside down when developers fail to understand cloud cost optimization principles. As fintechs look to build in the cloud, they should ensure their technology is highly optimized, only leveraging real-time capabilities and transactions when required. Responsible fintechs should focus on balancing customer experience and economics with a mix of batch and real-time capabilities, constantly asking themselves, "is real-time the best choice?" Just because real-time can be offered doesn't mean it should, and 2021 will be about drawing the line between utilization and optimization.
- Why is offering more payment choices important? Emerging faster payments are working in parallel, not as a replacement for other methods. People want options to be able to pay however they like, whether it's with Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, or traditional methods like cash or card, and financial institutions need to be prepared to meet this demand. The card that consumers once kept in their wallet was a key component of the bank's and/or program manager's brand value, as well as potentially communicating the cardholder's lifestyle and socioeconomic status. 2021 will reinforce the value of financial institutions having partnerships with fintechs who can help them evolve their brand value to include the broad scope of emerging payments.
It's time fintechs and institutions partner to digitize payments and offer choices. 2021 is about building smart and partnering for capabilities that can open the door to new opportunities at a financial institution.
Top Stories
2020: The paradoxical year that has reshaped the future of motor insurance and related sectors
By Alan Inskip, Tempcover CEO & Founder
There's no doubt that 2020 will be remembered as the year that changed the world. Whether that overall change was for the better or for the worse is a matter of perspective. One thing is for certain, 2020 has been the year of immense innovation and adaptability in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this piece, I'll touch on some of the greatest challenges that could have had a potentially crippling effect on the economy but instead were overcome and ultimately paved the way for increased resilience and innovation.
Public transport shunned in favour of private vehicles, but driving patterns dramatically shift
With ten months of varying national and regional lockdown restrictions, passenger numbers on public transport have plummeted[1] as many people continue to work remotely, and with most opting for the safety of travelling by private vehicle when they do need to get out and about. But because of restrictive travel measures, motorists have been using their vehicles far less frequently.
This posed a major challenge for traditional motor insurers that were not able to swiftly adapt to this change, with many coming under fire for failing to adjust annual premiums in line with new driver trends[2]. As motorists became increasingly frustrated having to pay the same premiums or sometimes even more despite their vehicle usage being substantially minimised, the relatively new and still largely unfamiliar InsurTech industry was able to rise to the occasion.
In short, InsurTech involves the utilisation of the latest technological innovations such as data analysis, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable insurance products to become more agile and flexible in line with modern consumer demand – all while remaining price competitive.
Being fully-digital and technology-driven, InsurTechs demonstrated the flexibility and agility that enabled them to adapt to the huge shift in customer demand and step change in how insurance is purchased and consumed. They did this by offering an entirely digital user experience in near real-time, with temporary policies tailored to the time actually needed – anywhere from 1 hour to 28 days.
In a time of furlough and economic uncertainty, this meant that many motorists who were not using their vehicles regularly did not have to take drastic action like declaring their vehicle SORN to achieve short-term financial relief. Nor did they have to risk driving uninsured or committing to an annual policy that they could ill afford at the time.
The rise of the digital dealership offering temporary insurance as part of the purchase journey
In the automotive retail market, dealerships were forced to make drastic changes to their operating models to comply with social distancing guidelines. Showroom footfall and subsequent sales initially plummeted[3]. But in the face of this immense adversity, we witnessed the rise of the digital dealership, a concept that would have been unfathomable even just a year ago.
Cazoo was the first fully-digital platform to enter the vehicle dealership market in late 2019, and there has also been significant investment this year in new entrants such as Cinch and Carwow. Traditional dealerships such as Arnold Clark, Cargiant and Motorpoint have extended the digital aspects of their purchase journeys with services including home delivery and Click and Collect as alternative options to the full show room experience.
InsurTech has been instrumental in ensuring that car insurance supports this shift to digital, as several national blue-chip dealerships, with both physical and digital showroom floors, now offer temporary driveaway insurance policies that cover the vehicle for a fixed-term, usually between five to seven days.
The entirely online one-step user experience is the first of its kind in the traditionally outdated and inflexible driveaway insurance industry and it is dramatically simplifying the process of how insurance is purchased and consumed. Due to the flexibility and agility of the digital solution, each retailer has its own unique URL, where the customer can obtain a simple single-cost policy in just 90 seconds through an entirely digital process, which fits in line with the evolving consumer purchase trends.
This takes the stress out of searching for annual insurance on the spot and provides the driver with near instant cover so that they can immediately drive their new car while giving them the opportunity to thoroughly research the best annual policy to suit their needs. It's also an ideal solution while the car is under its money-back warranty, as the driver does not have to commit to an annual policy on a car that might be returned. Another benefit is there's no risk to any existing No Claims Discount, as it's a separate and standalone policy.
Declining brand loyalty and a demand for a more personalised and convenient user experience
Insurance has an unenviable reputation for being inflexible and even unwilling to adapt to shifting consumer trends – making it confusing for most customers. Even pre-COVID, there was a clear trend that brand loyalty was in decline, as modern day consumers are no longer prepared to remain blindly loyal to any company for a long-term period. Instead, they will reward businesses that offer a simple and convenient user experience at best value. COVID accelerated this trend and many large insurers have struggled to adapt accordingly.
Conversely, this has enabled InsurTech to thrive, as the products and user journeys are developed with direct input from customers to ensure that they are receiving a straightforward and fit-for-purpose solution that best fits their needs and requirements. Just some examples of this are simplified terms and conditions, near-instant and paperless policy documentation via the web or dedicated app, and data-driven customer engagement initiatives that offer personalised discounts and communication via email and text messaging. The end result is a user experience that is easier, more convenient and better value for potential consumers in the market.
Cautiously optimistic (if somewhat uncertain) future
Even in the most stable periods, it's a challenge to accurately predict future market trends. And with 2020 completely rewriting the rulebook on how business is conducted, it would be remiss of me to make outright predictions. One thing is for certain, the days of slow, inflexible and costly motor insurance are numbered. It is important to note that this doesn't mean that InsurTech is gaining the upper hand at the expense of the traditional insurers in a bid to replace them.
Instead it is there to fill a gap and act as a complementary add-on to provide the best possible value to the consumer. Industry players that enter new collaborative partnerships will dramatically improve the consumer experience, leading to new business wins and return custom, which ultimately impacts positively on the bottom line. But those that fail to adapt will be left behind.
I believe that we can look forward to a futuristic economy in 2021, where ground breaking technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate to adapt to rapidly evolving consumer lifestyles and subsequent purchasing habits. The real winner will be the consumer and that is in everyone's best interest.
[1] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8937283/Tube-train-bus-journeys-drop-traffic-levels-commuters-taking-cars-work.html
Top Stories
Leadership and management in a WFH world
By Carolyn Moore, SVP of People at Auth0
Although many of us will have settled into some kind of groove, having worked away from the office for the best part of a year, there are still numerous challenges that businesses and their workforces face in this new reality.
One particularly pertinent challenge is the one faced by people managers, especially those managing virtually for the first time. How can you ensure productivity from those in your charge when you don't have direct oversight? How do you have those more difficult conversations over a video call? Some of your team may be handling remote working better than others, so how differently should you be handling them day-to-day?
For the majority of businesses these will be questions they're still grappling with. When the pandemic hit, we happened to be in the fortunate position of being a remote-first business, where 60% of our nearly 700 employees were already working from home. As a result, the uptick to 100% was far less taxing for us. In seven years of working from home, we've learned a lot about managing teams remotely, a few of which may help leaders who are still navigating the transition.
Keeping communication channels open to build trust
Leading a remote team is wholly different to the usual, in-office set up. Strict hierarchy, and any notion of presenteeism do not translate well into the remote working environment. You have to accept that your employees' domestic life will necessarily overlap with their professional one.
Leading a virtual team requires trust and a philosophy of work based on results, and managers need to learn to give them more freedom to do work on their own terms, as long as they produce the intended results.
Building trust is best managed with regular communication. Frequent written communications from leaders regarding strategy, objectives, and organisational learning is crucial. It's natural when working remotely for team members to isolate themselves and get wrapped up in their own workload. Managers need to help their teams understand how their work impacts on the broader corporate objectives. At Auth0, we adopted and adapted a technique created by Google called 'Objectives and Key Results' (OKRs) to enable this.
Now more than ever, make it a priority to regularly check in with your employees and always be up to date and aware of what their needs are. One of the first initiatives we kicked off in an effort to do so was our Slack 'Coronabot'. This is a tool we integrated with our main form of communication that allows employees to self-identify if their work capacity was impacted by the pandemic. Another way that we tried to better understand the concerns and needs of our employees was holding listening sessions. From these listening sessions, we've rolled out a couple of initiatives to combat burnout, including Slack-free weekends and no internal meeting Fridays.
Make flexibility a priority
As the worlds of home life and work life collide, the traditional '9 to 5' workday needs to evolve. Leaders need to encourage their team to devise their own schedules and complete work at those times when they're most productive.
If in doubt, ask your employees how best you can help and trust that their answers will be honest. In our own experience we saw a need for a different approach when it came to supporting our employees who are caregivers. With childcare much less accessible, caregivers are doing double duty. We rolled out a survey to these individuals to hear directly how best we could support them and used the feedback to plan future programmes and supports.
We have encouraged these employees to take advantage of flexible working hours, should they need to adjust due to the pandemic, and are using tools like Clockwise or Slack that allow our employees to set their working hours and snooze notifications when they're offline. This alleviates the pressure to respond, and we've found employees are actually happier and more productive this way, especially if you have a team spread across several time zones.
Put your culture front and centre
When you work remotely interactions between management and staff become increasingly transactional. Leaders need to avoid making decrees without explaining the reasoning behind them, and the thought process that led to them. Failure to do so can create a secondary culture within the workforce composed of rumours and hearsay, which can lead to mistrust.
Leaders therefore need to firstly be clear in the reasoning for their decisions, but also explicit about the culture they want to create. Your corporate culture must be written down and communicated frequently so employees can use them to guide their everyday work.
This is particularly beneficial for multinational companies spread across geographies and timezones and encompassing multiple cultures. Whether your teams are based in Singapore or San Francisco, they all have a code of conduct to adhere to This is crucial for dealing with conflict in a productive way and creating teams that collaborate and respect each other.
Create virtual spaces to socialise
Leaders mustn't forget the more pastoral benefits of the workspace. Spontaneous water-cooler chats may seem trite, but they're an essential means of colleagues building rapport and learning about one another's lives outside of work.
Socialising should not disappear when you transition to remote work. That would be bad for business, productivity, and employee wellbeing. Instead, I would encourage you to get creative and use different functionalities of the collaboration tools you're probably using daily. We use Donut within our Slack channels, that randomly pairs three employees together and schedules them for a meeting. The intention is to bring employees together that otherwise may never interact and have them connect on topics beyond the workplace, such as life, family, etc. Donut has been a fantastic aid in keeping our distributed workforce feeling connected. We've also utilised the results of both our semi-annual engagement survey and more frequent pulse surveys to give us insight into how effective these engagement programmes have been and where we could tweak them to make them even better.
Don't neglect security
Security should always be a top priority, especially especially as people are logging into more services remotely. Your business' IT and Security teams should have set up multi-factor authentication as the minimum standard. As new apps are connected to better enable any of the measures described above, your IT teams and managers should also be educating their teams about the access third-party providers have to their data.
Managers have a crucial role to play as evangelists of security best practice. They should be monitoring whether their teams are completing their security awareness training and, if new apps or technology are being introduced, ensuring that the appropriate channels are open for them to ask questions. The pandemic has been a lucrative time for cybercriminals, who have taken advantage of some lapses in security best practice. Ensuring security is everyone's business, but it starts from the top.
Building for the future
For many businesses the move to remote working will have been, and is continuing to be, a difficult transition. Admittedly, remote work is not a perfect substitute for personal communication. When circumstances allow, we would recommend managers meet with their teams in-person at least once a year. managers meet with their teams at least once a year.
However, even whilst the pandemic still hampers our ability to travel and meet face to face, it is still possible to have a distributed team that is productive, collaborative, and happy. If leaders take the time and make the effort to foster a culture built on trust, it will open up opportunities for you in the long-term, no matter what that future may be.
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Louisiana W.F.C. Welcomes New Commissioner, Elects Chairman and Vice Chairman
OutdoorHub 01.05.12
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) today welcomed Pat Manuel of Eunice to the appointed panel. Governor Bobby Jindal announced the appointment of Manuel in December, replacing Pat Morrow, whose term had expired.
Manuel will serve as an at large representative on the commission, as required by statute. He owns and operates Manco Vegetation Management.
In other action, the commission elected Ann Taylor as chairmanand Ronny Graham as vice chairman for 2012.
The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission was created to protect, conserve and replenish the natural resources and wildlife of the state, including all aquatic life. The commission promulgates regulations for hunting, fishing and trapping and approves programs and policies for the management and conservation of all fish and wildlife in the state.
According to the statute, the commission is comprised of seven members appointed by the governor, subject to senate confirmation. Members include three residents of the coastal parishes of the state who are representatives of the commercial fishing and fur industries and four members from the state at large.


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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The CW has picked up a full season of its freshman drama "Gossip Girl," a network source confirmed this morning.
The news marks the first 22-episode pick-up of the 2007-08 season.
"Girl's" September 19 launch was the top draw in its time period among women 18-34 (3.1/9), teens (2.8/10) and female teens (5.2/17).
Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein are the executive producers of the series.
An official release will likely go out later today.


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Animal Collective | 13/02/17
Animal Collective announce The Painters EP, a new companion release to last year's album Painting With. The EP will be available digitally this Friday, February 17, almost a year to the date of their 10th studio album's release. Pre-order the CD and 12" exclusively from Animal Collective's store.
The EP contains three new and original tracks recorded during the Painting With era, and also includes a studio recording of "Jimmy Mack" (made famous by Martha & The Vandellas), a cover performed on their recent tours. Watch a lyric video for the opening track "Kinda Bonkers" below.
All pre-orders receive an instant download of "Kinda Bonkers" and a download of the EP this Friday, February 17. The EP features artwork by Brian DeGraw, as pictured below, who supplied the original portraits and artwork for Painting With.
The band return to the US & Canada in May 2017 for headlining live dates including a show at the new venue Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn, NY. This follows on a recent winter tour of Florida and an Animal Collective-curated three day camping festival in Big Sur, CA this past autumn. Find all the dates below.
Animal Collective's The Painters EP pictured above in 12" and CD formats.
The Painters EP tracklisting:
1. Kinda Bonkers
2. Peacemaker
3. Goalkeeper
4. Jimmy Mack
Animal Collective tour dates:
05-17 Charleston, SC - Music Farm *
05-18 Knoxville, TN - The Mill & Mine *
05-20 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theatre *
05-22 Washington DC - 9:30 Club *
05-23 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel *
05-24 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre *
05-26 New Haven, CT - College Street Music Hall *
05-27 Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre *
05-28 Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall *
* with Circuit des Yeux


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Lowell, Vermont
|This article is a stub. Help us to expand it by contributing your knowledge. For county and town page guidelines, visit U.S. County Page Content Suggestions.
Lowell is a town in Orleans county, Vermont. It was formed in 1791 in Vt. from Chittenden county. It has used the following other name(s): Kellyvale. The probate and court district for Lowell is Orleans. For more information, contact the town at 2170 VT Rt 100, Lowell 05847. On the attached map, Lowell is shown as 11 in Orleans county.
For information about the state of Vermont see Vermont Family History Research.


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Product Description 2008 Substance 134 Wakeboard:
Classic all around performance that can't be matched! The Substance wakeboard is one of our oldest shapes but one that continues to perform at top levels every year. It's known for having consistently smooth pop and release off the wake. There is no wakeboard in the market that brings as much value to your ride than the Substance wakeboard. The Substance is the wakeboard that virtually all of our team riders have ridden at one point in their career and now continues to allow riders like Tino Santori to stomp huge, effortless 900's. This is our go-to board giving you the most "bang for your buck".
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observations of an ordinary life
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Thursday, November 1, 2012
What A Hoot
In the early morning hours, I awoke to a strange sound. It was rhythmic in nature and I had a hard time identifying it. After rubbing the sand out of my eyes, I laid in bed and strained my ears to try and figure it out. I could hear the wind blowing through the trees, then this sound. Our dog sleeps in our room and at first I guessed it may have been our dog. But decided that no, it couldn't be it. Then I thought perhaps something fell in front of our cold air return and that was what was making the sound as the furnace was running. But no. That couldn't be it either. So I decided to investigate.
I tiptoed out of our room and checked on our son, thinking that maybe he could be crying. It sounded rather mournful. Like a sob or a sniffle at first. But he was fine, thankfully. Then the further I walked away from my bedroom the softer it got. My dog decided he wanted to be let out for a bathroom break. As soon as I opened the back door, I knew immediately what it was. Of course the dog wanted to let this nocturnal bird know "Whoo" was boss. (Sorry. Couldn't resist. lol!) The owl was perched in the oak tree next to our bedroom window.
We do not get these visitors very often. So it seemed fitting that in the wee hours after Halloween night that we should have an owl pay us a visit. After about 10 more minutes of it's call, it decided to go to a different location. And no, it did not deliver a letter or parcel from Hogwarts. ;-)
So do not be alarmed by things that go bump in the night. Most of the time it is something that is quite unexpected. And with that I leave you with this little ditty:
A wise old owl sat in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
Why aren't we like the wise old bird.
Thanks for looking in!
Posted by Pam at 10:16 PM 2 comments:
Sunday, October 21, 2012
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The new Gateway Model G1000 is a sturdy, easy to use pressure mounted, walk-through safety gate that installs quickly without hardware. The u-shaped frame stays firmly in place while the center walk-through door swings in either direction. Perfect for heavily traveled doorways and room openings.Simple one-hand adult release. It is constructed of strong tubular steel and is 29.5" tall. Basic gate fits openings 29" to 37" wide, will expand to 73" with optional extensions.
Many homes have staircases that arent bordered by a wall. In this case the Y spindle aids installation of the pressure mounted gates to these types of staircases. The Y spindle wraps around the baluster to provide a secure installation.
On the Gateway® (G-11, G-14), use Y spindles only on the hinge side of the gate. No more than 2 per gate can be used.
On the Center Gateway® models (G-15, G-35), the Y spindle can be used on either side of the gate. However, they must be used on the same side. No more than 2 per gate can be used.
NOTE: For installation of a pressure-mounted gate on a staircase with ballusters on both sides, you will need to use a K10 Installation Kit.
12.5" extension for KidCo G1001 Gateway, Black. Extend gate to fit openings from 37" to 73" wide.
12.5" extension for KidCo G4110 Gateway, White. Extend gate to fit openings from 37" to 73" wide.
5.5" extension for KidCo G1001, & G1101 Safety Gates (formerly item G5-5). Use for openings from 37" to 73" wide.
5.5" extension for KidCo G1000, G1100 & G180 Safety Gates (formerly item G5-5). Use for openings from 37" to 73" wide.
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You Know How I Love a Good Soapy Fight
I don't smoke, but after yesterday's Days, I think I need a cigarette. And a martini, to drink while wearing a heavily sequined outfit with shoulder pads and possibly a headpiece of some kind. And if anyone were to irritate me, I would happily toss them into a fountain. Basically, the episode infused me with the spirit of Joan Collins circa-1986. (Which is a very good thing, in case you are INSANE.) What I mean to say is -- and I realize it is frequently difficult to decipher -- this was some soapy goodness! Vintage, 80s-style stuff.
Note: The over-dramatic, sound-effects-enhanced slaps start at 5:42. There are two, they are glorious, and you are welcome.
I will post more soon, but my reactions to this confrontation are, in no particular order:
2) Does this mean we may finally have a Nicole-free episode? I am a bit worn out.
3) Putting a mid-30s woman (particularly one with glorious hair) in a silver, bow-tied headband is not okay under any circumstances that don't involve a Halloween costume. And even then I would need to be convinced of the necessity.
4) I have really grown to adore Allison Sweeney, in a non-creepy, realize-I-don't-actually-know-her, non-"If I met her I would just hyperventilate and call her by her character's name" kind of way.
5) Arianne Zucker kicks ass at playing cluelessly crazy. (And at carrying impossibly large, tacky, metallic handbags, but that's not from yesterday so it's off-topic.)
6) The next time I steal a baby, my defense is TOTALLY going to be the amazing one-two punch of 1) "But you had so many already I didn't think you'd miss this one!" and 2) "Plus you've gotten pregnant by accident so many times I just figured you could do it again on purpose if you wanted a replacement!" I mean, that's just beautiful.


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Hi! I'm here waving at you this week because we're hoping to boost our Supporter count. When we removed most of the ads from NG in January, our goal was to hit 4,000 active Supporters in 2020. We're making steady progress but are coming up about 300 people short! If you have $3 per month or $25 per year to spare, please consider becoming a Supporter today!
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Do you think so too that she has a similar build to Crash in this?
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If you looking for Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout book in pdf for free, this site is actually for you Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout free download book. Free Download as pdf and audio. Book - Free Download Books or you can buy it from amazon by hardcopy or by audiobook. Free for Everyone.
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Date Night: Nasha Rasha
Spots for every kind of date.
About halfway into our dinner at Nasha Rasha, a hostess wandered over to our table. She chatted briefly about the food, then offered to help us pose with Soviet-era memorabilia, including caps, guns, and jackets--a gesture that shows this restaurant's friendliness. Cartoonish portraits of Kennedy, Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Ho Chin Min, Mao, and other not-so-funny figures decorate the walls beneath rows and rows of vodka. A flatscreen TV was tuned to the raging fire channel, comforting, albeit awfully cold. But the most noteworthy design elements were the giant neon star and hammer-and-sickle. Almost fifteen years after the Cold War ended, Russia has become fodder for a theme restaurant, and a fine one at that.
Like the restaurant itself, the horseradish pickles ($5) were red. Very red. Our server, dressed in a milkmaid's outfit, complete with lacy apron and kicky scarf, had cautioned us about the pickles' spice. But their brine barely puckered our lips, and definitely didn't prick our mouths. In fact, an overarching mildness ran throughout our meal.
Kutabi with greens ($12), our second appetizer, featured spinach tucked into thin buttery bread, crepe-like in consistency. It's served with tkemali sauce, a slightly tart condiment made from plums that originates in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. (When we cooed about it, the hostess brought out two containers for us to take home.) Each wedge of was simultaneously light and greasy, excellent bar food.
The Russian sushi ($21) only looked like insects. Slivers of lox dotted with cream cheese and smidgens of cucumber were rolled in a crepe, sliced, and covered with two types of caviar. "Tentacles" of uncooked spaghetti, red, naturally, rose up. Gimmicky, sure, but good too, the cool, cured fish gently buttressed by the soft crepe and heightened by the roe's pop. Here too we found the pleasurable saltiness for which Russian food is known.
We ordered the chicken Kiev ($24) because it seemed like the right thing to do. Nasha Rasha, after all, means "Our Russia," and although Kiev isn't in Russia anymore, the dish is inextricably linked to the Great Bear. A hefty chunk of garlic butter kept the chicken uber-moist inside its crinkly, pan-fried wrapping, the way massive puffy coats keep skinny things comfortable on wintry days. The buckwheat side, the texture of boiled burrs, lacked all flavor. Oh, but the chicken!
Depending on your age, you might remember a time when Russians were Ivan Drago and Colonel Strelnikov. There are no villains at Nasha Rasha, with the exception of that buckwheat and perhaps the prices, which suit the Flatiron location. It's best for: a date with comaraderie.
Nasha Rasha
4 West 19th Street, New York NY 10011 (map)
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House collapses in Lakeview; Several injured
Several people were injured after a house being raised partially collapsed in Lakeview.
View images from the scene | Watch video
The incident happened in the 100 block of Mound Avenue about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
According to EMS crews at the scene, five people were taken to the hospital for what appeared to be minor injuries.
According to the crews working on the home, the house was already elevated and workers in the process of removing the supports when the home stirred and jumped to the side -- about 15 to 20 feet.
The subcontractor working on the home, Charles Brimmer, said he has elevated 65 homes and this was the first time a situation like this has happened. The contractor of the property was AVN Construction, which specializes in home elevation.
Craig Taffaro with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which helped fund the home's elevation, said that the general contractor, AVN Construction, is responsible for correcting the damage, including replacing the structure if necessary, and has in fact confirmed that he will be demolishing the collapsed structure and rebuilding it starting next week.
"AVN and Brimmer Enterprises are properly insured on this project," Taffaro said in a statement. "Representatives from the program were on site within the hour of the incident to document the situation and to provide assurance to the homeowner that the program will facilitate an expedient resolution to have the contractor correct the damage."
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Teenagers with autism often become targets for bullying, and don't have the skills to cope
Socially challenged teens and young adults, such as those with autism, often have trouble making and keeping friends and can become easy targets for bullying, a situation that challenges their coping skills.
Now, a new book written by a UCLA researcher can guide parents in helping their children become more adept at establishing meaningful connections with their peers. An accompanying DVD and mobile application called FriendMaker is designed to provide real-time advice and video demonstrations of appropriate behavior for the teens and young adults when they find themselves in a challenging social situation.
The book, The Science of Making Friends, and the app are based on research done in the UCLA Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) Clinic, the only evidence-based social skills intervention available for teens and young adults with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression and other social impairments.
The strategies in the book, while geared to the socially challenged, could also apply to any teen who is trying to fit in or is being bullied, said author Dr Elizabeth Laugeson, director of the PEERS Clinic and an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.
"Kids with special needs are already at a disadvantage. They have trouble reading social cues and interpreting the thoughts and feelings of others," Laugeson said. "Because of this, they are more likely to be teased and bullied, and they don't always know how to respond appropriately. Kids with autism in particular often exhibit odd behavior, which sets them up to be teased and bullied. They also tend to be isolated and alone, making them even easier targets."
The book is the only research-based approach for helping socially challenged teens and young adults and provides a step-by-step guide to help parents, educators and others to provide social coaching. It includes concrete rules and specific steps of social etiquette identified through research that improve conversational skills, expand social opportunities, identify strategies for handling peer rejection and develop and enhance friendships.
Lessons are presented using teaching narratives, followed by the key rules and steps of social behavior. A DVD companion includes video demonstrations of the book's lessons using role playing. The mobile app, for use on iPhones and iPads, provides an overview of the rules and steps with embedded video demonstrations, something the user could access as a social situation is unfolding.
"We know we can help the kids that go through the PEERS program, but this book was written for families that can't access PEERS," Laugeson said. "Parents are with their kids the majority of the time and are in a unique position to be social coaches for their children. Parents give advice constantly, but it's not always the best advice. With this book, they're not just teaching what they think their children should do, but what we know actually works through research."
One such scenario is helping kids deal with teasing and bullying. Parents might advise their children to walk away, ignore their tormentor or tell an adult. However, those behaviors can make them appear weak and an easier target. Laugeson said research has shown that when teased, it's more effective to respond with a comeback that shows what the bully said didn't bother or embarrass them.
The Science of Making Friends includes narrative sections for parents and shorter, kid-friendly chapter summaries for teens and young adults that outline the rules and social steps they should abide by, followed by chapter exercises and homework. Completing these exercises is critical, Laugeson said, because these are skills that must be practiced.
"Many people think of social skills as an art, skills that you are born with, that come hardwired," Laugeson said. "We think of social skills as a science, and we call this book, The Science of Making Friends because we believe social skills are something you can study and something you can teach."