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Technical conference: 19 - 23 March
Exhibition: 21 - 23 March
The best way to keep current with trends in optical communications and networking is to attend the Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) conference and exposition.
Paper submissions: 11 October 2016
Advance registration: 20 February 2017
Diamond USA
Diamond USA (booth 2710) will highlight its exclusive Power Solution (PS) connectors, which are designed for applications carrying up to 3W optical power over singlemode fibre. Diamond can terminate a wide variety of cable and fibre types using industry standard connectors like E-2000, F-3000, or SC, FC, ST, and MPO. The company also offers its range of PS connectors with different expanded beam technologies to suit the final application.
Also on display from Diamond will be its multi-fibre interconnect assemblies. The DiaFlex contains a Diamond multi-fibre connector for 12 fibres (24 upon request). A special feature of the new DiaFlex fan-out connection is that the fibre whips can be removed and replaced via a connector system in the divider. This provides greater flexibility in the installation of fibre-optic networks.
MACOM Technology Solutions
Discover how MACOM (booth 1736) is increasing bandwidth density in optical networks. Leveraging deep domain experience in optical networking along with a combination of semiconductor technologies, MACOM creates innovative and smart products supporting cloud data centre, client access, metro and long-haul applications. The company's complete portfolio includes high-performance modulator drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, clock/data recovery circuits, crosspoints, photodiodes, Fabry Perot and distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, silicon photonics, and optical subassemblies (ROSAs and TOSAs) for enterprise and telecom optical systems operating at speeds of 100G, 400G and beyond. The portfolio addresses the high-performance analogue interfaces between electrical and optical domains, and provides solutions to meet the demanding size, power and signal integrity requirements of today's high-speed networks, which are expanding to meet the continuously growing demand for data capacity.
Product demonstrations at OFC this year include:
- OSA for 100G CWDM4
- PAM-4 L-PIC Transmitter
- 100G PAM-4 53GBaud PHY with driver and TIA
- 64 GBaud quad linear modulator driver
- SFP28 long-reach chipset
Demonstrations will be on display by appointment only in MACOM's booth.
Senko (booths 2584, 2811) will show its new range of Micro LC connectors. The simple bayonet mechanism on the Micro LC connector eliminates the need for finger access to the latch mechanism, allowing connectors to be mounted much closer together than before. Attendees will have the opportunity to see how Senko's unique design of Micro LC connector is ideal for behind-the-wall applications, plug-and-play modules, and on-board optics, where space saving is important. Using a conventional LC ferrule with spring-loaded design, the Micro LC connector also mates with standard LC connectors.
Coriant (booth 1715) will discuss how now, more than ever, innovation at the transport layer is critical to transformation as the ongoing explosion of video and the growing dominance of hyperscale cloud traffic intensify the opex and capex challenges faced by network operators around the world. Coriant is excited to be taking part in OFC 2017, where it will showcase the latest innovations in its portfolio and how they are redefining open, multi-layer transport from the network edge to the optical core. Highlights include the new Coriant Groove Open Line System (OLS). This latest product complements the company's portfolio of packet-optical networking and data centre interconnect (DCI) platforms, enabling network operators to cost-efficiently scale network capacity, reduce operational complexity, and create the resilient foundation for a new generation of mobile, video, and cloud services.
Apex Technologies
APEX Technologies (booth 3146), a manufacturer of ultra-high resolution optical spectrum analysers (OSA), will display updated versions of its star products: including a compact high-resolution OSA, top-performance ultra-high resolution OSA and optical complex spectrum analyser (OCSA). By using robust and smart internal and external mechanics, the new analysers are extremely reliable, the company claims. Furthermore, with faster new electronic and new optical designs, the OSAs can provide not only high resolution, but also fast sweep, to satisfy customers' requirements in C-, L- and O-band applications. The detailed spectrum and temporal information offered by APEX Technologies' products opens the door to characterisation of a wide variety of photonic devices, like lasers, combs, advanced modulation formats, sensors and other components.
Bristol Instruments
The 438 Series Multi-Wavelength Meter from Bristol Instruments (booth 3412) combines Michelson interferometer-based technology with fast Fourier transform analysis in order to measure the wavelength, power, and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of as many as 1000 discrete optical signals. With features such as high accuracy and a measurement rate of 10Hz, the model 438 provides the most precise, reliable, and efficient wavelength testing to satisfy the needs of any manufacturing engineer, the company claims. It is the fastest system available for WDM testing applications, enabling reduced testing times and greater production efficiency. The model 438 operates from 1000nm to 1680nm, to cover current testing requirements over the C and L optical bands, and address future testing requirements over the T and O optical bands. The 438 system measures wavelength to an accuracy as high as ±0.3pm, power to ±0.5dB, and OSNR to better than 40dB.
Albis Optoelectronics
Albis Optoelectronics (booth 3506) will present its extended portfolio of mounted photodiodes. In close cooperation with customers, Albis has developed complex assembly solutions that meet stringent requirements with regards to alignment precision, bandwidth and layout complexity. The Albis avalanche and pin photodiode portfolio can now be supplied as flip-chip bonded or wire-bonded devices on customised 2D or 3D (wrap-around) carriers. For example, PS20X4 consists of an array of four, flip-chip soldered 28Gb/s lensed photodiodes that can be used as the core building block inside a 100G receiver optical sub-assembly (ROSA) module. To support the surge in demand for its high-end products the company will be doubling its work force and production infrastructure during 2017.
ADVA Optical Networking
ADVA Optical Networking (booth 1709) will showcase its FSP Network Hypervisor – a key component in the drive to virtualise optical networks. The software has been specifically developed to help service providers automate service discovery and service activation, especially when paired with the ADVA FSP 3000 DCI platform. It creates an abstracted view of the underlying physical infrastructure, helping to decouple the complexities of managing photonic transmission systems while enabling greater network automation and optimisation. It has been engineered to work with all open source and commercial SDN controllers.
Microlap Technologies
Microlap Technologies (booth 3124) is a custom manufacturer of high-precision components made from synthetic ruby and sapphire, ceramics, silicon nitride, carbide and other hard materials. Microlap offers the full line of industry standard size ferrules and sleeves for fibre-optic connectors, but we can also offer any custom inner diameter sizes ranging from 80µm to more than 1mm in size. Additionally, the company can provide custom features such as grooves, notches, vent holes, counterbores and nearly any custom size inner or outer diameter, or length.
KrellTech (booth 3441) will display its new NOVA optical polishing system. Building on the performance and features of its range of existing polishers, NOVA is a highly configurable and cost-effective system that supports a variety of polishing applications, from connectors to waveguides, and bare fibres to custom components. NOVA is scalable from R&D projects to mass production, and withstands the rigours of high-reliability field installation.
Wireless tablet control provides the programming freedom required for research, as well as simplified step-by-step operation for manufacturing technicians. Workholder fixtures are easily interchangeable for each task, and optional videoscopes are available for real-time process monitoring and in-line surface inspection. Whether developing new optical devices, improving component performance or manufacturing Telcordia compliant cable assemblies, NOVA is the ideal polishing system, the company claims.
Just as Oclaro (booth 2747) drove the emergence of 100G networks, it is now also delivering a new generation of components and modules that will enable 400G networks and beyond. During OFC 2017, Oclaro will be showcasing a powerful line-up of 100G, 200G, and 400G products that exploit the company's indium phosphide technology and photonic integration expertise. These products deliver the increased faceplate density, higher bandwidth, lower power consumption and longer reach that telecom service providers and data centre operators need to transition to higher speed networks capable of meeting the industry's insatiable demand for more speed and bandwidth.
Nokia (booth 2525) will discuss innovations under the theme 'Powering Cloud Connectivity' at OFC 2017. Featuring luminaries from Nokia Bell Labs and the optical industry, Nokia will once again host the popular Shannon Theater, located in the Nokia booth. Running for the duration of the exhibition, the Shannon Theater will feature visionary topics such as capacity crunch and software-defined networking (SDN) in FlexGrid networks, along with customer appearances and case studies. Nokia and Bell Labs speakers will also be prominently featured in the OFC technical conference, including conference co-chair and Bell Labs' optical director, Dr Peter Winzer.
Nokia will demonstrate new products in its booth including its recently announced 'Anyhaul' mobile transport portfolio enabling the move to 5G, including the new 1830 PSS integrated packet transport capabilities, along with data centre interconnection (DCI) applications with the 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect – 2T (PSI-2T).
Fiber Optic Center
Experts from Fiber Optic Center (booth 3309) will be performing demonstrations at OFC 2017 at the 'FOC Cleaving Station', with three key pieces of equipment: Phenix Fibersect mechanical connector cleaver, Cometx laser cleaving system, and OptiSaber MT laser cleaver. Appointments can be made via Kathleen Skelton, and walk-ups are welcomed to see both demos and booth presentations on 'Termination Process, Connectors and Cleaving'. Processes to be presented will include end face quality reworks, core cracks, chip out elimination, increasing production yield on multi-fibre (MTP/MPO) applications, portability on the production floor, minimising polishing, eliminating manual cleaving and denubbing steps.
Prysmian Group
At this year's OFC exhibition energy and telecom cable specialist Prysmian Group (booth 2647) will be showcasing its WideCap-OM5 multimode fibre for high-speed data communications and BendBrightXS 200µm optical fibre for high-density optical cables.
In addition, during the technical conference, Prysmian researchers will discuss how next-generation multimode fibres can be optimised to support WDM operations in data communications and space-division multiplexing operations in telecommunications to allow migration to higher bit rates and achieve higher capacity.
Huber+Suhner Polatis
Huber+Suhner company Polatis (booth 2239) is a supplier of high-performance dynamic all-optical circuit switches for software-defined network provisioning, protection, monitoring, reconfiguration and test. Its reliable, field-proven DirectLight optical switch technology powers more than 2000 systems in-service worldwide and forms the industry's broadest range of transparent, bidirectional, dark fibre optical circuit switches from 4x4 to 384x384 ports.
At OFC 2017, Huber+Suhner will be releasing the new Polatis Series 6000 Ultra range of fully non-blocking all-optical switches, offering ultra-low optical loss of less than 1.0dB (0.5dB typical) from 4x4 to 32x32 ports in a compact 1RU size. Also highlighted will be integrated solutions that combine Polatis' optical switch modules with Huber+Suhner's fibre management systems, offering a new level of dynamic fibre connectivity for the data centre and remote office.
In addition, the booth will feature optically-switched RF over fibre connectivity for remote antennas, together with all-optical switching for C-RAN monitoring, enabling centralised test equipment that can be scaled to manage thousands of fibre links.
At OFC 2017, Infinera (booth 3259) will demonstrate its latest packet-optical products for long-haul, metro and cloud networks, including those based on the company's Infinite Capacity Engine, the first multi-terabit optoelectronic subsystem, delivering the next step function in transport networking performance.
In addition, Infinera has an array of confirmed speakers at the event, including Parthi Kandappan, Infinera SVP, system architecture, who will present on OSA's Executive Forum Program 'Panel 2: Trade-offs in Data Center Interconnect (DCI)' at 11:15am on March 20, 2017. In addition, Fred Kish, Infinera SVP, optical integrated components group, will speak on MarketWatch 'Panel V: Photonic Integration Business Case – Reality Check' at 10:30am on Thursday, March 23, 2017.
Fischer Connectors
Fischer Connectors (booth 3807) will highlight its rugged fibre-optic interconnects, a pre-cabled product designed for maximum link performance. The FiberOptic Series connectors are easy use, clean and maintain even in harsh environments, making them ideal for many demanding applications like energy, sensing, medical devices, defence and security, broadcast, telecom and transportation.
Fischer's FiberOptic Series features high-end butt joint technology, and comes in singlemode and multimode variants with UPC or APC polishing. Rated to IP68 (mated) and IP67 (unmated), they offer unmatched protection against water, with a removable mono-block mate adapter. Body styles include a full fibre-optic version with one, two or four optical channels, and hybrid option with two fibre channels and two electrical contacts.
NeoPhotonics (booth 3017) will be showing a selection of products that have recently begun sampling to customers. First up are its 400G CFP8 transceiver modules, designed for data centre interconnect and client-side telecom applications over distances of up to 10km. As part of this development, NeoPhotonics recently announced an electroabsorption modulated laser (EML) with the driver integrated with the EML at the chip-on-carrier level. The low-power-consumption 28Gbaud EML with integrated driver is suitable for client side 4x25 NRZ 100G and 4x50 PAM4 200G applications, as well as 8x50 PAM4 400G.
NeoPhotonics will also be showing a coherent CFP-DCO module as part of its ClearLight coherent module product line. The ClearLight DCO Platform uses the latest advances in 16nm digital signal processors, and is suitable for single-wavelength 100G and 200G transmission over data centre interconnect and long-haul distances.
OFS (booth 2925) will showcase its award-winning TeraWave ultra low loss (ULL) singlemode optical fibre during OFC 2017. Designed for terrestrial long-haul systems, OFS says this fibre combines the best aspects of highly-engineered submarine fibres with cabling performance that is similar to conventional singlemode terrestrial fibre. Specifically, TeraWave ULL fibre is optimised for long haul transmission in the C- and L-bands (1530–1625nm) at 100Gb/s, 400Gb/s and beyond. This fibre's core features an effective area that is 50 per cent greater than G.652.D singlemode fibre to help reduce nonlinear effects. As a result, TeraWave ULL fibre allows designers to increase distances between amplification and regeneration sites, helping to lower the overall cost of deploying coherent systems – for today and in the future.


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You finally have a reason to care about the Acura ILX: at least one of them has survived the crucible of 200,000 miles of usage, and we have painfully detailed notes on its maintenance to see what it actually took to keep this little car running for so long over such a short period of time.
Despite being the last Acura to be sold with a traditional three-pedal manual transmission, the ILX has already fallen into obscurity for pretty much everyone except hardcore Honda/Acuraphiles like myself and Tyson Hugie, who we've written about before.
Hugie is so Acura-obsessed that he turned his garage into a reproduction of a 1990s Acura dealership and has a fleet of Acuras including an Integra, NSX, mutiple Legends, a TL Type-S and this 2013 ILX which Acura actually gave him for free so he could blog about it.
And as it turns out, the same type of nerd who gets excited about modern Acuras has a deep and disgusting love of spreadsheets. Here's the complete breakdown of what Hugie's ILX took in maintenance and repairs over five years and 200,000 miles:
Hugie's 2.4-liter six-speed manual Acura ILX is apparently still running its original engine, transmission and clutch but has gone through four sets of tires, 27 oil changes, six air filters, two sets of rear brake pads and two transmission fluid changes.
But according to Hugie, the only work done to the car outside regularly scheduled maintenance was a starter replacement at 193,000 miles, which was replaced by Acura of Tempe for $755.27. Sounds like a steep bill for such a job, but I guess if you get a free new car you might not be as concerned with bargain shopping on repairs.
In his video, Hugie explains that he doesn't have a long commute or a job that involves a lot of driving. "Truth of the matter is, I just drive a lot on weekends," he says.
Indeed, 40,000 miles of driving a year puts him way, way beyond the U.S. car owner's national annual average, which is 13,476 miles according to the US DOT.
It doesn't sound like Hugie will be shooting for the 500,000 mile mark in the ILX like he hit his Legend, but I always like to see cars crest into the 200,000-mile club. If you want to join us there, just do your oil changes and filters on time.
Correction: I mistakenly wrote that Hugie put 500,000 miles on a TSX, when in fact that was another (unrelated) Acura-obsessed blogger I've covered in the past. Hugie had a Legend he put 500,000 miles on.

subset: commoncrawl


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This weekend is guaranteed to include a historic first meeting. On Sunday in Singapore, for the first time since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the president of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and Ma Ying-jeou, the president of the Republic of China, aka Taiwan, will meet face-to-face. The summit is viewed by some as a positive step toward unification between the two nations. However, not everyone is supportive of this idea.
Over the last eight years, China has attempted to use its economic power to create a more favorable view of its government in Taiwan. This has met with limited success, despite discounted flights between China and Taiwan, an undersea pipeline, and the lifting of a ban that prevented Chinese tourists from traveling to the island. That final incentive has resulted in increased tourism revenue in Taiwan, as now over four million Chinese visitors travel to the island each year. Nevertheless, the current ruling party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has been losing favor with Taiwanese citizens. In an upcoming election, it appears that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will win the presidency in 2016. If such an election result occurs, it will be the first time since 1949 that the KMT isn't in charge of the sovereign island state.
In many ways, critics of the KMT view the summit between President Jinping and President Ying-jeou, who will drop their official titles and only refer to one another as 'Mister' during the friendly meeting, as the last desperate action of a party that has lost touch with the majority of Taiwanese inhabitants. Into this tense atmosphere, the Taiwan-based Next Media Animation TV Company has produced a video short to highlight the relationship between the two nations over the last eight years.
Particularly enjoyable parts of the film include Chinese tourists, shopping bags in hand, pooping all over the streets of Taiwan and the two presidents engaging in a war of the word "Mr." while a panda throws punches at both leaders. Then there's that same panda, or maybe one of its siblings (pandas all look alike to me), standing next to Mao Zedong as both fire AK-47s at a fleeing Chiang Kai-shek. Near the end of the video, Taiwanese children giving the middle finger to President Jinping and his beloved panda before escalating the hostility. We don't give out spoilers here, so you'll have to watch to learn the epic conclusion. Honestly, there are a lot worse ways you can spend two minutes of your time online than watching this video. It checks all the boxes for why you're here: Weird. Asia. News.
(source) (image source) (image source) (image source)


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Who hasn't laid in the grass, dreaming of the stars?
Who hasn't yearned to view the earth from space?
Astronaut Donald R. Pettit has lived in space. Pettit has walked in space. During his 370 days working and living aboard the International Space Station, he has created an utterly fascinating and unique portfolio of the most awe inspiring, dreamy photographs of earth, the stars, the auroras, and everything in-between.
"Woven into the fabric of space is art and we will only sense its form by venturing there. I believe that astronauts, like explorers of the past, have an obligation to share their experiences with everyone on earth." --- Donald R. Pettit


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My life right now is mostly about playing with my kids.
Here is Rebekah in a tent that has a train going through it.
Check out the May Challenge over at Paper Coterie.
They have the cutest tag books. I made one for my son.
(I would post it but it has his friend in it too, and I don't have his mom's permission.)
They are also offering $15 off your purchase with this code:


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The past weeks, I have been toying with different f-hole designs and by collaborating with my wife, I arrived at something eventually. I wanted a play on my logo (which is featured all over this site, with the '.' and '*'. I started with flowing designs that started with a dot and moved via a wave to the star. But this didn't really balance out and by shifting the order, the relative sizes worked out better. The decreasing size holes was originally also following a wave shape, like the stem of a flower (credit the wife). Then, to make it more "masculine" I put them on a straight line. I had a helper line going through them when I was drawing and as it turned out, it looked better with the helper line than without it… So, here it is:
I also routed recesses for the bridges today.
They go from 1 mm in the middle, to 1.5 and 2 mm deep. This will allow me to have a similar height of the saddles although the actual string heights from the surface differs. Additionally, having the base plates recessed gives an exclusive look.


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Ivan Boothe has put together a very nicely done slideshow (with voiceover) on using social networks for social change. In this very young field, Ivan is a veteran. He co-founded the Genocide Intervention Network, which has used social networks very successfully to engage members. He is currently the Creative Director of Rootwork, as well as a co-organizer (with yours truly) of Philly NetSquared. If you've considered (or even tried) to use social networks to advance social change causes, this presentation will provide some very helpful insights and tips.
Using Social Networks for Social Change: Facebook, MySpace and More
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: fundraising advocacy)


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It is important to understand the concept of a person's overall conformation described by Jitsu Sho, Kyo Sho, or Chuyo, taking on board Dr. Tei's* ideas on the merits and demerits of various dieting methods. A person's conformation or Sho is also an important part of the essence of Kampo medicine.
First of all, Jitsu Sho means strong, full or excess; Kyo Sho means weak, empty or deficient; and Chuyo is in between the two. The state of Chuyo is considered ideal in Kampo medicine, a balanced state.
The characteristics of Jitsu Sho?
If you are typical Jitsu sho, you have good physical strength, are highly motivated to take action, and are able to put a strong fight against illness. You can work through the night without too much impact on you and also be very active on your days off. For example, if you catch a cold, you may develop a high fever, but recover from it quickly. However, you may not notice any signs and symptoms of illness or disease developing in you, and then end up with the disease far advanced by the time you see a doctor. You both work and play hard, which could lead to a 'short' life.
If you are Jitsu sho, you can drink and eat more than others, maybe enjoying a full course French meal including both fish and meat all in one go.
The characteristics of Kyo Sho?
If you are Kyo Sho, you are generally less strong physically and have a less energetic attitude towards action, and tend to tire easily. If you start having a runny nose, you often run to a doctor without a delay. There probably is no way you work through the night without the need of a total rest on the following day. You tend to catch infectious diseases, such as colds and flus more often. However, because you look after yourself well and avoid taxing your body, you could live a 'longer' life.
If you are Kyo Sho, you prefer to drink just a little, and usually at home. Also, you would find a four course meal too much to enjoy and prefer if possible to eat fish on one day and meat on the next.
Classifying these conformations is rather intuitive, and never fixed and definite. The overall conformations can move and change depending on your physical conditions on a particular day or even the time of the day. You have a tendency to belong to one or the other, and staying in the middle all the time is less likely.
Here is a quick test to self-diagnose your own conformation. (click here)
Here is an interesting insight: while you are overall Jitsu Sho, your intestines can be found to be Kyo Sho. It means that you look strong, work hard, eat a lot and so on. However at the same time, your intestines are weak with no muscular strength. This is a big problem in today's world. Jitsu Sho or Kyo Sho of the intestines do not match up with your overall conformation. Kyo Sho of the intestines could have an association with overweight & poor health.
Here is another quick test to self-diagnose your intestinal conformation. (click here)
So are you Jitsu Sho, Kyo Sho or Chuyo? ….and how about your intestines?
Reference: Dr. Munetetsu Tei: "Train Your Intestines To Lose Weight And Become Healthy!" (in Japanese). Shufunotomo, 2011.
* About Dr. Munetetsu Tei:
Dr. Munetetsu Tei M.D. is the University President and Professor at Nihon Pharmaceutical University, and the owner and head doctor of Hyakusai Clinic in Tokyo. He specialises in treating patients living with cancer and other complex diseases using a combination of modern medicine and Kampo medicine.
posted by: Atsuko Fritz


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Pictures Of Past Fur-Babies From Happily Satisfied Clients *
Click on Thumbnail to Enlarge Pictures * Updated 01/28/17
Good evening! I just wanted to touch base with you guys, we had purchased a pom from you back in Feb of 2016. He turned 1 year on 12/23/16. I'm sending you guys a few pictures of him, he's a beautiful dog. He's got an incredible personality, and every day he shares that there's never a dull moment in his life! I'll explain the photos one by one! Please let me know when you guys have new puppies available, we are strongly considering getting Duke a brother/sister companion, as well as a second bundle of love to spoil. -Matt & Joe
Thank you, Matthew Pitre for sharing these precious pictures. Duke was purchased February 2016.
June 2016: David, Suzanne Little and their fur-family Ella-Lan, Copper - Orange Pom, Koda - Parti
Tommen (aka Michael) owned by Kerri Dooley is enjoying his new fur-ever family. Tommen's parents are Missy & Prince. Isn't he a cutie?! <3 4/11/2016
Gary & Janie, Thank you so much. We are so happy to welcome Michael into our home. He is a such a ray of sunshine to our lives. His personality is adorable & he is so smart already. His first toy is a squeaky toy dragon and we changed his named to Tommen. He seems to like it ok. LOL. He loves to walk around the neighborhood & lay in the grass mostly. He goes everywhere with us and always gives us lots of kisses. He learned to walk up stairs today. It's a work in progress. Again thank you so much. I just wanted to give you an update on how he's doing. Kerri & Nathan
Snowie is doing well! Rachel Taylor loves her new pup sired by Snow Flake & Prince. 12/27/15
Leo sporting his bowtie like a big boy!
Feb 2016
Lindsay Christine wanted to share some precious updated pictures of her fur-ever fur-baby LEO. Isn't he a handsome boy!
Thank you for sharing! We love seeing updated pics of our fur-babies with their fur-ever families!
December 2015
Tatum and I would like to say Happy Birthday to Zek and hello to the rest of the family. I'm so blessed and thankful for coming upon your site last year when I was on the search for a fur-baby. My Pomeranian, Tatum, is my world! I love him with all of my heart, and I will always recommend your business to anyone that wants to loving pom in their life. Take Care!! Kristina Kayla
(Tatum was sired by Zek and Snowflake)
10/18/2015 - GeeGee Meeks: Bo is growing up so fast. Just wanted to let ;you all know how things were going. She gets so much attention when we are out. LOL. She steals the show! I love her! Thank you so much!
Thanks for letting me adopt one of your pom babies. I appreciate it. I adore my little baby. Here are some pictures of her. She's such a character. LOL. and looks exactly like her dad/you baby Oscar (R.I.P.)
We love our "Little Bear"
Jerilyn MacFadden Price 9/30/2015
Bella Boo flashing her pearly whites. Look at that sweet face and those eyes! OMGoodness~ By Kellie Delbridge 1/14/2016
Bella Boo
(Boo after Mama Felicia Boo) Her dad's name was Oscar Buddy.
I call her Bella.
Kellie Delbridge
Baby ZuZu being spoiled rotten by her Fur-Ever Family with Rhonda Hazen 8-16-2015
Princess Lulu and Princess Bella are loved and adorned by their fur-ever family Te'a and James Metro. June 2015
Thank you to Janie Barnett Burnette and Gary for our sweet Pom "LUCY". She has stolen our hearts!!!!
Robert & Meagan Cascone
April 17, 2015
These are a few pictures I took today. Just wanted to let you know we are so happy with our baby. She just got her last booster shots last week and she is up to a whopping 5.9 pounds. Lee & Paula Kidd 4/16/2015
We love Jazzy. She goes everywhere with me. I thought you would like her stroller. She is in her Georgia Bulldogs dress. I could not keep her bow in her hair. PS my mom taught at the University of Georgia so it is a great way to remember my mom as well!
Thanks so much. She is soooooo LOVED!
Heidi April 8, 2015
Congratulations to Heidi Hakala and her new fur-baby Jazzy (aka Little Girl) 3/2015
Wendy Jiang and Gatsby enjoying the day. Gatsby is all tuckered out from dragging shoes, stealing socks, and being an adorable bundle of fluffiness. 3/2015
Brycee Clair enjoying her Texas toothpick. May 2015
Here's Izzy (with my daughters) at FSU parents weekend about a month ago! Izzy likes wearing her jersey :-)
Teresa Basch 11/12/14
4/15/16: Jasmine.. Parents: Jane Eyre & Lone Star Bandit.
Milady Jasmine sitting pretty.She did great at vet and vaccines didn't even cry. She is getting to love us almost as much as we love her.
Kathy Weter with Milady Jasmine 9-14
Jasmine in the yard by Kathy Weter
Milady Jasmine has a perfect heart on her back side. A true sweetheart
Owner Connie Baker sharing some precious moments with Sadie & Sadie's big sisters! :-) 2014
Captain at 13 weeks old.
August 2014
Mia Akin - owner Beverly Slayton Akin 2014
Robert Huff has 2 orange Pomeranians sporting a close buzz cut for the summer. June 2014
Sophie 2015
I Love Lucy...Look at these little BFFs - Sophie (Pom) and Lucy. We sure do love this little girl - Bailey & Angie Gerstein 2014
Isabella Bennett owned by Donna Bennett/ June 2014
This is Isabella ... Love,Love,Love her !!! Thank you Janie and Gary for loving your poms the way you do so other people can experience such sweet joy in their life. Donna Bennett
August 23, 2014
Isabella is beautiful! I got my Bella last year from Janie and Gary. They truly take care of and love their babies! Deborah Kitchin August 23, 2014
I bought my pom baby from you about 4.5 years ago! He is one cute pom! Just won a cutest pup contest.
I am thinking about getting another sometime this year. Glad I found you on here (facebook).
Jennifer Courter
Just wanted to give you a "pupdate" as our little girl gets close to her first birthday. We just LOVE her and she has been such a good little baby.
We have CKC registered her and her spaying was done. We did have a first heat with her at 6 months old, and then waited a few months after to have her surgery. She did just fine.
She is now 9.5 lbs (since she was 8 months old)!!! I think this will be her full size, and while that is a bit bigger than we all expected - she is happy, healthy and just beautiful, as you can see from the pictures below. (She loves her own little sofa and watches some tv with us in the late evening)
She enjoys trips in the car to see friends and family. She loves to meet new people and other puppies - very social. She loved the snow, for which we are thankful, as the Northeast had a lot to deal with this winter. Now that the summer is setting in, we hope that she can find her "sea-legs" and enjoy some time on the boat at the lake. I purchased a product called the K9Coolie, which is a "chilled" bed, that we will put in the boat's cabin to keep her cool and out of the sun. I hope it works well, but we shall see.
She continues to be a joy in the neighborhood and everyone has to stop and pet her because she is so adorable. They can't resist. Needless to say, neither can she.
We watch your website often and see all the new pretty babies. It warms our hearts.
Thank you again for our treasure. Blessings to you all,
Frank and Dana Martino
May 15, 2014
Bella Mae's extensive wardrobe closet! Ya gotta love it! 4/1/2014
Tucker Majkowski Feb 2014
Reba taking a little drive on a beautiful Spring 2014 day.
Liz Pate & Marlee
Bella - Winter 2014 (February Snow)
Bella Kitchen - April 2014. She's growing up on us!
Deborah Kitchin's beautiful new addition. This is BELLA (aka Baby). Congratulations Deborah & Bella! 10/23/13
Thank you so much for your time today. As promised, here are a few pictures of Maverick. I look forward to see you tomorrow.
Olive update. 8 months old. Real fur baby! Ann Gandy. 10/4/2013
Finley Wasden. Submitted by: Proud grandma Carla Wasden Mar.2013 Hope & Finley Wasden ~ April 2013 Dusty (Snowball) Lovell enjoying the sun. 5/2013
Sherry & Dixie / Jan. 2007 | Parents Maggie Mae & Oscar
Cooper resting. Owners: Brian & Kerri Bell 2012 (click on thumbnail to enlarge)
Myrton Tinsley with her new fur-ever Pom, Beanie in Birmingham, AL. She named Beanie after her mom. 6/2/12
Top photo of Mason on 1/12/2012, followed by photo on 6/12/2012. See how he grows! Owner John Paulus
AUSTIN (AKA Dusty). Owner Wendy Welker
Jentezen 2016
Jentezen 2013
Owner: Emily Pope Harris shares picture of Annie "Pretty in Pink" high hopes!
Emily & Annie posing pretty! October 2012.
George Nickels is teaching Tango how to blow a bubble & Mallory is giving him sweet love.
Tango December 2012
Bridgett the Midget at her new home with her new best buddy, Diesel Davis!
Dooley sitting pretty! Mishka & Dooley ... say what?! Owner: Onna
Pictures of Mishka from owners Inna & Igor Strelchik
Bella Green getting ready for one of her many car rides!
She's just a little spoiled! :-)
Isabella Green Winter 2014
Bella the Pom taking a free ride with mom, Theresa Green
Donna & Cassie about a year later! Cassie looks so happy... AND spoiled!
Vijay and his Fur-Babies
Rascal about a year later. Look at the agility & height he can jump! WOW!
Phoebe / June 2012
Hedge and Stella 2012
Wiley Schwarz (above). Owner Michelle Schwarz
Wiley (right) pleading the 5th on this overnight venture!
Here are some pictures of Gracie with her daddy, her big brother (who passed) and me with both. Our first dog and "baby" together as a couple was a Pomeranian that raised a Rotweiller for us and kept him in-line and how to behave. Her name was Coco (see picture0. When she died, both the Rotweiller and I were inconsolable. He cried evertime he saw a small dog at the park and I cried everyday for a year. My husband found your ad to appease us both. I will never be without a Pomeranian again. - Wendy Welker


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Late last summer, the haze still hung heavy over the alleyways of Istanbul. It was shortly after the most recent coup against the Sultan. The oppressive humidity matched the overbearing nature with which the Sultan's men patrolled the streets. Fear hung heavy as teachers, professors, writers, and many others were wrapped up in the Sultan's timed overreactions.
I found myself weary after arriving on the Express and eagerly sought refuge in a small but busy pub recommended by a friend. The journey on the Express was rather tiresome. I was constantly hassled by a Serb (or possibly a closet Moldovan) named Nikolai who was a far less interesting man than he thought.
Most seats in Zeki's were taken, but I found enough open space at the bar. Smoke, conversation, Istanbul surrounded the place. It was good to be back on the road. It warmed me even before my first sip. But my first drink of scotch proved to be a poor choice. Even the most delicious of beverages can be drilled through by the worst of heat. At the barkeep's recommendation, I switched to the raki, an inferior liquid but much preferable given the weather. Even the hint of ice, normally hated, was more than welcome to me.
"Good enough?" said the barkeep.
"Quite," I replied, hoisting the glass toward him, "And your place I take it?"
He nodded, "Indeed, for many years now. May I ask how you found it back here, foreigner that you are." "A friend," I replied scantly.
"Ah," Zeki scanned his establishment, "But what brings you to this city of life in these dark times?"
"Are these really dark times?" I asked.
"What? Oh," he chuckled deeply, "No, no not really. What's another coup?"
I smiled, looking down at my drink, "Just another day."
He swiped his finger through the air, "Precisely!" He shrugged, "And after all, life doesn't change, not even here."
"No, no, the Sultan shall be the Sultan, whoever that is, and life goes on. After all, the Sultan's men do not change."
"They are the same, whoever they are," he shrugged, " I pay my bribes, the protection if offered, life goes on," he said as if discussing why summers were considered hot. "But you Sir, you are here…"
I sipped deeply, "I seek Alexander."
"Oh," Zeki laughed heartedly, as if I'd just stated I intended to find The Prophet himself, "Well then, here he is, here he is, Sir." Zeki mockingly pointed to a crusted framed picture, one of many, that adorned the wall atop the bar. And indeed, there among the many of history's great faces was the greatest general himself. And off Zeki was, to another customer down the bar.
"Alexander's dead," from nowhere offered the man next to me. A man I'd not noticed thus far, so unassuming he was. He was far older than I, and also not a local. He slumped deeply at the bar, tired, his eyes closed, but not drunk, not wholly yet anyways.
"Yes," I cautiously offered, "very much dead. But I seek the truth of him." "Yeah, why, where?"
Not knowing this man, or his motives, I sought to learn more about him before ever speaking further. "And you Sir, I cannot place your accent for certain, though I can guess." Without a shadow of guile the man gave himself forth, to a total stranger as I, "I'm Cornish."
"Oh," I said, shaking my head in pity and disgust, "I am sorry."
He shrugged, resigned. And without any hesitation, he opened his life to me. "If you're going after Alexander I'll go too."
So taken aback I was by his statement that I was dumbfounded. Seeking refuge in my glass, I found it empty. And so to pass the thought, I simply asked, "And your name?" "George," he flatly stated.
"And where from George?"
"No, no,…"
"Ah, Afghanistan," he said, "a terrible place, and one that was equally as kind to Alexander as it was to me."
And thus it all began to add up for me fairly quickly. The broken demeanor, the drinks, the resignation, and then, the pistol, carefully and professionally concealed within his clothing. The long look in his eyes, the old, but still strong frame of this man of the people of the English sea. I could use him, why not. Clearly here was a man in need of purpose. And men in need of purpose are the most useful of men.
"Not to Afghanistan, not yet, but certainly, if you need something to do, I'd welcome such a man as you."
He nodded, slowly, pleased, grunted, and briefly hoisted his glass to me, emptied it, and motioned to Zeki for another. And another found him, and I as well.
"I hear all in my bar," said Zeki to me as he poured.
"As any good bar should," I responded.
"Our part of the world is generally unkind, especially to two foreign, eh, men, such as yourself," Zeki capped the bottle with force.
I nodded, not knowing why.
Zeki leaned against the rail, his ear halfheartedly to mine. He drew incompressible designs on the bar's surface, "Help, help is always helpful to those who need help." I said nothing.
"A man on his travels in this part of the world needs friends, friends not in the fray," Zeki spoke relatively softly, "I could perhaps…"
"I know you not."
"Oh," he smiled in a way that cleared my throat, "but even your presence here came at the recommendation of a, friend, yes?" Zeki scanned his pub briefly, "And in the end, I know who you are. And you shall thus see that I know your Guests, and have done business with them in the past. And yet," he leaned back, proudly, "I have not presented you to the Sultan's men. Though this would benefit me greatly."
Sometimes knowing a man takes a lifetime. Sometimes you never actually know a man. Sometimes you have to take risks on men. Sometimes they take risks on you. And yet besides all this, I found not the need, but the desire to take a risk upon this Zeki. Here was a man, indeed recommended by my friend, but for what, a drink, or a chance? And here was this Zeki, self-assured, honest, even reckless to having met me a few minutes ago had yet already chanced to inform me that he had the Sultan's men in his pay. That he thought nothing of the Sultan's rule itself. Yes, yes why not risk this man, why not risk it when I had nothing else on offer. After all, even Alexander himself knew the importance of never venturing into the darkness without securing one's rear area and homefront.
"And for you, so what?" I asked cautiously.
"Nothing," he leaned back, "Not yet. But write to me," he said, "when it is my time, you will know, and you will answer."
Always the risk, but I nodded, once, hoping one day, I did not regret it. I could sense George's uneasiness. He was back against his stool, one hand now always free. But it was my decision. Not George's. And if George was to journey with me, he should understand this.
"But in the meantime," Zeki held out his palm to behind me, "help, help for the two foreign dogs." Behind us stepped forth two men. My attention first turned to the larger man, cloaked, and certainly a predator. "Mut," (he pronounced it 'moot') Zeki named him, "And at your service. The finest of Oran's backstreets."
Mut fit his name's spelling if not pronunciation well. His face and body, Berber, Arab, even if (dare I never have mentioned to him) perhaps a touch of Algérie in his complexion.
When confronted with an attack dog, directness is either the worst or best of options. I chanced best, simply stating, "And what is your talent, Sir."
Mut opened his cloak, and contained therein was as throng of blades, edged weapons, decorated, sharp, beautiful. He closed his cloak. Joined his hands before him, and said nothing.
I chuckled, "Okay, you'll do." Surprisingly, George nodded, though I was unsure what George saw in this man that did not take his thoughts back to similar men he had undoubtedly met, and met sportingly or not, in Afghanistan.
The second man quickly stepped forward without giving Zeki an chance to introduce him. He thrust his small delicate hand forward to I, then to George, shaking with a brisk but firm strength, "Stelios, at your service," he offered with a smile. "My talent? Quite simply," he grunted softly, "is to relieve others of their possessions by my actions." He clicked his heals. George shook his head in repulsion.
There could not have been a more Greek looking man on all the Earth. Short, solidly built, but with a deep refinement. His lengthy curled air, oiled, hung over a suit, tie, and shoes that if I had been told cost more than everything in this bar combined, would not have surprised me. But what use to us was he? Was there any meaningful nature behind the immaculate man? With such men, there is always an easy way to find out.
Off in one of the darker corners of the bar, sat a janissary and a few companions. Out of uniform, poorly armed, and looking deject, I could only assume they were now unemployed, perhaps even unemployed recently having found themselves on the wrong side of the coup. Now here, to drink their way to a future that was never coming. To the one closest to me I motioned with the greatest of care to Stelios, "I don't like your kind, but see that man, go bring me one of his pistols." Without waiting for a response, I returned to my drink.
Without offering a response, Stelios was off. It took him some time, but eventually I noticed he had found his way to the janissary's table. And they talked, and talked, Stelios pulled up a chair, and he talked more. Mut became bored, sat down next to George, and drank, and drank again. After a good long while, I sighed, remarking wryly to George, "Theft is always far more boring in reality than in fiction."
"Quite," said George, deadpan.
So it went for a long, long time. Zeki was engrossed in conversation with men at the other end of the bar. The light outside began to fade. And perhaps, just perhaps the heat began to fade too. And I chanced a glance over my shoulder, and the janissary and his friends were gone and so was Stelios. Either Stelios had followed them out, or had given up and fled in shame. Either way, I cared not. I hated thieves anyways.
I grunted, sipped again, and then my eyes darted left, and next to me was Stelios. Shocked, I nearly reached within my coat, but before I could he planted before me with a delighted flourish a silver pistol of the janissary. He laughed out loud, took my glass, and finished my drink, his pristine teeth gleamed with the liquor's remains and pride. "Oh," he quipped, "and this too." And he did plop atop the pistol my pocketwatch. George cackled with a partially inebriated humor. I looked down mournfully at my chest, and smiled without teeth.
"Okay," I nodded slowly, "you'll do." And I clapped Stelios on the shoulder and guided him to the stool next to mine. And thus the four of us we drank for a while, as we resolved to depart on our adventure in the morning. For the night was ending, and when one starts to drink raki in Istanbul, one does not stop while the night is young.
And as often happens, but so rarely turns out to be the case, I felt myself being watched. And I wondered if this adventure was doomed to fail before its start. But I appraised Zeki, who was still involved in boisterous conversation down the bar. Mut and George were trying out their French, George by far the poorer of the exchange. Stelios was buried in a newspaper. I glanced about, subtly as possible, to see if only I could perceive the danger.
It took time, far too much time, blame the raki, to notice her. Off to the other corner, by the open bay window which led toward the busy alley. She was there alone, at the smallest of the window's tables. I didn't know her, I hadn't seen her, but I instantly knew that she knew whatever I knew. It was written through the glean in her deep dark eyes. Without thinking, without fear, I rose from my stool and began to walk toward her. Was she a threat? Figure it out, immediately.
Yet as a approached her more and more I began to appreciate the inherent raw beauty that she was. And I began to unconsciously feel myself standing straighter, less drunk than I might have been, and intended to approach her with the greatest class possible. A threat she might have been, I was still a man, much to my detriment if she meant to end our adventure before it's birth.
And in this state did I thus collide with a small dog that was darting across the floor. And thus did I partially tumble to the floor, only bracing myself on an occupied chair. Pulling myself up, I endeavored to appear the classy subject of a cruel joke played by the sharpest & wittiest of men, and not the victim of a scampering four pound nonsentient canine.
If I failed she did not show it. I sat down slowly, her eyes never moving from me at any point. Not alcohol for her, but coffee, Turkish black, black as her hair. The steam from the mug rose above to her face which gave her an ethereal quality which matched her beauty. Surely here was a face that matched the goddesses that Alexander would have sacrificed to. She drank her steaming coffee, not with delicacy, but with long deep sips like a barbarian Northman.
And thus with this thought on my mind, did she simply state, with the most delicate of slurs, "Alexander." No lies, no lack of understanding, but I could say nothing. I knew not which way to respond, damned the raki and the heat which had taken all cunning from my brain. Or was it the way she looked, that I didn't care to joust. Not at all. "I'll go," she stated flatly.
"Why?" I stated without resistance and even a slight desperation, "what are your talents?"
She smiled deeply, and I partially melted even more in the heat, "Many."
I shrugged, she could have stolen one of my eyes if she'd wanted, I would not have cared, "Certainly."
She smiled, even deeper, but perhaps, less genuinely as she hummed, "I might betray you."
Ever the fool that I was, and beyond care, I blurted out, "Not if I betray you first."
She cackled, rose swiftly, drained her coffee, slapped her palm on the table, "I am Alianna of Provence. And we, we shall find Alexander." And before I was ably out of my chair she was already passed me, and at the bar. And Zeki was pouring more drinks. And I slugged over, smiling, suppressing all fear, and replacing it with optimism. Too much risk? For certain. But for the moment, I truly didn't care.
And thus it began, this great adventure, as we set off to discover the truth of Alexander. I, the degenerate, George the Soldier, Mut of Oran, Stelios the Thief, and Alianna of Provence. And there Zeki, Zeki of Zeki's.
And with the great Alexándrou Anábasis, the finest of all the works ever written about Alexander as our guide, did we thus begin. But not yet, for there was more raki, and Zeki was not charging, not yet anyways. And we drank until the day was gone, and even the streets of Istanbul began to cool down, a very long time.
Join us!


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Untitled (legs)
Douglas Holleley
Australia, United States of America
1949 –
- Date
- 1977
- Media category
- Photograph
- Materials used
- gelatin silver photograph, selectively toned
- Dimensions
- 21.4 x 31.9 cm image; 27.5 x 35.1 cm sheet
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased 1979
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 202.1979
- Copyright
- © Douglas Holleley
- Artist information
Douglas Holleley
Works in the collection
- Share
Australian born and American based photographer Douglas Holleley has experimented with many aberrant photographic techniques over the course of his career. Holleley received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1971 at Macquarie University before travelling to America to undertake a Master of Fine Arts, studying at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York between 1974 and 1976. Founded by Nathan Lyons in 1969 and affiliated with important photographers including Minor White and Frederick Sommers, the Visual Studies Workshop was a bedrock institution that fostered innovative photographic practice from the 1970s onwards. It was here that Holleley received tutelage from Ansel Adams in 1975. His early photographic output includes hand coloured black and white photographs as well as photograms and gridded arrangements of Polaroids. He later began experimenting with digital photography, applying the same principles of the photogram to his experiments with a flatbed scanner.
The two hand coloured photographs held in the collection are representative of Holleley's final student works at the Visual Studies Workshop. Hand toning black and white figurative photographs, he also sought to transpose his own lived experience into a documentation of the metaphysical. The strong use of contrast creates a visual paradox. These oscillate between a visualisation of the process of reproduction and an ominous sense of the uncanny. The subtle contortion of the bodies is unsettling; a torso becomes a cavity and legs appear severed from their body. These fleshy forms are swathed in an unearthly pallor that both disorients and compels the viewer.
Exhibition history
Shown in 3 exhibitions
Project 38- Re-constructed Vision, Contemporary work with photography (1981), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 25 Jul 1981–23 Aug 1981
Contemporary Photography from the Collection (1984), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jun 1984–12 Aug 1984
Body Parts, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 26 Sep 2015–31 Jan 2016
Referenced in 1 publication
Gael Newton, Re-constructed Vision: Contemporary work with photography, Sydney, 1981. cat.no. 26
Other works by Douglas Holleley
See all 8 works


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BANANE METALIK "Sanglantes Confessions" Ltd ed. Cassette
Fully remastered and available for the first time on vinyl, discover one of the early fragments in the history of BANANE METALIK, featuring 2 never released tracks!
Comes with double sided full colour J-card with revamped artwork, pro-duplicated and pro printed cassettes available as white, red, blue, yellow and blue shell.


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Description of fees
Fees are subject to change by the State of California and may occur at any time during the academic year. If fees change for a term after you have registered, you will be refunded or billed the difference.
Registration fees are due at the time of registration.
Holds restricting access to grades, and future registrations are placed on all student accounts with debt owed.
Please see Student Account Payments at the left for information about payment methods.
See Fees - Cost to Attend for current registration fees.
Deadlines apply for refunds of registration fees - see Registration Fee Refund for details.
Enrollment fees are charged per unit of enrollment and are set by the State of California; these fees are subject to change at any time. The enrollment fee is an eligible tax credit fee if you were charged. If you need help paying this fee, you may qualify for a Board of Governor's Fee Waiver (BOGW)/ California Promise. An application is available from the Financial Aid Office, or online. You must reapply each year for consideration. See the BOGW eligibility requirements.
The cost of tuition for international and out-of state students is in addition to the enrollment fee. The non-resident tuition is an eligible tax credit fee if you were charged. If you have questions about residency status, please contact the Admissions/Registration/Records Office.
In accordance with the California Education Code and District policy, Cuesta College has a mandatory health fee. The fee is assessed to in-person and online classes (effective Summer 2020).
Students, excluding those with the exceptions listed, are required to pay the fee each semester regardless of the number of units the student is taking. This fee is nonrefundable once the semester begins and is subject to change per local Board action. The health fee is not an eligible tax credit fee.
For more information, see Health Center Services.
Health Fee Exemptions (Education Code 76355):
- Students who are taking classes only at the South County Centers (Arroyo Grande or Nipomo High Schools)
- Any student who depends exclusively on prayer for healing in accordance with the teachings of a bona fide religious sect, denomination, or organization, provided that the student presents documentary evidence of an affiliation with such bona fide religious sect, denomination, or organization.
- Any student who is attending Cuesta under an approved Apprenticeship program.
The Student ID Card provides a college picture ID for use in campus labs, the library, the bookstore, and other locations on campus. It helps fund student jobs, student activities, critical campus programs and services, as well as providing discounts within the community. For more information about the ASCC card, see ASCC Student ID Card.
This optional fee is nonrefundable once the semester begins. The ASCC card fee is not an eligible tax credit fee. The ASCC Student ID Card is to be purchases/renewed each semester, even if a student has already had her or his picture taken.
If the ASCC Student ID Card is lost, stolen, or mutilated, the student will be provided, free of charge, one replacement during the student's Cuesta career. For any additional cards there is a $2 replacement fee. Contact the Student Life and Leadership Office at (805) 546-3289 for picture ID dates, times, and information.
A vote of the students during the Spring 2002 semester authorized the collection of a mandatory $2.00 Student Representation Fee from every credit student each semester. Monies collected will be used by the student government to advocate and lobby for student legislative issues such as eliminating fee hikes, advocating for adequate childcare for student parents, and increasing state funding for community colleges. Other uses include leadership training, meeting with other student leaders and elected officials, and necessary supplies to support students in their advocacy and lobbying efforts.
The fee is charged during the registration process. A student may refuse to pay the fee for religious, political, financial, or moral reasons. Students must sign a waiver, prior to registration .
The student representation fee is not an eligible tax credit fee.
Forms are available at Enrollment Services, Cashier's Office, and at the Student Life and Leadership Office at all campus locations. The form is also available online at
for students to print and complete.
Associated Student Governments are allowed to implement the Student Representation fee according to Education Code 76060.5. This per-semester fee can be utilized by the ASCC to fund only those purposes listed above.
NOTE: The Student Representation Fee may not be used to support individual candidates or campaigns.
For further information, please contact your ASCC Representative at the San Luis Obispo Campus Student Center, Building 5300.
The Student Center fee is designated for the sole purpose of supporting the Student Center and is charged to all students taking classes at the San Luis Obispo Campus. The fee, which is not to exceed $10 per academic year, is based upon the number of units taken during this period at the rate of $1 per unit. The Student Center fee is an eligible tax credit fee if you were charged. An academic year consists of fall and spring semesters. It does not include summer session. This fee is nonrefundable once the semester begins.
The following are examples of Student Center fee calculation for a student taking classes on the San Luis Obispo Campus and at another Cuesta College sites for one academic year:
Fall Semester
7 units at San Luis Obispo Campus
3 units at North County Campus
Spring Semester
3 units at San Luis Obispo Campus
4 units at North County Campus
*$7 paid in fall + $3 paid in spring = $10 fee paid in full for year
* Fee partially paid for year
Student Center Fee Exemptions:
The Student Center Fee shall not apply to:
- A student enrolled in non-credit courses.
- A student who is a recipient of the benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program, or the General Assistance program. To have the fee waived, a student must provide documentation of participation in these programs through the Financial Aid Office prior to registration.
- Students enrolled in courses at North County or South County only.
Credit and noncredit courses with mandatory material fees are identified in the class schedule, and fees are paid at the time of registration. This fee is refundable if the student drops the class on or before the Friday before the term starts. For refunds after the term starts, the department must confirm with the Cashier's Office that the materials were not provided to the student. Contact Cashier's Office for details.
Effective 7/1/2019: Students receiving financial aid from the Board of Governors Grant (BOGW), under the California Promise, will not see any increase past $30.00 to their parking permit costs, as mandated by the Education Code.
Daily, semester, or summer session parking permits are required on the entire Cuesta College campus after the third day of the start of each semester. This is for all vehicles at the San Luis Obispo and North County campuses. Parking permits are valid at both campuses. Daily parking permits may be purchased in all parking lots from the Park-Ur-Self machines located next to campus information kiosks. Semester or summer session parking permits may be purchased at the Cashier's Office, located in Student Service Center (first floor of the library), the Campus Police Department, Building 6600A, off Parking Lot #3, and at North County Campus Student Services in Building N1000. Permits can also be purchased by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card during registration by going to myCuesta at http://my.cuesta.edu and using My Web Services channel. Parking is part of the student registration menu and click on Optional Fees for parking.
Parking in disabled zones requires a DMV-authorized placard AND a daily, semester, or summer session parking permit.
Vehicles will be issued parking citations for parking permit violations. Other parking violations that will result in a parking citation include parking in red zones, bus zones, and staff zones, exceeding time limits in restricted parking areas; using two parking spaces, backing into spaces, or as listed in parking rules and regulations.
For a copy of the College parking regulations, please contact: San Luis Obispo Campus Public Safety Office at (805) 546-3205, or the North County Campus Public Safety Office at (805) 591-6205.
Parking permits must be returned (in useable condition) to obtain a refund. This fee is nonrefundable once the semester or session begins. Parking fees are not an eligible tax credit fee.


text:
The winner of the Day 1 pair of boots is…
Kathryn How… (answer: "Friend")
Congratulations, Kathryn! Contact email@example.com to claim your boots!
The next boot giveaway will be posted in a few minutes!
Oh, happy day! This is the kickoff of the annual Twelve Days of Boots, and it's always a fun-filled time! Starting today, a new boot giveaway will be posted for twelve days…and they're gonna be gorgeous!
Today I'm giving away a pair of boots that I own, and I love them so much I knew I had to kick off this year's Twelve Days series with them. They're Corral Women's Cord Stitch Cowgirl Boots, and they're actually even more awesome than they look in the photo. They're a soft light turquoise with a nice antique look about them, and they seriously go with everything! The more I wear them, the more I love them.
To enter the givewaway, just fill out and submit the box below.
One winner will be randomly selected and announced Wednesday morning, right before a new giveaway is posted.
Good luck, and happy Twelve Days of Boots!


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The first ever BES Quantitative Ecology conference is just a couple of weeks away. Liam Butler, a member of the conference organising committee, tells us what we can look forward to at this year's event.
The Quantitative Ecology Special Interest Group (QE SIG) within the British Ecological Society is hosting its first Annual Conference on Monday 9th July just before the BES Macro Annual Conference, at St. Andrews, Scotland. The QE SIG aims to bring together interdisciplinary research that, in one way or another, links quantitative biology to the broader disciplines within ecology and genetic research. The QE SIG will welcome over 50 international attendees made up of a mix of BES members, students and professionals involved or interested in quantitative ecological processes within the broader field of biology.
The QE SIG aims to support quantitative skills for ecologists, improve dissemination of new and novel quantitative methods across the board and bring international, interdisciplinary researchers together for a specialised network event.
The QE SIG welcomes Keynote speakers Prof. Jane Reid (University of Aberdeen), Dr. Janine Illian (University of St. Andrews) and the winner of our student keynote competition Kate Wootton (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). Prof. Jane Reid will be discussing quantitative genetic approaches and their applications, Dr. Janine Illian will talk about spatial point processes in ecology and Kate Woottoon will discuss microhabitat use, mesocosms and models in multitrophic communities using traits to predict community dynamics. Registered lightning talks will range from the use of models to compare distribution of species, to comparison of body size in animals inhabiting different ecosystems, to the use of Bayesian networks and to forecasting change of zoonotic disease with current climate change dilemmas delivered by Postgraduate research candidates, Postdoctoral Researchers, Fellows, Associates and Professors.
The first Annual Conference for the QE SIG is a very exciting event to recognise the importance of quantitative science, especially because of the fast-paced technological and methodological advances that science is now experiencing. It also goes without saying that this event is an exceptional opportunity for networking with international attendees working in both similar and different research fields, bringing together scientists who might cross paths again in their career. This is especially targeted towards early career researchers to help identify areas of research and opportunities.
For more information on the upcoming event please visit our webpage, the QE SIG blog or follow us on twitter @BES_QE_SIG for further updates. The QE SIG team is very excited to welcoming you all in St. Andrews!


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Screen (USA) Expands Its Chicagoland Demo Center
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—March 2, 2012—Screen (USA) announced the completion of its newly reconstructed and redecorated demonstration center in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows.
With 12,000+ square feet of demonstration space, including two comfortable visitor lounges, the newly modernized demo center makes the experience comfortable and attractive for clients, while enabling them to see the wide range of digital printing solutions offered by Screen. The facility was also designed with flexibility and efficiency in mind, to facilitate on-site demonstrations and consultations that concentrate on each customer's specific digital printing needs.
The demonstration center is located just a short 15-minute car ride from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, offering easy "in-and-out, same-day demos." In addition, visitors can see and test-print various printing units from high-speed web, sheetfed and wide-format printing solutions, maximizing time and exposure to various hardware and related software solutions, in a single trip.
The facility boasts several high-speed, high-quality Truepress inkjet presses that are used for all types of high-speed commercial printing, transactional/transpromotional, direct mail, signs, displays, industrial, textile and other general graphics printing projects.
Coming in March 2012 to the center is the sheetfed Truepress JetSX variable printing system. The Truepress JetSX will satisfy the product and quality needs of the commercial sheetfed printing market, including short-run, fast-turnaround, tight-registration work, with 100 percent variable data duplexing capability.
For more than 45 years, Screen (USA) has demonstrated the skills, products and technologies needed to build and maintain a successful printing business. However, investing and committing to this new demonstration center provides a vastly improved platform to showcase its modern fleet of solutions.
About Screen (USA)
Screen (USA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyoto, Japan-based Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd., is a leading supplier of systems and components for the graphic arts industry. Its diverse line of integrated products includes digital printing systems for a variety of applications, including print on demand, variable data, flexo/packaging solutions, industrial and sign/display printing.


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…to a book we all know!
My fiancee and our friends/neighbors (they live three houses away), get together to eat and break out the party games several times a month.
Specifically, we love the Jackbox Party Pack. We own two of the packs, and our regular games are Quiplash 2, Tee-KO, and Murder Party Trivia.
During our most recent round of Quiplash 2, we got a great quipping opportunity:
An odd sequel to the children's book, The Giving Tree.
Seriously, this classic needed a sequel? Never would have thought this was necessary, though times have changed. Perhaps the tree isn't so "giving" these days.
Despite my writing abilities, one of the struggles I've had as a writer (aside from poetry writing – please don't ask me to write a poem, please!) is coming up with a title for anything and everything. Only recently have I discovered my knack for titling things came out of coming up with new and creative ways to incorporate #ThrowbackThursday and #FlashbackFriday into a title. But, I'm slowly mastering this skill.
It also helps to have an interesting sense of humor.
So, when this came up in the game the other night, I knew I was going to have to give it my all.
This happened.
One is my response, the other is my friend Heather's response. Which one do you think is mine, which is hers, and more importantly, who got Quiplash?


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By Bronte Baxter
The world's religions have changed from their ancient demands for blood sacrifice to their modern insistence on a more personal commitment to the divine. Blood provided life-force renewal to the interdimensional predators who call themselves the gods. But blood-on-demand is nothing in "loosh quality" compared to willing, devoted worship. Robert Monroe was told as much in his encounter with the light being (see my two last articles).
Yet there is another, more insidious reason why the ancient religions, which taught fear of God, have morphed into modern religions and spiritual practices that teach surrender or love of God. The reason concerns free will. If that deeply human element can be won over, if the heart and ability to choose can be wholly offered to "the divine," those on the receiving end no longer have to siphon humans for their energy, they can simply assimilate us. We become one with their system, with their collective consciousness. Our personal energy signature – the soul or ego, individual self– that which makes us creative, original, reasoned, deliberate beings of action – that is taken from us. Or more precisely, we give it away.
We give ourselves to "the divine," and in so doing, align our personal frequency with those who have fed on humans since the dawn of history. We become entrained with them, like a tuning fork that hums the pitch of the humming forks around it or a soldier that marches in step with his army. As in the military, the surrender of personal choice results in a strengthening of the collective. Soldiers fall out of step when they cross a bridge, because the power of marching in unison is great enough that it could break the structure. Assimilation strengthens the collective that is the gods.
If the "Star Trek" image of The Borg comes to mind, the parallel is not inappropriate. The Borg in the sci-fi TV series were a civilization of beings half biological and half cyber. Like a hive, they were ruled by a central queen, whose will ran the collective. They thrived by discovering new planets and assimilating their inhabitants. Assimilation was accomplished by mind-controlling a person and then inserting, in place of the individual's mind, the mind of The Borg. The victim's will became the will of The Borg, his actions entrained, like an ant's, to work for the collective's purpose.
Cosmic consciousness is not what we are told: a state where the individual mind merges with its own interior pure consciousness. Cosmic consciousness ("enlightenment" or "Brahman") is a fusing of one's personal self with the force that has hijacked the universe.
We can reason that the Infinite Source of all the egos in the universe must be an unlimited consciousness of love, life, joy, creativity and immortality. It knows no destruction or death, either for Itself or its children. Why would a self-fulfilled, joyous being want to make individuals that don't share in and express Its own qualities?
Brahman is quite different than this original entity. Brahman is the consciousness that enfolds the physical universe, spitting out supernovas and destroying them with all their attendant life forms. We are told Brahman is the creator, the maintainer, and the destroyer. Brahman is that consciousness that feeds and depends on physical matter, creating and devouring it at will, as humans breed then slaughter animals on a farm for food. When meditators have cosmic visions of themselves as all the universe, this is the consciousness they identify with. By uniting with and surrendering to it as their Higher Self, they become possessed by the entities who have taken charge of (and perhaps created) the physical universe.
I remember a chilling moment in a videotape of the popular spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle, where he describes the movement of the"Presence" in the world. He reaches out a long arm and makes a swooshing sound with his mouth, drawing the arm back in. Then he makes a swipe in the air with his other arm, then the first one again. That's Consciousness, he tells us, creating then sucking back in life form after life form. That is what Tolle has aligned himself with, the Presence that creates and destroys individual life.
A loving and unlimited creator of individual awareness would not create life forms only to destroy them. That is the act of a farmer, not of an artist or innovator. Creative people don't make things in order to feed off their creations. They make things to express what's inside them: the joy or beauty or humor or wisdom. We know this from our own life experience.
Happy people create good things around them, and cherish and take care of those things. They don't decide to blow them up or devour them. If we as humans naturally behave like that, how could the Infinite Being from whose cloth we were cut, think and behave like a savage? How could It be unfeeling or uncaring, when we by nature are feeling and caring? How could the children be greater in character than their own Creator? It's not a very reasonable premise.
It cannot be God, in the sense of a supreme consciousness, that requires sacrifice, worship, surrender of ego and ultimate physical death. That can only be the agenda of limited spiritual beings, who see the manifest universe as their playground. They are the playground bullies. They have convinced everyone that they by rights run the show and that they even created the show.
I remember Tolle's story of his "awakening." After suffering for years from severe depression, he decided he would commit suicide, at which point he felt an energy vortex sucking him in and heard the words "Resist nothing." He blacked out and when he awoke, the world was fresh and new. He was a man without depression, without desires, without thoughts. He was a clean machine, devoid of his former sense of personal self. From that day on, he has moved through physical reality without an ego. "Life" moves through him, he says, and he identities that "wholeness" as his Self.
But Tolle's wholeness is a small particle in the vastness of the Infinite. It is not the Infinite, however much he believes it must be. Brahman is not Infinite; it is the collective consciousness of the material universe, which embraces good and evil, birth and death, as equal in value. The consciousness of the Infinite surely never intended suffering or death for its children.
Tolle, like the enlightened guru-followers, has accepted all that happens in this world, horrendousness included, as the wonderful will of the divine. He regards what happened to him the night of his transformation as an awakening to the highest truth. I suggest what he awoke to was assimilation of his will, his personhood, all that made him uniquely human. He became a vessel for the voice that told him, "Resist nothing" – words that eerily echo the voice of The Borg, telling its victims the moment before assimilation: "Resistance is futile."
Brahman, what Tolle calls "Presence," does bring euphoric peace to the experiencer. The grave is peaceful, too, but I wouldn't want to spend time in one. There is peace when an individual surrenders their personal self. Gone is the responsibility of making choices, of finding motivation, of coming up with creative solutions. Gone is the need to think and the sting of emotional repercussions from former bad decisions. The enlightened need to do nothing, say nothing, become nothing. But to achieve that iced-over state of detachment, that cosmic disassociation, they must sacrifice the most precious thing they have ever been given: their personal divine spark. The enlightened willfully self-implode. And God's very purpose for making them, as a unique, personal expression of Itself, gets subverted.
Surely we were meant to be more than automatons, possessed zombies, walking around the earth while something else moves through us. Surely God's plan was not for Its creatures to become mindless robots, with glassy grins and empty hearts, who regard suffering and happiness, death and life, as all the same in value. Surely there is something beyond what the gurus teach as the ultimate, Something that celebrates, supports and cherishes each being It ever created, that desires them to live forever and in harmony and joy, as Itself lives.
The gods have not stopped living off human sacrifice. The rules of the game have only changed a little. Blood-on-demand is not as delicious as the willing offering of a human soul. Siphoning is evolving into assimilation. This is the tyranny of One, the reason the New Age teaches that awakened consciousness means seeing "small self" as illusion and "Cosmic Self" or "the One," as the true reality. The intent is to fuse all egos into the will of the One, the will of the Overmind.
The gods are masquerading as Cosmic Self. We either open our minds and recognize our programming, and reason our way out of this snare, or we grin like foolish children and follow the Pied Piper right into the maw of the mountain. Will we choose to amalgamate or to shoulder the burden and joy of becoming conscious, empowered individuals? The fate of the universe rests on our decision.
Bronte Baxter
© Bronte Baxter 2008
Anyone may republish this article on another website as long as they include the copyright and a back link to this site.


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The trend towards more sustainability is on the rise, worldwide. Ignoring this trend could prove costly for many manufacturing companies. Therefore, "green management" is evolving into one of the core entrepreneurial challenges that every company must face sooner or later. "No longer do executives argue about whether or not sustainability should play a key role in the company's strategic alignment and in its day-to-day business decisions", says Norbert Haas, Principal at TMG and co-editor of the book. "In fact, the core question is much rather which strategies and actions are best suitable to address the growing requirements for sustainability."
With its new publication, the TMG gives answers to these crucial management issues. The book "Return on Green - Entrepreneurial Success through Green Management" shows, how you can draw considerable benefits from the "megatrend of sustainability" for your own company and in which ways the management can best apply leverage to make sustainability pay off.
The book is aimed at all those executives and managers of manufacturing companies, who are not content with the status quo in terms of sustainability, but instead want to make the right move towards "green management".
Norbert Haas, Darya Nassehi und Klaus Dieterich (Hrsg.):
Return on Green - Mit Green Management zum unternehmerischen Erfolg
Ludwigsburg: LOG_X Verlag GmbH
160 pages, 45 figures., 29.00 Euro


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Goodbye food scraps. Hello homegrown food!
Your balcony can become a garden. Or your rooftop, or the courtyard in your home. You can grow a small garden anywhere – in containers, in bamboo frames, in wooden boxes or in water barrels. The most important thing is to have good soil for your plants – and the best soil is that you make yourself with your food waste.
It's easy to get started with bokashi at home. Makes no difference whether you live in an apartment or house – all you need is your daily food waste, an airtight container, and a bag of bokashi bran.
The first step with bokashi is always to ferment your food waste in the kitchen. The second step, once your container is full, is to let it ferment for a week while you fill another container.
After that you can make soil! There are a number of different ways of doing this, and we're here to show you how.
Apartment, no balcony?
If you live in an apartment and don't have a balcony, you can make what we call a "soil factory" – basically a rice tub where you mix old soil and bokashi to make a steady supply of new soil. Give it to friends, or donate it to a community group. Or put some round all the valuable trees in your neighbourhood!
Apartment with balcony?
If you live in an apartment and do have a balcony or rooftop garden, you can make compost directly in pots and containers ready for planting. It's fast and easy and you will have the best-looking potplants in town.
Small house with courtyard?
Fill your courtyard with pots and containers and make bokashi soil in them directly! You can grow a lot of plants in containers if you only have good soil.
You can also make a carpark/rooftop garden on cement and surprise your neighbours how much you can grow in it!
House with small garden?
You can grow in containers, make a carpark/rooftop garden on cement, or make garden beds using wood, bamboo or bricks. Or dig a garden bed straight into the ground. Using bokashi and dry leaves you can grow a lot of vegetables in a small space, or create a tropical paradise that will amaze your neighbours.
Time to get started?
If you live in Yangon, you're welcome to come along to one of our workshops to learn from us hands-on. You can buy everything you need to get started after the workshop, if you wish.
- Join one of our popular workshops "Bokashi for households"
- Buy a bokashi start kit from us
- Frequently-asked questions
Want to learn more?
We have a community group on facebook where bokashi users in Myanmar can help each other to get started with bokashi. We answer questions in both Myanmar and English, and love to see pictures of what you are doing with your bokashi. Please join!
And if you want to get in touch with us, please send us a message on our facebook pageand we'll get back to you. In either English or Myanmar.
Bokashi is easy, once you get going. Really. And hopefully soon, when you've been doing it a while, you can take part in these groups and help others. The more people we can help get started, the better!
STEP ONE: filling and fermenting your food waste in the kitchen
Airtight bucket with no tap
The cheapest and easiest way to get started. All you need is an airtight bucket, some bokashi bran, and a container or garden bed to make soil.
Airtight bucket with tap
A more convenient method is make bokashi in a special bokashi bucket with in-built tap. The liquid that you drain from the bucket is a valuable fertiliser.
Airtight barrel
An airtight barrel is a good choice if you have a large family or generate a lot of food waste. The principle is the same as for a smaller bucket; you will need some form of absorbent material to soak up the liquid from the food waste.
STEP TWO: making soil and planting in the garden or on your balcony
Planting container
You can add fermented bokashi straight to a planting container and start growing. Ideal for courtyards, balconies and rooftop gardens.
"Soil factory"
Even if you have no balcony, you can make bokashi compost indoors! You just need a tub and some outdoor soil to get you started. It's easy, and won't cause you any problems. Give the soil away when you're ready!
Garden bed
You can dig down fermented bokashi directly into a garden bed. Cover it with soil, and plant sow seeds, or plant seedlings or bushes. They will thrive on the nutrients, and it will hold water really well.
Garden compost
You can add fermented bokashi straight to a planting container and start growing. Ideal for courtyards, balconies and rooftop gardens.
When the Yangon Farmers' Market is up and running, you can drop in your household bokashi to us on a Saturday morning. We will exchange your container. Alternatively, you can consider donating your bokashi to someone nearby who has a garden and knows how to use it.
Here we've summarised the most common questions people ask when they are starting bokashi at home.
If you have others, please ask fellow bokashi-people in our community discussion group on facebook, or send us a message.


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Read the Report
Internews set out to take stock of community radio stations (CRS) in Tanzania through a rapid, structured assessment. We were determined to understand the extent to which CRS across the country were providing a valuable public information service, and what barriers could be overcome and opportunities seized to increase their effectiveness in supporting two-way feedback and accountable governance.
In order to ensure the success of future efforts to improve democratic and economic development in Tanzania, the system of producing, disseminating, sharing, trusting in and engaging with information must improve in equal measure.
A team of Internews staff and consultants visited 22 community radio stations in Arusha (8), Dar es Salaam (2), Lindi (5), Mtwara (2), and Zanzibar (5). During each visit, Internewsers asked a consistent set of questions about basic characteristics of the station, their role in local governance, and the needs of the community for further development. To complement this information, Internews staff also visited local NGOs in each location, including 3 in Arusha, 3 in Mtwara, and 5 in Zanzibar, as well as a number of radio listeners in the general public.
Internews structured this report according to our Strategic Framework, which breaks down media and information problems and solutions into four categories – access, content, inclusion and engagement. Each of the research questions posed by USAID to Internews was mapped to one of these four categories.


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History in the Big Apple
The UFC held one of its biggest cards ever only a few months ago when they celebrated UFC 200 with what seemed like a great card.
That night never worked out as many had thought it could with injuries and bad performances only hurting what was supposed to be a monumental night.
It was a disappointment for what was to be the biggest night in UFC history but shortly after they got the opportunity to try again.
This time it was due to the fact that the UFC had the opportunity to fight in the one city they have been eyeing since the Fertitta brothers bought the promotion in 2001.
New York City has been home to some massive events and Madison Square Garden is the place where legends in the fifth game have been made.
MMA had been banned from the state though and the UFC was fighting a long battle to get the sport legalised.
This year it finally did and the UFC jumped at the chance to get into MSG and hold a fight in the legendary arena.
At UFC 205 the promotion looked to put on a night that would break records and change the standing of the sport.
On paper, they did exactly that with a fight card full of fights that could have headlined any number of events in the UFC.
There were the inevitable issues as Rashad Evans was pulled from the fight card after a medical revealed something that concerned the New York State Athletic Commission enough to pull him from the card.
Then came Kelvin Gastelum missing weight and the New York rules came into effect as they will not allow anyone to fight unless they are at least within 5 lbs of each other and the difference between Donald Cerrone and Gastelum was more than that leading to the fight being pulled.
Most cards would see those fights gone and the card wouldn't look nearly as great but the UFC had put together a great enough card that it didn't matter.
Despite the loss of excitement for those two fights everyone was tuning in and waiting for the triple main events that featured some potential history-making fights.
First-up was the one and only UFC strawweight champion, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, against her fellow Polish fighter Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
If Kowalkiewicz could get the win she would be the first to ever beat Jędrzejczyk in the UFC and would become only the second strawweight titleholder ever.
The champion started the fight showing exactly why she has been the only strawweight champion in UFC history.
She was clearly the better fighter throughout the first three rounds winning every round and seeming like she was ready for an easy win.
The fourth round was different though as Kowalkiewicz landed a big shot against Jędrzejczyk sending her back for the first time since her first fight against Claudio Gadelha.
Kowalkiewicz looked to capitalise but the champion was too tough and the challenger couldn't get it done.
The fight went to decision and although Kowalkiewicz did well it wasn't anywhere near well enough to take the win as Jędrzejczyk remained the only strawweight champion.
Next up was Tyron Woodley defending his belt against the man most see as the future of the welterweight division.
This fight was all about the disrespect but only the disrespect heaped on Woodley by those who created the odds.
Most champions come into their fights as favourites to win even if it is just slightly but Woodley did not get that experience.
Instead, he came in as the underdog just like he had when he beat Robbie Lawler for the title and this fight was all about proving that he could do it as he looked to shut everyone up and finally get the respect he thought he deserved.
It wasn't easy for the champion as Thompson provided a tough challenge with his unique style and fighting pedigree.
Throughout the fight, both fighters showed exactly why they were there with Thompson using his style to get off plenty of punches and Woodley had his own flashes of power and wrestling.
In the first round Woodley used his wrestling to dominate and in the fourth, he used his power to come close to ending the fight before sinking in a tight guillotine.
Nothing seemed to be able to get Thompson out of the octagon though as the fight ended and the judges were called upon to make a decision.
Two of them couldn't as they scored the fight a draw while one gave it to Woodley leading to a majority draw that kept the belt around the waist of Woodley who hopes to gain some respect from the win.
Finally, the true record breaker was in the main event as Conor McGregor looked to take two belts against Eddie Alvarez.
There had never been a fighter in UFC history who held to belts at the same time and if McGregor could beat the lightweight champion, Alvarez, he would be the first to do just that.
From the start of the fight, McGregor took control as Alvarez had nothing for him allowing McGregor to land his great right hand and from the first round they landed.
Alvarez took the punches well and stayed standing throughout the first three rounds but eventually he fell and in the third round McGregor landed his last left hand to take the lightweight title.
The real question now is what happens next with the UFC claiming that they won't let him keep the belt and McGregor wanting to defend both belts simultaneously there is sure to be some negotiations.
The first fight in New York City was a rare case where the hype matched the product as history was made in more ways than one and the fights matched what was expected.
It was the best the promotion could have hoped for as an introduction to the city and with two more fights already planned in Albany and Brooklyn the UFC is ready to put its stamp in the last major untapped market for MMA.


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Another Successful First Nation Partnership in Waterpower
Jul 27, 2016, 15:00 ET
OWA celebrates official Grand Opening of the Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project
WHITE RIVER, ON, July 27, 2016 /CNW/ - The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) congratulates Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power Inc. on the completion of the Gitchi Animki Project. OWA, community supporters and industry partners joined in on the celebration of the grand opening of these facilities on July 27, 2016 in White River Ontario. This facilities will supply renewable reliable energy to for decades to come.
"Regional Power and the Pic Mobert First Nation are to be commended for bringing this project forward together," said Paul Norris, President of Ontario Waterpower Association. "These developments are a great example of the opportunities that exist across the province to expand the contribution of waterpower to provide economic, environmental and energy benefits for present and future generations".
The Gitchi Animki (White River) project was undertaken by the Pic Mobert Hydro Power Joint Venture, a partnership of subsidiary companies of the Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power Inc. The Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project consists of two waterpower generating stations with a combined generating capacity of 18.9 MW, Gitchi Animki Bezhig and Gitchi Animki Niizh.
"Two decades of collaboration and commitment have gone into the opening of Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project." said the Honourable Glenn Thibeault, Ontario's Minister of Energy "Partnerships like this one help take steps forward in Ontario's journey of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and support economic development opportunities in their communities. I want to congratulate both Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power on this new venture, as I look forward to seeing more collaboration in Ontario's future."
The development is located in the traditional territory of the Netamasakomik People of the Pic Mobert First Nation, and was one of the first contracted under the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Program. The development is also located in a provincial park which has led to close cooperation with Ontario Parks on various recreational initiatives.
"This project represents a significant investment in Northern Ontario" added Norris. "The province has significant untapped waterpower potential that, particularly in the context of climate change, could contribute even more to meeting our electricity requirements."
The facilities will replace the function of an old Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry regulating dam that managed lake levels and flood flows on White Lake. The developments will provide a much improved alternative to the existing regulating dam which was deemed by independent consultants to be in need of significant and costly repairs. Three Pic Mobert community members have been hired and are being trained as operators of the facilities.
SOURCE Ontario Waterpower Association
For further information: Stephanie Landers, Communications and Public Relations Advisor, Ontario Waterpower Association, 866-743-1500 ext. 25, [email protected]


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Vintage Twist Spring Mantel
Who is ready for Spring? ME!!!
Starting today through Friday I am happy to be joining some of my favorite bloggers for some spring mantel inspiration. My friend Melissa from Daisy Mae Belle is hosting this fabulous tour with me! I would like to give her a huge THANK YOU for jumping in and getting this done because I had a lot going on. She picked up all of the slack. My virtual friend that I really hope to meet in person one day VERY soon, you are the best.
I'm not big on frilly things and pastels so I went with a Vintage Twist Spring Mantel this year. It has texture, metallics, thrift store pieces and vintage finds.
When it comes to any home decorating for me, I don't do anything that requires removing everything and replacing it. I like multi functioning pieces that I can use all year long to decorate around. The flower petal mirror is that piece for me. I bought it back in the fall at Ross and I love it.
The black vintage scale, the bell and the metal basket are all thrift store and estate sale finds that I move around from place to place. The faux lemon topiaries are years old but gave them a little makeover here.
This bible verse art was a Christmas gift from my cousins wife and I thought it went perfect here on the mantel. It is a great reminder for me and my family to be the light of Jesus in this very dark world.
The mantel itself had a makeover last spring when we added the wood planks. You can see it HERE! It was one of the easiest, cheapest, DIY projects with the biggest impact we have done! Seriously, great addition to any room.
I hope you found some inspiration from my Vintage Twist Spring Mantel.
Below is the list of the fabulous bloggers that will be inspiring you. I will update this post each day with the links to their post, so be sure to stop back by on Thursday and Friday!
At Home With the Barkers (ME!)
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