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Week of March 28, 2002
Week of March 21, 2002
Week of March 14, 2002
Week of March 7, 2002
Bird hunters support proposed bill
Game bird hunters in Oklahoma support a bill currently awaiting Senate action by almost a four to one margin, according to a survey of annual hunting license holders conducted only days ago.
The telephone survey, conducted by the Responsive Management Section of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, was based on a random sampling of annual hunting and annual combination license holders. Hunters who said they had hunted either quail, turkey, dove, pheasant, ducks, geese or other game girds within the last two years were asked if they supported or opposed legislation to create a game bird license. Of those surveyed, 78 percent said they supported the specifics of the legislation, while only 19 percent were opposed.
Specifically, hunters were told that a bill currently being considered by the Legislature would eliminate the state waterfowl license (currently $4), and would establish a new game bird license ($7.50) which would be required of all game bird hunters including those hunting waterfowl. Proceeds from game bird license sales would be used for game bird habitat improvement. These provisions are outlined in House Bill 2329 by Elmer Maddux and Dale Smith of the House, and Frank Shurden of the Senate. Lifetime license holders were not surveyed regarding the measure because as proposed, those holding lifetime licenses when the bill becomes effective will not have to purchase the license.
The Wildlife Department receives no general tax appropriations to accomplish its mission of managing and conserving the state's fish and wildlife resources. Instead, most of the Department's operating funds come from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and special federal excise taxes that are generated when hunters and anglers purchase sporting goods.
The past three legislative sessions have seen several variations of bills intended to provide the Department with additional operations funding, but none of the measures have successfully passed both houses of the Legislature. Wildlife officials say that critical funding is needed to begin addressing the decline in the bobwhite quail population, which is primarily habitat related, and to continue enhancing existing waterfowl and wetland habitat projects. Although passage of the game bird license legislation is important to address critical needs of quail, Department officials say the comprehensive financial needs of the Department still remain to be addressed.
"Most people are not aware that hunters and anglers pay for the conservation and management of all wildlife," said Richard Hatcher, the Wildlife Department's assistant director. "Our funding mechanism is unique in that hunters and anglers are footing the bill to improve our natural resources for the benefit of everyone."
Hatcher added that in addition to hunting and fishing licenses, which are the primarily source of agency income, special federal taxes known as the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration programs, provide about a third - about $8 million - of the Department's annual income. The federal government collects the taxes from companies who make hunting and fishing equipment and motorboat fuel, and are then distributed to state fish and wildlife agencies based on land area and the numbers of sportsmen in each state.
"Although it's a little complicated, the bottom line is that those funds are coming from hunters and anglers who purchase hunting and fishing gear," he said. "The recent game bird license survey confirms what we have known for years, sportsmen are willing to provide the resources necessary to fund fish and wildlife conservation."
2002 Habitat Patch features the pheasant
A flushing ring-necked pheasant is featured on the 2002 wildlife habitat donor patch. Patches are now available at the Wildlife Department's Oklahoma City and Tulsa offices and by mail.
Since 1986, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has annually produced a habitat donor patch, which features a popular Oklahoma game or fish species. Proceeds from the sale of patches go directly to the Department's Land Acquisition Program which provides increased opportunity for public hunting and fishing access across the state. Since their inception, the habitat patches have become not only a valued source of wildlife funding, but have become a favorite collector's item with Oklahoma hunters and anglers.
Patches ($5) can be purchased at Department headquarters in Oklahoma City (southwest corner of NE 18th and Lincoln Blvd.) or the Department's Tulsa office (Tulsa Expo Square) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To order patches by mail send your request along with cashier's check or money order to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, PO Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.
Previous wildlife habitat donor patches including the first patch issued in 1986 are also available from ODWC offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa or by mail. Designs from past years can be viewed on the Department's official Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com
Controlled hunts books available
Hunters applying for the Wildlife Department's controlled hunts can soon begin picking up the Oklahoma Controlled Hunts 2002 application books at more than 1,000 hunting and fishing license vendors located throughout the state.
For the first time, a $5 fee is required of all applicants including lifetime hunting or lifetime combination license holders. The fee was authorized by the 2001 Legislature in order to offset rising costs for administering the program.
"We have implemented significant changes in our online application process via the Department's Web site," said Melinda Sturgess-Streich, chief of administration for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). "Hunters can apply online in early April. This will still give hunters several weeks to make their selections and apply before the May 3 deadline."
Sturgess-Streich added that since the fee is per person and not per application, hunters should decide to apply for all their hunt categories either by mail or online, but not both. Hunters who choose to mail in their applications must complete the processing fee payment form on page 20 of the controlled hunts booklet. Payment ($5 per person) can be made by the following methods: cashier's check, money order or credit card. For complete application instructions, including tips on enhancing your chances of being selected, consult the Oklahoma Controlled Hunts 2002 booklet.
Other significant changes for this year's controlled hunts program were implemented to spread out hunter opportunity and allow more people to participate. They include:
• Making the Elk and antelope hunts once-in-a-lifetime hunts.
Beginning with the 2002 drawing, hunters who are selected for an elk permit will not be able to apply for elk hunts in the future. Similarly, once drawn for a Cimarron County antelope hunt, hunters will not be able to apply for future antelope hunts.
In the new system, hunters who successfully drew either an elk or antelope permit anytime from 1993 through 2001 may only apply in the same category after waiting a period of 10 years from the year they drew the permit.
• Combining, or pooling, the four previous deer categories into one comprehensive deer category.
In the past, separate categories were offered for deer archery, muzzleloader, gun and disability hunts. Some lucky hunters were drawn for two or even three deer hunts, while others were not even selected for one. Under the new system, hunters select which hunts they want to apply for, with five individual hunt choices being offered. A hunter's preference points in the new comprehensive deer category will be equal to the highest number of preference points the hunter had accrued in any one of the previous deer categories.
• Instituting a progressive draw for big game.
Elk hunts will be drawn first, followed by antelope, then deer. If a hunter is selected for an elk hunt, they will receive preference points in the other big game categories they have applied for (antelope and deer) but will not be eligible to be selected in those categories. Similarly, if they are not selected for elk but draw an antelope permit, then they will receive a preference point in the elk and deer categories, but will not be eligible to draw a deer hunt.
For additional information, consult the Oklahoma Controlled Hunts 2002 booklet, or log onto the Department's Web site, www.wildlifedepartment.com and click on the link for Controlled Hunts.
Purple martin time is here
Oklahomans who want to draw purple martins to their property should get ready now. Late February through late March is the time to set up new martin houses or clean the compartments of existing houses in preparation for the birds' arrival.
"The purple martin is a member of the swallow family that readily takes to nesting in manmade structures," said Mark Howery, Natural Resources Biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "These dark, purplish birds are a welcome spring and summer visitor to Oklahoma and are famous for eating a variety of insect pests. Though the current evidence indicates that purple martins do not eat nearly as many mosquitoes as some have claimed, they do eat other insects considered to be agricultural pests including several species of beetles, moths and flies. Purple martins prefer to establish their nesting colonies near broad open fields and meadows within a half mile of ponds, marshes, streams or other wetlands," Howery said.
Purple martins have nested in close association with humans for over 400 years and prior to European settlement of this country; some eastern Indian tribes are known to have placed nesting gourds in their villages to attract these birds. As a result of their long-term relationship with people, purple martins in the eastern U.S. now nest almost exclusively in manmade martin houses. Many styles of aluminum, plastic and wooden apartment-like houses are commercially available for potential purple martin landlords.
"One of the most important things to consider when choosing a purple martin house is how easily the house is to lower and clean," said Howery. "For ease of maintenance, most people choose a light weight house that can be lowered and raised on a telescoping pole or by means of a pulley system on a fixed pole. A porch with a railing around it is also useful to aid purple martin parents entering and leaving the nest cavity while preventing eggs or martin chicks from falling to the ground. Regular inspection and maintenance of purple martin houses is important to keep unwanted, non-native species such as House Sparrows and European Starlings out of the nesting compartments where they may compete with or harass martins. Repeated removal of their nests is usually the best method to discourage these species."
The purple martin is one of the first summer residents to return to Oklahoma and typically return here from their wintering grounds in Brazil during the first week of March. Typical for most songbirds, the first purple martins to arrive are the adult males. Most older males return to the general vicinity of - and often the same martin house - where they nested the previous year. These males are the birds that are often erroneously called "scouts," though in reality they are birds trying to reclaim their former nesting cavities by getting a jump on the younger males. Females and young males follow about two weeks after the older males.
"People should start watching their purple martin houses regularly beginning in early March for signs of returning birds," Howery recommended. "In order to prevent unwanted house sparrows from occupying the martin house first, we recommend that the holes of the house be kept plugged until the first adult male martins have been observed flying near or landing on the house. People who successfully attracted purple martins last year, should start looking for returning males during the first three weeks of March. Those attempting to attract martins for the first time are most likely to attract the later-arriving year-old males. These males, which arrive in late March and early April, are the ones that are most likely to settle at new houses and establish new colonies."
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has a free brochure available regarding how to attract Purple Martins. To request a copy, please write to the Wildlife Diversity Program at P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 or print a brochure off the Department's Web site www.wildlifedepartment.com
New Camp Gruber regulations approved
At its regular monthly meeting, held March 4 in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to approve new hunting regulations for the Camp Gruber Maneuver Training Center. The new regulations will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2003.
The Oklahoma Army National Guard, which will hold the only use license for the 33,000-acre property in Muskogee County, and the Wildlife Department worked out an agreement that guarantees at least four hunting seasons at Camp Gruber without impeding military training. The "memorandum of understanding" between the two agencies designates that the unrestricted training areas will be open:
• For the statewide nine-day primitive firearms deer season;
• For the statewide nine-day modern gun deer season;
• The last 21 days of December (Dec. 11-31) for all open wildlife activities;
• The second Saturday of April and running for nine consecutive days (spring turkey season).
In addition, the Guard has indicated areas not being used for training will be open to public recreation, with notice being posted two days in advance on site and through Gruber's Web site. Hunting regulations for this fall's seasons will be the same as they have been previously, with the new changes taking effect Jan. 1.
Also approved at the March meeting were changes in feral hog hunting regulations at Honobia Creek, Three Rivers and Broken Bow wildlife management areas. Like the changes at Camp Gruber, the new provisions will not go into effect until next January (specifically Jan. 16, 2003). Commissioners expanded feral hog hunting opportunities to include the deer archery and deer muzzleloader seasons.
Currently, feral hogs may only be hunted during the nine-day deer gun season. Hog hunting will be restricted to those nine days only for this coming fall, with the new changes not taking effect until the following season. Hog hunting will be restricted to means and methods legal for that particular season (for example, they can only be hunted with a bow and arrow during archery season) and anyone hunting hogs during the firearms deer seasons must possess a filled or unfilled deer license.
In other business, the Commission voted to enter into an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT), with the Wildlife Department transferring five of its six radio towers, and their maintenance, to the DOT. The Department will seek a similar agreement with another entity for the sixth tower, which is in Antlers. The Department's radio repeaters, and those of other existing tenants, will remain on all the towers, but the maintenance requirements and costs will largely be assumed by the DOT.
Also at the March meeting, Commissioners:
- Voted to accept a $137,850 grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to construct small islands in wetland units at Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area in southwest Oklahoma. The grant is 100 percent cost-reimbursable, meaning the Department must pay for the work, but will be repaid when it is completed.
- Received a legislative update from Executive Director Greg Duffy. A number of fish and wildlife bills are making their way through the legislative process, including a measure that would expand the current state waterfowl hunting license to be required of all game bird hunters. It would also increase the cost from $4 to $7.50 for residents, with funds being allocated to both waterfowl/wetlands and upland game bird habitat projects. A current summary of active fish and wildlife legislation is available through the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com
- Heard from Dr. Terry Bidwell, professor of rangeland ecology and management at Oklahoma State University, regarding a proposal to bring all of its natural resources curriculum into a more well-rounded fish and wildlife degree program. Bidwell also touched on several topics relating to wildlife management, including the increased acceptance of prescribed fire as both a safety tool and a means for improving wildlife habitat.
Commission vice-chairman Vyrl Keeter was recognized with a certificate of appreciation from fellow Commissioners for his efforts in forging the Camp Gruber memorandum of understanding. Keeter said the area has long been a popular outdoor recreation destination in northeast Oklahoma, and he was pleased to have been part of the process to bring the two state agencies together.
Melinda Sturgess-Streich, chief of administration for the Wildlife Department, was recognized with two awards, one from the Government Accounting Standards Board for her and Accounting Supervisor Michelle Chapple's leadership in achieving early compliance with the new GASB 34 accounting standards, and one from Director Duffy for her outstanding efforts in providing services to the state's sportsmen. Among other things, the Department was the first state to allow hunters to apply on-line for controlled hunts, and current efforts center around developing an on-line license sales system.
Also recognized at the March meeting was State Game Warden Randy Fennell, stationed in LeFlore County, as the National Wild Turkey Federation's 2001 Oklahoma Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Farm Bill heads for conference committee
The 2002 federal farm bill reauthorization is working its way through the legislative process, with the House and Senate both adopting versions of the bill with important fish and wildlife provisions. The legislation is now headed for a joint conference committee.
"Oklahoma is more than 95 percent privately owned, and because the farm bill focuses on conservation incentives for private landowners, it can have far-reaching impacts on our wildlife habitat," said John Hendrix, private lands biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Over the past two decades, many conservation programs from the farm bill have played key roles in improving fish and wildlife habitat and increasing the quality of our environment, not to mention that they have provided much-needed economic benefits to the state's farmers and ranchers."
Hendrix added that landowner participation in farm bill conservation programs reflects their support and commitment to natural resources.
"Many of these programs have been modified and improved over the years," he said. "And both agricultural production organizations and wildlife groups are viewing this year's renewal as an opportunity to improve the conservation programs even more."
The Wildlife Society, an international non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to sustainable management of wildlife resources and their habitats, is seeking the following six environmental provisions:
1. Restore the Conservation Reserve Program enrollment cap to its original 1985 level of 45 million acres.
2. Expand the Wetland Reserve Program to accommodate enrollment of 250,000 acres per year.
3. Expand the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program to authorize expenditures of $100 million annually.
4. Establish a Grassland Reserve Program with a minimum of a 2 million-acre enrollment cap.
5. Establish a voluntary incentive program to reward the implementation of conservation practices on working lands.
6. Establish a monitoring and assessment program to assess the environmental and economic effectiveness of Farm Bill conservation programs.
"Adequate funding will be the key to the success of any of the farm bill conservation programs," Hendrix said. "It's an investment in our future, though, one that will pay dividends for everyone who enjoys wildlife."
For more information on the status of the farm bill's reauthorization, consult the Wildlife Society's Web site at www.wildlife.org.
Wildlife employment exam scheduled
Game wardens, wildlife and fisheries biologists or technicians, fish hatchery managers and wildlife information specialists are common job titles within the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). As part of its selection procedures, the ODWC requires persons seeking positions to take a standardized employment exam before being considered for open positions.
On Friday, March 29, the ODWC is offering its standardized employment exam at 10:00 a.m. at the Tom Steed Development Center Auditorium located on the Rose State College campus. The Center is located immediately north off of I-40 on Hudiburg Road in Midwest City. The exam is free and participants must have photo identification upon check-in. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the examination room past 10:00 a.m.
"Two different exams will be given," said Kyle Eastham, ODWC's Human Resource Administrator. " One exam is for biologist, game warden, assistant hatchery manager and information specialist level positions. These positions require a Bachelor's level college degree. The other exam is for technician level positions, which typically require either two years of college coursework in wildlife or a related field, or four to six years of similar job experience."
Eastham said that job and education requirements must be met prior to taking the exams. Specific job and education requirements for ODWC positions as well as suggested study material for the exams are listed on the Department's official Web site www.wildlifedepartment.com. In addition, the ODWC's Requirements and Selection Procedures brochure can be picked up at either ODWC Headquarters in Oklahoma City, or their regional office located at Tulsa Expo Square.
Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month period. Test scores are valid for 12 months from the test date. Participating in the exam does not guarantee employment or that there are any current job openings. Participating in the exam also does not guarantee an individual will be contacted for an interview if a job opening becomes available.
Department offers youth wildlife camp
Youth interested in wildlife, fisheries or law enforcement can learn the basics by attending the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's fourth annual Wildlife Youth Camp. The camp is conducted each year by wildlife professionals including game wardens and biologists.
The camp, scheduled June 9-14 at Camp McFadden near Ponca City, is open to Oklahoma youths ages 14 to 16. Additionally, applicants must have been enrolled in school during the 2001-2002 school year. Participants will attend courses in firearms handling, wildlife law enforcement, wildlife and fisheries biology, water safety, self-defense, rifle and shotgun training, waterfowl hunting, and archery.
The camp is free of charge but will be limited to 35 participants. Applicants should be interested in fish and wildlife management or law enforcement and must submit a 75-word essay explaining why they want to attend the camp; why they believe they should be selected and what they expect to learn while attending. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a person of their choice other than a family member.
The application deadline is April 15. To obtain applications, contact the Wildlife Department's Law Enforcement Division at P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, or by calling 405/521-3719. Applications may also be available from local wardens or from the Wildlife Department's Web site www.wildlifedepartment.com. Simply print off the application, fill it out and mail it in with the essay and letter of recommendation.
|Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation personnel will be addressing various quail management issues
in a series of public meetings to be held across the state.
"This is a great opportunity for individuals interested in quail management to come out and talk about topics affecting quail including, predators, hunting pressure and the quail initiative," said Mike Sams, upland game biologist for the Wildlife Department.
Sams said that the state's new 10-point quail initiative focuses on maintaining healthy quail populations in Oklahoma. Parts of the plan include seeking funding to provide incentives to landowners to enhance habitat, identifying key areas for habitat improvements, educating the public about quail and working with public utilities and the Department of Transportation in developing right of way management practices that conserve nesting habitat for quail and other grassland birds.
|Population surveys
show quail numbers are down over most of the state, a trend observed
throughout the entire southeastern United States. Even with recent
declines, Oklahoma is one of the few remaining states where hunters can
pursue relatively large numbers of wild quail. Hunters harvest an
estimated one to two million birds a year in the state, which consistently
ranks nationally in the top three for harvest.
Sams added that through sound management and cooperation with landowners, Oklahomans can ensure that the state remains one of the top quail states in the nation.
"Through the meetings we hope to provide some insight on the status of quail in Oklahoma and the things that we can do to ensure that the quail population continues to thrive in Oklahoma," Sams said.
The following is a list of the meetings and their locations. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
March 28 - Tulsa
April 1 - Oklahoma City
April 8 - Clinton
April 11 - Enid
April 15 - McAlester
April 19 - Idabel
April 22 - Lawton
April 25 - Ardmore
April 29 - Woodward
|State wildlife enthusiasts can
show their support for Oklahoma's wildlife by making a donation on the
state income tax form. The refund check-off provides vital funding for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Wildlife Diversity Program.
"For more than 18 years, Oklahomans have been supporting non-game species conservation work by donating a small portion of their state tax refund," said Julian Hilliard, natural resources information specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). "This year, the need for donations is greater than ever because we need to generate matching funds to secure federal wildlife conservation grants that can be used for a variety of restoration programs.
|"Without these
donations, will not be able to take full advantage of federal conservation
grants to states," said Hilliard.
The Wildlife Diversity Program performs surveys of rare species, engages in conservation management field work, produces a variety of educational wildlife brochures and guides, coordinates wildlife-viewing events throughout the state, and helps establish new places and opportunities through which the public can enjoy wildlife.
Hilliard said tax donations from past years have recently helped the ODWC implement 10 new federally-funded wildlife conservation and restoration program projects. These include funding phase one of the western Oklahoma birding trail, a new amphibian and reptile field guide, a new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) laboratory and other progressive projects. The Program is also planning viewing tours to the popular Selman Bat Cave this summer, and a range of other opportunities at Watchable Wildlife Areas throughout the state.
Individuals can mark their refund donation on the appropriate line of the state tax form, or instruct their tax preparer to make the donation. Direct donations can also be made out to: Wildlife Diversity Program, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, OKC, OK 73152.
The Wildlife Department is funded by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, federal excise taxes placed on hunting and fishing equipment and by private donations. The Department does not receive any general state tax appropriations. Contact the Wildlife Diversity Program at 405/521-4616 for more information, or visit the Department's official Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
|As part of its selection
procedures, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
requires prospective job candidates to take a standardized employment exam
before being considered for open positions. The next exam is being offered
later this month.
On Friday, March 29, the ODWC is offering its standardized employment exam at 10:00 a.m. at the Tom Steed Development Center Auditorium located on the Rose State College campus. The Center is located immediately north off of I-40 on Hudiburg Road in Midwest City. The exam is free and participants must have photo identification upon check-in. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the examination room past 10:00 a.m.
|There are two
different exams for job seekers. The first exam is for technician level
positions that require either two years of job related college courses or
equivalent experience. The other exam is for biologist/game
warden/specialist level positions that require a Bachelor's level degree.
Job and education requirements must be met prior to taking the exams.
Specific job and education requirements for ODWC positions as well as
suggested study material for the exams are listed on the Department's
official Web site www.wildlifedepartment.com. In addition, the
ODWC's Requirements and Selection Procedures brochure can be picked up at
either ODWC Headquarters in Oklahoma City, or at the agency's Tulsa
Office at Expo Square. Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month
period. Test scores are valid for 12 months from the test date.
Participating in the exam does not guarantee employment or that there are
any current job openings. Participating in the exam also does not
guarantee an individual will be contacted for an interview if a job
opening becomes available.
|The predawn stillness is shattered
when the hoot of a barred owl seemingly says, "Who cooks for you!…
Who cooks for you-all!" Before the last note of the owl's call,
however, a different sound resonates-"Gobble, gobble, gobble!"
The gobble of the wild turkey signals the onset of the mating season and
is also a signal to turkey hunters to prepare for the upcoming hunting
In most parts of Oklahoma, spring turkey season runs a full month from April 6 through May 6. Hunters pursuing the Eastern wild turkey in the eight southeastern-most counties have from April 6 to April 28 to pursue toms. Despite a long season and huntable populations in all 77 Oklahoma counties, harvesting a wild turkey is no easy task. Experienced turkey hunters agree that besides practicing various turkey calls, pre-season scouting and patterning your shotgun are keys to success once the season begins.
|"Easily, the most important thing a turkey hunter can do is to get
out in the woods prior to the season to scout for turkeys," said Bill
Dinkines, assistant chief of wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). "Having said that however, there is a
right way and a wrong way to scout for turkeys. The best way to scout for
turkeys is to go out just before dawn and listen for toms while they are
still in their roost trees. If you locate a roost, do not approach closer
than 250 yards. The less disturbance to the roost, the more likely the
birds will continue to roost in that area, which will make the job of
locating them much easier when the season arrives."
Dinkines added that other ways to scout should include looking for turkey sign during mid day, such as tracks, droppings, dusting areas and feathers. If droppings and feathers are found below large cottonwood trees in western Oklahoma, there is a good chance that the trees are used as a roost.
In southeastern Oklahoma, Eastern wild turkeys don't necessarily roost in the same areas every night, so finding subtle signs such as dusting areas, feathers and tracks may be the best indicator of birds using an area. Dinkines cautions pre-season scouters to leave their turkey calls in the truck when they go scouting.
"Turkey hunters should really resist the urge to practice their calls on turkeys during the pre-season. Excessive calling to birds during the pre-season can make gobblers even more wary and call shy once the hunting season starts," Dinkines said.
Dinkines adds that "locator" calls such as barred owl hooters, crow calls, coyote howlers and pileated woodpecker calls are okay to use sparingly to illicit a tom to gobble during the pre-season.
Another very important aspect of pre-season preparation for the turkey hunter is patterning their shotgun. Although there are several special turkey loads on the market, the preferred turkey gauge and load is a 12 gauge using a full choke with number four or number six lead shot. According to Lance Meek, ODWC hunter education coordinator, turkey hunters can make a very simple target to determine their effective range.
"All you need is a large piece of paper and a colored marker," said Meek. "By placing your cupped hand and forearm on the paper and tracing around it, you've simulated the approximate size and shape of tom turkey's head and neck."
Meek instructs hunters to start out by placing the target against a safe backstop at a distance of 30 yards. An effective turkey load and choke will place a minimum of five pellets in the head portion of the turkey. Meek adds that even hunters using 10 gauge magnums with an extra-full turkey choke should resist shots greater than 45 yards.
"The pattern of your 10 gauge may show enough pellets in the head portion, but at that distance it becomes a question of pellet energy. The pellets may reach the turkey's head, but by that time they've slowed down and may not produce a lethal shot."
Meek added that even hunters using guns with screw-in choke tubes should pattern their gun prior to the season.
For more information about turkey hunting consult the March/April issue of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine which features the special insert, "The Turkey Hunter's Handbook." Individual copies can be obtained by sending $4 by mail to Outdoor Oklahoma, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, Ok 73152. Additionally, persons who subscribe to Outdoor Oklahoma before April 15 will receive the March/April edition as their first issue.
Subscriptions to Outdoor Oklahoma are $10 for one year, $18 for two years and $25 for three years. Subscriptions can be purchased on the Universal License Form wherever hunting or fishing licenses are sold, or via credit card by calling 1-800-777-0019.
|The days are getting longer across
the Sooner state and that has many outdoor enthusiasts day dreaming about
lunker fish and long-beard turkeys. To fuel those dreams, hunters and
anglers should be sure to check out the latest issue of Outdoor Oklahoma.
"It is a great time to be a sportsman in Oklahoma, the spring
months offer many exciting opportunities to get out and enjoy the
outdoors," said Nels Rodefeld, editor of Outdoor Oklahoma, the
official bi-monthly magazine of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation (ODWC). "The March/April issue features a multitude of
information that can be used by those going afield this spring."
|"The Turkey Hunter's Handbook," a special feature in the
current issue, offers just about all the information a successful turkey
hunter will need. The handbook chronicles the dramatic return of the wild
turkey to the nation's woods and prairies, offers population estimates for
each Oklahoma county, as well as tactics that will help a hunter harvest
the often perplexing bird.
"We worked closely with the National Wild Turkey Federation to produce 'The Turkey Hunter's Handbook,'" Rodefeld said. "Whether this is a hunter's first effort at turkey hunting or whether someone has been hunting turkeys for years, I think they will find some great tips that they can use this spring. Turkey management and the work of conservation groups like the NWTF also is highlighted."
Also included in the March/April issue of Outdoor Oklahoma is the "2002 Angler's Guide."
"'The Angler's Guide' is a great source for fishermen who want to find out where the hottest bass fishing was last year or for people who want to learn more about the fish they are going after," Rodefeld said.
Included in the 'Angler's Guide' is the Department's electrofishing/netting results for the states top gamefish and some helpful hints to ensure anglers come home with a stringer full of fish.
Individual copies of the magazine can be purchased at Department installations or they are available by sending $4 by mail to Outdoor Oklahoma, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Additionally, persons who subscribe to Outdoor Oklahoma before April 15 will receive the March/April edition as their first issue.
Subscriptions to Outdoor Oklahoma are $10 for one year, $18 for two years and $25 for three years. Subscriptions can be purchased on the Universal License Form wherever hunting or fishing licenses are sold, or via credit card by calling 1-800-777-0019.
Holdenville Lake featured on show
Anglers looking for fishing excitement shouldn't overlook bluegills. They may not have the high profile glamour of largemouth bass or stripers, but they can provide exciting angling action and an upcoming episode of Outdoor Oklahoma features sunfishing at Holdenville Lake in east central Oklahoma.
The lake has a tremendous bluegill fishery, and anglers often find large fish protecting their shallow water nests in late spring and early summer. Anglers across the state will enjoy the experience of hooking into Holdenville sunfish during the March 31 episode of Outdoor Oklahoma on OETA. The show airs at 8:00 a.m. on OETA-The Oklahoma Network.
"Pound for pound, sunfish are some of the scrappiest fighters anglers can get on the ends of their lines here in Oklahoma," said Blake Podhajsky, information specialist for the Wildlife Department and producer of the sunfish angling show. "Holdenville Lake has long been known as one of the best in the state for producing some great excitement. Get a can of worms and some light fishing tackle and you've got the makings of a great fishing experience."
Upcoming public meetings on quail management, current spring time fishing reports and all the latest news from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation also will be featured, added Podhajsky.
Outdoor Oklahoma features such topics as fishing, hunting and fisheries, game and non-game wildlife management. The 30-minute program can be seen on OETA- Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. Outdoor Oklahoma can also be seen on the following television stations: KSBI Network (greater OKC metro area), Mondays-5:00 p.m., Thursdays-10: 30 p.m., Saturdays-1:30 p.m.; KTEN (south-central and southeastern Oklahoma) Sundays-5 a.m.; KWEM (Stillwater), Wednesdays-8:00 p.m., Fridays-7:00 p.m. and Sundays-8:00 p.m.
For a complete listing of show times and channels in your viewing area, consult the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com or your local TV guide.
Goose Management Comments Wanted
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on management of resident Canada geese. The service will be accepting public comments regarding goose management over the next two months.
The draft EIS evaluates seven alternative strategies to reduce, manage, and control resident Canada goose populations in the United States. The draft EIS addresses impacts of the various alternatives with regard to their potential impacts on resident Canada goose populations, other wildlife species, natural resources, special status species, and socio-economics.
"Resident geese can cause problems in certain places and at certain times of the year, but overall these birds are a tremendous resource to our state," said Mike O'Meilia, migratory game bird biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "We need the flexibility at a state level to properly manage these birds. One of our most valuable tools for managing resident geese is through carefully regulated hunting opportunity."
According to O'Meilia, it is critical that the states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develop flexible options to properly manage growing populations of Canada geese. He said the management goal is to minimize conflicts with human activities while ensuring the long-term conservation of resident goose populations. The Service's Proposed Alternative (Alternative F) would establish a regulation authorizing state wildlife agencies to conduct or allow population control management activities on resident Canada goose populations. Alternative F would also include criteria for such activities as special expanded harvest opportunities during the portion of the Migratory Bird Treaty closed period (August 1-31), airport, agricultural and public health control, and the non-permitted take of nest and eggs.
As part of the process of finalizing the impact statement, the Fish and Wildlife Service will be accepting public comment on the statement through a series of meetings and through mail-in comment.
"It is important that sportsmen take this opportunity to weigh in on this important migratory game bird management issue," O'Meilia said. "Without input from hunters, future management decisions could be shaped by those opposed to both hunting management strategies and the ability for state conservation agencies to address situations in their local areas."
Requests for copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement should be mailed to Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. Comments on the statement should be sent to the same address. The comment period runs through May 30.
In addition to written comments, the public can attend meetings to address resident Canada goose management. The nearest meetings will be held in Denver, CO, on May 29, at the Colorado Department of Wildlife, Northeast Region Service Center, Hunter Education Building, 6060 Broadway at 7 p.m. and Dallas, TX, on April 1 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown, 300 Reunion Boulevard at 7 p.m.
Big Fish Biting
Early spring can be the prime time to catch big bass, just ask Jim Nunnally who caught a 10.91 pound largemouth bass on Sunday, March 24, out of Lake Keystone.
"Over the years, our largest bass have always been caught around this time of year," said Gene Gilliland, fisheries biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "With the warming water temperatures and lengthening days, this can be a great time of year to catch some nice fish."
The months of March and April have produced 15 of the top 20 largemouth bass in the state.
Nunnally, along with his partner Jim Turner turned in a three-fish 17-pound stringer to win a bass tournament being held on Keystone Lake, located in northeastern Oklahoma. From statistics compiled by Department biologists, Keystone was in the top ten of the best tournament lakes in 2001. Over the past year fisheries biologists cooperated with bass clubs around the state to gather thousands of hours of fishing data from more than 700 tournaments on almost 50 different lakes. Biologists analyzed the information and compiled an overall lake ranking based on five fishing quality factors. Factors included average first place weight, number of bass over five pounds, average pounds per tournament and percent of successful anglers.
For more information about the Oklahoma's best tournament lakes consult the "2002 Anglers Guide" in the March/April issue of Outdoor Oklahoma or log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Department Receives Awards
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation was recently recognized by the Oklahoma Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists. The Society is a nation wide organization formed to promote high standards of excellence among professional journalists.
"For our agency to be effective, it is important that we maintain good communication with our constituents. It is a real honor to be recognized by our peers," said David Warren, information and education chief at the Wildlife Department. "We are going to continue to work hard at providing the best and most accurate information to the public."
Awards were received in the following categories:
• 3rd place in magazine overall excellence for the May/June 2001 issue of Outdoor Oklahoma, the official bi-monthly magazine of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
• 3rd place feature photography for Outdoor Oklahoma's Reader's Photo section. The Readers Photo section, in its tenth year, has become one of the most popular features in the magazine and features outdoor photography from both novice and professional photographers from around the state.
• TV special program or series: Honorable Mention-Outdoor Oklahoma's 25th Anniversary Show. Outdoor Oklahoma features such topics as fishing, hunting; and wildlife management. The 30-minute program is produced by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. For a complete listing of show times and channels consult the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
• Videography: 2nd place for the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History feature, produced by Steve Webber.
• Public Relations Promotional Material: Honorable Mention - The Wildlife Habitat Calendar, produced by Brian Barger and John Hendrix .
Turkey Hunting Safety
Although turkey hunting is one of the safest forms of outdoor recreation, that does not mean hunters shouldn't take precautions when going afield.
"Just because turkey hunters don't carry high powered rifles doesn't mean that those participating in the upcoming season can get careless," said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Meek said that following a few simple rules can help hunters ensure they have a safe and successful season.
Top Ten Tips for a Safe Turkey Hunt
1) Hunt preparation - "Just about anybody at any skill level can learn something from a Oklahoma Hunter Education course. It is one of the most important steps in preparing for any hunt," Meek said. For information about course dates call the Hunter Education Hotline at 405/521-4650 or log on to the Department's web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
2) Proper Clothing - "Tom turkeys have some really vibrant colors on their head. Hunters should avoid wearing colors associated with wild turkeys, including red, white and blue," Meek said. Wearing those colors may confuse other hunters. Wearing blaze orange during the spring wild turkey season is an option worth considering, especially when moving between calling locations.
3) Safety First - Following these five simple safety rules listed below will help assure a safe hunt:
- Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.
- Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond.
- Know your hunting area and its safe zone of fire.
- If hunting with companions, know their locations.
4) Hunter Awareness - "Whenever you're in the woods you should always be aware that other hunters may be in the area," Meek said. If you're unsure about another hunter's position, stop calling and reassess the situation. In addition, Meek said that stalking turkeys is usually not only unproductive, it can also be dangerous.
5) Where to Call - "Always keep safety in mind when setting up to call, sit at the base of a tree which has a trunk wider than your body. This way you can see an approaching hunter and you are protected from the rear," Meek said.
6) Using a Decoy - Safety-conscious hunters are very careful when using a decoy. If you decide to use one, place it so you will be out of the line of fire. Put a tree between you and the decoy. If you are in the open, place the decoy so it faces directly toward or away from you and can be seen by approaching hunters from all directions. Always carry decoys in a bag or backpack going to and from hunting sites.
7) Calling - Your turkey calls may sound like a real turkey to other hunters, so be alert. Don't use calls that imitate a gobbler, you may attract other hunters in the area. Experienced turkey hunters believe it's dangerous and unnecessary. Also, electronic turkey calls are illegal in Oklahoma.
8) Other Hunters - "Don't wave your hand as a signal to other hunters, always use your voice to identify yourself," Meek said.
9) Identifying Your Target - "This is obviously the most important part of a safe turkey hunt. It is imperative that the hunter know exactly what the target is," Meek said. "Be absolutely sure the bird you see is a legal turkey. In the 'gobbler only' season, this means you must see the beard as a positive means of identifying the bird. Never shoot at noise, movement or color."
10) Leaving the Woods - Once you have bagged your turkey or have decided to quit hunting for the day, unload your firearm. If you're an annual license/permit holder and have shot a turkey, you are required to complete the Record of Game section on the back of the license form. All persons, including lifetime license holders, taking a turkey must immediately upon harvesting a bird securely attach their name and hunting license number to the harvested bird. Then wrap the bird in camouflage or blaze orange before carrying it through the woods. Walking through the woods wearing a blaze orange vest using the most visible route to your vehicle will also help protect you.
Turkey season runs April 6 through May 6 statewide, except in the eight southeastern most counties (Atoka, Choctaw, Coal, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Pittsburg, Pushmataha) where the season opens April 6 and closes April 28.
The total spring bag limit is three tom turkeys, however hunters must comply with regulations that pertain to the number of toms that can be harvested from each region and county. All turkeys taken east of I-35 must be checked at the nearest open hunter check station or with an authorized Wildlife Department employee. For complete turkey hunting regulations consult the 2001-2002 Oklahoma Hunting Guide & Regulations, or log on to wildlifedepartment.com


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Cal battled back from a 15-point deficit to get within three before BYU pulled away to a 43-33 victory and repeat as Varsity Cup national rugby champions Saturday in Sandy, Utah.
The Bears (18-3) scored five tries, but the Cougars (18-1) had seven, including two by Fijian fullback Josh Whippy.
Winger Andrew Battaglia led Cal with two tries.
"They were very, very good today," Cal coach Jack Clark said of BYU. "They're the national collegiate champions on merit. … It has been a great tournament and we all salute the Cougars."
BYU has now won the title contest against Cal for the third time in eight attempts (2009, 2013-14).
"All credit to Cal — we knew we were in for a battle and they made us work hard for it," BYU coach David Smyth said. "That's a very good Cal team."
Seamus Kelly, the first three-time captain in Cal's 132-year history, competed in his final collegiate 15s match.
"It's tough," Kelly said. "You always want to go out on a winning note but I'm proud of the effort the guys put forth."
College volleyball
Cody Caldwell had 20 kills and top-seeded Loyola of Chicago beat Stanford 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 25-15 in Chicago for its first NCAA men's title. Brian Cook had 15 kills for the Cardinal (24-9). The Ramblers (29-1) won their final 27 matches after losing to USC on Jan. 4. West Coast schools have won 40 of the 45 NCAA titles. Penn State won two championships, and Ohio State one. Lewis' 2003 title was vacated due to player eligibility.
College baseball
Cal (19-23, 7-13 Pac-12) scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning to make it somewhat respectable in a 10-4 loss to No. 2 Oregon State. Max Dutto had a two-run double in the inning for Cal.
College softball
Ally Carda hit a three-run homer and pitched a three-hitter, as No. 2 UCLA team rolled 9-0 over Stanford (29-22, 4-16 Pac-12) in five innings.
College crew
The second-ranked Cal men's team swept No. 11 Stanford, winning the varsity eight, second varsity eight and freshman eight races to capture the 81st Big Row at Redwood Shores. With the varsity eight win, the Bears captured the Schwabacher Cup. No. 4 Stanford took five of six women's races from No. 2 Cal. The Cardinal also captured the Lambert Cup, awarded to the winner of the varsity eight race.
Motor sports
Johannes van Overbeek of Oakland will start from the pole in Sunday's TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. He had a fast lap of 102.555 mph during the 15-minute qualifying session at the 2.238-mile road course. Richard Westbrook was second at 102.259. Prototypes and GT Le Mans classes will compete in a two-hour race starting at 2:45 p.m. PC and GT Daytona classes will take part in a two-hour race at 10:15 a.m.
Horse racing
Fury Kapcori led all the way to win the $100,000 Precisionist Stakes by 5¾ lengths at Santa Anita. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Fury Kapcori ($2,80) ran 11/16 miles in 1:42.11. Fury Kapcori is trained and co-owned by Bay Area-based Jerry Hollendorfer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, the national debt is over $16 trillion dollars. Many in Washington, D.C. and in the public have gotten accustomed to throwing such large numbers around, sometimes seemingly forgetting that those nearly inconprehensible numbers represent real money. The below pictures put into perspective just how much money $16 trillion really is.
For some perspective, here is a single $100 bill:


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Creative industries are a major driver of global growth. Success in this rewarding arena requires mastery of vital advocacy and visibility tools, so creative works can "break through the clutter" to reach intended audiences.
Our Creative Industries Major
Similar to a communications major, students in our Creative Industries degree program learn how historical and technological changes drive demand for new culture, and dissect how innovators build content, platforms or services for market success. Our courses immerse you in the specialized techniques creative industries need in film, music, mobile gaming, television, advertising, user interface design, packaging, promotion, information architecture, and sports or entertainment public relations. This highly interactive communications degree offers flexibility and customization — a hallmark of all successful creative industries. A variety of offerings and open elective slots help you tailor your academic experience to your interests and your future.


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Submitted by Food Democracy Now on June 13, 2012 - 7:38am
A high-stakes food fight in California is getting more heated. A proposal to require labeling of foods with genetically engineered ingredients has qualified to appear on the state ballot Nov. 6.
That puts California on the front line of a national fight over genetically engineered crops. Such crops have had their DNA artificially altered by genes from other plants, animals, viruses or bacteria, says Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the California Right to Know group, which launched the ballot measure.
The voter initiative comes 10 years after a similar measure in Oregon failed. Recent attempts to pass labeling laws in Connecticut and Vermont failed in those states' legislatures.
Supporters say California will be different.
"It took us just 10 weeks to gather 971,126 signatures," Malkan says. "People have a right to know what's in the food we eat and feed to our children."
She says voters are concerned about the possible health effects of genetically engineered foods, such as an allergic reaction.
There could be environmental ramifications as well, Malkan says, such as unintentional crop contamination. For example, pollinating bees could carry the genes of a genetically engineered crop to another field that has organic produce.
If passed, the law would take effect July 1, 2014, requiring that all foods containing genetically engineered ingredients be labeled "Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering" or "May be Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering."
Exceptions: alcohol and food sold in restaurants. Animals that are fed genetically altered food, and are then eaten by humans, are also exempt.
The Coalition Against the Costly Food Labeling Proposition responded aggressively to news of the proposal vote.
"The funders of this deceptive measure want to put scary-sounding labels on safe, (genetically engineered) products so they can gain market share," says spokeswoman Kathy Fairbanks.
"This is really an attempt to ban" these foods, says Brandon Castillo, another coalition spokesman. Food companies will either face the cost of new labels for the California market or, to avoid the stigma of what he calls "a de facto warning label," reformulate their products to remove genetically engineered ingredients.
"These foods are perfectly safe and thoroughly tested," Castillo says.
The Coalition Against the Costly Food Labeling Proposition is funded by farmers, food producers, the Council for Biotechnology Information and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
The California Right to Know initiative is funded by thousands of donors, including organic farmers and natural product manufacturers, Malkan says.
An IBOPE Zogby International poll in March found that 87% of U.S. adults agree that genetically modified foods should be labeled.
Labeling of genetically modified foods is required in the European Union and Japan, among other countries. Currently, the only U.S. state that requires labeling is Alaska, where genetically modified fish and shellfish must be labeled. That's in response to a proposal before the Food and Drug Administration to allow sale of salmon that has been genetically modified to grow more quickly than regular salmon.
In crops, genetic engineering is used to boost production or lower costs. The plants are generally modified to resist weed killers or to generate their own insect repellent. Varieties of papaya and summer squash have been engineered to resist viruses.
In the United States, 95% of sugar beets are genetically engineered, 94% of soybeans and 88% of feed corn.
Those are consumed mostly in the form of sugar, corn starch, corn oil, high-fructose corn syrup and various soy products. "It's primarily in processed foods," Malkan says. "It's very minimal in terms of whole foods that people eat."
Contributing: Laura Petrecca
View the original article at USA Today
Photo Credit: Toby Talbot, AP
View the original article at USA Today
Photo Credit: Toby Talbot, AP


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Clearly it's feasible however there are a whole lot of flippant solutions that act there's absolutely nothing various regarding 'dropping in love' with a sex employee. If you do think in that kind of point after that I would certainly claim it isn't an extremely excellent basis for a partnership. The factors why this could be a lot more tough with a sex employee are:
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Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
It has been frequently mentioned herein to plug the two "hot slot" holes in intake manifolds used on Q-Jet cars with two 7/16 steel freeze plugs, as a fire prevention measure. Other enthusiast websites have similar recommendations to perform this measure, with the added suggestion to also modify the exhaust manifold heat riser valve by removing the round metal plate from the shaft inside the heat riser.Is it advisable or nessessary to remove the plate from inside the heat riser when plugging the hot slot holes? Perhaps JohnZ can chime in on this with his thoughts.As always, Thanks!
the paint on the manifold still chars. Anyway to get around that?
...and I may put a gasket on both sides of the baffle to ensure a good seal and to keep the carb a bit cooler.


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1350mm x 970mm x 12mm Toughened & Heat Soaked Glass Balustrade Panel
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Fences Galore QLD Pty Ltd has been established since 1997. We are a family owned business and are situated at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. Our expanding business is committed to keeping up with the latest fencing styles and designs. While we are able to offer a personal face service to our clients on the Gold Coast, we endeavour to offer our professional and personal service to our interstate customers as well.
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Singer Fiona Apple has been arrested in Texas after border patrol authorities allegedly found hashish and marijuana on her tour bus.
The Criminal hitmaker was taken into custody in Sierra Blanca on Wednesday.
The 35 year old is currently being held at the Hudspeth County Jail on possession charges, according to TMZ.com.
The town is notorious for celebrity drug arrests – singer Willie Nelson, rapper Snoop Dogg and actor Armie Hammer have all been busted on drug-related charges there in recent years.


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Today's keynotes saw two old familiar faces; Marco Tilli and Sohaib Abassi, both long time friends of the conference and in their time, were Volley Ball players on whichever beach or piece of sand wherever that year's ODTUG conference was being held. Back, this time not talking about Forms, Portal or Designer, but how we should all by now be more aware of SOA, of how business services can be reused, of integration and of the whole importance of data integration and its importance in the industry today.
With Java and the whole J2EE explosion, ODTUG have had to reinvent themselves. Something I was not sure they'd do with success, but I think they have cracked it. The halls are buzzing with old familiar faces. Some developers are not currently working with Oracle technology, yet still they return, the contacts and friends made at this event too important to lose. Other developers are reinventing themselves, learning new technology and bringing wisdom and experience to the table. This year, not too many grumpy old men!
Interesting too was the large number of first timers at the conference this year. I'm always amazed at this, the number of newbies arriving at the various conferences I attend. It's always a healthy percentage.
This year's ODTUG conference offers half day hands-on sessions alongside regular presentations. The weekend prior to the event, they ran a full day Web Architecture Symposium, which I have only heard highest praise for, and a couple of full day hands on sessions. I'd say attendees can get their monies worth if they participate in all on offer, specially if they get involved and mingle and talk, listen and learn!
Peer Reviews
The first talk I attended was Kent Graziano's talk, "Data Design Reviews: Using Extreme Humiliation to Ensure Quality Data Models". What a title!
Using the peer reviews they use within his department as a basis for his talk, he told us about building effective data models. They have a fixed set of standards, build logical models, which must conform to those standards, and have rigorous peer reviews. Once accepted, these logical models are then transformed to physical models, which have to conform to standards, and then have rigorous reviews of these. If and when these all pass and are accepted, the DDL is generated and reviewed before being passed on to the department that consumes them. They do not spend months on building models before reviews, but have incremental builds, so the review is brief, less than an hour, and they have them often.
I think the rigorous could be scary, specially for new folk, but the peer to peer knowledge transfer and the team work must outweigh any disadvantages. I loved the sound of the approach. (Specially having seen a few sick models in my time) I also think this practice can and should be translated to any part of a company - from those writing coding, to those writing papers and producing power point presentations. You might think this would slow down the pace, but I suspect teams would be more efficient, and the resulting work of a much higher quality.
If you can, take a look at Kent's paper on the ODTUG site. It should be up after the conference. Kent is also author of a few books on data models, if you are on the lookout for one.


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John Brooks Binns was my Paternal great-grandfather. He was tall and skinny and had blonde hair and blue eyes. He was married to the love of his life, Blanche Kathryn Hill and they had three beautiful little girls, Kitty, Barbara, and Brooxine Binns. John was a member of the Big 3 Little 3 Press Association in college and played football for the Monticello A&M Bollwevils in Arkansas. He was a meat cutter for Krogers grocery for ten years and when his kids were old enough to go to high school he and his wife went back to school and became school teachers. He taught 5th grade until he retired in 1975.
This post is part of a Monthly First Friday blogging theme suggested by Dee Akard Welborn. Dee encourages geneabloggers to highlight our funeral card collections on the first Friday of each month. You can join the fun on Facebook here as well!
Filed under: Arkansas, Binns, Funeral Card Friday | Tagged: Binns | Leave a comment »


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Thaw the frozen raspberries, if using.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Sift the flour, almonds, salt and cinnamon into a bowl and rub in the butter, mix in the sugar. Add the beaten egg and milk to make a scone-like dough. Divide the dough in 2 and gently shape each half to fit into greased 8-inch sandwich tins. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. When cold spread one of the layers with raspberry jam, then generously with the double cream and raspberries. Sprinkle raspberries with icing sugar, cover with the second layer and top with more cream. Decorate with a few raspberries. Best eaten when fresh.


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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Quick ramble
Anywhoo, it feels weird to write a post without any pics so here's some shots of a new toy I have in my office, which some of you might find quite useful/interesting:
It's this cool little add-on to my printer called a CIS. Ink gets fed in to the printer from 6 large ink bottles, which makes printing SOOOOOOO much cheaper than those hideously expensive cartridges. Perfect for small business people like me who chew through lots of ink printing labels and proofs and things. More info here.
In shop news, some fabric mix packs and notebook kits are going up in the shop tomorrow morning :)
Oh and thanks for the great response to the Xmas designs - quite overwhelming! I'm not sure when they'll be up and available on the Moo site, but I'll let you know when they are!
10 comments:
- de vliegende koe said...
I love your Christmas designs! Yesterday your fabric arrived. It's sooo beautiful!!
- 7:03 pm
- Becka said...
That is one awesome new toy! Oh my, great idea, I didn't even know they had something like that. My printer is all messed up, so sad. I am going to be getting a new one soon.
I can't wait to see your Christmas designs, good luck. I shall wait to place a moo order till the new stuff is out. :) Love your work, always.
- 11:20 pm
- nicole lecht said...
i just posted about being a slacker too, your not the only one who feels bad! ...package is coming! oh and YES, we can do fabric...i found a way!!!!!
- 11:20 pm
Hey Lara! Love the reindeer. They are so cute. I am looking forward to your next etsy fabric sale. Thanks for sending us advance notice. :) That printer is cool. I hope something similar is available in the States.
- 12:31 am
- lekkercraft said...
That printer ink extension is brilliant! I always just refilled my cartridges to save $$. Thanks for the tip.
- 12:32 am
- Kirsty said...
That IS a good idea.
- 11:51 am
- Lark said...
Thanks for this, I'm going to look into it, I go through so much ink with my two printers. It's not so much the expense that bothers me but the fact that I'm using so much plastic - my inkjet printer has cartridges that you can't even get refilled. Last week I went to buy a new set of cartridges at $65 and next to them on the shelf was a whole new printer with a set of cartridges included for only $70. What's going on here?!
- 2:51 pm
that is so cool... i need that for my printer too. love your work.
- 8:33 pm
- Poonum said...
Hi Lara,
Love your stuff...I live in London, and have been trying to get hold of a Gocco...was wondering if you could let me know the link you put on your site. I don't mind having it shipped from another country, or to another country to someone I know.
Do you post your lovely stuff to the UK??
- 4:58 am
- Lara said...
Hi Poonum,
I reckon the best place to get a Gocco from is Welsh Products:
Or you can get a second hand one off Ebay :)
Hope that helps!
- 8:50 am


text:
The Wikipedia definition is:
Remote viewing (RV) is the practice of seeking impressions about a distant or unseen target using subjective means, in particular, extra-sensory perception (ESP) or "sensing with mind".
Typically a remote viewer is expected to give information about an object, event, person or location that is hidden from physical view and separated at some distance.
You may wonder why, if there is any truth to this, doesn't the military use it for espionage? It turns out they did try it with the Stargate Project, but with no results. If you are a conspiracy theorist, like Mulder from the X-Files, you may think they are simply not divulging the whole truth. (So that neither proves nor disproves anything).
(I'm going to follow the scientific procedure. Knowing how subjective dreams and altered states of awareness can be, I'll try the best I can.)
- Tools you'll need:
- A deck of cards
- A place to sleep (near the cards preferably)
- The ability to lucid dream, and preferably those OBE-type ones where you become aware in your own bed and can see your own room. (It's the closest thing to Remote Viewing that I know of).
Is is possible to view a playing card that is unbeknownst to you when awake, but see it in an altered state of consciousness?
One will see a random card of their subconscious's choosing.
Shuffle the cards, and take the top one off and prop it up against something so it is visible, but not from your current angle. It is unknown to you. Go to sleep, have a vivid lucid dream that takes place in your own home (preferably one that feels like an OBE) and try and view that card.
I can only share my experience in subjective story form, but it is the closest thing to scientific data any lucid dream/OBE experiment can provide. I will share my attempt and am eager for others to try as well.


text:
I wish a happy new year to you all!
The artist who signed the picture is Jenny Nyström and the subject is called simply "Santa Claus".
And as you see, the card is from 100 years ago....
|This is Jenny Nyström
June 13, 1854 - January 17, 1946.
|This two cards with Swedish "Tomtar"is also made of Jenny Nyström.
|This beautiful card is also made of Jenny Nyström.
|This is an old New Year card, I do not know who have made it but I think it is beautiful!
I hope that the new year will be a good year.
My hope is that, in the coming year, I will try to present some good genealogy links,
which is helpful for me and hopefully for other researchers.
I also hope that I can help others find their ancestors who emigrated from Sweden,
you can look at some videos here: http://swedenroots.se/
"All for Sweden". They are from Swedish television.
There are some examples of how it can be when you come to Sweden and see how and where your ancestors lived ...
You probably need to use your handkerchief ...
I also hope that I'll manage to find my grandmother's brother, Johan August Johnson,
born in Borås Nov. 14, 1867 ( my "concrete hard brick wall")
he emigrated 1891 to the United States, South Bend,
along with his sister Jenny Amalia.
I'll try to make a plan for my search and also try to move forward systematically in my search ...
wish me luck ;))
|This is gorgeous lilies of the valley, a little taste of spring which I hope will come soon ...


text:
World Bulletin/News Desk
German prosecutors said on Friday they had arrested two Dutch citizens suspected of taking part in a $45 million global cyber heist unveiled the previous day by U.S. authorities.
A 35-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman were caught on Feb. 19 withdrawing 170,000 euros ($220,500) in Düsseldorf using Bank of Muscat credit cards. In total, $2.4 million dollars was withdrawn in seven German cities, the prosecutors said.
On Thursday, U.S. prosecutors said an international criminal gang had stolen $45 million from two Middle Eastern banks by hacking into credit card processing firms and withdrawing money from cash machines in 27 countries.
The ringleaders of the global operation were believed to be outside the United States but U.S. prosecutors have declined to give details, citing the continuing investigation. Germany is the only other country so far to announce arrests.
A spokesman for the Düsseldorf prosecutor's office said the two Dutch people under arrest had come to Düsseldorf with the purpose of withdrawing money in Germany. The two suspects are accused of computer fraud and faking credit cards.
Germany's banking association, BdB, said it was not aware of any banks in Germany suffering losses as a result of the scheme.
In the complaint on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department accused eight men of withdrawing $2.4 million from 3,000 bank cash machines in New York in the space of 10 hours in February. The Department said seven of the men have been arrested.
Dominican police on Friday confirmed that the eighth, Alberto Lajud-Pena, allegedly the leader of the New York cell, was killed in the Dominican Republic on April 27.
Lajud-Pena was shot dead in a robbery at a house in the town of San Francisco de Macoris, about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Santo Domingo, local police said. Investigators found $100,000 in cash in the house, as well as an M-16 assault rifle, two 9 mm pistols, a revolver, ammunition clips and a telescopic sight. It was not clear if the killing or the money were related to the cyber thefts.
According to the Justice Department, the hackers allegedly increased the available balance and withdrawal limits on prepaid MasterCard debit cards issued by Bank of Muscat of Oman, and National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah PSC (RAKBANK) of the United Arab Emirates.
They then distributed counterfeit debit cards to "cashers" around the world, enabling them to siphon millions of dollars from cash machines in a matter of hours, the complaint said.
National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK) said on Friday the fraud against it took place at the end of last year and resulted in losses of around $4.7 million for the United Arab Emirates-based lender.
RAKBANK Chief Executive Graham Honeybill said he believed the fraud went wider than lenders in the Gulf region. "We are given to understand that the overall fraud encompassed a number of banks not only in the Middle East but in the USA and other countries," Honeybill said in a statement.
The amount of the potential loss for RAKBANK was 17.4 million UAE dirhams ($4.7 million) and this had been fully provided for before it closed its 2012 accounts, Honeybill said.
"The bank can confirm that none of its customers suffered any financial loss as a result of this fraud," he added.
The incident related to events in December 2012 and involved the bank's service provider in India, he said, without naming the provider or giving any further details.Last Mod: 11 Mayıs 2013, 11:21


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|The street at Republican guards HQ sit in "Amina Ismail"
This is not good on all levels. This can be a start of something similar to what happened in Algeria.
There are videos , photos as well testimonies from both sides.
There are some facts thought :
According to the ministry of health not less than 42 were killed and at least 322 have been injured. At least there are no children killed in the clashes.
There are no children killed in the attack according to the ministry of health unlike what the Muslim brotherhood is saying and claiming. Unfortunately they are using photos from children that were killed in Syria as children killed in the clashes.
We know also is that the army blocked certain roads and at the same time there are reports that the army withdrew from Salah Salem area.
A Fact : There are people who are killed , those are people in the end of day and Egyptians.
Another Fact : Many Egyptians do not believe the Muslim brotherhood due to their constant lies even those revolutionaries who tasted the bitterness of SCAF rule. Many Egyptians believe that the MB supporters were planning for a sinister thing and that they were there to provoke the army. "Why would they have a sit in at a military facility !?"I heard of this today.
Important fact : There were not Egyptian reporters in the sit in because the reporters were treated badly and attacked in the MB sits in , I know two Egyptian photographers who were attacked for no reason. The Egyptian channels are biased of course against the MB , it is a not a surprise. It is better to seek the truth yourself. The Egyptian TV channels consider it a "War on terrorism" and "War on radicalism" with silly logos and 24/7 patriotic songs and lots of lies and rumors inciting incredible hate. Already if it were up to me I would close all the TV channels in Egypt temporarily till things calm down.
Logic Fact : We need clear/unbiased/honest investigation to stand the truth .. not only in this incident if we are seeking democratic progressive Egypt.
Sad Fact : Ramadan is after two days.
The last fact we should know and understand Egypt that we have known and wish for is no longer exists. Egypt has been spilt and there is huge gap now. Egypt needs someone to mend this gap as soon as possible and unit it again. I do not think anyone from the names in the scenes politicians or commanders or spiritual leaders can do this.
Now there are lots of reactions taking place right now. The Egyptian army will hold a press conference sooner to reveal all facts. The Muslim brotherhood is going to do the same.
In no time Mohamed Badie issued a statement on his official Facebook Page , here its English translation by Andeel.
Although the bitterness we all suffer, we are prepared to accept the faithful initiatives that call for restoring legitimacy in full manner, a president, a constitution and a parliament.after that the president will mange a general discussion between all the national powers where all the matters of disapproval will have discussed in order to achieve a patriotic pardon in favor of the national best interest to save the Egyptian blood and to out from the dark tunnel which we were forced into by the military coup that brought the country nearly to the very e edge of doom.Al Nour Party has announced that it will not cooperate with the interim president and is withdrawing from the political life in Egypt.
Mohamed ElBaradei said what I wanted and demanded an investigation.
Violence begets violence and should be strongly condemned. Independent Investigation a must. Peaceful transition is only way .Egyptian Politician Amr Hamazawy demanded the same thing and condemned the attack on the protesters. Of course he is being attacked madly now.
— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) July 8, 2013
The Interim Presidency has ordered an investigation.
The grand Emam of Al Azhar has ordered an investigation. He also demanded that the transitional period not to exceed 6 months.
Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb also declared that he will go in to seclusion till the violence is over !! Amazingly Ramadan is two days away and it is the month of seclusion for committed Muslims !!
The army forces spokesperson will hold a press conference and he is going to show some videos
Now when it comes to the video , here is what the army showed on TV earlier this morning on Egyptian National TV.
The MB held a press conference that was actually a joke nevertheless what the reporters saw in the field hospital of Raba'a where the injured were transferred to was not a joke. In the end now reporters are asking themselves who opened the fire first. Already reporters knew that despite there were many peaceful protesters in the sit in , there were also armed protesters according to eye witnesses.
The MB has called the Egyptians to stand against the army. I hate to break the news but the Egyptians , the majority of the Egyptians are with the army.
By the way a side note the Congress is going to discuss what is happening in Egypt allegedly tody.
Personally I believe both the Muslim brotherhood and Egyptian army have lost today in different ways. The Egyptian army has won the home front but lost the foreign front aka the West support while the Muslim brotherhood has lost the home front but won the foreign front. Amazingly this is what they want.
In the end two days and Egyptians will not think about anything except food and TV soap operas , the dead and injured will be nothing except numbers used in dirty political bargain in the backstage.


text:
F-line to Dudley via Park wrote:It can't be light rail, because PAR has irrevocable trackage rights federally protected from local seizure.
MBTA3247 wrote:F-line to Dudley via Park wrote:It can't be light rail, because PAR has irrevocable trackage rights federally protected from local seizure.
Depending on the branch's traffic level, PAR might be amenable to either selling their rights to the line, or agreeing to time-separated operations.
F-line to Dudley via Park wrote:
So I guess this study bill can be useful for forcing the issue that's been tabled ever since the '04 North Shore Transit Improvements final recs all went unimplemented (except for the slovenly parking garage expansions). Pretending it's going to be an RDC shuttle is a crude, but not necessarily ineffective, attention-getting scheme to finally get someone at MassDOT to return their phone calls after 13 years. Could've been worded a whole lot less cumbersomely, but the intent is completely consistent with the loud advocacy for the branch + associated service increases that's amped up to fever pitch last couple local election cycles.
jbvb wrote:but I don't think I've ever seen one, scheduled or not, between Knights' and current Newburyport (MP 36)
BostonUrbEx wrote:Hopefully you folks are able to access this URL: https://files.slack.com/files-pri/T0A32 ... _19_am.png
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text:
Story highlights
- New research body at Arizona State University aims to bridge gap between the lab and sci-fi inventions
- Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI) brings creative thinkers into collaboration with scientists
- Academic, private corporations and non-profit stakeholders involved in the project
- "Science fiction has a proven ability to inspire scientists and start technological innovation," sci-fi author says
The transition of science-fiction gadgets into scientific reality is seldom a simple process.
More than 20 years on from the Back to the Future trilogy and a breakthrough in hoverboard technology is still eagerly anticipated -- not to mention anything close to "Doc" Brown's time-traveling DeLorean car.
But a new research body at Arizona State University is aiming to bridge the gap between the lab and the most evocative inventions of the sci-fi genre.
The Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI), which opened last month, will bring sci-fi writers into collaboration with inventors, engineers and technologists.
The goal is to create a network hub for so-called "moon shot" ideas, where scientists and artists can meet, converse and potentially put their ideas into practice.
Corporations, including computer-tech behemoth, Intel, and publisher, HarperCollins are already involved with the group's early endeavors.
"It's an unusual thing for a university to do because it brings together a variety of different people who wouldn't usually work together," says CSI director, Ed Finn.
"We want to create conversations that cut across all these different boundaries and get people thinking in a more expansive way about their own work."
One of the center's first projects has pitched acclaimed sci-fi writer, Neal Stephenson, with ASU professor and structural engineer, Keith Hjelmstad.
Stephenson is a chief proponent of the dark sci-fi genre, Cyberpunk, and has spoken publicly and passionately about arresting the malaise he believes has stunted the imagination of American science and science fiction.
The pair have so far probed the viability of a 20-kilometer tall steel tower that could launch vehicles into space more efficiently.
While this may not be a project that can instantly deliver practical results, the hope is it will encourage scientists and sci-fi writers to think big and pose each other challenging questions.
"This is really what the whole Center for Science and the Imagination is all about," says Hjelmstad.
"The writers of science fiction or any writers for that matter are very different from the usual crowd that I hang with."
"People from outside engineering will toss in very basic questions that specialists will often forget to ask, in this case 'how high is the tallest structure you can build?'"
"It was incredibly interesting for me to consider the open question: 'what can you do with structures?' which I hadn't really done before."
As it turns out, Hjelmstad's concludes that a 20-kilometer tall tower is possible but would likely never be built due to the resources required (some 55 million tons of steel, he says) and financial costs involved.
For companies such as Intel however, solutions that can be immediately put into practice are not as important as the dialogues and ideas these inter-disciplinary interactions encourage -- for now at least.
The technology giant is working with the CSI to create the Tomorrow Project USA, a new website designed to engender expert conversation on the future of subjects such as sustainability, energy and education.
"In science fiction writing and the conversations, you can explore how the technology can impact in both positive and negatives ... showing us the kinds of future we want and [just] as importantly the kind we don't want," says Steve Brown, Intel's mystically titled technology evangelist.
"It also allows [us to play] with the moral and ethical consequences for the technologies as well," Brown adds.
Other projects in the pipeline at the center include a plan to design the ideal city of the future, drawing contributions from writers, engineers and urban designers.
In the coming years meanwhile, the talents of other artists including musicians, painters, actors, dancers and those in the performance arts will be harnessed, predicts Finn.
But as scientists, engineers and tech corporations benefit from opening their disciplines to exciting new ways of thinking, what's in it for the writers and artists?
According to Kathryn Cramer, a sci-fi author and editor of Hieroglyph -- an anthology project that will compile conversations of scientists and authors at ASU for publication by HarperCollins -- the center will help inform a more realistic and artistically rich genre of sci-fi.
"For authors, having the contact with [scientists] allows for further refinement of their ideas into something that is potentially more workable," says Cramer.
Some writers may already undertake such processes by themselves but by formalizing this relationship, Cramer believes a more fluent and rewarding conversation between science and sci-fi will arise.
Like Hjelmstad, Brown and Finn before her however, Cramer tempers expectations by stating that the practical implementation of these ideas will likely have to wait.
"I don't think you can guarantee that the project will come up with ideas that can be put towards venture capitalists and off we go tomorrow. But science fiction has a proven ability to inspire scientists and start technological innovation," Cramer explains.
"It's worth doing but one should bear in mind that, in the past, where there have been ideas that have worked there has also been a sea of ideas that didn't work."