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Virus confirmed in bass deaths at Lake Tenkiller
Laboratory analysis of dying largemouth bass collected by biologists from Lake Tenkiller has confirmed the presence of Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV), a virus implicated in bass die-offs in six southeastern states since 1995. Samples collected in mid-August were sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pinetop Fish Health Center in Arizona for analysis.
According to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation fisheries biologists, reports of dying largemouth bass 16 inches or longer started in Lake Tenkiller in late July and have continued throughout August.
With help from the Corps of Engineers, State Park employees and local anglers, biologists continue to investigate the extent and magnitude of the kill on one of the state's premier bass lakes.
"We've made several site visits covering most of the lake and have counted over 200 dead or dying fish since the first week in August," said Hutchie Weeks, northeast regional fisheries supervisor.
"We've had unconfirmed reports of dead fish in the thousands. It's difficult to get actual numbers when such a large area is affected and the kill is prolonged over a long period," Weeks added.
First documented in 1995, LMBV has been found in 12 southeastern states, but only Texas, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana have had fish kills attributed to the virus.
Not all bass that have the virus die from the disease. In fact, most bass that carry LMBV appear completely normal. Where the virus has triggered the fatal disease, dying fish often swim near the surface and have trouble remaining upright. LMBV appears to attack the swim bladder causing bass to lose equilibrium. Some diseased fish may appear bloated.
Adult bass two pounds or more seem to be more susceptible to the disease. Since die-offs have occurred from June through September, warm-water temperatures might play a factor in triggering an outbreak.
LMBV affects only cold-blooded animals and although researchers have found it in other bass and sunfish species like crappie, it has proven fatal only to largemouth bass. LMBV is not known to infect warm-blooded animals, including humans. Fish infected with the virus are safe to eat when properly cooked.
Thus far, no evidence has shown that LMBV has caused a long term problem or major impact on any fishery. Last summer, up to 4,000 largemouth bass reportedly died from LMBV on Lake Fork in Texas and other incidents have been reported from Lakes Sam Rayburn, Conroe and Toledo Bend (TX - LA). Texas biologists report that comparative analysis of electrofishing surveys before and after these kills indicated no statistical decline in the bass fishery at Lake Fork.
"We're learning more and more about LMBV everyday, however there's still many unanswered questions," said Kim Erickson, chief of fisheries for the department.
"Our crews will continue to monitor and investigate any reports of dead or dying fish in Tenkiller or any other Oklahoma reservoir, and we'll certainly be cooperating with other state and federal agencies in addressing the problem.
"We are hopeful that the die-off will run it course and be over like it has in other states. We'll be conducting follow-up surveys on Tenkiller to assess the impact but there is no known prevention or eradication measures that can be done to remove the virus from the population," said Erickson.
Although no specific solutions have been discovered, anglers may help minimize the spread of LMBV by doing the following:
Clean boats, trailers and live wells thoroughly between fishing trips to keep from transporting the virus from one body of water to another.
Do not move fish or fish parts from one body of water to another.
Do not release live bait into a lake.
Handle bass as quickly and gently as possible if you intend to release them.
Stage tournaments during cooler weather to avoid stress on fish.
Report dead or dying fish to ODWC.
Educate other anglers about LMBV.
Heat, drought, wildfires concern biologists
Biologists from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are becoming concerned about the recent drought and its effects on habitat and wildlife populations across the state.
The month of August has been one of the driest on record and temperatures have consistently broken the 100 degree mark. These conditions have caused wilting vegetation, declining insect populations and an increased fire risk.
Quail populations may be hardest hit by the drought. "The second hatch often makes the difference between a decent quail season and an excellent quail season," said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
"Quail chicks depend on vegetative cover and insects for their survival. The second hatch usually takes place from early to mid September, and right now there may not be enough available for them to survive," Peoples said.
The risk of wildfires is also very high and can quickly alter large expanses of habitat. Vegetation is extremely dry and most of the state is now under a burn ban. Due to the burn ban, campfires are prohibited, but hunters going afield should also be extremely careful as a tossed cigarette can quickly lead to wildfires. People should also avoid driving vehicles off road. Even a small spark from a hot exhaust pipe could ignite drought-scorched grasses.
Fire isn't the only concern as weather conditions are also causing a decline in food available for deer and turkey. "This will cause a decrease in the number of acorns available for deer and turkey to feed on this fall," Peoples said. "Oaks across the state are becoming drought stressed causing the acorns to dry up and drop off before they mature.
"Overall, I think we're still in fairly good shape, but if conditions continue, hunters may have to be a little more cautious and may have to change their tactics," Peoples added. "But, if they are flexible, there should be no problem having success this fall."
Prepare now for migratory bird hunting
Migratory bird hunters have ample opportunity to test their skills during the month of September with the opening of dove season, the early teal season and a special resident Canada Goose season. Those planning to take advantage of these opportunities need to take a little time to prepare and become familiar with the regulations.
Dove season opens September 1 and runs through October 31 and biologist are reporting good numbers of birds in the usual hotspots. Hunters are allowed 15 birds a day.
This year's early teal season will open September 9 and will run through September 24 statewide; except in the panhandle counties which runs from September 9 to September 17. The daily bag limit is four and may include bluewing, greenwing and cinnamon teal.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are offering a special resident Canada Goose hunting season. This special season will take place September 9 to September 17. The daily bag limit will be three Canada Geese.
Possession limits for all species are twice the daily bag limit after the first day. Hunters planning to pursue dove, teal and geese will need:
* A resident or non-resident hunting license for those 16 years of age or older.
* A completed Harvest Information Program Permit or HIP Permit which is part of the universal license form. Those hunters possessing a resident lifetime hunting license or a resident lifetime combination license may pick up a free HIP Permit where licenses are sold.
* A shotgun that is incapable of holding more than three shells and is no larger than 10 gauge in size.
* Federally approved non-toxic shot for those hunting teal or Canada Geese, or for those hunting dove on wetland development areas restricted to the use of non-toxic shot.
In addition, hunters who choose to take part in the early teal season or the special resident Canada Goose season need to have:
* An Oklahoma Waterfowl Hunting Permit unless exempt.
* A federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
With just a little preparation, migratory bird hunters should enjoy a lot of excitement this September. For more information, hunters should check the Fall 2000-Spring 2001 Oklahoma Hunting Guide and Regulations.
They will also want to pick up a copy of the 2000-2001 Oklahoma Waterfowl Hunting Guide and Regulations which will be available soon at license vendors across the state.
Exhibits teach fairgoers about state's wildlife
Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation expect lots of visitors to their exhibits at the State Fair of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, and the Tulsa State Fair.
"It is an exciting time of the year when almost everybody is looking forward to the approach of autumn," said David Warren, chief of the department's information and education division. "For decades we've enjoyed the privilege of visiting with folks about Oklahoma's wildlife and the hunting and fishing opportunities that exist around the state. It's a great way for people to visit with Department employees and learn the latest news about Oklahoma's wildlife."
Warren said the Department will have some special guests at this year's State Fair of Oklahoma which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 1. For the past several years, volunteers from the department's Hunter Education Program have operated a popular 'live-fire' pellet rifle range free of charge to fairgoers. This year however, members of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team will be on hand Sept. 26 through Sept. 30 to help volunteers give shooting tips and educate youth about responsible firearm handling.
Other attractions at the fair in Oklahoma City include 'The Fishing Simulator' a virtual- reality experience that gives fairgoers a sense of catching a hard fighting trout or smallmouth bass, and nightly bass fishing seminars at a giant aquarium. The department's exhibit in Oklahoma City is located in the "Outdoor Adventure Center" which is the large "bubble-topped" building.
Northeast Oklahomans can learn about the department and Oklahoma's wildlife at the Tulsa State Fair which runs from Sept. 28 through Oct. 8. Colin Berg, education supervisor for the department, says the department's exhibit is a favorite destination for many fairgoers.
"Every year we have more than 100,000 people come through our exhibit at the Tulsa Fair. We have a large 'pond' where our fisheries division displays a variety of fish and turtles. Many folks tell me they return year after year just to see the big flathead catfish and snapping turtles."
Berg said the Tulsa exhibit also features other fish and live animal displays and has several department personnel on hand to answer questions. The department's building on the Tulsa fairgrounds lies just north of the east end of the Sky Ride.
Various wildlife department brochures, including hunting and fishing regulations, will be available at both fair exhibits. In addition, Outdoor Oklahoma caps, and the 2000 Wildlife Habitat patches and caps will also be on sale
Teal season opens Sept. 9
Waterfowl hunters itching for the cold weather of November can get a high-octane tune-up next month by participating in the fall teal season.
Due to record-high populations of blue-winged and green-winged teal, Oklahoma hunters will be able to enjoy 16 days of teal hunting for the third straight year, said Mike O'Meilia, migratory bird biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The season runs Sept. 9-24 statewide except for the Panhandle, where it runs Sept. 9-17.
"Thanks to high breeding populations of teal, combined with excellent production conditions in the Dakotas, we're looking for an outstanding fall flight of both blue-winged and green-winged teal this fall," O'Meilia said. "Like many migratory birds, teal migration is triggered by decreasing day-length as we approach fall. Spectacular migrations can occur on the northern weather fronts that occur with increasing frequency in September. Even small fronts that cause no appreciable change in temperatures, that are no more than wind shift fronts, will carry teal southward on their journey to wintering grounds in Mexico and Central and South America.
"Like any other kinds of hunting, it's just a matter of going out and taking advantage of the opportunities," he added. "If you're out there when they come through, you'll have some great hunts. If you're sitting on the couch, you won't."
One reason the season is underutilized, O'Meilia said, is because the hot weather conditions normally prevalent in mid-September are so vastly different from the traditional image of cold-weather duck hunting. Generally, you can hunt in short sleeves, and if you don't mind wearing wet trousers, you can even hunt without waders. It's a unique experience, but those who give it a try quickly become enamored with it.
"People who don't participate in the fall teal season are missing out on a great experience," O'Meilia said. "This time of year doesn't produce what many consider classic duck hunting conditions, but it's a tremendous season. It's a great time to take a kid hunting, and it's a great time to train a young dog."
Perhaps the most important thing to remember about fall teal hunting is that you're only allowed to harvest blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal. All other waterfowl species are off-limits.
"There are always variable numbers of other ducks around at this time depending on the weather," O'Meilia said. "You might see pintails, shovelers, mallards and wood ducks, so you have to be aware of waterfowl identification. Wood ducks are very common, and the first hour of shooting time is when they are most active. Shovelers have blue wing patches, too, so you can't depend on that for ID. You've got to look at their heads to pick out their much larger bills for which they are named."
To participate in the fall teal season, all you need is a resident or non-resident Oklahoma Hunting License, an Oklahoma Waterfowl Hunting Permit ($4) and a federal duck stamp ($15). Don't forget your Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. It's free from any license vendor, but you can't hunt without it. That's how the Department determines the harvest of all migratory game birds, including waterfowl.
September hunt for resident Canada geese
As a way to manage the resident population of giant Canada geese, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will hold a special, experimental Canada goose season Sept. 9-17. The daily bag limit will be three birds.
The experimental season is being held to provide additional hunting opportunity as a tool for managing the state's population of locally breeding Canada geese, said Mike O'Meilia, the Department's migratory bird biologist. The Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will evaluate the experimental season to determine its effectiveness in managing numbers and distribution of resident Canada geese and any potential effects on migrant populations of Canada geese.
"Over the last 20 years, populations of resident Canada geese have increased significantly in many areas of the country, including Central Flyway states such as Oklahoma," O'Meilia said. "In some areas, populations have reached sufficient size to cause considerable conflicts with human populations." As a result, the Service and the states are looking at additional management options to resolve these conflicts. As part of this effort, the Service is preparing a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement on management of resident Canada geese that will utilize step down management plans for each flyway.
"Hunting is our best tool for managing populations of game animals that exceed either the social or environmental carrying capacity of an area," O'Meilia added. "In the case of resident Canada geese, it is largely an issue of what people are willing to tolerate".
Most resident Canada geese are not migratory, but are year-round residents of very specific locations. Among the complaints associated with the birds are damage to personal and public property, as well as concerns for public health and safety. An adult Canada goose can leave up to a quarter-pound of droppings per day on beaches, parks, golf courses and other areas where people gather. There's also a very significant and dangerous risk of aircraft strikes with these birds near airports.
"Unfortunately, many of the problems associated with resident Canada goose populations are a direct result of human influences on goose behavior," O'Meilia said "Feeding Canada geese is the number one reason why the birds congregate in areas used by people. Feeding alters the birds natural wild behavior and conditions the birds to seek out areas that result in conflicts with humans."
Hunters who participate in the special resident Canada goose season must have a resident or non-resident hunting license, a 2000 Oklahoma waterfowl hunting permit, a 2000 federal duck stamp and a HIP permit. Lifetime license holders do not need the Oklahoma waterfowl hunting permit. Hunters willing to participate in a special survey (collecting goose tail fans and wingtips) to determine composition of the September season harvest are asked to call the Department at 405-521-3563.
Department schedules pre-employment exam
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will hold a standardized examination Friday Sept. 29 at the Tom Steed Development Center Auditorium at Rose State College.
The exam is for individuals seeking employment as wildlife biologists, game wardens, assistant hatchery managers, technicians and information and education specialists. It will cover state and federal wildlife laws and regulations, Oklahoma geography, biological and environmental sciences relating to fish, wildlife and environmental education and communication; journalism, photojournalism, technical writing and editing.
Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month period, and test scores are valid for 12 months from the test date. Applications for employment will be sent to the individuals with the top 25 scores. Taking the exam does not guarantee employment, nor does the exam necessarily indicate the Department currently has openings. Interviews will be scheduled only when an opening is available.
The Tom Steed Development Center Auditorium is north of I-40 at the intersection of I-40 and Hudiburg Rd. in Midwest City. The doors will close promptly at 10 a.m. Those arriving after 10 a.m. will not be permitted to take the exam.
Deer Management Plan on Commission Agenda
A six-month public input process has culminated with a comprehensive deer management plan designed to take Oklahoma well into the 21st century.
The plan, the work of a broad-based committee of representatives from every major group with an interest in deer, will be presented to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission at its September 11 meeting in Oklahoma City.
In general, the plan calls for greatly increased hunting opportunities for antlerless deer, while calling for a decrease in the number of bucks hunters may take from three to two. Both measures are designed to curb and stabilize overall population growth, while ensuring long-term health of the herd by better balancing buck-to-doe sex ratios.
"This plan is comprehensive and the committee believes it is representative of the numerous stakeholder groups who were identified to serve on the steering committee," said Mike McCormick, executive editor for the Shawnee News-Star and chairman of the 21st Century Deer Steering Committee. "Our responsibility and purpose has been to develop a plan which we believe will best manage Oklahoma's growing deer population. We've attempted to fulfill that obligation. Many parts of the state are being heavily impacted by the deer herd in those areas. Others may not have quite the numbers, so our plan is designed to provide some balance and allow wildlife officials the flexibility needed in managing a herd estimated to be 450,000 strong and predicted to grow between 35 and 40 percent annually.
"Every member of the group certainly did not necessarily agree with every little detail of the plan," McCormick added. "However, a consensus was reached on each point of the plan which is to be presented for approval to the Wildlife Commission September 11."
Key elements of the plan include:
Increasing the aggregate statewide bag limit to six deer, no more than two of which can be antlered.
Adding 15 days of antlerless-only archery hunting from Jan. 1-15.
Expanding antlerless harvest options for Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) cooperators to include 28 days of antlerless rifle hunting spread over three months, plus nine days during the primitive firearms season. These antlerless firearms hunting opportunities include a nine-day, antlerless-only hunt in early October. Other recommended DMAP improvements include increased contact between cooperators and wildlife personnel, and restructuring enrollment fees to eliminate cost of individual doe permits.
Creating a statewide Landowner Deer Permit (LDP) to be available to private landowner or agricultural lessees with at least 100 acres which will allow any licensed hunter with appropriate permits to harvest antlerless deer during the same season dates and methods offered Deer Management Assistance Program cooperators. LDPs would be bonus permits costing $10 each and would not count toward the annual combined bag limit. They would be issued on a straight acreage formula, with one permit per 100 acres.)
In management zones deemed appropriate by the Wildlife Commission, three-day, post-Christmas, antlerless only firearms hunts will be offered. Deer taken during this hunt would be bonus.
In management zones deemed appropriate by the Wildlife Commission, the bag limit could be increased to two antlerless deer during the primitive and/or modern firearms season.
According to McCormick, the Deer Steering Committee tried to remain focused on providing recommendations for a sound management plan, one directed at improving the overall health of the herd while addressing certain specific problems such as localized overpopulation and skewed sex ratios.
"We realize elements of this plan, if approved by the Commission, would still probably have to go through the public hearing process, but we thought it was important to produce a comprehensive plan, rather than one that is piecemeal," he said. "We realize that adjustments will be needed as the plan is implemented and therefore we have provided wildlife officials with flexibility. This is a good starting point. We just hope the commission will approve it in September."
The 21st Century Deer Steering Committee, a 33-member group representing wildlife professionals, hunters, farmers and ranchers and others, met Aug. 7-8 in Ardmore to draft the plan recommendations. The committee is expected to present the complete plan at the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission's Sept. 11 meeting in Oklahoma City. Watch for future deer management developments on the newly-created deer section of the Wildlife Department's web site - www.wildlifedepartment.com.
Plan encourages antlerless harvest
The comprehensive deer management plan being recommended by the 21st Century Deer Steering Committee is one of the most progressive in the nation, according to state wildlife officials.
In some areas, many Oklahomans believe there are too many deer, and earlier this year, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission endorsed the concept of establishing a citizens "stakeholder" committee to address the overpopulation problem. In support of this the Legislature passed a resolution expressing their wishes to see a long-term management plan be developed.
In addition to the overpopulation issue, others believe that heavy harvest pressure on bucks and lack of harvest on does has resulted in an imbalanced herd sex ratio. Historical overharvest of yearling bucks can, over time, have a detrimental effect on the health of the herd.
"We are struggling with many of the same issues that states out east and up north have tried to deal with for years," said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Fortunately, the growth of our herd hasn't reached the point where it is unmanageable. By taking an aggressive approach now, especially in the area of antlerless harvest, we hope to be able to curb growth and improve herd health.
"In looking at all of the individual elements of the plan, we recognize that several could no doubt be controversial," Peoples added. "The committee that put this plan together, though, deserves our appreciation for tackling a tough subject, and giving it the energy they did."
Peoples said that antlerless harvest is the key to controlling population numbers, and the recommendations of the Deer Steering Committee will not only help address overpopulation in certain areas, but should also work to improve buck-to-doe ratios. Overharvest of bucks can decrease overall herd health, a trend that has been identified and is concerning to wildlife biologists. The problem is especially acute across northern-tier counties.
"There is a great deal of flexibility built into the plan's recommendations," said Peoples. "Of course, the overall population and herd composition varies over time, and the committee recognized the need for making adjustments as harvest trends change."
Key elements of the plan include:
Increasing the aggregate statewide bag limit to six deer, no more than two of which can be antlered.
Adding archery antlerless hunting opportunity from Jan. 1-15.
Expanding antlerless harvest options for Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) cooperators.
Creating a statewide Landowner Deer Permit (LDP) to be available to private landowner or agricultural lessees with at least 100 acres which will provide them with additional antlerless harvest options.
In management zones deemed appropriate by the Wildlife Commission, three-day, post-Christmas, antlerless only firearms hunts will be offered. Deer taken during this hunt would be bonus.
In management zones deemed appropriate by the Wildlife Commission, the bag limit could be increased to two antlerless deer during the primitive and/or modern firearms season.
The 21st Century Deer Steering Committee, a 33-member group representing wildlife professionals, hunters, farmers and ranchers and others, met Aug. 7-8 in Ardmore to draft the plan recommendations. The committee is expected to present the complete plan at the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission's Sept. 11 meeting in Oklahoma City. Watch for future deer management developments on the newly-created deer section of the Wildlife Department's web site www.wildlifedepartment.com
Department plans equipment auction
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will hold a public auction, tentatively scheduled for Saturday Oct. 14 at 9 a.m., at Lake Burtschi near Chickasha.
Many items too numerous to mention will be on sale at the auction, including several boats, vehicles and computer systems.
In the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled for a later date. For more information, call 405/521-4600 or 521-4618.
Catfish offer summer thrills
After taking a two-month vacation, summer has finally arrived, bringing 100-degree temperatures and suffocating humidity.
In other words, perfect catfishing weather.
Those who enjoy life's simple pleasures will tell you that, next to an ice-cold slice of watermelon and a Mason jar full of iced tea, there's no better remedy for summer's heat than sitting under a shady tree on a creek bank waiting for a catfish to bite.
With its vast array of rivers, lakes, streams and ponds, Oklahoma has virtually unlimited opportunities for catfishermen. All of our major lakes and rivers support healthy catfish populations, as do many of our small and mid-size streams. You can catch them in the deep pools of our meandering rivers, or you can catch them in the tailwaters below our dams. You can catch them in ponds, or you can catch them in open water on our big reservoirs. Wherever you find permanent water, you can often find catfish.
"In terms of availability and distribution, the catfish could be considered the backbone of Oklahoma's fishing culture," said Kim Erickson, Chief of Fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "In addition to naturally reproducing populations, we also stock channel catfish in many smaller urban waters, creating valuable fishing opportunities for thousands of Oklahoma residents."
In Oklahoma, the most popular catfish species include the blue, channel and flathead catfish. Channel catfish are the most common species, but blue cats inhabit large rivers and reservoirs throughout the state. Flatheads are also plentiful in the same waters.
Despite popular belief, catfish are not "bottom feeders," but highly specialized predators. They feed primarily by taste and touch (with their whiskers), and they are especially active when warm weather coincides with rising water levels. Many anglers use worms, crayfish, prepared baits and cut shad for channel cats, but blues and flatheads, especially the big ones, prefer live bait. Trotliners prefer four- to six-inch bluegill, but rod and reel enthusiasts often use live shad.
Areas with current, especially tailraces, are the best destinations to catch blues and channel cats. Wing dams, such as those that direct current on the Arkansas River, are also very productive. Flatheads, on the other hand, relate very strongly to structure and often gravitate to riprap or sunken timber in deep pockets.
Blue catfish are the most dependable quarry for anglers, as they remain active and thus catchable throughout winter when fishing for other species tapers off. Rain and runoff entering waterways stimulates blues in the cold months as much as in the spring and fall. During summer, however, big blues suspend over deep, cool water and feed primarily at night.
The Department stocks channel catfish, grown at the Department's four fish hatcheries, in many waters throughout the state, but some of the best are the lakes owned by the Department. They are lakes American Horse, Burtschi, Dahlgren, Lake Elmer, Hall, Ozzie Cobb, Raymond Gary, Schooler, Vanderwork, Vincent and Watonga.
Among the state's larger waters, some of the best include lakes Canton and Great Salt Plains (Northwest), Hefner (Central), Fort Cobb (Southwest), Broken Bow (Southeast) and Ft. Gibson (Northeast).
Blue catfish are known to grow larger than 85 pounds in Oklahoma. To experience the thrill of catching these monsters, try your hand at the following lakes: Keystone (Northeast), Texoma (Southwest), and Stanley Draper (Central).
Flathead catfish are among the most desirable species by trophy catfish anglers. For the best prospects, try visiting these lakes: Broken Bow and McGee Creek (Southeast), Tenkiller and Keystone (Northeast), Canton (Northwest) and Hefner (Central).
H&H Gun Range receives honor
H&H Gun Range, a major hunter education partner with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, recently received a five-star business rating from the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Association of Shooting Ranges.
H&H is the first shooting range to receive a five-star rating, said Rick Patterson, Director of Facility Development for the NSSF. They are very difficult to obtain, he added, and it reflects H&H's dedication to their community, state and nation.
Over the years, hundreds of Oklahoma hunters have been certified through hunter education classes at H&H Gun Range. In fact, Vickie Southard, an employee at H&H, was recently named the Wildlife Department's Hunter Education Volunteer Instructor of the Year. She placed third in a similar competition held earlier in the year by Winchester Ammunition.
"H&H Gun Range has been a very strong supporter of the Department's hunter education program," said J.D. Peer, the Department's hunter education coordinator. "They have also been a leader in conducting home study courses and offering courses specifically for women."
Founded in 1981 by Miles and Jayne Hall, H&H is a community, educational and retail facility for developing and promoting the shooting sports. In consideration for ratings, ranges are evaluated on appearance, management, customer service, amenities, customer development and community relations.
Tips for handling summer bass
Bass tournaments are an important part of Oklahoma's summer fishing scene, but anglers must take special care to ensure the health and safety of the fish they catch.
During August and early September, scorching hot air temperatures elevate water temperatures to create lethal conditions for largemouth bass in a captive environment. Most tournament organizations have strict rules regarding the careful handling of fish, but severe summer weather and hot water conditions are extremely dangerous for fish kept in live wells for several hours before a weigh-in.
Of course, most bass caught during tournaments are released alive, but legitimate concerns have arisen over delayed mortality. A study conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has shown that an average 28 percent of bass caught during summer tournaments die within six days of their release. Gene Gilliland, a fisheries biologist with the Wildlife Department, said that most tournament anglers are very conscientious about protecting bass resources, but many are not equipped to deal with potentially dangerous conditions that accompany summer tournament fishing.
"The last thing a tournament angler or tournament director wants is to kill fish," Gilliland said. "That's something they've tried to be very careful about over the years, and for the most part they've been successful, but summer fishing presents some unique conditions that can cause a potentially lethal amount of stress on fish. We can't eliminate those conditions, of course, but we can take certain steps to lessen fish mortality during tournaments."
Most of the damage occurs while fish are held in live wells. On-board live wells are among the most important tools ever devised for reducing tournament bass mortality, but confinement in a live well can spell a death sentence for bass in the summer. Built into the hulls of most bass boats, live wells consist of a small tank equipped with an aerator to pump air into the water. However, the decks of most boats are covered with dark carpet, which absorbs the heat of direct sunlight. As a boat hull heats up during the day, it can turn a live well into a makeshift broiler, and the effects worsen with the pounding a boat takes while underway.
To provide more livable conditions for bass confined in a live well during the summer, Gilliland makes the following recommendations:
Fill your live well as soon as you launch your boat and activate the aerator to build up dissolved oxygen levels.
Run your aerator continuously, no matter what time of year. Fish in live wells use oxygen faster than an aerator can replace it.
Add ice to the live well. When water surface temperatures are higher than 85 degrees, adding ice will reduce the water temperature in a live well by 10 degrees.
Use block ice if possible. It melts slower than crushed or cubed ice, and it cools water more evenly. One eight-pound block will cool a 30-gallon live well for about three hours. Carry extra blocks in an ice chest to use later.
Add non-iodized salt, 1/3-cup per five gallons of live well capacity, to help reduce stress on fish.
Re-circulate water through your aerator rather than pump in hot surface water.
Replace at least half of the live well water two or three times daily to remove ammonia. Add additional ice and salt, and then resume re-circulation.
Commercial live well additives help calm fish in live wells, helping reduce stress and decreasing their oxygen respiratory rates.
Gilliland adds that the ultimate fish care system involves the use of pure oxygen supplied from a pressurized cylinder through a bubble hose in the live well.
"Tests have shown that this can further reduce mortality from 10 to 20 percent even on 100 degree summer days," said Gilliland.
A simple live well oxygen setup can be built from a small bottle used by welders fitted with a regulator. Commercial systems are also available that are specifically designed for boat live wells and live bait tanks. Another tip to use in combination with an oxygen "bubbler" is to cool the water with ice, add salt and commercial live well water conditioners as prescribed above. Approximately one-half of the live well should also be exchanged every two hours to flush out toxins produced by the fish.


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Like a lot of people, I met the news of Hostess Brands closing with something between melancholic shock and shoulder-shrugging resignation.
Never a huge fan of Twinkies, I was relieved that I finally got to eat a deep-fried one at the L.A. County Fair recently. Take that, Bucket List.
But then the reality began to set in that I may never get to taste a Ding Dong again. Ding Dongs were the favored dessert of my grandmother when she watched me and my brother. If we were playing with our friends Tina and Liz, she'd hand us each one at the end of the night and tell us to be good gentlemen by walking the ladies home. We got across the street and out of view, then sat down to devour our Ding Dongs while watching the girls walk the rest of the way.
So I set out last weekend to get what might be the last Ding Dong of my life. Little did I know or expect there had already been a run on that food bank. These things are supposed to have a post-apocalyptic shelf life. Doesn't anyone carry a back stock anymore?
My first stop was Pavilions, where there was nary a Zinger, Ho Ho or Fruit Pie. Down Alameda to Vons. Not even a Honey Bun, but they did have a few low-cal Hostess snacks that wouldn't interest even the most nostalgic. A sign recommending the generic Safeway brand goodies really got me scared.
I decided to broaden my search to include the smaller shops. Up Magnolia to Handy Market. Nothing. To San Fernando and 7-11. Zip. Golden Farms Market. Zilch. Up Glenoaks to Ralphs. Nada. It was like they'd been erased from existence.
The more I searched in vain, the more desperate became my craving. Would I ever again taste the spongy goodness, waxy chocolate-like coating and "crème" substance ever again?
Down Brand Boulevard I remembered a small neighborhood shop on California. Maybe these tiny markets were missed in the world's mad dash for the last remaining Hostess treats. Haykashen Market had none. Up to Verdugo, perchance Smart and Final? Not a crumbcake (but there was the ever-present aroma of Original Recipe filling the air from KFC as it has at that intersection since the dawn of time).
I felt like Charlie in search of a Golden Ticket, hunting for any shop that still had Wonka Bars.
I didn't realize that seeking this childhood memory would be so difficult. No, they were never high-quality snacks. But neither is a Big Mac a good hamburger. That's not the point. They represent a piece of our collective youth; they hold a familiarity and foundation for us. No matter how old you are, enjoying a Ding Dong takes you back to a place and time when the world was safe and no one cared about saturated fats.
This was no longer a junk-food craving that needed to be satisfied. This was an outright assault on my childhood that I needed to defend at all costs.
Down Verdugo to the Circle K we frequented late at night as inebriated teenagers in need of a nosh. Not a Donette or Cupcake to be found. I've never even tried a Sno-Ball, but I'd kill for one now.
There used to be a Hostess shop on South Verdugo around the corner from my paternal grandparent's house. I remembered going into this shop — which had the same loud electric doors as Litchfield's Toys — and smelling the supernaturally doughy goodness of Wonder Bread.
Of course it's no longer there, replaced some time ago by Verdugo Produce market. But surely here, in this last vessel of my youth, would be one two-pack of Ding Dongs that fell behind the rack, waiting only for me to discover …
But no.
I would find nothing to slake this thirst for proof that I, and this world, were once innocent, dreamy and crème-filled.
The Ding Dong, my friends, has gone the way of the Dodo (sorry, couldn't resist).
The sadness of realizing my youth had long ago slipped through my fingers, never to be grasped again, was overwhelming. Only when it is too late do we truly appreciate what we once had. When it comes to childhood reverie, you can't go back again.
But in the Internet age you can buy it on EBay from a stranger in Springfield, Ore. For just $7.50 plus shipping and handling, a box of Ding Dongs was delivered to my doorstep. Youth is sweet and savory. And I'm not sharing.
PATRICK CANEDAY is not shopping today. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com. Friend him on Facebook. Read more at www.randomthoughtsonbeinghuman.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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FOREX.com, the retail division of GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCAP), a global provider of online trading services, today released its Q1 2013 Market Outlook report. FOREX.com analysts predict that the New Year could see a large pick-up in volatility if the US goes over the fiscal cliff edge. This would have major implications for global financial markets as risk sentiment deteriorates and the US economy faces a sharp recession.
2013 is set to be the fourth year of the sovereign debt crisis for Europe and rather than moving nearer to a resolution the crisis is expected to flare up again in the coming year. Stabilization in the Eurozone is likely to be undermined by concerns about Spain's financial position. The fall-out from refinancing Spain has the potential to cause a major spike in market volatility and a drop in the euro. Political risk is also likely to increase during the first quarter of 2013 as the market prepares for a general election in Italy.
The dollar will be faced with two important events in Q1. The first is the outcome of fiscal cliff negotiations. The second event that is important for the dollar is the changing of the guard at the Federal Open Market Committee, which could see a dovish bias at the US central bank.
"If the US goes over the cliff edge then the dollar could attract safe haven flows and stocks may sell off like we saw during debt ceiling negotiations in the US in August 2011," said Kathleen Brooks, Research Director, FOREX.com.
Ms. Brooks added: "After a period of intense risk aversion we could see markets start to recover in late Q1. From a macro perspective, the US could join the Eurozone and Japan in falling back into recession, which may ignite a global decline. Without a bold solution to the European debt crisis and a deal in Washington we cannot envisage a significant pick-up in global sentiment in the first quarter."
Expectations from the FOREX.com Q1 2013 Markets Outlook include:
- The outlook for EURUSD is bleak and we may see some sharp declines over the quarter as sovereign concerns especially in Spain start to heat up;
- There are signs Chinese growth is starting to pick up, this should fuel appreciation in the renminbi during the first quarter of 2013;
- The AUD, CAD and NZD may remain subdued as these commodity currencies are most sensitive to the bleak global growth outlook;
- Gold and silver could have an adventurous quarter as two opposing forces, including sluggish global growth and fresh monetary stimulus, impact the precious metals space ;
- The spread between UK and US oil could remain at elevated levels ($20-25) for the foreseeable future as long as bottlenecks in the supply of oil remain and tensions remain in the Middle East.
The FOREX.com Markets Outlook report highlights potential price ranges for key pairs, such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, EUR/GBP and USD/RUB. Major foreign equity markets; key commodities including gold, silver, oil and agriculture are also covered.
The FOREX.com Markets Outlook report is prepared by Research Director Kathleen Brooks, Senior Technical Strategists Chris Tevere, CMT, Eric Viloria, CMT, and Research Analyst Chris Tedder.
The full FOREX.com Q1 2013 Markets Outlook Report is now available at www.forex.com under "Research".
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GAIN Capital and its affiliates are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Futures Association (NFA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US; the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK; the Financial Services Agency (FSA) in Japan; the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in HK; the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC); and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia
The opinions and information in this report are for general information use and are not intended as an offer or solicitation to any product offered.
About GAIN Capital
GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCAP) is a global provider of online trading services. GAIN's innovative trading technology provides market access and highly automated trade execution services across multiple asset classes, including foreign exchange (forex or FX), contracts for difference (CFDs) and exchange-based products, to a diverse client base of retail and institutional investors.
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Game Preview: Blackhawks travel to D.C. to face Capitalsby Brad Boron / Chicago Blackhawks
|Getty Images
Throughout the 2013 preseason, chicagoblackhawks.com will preview each game with players to watch, notes and more.
The Blackhawks head out east for their first road contest of the preseason, taking on the Washington Capitals in D.C.
Last Season: The Blackhawks and Caps did not face one another in the shortened 2012-13 season. Chicago won the teams' last matchup, a 5-2 affair on March 18, 2012, as Andrew Shaw scored three points (2G, 1A) in the victory.
Three Stars (players to watch):
Jonathan Toews: After a lower-body injury sidelined the captain for all of the Blackhawks' training camp scrimmages, Head Coach Joel Quenneville said that Toews will travel to face the Capitals Friday. The contest against last season's Southeast Division champs would give the 25-year-old center his first chance at real game play since the Stanley Cup-winning game in June.
TONIGHT'S GAME: CHI at WSH
TIME: 6 p.m. CT
VENUE: Verizon Center
BROADCAST INFO: CSN-Chicago and WGN 720
Ryan Stanton: One of Rockford's most consistent defensemen last season, Stanton has been in uniform for each of the Blackhawks' first two preseason games so far, showing off his steady style of play and willingness to stick up for teammates. Whether or not he gets the call once again on Friday, the 24-year-old Alberta native has shown his ability to keep up with a high level of opposition, making a strong case to see NHL action in the near future.
Antti Raanta: Coach Q said that Antti Raanta may get his first start in the National Hockey League Friday night, having joined the Blackhawks organization from Finland in the summer. The 24-year-old goaltender earned a 21-10-11 record with five shutouts, a 1.85 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in 45 games last season with Assat Pori. Raanta led the league in GAA and SV% ranked fifth in shutouts, leading his team to the 2013 SM-liiga championship. The Rauma, Finland, native was named to the league's All-Star team and was honored as the best goaltender as well as Most Valuable Player of both the regular season and the playoffs.
Rising Star (must-watch prospects): With little indication regarding his lineup for Friday, Quenneville could go with any number of centermen behind Jonathan Toews. 2011's top picks Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill have yet to see action this preseason, and Joakim Nordstrom was out of the lineup Thursday night. Any or all of them may see the ice, as fewer NHL regulars generally tend to travel to road preseason contests.
Know the enemy (opponent report): Coming into their fourth game in six nights, the Capitals open their preseason home slate at Verizon Center on Friday. The Caps' previous three exhibition games were decided by the shootout. Washington's top line of Marcus Johansson, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin are all expected to be in the lineup.
Fun Fact: Washington Capitals Head Coach and Hockey Hall of Famer Adam Oates says he was a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks and Bobby Hull growing up. He also was a teammate of the Golden Jet's Hall of Famer son, Brett, in St. Louis.


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College and University Presidents, Faculty, and State Legislators View the New Competitive Academic Arena
Public Agenda Chairman and Co-Founder Daniel Yankelovich has observed that, in many cases, collective thinking about a complex issue moves through three broad phases. The initial stage is consciousness-raising, when people first become aware of an issue; here the issue moves from being of concern only to a few specialists or experts to something that is defined by the entire community as a serious problem. The second stage, which he calls choicework, is the painful process of wrestling with alternative responses to the problem. This is, as Yankelovich sees it, the most difficult stage of the process. Unrealistic thinking and miscommunication often characterize the initial phase of the choicework stage, since it takes an extended period of time for people to begin to confront the alternatives and their tradeoffs. Only after this difficult work has been done is the community ready to move on to the final stage, when the participants try to form a consensus or compromise around specific approaches.
The goal of this project, done for the Futures Project, was to assess the thinking of the higher education community on one important area: the response to vastly increased competition in the higher education arena. To examine this issue we conducted a series of open-ended interviews with college and university presidents, faculty members, and legislators who oversee higher education. One hypothesis emerging from this research is that the higher education community may be only in the early levels of Yankelovichs choicework stage. Virtually all of our respondents realize they are in a new competitive world, with new forces and constraints. While the problems that need to be solved are clear, the debate itself has not taken a final shape. Our interviews gave us a snapshot of the community in the process of starting to think about choices and responses. On some issues, major players (especially legislators and academic presidents) are still completely talking past each other, with no common framework. In other areas, people acknowledge deep problems but have not yet articulated realistic choices for dealing with them.
In interviews and group discussions with higher education officials and state legislators, we found a growing number say market forces and increased competition are reshaping academia.


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It is my firm belief that you can never say "I love you" enough to those whom you care deeply about nor is there such a thing as too much ice cream or it is too late to say, thank you.
Leslie Ann Ballou at Lost Mementos graciously bestowed the Ancestor Approved Award to In My Life and while it has been precariously close to 'far too long,' I would like to thank her for this award. After all, who doesn't enjoy having a chance to have your friends applaud and appreciate your efforts? Especially when I discovered that Leslie Ann and her husband both descend from Somerled. How cool! But what immediately made me feel a kinship is Leslie's reference on her post to Steven MacDonald - my favorite Southern Scots singer/songwriter.
With this award comes the responsibility of listing ten things my ancestors have surprised, humbled and/or enlightened me:
1. I was surprised to learn my gr-gr-gr-grandfather, whose children would become the poster children of Baptist conservatism, once listed his occupation as a beer seller in Rochdale, Lancaster, England. (I was very nervous sharing this bit of information with my great-aunt Lenoa Polar Belott ... after the shock wore off she, fortunately, thought it was laughable.)
2. I was surprised to learn my uncle, Earle Bergeron, one of the Flying Sergeants who was killed in the China Burma India theater when the C-47 he was piloting crashed on takeoff did not immediately die upon impact as the family had thought; he died on the way to the field hospital.
3. I was humbled to learn my gr-gr-gr-uncle John Little was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga and died of dysentery at Andersonville Prison before his 17th birthday. I was also
4. Humbled to discover my patriot ancestor John Space, who served for the duration of the Revolutionary War, wintered with General Washington at Valley Forge and was present when Cornwallis surrendered.
5. I was enlightened (surprised!) to discover information that confirmed the family legend that my gr-gr-aunt Lizzie Little Goldrick really DID travel to London based on the legend that a "bushel of gold was deposited in the Bank of England" in the name of an ancestor (who married a "Spanish toe dancer"). Great Aunt Lizzie actually walked into the "Old Lady of Threadneedle Street" and attempted to make a withdrawal. Oh to have been a fly on the wall ... The family explained away Aunt Lizzie's discovery that there was no bushel of gold by surmising that the English must have used the gold during the war. Hummm ....
6. I was surprised to learn that Myron Hawley McCord, husband of gr-gr-aunt Sarah Etta Space McCord, not only obtained a questionable divorce from his first wife to marry Aunt Etta but had an ongoing affair with Mary Emma Winslow, who later became wife #3. Myron, a politician, lumberman and newspaper publisher from Wisconsin, was a Territorial Governor for the state of Arizona - and upon his death, wife #1 sued wife #3 making for a sensational trial and fodder for the tabloids.
7. I was amused to discover that my father was less than correct in his assertion that both of his grandmother's were named Francis - causing a temporary halt to my family research until I realized that it was his paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother who were both named Francis .. minor details.
8. I was surprised to find a detailed account of a barn, built in the 1850s by my maternal gr-gr-grandfather Zephaniah Allen Space while living in the village of Jenny (now the city of Merrill in Lincoln county, WI), was purchased and moved - twice - ending up in the Town of Pine River in Lincoln county and stood until 2008 when it was razed. Fortunately I have photographs from which my mother painted a beautiful watercolor.
9. I was surprised to learn that my maternal gr-gr-grandmother Margaretta Ann Shankle Space used money from her divorce from Zephaniah Space to amass a considerable amount of land which she left to her grand daughters with specific instructions that the land was intended for them, not for their husbands.
10. I was surprised to learn that my middle name, Jane, was given to me because my maternal grandfather Harley Space used the name "Jane" as an endearment when addressing any little girl. I later learned that Grandpa Harley's mother, Nancy Stone Space, a member of the Lac du Flambeau band of the Ojibwe, was given the name Equi-sans which is Ojibwe for "little girl."
With the first part of responsibilities taken care of, now comes the fun part (who doesn't like the chance to play Santa Claus??) I am pleased to pay this award forward to the following five bloggers, all of whom are deserving of kudos:
1. Tipper Wilson Pressley at Blind Pig and the Acorn
2. The wonderful ladies at Cemetery Divas
3. Denise Olson at Moultrie Creek
4. Lisa at A Light That Shines Again
5. Colleen at Orations of OMcHoday
Congratulations ladies .. you are my inspiration to keep the stories of my family alive.


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IBM to open advanced analytics and cognitive computing center in Ohio
November 30, 2012 in Medical Technology
IBM has announced plans to establish a new analytics center, dedicated to advancing research, development and skills training in the areas of analytics, big data and cognitive computing. The center could create 500 jobs in Columbus, Ohio over the next three years.
The IBM Client Center for Advanced Analytics will seek public and private sector collaboration, including partnerships with The Ohio State University, JobsOhio, Columbus 2020 and other Columbus-based businesses, officials say.
As part of the initiative, IBM will add as many as 500 new analytics consultants and research and development professionals to the center over three years, focused on initiatives such as creating new markets for Watson commercialization.
IBM will also partner with Ohio State to develop job-ready graduates through new course curriculum in its graduate and undergraduate programs, officials say. The new higher education collaboration between IBM and Ohio State will help develop students with the high demand analytics skills necessary to drive the economy of the future.
"Data is a powerful natural resource that if used wisely can drive U.S. economic competitiveness and lead to rewarding careers in the future dedicated to building a smarter planet," said Mike Rhodin, senior vice president, IBM Software Solutions Group.
"This center will have a tremendous amount to offer: world-class educational institutions, a highly-educated workforce, industry-leading businesses and – perhaps most important of all – will serve as the foundation of a community of innovators that will transform industries around the world," he added.
IBM is developing new approaches to tackling big data, such as technologies like its Watson, supercomputer, which uses deep content analysis, evidence-based reasoning and natural language processing to identify relationships buried in large volumes of data that can be used to improve decision making.
To address the need for a more analytical-skilled workforce, Ohio State and IBM are collaborating on new business and technology curricula to help students and mid-career professionals gain the latest skills in analytics and prepare for high-value jobs in the future, officials say.
"The ability to apply a wholly new level of analytical insights and solutions will bolster our nation's role as a competitive global leader and be the catalyst for the next frontier of economic growth," said E. Gordon Gee, president, The Ohio State University.
The partnership between Ohio State and IBM is meant to expand and strengthen education curricula globally to meet the growing demand for highly skilled analytics business professionals, officials say.
"Our strong collaboration with IBM will help our students across a variety of majors gain the latest skills in this burgeoning Big Data discipline and set them on a path to secure the high skilled jobs of the future," said Christine A. Poon, dean, Ohio State's Fisher College of Business.
Article source: http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/ibm-open-advanced-analytics-and-cognitive-computing-center-ohio


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Catherine Leask
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I was born in Oslo, Norway and grew up all over Norway it seems. We lived for three years in the then northernmost city in the world, Hammerfest. I left Norway the first time at the tender age of fifteen. My travels took me to some 56 different countries until I finally settled in the US. Relationships had come and gone until I finally found my soulmate, Dane Ann. I'm a photographer and artist., photoshop geek,. Started my photographic life with a Edixa Flex, then Pentax Spotmatic, and several different models of Nikon, the latest being Nikon F4. Now I shoot with a Canon EOS 500D. My work doesn't require the best camera equipment, just some nice glass for the camera I use, be it my 500D or my various film cameras. I use Photoshop,...
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As prepress technology evolves, so must the capabilities of a screen shop's workforce. Find out how to ease your employees through the changes that come with a digital prepress workflow.
As I put this column together, it's the end of November and I'm in the middle of performance reviews and general planning for 2008. This has been a very good year for us, and we've experienced significant growth overall. A good part of our growth has come about as the result of implementing a computer-to-screen (CTS) system a year and a half ago. I've written about this subject a few times over the last 18 months, focusing mostly on the technology and its influence on the prepress workflow. This month, I'd like to describe how these significant changes, which include the timing in our screenmaking area, have made it necessary to review the performance levels of the department and the personnel in it. Part of this review involves position descriptions and the salary scale of those involved.
Factoring change
There's no doubt that CTS has had a dramatic impact on the way we do business. I call this the change factor. At its core is the understanding that what we're doing today is only slightly related to the way we've done things in the past. The skill sets necessary today are quite different from the analog methods the industry has previously used. This should come as no surprise, because CTS is merely an extension of the digital imagesetter model in use by most larger screen printers for more than a decade now. The break comes when we find it necessary to bypass the generation of film positives and go directly to the screen. In the past, this step has been handled by some of the least compensated individuals in our industry. We simply hand them the job jacket with the film, and they position it on the screen and expose the image.
That's all changed now. Instead of handling a physical job jacket, we're dealing with data files. Depending on the RIP software you use, you can have a folder with multiple files in it, or a single file that's processed and then imaged sequentially. Either way is fine, but what's important is that you recognize the skill levels we need today are different from what was acceptable in the past. We must ask ourselves whether the workers we have are capable of doing the job.
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Play the video below to get "The Big Idea"
Welcome to Eastlake Chiropractic and Massage Center! We have been Seattle chiropractors (Eastlake, Downtown, University, Capital Hill) since 1990 and have helped thousands of patients recover from back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica, migraines, and many other ailments. We believe that direct communication is a key to a good doctor-patient relationship so we encourage anyone looking for a top chiropractor in Seattle, WA to call us directly at 206-324-8600. We will always take time to answer your questions. We hope you value the information on this website and share it with others. Again, thank you for visiting and remember to come back often.
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"...determination is the key to success in politics, in the broadest sense of the word. You don't need many resources to make your voice heard when you are defending a cause you believe to be just..." Padre André Sibomana
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Press freedom in Rwanda worse than Somalia
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As was last year, it is fully expected that Rwanda through its pro-government mouthpiece The New Times will try to discredit the report. They will draw their support from grand conspiracy theories which allege that, Reporters without Borders, being a French NGO has nothing to say about Rwanda. "They [RSF] must be agents of the French government working to destabilize Rwanda", the government daily will angrily claim.
Rwanda has gained an unlikely supporter. Well, not a supporter as such. However, journalist Jina Moore, who to her credit has extensively written on the situation in the great Lakes region, finds the RSF's assessment of media freedom in Rwanda quite harsh. She makes three major points: (a) that the methodology used by RSF is incompetent, (b) that Rwanda is not as bad—in comparative terms, (c) that RSF is failing to distinguish between self censor and press predation and, (d) that absence of political freedom should not be translated as absence of press freedom.
I will not comment on the methodology, as I am unqualified to do so. And, indeed, much of what she writes makes sense. However, I beg to differ with the other points she raised.
The major comparisons she makes are between Rwanda, Somalia, Russia and Burundi. She would like us believe that Rwanda is faring better than these countries. She writes, "Whatever you think of Kagame, Kigali is no Mogadishu."
I cannot argue in defense of any country that even slightly oppresses journalists. That Kigali and Mogadishu are politically different cannot be questioned. Kigali is a quickly modernizing city that is largely far removed from the sort of violence that has reigned over Mogadishu. However, this to me is a weak argument. Eritrea has no active fighting going on, yet the country still ranks the lowest on press freedom index. In fact, none of the bottom ten countries are in a period of warfare.
But there are all despotic regimes with a large appetite for exerting control. Press independence more than anything else, is an indication of the status of freedom in any given country. It is the combination of liberty and democracy. The right of an individual to self expression as well as the right of various organizations to voice their opinions. If journalists are murdered, political activists arbitrarily imprisoned and organizations denied the right to free assembly, media freedom is inadvertently constrained. All the vices mentioned above, are commonplace in Rwanda.
For journalists in Rwanda, suffering cannot be understood in comparative terms. The late of Jean Leonard Rugambage who was executed right outside his home compound cannot compare his fate to the "131 journalists killed in Russia between 1993 and 2009". Neither can Jean Bosco Gasasira, Didas Gasana, Robert Mukombozi , Charles Kabonero, Richard Kayigamba and Elly Akanga, all of whom live on the run in exile. Their imprisoned colleagues: Agnès Nkusi Uwimana, Saidati Mukakibibi, Patrick Kambale and Deogratius Mushayidi understand suffering in absolute terms.
It is important to gain a realization on the nature of journalist based predation in Rwanda. It is part of a wider goal to eliminate independent voices. Basically, Paul Kagame would rather run a country completely devoid of opposition. He is close to achieving his dream. The only journalists permitted are the ones operating under the "media council" which is a government controlled and financed regulatory board. The board has no room for anyone who even remotely deviates from public propaganda. This to me, does not seem any different from Eritrea where all "publications [have] to be submitted to the government for approval prior to publication".
In the absence of basic political freedom, it is important to ask whether press freedom can even exist. What would journalists write or talk about? I do think the two are mutually inclusive and it is hard to conceive one without the other. True, in many countries, the press has been the champion for democracy. But those countries had a critical press to begin with. Speaking against media harassment in Rwanda is not, as Ms. Moore worries, "[a] proxy character in the anti-Rwanda story". There is nothing Anti-Rwanda about it. The reality in Rwanda tells a different story.
Lastly, Reporters without Borders needs to be acknowledged for standing up for democracy at a time when the discourse on democratic ideals is quickly becoming unfashionable as everyone focuses on economic development. The wide praise accorded to Rwanda often ignores fundamental human rights abuses. It is encouraging to know that the assassination of journalist Jean Leonard Rugambage will not go in vain.
9 comments:
- Mamadou Kouyate said...
Thumb up Nkunda!
This is a well done analysis.
Please keep up the good work!
- October 20, 2010 at 6:40 PM
- jina said...
You're absolutely right that no one -- journalists, refugees, political dissidents, etc. -- understands their own suffering in comparative terms. This is why indices like the RSF list are ridiculous: They are the epitome of comparison. What does "worse than" Somalia mean? You sound as befuddled by that as I.
- October 21, 2010 at 2:44 AM
- ColoredOpinions said...
very balanced response. The CSM should read it.
- October 21, 2010 at 5:04 AM
- Nkunda said...
Thanks for being a regular reader and contributor to my blog.
- October 21, 2010 at 6:50 AM
- Nkunda said...
You're absolutely right. Although, your own analysis is comparative in nature. Anyway, I just checked the Map of Freedom in the World published by Freedom House, both Rwanda and Somalia seem to be in the same tier.
Perhaps, they could use a tier system that classifies countries in different groups rather than a ranking system.
But, when it comes to press freedom, Rwanda is as oppressive as it gets.
- October 21, 2010 at 6:54 AM
- Nkunda said...
Here is the link to Freedom House
- October 21, 2010 at 6:55 AM
- Nkunda said...
what exactly is CSM?
- October 21, 2010 at 6:55 AM
- bugesera said...
Well, that CSM(Christian Science Monitor) article is not surprising if you read what they usually publish about Rwanda.
Even The New Times doesn't defend the Rda's government better.
- October 21, 2010 at 7:28 AM
Thank you for the work you have done into this post, it helps clear up a few questions I had.
- April 19, 2011 at 2:46 PM


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TruGreen is committed to providing personalized attention for our associates. We focus on developing our people by building proud, dynamic teams while helping associates reach their personal and professional goals. We continuously strive to make TruGreen an employer of choice and "a great place to work!"
You're independent, driven by performance, and looking for more than a job. We Are TruGreen, and as the nation's largest and most comprehensive provider of lawn services, we have bigger opportunities for people like you.
Position Overview
We're seeking Residential Outside Sales Representatives, offering a guaranteed base plus commission to prospect and generate sales. This isn't your ordinary sales job. With TruGreen, you'll learn the essential skills to launch a successful career in sales Responsibilities:
Education and Experience Requirements
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
As a TruGreen Employee, you'll enjoy:
At TruGreen we value our employees just as much as our customers. The result? Almost forty years of careers centered around the people who matter most -- You. Apply Now.
Physical Demands & Working Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Regularly required to:
Occasionally required to:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Noise level
*Low to moderate
Adverse Conditions
TruGreen is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. We encourage diverse candidates to apply to this position.
We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
To learn more copy and paste this URL into your browser: www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf
TruGreen performs pre-employment testing.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
By providing my cell phone number, I agree that TruGreen may call or text/SMS message me on that number using an automated telephone dialing system or prerecorded or artificial voice to discuss possible employment opportunities, my account, including current and possible future services, customer service and billing. I understand that providing my cell phone number is not required to inquire about or apply for employment or purchase services, and that I may revoke this permission at any time.


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The redesigned Leupold VX-1 series is better than ever. Leupold has fine tuned the VX-1 by adding all the details that make a Leupold top in class. The new industrial body includes a streamlined eye piece that tapers down smoothly to the lock ring, all without sacrificing the classic Leupold style. Using the power selection ring is easier than ever with the added grip of the raised finger tab. Turrets are all finger adjustable and come with turret caps. Leupold has combined premium optical performance with environmental friendliness by using 100% lead free glass in all the VX-1 scopes. The lead free MultiCoat 4 lens system provides a premium sight picture optimal light gathering ability. The classic Leupold rifle scope has been enhanced with a gold plated medallion that carries the Leupold symbol on the turret. The bottom of the turret also displays the product identification, and proudly displaying that your scope was American designed, machined and assembled. The VX-1 line comes with lens covers and is covered by Leupolds lifetime warranty.
Technical Information
Tube Diameter: 1"
Adjustment Click Value: 1/4 MOA
Adjustment Type: Click
Exposed Turrets: No
Finger Adjustable Turrets: Yes
Turrets Resettable to Zero: Yes
Zero Stop: No
Turret Height: Low
Fast Focus Eyepiece: Yes
Lens Coating: Fully multi-coated
Warranty: Leupold Lifetime Warranty
Rings Included: No
Sunshade Included: No
Sunshade Length: N/A
Lens Covers Included: Yes
Power Variability: Variable
Min power: 2x
Max power: 7x
Reticle Construction: Wire
Illuminated Reticle: No
Battery Type:N/A
Holdover reticle: No
Reticle Focal Plane Location: 2nd
Parallax Adjustment: Fixed
Water/Fogproof: Yes
Shockproof: Yes
Objective Bell Diameter: 1.6"
Ocular Bell Diameter: 1.6"
Eye Relief: 4.2-3.7"
Max Internal Adjustment:
Windage: 65 MOA
Elevation: 65 MOA
Exit Pupil Diameter: 13-5mm
Weight: 9.9 oz.
Field of View at 100 Yards:
44.6' @ 2x
17.8' @ 7x
Dimensions, in inches unless otherwise stated:


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For International Students
Since educational systems differ from country to country, international applicants are evaluated using standards which draw an equivalency between the grading and examination systems in the applicant's country and the United States. School records, rank in class, performance on national examinations, letters of recommendation and potential for success at Saint Mary's are considered. Saint Mary's College of California is authorized by federal law to enroll international students.
In addition to the application requirements, international applicants must submit the following:
- Certified translations of college transcripts (2 copies)
- Certified copies of examination results (when applicable)
- A Certification of Finances
- An official TOEFL score report
- A medical evaluation (includes TB test)
About the TOEFL:
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all students whose native language is not English. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper or 213 computer or 79-80 on the iBT (internet based) is required for admission. Students who wish to apply for a California teaching or school services credential must have their transcripts evaluated by an organization approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Arrange to meet with the Kalmanovitz School of Education's credential analyst 925.631.4700 for more information.
More about international admissions:
When all materials have been received and reviewed, the appropriate program director will make an admissions decision. Following an admission decision, full acceptance to Saint Mary's, and payment of the initial deposit, information on how to obtain an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility will be sent.
Entry interviews are a required part of the admissions process. Upon arrival at Saint Mary's, international candidates should arrange for an interview with the appropriate program director. Unconditional admission to a program cannot be granted without this interview.
Applying for a credential program?
For credential programs, applicants with a bachelor's degree outside the United States are required by CTC to have the degree coursework analyzed to determine its equivalency to academic work done in the United States. Contact the KSOE Credential Office for the names of the organizations which are authorized to conduct these foreign degree transcript evaluations.
Should CTC find the degree not meet the CTC standards for comparability to a U.S. degree from a regionally accredited college, the applicant will either need to obtain a U.S. degree or use a higher degree in place of the bachelor's degree.


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5 Great Kraft Paper Wrapping Ideas
I rely on kraft paper the way that some rely on duct tape. For last summer's BBQ it became an inexpensive table runner complete with pens to encourage doodling, for craft shows it was an easy way to package prints on the spot and come holiday time I've been pulling it out to wrap gifts in.
There is just something so charming to me about a little brown package, it feels simple, nostalgic and it is the perfect blank canvas for customizing. I am not alone in feeling this way, as evidenced by the many great examples that I've seen cropping up around the blogosphere and in my Pinterest feed. Here are a few of my favorites...
1. Some great examples of how you can use leftover bits of scraps from other projects. Via Justine Blakeney.
2. Oversized gold polka dots are created with spray paint and stencils.
Via Oh Hello Friend.
3. Cream crepe paper is sewn on with red thread to create a ruffled effect.
Via Odessa May
4. Office stickers are used to create neon polka dots in this simple project.
Via Frolic!
5. Vintage photos and rustic trimmings make this tutorial feel especially nostalgic.
Via Odessa May
(Images: as linked above)


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Monday, November 01, 2010
Zenyatta's Final Local Start, California Cup XXI Among Highlights of First Oak Tree- H.P. Meet
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (October 31, 2010) — The last Southern California start – and 19th consecutive victory – for the undefeated Zenyatta was the highlight of the inaugural Oak Tree at Hollywood Park meet which concluded Sunday.
The average Southern California attendance for the 22-day season was 10,771.
"For the Oak Tree Racing Association it was a very satisfying meet, highlighted by Zenyatta's win in the Lady's Secret and the California Cup closing weekend,'' said Oak Tree director and executive vice-president Sherwood Chillingworth. "Having to move venues on 30 days notice would not have been possible without the cooperation of the staffs of Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.
"We thank them both. The meet could not have been successful without their joint dedication for the good of the industry.''
In front of an extremely enthusiastic on track crowd of 25,837, Zenyatta won for the eighth time at Hollywood Park, the track where she has been stabled throughout her brilliant career. In customary fashion, Zenyatta surged powerfully in the closing yards to defeat the valiant 3-year-old filly Switch in the Lady's Secret Stakes Oct. 2.
In equaling the win streak of Peppers Pride, who earned all of her victories against fellow New Mexico breds, Zenyatta won the Lady's Secret for an unprecedented third year in a row.
The win was the ninth consecutive Grade 1 for Zenyatta, who is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs. The $150,000 top prize also enabled the 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry to surpass Ouija Board as the top female thoroughbred in terms of career earnings. She has a bankroll of $6,404,580. Ouija Board retired in 2006 with $6,312,552.
Under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Zenyatta will wrap her brilliant career when she tries to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.
Scheduled to leave for Kentucky early Nov. 2, Zenyatta was also voted Horse of the Meet – the third consecutive time she has been so honored at an
Oak Tree meet – in the annual media poll. She was also selected top older female.
Zabeel Racing International Corporation's Richard's Kid followed his victory in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar with another in the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes, providing trainer Bob Baffert with his second win in the Grade I.
The 3-year-old Smiling Tiger stamped himself a contender for the Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 6 with a victory in the $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes Oct. 9 for owners Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz and trainer Jeff Bonde.
The meet's other Grade I races were won by the improving 2-year-old Jaycito, who upset J P's Gusto in the $250,000 Norfolk Stakes Oct. 2, Rigoletta, who posted the biggest surprise ($67.40) in Oak Leaf history when she defeated heavily favored Tell a Kelly in the $250,000 race Oct. 3, and Champ Pegasus, who rallied strongly to win the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Oct. 3.
In conjunction with the Oak Tree Racing Association's move to Hollywood Park, the California Cup also had a new venue. The Cal Cup was held for the 21st time Oct. 30.
The series of races – including seven stakes with purses totaling $700,000 - for California breds featured several exciting finishes, including victories by Bruce's Dream in the $100,000 John C. Mabee California Cup Mile Presented by TVG and Soul Candy in the $150,000 California Cup Classic Presented by City National Bank.
"We were particularly pleased with the accommodations and with how our breeders and sponsors were treated by everyone at Hollywood Park,'' said Doug Burge, the executive vice president and general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. "I thought the racing was extremely competitive and the wagering was on par with other California Cup days.''
La Canada Stables topped the owners' standings with six victories. In terms of earnings, the Zayat Stables LLC of Ahmed Zayat led with $220,260.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano defended his crown with 35 victories, one more than Joel Rosario. Bejarano also was tops in stakes wins with five, two better than Patrick Valenzuela.
Trainer Bob Baffert won his fifth Oak Tree title. He finished with 11 victories, one more than Doug O'Neill and John Sadler. Baffert broke a three-way tie for the top spot when favored Tweebster won the final race of the Oak Tree meet.
Read more articles in the Hollywood Park category.Read more articles in the Oak Tree category.


text: Wyoming Forage Field Day July 10 at Farson July 4, 2014 03:42 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By University News Release Email Alfalfa establishment, weed management and marketing options are among topics addressed during a morning of sessions at the Wyoming Forage Field Day Thursday, July 10, at Farson. Activities are at the Eden Valley Community Center, 4039 Highway 191. Forage contributed $379 million to Wyoming's agricultural economy in 2012, said Anowar Islam, UW Extension forage specialist. "That far exceeds sugar beets ($67 million) and corn, dry beans, barley and wheat," said Islam, drawing from the 2013 Wyoming Agriculture Statistics publication. "There are some issues that affect that contribution. They include low productivity, poor stand establishment and poor persistence." Islam will facilitate the forage production and management sessions, and Donn Randall, program manager, Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division, will facilitate marketing sessions. Local machinery dealers will display and demonstrate equipment. The workshops are free. The schedule is: 8:30 a.m. – Registration, welcome, program overview 9 a.m. – "Forage Establishment," Islam 9:30 a.m. – "Forage Fertility: Improving Your Bottom Line," Joe Brummer, Colorado State University Extension forage specialist 10 a.m. – "Weed Management in Hay Fields," Andrew Kniss, UW associate professor specializing in weed science 10:30 a.m. – "Lander Alfalfa, Laramie Annual Medic, and WyoWinter Feed Pea for the Intermountain West and the Central Great Plains," Robin Groose, UW professor of agroecology and plant breeding 11 a.m. – "Economics for Hay Production," Bridger Feuz, UW Extension educator 11:30 a.m. – "Hay Marketing," Randall Noon – Cream can lunch 1 p.m. – Machinery equipment demonstrations, forage demonstrations, forage product reviews by participating companies Source: Wyoming Extension Back to news


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I thought if I posted this here, maybe somebody would have an answer for me. The manual says the Thieves' Tools can be used either of two ways:
1) Equip in either hand and use them.
2) Highlight them in the inventory screen and press B.
I've done every variation of both methods that I can think of, and all I ever get is a buzzer or nothing at all. I'm led to believe that either the tools weren't actually coded properly, or they aren't for unlocking doors at all (in which case, what the hell are they for?)
Would appreciate some help with this.
Slayer Bug? Thieves Tools Don't Work?
All general 3DO chat here please.
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- mikemacdee
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- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:51 am
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HAVTEC is the OPERC vibration testing facility. It provides independent assessment of the hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure that an operator will be exposed to from the use of mechanical hand-held power tools. The results of the tests are recorded on the HAVTEC register, which is made available through the OPERC website.
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