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January 7, 2012. In 2010, we published a paper that showed radiation from a cordless phone at 2.4 GHz affects the heart. Click herefor a copy of that publication andhere to watch the youtube video.
We heard from many people who acknowledged that they experience heart palpitations in certain environments and are unable to use mobile phones and be near cell phone antennas and Wi-Fi routers. We also learned that some students in schools with Wi-Fi experience a racing heart. Cardiologist, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, believes that those who have undiagnosed heart conditions may be particularly vulnerable to radio frequency radiation.
In the past we were concerned about the radiation from a microwave oven affecting heart monitors. Those heart monitors have been improved and are now shielded against radio frequency radiation. Our hearts are NOT shielded and our exposure to radio frequency radiation includes not only microwave ovens but mobile phones, cell phone antennas, wireless routers, smart meters, wireless computer games, blue tooth, and wireless baby monitors.
Our study was criticized and the claim was made that our results were due to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
EMI refers to disruption of an electronic circuit with an electromagnetic signal. A common example is the static you hear as you drive under high voltage transmission lines with your radio tuned to an AM station. The static on the radio is EMI.
In our experiment the radiation from the cordless phone may have affected the receiver, placed near the heart, creating spurious results. If this were the case, the signal would interfere each time but that did not happen. We were convinced our results were real (i.e. that we were recording changes in the heart rather than changes in the equipment) but the criticism of EMI was worth testing.
Was there a critical distance where the radiation from the cordless phone interfered with the equipment we were using?
So we designed an experiment to test for EMI. The results are in our new video. Click here to watch the video.
NOTE: There is an error in our previous video (2010). We refer to the cordless phone as a DECT phone. Technically DECT phones radiate between 1880 and 1930 MHz and the phone we used provides a signal at 2400 MHz. We do have DECT phones in North America but they operate at a different frequency than those in Europe. DECT 6.0 phones in U.S. and Canada operate at 1.9 GHz.
Brought to you by
EMF Refugees: The International Coalition for an Electromagnetic Safe Planet (IC-ESP).
24.12.2011 by emily Category Electromagnetic Health Blog
December 24, 2011, Berkeley, CA, USA & Stockholm, Sweden. An important new analysis, The Potential Impact of Mobile Phone Use on Trends in Brain and CNS Tumors, was published today in the journal Neurology & Neurophysiology. It can be downloaded without cost athttp://www.omicsonline.o...562/2155-9562-S5-003.pdf. The paper is in a Special Issue of the journal titled "Brain Tumor." The study raises very serious concerns about the potential for a large increase in brain cancer incidence, resulting from widespread mobile phone use. The steep increase in brain cancer will begin in approximately 15 years according to the projections. The paper, by researchers Örjan Hallberg in Sweden and L. Lloyd Morgan in the U.S., first reviews biological effects from mobile phone use reported in peer-reviewed studies, such as increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, deleterious effects on sperm, double strand breaks in DNA, stress gene activation (indicating an exposure to a toxin), and increased risk of an acoustic nerve tumor (acoustic neuroma) and brain cancer after 10 or more years of mobile phone use. It then considered two established mechanisms for the development of brain cancer—that mobile phone use decreases the efficiency of the repair of mutated DNA and that mobile phone use increases the rate of DNA mutations. In developing the model from brain cancer registry data, mathematical model parameters are selected which provide a best fit to the age adjusted registry data. The model can be considered reasonably accurate if it approximates both the age-specific brain cancer incidence (e.g., 30-34 year age cohort) and the age-adjusted brain cancer incidence from the cancer registry data. It can then be used by the researchers to predict future brain cancer incidence. Based on a 30-year time between first mobile phone use and diagnoses of brain cancer (latency time), the model predicts that there will be a 100% increased incidence of brain cancer (2-fold) if DNA repair efficiency is decreased by mobile phone use, and a 2,400% increase in brain tumors (25-fold) if mobile phone use mutates DNA. The figure below, from the paper illustrates these predictions.
Figure 3. Norwegian brain tumor age-adjusted rates per 100,000 person-years by calendar year for reported data with 3 results from mobile phone use 1) Increased DNA damage 2) no DNA repair and 3) has no effect.
The public health risk modeling process used in this analysis was developed by Örjan Hallberg and has been successfully applied in other illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease and melanoma. Hallberg says, "Such modeling, or risk projection, is important, whether for the climate or for diseases, in that it allows public health contingency planning, should the model be reasonable accurate. For example, will there be sufficient neurosurgeons should brain tumors increase as the model predicts?" Morgan says, "What this analysis shows is that, unless mobile phone usage behavior patterns change significantly, we can reasonably expect a pandemic of brain tumors, for which we are ill-prepared, beginning approximately 15 years from now. Governments, as well as parents, physicians, schools and all citizens, would be well advised to educate all persons under their care or influence about the need to curtail the use of mobile phones and other radiation-emitting consumer devices." Media Contacts: Europe: Örjan Hallberg in Sweden (firstname.lastname@example.com, + 46 (8) 605 4998). North America: Lloyd Morgan in Berkeley, California, USA Sr. Research Fellow, Environmental Health Trust (email@example.com, +510 841-4362).
January 21, 2012 in -Mailing List, Cell phone news by EMFacts
Press release: January 25, 2012
The research group of Professor Lukas Margaritis (Faculty of Biology, University of Athens and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens), within the framework of the activities seeking for the truth underlining the possible effects of daily life electromagnetic fields, has performed this study as part of the Doctorate Dissertation of Adamantia F. Fragopoulou.
Using ordinary working conditions of mobile phone and wireless DECT base and by applying state of the art proteome science approaches, they demonstrated that a large number of major brain proteins have been changed. Namely proteins that are responsible for the integrity of brain functions, in such critical regions like hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal lobe are below normal levels whereas an equally large number are found well above physiological levels. These "underexpressed" or "overexressed" proteins may play a role in the short term or long term effects reported as a consequence of mobile phone exposure, including memory deficits, headaches, sleep disorders, brain tumors. This study is the first large scale analysis of the mouse brain proteome to be published so far. The research team having recently been awarded a large "Thalis" grant is potentially aiming in elucidating the EMF effects from the molecular level up to the organism level, exploiting the most suitable model systems (mice, insects, nematodes, lizards, cell cultures, human skin).
Published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Early Online: 1–25, 2012 Copyright Q Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation Adamantia F. Fragopoulou1, Athina Samara2, Marianna H. Antonelou1, Anta Xanthopoulou3, Aggeliki Papadopoulou3, Konstantinos Vougas3, Eugenia Koutsogiannopoulou2, Ema Anastasiadou2, Dimitrios J. Stravopodis1, George Th. Tsangaris3 & Lukas H. Margaritis1 1Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Athens University, Athens, Greece, 2Genetics and Gene Therapy Division, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece, and 3Proteomics Research Unit, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the proteome of cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe in Balb/c mice following long-term whole body irradiation. Three equally divided groups of animals (6 animals/group) were used; the first group was exposed to a typical mobile phone, at a SAR level range of 0.17– 0.37 W/kg for 3 h daily for 8 months, the second group was exposed to a wireless DECT base (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications/Telephone) at a SAR level range of 0.012– 0.028 W/kg for 8 h/day also for 8 months and the third group comprised the sham-exposed animals. Comparative proteomics analysis revealed that long-term irradiation from both EMF sources altered significantly (p , 0.05) the expression of 143 proteins in total (as low as 0.003 fold downregulation up to 114 fold overexpression). Several neural function related proteins (i.e., Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Alpha-synuclein, Glia Maturation Factor beta (GMF), and apolipoprotein E (apoE)), heat shock proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins (i.e., Neurofilaments and tropomodulin) are included in this list as well as proteins of the brain metabolism (i.e., Aspartate aminotransferase, Glutamate dehydrogenase) to nearly all brain regions studied. Western blot analysis on selected proteins confirmed the proteomics data. The observed protein expression changes may be related to brain plasticity alterations, indicative of oxidative stress in the nervous system or involved in apoptosis and might potentially explain human health hazards reported so far, such as headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue, memory deficits, and brain tumor long-term induction under similar exposure conditions.
Read the full story here.
GOOD VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/w...QEwM&feature=related
There will be 3 great events on April 2012.
First on April 19, 2012, Masha Sharapova will be 25 year old. It is the golden age for a tennis player. At this age they perform miracles in tennis. It is also my hope for Masha.
Second on April 21, 2012, we are going to celebrate the birthday of the first travel in the space of Gagarin.
Third on April 21, 2012, there will be a great event against the electromagnetic polution on our planet.
This event is very important because we all live in the same planet and this polution is bad for all of us.
So we have to protest against it. It is our right.
EMR Action Day – 21 April 2012
Mission Statement
Worldwide EMR Action Day aligns with Earth Day 2012 to protect the biological integrity of the natural world and all its inhabitants against unnatural Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR). With this endeavor, people from around the planet join together to reduce harm from EMR and create a healthier life for all.
Man-made EMR is the only hazard that reaches every square centimeter of Earth's surface at every moment, harming people, animals, insects and plant life. Electromagnetic pollution has been imposed upon us by military and industrial interests, with devastating health, environmental and social consequences. From microwave (MW) and radio-frequency (RF) radiation to extremely low frequency (ELF) fields, sources include:
While some man-made EMR sources are falsely marketed as 'green', they all independently produce adverse biological and health effects. The effects markedly worsen with prolonged exposure or when combined with additional EMR sources, chemical toxicants or metals. MW radiation intensities in urban areas can be over a trillion times higher than natural background levels.
All life is electromagnetic in function. From the symbiotic balance of wildlife ecosystems to the health of our internal cells and organs – especially the brain and heart – living systems depend on undisturbed electrical signaling processes. All creatures derive a sense of wellbeing from the Earth's own Schumann Resonances and other natural fields, which have now been overwhelmed by man-made EMR.
Scientists and experts in policy and law, examining thousands of research studies, warn of immediate and long-term hazards and call for minimized exposures. EMR Action Day provides support and information on sources, effects and solutions to communities and individuals in need.
Harmful EMR also includes ionizing radiation from nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. We urge reduced exposures to all such sources including medical tests, treatments and wastes.
EMR Action Day proposes new choices for safer and lower energy consumption: hard-wiring and fiber-optics in homes, schools and workplaces; shielding materials; and safe White Zones and other EMR-free solutions. We engage people in minimizing EMR exposures and reconnecting with their own natural biorhythms. By our judicial, legislative, media, artistic and other creative endeavors, we act to free humankind, defend public safety and restore electromagnetic harmony to the Earth.
Our focus is on solutions that benefit us all.
A new invention using the wireless technology. I don't recommend it to anyone. Wireless technology or wifi technology is just a new technology which irradiates people.
An implantable microchip has been shown for the first time to be able to safely and efficiently deliver a drug dose to patients. The achievement could help overcome concerns about patients' abilities to stick with a difficult regimen of an injectable drug.
The microchip is pre-loaded with drug doses and is equipped to communicate wirelessly, allowing it to be programmed once implanted and indicate how much medicine has been dispensed.
"This is the first human study where an implanted electronic device has been responsible for the preprogrammed delivery of a drug," said Michael Cima, a professor of engineering at MIT and one of the microchip's inventors. "I think it's the leading edge of what implanted electronics could become."
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/w...fDGoD8&feature=share
You know what surprised me the most. Is Maria was sitting with Anna Wintour and she had her sunglasses on but, where were Maria's ???Did she sit on them again ? (She needs to go buy a Pelican waterproof container, which will hold her sunglasses and cellphone). Though, Wal-Mart has some waterproof containers in their fishing hook section, which would work equally as well.
Imagine, Maria Sharapova fishing........... Hey where are those photos ? Maria first fish....
Wired Child For those of you obsessed with your wireless technology, I need to ask--why are my children and I considered acceptable collateral damage so you can have your wireless convenience? Have you utterly lost your sense of humanity? Maybe you don't feel any health effects (yet) from this technology, but many of us do--millions of us--and we are suffering. Do you not care? I want to know why you don't care. I want to know why your wireless gadgets are worth more to you than my children's health or my health or our lives. What in God's name is so important about your texting that we have become inconsequential? You wouldn't force a child who is allergic to peanuts to live in a home filled with peanuts, would you? Would you force a peanut-allergic child to endure such a potentially deadly assault on their immune system? But Super WiFi, smart meters, WiFi, etc. are essentially doing just that to people like us who are sensitive. Perhaps you don't acknowledge the problem because the radiation is invisible (you can at least SEE peanuts). Yet we are being bombarded by toxic radiation everywhere we go, whether we like it or not--and we have become inconsequential because you want what you want: your wireless convenience. I want to know why--even if you are seemingly unaffected by this technology--I want to know why you don't care about those of us who ARE affected. I want to know why you are not speaking out on our behalf. You are, by your silence, saying it is okay. I don't care if this technology is "popular" or if "everyone is using it"; this is not okay. It is not okay to say "well it's not going away so you'll just have to live with it." Many of us who are sick from this radiation are now too ill to speak out. Many of us struggle just to find a safe place to live, shop, or go to school. We can't even safely go to a doctor or a hospital without getting seriously ill because of WiFi exposure. There are electrosensitive people living in tents in the mountains and the deserts of our country because they can't live anywhere else due to the amount of radiation in our communities. I post info on this subject all the time. Some of you read it (thank you if you do), but I'm sure many of you don't bother because you're not affected (yet) or you haven't figured out that your health problems are being caused by it. Or maybe you just don't want to hear it because you love your wireless gadgets so much. But what about those of us who are fully aware this technology is making us sick? Do we not matter to you? Maybe it's just easier for you to think we are imagining it. Well if you think you're not affected, think again. I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of kids dying from leukemia, cancer, and brain tumors (are they perhaps sitting underneath a wireless access point at school? using a cell phone themselves? or just frying in Mom or Dad's car while the parents use their cell phone?) Now, appallingly, I see parents giving their toddlers SmartPhones to keep them busy and help them "get through the day." I am sick of cell towers going up outside schools and residential neighborhoods. I'm sick of Distributed Antenna System (DAS) units (the equivalent of a cell antenna) being installed on the telephone wires right outside people's bedroom windows--and they don't even know because the radiation is invisible. I'm disgusted by the number of children being drugged for "ADHD" and "behavior problems" (how can they think or behave properly when bombarded by whole-body radiation from WiFi at school???) I'm sick of getting yet another phone call that my sister, my cousin, or my friend has breast cancer (oh that's right, they have a wireless digital utility meter on their house, WiFi in their home/office, and/or they use a cell phone). I'm tired of hearing about my friends' husbands dying from kidney and bladder cancer (can you say laptop???) I want to know where all the bees have gone (they used to be EVERYWHERE when we were kids). I want to know how the hell we're going to grow food if all the pollinators are dead! I'm tired of flocks of birds dropping dead out of the sky, and millions of bats (also pollinators) dying of mysterious fungal diseases (the immune system cannot function properly in the presence of these frequencies). If you think you're not affected by all this, please think again. If you are reading this right now, then at some point you crossed paths with me in life. If you cared enough to have me as a Facebook friend in the first place, please care enough to acknowledge that this technology is essentially free license to commit genocide in slow motion against those of us who cannot tolerate these frequencies. And you or your child may be next if/when your body can't tolerate it anymore either. So please have the moral fortitude and common human decency to do something about it, because those of us who are getting sick from it can't do it alone anymore. We need your help. The problem has gotten too big and soon there will be no escaping it (see below--Super WiFi is on its way). If you are truly a human being, start acting like one. Please don't accept what is happening to your fellow human beings. Please care about me and my kids and others like us. Please care about those who are being affected and don't even realize it yet. Please do something about this. It is not okay to essentially cripple and/or kill off an entire segment of the population for the sake of wireless convenience. We, as a species, should be better than that. There. That's what's on my mind today, so now it's on my wall. If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading. And if you agree, pass it on. https://www.facebook.com...5&id=107584049286071
EMF Refugee:
The International Coalition for an Electromagnetic Safe Planet (IC-ESP)
The Israeli Knesset has just backed a bill requiring all mobile phones to carry a health warning. The labels will state 'Warning - the Health Ministry cautions that heavy use and carrying the device next to the body may increase the risk of cancer, especially among children.' The bill also requires all advertisements of mobile phones to state the same warning. All advertising targeting minors would be banned under the law, and breaking the law would be a criminal offence.
Although there is still no scientific consensus about the level of risk associated with mobile phone use, there is increasing concern for the health of our children as the use by them is increasing almost exponentially and they are much more vulnerable to the radiation the phones produce.
One of the bill's sponsors, Dov Khenin of Hadash, says "People need to be more careful in their use of cellphones, he said, and especially, they must protect children."
All purchases for children have to be made by adults, as children are not old enough to enter into a legal purchase agreement. We hope that the new label will give caring adults pause for thought before submitting to the requests of their children/grandchildren. The phones do not make them safer. The Metropolitan Police say as many as 10,000 mobile phones are stolen every month. Two thirds of the victims are aged between 13 and 16. The research shows that children under 15 are the most common targets with up to half a million young people aged between 11 and 15 falling victim to phone theft. Younger children are often targeted by those whose phones have been stolen.
Parents and other adults buying phones for children need to examine their motive for doing so carefully.
If we really care, do we want to expose our children to:
The Israeli Knesset join the increasing ranks of scientists, politicians and people like you and me not to mention organisations in America, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Denmark, Russia, Thailand and Bangladesh that believe precuationary action must be taken NOW, rather than waiting for the bodies to fall.
Yes employees in MacDonalds have headphone because their hands are always busy.
Headphones are like glasses at the beginning they are not comfortable but with the time you get used to them.
Can you see on this bag of food ? they write on them Wifi. That means you have a Wifi connection in all Macdonald. People in this place are under microwave radiation + this kind of food makes you fat like a pig.
Yeah MacDonalds is not a place for me !!!! When you are there you look like a irradiated pig. Look this pic !!!
Blood In The Mobile
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/w...59gQ&feature=related
Hey, where's my posting about that russian tv show ???
Cellphones are also very bad for your health, because they are very close to your brain or ears. The closer is the antenna to you the higher is the radiation of the antenna.
Just compare the radiation of the antenna to a light or a fire. The closer is the source of the light or fire, the better you see it or feel it.
That is why specialists told you not always phone with the same ear.
The electric field of a Cellphone is the strongest near your ear.
Normaly you should phone only 3 minutes with your cell phone, after 3 minutes your body starts reacting to the radiation. Sometimes people feel that their ears become hot or they have a pain in their ears when they phone too much.
About the cellphone towers they are also dangerous because they radiate 24H/24H so if you live near them, your body will be expose to them 24H/24H particularly in the night when you sleep.
The only advantage of your cellphone, you can turn it off in the night or when you want. It is like a cigarette, you can stop smoking when you want in the day.
The unadvantage of a cellphone tower, you can't turn it off. It works all days&nights. During raining the radiation of antennas increases, there is a programme which increases the radiation of antennas during raining because the link becomes weak.
Cellphones or cellphones towers are not very good for your health, particularly for children who have a growing body&brain.
Masha is very clever, she found a solution to avoid one part of the radiation of the cellphone.
Headphones are like glasses at the beginning they are not so comfortable but with the time you get used to them and they become very useful&comfortable but don't be lazy to use them!!!!
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/w...XmDGANj7Coryb184HsFoA%3D
First Town Free of Electromagnetic Radiation Unanimously Approved in Spain
In Olvera, a beautiful town of Cadiz, the Councillor for the Environment, James Steward, confirmed that the full City Council unanimously approved to declare the town a "Electromagnetic Pollution-Free Municipality". Importantly, with the unanimity of the United Left party, but voted for by the Spanish Socialist Party and the Popular Party, and harnessed it has motivated different political forces, is to ensure a safe and healthy environment the villagers. We can say openly and without fear of error, that there are no official records of municipalities, with the same kind of decision. Just know that in Cartagena and Murcia several villages in neighboring federations called for something similar, as have many provinces of Spain, but have just not progressed. As an extension of the news, Environment Councilman James Waiter said, "As our town is small, we have the typical problem of the tomes of masts on the roofs, on the contrary, the urban landscape of the upper population is adorned by a concrete tower with antennas installed and lack of legality, which we intend to remove it immediately. " And every day that this issue gets more heated -- and just last week the newspaper released a story in which a former flight attendant and a former technical director of a university, both of French origin, became refugees living in a cave in the Alps to protect themselves from the "unbearable pain" produced by electromagnetic waves.
Aprueban por unanimidad la primera localidad libre de radiaciones electromagnéticas


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Cartoonists debate same-sex marriage
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subset: commoncrawl


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Rocket Man Scrapbook Layout
Material List
- Sticko® Dimensional Stickers - Retro Rockets
- EK Success® Herma Dotto Adhesive Tape Runner, Permanent
- 3D-Dots™ White Adhesive Foam 1/8" Circles
- Zig® Memory System Millennium Writer - Pure Black
- Cardstock - blue, lime green, light grey, yellow and purple
- Stapler
Project Instructions
Hand cut swirls from blue cardstock. Glue to blue background piece.
Trim on all four sides approx. 1" and mat with light gray cardstock.
Print journaling on light gray cardstock.
Cut purple cardstock as shown.
Mat photos, journaling block and purple piece with lime green. Glue to the page.
Cut a strip of lime green cardstock and adhere to page along seam of photo mats. Staple.
Hand cut title from yellow cardstock and glue to purple block as shown. Outline letters with marker.
Hand cut smoke swirls from lt. gray cardstock. Outline with marker.
Embellish page as seen using smoke swirls, stickers and foam adhesive for sticker height.


text: Warning: date(): It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected the timezone 'UTC' for now, but please set date.timezone to select your timezone. in /home/launch/public_html/includes/joomla.php on line 103 Error: headers already sent in joomla.php on line 103.Stopped at line 935 in joomsef.php: HEADERS ALREADY SENT (200)URL=http://launchhosting.com/404.html?mosmsg=FILE+NOT+FOUND%3A+contact-us%2Findex.php:OPTION=com_content:


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Find out about national and international shipping, as well as local delivery options.
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Free delivery on all orders. Please place your order by 7:00 PM to guarantee delivery the same evening.
Free delivery with a minimum order of $175 in Manhattan and $200 in Brooklyn. For orders that fall below the minimum, there is a $15 charge for delivery in Manhattan and $20 in Brooklyn.
UPS rates apply and will be calculated at checkout. Our default is UPS Ground, but if you wish to ship using a faster method, please make a note using the Notes Regarding Order and we'll adjust the shipping method and cost when we process your order.
UPS rates apply and will be calculated at checkout. Our default is UPS Ground, but if you wish to ship using a faster method, please make a note using the Notes Regarding Order and we'll adjust the shipping method and cost when we process your order. If you are buying wine in July and August and want it shipped, we reccommend holding it here at the store until September, or until there is a cool spell in your region.
The customer contracts with the carrier (generally UPS), who Chambers Street Wines will engage on behalf of the customer. In the case of shipments outside New York
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|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.
Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)45; stamens 45, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):128. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.
Annual to shrubs, generally aromatic
Leaves entire to ± lobed, glabrous to densely hairy; hairs glandular (resin-filled) or T-shaped, hollow
Inflorescence: generally panicle; heads generally discoid or disciform, in racemes or panicles; involucre ovoid to hemispheric, generally concealing flowers; phyllaries in several series, margins scarious; receptacle conic, generally naked
Pistillate flowers 0many; corollas generally < 2 mm
Disk flowers 4many, generally forming fruits, sometimes staminate; corollas < 2 mm, pale yellow; anther tips acute to awl-shaped; style branches flat, fringed or blunt (sometimes simple, tack-shaped in staminate flowers)
Fruit < 2 mm, obovoid or fusiform, ribbed or smooth, glabrous, hairy, or resinous; pappus generally 0 or minute crown
Species in genus: ± 300 species: especially n hemisphere
Etymology: (Greek: Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and noted herbalist, Queen of Anatolia)
Reference: [Keck 1946 Proc Calif Acad Sci (4)25:421468; Shultz 1983 PhD thesis Claremont Graduate School]
Shrub < 3 dm, mounded, gray, evergreen
Stems much-branched
Leaves 39 mm, wedge-shaped, 3-lobed, hairy, gray-green
Inflorescence spike-like; heads discoid, 24 mm diam, generally 24 per cluster, ± sessile; phyllaries ovate, densely hairy, margins transparent
Pistillate flowers 0
Disk flowers 46
Fruit 0.70.8 mm, light brown, finely resinous
Chromosomes: 2n=18,36
Ecology: Clay soils, valleys, slopes
Elevation: 15003800 m.
Bioregional distribution: High North Coast Ranges, High Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Utah
Leaves of flower-stems deeply 3-lobed
Inflorescence: heads 23 mm diam
Ecology: Uncommon. Igneous rock
Elevation: 22002500 m.
Bioregional distribution: High North Coast Ranges, n&c High Sierra Nevada.
|YOU CAN HELP US make sure that our distributional information is correct and current. If you know that a plant occurs in a wild, reproducing state in a Jepson bioregion NOT highlighted on the map, please contact us with that information. Please realize that we cannot incorporate range extensions without access to a voucher specimen, which should (ultimately) be deposited in an herbarium. You can send the pressed, dried collection (with complete locality information indicated) to us (e-mail us for details) or refer us to an accessioned herbarium specimen. Non-occurrence of a plant in an indicated area is difficult to document, but we will especially value your input on those types of possible errors (see automatic conversion of distribution data to maps).


text:
Practically Speaking
Kyle and her husband moved to Brookfield in 1986. She became active in local politics and started blogging in 2004. Her focus is primarily on local issues but often includes state and national topics, too. Kyle looks at things from the taxpayers' perspective in a creative, yet down to earth way, addressing them from a practical point of view.
No shadow of a doubt? Our groundhog predicts early spring
As my husband and I manned the snow blowers in the driveway last night, I did think this blizzard's silver lining might be that the groundhog would NOT see his shadow Wednesday morning.
Sure enough, Wynter, the Milwaukee County Zoo groundhog did NOT see her shadow this morning! Instead, she frolicked around in the snow a bit before going back into her den. Other groundhogs predicted the same--an early spring. I am all for that!
I couldn't help notice some other winter wonderland frolickers this morning. The kids down the street were literally diving head first into the snow banks, along with their pet Golden Retriever. Glad someone is enjoying the white stuff.
Me? I am thinking warm thoughts by planning a southern New Mexico and Arizona vacation. This will be new territory for us, and of course we want to see it all. Editing is never my strong suit: So many National Parks and Monuments...so little time.
Feel free to share your must see southern New Mexico and Arizona sites.
In the meantime, I hope our groundhog is right and we have an early spring.
Brookfield's Dr. Scott Hardin, "From Fish to Amphibian, a Practical View" Tuesday, 7:30pm
Ever wonder how a fish could evolve into an amphibian? While they both begin their lives breathing through gills under water, the amphibians soon leave their tadpole days behind as they mature. They not only develop legs, they also develop air breathing lungs. Toads and salamanders go on to live on land near water, and frogs live primarily in the water with occasional trips to Terra firma. How could 2 such complicated anatomic changes occur by chance?
Dr. Scott Hardin will discuss this question in his presentation, "From Fish to Amphibian, a Practical View" at the Creation Science Society of Milwaukee meeting on Tuesday, February 8th, at 7:30pm. This meeting will be held at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, N87 W16171 Kenwood Blvd., Menomonee Falls.
From the CSSM press release:
"A review will be made by Dr. Scott Hardin of some of the assertions made by proponents of the concept of evolution and he will challenge the validity of the same using acceptable laws of science, logic and common sense. Both evolutionist and creationists start with the statement, 'In the beginning...' It is what follows that creates divergent views."
"Dr. Scott's talk...will be about the anatomic changes that need to occur in order for the fish ancestor species to transform into the first amphibian, with special emphasis on the cardiopulmonary systems. He will explain that there is no way for the changes to occur from a genetic standpoint, and if there is no way for the fish ancestor organism to acquire the necessary DNA, then it is impossible for the fish to transform into an amphibian."
And it is that additional DNA code that presents the problem for evolutionists. Unlike Natural Selection that results in reducing the code, such as only long haired dogs* surviving in very cold climates (long haired dogs possessing less genetic information than the original wolf kind pair or even from a genetically mixed group of long, medium, and short haired dogs), adding legs and lungs to a fish means also adding vast amounts of complicated DNA coding.
I am looking forward to Dr. Hardin's talk. Dr. Hardin** presently is the Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services for St. Luke's Hospital and serves as Vice Chief of Staff 2010 - 2011, and then Chief of Staff 2012 - 2013.
Creation Science Society of Milwaukee
*Ken Ham gave this example at the Answers in Genesis Conference last weekend
**I was a patient of Dr. Hardin's several years ago.
Some readers might assume that I am trying to convince those of you who are atheist to believe in God. Although I would like to have all believe, this is not my goal, for no one convinces anyone to faith. My concern is for the believer who thinks the Bible is at odds with science. If these people take the time to educate themselves, they will find they do not have to check their brains at the door to believe in the Genesis account.
Yippee! Packers overcome obstacles to win Super Bowl
Who would have thought that the team that lost earlier this season to Detroit and only got in the playoffs via the wild card, would go on to win the Super Bowl? What a year it has been for our Packers. And then the Super Bowl game itself had a few obstacles. Greg Jennings sums up the game nicely.
Here we go again, Elmbrook board discussing 4K tonight, topic at 7pm
That's right. At tonight's Elmbrook school board meeting, they will be discussing adding 4K...again. The meeting starts at 6pm with the 4K agenda item at 7pm: Four Year Old Kindergarten - February 8, 2011 Discussion. It is imperative the board hear from you if you are against adding 4K to our district, because you can be sure those in favor of 4K will be there tonight. Please come if you are able, or you may email your comments to the board. The board is to decide on 4K at their Feb. 22nd meeting.
A pro-4K email has crossed my path. To quote: "It is crucial for the Board to hear our voices in support of 4K before the decision is made at February 22nd meeting. 4K has a real possibility of passing this time, but the Board members need to see a packed room and hear our comments..."
The email then gives a number of statistics that I question. One being the survey taken at polling places on November 2nd, where Voters were asked to state their position on closing a school, more non resident students, and adding 4K to close the budget gap. There was no explanation given that 4K would be increasing the Elmbrook budget by increasing our taxes!
The general public doesn't always understand that when the district talks about increasing revenue, it really means higher taxes*. "According to the district, taxes for the owner of a $300,000 home would increase by $34 for 2011-12, $66 for 2012-13, $97 for 2013-14 and $104 for 2014-15 if K4 is implemented."
From the district's own Dec. 7, 2010 work session minutes: "...staffing costs will rise if 4K is added--therefore address salary/benefit concerns before adding 4K."
The Elmbrook School Board voted against 4K in 2007. So what is different with the board we have today vs. the board we had in 2007 when they voted 4K down? We still have Tom Gehl, Meg Wartman, Gary Jones, Glen Allgaier who were NO 4K votes. Bob Ziegler is the only surviving Yes vote. Jean Lambert and Kathryn Wilson have replaced Dave Marcello, a No vote, and Cherry Sylla, a Yes vote.
Has the information on academic achievement changed since 2007? At the time, Meg Wartman even wondered if Elmbrook ever assessed the difference all day 5K made in achievement in Elmbrook.
Well, now we do have our own "data" as Eileen Depka refers to it on how our pilot 4K-ers, now in 2nd grade, do compared to Elmbrook students who did not attend 4K. From what I have heard, on average, they have not done as well as students who only attended 5K. (If they did do better, do you really think you wouldn't have heard more about it by now?) All I could find was this sentence from the Dec. 14, 2010 board meeting minutes, "Eileen Depka presented non standardized assessment data from the current second grade class, many of whom participated in the District's 4K pilot."
The board meeting starts tonight at 6pm with the 4K discussion at 7pm. As I understand it, people may comment at the Citizen's Forum early in the meeting. Or submit your comments via email.
Contact the Elmbrook School Board:
President Tom Gehl email@example.com
Meg Wartman email@example.com
Glen Allgaier email@example.com
Gary Jones email@example.com
Jean Lambert email@example.com
Kathryn Wilson email@example.com
Robert Ziegler email@example.com
More reading: *School closing decision put off til fall, Feb 1, 2011
Past Posts: 4-K: The Dog Chasing its Tail Oct. 8, 2007 (Revised) Revenues collected "...would, however, cost the taxpayers more money, because it would be funded primarily from increased property taxes. The district would be allowed to collect more taxes due to its increased enrollment."
Does 4K Deserve Tax Dollars? Nov. 10, 2007
Uncle Matt Wants You--if you are 4 years old Nov. 14, 2007
4K--It's About the Money Nov. 21, 2007
Public Schools: Safety Net or Drift Net? Nov. 23, 2007
4K Solving Budget Woes = Lucy Ricardo Math Nov. 26, 2007
Bet Room Will Be Packed With Pro 4K Tonight Nov. 27, 2007
4K Yellow Hands and Green Trees Nov. 27, 2007
4K Discontinued Despite Emotions & Irregularities Nov. 28, 2007
Judge David Prosser & Jeff Stone need your support Tuesday, Feb. 15
Be sure to read April 5, 2011 Judicial Ballot Picks: David Prosser & Lloyd Carter
Tuesday, February 15th, is Primary Election Day in Wisconsin, with one very important statewide Wisconsin Supreme Court race on the ballot. This is not an election we can afford to ignore, because there is only one conservative running, incumbent Judge David Prosser . The other 3 candidates are very liberal. The top two candidates will go on to the April election.
At present, our Wisconsin Supreme Court leans conservative with a 4/3 split, Prosser being one of the 4 conservatives on the bench. Each justice serves a 10 year term.
Judge David Prosser has been described as a "no-nonsense bipartisan who has strong conservative values and is devoted to the Constitution and the rule of law. He is a fair-minded and honest justice...a man of integrity who has participated in more than 900 published Supreme Court decisions. He comes with a great deal of judicial experience."
In fact, he is the only candidate with judicial experience. He is also the only pro-life candidate.
Waukesha County Sheriff Dan Trawicki, Waukesha DA Brad Schimel, and Milwaukee Sheriff David Clark (among others in law enforcement) endorse Judge Prosser.
Conservatives, you finally won back the governorship, the Assembly and the State Senate. It would be a shame to win those 2 branches of state government and then lose out because of a liberal court contesting all of their reforms and ruling many as "unconstitutional". (Remember the Tommy Thompson era?) As one supporter wrote, "Remember, liberals view constitutions as "living" documents...subject to their whims about what they 'feel' is right. Conservatives interpret constitutions on the basis of what the document actually says."
So get out there and vote on Tuesday, February 15th.
For Brookfield residents, Supreme Court Justice is the only race on our ballot. Miwaukee County residents not only select the Supreme Court Justice but also the Milwaukee County Executive. Out of all the candidates running, Jeff Stone is the only conservative. The others are liberals.
Re-elect Justice David Prosser
Prosser endorsement page
Judge David Prosser Wisconsin Court Information Page
Prosser a judge with integrity, honesty
Love that lasts a lifetime, still holding hands at 90
Today is Valentine's Day, a day that celebrates LOVE.
It is also a day that makes retailers happy if they happen to sell greeting cards, candy, flowers or jewelry! While those items might help show how much you care on February 14th, the other 364 days are equally, if not more, important.
Shortly after Christmas, I was privileged to witness a very dear couple (my aunt and uncle--both 90 years old) silently express their love for each other after nearly 65 years of marriage. My uncle was in the hospital and not expected to recover; my aunt was sitting next to him holding his hand. Our family was visiting.
There seemed to be something going on between them beyond just hand holding, which was touching in itself. They were playing the squeeze game: One party squeezes 4 times, the other answers with 3 squeezes, the reply is 2 squeezes, followed by a long squeeze answer.
Don't you know this? my aunt asked. We were clueless. No, we said. She joked Oh, you young people don't know everything and explained they had been doing this game for years--even before they were married.
This is the game:
Person 1 squeezes 4X, this asks the question, Do you love me?
The other person, Person 2, squeezes 3X in reply, Yes I do.
Then Person 1 squeezes 2X again to ask, How much?
The final answer from Person 2 comes in the form of 1 l-o-n-g, firm squeeze to say, THIS much.
They sat there and exchanged squeezes for quite some time as we chatted about the fun times we all had together.
The game was just a silly little thing, but it was special for them. I'm glad we were there to witness it. Their game showed that telling each other they loved each other was as normal for them as breathing.
You could tell the nurses thought they were a special couple too. One asked the secret to their nearly 65 years of marriage. Auntie said, Well, we put the Lord first, we're committed to each other--to being married... we love each other.
The book of Proverbs says, A friend loves at all times. And they have loved through good times and bad, through the ups and downs of marriage, a son's serious car accident and hospitalization, a granddaughters long recovery after being struck by lightening, 2 great grandchildren in neonatal ICU, my uncle's and their son's cancer, and financially challenging times. You know, life.
This dear couple would have been married 65 years this February, shortly before Valentine's Day. Unfortunately they didn't make that date; my uncle died the morning after our visit. But their love still lives on and will for eternity.
Be sure those you love know it today, and next time you hold hands with your sweetheart, maybe you want to introduce the squeeze game. XXXX, XXX, XX, X!
On Valentine's Day, Share the Word About the Benefits of Marriage.
4K: $222 million a year and growing! Call Elmbrook School Board & Gov. Walker
That is right. In Wisconsin, 4K costs taxpayers $222,000,000 a year. And if the D.P.I. has its way, that number will be increasing after their 4K recruitment effort.
I just got off the phone with Senator Glenn Grothman's office. His assistant urged concerned Wisconsinites to CALL the Governor to defund 4K in his budget.* Governor Scott Walker (608) 266-1212 email@example.com
Taking state funding for 4K out of Wisconsin's budget would mean local districts would fund the entire cost of their 4K programs--no more state aid.
At the local level, presently, our Elmbrook School District does not have a 4K program. But our school board may vote on whether or not to begin a 4K program for the 2011-2012 school year at their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22nd, at the Central Administration Office, 13780 Hope Street, at 6pm. Please contact the board about this issue. (Info below)
According to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, the Governor's next budget will reduce the shared revenue the state pays out and cut the per pupil dollar amount given to local districts for each student enrolled. Hardly an incentive for adding new students to a new, unnecessary and ineffective program such as 4K.
Why do I say unnecessary and ineffective? Because like many other studies, Elmbrook's own internal study showed no difference in the achievement levels of 2nd grade students between children who went to Elmbrook's own pilot program 4K, those who attended private 4K, and those who had no 4K at all!
On top of all that, as one board member stated, the increase to Elmbrook's budget by starting a 4K program does not "make a significant impact" on the "overall budget shortfall". Remember Elmbrook School's budget increase is at Elmbrook TAXPAYER expense: "According to the district, taxes for the owner of a $300,000 home would increase by $34 for 2011-12, $66 for 2012-13, $97 for 2013-14 and $104 for 2014-15 if K4 is implemented." This would be at current state aid levels. If those levels are reduced, the cost for Elmbrook taxpayers would increase even more.
Combining the ineffectiveness of a 4K program, with that small financial gain to their budget , with the very real threat of decreasing state aids per pupil, makes voting against starting 4K in Elmbrook the only reasonable position. Contact the board.
*If defunding 4K doesn't make it into the Governor's February 22nd budget proposal, Senator Grothman will introduce defunding 4K in a stand alone bill.
Elmbrook School Board:
President Tom Gehl email@example.com
Meg Wartman firstname.lastname@example.com
Glen Allgaier firstname.lastname@example.com
Gary Jones firstname.lastname@example.com
Jean Lambert firstname.lastname@example.com
Kathryn Wilson email@example.com
Robert Ziegler firstname.lastname@example.com
Residents split on K4.
Shades of Mr. Popper's Penguins, meet Lala
On a snowy day like today, wouldn't it be nice to have someone go to the store for you? Check this out.
As a child, I enjoyed reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. As a mother, I enjoyed reading it again to my son. The story held up well over the years; he thought it was a real hit too. (It is available at the Brookfield Library.) But never in my wildest dreams did I think anyone would ever have a penguin for a house pet! Yet there he is on YouTube.
Unlike Mr. Popper, who kept Captain Cook (his pet penguin) in a freezer, the Japanese family seems to have an air conditioned porch for their pet. I hope you caught that the family gave Lala his freedom after they rescued him and nursed him back to health, but he chose to stay with them. Don't you love his backpack?
By the way, the story of Mr. Popper's Penguins makes it to the big screen this summer, starring Jim Carrey. (Though I am not a Jim Carrey fan, I do like penguins.) The story has been changed some in that this Mr. Popper is a single businessman who inherits several penguins. Hope the movie version maintains the charm of the book. The preview pictures look cute.
In the meantime, stay warm.
Mr. Popper's Penguins book review
Elmbrook School Board tonight: Action on petitioning neighboring subdivisions, DISCUSSION of 4K & maintenance budget
In case you didn't see this, the 4K vote was scheduled for tonight but was moved off the Agenda as an action item. The board will still discuss 4K tonight, however. The March 8th Agenda does include voting on 4K, but that could change too, I would think, depending on what happens in Madison regarding the State Budget.
One rather Deja Vu item on the agenda is 3D, E, F, & G. Neighboring subdivisions are petitioning Elmbrook to join our School District. Why do I say Deja Vu? Because we went through this in February of 2009: 64 from Waukesha petition to join Elmbrook schools: Why now? . The School Board accepted in 2009, Elmbrook board unanimously approves petition to join us the State later denied. At least one of the areas seems to be the same as the last time.
Also on the agenda for tonight is discussion on the Long Range Capital Maintenance Budget. That doesn't sound too exciting, but it is important. If you saw Capital needs outweigh funds, Long-term, larger projects put off, maybe you were as surprised as I was to read, (My emphasis)
"The district also has deferred $500,000 in repairs to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units and roofing at Brookfield Central and Brookfield East high schools. Miller [Elmbrook Facilities Director] said Central has $50,000 worth of urgent needs that will have to be addressed, and the facilities staff will know more once the snow clears off the roofs.
He said the district can patch some of the roofs as a stopgap measure, but improvements need to be done at both schools.
What? Families who HAVE 4K petition to join Elmbrook WITHOUT 4K?
How often do we hear that the Elmbrook School District NEEDS to implement 4K to protect our property values? I have even heard it from a school board member, but I don't believe it is true.
No, I don't believe providing 4K is a necessary expenditure for Elmbrook to make in order to attract home buyers to our district. It was obviously not considered a necessity for the 3 subdivisions petitioning Elmbrook last night, which is why I felt compelled to speak up at the School Board meeting.(Agenda items 3 D,E,F,G)
There I sat in an audience of about 20, listening to each women representing their subdivision pitch their plea to attach their homes to the Elmbrook School District. Naomi, the first speaker, representing the Black Forest, Summit Lawn, and southern edge of the Shire subdivisions, explained that others from their group were at the Waukesha School Board meeting petitioning for detachment.
She went on to say that of the 74 school age children in their area, the majority go to private school or to Elmbrook through open enrollment. I did remember that same statement being made at their last attempt to join the Elmbrook School District in 2009. She mentioned that they had petitioned Elmbrook before but were denied. Now their year cooling off period was over and they were trying again. Another woman named Jane then addressed the board; Maurene spoke for residents of Emerald Ridge. One of them mentioned they had been trying to get into Elmbrook for over 10 years.
Wow--10 years of trying to get into Elmbrook? It would have been simpler to just buy in Elmbrook, wouldn't it?
Then I noticed the pages of school districts with 4K in the packet of papers given to attendees. I was pretty sure Waukesha HAD 4K, but checked to verify. Sure enough, there on page 4A-8 Waukesha was listed as providing 4K.
So these 3 areas HAD 4K, but the parents chose to send the majority of their children either to private school or to Elmbrook that doesn't have 4K. Doesn't that say it all? I quickly filled out a request to speak. (FYI, the board unanimously approved these requests to join Elmbrook. This request must be approved by the state, however.)
There were 2 other speakers who chose to address the board before the 4K discussion began.
Nancy Kormanik, spoke against 4K, saying that taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a program that isn't mandatory. Kormanik, I found out, was a teacher at MATC.
Betsy, the 2nd speaker, talked about 4K not being a new program, that her children had 4K in Wauwatosa, then moved into Elmbrook the following year and had a repeat in our 5K. Here parting words were If you are going to compete, you have to have 4 year old kindergarten. (She wasn't exactly an example of no 4K lowering property values, since she did move into our district the next year.) I couldn't ask for a better set up to speak.
Stating the obvious that isn't so obvious
This was very off the cuff; my address went something like this: I agreed 4K wasn't new; I had 4K! But I didn't choose to move to Shorewood (where I had 4K) but chose Brookfield instead. I also mentioned that we are told--even by a school board member--that 4K is necessary to protect our property values, yet we have 3 living examples of people living in subdivisions, in a district that HAS 4K, petitioning to join a district that DOES NOT HAVE 4K! What matters is the quality of an Elmbrook education.
Incidentally, Mequon-Thiensville School District outscored us with its 25.9 composite score, as did West High in the Madison School District, also with 25.9. Why do I mention them? Because neither of them have 4K.
Later in the discussion, Tom Gehl cautioned about increasing the number of non-resident students just to fill our vacant elementary space. He hinted that there was a correlation between Elmbrook slipping from its #1 status in (ACT) test scores and the number of non-residents.
Jean "Lambert said she believes money would be better spent bolstering outcomes at the higher grades in preparation for post-graduation than at the elementary school level."
I couldn't agree more. So, please Elmbrook, concentrate on the things that matter, the quality of your product which is education, and leave day care where it belongs, in the private sector.
Contact the board:
Elmbrook School Board:
President Tom Gehl email@example.com
Meg Wartman email@example.com
Glen Allgaier firstname.lastname@example.com
Gary Jones firstname.lastname@example.com
Jean Lambert firstname.lastname@example.com
Kathryn Wilson email@example.com
Robert Ziegler email@example.com