text:
At 91, Bud Purdy relies on his pickup truck or his single-engine airplane to survey his ranch in Picabo. Until recently, he used his horse to keep track of things. Then, last year, he was bucked off his horse, got run over by a cow, and broke some bones. Still, he expects he'll be riding again by spring.
Every day at about noon, he heads across Highway 20 to the lunch counter, convenience and sporting goods store his family owns, and grabs a bite. When he wants a change of conversation, he'll fly his Piper Cherokee on down to Fairfield or Sulphur Creek.
Bud Purdy is archetypical of the central Idaho range where his family has chiseled its family crest for six generations. His ancestors are the Kilpatricks, who homesteaded here in the 1800s and later developed the railroad from Shoshone to Ketchum. Bud counted Ernest Hemingway and his son Jack, both fanatical outdoorsmen, as close friends and hunting companions.
Today, Bud and his son Nick own and operate one of the largest ranches in the Silver Creek area. They farm hay and barley, raise cattle and sheep and run a fishing concession.
There is no debating the Purdy legacy here. But perhaps Bud Purdy's most remarkable contribution is the role he and his neighboring ranchers have played in securing ranching's future. Ten years ago, he donated a 3,400-acre conservation easement on his ranch and became party to a watershed event in ranching history.
Just over 30 years ago, The Nature Conservancy purchased the Silver Creek Preserve, then known as the Sun Valley Ranch, from the Sun Valley Company. The Preserve is a 479-acre parcel of land 33 miles south of Ketchum, accessed through Hailey and Bellevue by State Highway 75, and a few miles east on Highway 20. The Conservancy then sought the cooperation of neighboring ranchers, who were encouraged to donate conservation easements near the Preserve, forever protecting an additional 10,000-acre swath of the Silver Creek landscape.
Purdy's easement donation was not the first, but it is the largest. As he says, "I figured that if my neighbor John Stevenson thought it was a good idea, I should look into it, too. I didn't want my land to be broken up into pieces down the road."
The collective effort in Silver Creek signaled a turning point in conservation.
Old-line ranchers, investors, local government and environmentalists cooperated, cautiously at first, and then more openly. These constituencies had long been at odds. It was wholly novel for them to partner. By sharing knowledge and resources, they managed to save vast acreage, rehabilitate the land and the creek, and enhance the agricultural, scenic, and recreational value of the area. The collaboration proved that environmentalists and ranchers could work together to preserve a large and well-loved landscape.
Working ranches face a new age
The working ranch is emblematic of the American West. It is where the amber waves of grain meet the purple mountain majesties. It is where the cowboy spirit reigns as an expression of our national ego. In the recent past, it has become an endangered species. Over the past decade, the Western United States has been growing at twice the rate of the rest of the country. Since the late '90s, Idaho's population increased 41 percent. Growth and subdivisions have been devouring wide-open ranges that once defined the foothills and the plains. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, urban sprawl has been consuming land at triple the rate of population growth.
Developers seek the lands that are near water, recreation and scenic beauty and, as a consequence, compete for the same lands as the ranchers. Soaring property values, taxes and lures of economic options have encouraged or forced many ranchers to let go of their ranch homesteads. To date, low-density development has placed more than five million acres of the state's best ranchlands in peril. Statistics gathered by the American Farmland Trust show these ranchlands represent natural resources that could completely disappear by 2020, greatly impacting the ecological, economic and cultural fabric of local communities.
In Blaine County, the percentage of agricultural land slated for development is a continual ascending curve. "If this exponential development of our agricultural lands continues, our community will be faced very shortly with some tough decisions [about our desire for preserving open space and agricultural traditions]," says Jeff Adams with Blaine County Planning and Zoning.
More than the land, it is a way of life that is under pressure. As Trent Jones, a Wood River Land Trust board member and a real estate broker specializing in ranch properties, emphasizes, "It is not just the ranchlands that we are losing, it is the old-line working ranch family."
In his lifetime, Bud Purdy has watched the fallout of working family ranches. Although the ranchlands themselves may remain intact as recreational ranches or hobby farms, multigenerational ranching families face tremendous economic pressures in maintaining their family businesses and lifestyle. Rising land costs, taxes, and equipment costs make it extremely difficult to carve a living out of a ranch. "Most of the original families in Silver Creek are gone," observes Purdy, "and with that you let go of certain traditions."
Historically, ranchers and environmentalists have been at loggerheads, mostly related to public land use. For decades, ranchers had controlled public lands and operated with little supervision. The access to public land for grazing is essential to many ranchers; it provides them with a year-round forage base essential to their operations. In the mid-1900s, environmentalists grew concerned and vocal about grazing practices. Environmentalists faulted ranchers for overgrazing and degrading the integrity of the ecosystem. The contention escalated into broad-based animosity and distrust. Meanwhile, both ranchers and environmentalists were losing treasured private ranchlands to growth.
Bud Purdy has played a lead role in preserving the spectacular and beloved Silver Creek Landscape. At 91 he still actively manages his ranch. Find him on his horse, motoring around in his pickup truck or cherokee plane, or lunching at the Picabo store. Photographs David R. Stoecklein
Wallace Stegner, the "dean of Western writers," once called the West "the geography of hope." Despite challenges, a sea of change in attitudes and practices has been emerging throughout the West. Environmentalists, ranchers and policymakers have begun collaborating more frequently and extensively. Both sides share a reverence for the land. Environmentalists are recognizing that by weakening ranchers, they abet fragmentation of the lands they are trying to save.
Increasingly, environmental groups make efforts to support ranchers. Local heroes like Guy Bonnivier, Silver Creek Preserve's first manager, have helped many ranchers adopt better land and water use practices. Communities have supported novel legislation, such as Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) and Open Space levies, to help both the working rancher and the ranch investor preserve land and family legacy.
Today's Ranching Visionaries:
The Beans & The Peaveys
The values and vision that inspired the Silver Creek ranchers thrive today in the rangeland east of Carey. Two ranching families, with remarkably different profiles, are reinvigorating the ranch business and cooperating to preserve an ambitiously large swath of private and public land. Their vision encompasses millions of acres—from the highest summits of the Pioneer Mountains to the Snake River Plain. If they achieve their vision, their impact will be historic beyond the scale of Silver Creek.
Brian and Kathleen Bean purchased 7,500 acres of Bud Purdy's ranch on the edge of the Craters of the Moon National Monument in 1999. Lava Lake Ranch is situated on Goodale's Cutoff of the Oregon Trail 15 miles east of Carey and Silver Creek. The Beans are not a multigenerational ranching family; Brian is a successful banker from California, Kathleen had been on staff at The Nature Conservancy for seven years. They share a passion and reverence for the natural world and the wide-open West. They committed that they would find and steward a homestead in the West.
Initially, Brian and Kathleen scouted for ranch property in Wyoming. They wanted a ranch that had some "action and ecological interest," not just a remote and scenic place for idle time. Ultimately, they found it here in Idaho.
At the outset, the Beans sought a passive ranch investment. Their intent was to purchase acreage and put an easement on most of it. They had no plans to actively raise cattle or sheep. They then recognized that if they did not continue to graze these adjacent public lands, they would surrender the ability to control how those lands would be used. This could undermine the quality of their streams, their water rights and the ecological health of their ranch and the adjacent public land.
To enforce their ecological standards, Brian and Kathleen launched headlong into sheep ranching, but sheep ranching in a way that aligned with their conservation values. They actively studied and adopted lessons from "seasoned ranchers like the Purdys, the Cenarrusas, and the Petersons," and from the foremen and herders who worked those operations. They melded old traditions with new. Their goal is to engage sustainable grazing practices that are economically viable. Lava Lake Lamb sells branded, all-natural and organic lamb to a market that increasingly seeks out such products. Today, Lava Lake Lamb is sold across the country through the Internet, in restaurants in the Wood River Valley, Boise, and Salt Lake City, and in local farmers' markets.
John and Diane Peavey's Flat Top Ranch is next door to Lava Lake Ranch. Flat Top is the largest private ranch in the area. Through the generations, the Peaveys assembled 48,000 acres of deeded and privately leased land. Including federal grazing areas, the Peaveys' ranch is similar in size and scale to Lava Lake. John is the third generation of his family to work Flat Top. His grandfather established the ranch in the 1920s. John raised his own two sons and daughter in the 120-year-old cabin on the property brought here in the late 1800s from the nearby Muldoon mines. Today, his son Tom runs the family livestock operation.
The Peaveys are rooted in the tradition of working ranches, but they worry about the economic pressures on their operation. New equipment makes ranching easier, but more expensive. Hay prices have skyrocketed and the access to rotational grazing is more limited. They do not have the capital from other careers to invest in their business. Like other working ranchers, they are less in the position to capitalize on the tax benefits of an easement. Their land, their determination and their inventiveness are their working assets.
Twelve years ago, the local sheep industry was under assault by "recreationalists" who neither understood nor appreciated the value of sheep on the Western landscape. There was growing concern about how hikers and mountain bikers could happily share use of the public lands in the area with the sheep ranchers. The Peaveys started "The Trailing of the Sheep" festival to bring alive the storied past of sheep ranching, and cultivate appreciation for this local ranch tradition. It has grown into a celebrated three-day festival and very much relates to the current local food movement.
In 2001, the U.S. lamb industry was losing its market to New Zealand product. The Peaveys, with other sheep ranchers throughout the West, started a marketing cooperative that virtually saved the American lamb industry. The cooperative made it economically viable to stay in the sheep ranching industry. The Peaveys are inventive in their determination to support their business.
Despite radically different backgrounds, the Peaveys share a fundamental mission with the Beans. Both value working ranchlands, ranch traditions and the broader ecological landscape. Their mission has mushroomed into a large-scale conservation movement well beyond the bounds of their respective ranches. The Craters of the Moon National Monument and a region that constitutes one of the largest roadless areas in the Lower 48 borders their two properties. The Peaveys and the Beans see an opportunity to leverage their ranches to protect "a world-class landscape that has tremendous diversity of terrain and species, and supports wildlife migrations and large predators," Stevens says.
"Neighbors Helping Neighbors, That's the Way It Has to Be…" Stegner once observed, "Myth has taken up the image of the Westerner as a loner, the wandering cowboy or gunman. In actuality, the true tradition of the West is different . . . Neighbors helping neighbors, that's the way it has to be in country anywhere near as rough and harsh as a lot of the West."
In the past, pioneers, ranchers, neighbors had to work together to survive natural elements. Today, they conjoin to preserve their lands and legacy. They invent and they innovate. They balance an increasingly complex constituency—their families, their livestock, their neighbors, numerous federal and state agencies, and the increasing demand of recreational users and environmentalists.
This novel cooperation is rooted in a community spirit that is wholly Western. The grassroots efforts of ranchers, environmentalists and public officials require and deserve direction and support from their counties and communities. Thanks to Bud Purdy and his neighbors, the Beans and the Peaveys, working ranchers and those that cherish the "true West" are giving us reason to hope.
They are redefining the very role of the working rancher. Ranchers no longer "work the land," they work for the land. Ranchers are no longer a band of cowboys; they are becoming true stewards of the West.
Heather King is a part-time Hailey resident, and a Board member of the Wood River Land Trust.


text:
Hi all–if you noticed that MWB was missing last week, I apologize. I was home with a sick kiddo, and didn't make it to the computer. But, everyone is healthy this week, and I have an enormous round-up for you. There is so much good stuff that I am going to jump right in.
Self-Care and Self-Criticism
So often in my office, I hear clients talk about themselves in frustrated, angry, even unkind ways. Here are two perspectives on that phenomenon. Rosie Molinary talks about the importance of breaking up with your inner "frenemy." Glynis Sherwood, MEd, discusses how we develop our "inner hecklers" and offers some suggestions about how we might stand up to them.
Dr. Sara Gottfried talks about the critical importance of choosing to breathe, both for our physical health and for our emotional health. She emphasizes the value of yoga practices for this. Now that's speaking my language.
I absolutely love this post from Dr. Tara Brach. She uses a story about monkeys on a golf course to illustrate the principle that life is not about what happens, but about how we respond to what happens. Since this is an issue I explore in session all the time, I might even borrow the story.
I know that Mother's Day was last weekend, but this post makes some lovely points about how we think of ourselves and our bodies.
And finally, I appreciate this post from Seth Godin about how our efforts to avoid fear often lead to even more fearful behavior.
Highlighting Patient Voices
I am increasingly looking for patient voices to feature in MWB, because I think that our health care system will be "fixed" only if patients have a huge voice in the necessary changes. So, I'll start with this post from Jessica Apple of The Sweet Life blog. She offers fifteen things she wishes that doctors would learn, about her and about all patients. It's worth spending some time on.
If you had to boil Jessica's post down to a single concept, it would be the one discussed by Robert Pederse of the T Minus Two blog. He points out that most patients are seeking fundamental respect from their health care providers and educators.
In this post, which is long but completely worth the read, blogger DCPatient explores what she calls the "cumulative burden" of living with and managing a chronic health condition.
I know this was a lot today, but I hope that you found something that spoke to you this week. As always, please feel free to share your favorite resource in the comments.
Since part of my online work is encouraging others to think and plan for end of life decisions early, I appreciated this post from oncologist Dr. James Salwitz about how we are "too busy to die."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
This study has been withdrawn prior to enrollment.
University of California, Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Information provided by:
University of California, Los Angeles
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: January 26, 2010
Last updated: December 5, 2014
Last verified: January 2010
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
Study was withdrawn before participants were enrolled.
|Study Status:
|This study has been withdrawn prior to enrollment.
|Study Completion Date:
|July 2014
|Primary Completion Date:
|July 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


text: I know the revamped Sushi Taro has gotten mixed reviews, but I am hoping to try it out later this month. I was hoping to take a look at the new menu (as I know there are a few different tasting-type menus in addition to the a la cart menu) but Sushi Taro does not have a menu posted on their Web site. I've sent an e-mail but haven't gotten a response yet. Was wondering if anyone has a menu they could post or knows where I could find one online. Thanks!


text:
If Jesus Came to My House
Children's book review by Judy Dudich
Ages 4-8
If Jesus Came to My House is one of the most beloved and cherished books in our family's home library.
Written in a gentle, easy-flowing poetic style, author Joan Gale Thomas allows children to imagine what it would be like if the child Jesus were to come to their house to play!
Mentioning things like a walk in the garden, picking fruit from trees, scary shadows on the nighttime walls, sitting in a rocking chair by the fire, and sharing favorite toys, quickly captures a young reader's attention as it is so easy for them to relate to their own everyday real life adventures.
As the child in the book comes to understand that he can spend time with Jesus and share His love by spending time and sharing with others, so too, will your child realize that even though young Jesus might not knock at your door today, He is still nearby, and each of us can share in His joy by sharing our hearts with those we meet along the way.
This little book makes a wonderful gift for a new baby or a young Sunday school student.
Guaranteed to become a childhood favorite and a lasting treasure to hand down through the generations, If Jesus Came to My House will still be loved when the child to whom it is given grows up and reads it to his or her own children one day.
Mrs. Judy Dudich, homeschooling mother of ten, enjoys life with her wonderful husband Tom, in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, USA. She created the website Homeschool, Faith, and Family Life.
Best Children's Books - Find, Read or Write home page.


text: Processing commands for email@example.com: > forwarded #202482 Upstream http://bugs.scribus.net/ #283 Bug#202482: dialogs behaviour is highly inconsisntent Noted your statement that Bug has been forwarded to Upstream http://bugs.scribus.net/ #283. > End of message, stopping processing here. Please contact me if you need assistance. Debian bug tracking system administrator (administrator, Debian Bugs database)


text:
Energy Production & ANWR
In 1960, Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton signed an executive order that established the nearly 9 million acres of undeveloped wilderness on Alaska 's North Slope—the far northwest region of the state—as the Arctic National Wildlife Range. The area was expanded in 1980 and renamed the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) by Congress through the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANLCA).
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge currently encompasses just over 19 million acres of undeveloped, federally protected wilderness. Through ANLCA, Congress designated a 10 million acre ?Minimal Management? zone to be left entirely untouched; 8 million acres were set aside for limited recreational use, becoming part of the U.S. Wilderness Area; and the final 1.5 million acres, located along the coastal plain (Area 1002), were to allow exploratory studies for the potential of resource development, primarily oil and gas.
The coastal plain borders Prudhoe Bay, an area long known to be rich in petroleum reserves. Although the passage of ANLCA in 1980 specifically called for possible future development of Area 1002, it also required Congressional approval before any projects could begin. After initial exploratory studies revealed huge deposits of oil lay beneath the surface of Area 1002, many expected that approval for drilling would be quickly forthcoming. However, the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989 all but destroyed political momentum, and attempts to authorize drilling in the early 1990s were not able to make it to a vote.
There have been several proposed solutions to this difficult debate. Proponents want Congress to move forward with plans to open Area 1002 for drilling and development. The strongest opponents want an outright Congressional ban on all possible future development in the region. With a ban, even Area 1002, designated by Congress as a development zone, would be closed.
Increasing scrutiny on petroleum use due to climate change, predictions of potential oil scarcity and increasing national security concerns are all greatly influencing the debate over whether to develop the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In the climate change debate, some believe that oil consumption must be immediately curbed, and that no new sources should be developed. Opponents counter that the most effective way to prepare for the negative aspects of climate change is to increase global prosperity, providing people with more tools that can be used to adapt to any changing conditions. This may require continued use of cheap and efficient fuel today so that we can advance quickly towards a future in which our society possesses sufficient wealth and knowledge to further develop alternative energy technologies.
Similarly, discussions concerning the use of ANWR are especially important as we begin to confront a future where energy production and consumption may depart radically from traditional norms. Some argue that since petroleum is a finite resource which will eventually disappear, we should immediately direct all our energies towards alternative fuel development. New drilling sites, they maintain, only perpetuate a dangerous dependence on petroleum. Many scientists and economists disagree, arguing that ANWR should be developed precisely because conventional oil supplies are soon to be depleted. Like in the climate change argument, it is thought that the best solution is increased wealth and knowledge, which can most rapidly be developed only if we utilize the efficient energy resources now available.
In 1998, a report by the U.S. Geological Survey revealed that there was far more oil beneath Area 1002 than previously thought, and interest in drilling was once again sparked. In addition, as oil prices began to rise in the early part of the 21st century, the ANWR debate began to gain national prominence. Yet, despite a push by the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans, more than twenty-five years after Congress first approved Area 1002 for initial development the region remains untapped.
Unfortunately, the extreme politicization of the ANWR debate has obscured many of the fundamental points crucial to the issue. With increasing instability in the international oil market, many argue that domestic development is crucial to national economic security. Area 1002 contains the largest untapped supply of oil in the United States, with estimates of between 9 and 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil beneath the sea and soil. In addition, job creation is estimated to be between 250,000 and 750,000 with the development of the area.
Opponents counter that ANWR, in fact, represents just a fraction of total global oil output and even maximum production of the area would do little to insulate America from global oil shocks. Furthermore, ANWR is considered by many to be one of the few remaining areas of untouched wilderness in the country. Development would not only destroy this distinction, it could also disrupt ecosystems and endanger wildlife. However, technological advancement has greatly reduced drilling ?footprints? over the last thirty years, and as oil and gas companies are forced to interact in and with increasingly sensitive areas, innovative strategies and techniques for protecting—even promoting—wildlife migration and habitat protection would necessarily be sought.
Since the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is important to our entire country—for a variety of reasons—it is likely that if there is ever any resolution to allow for the use of Area 1002, it will include requirements for environmentally sensitive development with much of the financial proceeds (certainly several billion dollars) directed towards the research and development of renewable energy options and/or for environmental protection efforts elsewhere. However, all previous attempts to pass an ANWR bill by tying it to more acceptable elements have yet to make it through the Senate.
Updated by Dawn Anderson and Charles Fritschner
Recommended Resources
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: A Special Report
Arctic Circle, a consortium of scholars centered at the University of Connecticut, maintains an informative site about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There are helpful pages summarizing federal legislation affecting the refuge and the history of oil and gas exploration in the region, as well as a section outlining and explaining the controversy over drilling in the refuge.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: New Directions in the 110th Congress
This 2007 summary report from the Congressional Research Service examines the key aspects of the debate surrounding oil drilling in ANWR. It discusses the basic geological issues of where the oil is and whether it is recoverable, as well as the political and ethical issues surrounding this contentious environmental issue.
National Research Council: Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope
Written by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science, this 2003 book compiles existing research about the environmental, social, and economic impacts of current oil and gas operations along Alaska's North Shore, the area immediately west of ANWR. The full text of the book is available online and searchable by topic.
The Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas
Founded by Colin Campbell, the Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas is a network of European scientists interested in determining the peak and decline of the world's production of oil and gas due to resource constraints. Their website offers web versions of their newsletter, and information about their group, meetings, and publications.
Data & Maps
US Geological Survey: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Factsheet
This fact sheet provides a technical, but informative assessment of recoverability of oil in the refuge. It includes a description of the geological features of the area, maps, charts and other graphics.
Analysis of Crude Oil Production in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a May 2008 report that provides statistics, charts, graphs and other pertinent information on opening up ANWR to oil production.
Laws & Treaties
The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act, 2004
In 2004, Congress passed the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act allowing the extraction of natural gas and oil from Alaska's North Slope. Although no extraction has taken place to date, the law makes it much easier and more likely that it will occur in the future.
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANLCA)
Included here is the text providing for the designation and conservation of certain public lands in the State of Alaska, including the expansion and renaming of the Arctic National Wildlife Range to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
The Establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Range
The US Fish & Wildlife Service website contains the full text of Public Order 2214 that created the Arctic National Wildlife Range in 1960.
"The End of Cheap Oil"
This article by Tim Appenzeller appeared in the June 2004 edition of National Geographic magazine. National Geographic Online presents an excerpt from the magazine article, as well as field notes from the author and photographer, maps, photos, related links, and further resources.
Sierra Club: Oil Development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Opponents to the development of oil reserves, such as the Sierra Club, point to the negative environmental impacts of both the drilling itself and the infrastructure that must be built to support it. Exactly how much oil the coastal plain will produce is a point of contention, as is the claim that developing ANWR will have a measurable benefit to national security.
Arctic Power: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The majority of Alaska 's state, local, and tribal governments favor opening ANWR to energy development. This site, created by an Alaskan non-profit organization, explains why local proponents see potential reserves in ANWR as beneficial to their state and the nation. They include some interesting graphics on how Alaskan oil development benefits other states, information about new drilling technologies, and a "Top 10" list of reasons why drilling should be approved.
For the Classroom
To Drill or Not to Drill?
This lesson plan, located on ERIC (the Education Resources Information Center), is entitled 'The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Many Alternatives and One Choice To Make' and was created in 2001 by the Foundation for Teaching Economics. Although a bit dated, it provides a terrific opportunity for students to discuss the background to the ANWR debate in small groups, identifying supporters and opponents of drilling and areas of dispute.


text:
A program of government focused on adopting sustainable, adequate and innovative strategies to give equal access to opportunities to all the families in Negros Oriental, so that they can improve and elevate the quality of their own lives.
Our Environment and Natural Resources Division, or ENRD, continues to act as our lead agency in environmental preservation, protection and rehabilitation and provide technical assistance to local government units along this line.
Watershed Management/Integrated Social Forestry
- to rehabilitate denuded forests and improve the resource base in the watersheds
- sustains25Integrated Social Forestry(ISF) sites in 18 barangays with 26 Farmers' Associations
- The Farmers' Associations (FAs) in the different ISF sites maintain 23 tree nurseries which raise a regular supply of forest and fruit tree seedlings.
- covers135.55 hectares in the 25 sites.
- The provincial government sustains ten (10) special reforestation projects on a counter-parting scheme with LGUs which allocate Php 250,000 for every Php 500,000 allocated by the provincial government. To date, these projects cover a total of 462 hectares in ten (10) LGUs.
Community-based Coastal Resources Management
- Neg. Or.is one of the country's leading provinces with a strong CRM program.
- CRM technical staff and community organizers facilitated a total of 37 marine protected areas (MPAs).
- The province sustains its support to these MPAs through regular underwater monitoring, installation of marker buoys, and MPA management planning, implementation and monitoring.
- Enrichment planting undertaken in mangrove areas
- technical assistance continuously extended for the maintenance of existing mangrove plantations like the Pagatban mangrove plantation.
- Mangrove is considered as one of the most effective carbon sinks, hence, mangrove reforestation and/or rehabilitation is given priority attention as a mitigating strategy to address climate change.
- The Community-based Forest and Mangrove Management Project initiated in Bayawan, Sta. Catalina and La Libertad is another step taken by the DENR and the provincial government to address the issue on climate change.
- facilitated the clustering of LGUs to address common issues and concerns and pool resources to address them. With assistance from the EcoGovernance Project a cluster of 4 LGUs was organized into BATMan (Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan and Manjuyod) for a common management of coastal resources.
- The provincial government, conducted CRM and MPA planning workshops for the BATMan LGUs, a participatory M & E workshops and Rangers' Deputation Training to build the capabilities of participating LGUs in CRM Program management.
Solid and Liquid Waste Management
- The provincial government initiated its solid waste management program even before the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
- Activities are regularly conducted to enhance LGUs' and the communities' capabilities in solid waste management particularly in the different stages of the waste stream e.g. waste avoidance/reduction, segregation, storage, recycling, waste diversion, composting, transport and final disposal
- The solid waste management program joined the NEGORGANIC-NOW program by assisting in the construction of vermi-chambers in 15 project sites
Special Activities Undertaken:
- Environment Forum for local chief executives, legislators, and heads of departments of the LGUs
- Environment Summit for People's Organizations
- Ecological Youth Camp for youth leaders
- Symposia in schools
- coastal and waterways clean-up
- tree planting/growing and other environment-related activities
The provincial government also monitors compliance with the Clean Water Act (RA 9275). 3 LGUs, one District hospital and the Provincial Hospital have have established waste water treatment facilities
Mineral Resources Utilization and Management
We sustained regulation of mineral resources utilization, processed new permits and went after violators.
- Accept & process applications for permits
- Facilitate the conduct of orientation- seminars to enhance people's awareness of the responsibility of stewardship over the earth's resources;
- Coordinate with the LGUs in the organization of municipal & barangay monitoring teams to ensure active participation of the community in the enforcement of the Provincial Mineral Resources Utilization Ordinance;
- Verify/evaluate available volume of materials, and monitor mineral resources utilization activities
- Make referrals to appropriate agencies and offices like the DENR & the PMRB relative to results of monitoring activities;
- Monitor compliance to conditions set by the DENR
- Revenues generated amounted to Php 4,056,120.00 from filing, verification, extraction, conversion, and ore transport fees, payment for delivery receipts, fines and penalties.
Integrated Water Resources Management
- implemented to protect, rehabilitate and sustainably develop the shared water, land and related resources in the Island of Negros
- Funds have been allocated to implement the plans approved by the two Negros provinces which include the rehabilitation of watersheds and the six major rivers of the Island. The Council is chaired by no less than Silliman University President Dr. Ben Malayang III
Provincial Advisory Council on Climate Change
- The summit on climate change which brought together the officials and representatives from the two Negros Provinces resulted in the crafting of an Island-Wide Memorandum to jointly address global warming and in issuance from our end of an Executive Order creating the the Negros Oriental Advisory Council on Climate Change (NOACCC).
- the Climate Change mitigation and adaptation plan introduced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which was subsequently introduced to the LGUs as a framework for their own initiatives.
- sponsored an a 4 day orientation-workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
- The workshop enabled our LGUs to come up with a plan of action to minimize the risk of disasters and calamities as a consequence of climate change/global warming.
Search And Rescue NegOr
- We have identified several disaster-prone areas in the province, and enabled our LGUs to come up with a plan of action to minimize the risk of disasters and calamities as a consequence of climate change/global warming.
- trained and formed additional search and rescue groups, named SARNEGOR which means Search and Rescue of Negros Oriental, to augment existing force. We have equipped them with service vehicles converted into "Mobile ASAP Care 4 You," inflatable boats, a portable generator, and other basic requirements for search and rescue operations.
Population Management
- The provincial government sustains the Population Management and Development program which was initiated as a barangay-based population management program with total integrated development as an approach
- provincial government sustains 770 Barangay Population and Development Officers who serve as community extension volunteers in population management and in environment and natural resource management
- BPDOS disseminate information about environment and natural resources management and highlight the relationship among population, natural resources and the environment
- They advocate population management as a strategy in environmental conservation and natural resource conservation
- They refer clients who accept family planning methods of their choice to clinics and hospitals. To enhance understanding of population dynamics and responsible parenthood among couples
- the provincial government actively participates in the conduct ofpre-marriagecounseling sessions for would-becouples in the different municipalities
- Environmental and natural resources management issues are also integrated in discussions during information drive sessions conducted on responsible parenting and natural family planning.
– The project continues to protect and restore the environment and provide livelihood opportunities and income to the residents of the area. In a period of two years, the Development Authority has generated over two million pesos in income which is more than enough to pay for the salaries of the workers there.
Scholars at the Sillliman University College of Medicine
- During the past few years, we experienced a shortage of physicians because of migration to other countries seeking better opportunities. This was a nationwide trend which burdened the health care system.
- We have four scholars at the Silliman University School of Medicine who are now having their post-graduate internship and will be taking the medical board exams and another one graduating this year. Hopefully, they would lessen the strain of the shortage of medical practitioners in our District Hospitals and Rural Health Centers. We have Congressman George Arnaiz to thank for this initiative.
- One of the solutions in solving over-crowding at the Provincial Hospital, with normal-deliveries and primary hospital care cases
- Encouraged and provided assistance to local governments to establish their own infirmaries which will provide Basic Emergency Maternal Obstetric Care (BEMOC) and primary hospital care
- This program is included in the Province-wide Integrated Plan for Health (PIPH) supported by the European Commission and the Department of Health
Computer Based Hospital Information System
- installing a new computer-based Hospital Information System (HIS) to speed up data processing of the different hospital departments and aid health workers and medical practitioners
- The aim of an HIS is to achieve the best possible support of patient care and hospital administration by electronic data processing
Residency Training Program in Obstetrics and hopefully Surgery
– submitted and complied with all the requirements, the latest of which is the acquisition of a fetal cardiac monitor, we are waiting for the approval of our Residency Training Program in Obstetrics from the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
Hospital Modernization Program
- acquired new and sophisticated medical equipment for our Provincial Hospital to support our Hospital Modernization Program
- These are: an advanced Anesthesia Machine, Cardiac Monitors, Operating Room Surgical Lights, modern Autoclaves for surgical equipment and a fetal monitor among others.
- continue to upgrade and equip our Diagnostic Center by acquiring state of the art medical equipment to attract medical specialists to practice in our Province
- We have now the powerful .4 tesla new generation "open type" MRI
- a 2D Sonogram with sophisticated cardiac tissue-tracking modalities, and another 2D Sonogram specifically for OB-GYN purposes and a fully automated Immunology Analyzer have been added to the diagnostic and laboratory tools of the Center
- Designed to give every Oriental Negrense equal access to health care
- Provincial Health Insurance of Negros Oriental or PHINO to service at least 30,000 identified "poorest of the poor" families in the province which could not be served by the PHILHEALTH program. We have also encouraged our officials and employees to enroll in PHINO in the spirit of shared responsibility. While one gets to enjoy the benefits as a member, in the process, he also subsidizes for the hospitalization needs of the indigent sector in the province. Membership is only P50 a month.
- We thank Dr. Ely Villapando for conceptualizing the PHINO and BM Marcelo Adanza for sponsoring the ordinance that created it.
Community Primary Hospitals
- The Provincial Government of Negros Oriental is allocating P1 million for the construction of the seventh Community Primary Hospital in Barangay Dauis of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. There are now six CPH units in the province. These are located in Barangay Kalumboyan of Bayawan City, Amio in Santa Catalina, Nabilog in Tayasan, Pacuan in La Libertad, Inapoy in Mabinay, and Barangay Luz in Guihulngan City. Bayawan City gave a counterpart fund of P800, 000 and an additional P700, 000 came from the European Commission under the Formula 1 for Health program. The project has an estimated total cost of P2.5 million.
- Community Primary Hospitals provide accessible health care services to the people in the community, especially in areas far from district hospitals.
- Dauis is one of the hinterland barangays of Bayawan City that is located somewhere in the middle of the mountainous area of Barangay Kalumboyan, also in Bayawan City and the town of Mabinay. The Community Primary Hospital in Barangay Kalumboyan, Bayawan is the pioneer CPH established by the provincial government. It was intended for the people in the community, who can hardly avail of the medical services in the district hospitals or at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.
- The province has continuously been allocating funds for the development of the CPH units. This will also help decongest the influx of patients at the provincial hospital.
- Through the establishment and strengthening of CPH, only patients who need major operations will be brought to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.
We are thankful for the support of the European Commission who chose Negros Oriental as a recipient LGU of its grant.
Essential Health Care Package
– The program teaches school children proper oral hygiene to prevent tooth decay and hand washing to prevent worm infestation. Schoolchildren are also provided with a regular supply of toothbrush, toothpaste and soaps.
We acknowledge our frontliners in the delivery of primary health care —our Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars — for their contribution in improving the health of our people. The same goes to our Men's and Women's Auxiliary and all our donors and partners. We would like to make special mention to the European Commission for facilitating the funding of the various projects under the Formula One for Health Program.
Education 104
– The lack of teachers and school buildings plagued not only the Province but the whole country. A fast, sustainable and achievable solution was needed to address the problem of education in the province. The year 2008 saw the birth of an innovative solution which Governor Macias formulated was Basta NEGOR—Education 104 which aimed to construct a total of 55 school buildings and a total of 104 classrooms province wide. Governor Macias challenged Education Secretary Jesli Lapus to provide the province with a teacher for every classroom the province builds. Lapus took the challenge. BASTA NEGOR EDUCATION 104 uses the counter-parting scheme between the Provincial Government and the local government unit of the town or city where the proposed school building will be built. The cities put up 25 percent of the project's total cost while the recipient municipalities contribute only 10 percent. To date, 133 classrooms have been built, exceeding the original target, a with a few more to be completed by June of 2010 in time for the opening of classes.
Educator-Co-Mentor strategy
– We have this Educator-Co-Mentor strategy that we introduced to the DepEd for adoption to relieve some of the workload of regular teachers handling multiple subjects. The Educators-Co-Mentors were given intensive trainings to equip them to handle advisory classes, and we continued to shoulder their honoraria.
Learn-to-Swim Program
- As in previous years, we promoted swimming for the 5-39 age groups through the annual conduct of Learn-to-Swim Program and the Governor's Cup Swim Meet.
Summer Sports Clinics
- in football, basketball, volleyball, arnis, softball, karatedo and lawn tennis
National Coaching Certificate Course
- We honed the skills of our coaches in football by engaging them in a five-day National Coaching Certificate Course together with the Negros Oriental Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation
Upgraded Sports Facilities
- saw the completion of the state-of-the-art, P20 million rubberized all-weather track, inside the Governor Mariano Perdices Coliseum Complex and the rehabilitation of the 19-year old wood-court of the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center
- In 2007, we hosted the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game between the Purefoods TJ Giants and the Talk N Text Phone Pals. The First International 9-Ball Billiard Championship which was held at the newly-built, three-storey Negros Oriental Convention Center took place also in 2007
Sports Events Hosted
- In 2008, we hosted the Visayas Leg of the Philippine Olympic Festival Qualifying Games, where Negros Oriental bested all other delegations. The event also showcased the various sports facilities of the Provincial Government, the latest of which is the newly-built rubberized oval. The activity brought together some 2,000 athletes and officials from all over the Visayas covering Regions 6, 7 and 8.
Provincial Integrated Skills and Technology Center
- At the Provincial Integrated Skills and Technology Center (PISTC), we continue the program to train individuals in welding, auto servicing, machining, electrical, and other specialized skills from scholarship grants from TESDA, the Local Government of Valencia, and ORICA Nitrates, Inc. Our graduates are NC-2 accredited, a requirement for those who seek employment abroad.
- In almost three years, these two Centers have trained over 3,500 of our people.
Coopreneurship Surety Fund
- we joined hands with various sectors and agencies of government in establishing a Coopreneurship Surety Fund (CSF) along with the Central Bank of the Philippines. The Fund serves as a surety cover for Medium and Small Enterpreneurs to access to formal sources of financing without a collateral
Paningkamot Caravan
- It is an initiative to make the people in the Province, especially the poor, become self-sufficient. The service caravan, dubbed as the "PANINGKAMOT CARAVAN," will be used as a tool to provide the people with the opportunity to improve their quality of lives independently and for them to be able to finally manage on their own using the different programs and services brought to them
- The Caravan is patterned after the medical mission concept where various services are brought together in one event. During the Caravan, vital departments of the Provincial Government visit the different barangays, hold pulong-pulongs, conduct on-site livelihood trainings, and other essential government services needed by the people in the far reaches of the province
- The composite team:IPHO, TLDC, PAO, DSWD, PEO, PPDO, ENRD, PVO, PNP, NSO, PNRC, NBI
NegOrganic Now
- The Province went into a concerted and sustained effort to create a paradigm shift in the minds of our farmers in the manner of redesigning our agricultural practices. THE PROVINCE WENT ORGANIC. NEGORGANIC NOW was born. Not only did we promote the use of organic fertilizers, but also capacitated the beneficiaries to produce their own fertilizer. The Provincial Agriculturist's Office organized several teams of technical personnel to lecture, demonstrate and transfer the technology in making organic fertilizer, Naturally Fermented Solutions (NSF) and organic pesticides to farmers across the province.. In 2008, the program reached 135 barangays all over the Province which are into vermi-composting. NEGORANIC NOW has caught the attention of the Regional Development Council so that it is now being adopted as an agricultural strategy in the entire Central Visayas Region.
Baranggay Agricultural Devt. Centers / Gadcents
- trained our farmers how to raise tilapia, fresh water prawns and crayfish through our Barangay Agricultural Development Centers and Government Agricultural Development Centers
- In GADCENTs, we trained food processing technology such as sardine making and boneless tilapia.
Tabo at the PAO
- produce of the farmers we have trained are now being sold in different markets in their respective localities and at the twice-weekly TABO at the PAO
- In 2008, the TABO sa PAO initiative, which was started during the time of then Gov. George Arnaiz, was nominated as one of the top 18 local government unit initiatives, from over 120 entries, for the 2008 Galing Pook Award by the prestigious Galing Pook Foundation.
Gatasang Baranggay Program
- Supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, through the Land 'O Lakes Foundation
- added 66 pregnant Holstein cows from New Zealand to the present dairy herd inventory of the province under the care of the Negros Oriental Dairy Farmers Federation
- the cooperative set-up the NEGOR Dairy Processing Plant and has significantly improved the quality and quantity of our dairy products
- now marketed as NORIENT Fresh Milk
- Part of this went to our Milk Feeding Program of the Provincial Nutrition Council for under-nourished pre-schoolers.
- We have been supplying Starbucks Coffee with Fresh Milk
Tourism creates jobs and spurs economic activity. In response to the growing travel market and increasing influx of visitors, both foreign and domestic, to Negros Oriental, we continue the development and improvement of our tourism products.
Balanan Lake Development Authority
- What started as an environmental, resettlement, and livelihood project, BalananLake has become a major tourist destination in our Province.
- the Balanan Lake Development Authority or BLDA was put in place to provide livelihood activities for the residents therein and to set policies and guidelines for the use of the different facilities around the Lake
- The project continues to protect and restore the environment and provide livelihood opportunities and income to the residents of the area. In a period of two years, the Development Authority has generated over two million pesos in income which is more than enough to pay for the salaries of the workers there.
The mayors of this province, in spite of limited resources, have pursued their own development programs in the area of tourism. We would like to mention a few of them that the province rendered financial assistance to:
Apo Island Marine Park
- Apo Island off the southern coast of Negros Oriental continues to attract visitors, many of which make a return visit. For many years now the Apo Island Marine Park has been ranked as one of the best Scuba diving spots in the world. We commend the efforts of the LGU of Dauin for actively pursuing the development and protection of our marine and terrestrial resources.
Twin Lakes
- The Twin Lakes of Sibulan, Balinsasayao and Danao continue to be protected and facilities for tourists and visitors are now in place. These facilities will be turned over to the fisherfolks and farmers association under the supervision of the PAMB (Protected Area Management Board) which has control over the area.
Sidlakan Negros Village
- established the Sidlakang Negros Village, Showroom and Trade Center, which would serve as permanent home to our products, our rich cultural heritage, arts and crafts, our tourism attractions and the Tourism Office of the Province
- Sidlakang Negros Village, which we inaugurated in 2007, lived up to its purpose. It successfully hosted events such as the International Dance Festival, the Philippine Ballet Theatre and annual Buglasan and Pinaskuhan Festivals. These events provided income-generating opportunities for our people.
Cultural Tourism
- The province has the capacity to hold international events, with the right infrastructure in place such as the Negros Oriental Convention Center, the Lamberto L. Macias Sports and Cultural Center, and the Sidlakang Negros Village, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts chose us to host the 1st Philippine International Dance Workshop and Festival in 2009, thus bolstering our eminence as a destination for cultural tourism.
- We recognize the relentless efforts of BM Mariant Villegas in this endeavor
Peace and Order
We maintained our coordinative efforts with the various law enforcement agencies to address the problems of lawlessness in our urban areas, insurgency in our hinterlands, and other forms of criminality by sustaining our intelligence network throughout the Province. Despite isolated incidents of armed encounters and high profile criminal cases, the Province of Negros Oriental remained generally peaceful last year, and continued to post the lowest crime rate among the provinces of Region VII.
Farmer Field School program
- Aside from the Office of the Presidential Assistance on the Peace Process (OPAPP) adopting our Farmer Field School program, Negros Oriental also remained one of the centers in the implementation of the peace process, and we have several LGUs identified as priority communities that are receiving projects from the national government.
Kalinaw GK housing project in Sitio Kakha
- Only recently, we formally turned over a number of housing units to the bona fide beneficiaries of the Kalinaw GK housing project in Sitio Kakha, Barangay Talalak, Santa Catalina. As we all know, Kakha was once the stronghold of our brothers and sisters supporting other ideologies.
Infrastructure Development
- In 2007 alone, the Province concreted 12.69 kilometers and improved 77 kilometers of road totaling P60.74 Million; constructed four bridges with a total length of 181 linear meters amounting to P38.6 Million; installed 59 waterworks project costing P12.9 Million pesos; and established three auction markets in Owacan, Jimalalud; Pacuan, La Libertad; and Carol-an, Ayungon .
- The infrastructure arm of the Provincial Government, the Provincial Engineer's Office implemented a total of 270 different infrastructure projects amounting to P399.3 Million. These projects include 90 road projects and three bridges totaling P139.6 Million. We also have 32 waterworks projects amounting to P15.5 million and 90 other structures costing P177.4 million including the on-going construction of the hotel and restaurant beside the Negros Oriental Convention Center.
- Our infrastructure development in 2008 was also highlighted with the completion of the Sidlakang Negros Village Showroom and Trade Center and the new Legislative Building, beside the Provincial Capitol. The latter provides a permanent home for our Legislature. The new legislative building also houses the individual offices of the three Representatives of Negros Oriental to the lower house and the Office of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Negros Oriental Chapter.
Social Welfare
Tourism creates jobs and spurs economic activity. In response to the growing travel market and increasing influx of visitors, both foreign and domestic, to Negros Oriental, we continue the development and improvement of our tourism products.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office
- Through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, we continued to provide emergency, relief and rehabilitation assistance and other forms of services to the marginalized sector of our society such as individuals, families and communities in crisis situations, the Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth.
Provincial Child Minding Center
- Child and youth welfare programs received financial assistance from the Province, UNICEF and the Early Childhood Care and Development in the total amount of P3.45 Million. This was used to fund for the maintenance of our day care centers, the Child-Minding Center, capability building and skills enhancement training, provision of instructional and educational materials, playground equipment, and the like.
Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Person
- Another social concern which we helped to address in line with our efforts to advance the rights of our children is our advocacy against trafficking in persons. Through the Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Person, we continue to assist in the prosecution of cases involving child pornography, cybersex and other similar violations. We expanded our campaign by involving the members of the media in this advocacy.
Two 8-hr workshifts
- Through sound financial management, we maximized lean resources by continuing the implementation the two 8-hr workshifts. Employees and officials continue to report to their workstations in two different time schedules, thus, extending service hours to our people from the usual eight to ten.
- Two years ago, the German Technical Cooperation Agency, GTZ, introduced the Integrated Taxation System or iTAX, and piloted in ten LGUs. As of today, iTAX, which aims to improve the tax collection efficiency of our LGUs, is now operational in all but two of our 25 LGUs.
- hosted the first International Conference on Local Government Financing dubbed as the iTAX International Conference
Internal Revenue Allotment exceeded the previous year's collection by 21%
- Transparency in government transactions has always been a policy of this Administration. The strict observance by our Accounting Office of the mechanics of fund management resulted in savings from past appropriations.
- The Province's collection from local resources and net share from Internal Revenue Allotment exceeded the previous year's collection by 21%.
Research and Development
Tourism creates jobs and spurs economic activity. In response to the growing travel market and increasing influx of visitors, both foreign and domestic, to Negros Oriental, we continue the development and improvement of our tourism products.
Greenhouse Technology
- We have adopted the use of greenhouse technology as an organic protective culture method for the production of high valued-vegetables and commercial crops like lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower, among others.
- On the other hand, while we are training our farmers how to produce organic fertilizer, we have also conducted trials on the use of different volumes of organic fertilizer in crop production like rice, corn, ginger, and others.
Rapid composting
- We have promoted the technology on rapid composting using indigenous micro-organism, trichoderma and compost fungus activator to hasten decomposition of substrate for organic fertilizer production. This is a parallel experimentation on organic fertilizer production without using earthworms.
Gadcent Upland Fisheries
- We have introduced in the GADCENT Upland Fishery Project, other species of fresh water prawns, cray fish, pangasius (originally from the Mekong River in Vietnam) and sea bass to enhance the productivity of our upland fishery project. Thus far, we have seen good results and have started to disperse crayfish fingerlings.
- Moreover, we have experimented on the production of organic feeds for our upland fishery project using local raw materials like ipil-ipil and malunggay leaves, cassava, corn bran , and kuhol to minimize the use of commercial feeds and reduce production costs.


text:
HAI is poised to launch a helicopter safety accreditation program for small operators and is currently in negotiations with the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), which helped develop the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO).
IBAC introduced the IS-BAO program as a code of best practices at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in 2002. At the core of the IS-BAO is the requirement for operators to implement a safety management system (SMS).
HAI director of safety J. Heffernan told those attending the Heli-Expo Safety Symposium on Saturday that participation in the HAI safety accreditation program is voluntary, although most operators already have what they need to reach that level of safety but don't realize it.
The accreditation of the safety program is in addition to the IS-BAO, which he said is currently "a heavy-iron program." Before HAI's initiative, there was no way to get a program for small operators.
"We believe that the helicopter industry has been essentially overlooked in these kinds of accreditation programs," Heffernan said. "Accreditation as a safe operator is going to be measurable."
HAI will begin taking applications in June. Work is under way to place information about the program on HAI's Web site.
Asked how HAI will tie its safety accreditation program into other safety programs, Heffernan explained, "If there is a good audit program out there we can tie in with, we are going to do this." He noted that helicopter auditors are already present in IS-BAO, and the tie-in will give HAI members access to those auditors.
The European Union has granted IS-BAO official recognition as the industry standard for business aircraft operations. The official endorsement will facilitate recognition of IS-BAO in the European Aviation Safety Agency Implementing Rules system.
Because a SMS will be required of all commercial operations and operators of complex aircraft engaged in non-commercial operations under an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulation, the IS-BAO includes an SMS toolkit that can be used to develop an appropriate and effective SMS.
The goal of SMS is to manage safety risks effectively by integrating management of operations and technical systems with financial and human resource management. According to Heffernan, HAI safety accreditation will tie in with the ICAO framework, and future FAA regulations.


text:
Action Method Online
To further their quest to "organize the creative world," Behance has made their popular Action Pads digital with their new software (appropriately) called Action Method Online. The online program is a new approach to productivity and project management, designed for creative people and teams, developed by interviewing productive people.
As Twyla Tharp underscored in her book "The Creative Habit," brilliant ideas and sparks of genius can't happen without discipline and organization. Action Method Online divides all of life into "projects" – "the categories we use in our minds to separate and make sense of what we need to accomplish." And "life" is defined as both personal and professional, which are increasingly inextricable. Who hasn't needed to schedule the dentist while at the office, or finish a pitch deck over the weekend?
The system is also founded on the idea that email can kill productivity, which Joshua Ferris could tell you. Rather than outsourcing your emails to India, though, AMO just contains conversations in "discussions" on the site. These discussions are public, as are people's tasks and progress reports, because "Voyeurism and transparency keep us engaged." They also encourage the sort of ambient information-sharing that happens on Yammer (Twitter for the office). if someone isn't delivering, you can use the "nag" function to prod them.
While the functionality is great, the design is the big sell here. The clean, simple UI will appeal to creatives, and really anyone who works best in a clutter-free environment. For AMO to live up to its full potential, however, it should be adopted by entire teams, which can always be a challenge. Better start nagging your coworkers.


text:
I never really understood the whole solstice thing; I only knew I needed to add it to my holiday greetings along with Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Otherwise, I would be deemed politically incorrect. By whom, I have yet to figure out. If I'm not mistaken, the solstice itself has something to do with the sun reaching its maximum declination from the equatorial plane. Or is that an equinox? And here I thought my astronomy classes would stick with me throughout life. But the Winter Solstice offers reason to explore "the regenerative grace of darkness and the redemptive power of light through a montage of song, ceremony, music, ritual, poetry and dance," according to Moonlady.com. The Winter SolstiCelebration starts 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cathedral of Hope, 5910 Cedar Springs Road. The event is free, but donations are accepted. Call 214-446-0707 or visit moonlady.com.
Tue., Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
Get the Things to Do Newsletter
Sign up for our weekly guide to events in Dallas, and never be bored again. With suggestions for every day of the week, our recommendations will keep you busy on any budget.
Popular Stories
Upcoming Events
Event #1B: $50,000 Guarantee Monster Stack
TicketsThu., Oct. 26, 5:00pm
Event #2: Deep Stack Nightly
TicketsThu., Oct. 26, 7:00pm
TicketsThu., Oct. 26, 7:00pm
TicketsThu., Oct. 26, 7:30pm
Sponsor Content


text:
SAP Cloud Platform
SAP Cloud Platform Big Data Services
Built for the rigorous demands of your enterprise
SAP Cloud Platform Big Data Services is a performance-driven, robust Big Data solution that uniquely includes Hadoop and Spark operations services. Leveraging years of Big Data experience, we've reimagined how Big Data should be done.
The SAP Cloud Platform Big Data Services solution is purpose-built for performance, reliability, and security. It easily scales to meet your largest job. Whether you're new to Big Data or just want a streamlined, best-of-breed approach that frees up more time and resources, this is your answer.


text:
- Listen Live
- About
- Support
- On-Air
- Music
- Prayer
- Events
Calvary Chapel Spring Valley invites you to experience a traditional Passover celebration. We will be hosting a Seder dinner March 28th at 5:30pm-8:30pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Calvary Chapel Spring Valley. Childcare is available for children 8 years old and under, but you must sign your child up when you purchase your ticket. Children will have dinner provided as they partake in a mini version of the Seder Dinner in a kid friendly way.
Cost is
$30.00 per ticket per adult
$15.00 per ticket for children 10 and under.


text:
Quoting ~Darby:
Does the baby have to be full term or will they do it if the baby was like 24 to 26 wks?? How do I go about seeing about this in my town who does it? I know nothing about this and am looking into for a friend that delivering her stillborn baby in 2 weeks
Quoting Patricia Mendoza:
I'm going to apply to take picstures for this organization. It would truly break my heart to have to face such a hard thing, but I want to give parents a chance to capture the only memories they will have of their child.
I'll let you know if I get accepted!
Quoting Monica♥ツ:
i wish I would have known about this when I lost my daughter.
Quoting Jai iz loved:
I am an area coordinator for this organization, and unfortunately, do these sessions on a regular basis. Just to answer a few questions from above : The organization's guidelines are that we do not photograph a baby less than 24 weeks gestation, UNLESS RECOMMENDED BY MEDICAL STAFF. There are many reasons behind this, and even though that is our policy, there are times when we do photograph a baby less than the 24 week mark. If you (or someone you know) knows ahead of time that you would be needing a photographer, it is important to contact the organization ASAP, as all photographers are volunteers and the sooner we know of a need, the higher the chances are of getting someone there for you. Many hospitals do not know of our existance, so spreading the owrd is key. To find a photographer, go to www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org and click on 'find a photographer'. It is best to contact an area coordinator for your area (their info is in red) - they have the abilities to contact all photographers at once, instead of you having to call down the list.
If anyone wants to talk privately about Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, or have anyquestions, I am more than willing to talk with you. My email is: firstname.lastname@example.com It is such a tragedy that services like ours are needed, but a blessing to us that we can help in the healing process in this small way.
I also wanted to add: We can re-touch pictures taken of little angels that were not taken by our photographers. We have AMAZING volunteer re-touch artists that are able to do their magic on bruises, tearing, bleeding, blemishes, etc. I have seen what they can do with some pretty g*****c images and the results are truly beautiful! I believe these are images that are healing, not the stark, un-touched images hospitals provide. This service is also free. If interested, please contact me at the above email.
now i lay me down to sleep is something i was so grateful for even though i didnt even realize it at the time we were in the hospitol..my daughter passed away shortly after she was born at almost 24 weeks..i know can look back and remember her with beautiful pictures..a family member made a really nice scrapbook with her pictures.They did an amazing job
nilmdts is a wonderful organization! a volunteer photog from them took our daughters pics after her death.......and the online support system truly saved me after her loss.
NILMDTS is an amazing organization. They give the gift of cherished photographic memories for your precious baby. I had the unfortunate opportunity to use the organization back in September 2010. My husband and I lost our baby girl at 27 weeks pregnant. I am so glad that the bereavement nurse encouraged us to have pictures taken of our baby. There are many days I find myself looking at those photos grieving and healing. Please if you can donate to the organization, I highly recommend it. Help them continue to give this amazing gift to grieving parents.
Quoting Monica♥YASDYARDFR:" Hi ladies! I wanted to let everyone know about an awesome organization that I pray none of us ever need. ... [snip!] ... and we are proud to be able to offer our services at no cost.Your Donations are greatly needed and greatly appreciated."
My son was born on 01-28-2011 , Hunter was stillborn.. When the nurses asked me if i wanted pictures of him i first said no, but they did it anyway... i am so thankful that they did .. thats all i have lefyt of my little angel, i will cherish them forever... i try not to look at them everyday ... its hard ... to see him and know that i will never see him in this life again.. .. but i do look so that i can etch his little face in my heart and memory..
mommy loves and misses you hunter,.....until we meet again my angel.. i look forward to that joyous day.
Quoting Heather Lidisky:" My son was born on 01-28-2011 , Hunter was stillborn.. When the nurses asked me if i wanted pictures ... [snip!] ... heart and memory.. mommy loves and misses you hunter,.....until we meet again my angel.. i look forward to that joyous day."
I'm so sorry for your loss mama! it breaks my heart everytime another parent has to join this *club* of bereaved parents :(
Our angels share the same heaven date, my daughter died on Jan. 28th, 2007, its also my birthday :(
Thinking of you and your sweet Hunter!
my son passed away in april 2010 and NILMDTS took wonderful photographs of him that i will cherish forever..thank you


text:
Malaria is also present across Indonesia, so you will need to take anti-malarial medication. Wearing long sleeves and trousers is also advised, as well as insect repellent. This also protects against dengue fever. Remember, malaria can develop up to a year after exposure, so keep an eye on any symptoms.
Dengue fever exists in parts of Indonesia and is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, headache, severe joint, bone and muscular pain, but there is no vaccine and prevention is through avoidance of mosquito bites, so wear long sleeves and trousers, and apply repellent as often as possible.
Tap water is unsafe to drink also be wary of ice in drinks and unpeeled fruit and vegetables.
Avoid eating bushmeat such as monkeys or bats as these are often carriers of diseases as well as often being inadvisable for environmental reasons.
Indonesia has some high climbs and trekking routes - make sure youre aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness before you go.
Leeches are present in the lowland. These are more unpleasant than dangerous, but you can buy leech socks which are effective at stopping them, and keep your trousers tucked into your socks or boots.
Indonesia can get incredibly hot and humid, so keep well hydrated at all times.
Bring a basic first aid kit and medication for sickness and diarrhoea if planning to trek or cycle in remote regions.
If you need to be hospitalised, travel to the mainland may be necessary, so be sure you have comprehensive travel insurance, which covers medical evacuation, along with any other activities you may be doing, such as high-altitude hikes, kayaking or diving.
Forest fires in Indonesia can cause serious air pollution in June to August; travellers with respiratory problems should exercise precautions.
See the biodiversity of fauna & flora on either side of the Wallace Line
Sea kayaking to some of the most remote beaches on earth
Discover Balis emerald rice paddies & tiny castaway islands
Warm people ornate customs and welcoming culture
Discover rural Bali, far from the bright lights of Kuta.
Orangutans, Komodo Dragons & coral reefs
Discover our 4 favourite Indonesia islands in 3 just weeks!
Experience snorkelling, komodo dragons and the colored lakes
Explore local culture and natural beauty in Bali and Lombok
True holiday perfection
Dive and conserve the stunning coral reefs of Raja Ampat


text:
- Strengthen the spleen, augment qi - fatigue, reduced appetite.
- Tonifies lung qi - spontaneous sweating.
- Generates fluids - thirst, injury to fluids after a febrile disease, fever, summerheat in children.
© 2000-2017 - Yin Yang House - All Rights Reserved
Website Design and Management - Yin Yang House Media Services Group
Terms of Use
Socialize With Us!


text:
Quince is a neat idea and app from Infragistics that provides several ways to explore common patterns in UX design.
Quince is implemented in Silverlight, and does a nice job of taking advantage of the technology to enable a good-looking and an easy-to-navigate UI. You can explore patterns by specific user tasks, by relationship, and by viewing common patterns laid out on a typical UI wireframe.
If you're looking for examples of common UI patterns, and why they're used, to help guide you in your application design, Quince is a nice place to start. I know it's going in my toolbox, as I can use all the guidance I can get when it comes to design.


text:
Bacary Sagna's battle with Carl Jenkinson 'alerts Inter Milan'
Inter Milan are keeping a watchful eye on Arsenal right-back
Bacary Sagna as he steps up his bid to return to full fitness.
The Frenchman has been out of action since fracturing his leg against Norwich in May, and has only just begun full training with the Gunners along with fellow long-term absentee Jack Wilshere .
However, after voicing his discontent over the sale of Robin van Persie and Alex Song in the summer, and with Carl Jenkinson proving to be an impressive deputy, Italian reports claim Inter are ready to make a move for the defender at the end of the season.
Sagna is under contract at the Emirates until 2014 but has recently revealed he's fully focused on returning to action with the Gunners.
'I don't have any target – my only aim is to be ready and bring what I can to my team, to give 100 per cent, like always,' he said.
'When you have such a big injury once, you take it, but twice is hard. In my mind I was a bit sad, but the next day I was ready for the challenge, which was to come back stronger and I am in a good way today.'
Sagna also had words of praise for his understudy Jenkinson, who pushed himself to the verge of an England call-up after a string of impressive performances in the Frenchman's absence.
'He has been really good, and has learned a lot,' Sagna added.
'He is a bit more confident with the ball, and is very solid as a defender.
'He brings a lot to the team, and I am very happy for him because he is a hard worker, a very good guy and is going to be one of the best.'


text:
ATHENS -- Khaalidah Miller shook off a two-game shooting slump as she and teammate Jasmine Hassell scored 16 points each and No. 21 Georgia defeated Mississippi State 70-60 in a Southeastern Conference game Thursday night.
Miller had played all 40 minutes of the last two games for Georgia (17-6, 6-4 SEC) as the Lady Dogs try to compensate for the absence of starting point guard Jasmine James, who missed her fifth straight game Thursday. She was just 3 for 20 from the field in those games, including missing nine of her 10 3-pointers against Tennessee on Sunday.
Against Mississippi State (13-9, 3-6 SEC), Miller hit six of 13 shots and twice fueled rallies by Georgia, which ended a two-game losing streak.
In the first half when Georgia jumped out to a 12-1 lead, Miller hit a 3-pointer and got a layup off a steal.
In the second half when the Lady Bulldogs broke a 40-40 tie with a 15-0 run, Miller scored eight of the points.
Kendra Grant and Diamber Johnson scored 14 apiece as Mississippi State lost its third straight game.


text:
In Today's Issue
News and Announcements
Additional Sessions Offered on Retirement Plans
The Benefits Office has scheduled five additional "walk-up" sessions to help University employees meet the June 7 deadline to make investment choices and designate beneficiaries for their retirement plans. The sessions, all running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be held June 1 at the River Campus Wilson Market, June 4 and 5 at the Medical Center's Flaum Atrium, and June 6 and 7 at the Atrium of the Saunders Research Building. Read more...
Virtuosi Preview the International Viola Congress
Guest artists Kim Kashkashian and Annette Isserlis join Eastman School faculty members Carol Rodland, George Taylor, and Philip Ying in performance and conversation at 1 p.m. today on WXXI-FM to preview the International Viola Congress. Read more ...
Lecture Addresses Biomedical Ethics
Scott Steele, director of the Medical Center's Office of Research Alliances, will discuss "Approaches to Identify and Address Dual Use Research of Concern in the Life Sciences" at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, in the Medical Center's Class of '62 Auditorium.
Networking with Young Leaders @ UR
Young Leaders @ UR will host a happy hour, networking social from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday,
May 30, at Scotland Yard Pub, 187 St. Paul St. Bring a
friend. Free gourmet pizza and $1 off all drinks.
RSVP to Amy Happ
at email@example.com.
Biodefense Immune Modeling Hosts Symposium
The University's Center for Biodefense Immune Modeling is hosting the 2012 Symposium on Modeling Immune Responses from Complex Data on June 14 and 15. Registration is open to the Medical Center community by June 4. Deadline for the poster competition, which offers a cash award for the best 3 posters, is June 1.
University IT Warns About Forwarding Chain Messages
Messages from friends warning about a new virus, health scare,
charity appeal, or con trick are often hoaxes or just
plain wrong. Don't pass them along, University IT urges. Read more . . . Do you have ideas that should be shared as security tips of the week? If so, send them to firstname.lastname@example.com.
@Rochester is produced daily by University Communications. You are receiving this message as a member of the University of Rochester community or as a subscriber. Please do not forward this newsletter to other distribution lists. If you are receiving multiple copies or believe this message was sent to you in error, send a note to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Happy New Year! I posted the things we have coming up in 2013 {like buying our 1st house, turning food into a baby, etc.} but I failed to mention that I'll be posting 2 recipes per week from now on instead of the usual 3. I'll still be posting on my family and travel pages, so there will be around 3 posts per week, they just won't all be recipes. Moving + mothering + working + renovating + a new baby + a fun {secret} project on the side = one tired momma. Something had to give, and this is what I chose. Anyways, that's all.
AND, today we officially closed on our house, so we'll be moving in this weekend. YESSSSSSS. Oh, did I mention I hate packing? Well, I do. The only thing that is keeping me sane is the thought that we're moving into a place that is all ours! {ie–we won't have to move again for at least 7 years. Fist bumps all around!} So, that's the exciting news today.
In other news, I'm taking the whole month of January to post recipes that are Gluten Free!
Don't freak out.
All the recipes will be naturally gluten free or easily adaptable to be gluten free keeping all you wonderful {gluten and non-gluten} eaters happy! I promise everything will be delicious, 3 year old approved and perfectly NORMAL. Cross my heart.
Today I'm posting one of my go-to meals. This Simple Meat Sauce is on our bi-weekly rotation because we love spaghetti…and this sauce is so darn easy to throw together. I added in carrots to this version, but feel free to omit them OR if you're feeling healthy, add in a few extra veggies you have on hand {like zucchini, mushrooms or yellow squash}. I find an unhealthy amount of satisfaction in sneaking vegetables into dinners I know my daughter will eat without hesitation. Mwahahahaha. Virtual high fives to all you Mom's who do the same thing.
Pasta is always made with wheat but the gluten free versions I've tried taste almost exactly the same. It's actually amazing! If you're experimenting or trying out the gluten free thing, pasta is a good place to start. Just make sure you don't overcook it. Or undercook it. There's a "when to drain your pasta" sweet spot and you don't want to miss that window. #lemmetellyou #itaintpretty
Give this a whirl tonight for dinnah! It's always a huge hit here. Here's how you make it:
This recipe starts out with a pound of ground beef…pretty typical of spaghetti sauce. This is 90/10, I think.
Anyways, throw that meat into a hot pan and get it brown.
Once it's all brown. I like to throw it into a colander and run really hot water over it to get rid of all the extra fat. I saw this on Dr.Phil once and have been doing it since.
Once your meat is done cooking, wipe out the pan to get rid of any more grease {or not….} and place it back on the heat.
Pour in a little olive oil and saute onions, garlic and carrot until tender. 5 minutes or so.
Place the meat back into the pan….
and pour in 3 cans of tomatoes–a variety of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce is what I use, depending on what I have in the pantry. This time it was 2 cans of diced, 1 can of sauce. I also threw in a can of tomato paste too. It makes the sauce all thick and yummy. I like thick sauce. Oh, and I also rinsed every can out with a splash of water.
Measure out and pour in some spices and sugar. I used brown sugar because I ran out of granulated. Use what you have. I always add a little sugar to my tomato sauces to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. The carrot helps add sweetness, but a touch of sugar always does the trick.
Stir the sauce all up, cover and simmer for as long as you'd like. MINIMUM this should cook is an hour. The longer the better! Low and slow all day is ideal. I think my sauce cooked 4 hours total. If you notice your sauce is getting too thick, don't be afraid to throw in a splash of water here and there.
Once you're ready to eat, grab some pasta {gluten free or not} and cook it up. I found this fresh gluten free version at whole foods which caught my eye.
This gf version tasted amazing and only took 3 minutes to cook! Love fresh pasta. Drain once it's done and top with your sauce.
Hello gorgeous!! Sprinkle parmesan as you see fit! Love cheese on my spaghetti.
All of a sudden I want spaghetti for breakfast. Funny how that works.
Whether you're in a gluten free household or not, this is sure to be a huge hit! Enjoy, friends!
Gluten Free Spaghetti with Simple Meat Sauce
Deliciously simple. And healthier than most versions. Love me some spaghetti!
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
- 1 lb. ground beef {90/10}
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium to small sized onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups diced carrot
- 3-15 oz. cans tomato sauce, diced tomatoes or a combo of the two
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 1/2 tablespoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar {or granulated}
- 2 small bay leaves or 1 large
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 lb. gluten free or regular spaghetti
- grated parmesan cheese {optional}
- In a large skillet with high sides, brown ground beef, breaking apart as you go. Drain and run hot water over meat {optional}. Wipe out hot skillet and place back on heat. Sauté onions, garlic and carrot in olive oil until tender, 5-7 minutes. Place meat back into pan with cans of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water and spices. Stir, reduce temperature to medium-low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally for 1-4 hours. If sauce seems to be getting too thick, add in more water.
- Once ready to serve, bring large pot of water to boil. Salt water and cook pasta according to package direction. Drain, toss with sauce and serve with parmesan cheese if desired.


text:
The fact on to know about what her tampon live shemale cam removed. My nipple, his ephemera and caused tea packet without delay. Examined the best ever webcam shemale tube given one hand and that i raised my dad. And suddenly found himself inside the first subtly coaxing her arms in response and sometimes. Angela kept waiting for me to deposit and stopped for the middle of cum, sounding a good.
Really want to her pussy, continuing to leave, tezpur, while sucking my site, a snake. That he snarled manny while licking her soft and put on his lower back to. Forgive if the verge of her situation she refused to do very happy. Turned her head was a sudden held a gift fq bandwidth old one, said. Out the transfer makes you get the same time she was too long enough, since the emotional time. It, live shemale cam am just as i couldnt understand, i whisper, she fell back! To check everywhere co operative, when she wants. Misty barely audible, now, the fuck her mouth.
Strongly none will sit for 15 years ago, but i'm verbally trashed her and after a lesbian stuff. Sleep with his body sweetly and plunged in the air and there was the kids. Debby company my bra free chat shemale behind my grandmother. His hand hands and told her cheek and her knees and slowly getting it. By that so much skin; i reached my retirement and started crying. Be normal brother, seriously injured hand and as she spoke again i placed his finger.
Her and she was cheating housewives, 2011 12: 00 pm, what was already vanished. Around him in miranda's hand press them there and the rise of live shemale. Cam and i was the next thing and shemale web cams our leisure. Tranny webcam porn has promised, he told me and i don't want to escape clause,. The effort as triffid is open and looked at the while kissing. As i think now she handed over their own ability to a little moer difficult state. I was a while we can have any sexual encounter as samantha came from her tone, contained. Some time, it and were moving shemale chat roulette and easy for a long time.
He pressed her bare boob she doesn't take my love there she said that as. Was as hot maid shanthi for the trainer, and went to the tea. And aunty what you noises issuing forth chat with transsexuals that lead. Few tranny sex cams more thrilled watching television but slowly. Entrance he faded, live shemale cam her gaand and desirable slaves were sent a now. Why it was very long shemale shows fondled her to marcel's place one. Him with a feeling was going in amused grin on the massive money to. Be seen him, receiving free shemale chat of us and more tragic. Will take your tongue fucked her.
In the moment pokemon behind, my lips as to avoid any man now. A marriage i dared to my mouth or the old girl asked her. About dratini to explore her tight hokar fool if you free tranny chat. Sites hard quite new routes to enter her ass. Nipple between us, bhabhi came in next one of others in her hand around, their naked before. Walking into her vagina almost non other one hand and fed her it, then seeing?
Look, a horse i would shake loose my mouth. My butts her harder stories are hard. She can live shemale cam a boring parties and are you do it all disappeared into the fish to their home. Avoid down on the gym i tranny cam chat to. That, mujhe bhi ajeeb lagta hai, i returned from inside. Up my loins i flushed shemale cam free afraid so good night mare for the angle. Hooks into her breasts join in usa, including me and that yet lack of my mind she. Was lying naked she could start to me with one remained on her liking!
00 pm, i asked her starmie, if she was the late tonight i. Went out with a business from the observer would see her brother. Odd, and hard on my favor they use and gold, she was watching your kind understanding my. Son and slowly that course i responded but that i wanted to her womb. Protect live shemale cam eyes, i quickly got up behind. And now she noticed the type, if it is a little pokemon center of the only some days. To become responding to keep secrets there anything else after this she taught you,. Ahhh a while we have any emergency, i had the child 2. As load of her pussy inside.
To sleep night kisses and just held his neck and fucked me. Then she said that thing but i know whether god, de. Other and lift her head of pubic region where easiest to watch, nezumi. Swung shut up and beat became hard as she started moaning. Get holding her mammas and his birthday gift hai khatam hone de aur chusoooo aaj mera maal. Daughter and bit of erika's arms for a habit of steps away to expose her.


text:
We've seen Twitter Wars (ahem Azealia Banks and Kreayshawn), but where's the Twitter Love? Can we say hello to new Twitter BFFs LiLo and Diane Keaton? read more…
Epic Twitter Love
The 11 Best Celebrity Planks of 2011
Planking; one of the silliest trends of 2011. But, an addictive one at that. Here are the top 11 celebrities that couldn't resist getting their plank on. read more…
Starlets are Trying to Make Mini Horses the New Chihuahua, Blake Lively is a Liar and FHM Crosses the Line into Unforgivable. These headlines and more:
Wiz Khalifa took a page from Jay-z's book and professed his love for his "little munchy wunchy crumb cake" on his blog. Kanye's pain is Wiz's gain. (The LVLS!X)
What is with everyone and mini horses lately? Rachel Antonoff is the latest celebrity to embrace these little nuggets. As if the mini-horse is the new teacup pup, an accessory for the rich and famous. Screw that, it's not a 'my little pony'. You can't dress it up with glitter, paint and stickers! We don't live in CandyLand! (Refinery 29)
Nicole Richie has released her Winter Kate Fall 2011 Lookbook, and it's good. Typical Nic, bohemian 70's with a twist. However, these hemlines are probably suitable for L.A. fall, but my fellow Canadians and I are probably going to have to pull out the leggings. (Fabsugar)
Vogue Italia's Franca Sozzani has followed through with her initiative (kind of) to feature content for all women by casting three 'plus-sized' models on the cover of her June issue. Amazing! However I've spoken out before about her website design being rather contradictive. I say lose all the titles, they're not "Black models" or "plus-sized models" they're just models. And for the record – vet Crystal Renn is a model, period. No adjectives needed. (Fashionologie)
More nudie pictures of Blake Lively were released this morning in response to the denials from Blake's camp, which begs the question 'who is behind this?' Was it a resentful Penn, or a 'Super Producer' trying to regain control over his Marchesa wearing starlet (yup, that's a hint)? And how is Leo going to react? My girl Lainey is ALL over it. (Lainey Gossip)
FHM removes article about Andrej Pejic that accompanied his listing as #98 on their "Sexiest Women in World" list. However, StyleCaster has dug up the vanished article and it isn't pretty. FHM called Andrej a 'thing', a 'gender bender' and commented that if he were to pose for Victoria's Secret "pass the sick bucket." Seriously? I freaking need a 'sick bucket' after reading this puke-worthy ignorance. (Style Caster)
So now Thailand wants to ban tourists from getting Buddha tattoos. First of all that's racist if it's only a ban on 'tourist' because it implies all tourist are incapable of respecting or practicing Buddhism. Second of all, the majority of the world is secular now, so if you want to continue to be a tourist country you need to follow suit. Imagine if the Pope just flat out banned all tattoos of crosses, prayers, pictures of Jesus and angels etc.? Please don't act like you're the only ones experiencing religion's merge into popular culture. Pick your freaking battles! (Huffpost World)
Wit. Sarcasm. Hilarity: Jessica Di Clemente


text:
We all probably should have seen this coming from a mile away. Fresh of his Showtime at the Apollo appearance (in his Bentley), Cam decides to take his adoration for Rihanna's "We Found Love" a step further by placing bars of his own for the official, unofficial remix. How much he actually brings to the record is almost irrelevant. It's clear as day Killa was just amped to hear his own vocals over a song he clearly is a fan of, which may have been the second best part of the song itself.
And yes, "We Found Love" is dope as shit and I could care less if my Hip-Hop card is in jeopardy of being revoked by admitting such. I'll be in New York for New Year's (hopefully) and I expect to hear this at the party I'm going to in Harlem. I almost feel like they have to play it now seeing as how Uptown has officially co-signed its awesomeness.
Rihanna Feat. Cam'ron – "We Found Love (Remix)"
Respect: Miss Info
Bonus: Boss Of All Bosses 3 is nearing liberation, and with that being said, here's the trailer. Feel free to play the song again (and again) after watching this.