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Taste Buds: German Jacks
May 23, 2013 Ya know, there are just those times when one gets a hankering for a tasty brat with perhaps a John Dillinger death-mask on the side. more »»
'Take Your Seat' for exciting 2013-2014 season
May 16, 2013 WHEELING — The Wheeling Symphony and Music Director Andre Raphel invite you to Take Your Seat for the orchestra's 2013-2014 Season, which includes seven incredible season concerts, three free outdoo... more »»
Taste Buds: Chefs' Auction
May 16, 2013 Last week, you were served your first course of dishes featured at the 20th annual Chefs' Auction. more »»
Free 'Summer of Fun' in Friendly City
May 9, 2013 The city of Wheeling is gearing up for another summer full of events — including 50 free musical shows at Heritage Port and other parks. more »»
Taste Buds: Chefs' Auction
May 9, 2013 When opportunity knocks, answer the door. That's just what the Buds did last week, when the opportunity presented itself to attend Wheeling Health Right's 20th annual Chefs'Auctio. more »»
The Left Lane: Turnpike Troubadours
May 2, 2013 So what if Oklahoma's Turnpike Troubadours are set to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their third full-length album? Chances are a majority of Lane readers aren't familiar wit... more »»
Taste Buds: Taste of the Valley, 2
May 2, 2013 LAST WEEK, the Buds delivered their "first course" review of our experiences at the annual Taste of the Valley, a fund-raiser for the St. Clairsville Noon Rotary Clu. more »»
Taste Buds: Taste of the Valley, 1
April 25, 2013 QUESTION: WHAT could be better than to be in a building stuffed to the brim with the best food some of the Ohio Valley's restaurants have to offer? Answer: Nothing! Last week, the Buds were delighte... more »»
Taste Buds: Bella Pizzeria
April 18, 2013 Apparently another one had managed to slip below the Buds' radar. But we really don't blame ourselves, as this particular eatery is only open two nights per week. more »»
Taste Buds: Old South Bar-be-que
April 11, 2013 Well FINALLY! Geesh! Sick of what seemed like the longest winter EVER, the Buds have been patiently (not really) waiting for the weather to break. more »»
Left Lane: The Howlin' Brothers
April 4, 2013 YET another case where you don't need no stinkin' drums to make music of distinction. more »»
Taste Buds: Gem City Pizza
April 4, 2013 The Buds have discovered a gem in the heart of Yorkville. It doesn't sparkle or come in brilliant colors but it involves homemade dough and warm gooey cheese. more »»
Taste Buds: WVNCC
March 28, 2013 Spring has sprung. Not! Well, according to the calendar it has, but judging by the weather it's still February. more »»
'The Art of Design: Architecture' exhibit on display at OUE Art Gallery
March 28, 2013 ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The work of several local architects is on display in "The Art of Design: Architecture," an exhibit at the Ohio University Eastern Art Gallery through April 25. more »»
Book signing, music slated at Holy Grounds
March 28, 2013 Saturday, March 30 MARTINS?FERRY —The Holy Grounds Cafe will be closed tonight but will instead open up on Saturday, March 30, from 1–3 p.m. for a very special event. Rev. more »»
DB Rocker at River City this Saturday
March 28, 2013 WHEELING — Long time Ohio valley favorites, DB Rocker make their return to River City this Saturday, March 30, at 9 pm. more »»
Taste Buds: Olive Garden
March 21, 2013 "Into each life some rain must fall." Longfellow wrote it. Ella Fitzgerald sang it. And this past Monday afternoon, the Buds lived it. more »»
Taste Buds: Deano's
March 14, 2013 When they claim to be "More Than Just Pizza", they aren't just whistlin' Dixie. more »»
Taste Buds: Avenue Eats
March 7, 2013 Good things ... nay, GREAT things come to those who wait. Sadly for the Buds, patience isn't exactly our strongest virtue. more »»
'In Terminal Decline'
March 7, 2013 WHEELING - Oglebay Institute's Towngate Theatre continues its season with a revival of "In Terminal Decline," the best attended non-musical show in Towngate's history. more »»


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Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA) is a
non-profit organization focused on providing accessible, quality health care to Rhode Islanders.
Each year, more than 7000 elderly and chronically ill Rhode Islanders rely on the services of Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA) members. RIHCA is a non-profit trade association of skilled nursing and rehabilitation providers dedicated to enhancing its members' abilities to provide top quality health care. With members in every corner of Rhode Island, those in need of short term recuperation following an accident or illness or long term 24-hour skilled nursing care, can find the care they need close to home. RIHCA facilities routinely rank tops in the country on resident and family satisfaction surveys, proof positive that our members' commitment to quality is felt by all those who depend on their services.
As a state affiliate of the American Health Care Association, RIHCA subscribes to the national association's tenets of representing the skilled nursing care community to government, business leaders, and the general public. It also serves as a force for change within the long term care field, providing information, education, and administrative tools that enhance quality at every level.
If you're in need of skilled nursing or rehabilitation, look for a Rhode Island Health Care Association member. RIHCA has been helping providers offer the best care possible for nearly forty years.

subset: commoncrawl


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Céad míle fáilte! A hundred-thousand welcomes! After checking into your hotel, free time to relax and perhaps enjoy the hotel's leisure amenities or explore the city. This evening, a special Irish welcome: enjoy a [LF] Traditional Irish Night, a fun ceili in the setting of a village barn with dinner, wine, and entertainment all included. (D)
Day 2 Limerick–Cliffs of Moher–Galway–Clifden
Drive to the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, and savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. Next, a special treat: at RATHBAUN FARM, watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog, then enjoy your morning coffee. On to Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with cobblestone streets, colorful shops, and a busy café and bar culture. Call at the Joyce family's MARBLE WORKSHOP before spending the night at Clifden, a small fishing town in the far west. (B,D)
Day 3 Clifden–Knock–Drumcliff–Bundoran
Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY this morning, the massive castle acquired by Benedictine nuns, and see the restored house, church, and gardens. Pause at Westport before continuing on to Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. On the way to the resort of Bundoran, stop at Drumcliff on Sligo Bay to visit the grave of native son and poet W.B. Yeats. (B,D)
Day 4 Bundoran. Donegal Excursion
Enjoy the attraction of this remote part of Ireland for a day dedicated to wild and beautiful county Donegal. Visit the ancient town of the same name, founded by the Danish Vikings and home of the O'Donnell Clan. Later, call on the BELLEEK POTTERY factory, renowned for its exquisite cream-colored Parian china. (B,D)
Day 5 Bundoran–Derry, Northern Ireland–Giant's Causeway–Belfast
A rich string of Northern Ireland attractions awaits you today. In Derry, walk the city walls in the company of a Local Guide. After lunch, pass Dunluce Castle before visiting awe-inspiring GIANT'S CAUSEWAY. Arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland's seat of government, and visit the fascinating TITANIC EXHIBITION. Learn all about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. As a reminder of this unique experience, take home your [LF] TITANIC SOUVENIR. (B,D)
Day 6 Belfast–Knowth, Ireland–Dublin
This morning, your Tour Director will show you Belfast's most famous landmarks before you drive in the lee of the Mountains of Mourne back into the Irish Republic. At Bru na Boinne (Palace of the Boyne), one of the world's most important archaeological landscapes, visit KNOWTH, where your guide explains the fascinating passage-grave dating from the Bronze Age. For a first taste of the Irish capital, join an optional cabaret evening with dinner and entertainment. (B)
Day 7 Dublin
An orientation drive in the "Fair City" includes statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Then, a highlight visit to Oscar Wilde's TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)
Day 8 Dublin–Kilkenny–Waterford
Vistas of the Wicklow Mountains unfold as you head for a special visit to BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE, a typical Irish family-run farm guesthouse. Your host will present an entertaining [LF] BAKING DEMONSTRATION, and then serve coffee and scones fresh from the oven. Travel on to the pretty county town of Kilkenny, and then to Waterford for a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. Before dinner you may want to join an optional excursion to a local pub. (B,D)
Day 9 Waterford–Blarney–Cork
The first of the day's highlights is an entertaining walk through Waterford, Ireland's oldest city, in the company of a Local Guide. Then, visit BLARNEY CASTLE, renowned for its magical [LF] KISSING STONE. Overnight in Cork, Ireland's second-largest city. An optional suggestion would be a visit to Cobh's Queenstown Story, which tells of the transatlantic liner route between Liverpool and North America and last port of call for the Titanic. (B)
Day 10 Cork–Garnish Island–Killarney
This morning, board a private boat for the short crossing to GARINISH ISLAND, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Follow the winding paths between the strong-scented flowering trees and shrubs of this lush tropical island garden. Then, head over the mountains into County Kerry. At Kenmare, join part of the RING OF KERRY and stop for spectacular photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View before arriving in the popular resort of Killarney. Tonight, an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner and tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (B)
Day 11 Killarney. Dingle Excursion
Panoramic views on Dingle Peninsula on the way to the BLASKET ISLANDS CENTRE. Learn about the way of life and unique literary achievements on the string of remote offshore islands evacuated by the last inhabitants in 1953. Visit Dingle, then return to Killarney. (B,D)
Day 12 Killarney–Adare–Limerick
A final morning at leisure in Killarney with time for an optional excursion by horse-drawn jaunting car. In the afternoon, drive via quaint Adare, renowned for its pretty thatched cottages, to Limerick. A suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)
Day 13 Limerick
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Vacation Highlights
[LF] Traditional Irish Night
Savor the spectacular views
See the farmer at work and enjoy morning coffee in the farmhouse
Visit a marble workshop
Visit the Benedictine abbey
Visit this heritage town
Visit the religious site
Visit W.B. Yeats' grave
Guided tour of the pottery factory
Guided walking tour
Take pictures of Dunluce Castle, visit Giant's Causeway
Orientation tour, visit the Titanic Exhibition, [LF] receive a Titanic souvenir
Guided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave at Knowth
Orientation drive, visit Trinity College
[LF] Cooking demonstration and morning coffee and scones
Explore this pretty county town
Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal; guided walking tour
Visit the famous castle and [LF] kiss the Blarney Stone
Private boat to Garinish Island
Take pictures of the Lakes of Killarney
Visit the Blasket Islands Centre and the town of Dingle
Admire the thatched cottages
LIMERICK Strand (SF)
CLIFDEN Station House (F)
BUNDORAN Great Northern (F)
BELFAST Radisson Blu (SF)
DUBLIN Hilton Kilmainham (SF)
WATERFORD Granville (F)
CORK Clarion (SF)
KILLARNEY Killarney Avenue (SF)
LIMERICK Clarion (SF)
Full Irish breakfast; 7 three-course dinners with choice of menus, including a welcome ceili dinner with wine
Prices are based on double occupancy land only, they vary on departure dates.
About This Supplier
Out-Of-The-Ordinary Ranking
Also see tour packages in:
Europe Ireland History Whiz Archeology/History
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Coffee County- "When I pray I tell the Lord to tell her I love her and I'll see her one day," says Ronda Nelson.
Nelson doesn't remember much about the night of September 20, 2003, accept that it was the last time she saw her daughter Meagan.
"Beautiful girl, tough. She had a good head on her shoulders. She didn't care what people thought about her. It was just you like me for who I am," says Nelson.
And there are many who did like the 14 year old. Nelson was so devastated that for months she couldn't even bear to look at her daughter's photos.
Probably the end of last year I just got to where I stopped crying every night," admits Nelson.
Meagan's mother was one of the first people to find the children's bodies after the wreck, month's later she found the Lord.
"I got saved after she died, and I asked the Lord to forgive me because it took so long, but it took that to get me saved," she says.
Today Ronda Nelson says she leans on the Lord to give her strength until the day she and Meagan are reunited.
"She's always around. She might not be here, but she's always around," says Lorie Arsenault.
Gerald and Lorie Arsenault took the death of their 10 year old Courtney equally as hard.
"For the first four or five months it happened it didn't matter what I did, it was hard," says Gerald Arsenault.
It was hard to say goodbye to such a sweet, intelligent little girl.
"She was a very bright, loving child, very active. She was always wanting to help somebody or do something. Good on school, A's and B's," the Arsenaults say.
The Arsenaults say dealing with the pain is even harder knowing the woman charged with causing the wreck that killed their daughter has yet to go to trial. Amanda Troupe was just indicted last month on five counts of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.
"Justice needs to be served because I feel like it should be and it hasn't yet," Gerald Arsenault says.
"Something needs to happen to the lady. I don't know why it's taken a year and a half to do it. If was to happen to me or him, or anybody for that matter, we'd be sitting in jail," his wife Lorie says.
"It's just amazing how many people they were loved by and how many people they've touched," says Ann Varnedore.
The tragedy is twice as painful for Ann and David Varnedore. They lost a daughter and a son on the same night.
"Dustin was a ladies man and he was quite a sport. he loved the girls. Kayla she was a 13 year old girl. She loved the telephone and she loved her friends and the radio, yes Lord," says Ann Varnedore.
As they and the other parents await the trial, the couple admits they haven't been able to find it in their hearts to forgive Troupe yet.
"I think that will maybe come when we see justice is done," Ann says.
"And maybe when she shows a little remorse because she doesn't have any," says David Varnedore.
The Varnedores spend their days missing their angels and holding a tight reign on three year old Rosie, the one child they have left.
"It just makes you realize you have your kids, and you think they'll be with you forever, and it never crosses your mind that one day they may not be," Ann Varnedore says.
"She was just into everything. She had to be in the middle," smiles Terri Joyner.
There isn't a day Terri Joyner doesn't think about her daughter Lindsay, a self-proclaimed tomboy who many others knew as smiley.
"People say well y'all are taking it so good, but you don't have to go home with us at night. You don't have to go to sleep with us," she says.
Like the other families, she anxiously awaits the trial, but has found it in her heart for forgive.
"Forgive, you don't ever forget, but you can forgive. I can't hate her because I want to see Lindsay again," Terri Joyner says.
She want to see Lindsay again in heaven, but for now Terri Joyner finds contentment in believing her daughter's looking down on her.
"I know she's around. I know all of them are around, and I know they are watching after Heather.
"Physically she's doing well. She's healed very well. Emotionally it's been really rough," says her mother Tammy Bass.
Fifteen year old Heather Bass, the sole survivor and for her friends' parents a glimmer of hope.
"I feel like a miracle sometimes, but other times I feel like I wasn't supposed to be here and I was supposed to go up with them," Heather Bass says.
Heather may have survived but she was critically injured.
"She broke both her legs pretty bad, both pelvic bones, concussion, internal bruising," remembers Tammy Bass.
Tammy Bass says while it wasn't safe for six children to be riding on an ATV on the roadway, she believes the tragedy was inevitable.
"They could have been on a church hay ride, Halloween, on bicycles and she still was drinking and driving and came over on their side of the road. Two wrongs don't make a right," says Tammy Bass.
After months of therapy the teen has conquered her physical setbacks.
"I'm doing pretty good I guess. My leg still aches sometimes," says Heather Bass.
But, she's still struggling to conquer her emotional injuries.
"It's hard for her to sit and tell you how she feels about things, but she can write it down and it will tell you so much," says Tammy Bass.
Her book of poetry has been Heather's only means of finding a little peace because she survived when her friends perished.
"I sit in my room by myself and listen to music and it soothes me. I just spent time alone and think about everything that's happened," says Heather Bass.
Heather says she wants to become a child psychologist in the future and help those like her rise above their own tragedies.
"I need counseling myself and I do go to counseling and I think that I could help other people in child psychology and that's what I'm planning on doing," says Heather Bass.
Because there were so many deaths it took the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team more than a year to rebuild the fatal wreck and present their report to the district attorney. Troupe is still out on $500,000 bond. The case is expected to go to trial this Spring.
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Banquet Tickets are now Available!>>>more>>>
Breaking: SCOPE calls for NY SAFE Hotline to be SHUTDOWN!
SCOPE and Second Amendment Radio Show co-host a Constitution Day Dinner Sept 19th
We are "All In" ! Are You?
The outcome of the November 4th Election is up to YOU! Put some skin in the game and Join SCOPE today!
SCOPE Asks Candidates to sign a pledge to Repeal SAFE Act See who has signed.
Your VOTE Counts! Use it!
Must read: State Police Field Guide for NY S.A.F.E. Act Enforcement
Did Your REPEAL Sign Survive the Winter of 2014? (see what some dedicated members did to make sure they did.)
Other News!
- Announcing a new SCOPE Committee in Putnam and Seneca CountiesNew Chapter Committee added in Livingston County
- New Chapter Committee added in Suffolk County
- New Chapter Committee in Jefferson County
- Sign Assemblyman Nojay's Petition to Repeal Cuomo's Gun Laws!
- The Second Amendment Unabridged
Judge Rules on S.A.F.E. Act
A legal gun-owning homeowner defending himself from an illegally armed invader, a situation in which the individual right to bear arms is at its zenith, should not be at a numerical disadvantage if shots are exchanged with someone who will have no regard for legal round limits. – Judge William M. Skretny
SCOPE remains dedicated to protecting your civil rights. While the federal court decision was not entirely as the firearm community would have liked, it is very important to remember that the decision was from a single judge - just as what happened in the Heller and McDonald cases that made their way to the United States Supreme Court. Also, court decisions can be legislatively overruled as well. IT IS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF YOU TO REMAIN IN THIS FIGHT. ENLIST YOUR FRIENDS, GET INVOLVED, AND REMEMBER THAT THE POWER TO VOTE IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL WE HAVE. SCOPE AND ALL OF WHOM ARE CONCERNED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS NEED YOU.
Legacy SCOPE website
Stay up to date on the Law Suits against NY S.A.F.E.
NEW! Magnetic sign for your car or truck.
Must read: State Police Field Guide for NY S.A.F.E. Act Enforcement


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And now, a post in which we will not discuss Nerlens Noel, but instead a much happier topic:
Maryland Midnight Madness is, like, tomorrow, y'all.
Maryland Madness primer: A Terps preview - WaPo
Read it and get excited. A fairly exhaustive piece from the always edifying Alex Prewitt.
Phil Booth will be there
A nice piece on the 2014 combo here from NBE, with the revelation that he will, indeed, be in the house tomorrow.
MSoc: #1 Terps heading to Duke
But hey, Friday ain't all about MM. The top-ranked Maryland men's soccer team is heading to Duke tomorrow at 7:00, and the game will be shown on ESPN3. Something nice to have on in the background while watching Gymkana.
And sorry, but we now transition to the oblong ball:
Maryland LB Darin Drakeford is thriving as a blitzer
I love me some Drakeford. Really happy to see him doing so well at WILL.
Virginia is treating rivalry matchup vs. Maryland like a 'bowl game' - Cavaliers Journal
For a fanbase that sometimes gets hate for being "small time", I have to say that at least we're not treating a game against a 2-4 opponent as a "bowl game" is a sign of progress.
Anthony Nixon a pleasant surprise - Washington Times
I didn't really notice Nixon at all on Saturday, but with a safety that's sometimes a good thing. The upshot is that the staff clearly trusts him and likes him, and that's a relief with Matt Robinson probably out.
Hey, Kenny Tate's still a "mid-round draft prospect"
I'm not so confident about that, but it's good to hear someone say it. Sadly, this someone also thinks Joe Vellano goes undrafted, which I agree with. One of the great injustices of football, but perhaps inevitable.


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Some people use statistics to try to figure out their chances of getting cancer or of being cured. Statistics show what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, statistics can't be used to know or predict what will happen to a particular person.
These are some 2009 statistics from the American Cancer Society about eye cancer.
An estimated 2,350 new cases of primary eye cancers will be diagnosed in the United States this year.
Most, but not all of the new cases of primary eye cancers will be melanomas, with lymphomas being the next most common. Melanomas and lymphomas usually start in other places in the body, not in the eyes.
Primary eye cancers can occur at any age. Most cases occur in people older than 50.
An estimated 230 Americans will die from cancer of the eye this year.
New Appointments
Well Ahead Newsletter
© 2014 Main Line Health


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Are you noticing plaque buildup or bad breathe on your dog?
It might be time to have your dog's teeth cleaned.
There are some pros and cons to taking your dog to the vet for the procedure, or, you can try doing it yourself which could save you a lot of money.
WTTG FOX 5 & myfoxdc5151 Wisconsin Ave. NWWashington, DC 20016Main Number: (202) 244-5151Newsroom: (202) firstname.lastname@example.com


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Welcome to the nickdrake™ tumblr.
Expect Great Images, and My Opinion,
please be advised that some posts may be of an adult nature (NSFW). if you are under age! or if this offends you then leave now!
Who you gonna call?
(Source: nickdrake)
Dr Peter Venkman
"All right, I'm gonna turn over the next card. Concentrate… I want you to tell me what you think it is"


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If you are interested in forming a union at your workplace, the FPD/AHPE can help you. Meanwhile, it will be helpful to know some basic steps of any organizing campaign:
Talk to your co-workers. Do they share the same concerns you have? Or do they have other issues? Gauge their interest in forming a union and if they specific complaints, educate them on how a union can make a difference. You do not have to tell your employer about your decision to pursue union representation. It's better to get as much support as you can before your employer becomes aware, giving them less time to prepare their union-busting campaign.
When your ready, contact us. Once you've discussed your workplace issues with your co-workers and are ready to start organizing, FPD/AHPE will assign an appropriate representative who will meet with your group to answer any questions, to explain the benefits of union representation, to develop a comprehensive organizing plan and to collect signatures authorizing union representation.
Build an organizing committee. FPD/AHPE can help you build an organizing committee with leaders identified from all shifts and departments that represent the diversity of your workplace. We will train the Organizing Committee on how to implement the organizing plan. Be sure that the Committee members you choose know that they will have to work hard to educate themselves and their co-workers about the union and to warn and educate co-workers about management's impending anti-union campaign. The Organizing Committee also must be educated about workers' rights to organize and must understand FPD/AHPE's policies and principles of democracy and rank-and-file control. Also at this step, the following basic information about your workplace must be gathered;
Workplace structure: departments, work areas, jobs, shifts
Employee information: name , address, phone, shift, title, and department
Employer information: other locations, parent company, product(s), customers, union history
Identify the improvements you are organizing to achieve. The Organizing Committee will identify concrete changes that need to be made. These are the issues that will be used to gain support and get people involved, and that will be addressed in the first union contract. Be realistic about the improvements a union can make and don't make promises that can't be kept.
Sign-Up Majority on union cards. Your co-workers are asked to join one of our unions that is most fitting to your workplace by signing membership cards. This card is confidential and management will not see it. The goal is to sign-up a sizable majority. This "card campaign" should proceed quickly once begun and is necessary to hold an election.
voluntary recognition: In some cases, an employer will respect the will of their employees and voluntarily recognize the union once a majority of cards have been signed.
Win the union election. In most cases, an employer will force an election and use anti-union tactics, such as fear and intimidation, to convince workers not to vote for the union. The signed cards are used to petition the state or federal labor board to hold an election. It will take the labor board at least several weeks to determine who is eligible to vote and schedule the election. The union campaign must continue and intensify during this waiting period. If the union wins, the employer must recognize and bargain with the union. Winning a union election not only requires a strong, diverse Organizing Committee and a solid issues program, but there must also be a plan to fight the employer's anti-union campaign.
Negotiate a contract. Don't think that the organizing campaign lets up after the election victory. Afterall, the real goal is to get a union contract (the document the union and employer negotiate and sign, covering everything from wages to how disputes are settled). Workers must be mobilized to support the union's contract demands and pressure the employer to meet them.
Will we still be there after you win your first contract? ABSOLUTELY! We will continue to be there for you, ensuring that the contract is enforced, handling grievances, keeping you informed of programs and activities, and most importantly, giving you a voice at work!
Back to MainHome Page
MAKE YOUR VIEWS COUNTRecruit a
non-member today!
Join our campaign to build a stronger union because
Need A Union?Bust the Union BustersHow to Organize a UnionKnow Your RightsRecruit a Non-Member TodayCorporate Watch
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text:
The Summer 2014 application cycle is for programs beginning between May 1, 2014 and August 1, 2014 that are a minimum of four weeks in length.
Please be aware that the application deadline is in Central Time and take into consideration the applicable time difference as you prepare to submit your application.
January 14, 2014
Online application opens for Summer 2014 study abroad programs or internships.
March 4, 2014
Student Deadline for submission of online application, including transcript(s). Must submit application by 11:59pm Central Time.
March 11, 2014
Advisor Deadline for submission of online Study Abroad Advisor and Financial Aid Advisor section.
March/April 2014
Complete Applications are processed and distributed to selection panels for review.
Early May 2014
All Applicants are notified of the status of their application via email. Study Abroad and Financial Aid Advisors will be notified of scholarship recipients via email. A list of the recipients will be available on the Gilman website.
May 2014
Scholarship recipients must accept/decline their award and submit required documentation.
Phone: 832.369.3477
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 832.369.3484
Email: email@example.com
© 2014 Institute of International Education, Inc. All rights reserved.


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|Wildcats baseball team picks up two early victories
Wildcats senior Tyler Daugherty topped the radar game at 79 MPH at Whitaker Park, home of the Lexington Legends, as he picked up his first victory of the season in a 13-5 victory over Williamstown.
With the weather being cold and wet through most of March very few teams have had the opportunity to take the field for practices let alone games. But the Wildcats found a nice three-day window of good weather, cold but dry, to get in three games and went 2-1.
They started the season with a tough opening game versus Harrison County, a perennial regional favorite.
Harrison County's offense was kicking on all cylinders and they raced to a 10-0, five inning victory.
"With only one error, I liked what I saw from the team defensively," Wildcat varsity coach Aaron Biddle commented. "The game really showed us that we aren't going to beat anybody if we can't generate some offense."
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Multiculturalism Has Failed
Now the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has joined the chorus. The other day, he said, "My answer is clearly yes, it is a failure." The "it" was multiculturalism, and he was on French national television. In pronouncing multiculturalism defunct, the French president joins German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Australia's former prime minister John Howard, Spain's former premier Jose Maria Aznar and, most recently, British Prime Minister David Cameron in heaving a failed policy into history's dustbin. The question is, What will replace it? Or actually another question, How did multiculturalism ever become a policy of these European countries, anyway?
"If you come to France, you accept to melt into a single community, which is the national community, and if you do not want to accept that, you cannot be welcome in France," Sarkozy said. "Of course," he explained, "we must all respect differences, but we do not want ... a society where communities coexist side by side." Actually, they have not existed side by side in recent years. Certain cultures were deferred to by the Europeans, namely Islamic culture. Others were not. If your culture entertained cannibalism, you could not sit down to a nice leg of neighbor. Yet if your culture was Islamic and you wanted to arrange a marriage for your daughter, authorities looked the other way. If you were the village atheist, you could not say God is a monstrosity and Allah is an impossibility. That would be a "hate crime," and you would be in hot water. On the other hand, you could say "Allahu akbar," and no one was offended other than the village atheist.
Now the European leaders are giving this sort of tolerance of intolerance a second look. Prime Minister Cameron has called for a "more active, muscular liberalism," one that requires the active promotion of democratic values, the rule of law, freedom of speech and equal rights. In a recent speech in Munich, he argued that "under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream." The result is alienation and occasionally jihadism.
So how did the Europeans end up with multiculturalism, a multiculturalism that seems to favor Islamic culture over other cultures? The Germans have outlawed Nazi culture. The Italians are not particularly hospitable to fascism, and as I already have pointed out, the French are appalled at cannibalism and do not even have a good word for McDonald's or KFC. I think it started with the way they teach their history. Militarism, colonialism and racism are all prominent ingredients of European history books, particularly British history. For that matter, American history stresses these ingredients also. I have been reading American college history texts, and they present an alarmingly ugly view of the Western past.
By presenting the West as repugnant and the other civilizations as our prey, particularly during colonial days but also in modern times, we encourage such social pathologies as jihadism. President Sarkozy says he is not going to tolerate the kind of fundamentalism in France that leads ultimately to jihadism. How is he going to achieve this without calling for a fundamental reform in how French history is taught?
Then there is another matter. All the aforementioned statesmen are democrats and espouse democratic values, but there are fashions of thought in the West that do not like democratic values. For want of a better term, they are fashions of thought that follow political correctness. The politically correct do not like free speech. For that matter, the adherents to political correctness do not like many of the values of the West. What are Sarkozy and Cameron going to do about them? They are going to be even trickier to deal with than the practitioners of jihad.
R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. is the founder and editor-in-chief of The American Spectator and an adjunct scholar at the Hudson Institute. His new book is "After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery." To find out more about R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
- R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.'s blog
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No means Yes
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 7:09pm.
An Iowa boy lost his wrestling match by default, refusing to wrestle a girl.
Can't say I blame him.
Let's see what happens when a boy tries out for the girls' basketball team.
This fits into "multiculturalism" because it might be accepted in Amazonian society.
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Besides the fact that if he
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:42pm.
Besides the fact that if he had "good fetchin' up" as my husband says, and was taught not to hit girls, he might have been afraid if he touched her "inappropriately" he could get sued. I'm not kidding.
What the hell is the matter with the girl's parents that they would let her do this?!
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Salad vs. Melting Pot
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:46pm.
I was taking some college courses about 10 years ago when they told me the new terminology for immigrants. We no longer have a melting pot, we have a "salad". This way all the cultures are distinct and keep their own flavor. What load of horse crap.
Part of the problem in some parts of the world (parts of eastern Europe say) is that people refuse to form one national identity. They keep themselves so "distinct" that they have civil wars. Well, with muslims we won't have civil wars, it'll be genocide.
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text:
The media is still hellbent on terrifying you with their flu hysteria in order to inject you with toxified vaccines or worse; thus I will continue to expose that which has been hidden. (Matt. 10:26)
One surefire way to let people know what the media is all about would be to employ the prophesized number to save the gay media or quell the flu hysteria; i.e. Flu Buster (see attached image). Would you believe their falsehoods if they had that number on their foreheads?
gloucs | media and culture | news report Monday November 09, 2009 15:50 by His Witness - The Lord's meaderobe at gmail dot com
Fabricating an Epidemic
Fabricated medical sound bites! Vaccine hysteria! There is only one way to stop such asinine practices. You cannot contest the professed intelligence of these dumkopfs with the media and all the other Nazis backing them up.
Free Fool Shots!
GHW Bush revealed that the Anthrax that is being used to terrorize the populace with the current flu epidemic is being produced at hundreds of bogus government Anthrax production sites nationwide. This flu epidemic is a pathetic attempt to duplicate the Spanish Flu of 1918. 10/21 Free fool shots.
The Nazi "Swine" Emergency! Houston IMC 4/27
author: Bobby Meade
Apr 27, 2009 11:54
Bush Nazis are bringing out the "big guns"; i.e. Swine Flu, and they are passing out free face masks that are probably as worthless as the ballyhooed vaccine at stopping the anthrax spores that have produced every flu epidemic there ever was. Don't get fooled again!
Nazism in America - Curse of the Bush Nazis: "The curse of an evil deed is that it will always continue to engender evil." - Schiller. I bet you thought that Nazi was a religious term pertaining to the Nazarenes. Wrong! The Nazis are the Niggardly Asinine Zionist Idiots, arising from the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion and the Plans of the Synagogue of Satan. Most of them do not know that they are Nazis. Satan's servants appear as preachers of righteousness. (2 Cor. 11:14) Sweet people!. People like that did the Potato Famine, the Wisconsin Death Trip, the Spanish Flu, the Holocaust, and much more. If you had read the Plans of the Synagogue of Satan, you would understand that most of the Israelites in the Middle East are Turko-Mongol Jews. Keep in mind that they are also intent on dividing and conquering; thus you can't feel sorry for anyone when the SERPENT is on all sides. 4/15 Don't forget that these Turko-Mongols came from Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, and both those tribes actively promoted inbreeding. They worship stupidity. They are also probably the ones who are destroying IMCs everywhere in order to suppress this information. 10/3 The destruction of Indymedia sites happens because IMC is the only site where one can effectively oppose big business, Hitler's Health Care, government corruption, or the SERPENT that is Zionism.
If you don't believe that every word that I say is true, consult the Holy Spirit: People talk about the Holy Spirit speaking to people when It doesn't. The Bible says that It will speak what It hears, which means that the Spirit will let you know when something or someone is from God. Inspiration comes the same way. It grabs you when you happen upon something that you know is worth pursuing. "He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own, He will speak only what He hears (or sees), and He will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13) Read the clouds! His power is in the sky! (Ps. 68:34) If you ask the Spirit any worthy question and the answer is "yes", check the clouds, and you will see a "Y" or "Yes". 8/27 Keep in mind that the Devil is the sweetest Gad damn person that you are every going to meet! (2 Cor. 11:14; 1 John 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:7) I have laid my life on the line every day to do my best to ensure that every word I say is true? It is not worth checking any books for knowledge that I have obtained from them, for the Nazis usually destroy those books, and they would know what you were looking for before you did and target you for seeking such info. God's Spirit will confirm any knowledge that I have relayed to you. I am His witness. I am His messenger. (Rev. 11; Is. 42:19)
4/28 Even though there is no other substance that can duplicate the effects of exposure to anthrax spores, we have yet another round of anthrax attacks posing as a flu epidemic. This Swine Flu "epidemic" is most likely caused by "weapons grade anthrax" being broadcasted on selected populations to promote Swine Flu hysteria. Throughout my battle with insect infections of the past few months, GHW Bush and his Bush Nazi swine have been throwing a form of anthrax on me that produces immediate chills (fever) in an attempt to convince me that I am seriously sick from the bites and stings of these insects. This is why the disease experts are professing to have found a new type of flu, for the instantly debilitating effects of inhalation anthrax have been replaced by chills with this type of anthrax. In addition to throwing it at me at home and the libraries; they were also broadcasting it, most likely from their Eagle stealth helicoptors. I have looked up what is available on anthrax on the computer, and I am sure that my Antrax; An Ancient Scourge is still the best account by far of anthrax, even though they give the "stage" to Hitler's Health Care. As I have publicized, The Center for Disease Control revealed that the initial symptoms of inhaling Anthrax may resemble a common cold. It produces a rise in body temperature, depression, spasms, respiratory or cardiac distress, trembling, staggering, convulsions, and death. It is the toxicity of the spores that affects people. They usually do not multiply within the body. Vaccines are delusional pursuits. Once affected individuals seek treatment for exposure to this stuff, it is an easy matter to eliminate whoever they want with an additional microscopic dose of the same. One millionth of a gram; i.e. 10-20,000 spores is a fatal dose! In addition to the initially targetted population in Mexico, the Bush Nazis will probably also keep broadcasting this stuff on selected populations in the states, especially those who have been reading my reports on their stupidity. It is easy to promote the outbreaks because there has been a significant number of spores in the atmosphere for the duration of this scheme. The vaccine shortage scenario is apparently promoted by Bush Nazis, pretending to be in distress about not getting their vaccine. A good solution would probably be to inject these hypocrites with multiple doses of that vaccine and find out what the heck is in it and what it does. Don't forget that these Nazis also move on the meat industry by broadcasting anthrax in meat-producing localities because most coprophagists can no longer digest meat. 9/23 As I have revealed, "..the Karposi Sarcoma of the early AIDS epidemic was cutaneous Anthrax, and I witnessed similar sores on an Irish lad who was apparently infected by handling dead animals at Cornell Vet School, which was illegally producing the stuff." This was after I read @ 2000 of Cornell being considered as a potential site where Anthrax would be produced for the government then reading that site was rejected. After reading that North Carolina was being similarly considered as a site for Anthrax production, I realized and GHW Bush confirmed that this was a Bush Nazi scheme that happens everywhere and is usually not publicized in the name of national security. It's all a sham, and "Fedya Guvmint Thugs" probably show up and say that they want to prove to the government that this site can successfully produce Anthrax by producing a sample batch after it has been publicized that the site was rejected. I bet the current flu strain is the result of having isolated then successfully cultured a variant of Anthrax that is different from what is normally used to infect the populace. Such sites are where the Anthrax is coming from to terrorize the population with the current Swine Flu. I bet that there are hundreds of sites nationwide that are producing Anthrax that way, for all you need is dead animals to produce Anthrax. Note that the Bush Nazis also destroy IMC sites in such localities to prevent anyone from revealing what is happening. Most Canadian sites, Ithaca IMC, and just recently North Carolina IMC have been disabled. As for the dumkopfs who believe that viruses look like and have cell walls like bacteria does, "...viruses are submicroscopic infectious agents that are made up of genetic material not complete cells, so are not considered living organisms." 9/25 It seems like there may be more than one type of vaccine, and one type has something like Anthrax spores in it that produce a skin reaction. FYI: From Militant Bush Nazis in the Works 2007: "...A lot of these chemicalmongering Bush Nazis worship Moses because such stuff came via him. The first plague of Ex. 9:3 produced the dead animals that produced the spores (soot) Ex. 9:8 of the second plague, Ex. 9:9-10, the dead horses of World War I produced the lethal flu epidemic of 1918 that infected one-third of the world population. Anthrax is a Biblical Greek word from Exodus 9:9; Deut. 28:27. I've seen pictures of Anthrax spores, round with pointed bumps on them,..." Note that these scientific sh*theads claim that the flu of 1918, the Spanish Flu, was also H1N1. 10/7 After WWI the dead horses along with many dead soldiers (?!) were apparently left in the battlefields; thus they were innoculated with anthrax via the mouth, then the spores filled their bloated bodies via their stomachs. When the winds started blowing in March 1918, these bloated bodies were probably hacked open to release the spores and distribute them worldwide. This flu was very severe in war torn Europe, but there are few details on the severity of it there or the spread of it. In the US the weather appeared to be instrumental in the spread of it, for it started on the east coast. "It was called "three-day fever", "purple death", "purulent bronchitis", "sand fly fever", "Blitzkatarrh", or "Flanders fever", for the "virus" ravaged its victim's lungs. Sometimes within hours, patients succumbed to complete respiratory failure. Within hours these patients turned a bluish-black hue indicative of cyanosis, or lack of oxygen. Those with black feet were considered beyond help and were carted off to die." When I endured continuous anthrax onslaught for several months on Geneva St. in Ithaca, I remember losing my voice and having a cough that I will never forget. I am sure that the severity of the Spanish Flu was proportional to the number of spores inhaled; thus high concentrations of spores caused fluid-filled lungs and the resulting cyanosis very rapidly. 10/8 The high concentration of flu victims on the east coast of the US was apparently due to the returning soldiers being stationed there. They were probably detaining any soldier who had a fever and murdering them with more anthrax. 10/11 Encyclopedia Britannica claims that this flu came from Kansas! World Book says that there was 800,000 deaths in the US and 25 million worldwide. I believe that the returning soldiers were the main target, especially immigrant soldiers, and that their deaths were not listed by the military even if they were detained and died in VA hospitals because their discharges were immediately effective when they returned to the US. Having endured an anthrax-induced fever for more than a month, I know that there was no way out for any soldier who was being exposed to that stuff. 10/14 GHW Bush says that the current flu deaths are targeted people and/or their relatives. I believe that the tell-tale cyanosis does not develop in most cases because the victims are dispatched so quickly. 10/16 Since anthrax spores were proven to have lasted 1000s of years when they were found in the pyramids of Egypt, these soldiers and many other alleged victims of the flu should be exhumed to prove what killed them. (Ez. 37:12-13) 10/17 "Fedya Guvmint" mentions flu deaths but no location is given. That is probably so that they can conceal the source of the anthrax and the people throwing it while they promote their epidemic myth. Fort Devens, Boston was the site of many flu deaths in 1918. Worcester IMC removed what I wrote on this. I bet these sh*t-eating Bushes were visiting detained soldiers, saying; "Thrax this one! Thrax that one! Thrax the whole lot of them!" That was a naval base. I bet the Navy is full of sh*t-eating homosexual Devil worshippers for letting the Bushes get their foot in the door.
From Canadian My Space Biology Forum: "..The picture of the anthrax bacterium is composed of conglomerates (rods) of spores. Show me the individual spore. The influenza virus picture is not a virus. It is probably a bacteria that has been smudged so you cannot see details of it. A true virus would never assume such a shape. It definitely looks like cells. Explain how a virus can supposedly produce the instantly debilitating effects of the flu. There is no way that a virus could replicate that fast or affect the body in such a way. It is the toxins of the anthrax spores that produce such results when inhaled. No other substance can do that! ....What's the magnification of the electron microscope? Is it considered submicroscopic? I doubt it. How many nucleotides (i.e. "building blocks" of DNA) are contained in the actual true virus? Very few! And they cannot be photographed! You see those little round objects in the rods? Those are the spores...." 10/24 I've read reports that the flu of 1918 was characterized by rapidly appearing purple blotches on the skin. In light of this, I suspect that they were throwing some cyanide-containing compound in conjuntion with the anthrax to make that happen in order to justify quarantining the soldiers. The death toll of returning WW I soldiers at Fort Devens has apparently been concealed, for they were probably sent someplace else to die, most likely Connecticut. In reply to the professed intellectual in the Biology Forums I also told him that I've estimated that there was @ 45 million atoms in the chromosomes that were photographed by plant scientists and became the foundation of genetics. I then asked how many atoms were in the average true virus. I am sure that it is just a fraction of the number in a chromosome. These pictures of the alleged H1N1 virus are most likely bacteria spores composed of billions of atoms. 11/5 Keep in mind that the symptoms that arise from exposure to anthrax spores can vary quite a bit depending on how many spores you have inhaled and how often you inhaled them.
11/6 I was investigating the death rate from the 1918 flu epidemic and found a lot of info in the Hog River Journal; Hartford, CT. Connecticut and Pennsylvania suffered the most losses, especially among immigrant populations such as the Italians, Russians, and southern Europeans. It claims that 500,000 died in the US and 100,000,000 died worldwide. My grandfather probably died from this flu, which he was apparently stricken with while celebrating the end of WWI. He died a month later. I bet there was a stream of kind caring Nazis visiting him and throwing anthrax on him until he finally succumbed. As the flu of 1918 continued in 1919, I noticed that there was a rise in deaths attributed to pneumonia, for they were apparently trying to conceal that there was still a flu epidemic. The most memorable sign of the flu to many people was a "white cloth over nose and mouth". I bet that this worked much better than the masks that they pass out today, for the cloth mask becomes moist and that traps anthrax spores. Those spores easily pass through the masks that they pass out today. Todays epidemic is being created by the media more or less with fabricated "sound bites" of scientific Nazis pretending to battle the flu in hospitals and laboratories that could be anywhere. They probably want to conceal the locations of any deaths so that no one can prove that anthrax is behind this sham. They have also fabricated a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, claiming that people are clamoring for it; thus there are many different companies producing this vaccine with some being more toxic than others. The more toxic shots are probably reserved for targeted people. It seems like symptoms of the cutaneous form of anthrax within the blood may develop if the H1N1 vaccine includes anthrax spores or fragments of them. Such anthrax symptoms include internal hemorrhage, muscle pain, headache, fever, and vomiting. It all appears to be a scheme to inject the population with vaccines containing anthrax in order to disable people via the side effects of medications used to treat the symptoms arising from the toxified vaccines. There is no way that you can talk to them at all about their fabrications regarding their toxified vaccines or their alleged pictures of the virus. Bah! Circular viruses! Since when does a piece of genetic material have the ability to form cell walls or assume a circular shape like that? 11/10 Keep in mind that the anthrax spores that look like a ball with pointed bumps on them are anthrax in its dessicated shape; i.e. the shape of the the airborne spores of inhalation anthrax. Once the spores absorb moisture, those bumps are no longer that visible. Also these spores are easily viewed under a microscope. 11/18 Since God has challenged the kind caring Nazis of Samaria; i.e. the medical profession to "...Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear" (Is. 41:23); they are now using the media to terrorize you with their cancerous fabrications; i.e. every cancer that you can imagine.
See http://bobbymeade.blogstream.com ; http://www.freewebs.com/bobbymeade ; http://www.destinationbangormaine.blogspot.com or http://www.myspace.com/concernedcanadian . Also see twitter.com/BroBubbaBob
10/22 Banned from My Space Forums again! Comment on Fibromyalgia is Real, and Painful! General Health Forum: "Fibromylagia is probably brought on by calcification of the muscles and the joints by petroleum. I have had petroleum poisoning twice, and it is the most painful affliction there is. The only remedy that I believe works is lemon juice from fresh squeezed lemons, not concentrate, along with copious quantities of pure water like water you find in Poland Spring clear containers. That is the only way to get those toxins out of the body. Airplanes dump billions of gallons of aviation fuel into the atmosphere every year. When it evaporates into the air, it doesn't break down. It is the leading cause of asthma, which leads to death via calcification of the lungs. Acne is also a fatal disease brought on by exposure to gas in the air. Medical treatment for these aliments usually involves more petroleum products. Calcification is an irrreversal process that just keeps progressing and calcifying the related organs until organ failure results in death."
In my neck of the woods they are contaminating billions of gallons of water with petroleum in order to extract enough natural gas to run a space heater to keep you warm while you die of petroleum poisoning. I vote that we give them all nicotine gum soaked in bile duct toxins so that their stupidity will live forever. (Ps. 78:22) 11/18 Since the groundwater flows east to the ocean in this part of the country, all hell will probably break loose when the contaminated groundwater from drilled sites in Pennsylvania reaches New Jersey; i.e. if anyone in New Jersey drinks groundwater.
Hasta luego, adios ye scurvy dogs with your petrol-calcified bodies! Don't forget that organ failure is a sign that your demise is at hand. My distinguished adviser, Len says that the brain is the first to go! Not to worry, you haven't used yours in years! You could always get a free fool shot. I hear that it's painless. They administer it right between the eyes. Or you could take it by mouth. Whatever the case, keep your powder dry!


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Mona Hatoum - Impenetrable (2009)
Toilet Bowl Waterfall in Foshan, ChinaFoshan, a city in central Guangdong province in China, has one of the strangest public art - a fountain built out of 10,000 recycled toilets, sinks and urinals covering a wall 100 meters long and almost 5 meters high. The fountain/waterfall was originally designed for the 2009 Foshan Pottery and Porcelain Festival, a porcelain product tradeshow, before being installed as a permanent piece of public art. It is just one of the many impressive ceramic sculptures residing in Shiwan Park.
The "art piece" was created by Chinese artist Shu Yong, who along with his team, spent 2 months installing the toilets. The toilets are a mixture of unwanted factory seconds and ones donated by foreigners and locals. All the toilets and urinals are actually connected to a tap so that they could be flushed. The installation is flooded periodically, creating a cascading waterfall to the amusement of the onlookers.
My grandpa always said asking a question is embarrassing for a moment, but not asking is embarrassing for a lifetime.
Haruki Murakami, Kafka On The Shore (via rlyrlyugly)
(Source: paveo)
My band TARZANDRAGON had our demo out on bandcamp! give it a listen and a free download :)
(Source: whoisthecunt)


text:
There are plenty of statistics within the baseball world that attempt to explain a player's performance. Traditional numbers such as batting average, earned run average, and fielding percentage have given way to more complex metrics like wins above replacement (WAR), win probability added (WPA), and ultimate zone rating (uZR). While most fans are able to find the information they need based on their desired depth of research, Angel fans have special needs not covered even by the newer, complicated metrics (by "special needs" I don't mean the rigatoni/breadstick ratio of the post game spread, but on-field performance metrics). Below are some stats that may be useful in describing or explaining Angel player performance.
A player's Guerrero Spot, or G-Spot rating is defined by the area of a player's pre-existing strike zone multiplied by 2.75. The G-Spot multiplication factor can increase when there are runners in scoring position and 2 strikes on the batter (not to exceed 10^5).
Usage Example: "Eddings called Morales out on the pitch to the screen because it was within the G-Post." Or, "Although that pitched bounced in front of the plate, It was in Figgin's G-Spot and he should have swung."
Aybar Sliding Scale
The Aybar Sliding Scale (ASS) is computed by adding a player's on base percentage to the team's winning percentage divided by the number of errors by the player plus team losses (BA + tWP)/(E + tL). A player's ASS rating will replace the perceived valuation of a player based on his impact on team performance. When evaluating a player's ASS, the smaller the better. Any ASS rating that exceeds 5.0 is also known as a "Failbar" or "E-bar"
Usage Example: "Napoli went oh-for-four, but he still has a nice ASS." Or, "Did you see that shitty play by Matthews? His ASS is going to get pounded!"
Mathis Effect
A Mathis Effect (ME) is directly proportional to a catcher's batting average/pitcher's ERA and the number of ME deficient players in the batting order.
Usage Example: "Weaver only allowed 1 earned run, but lost because of the ME." Or, "Although the Angels allowed 12 runs, they still won because their ME was .000."
Dula Quotient
A player's DQ is the most subjective metric since it is based on the the official scorer's (or game thread participant's) judgment. Plays resulting in the robbing of home runs, getting clutch hits, or performing outstanding defensive plays will have a higher DQ than routine plays. A negative DQ can be expressed in QQ, or Quinlan Quotient.
Usage Example: "That diving play by Izturis saved a run. I give it a DQ of 7." Or, "I'm going to DQ. Who wants an Oreo Blizzard?"
Voodoo Probability
Used to predict a starting pitcher's outcome based the quality of pitches (Range of 1 to 5, 1 = Bad-Ervin and 5 = Good-Ervin). There are no known calculations for determining the result, but can be based on the quantity, velocity, and location of a pitcher's slider.
Usage Example: "No wonder Trevor Bell lost, he had a Voodoo Probability of 1.76."
A new addition to the "stat book"...
Luminous Attempt In Defense
The Luminous Attempt In Defense (LAID) metric, measures a players ability to finish off the play or "put the play to bed". A player may get a high LAID score by laying out for the ball, making a diving play up the middle, precision ball placement, or making numerous position changes during one contest.
Usage Example: "When Napoli went down on his knees to make that play, you just know he's getting more LAID!"
(Thanks so much to Ladybug for the LAID suggestion. You are SO getting LAID!)


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Over at Mocking the Draft, a 7 round mock draft took place. The GMs of each team was represented by an avid fan of their respective team. Trades were allowed and took place and we even were able to pick up 3 UDFAs. I know that this is essentially a fantasy draft for each team and may be unrealistic in someways, but since many people here at AP have been keeping up with it, I thought I would give you a summary of what I did for the Chiefs. A link to the whole draft is here (a lot of comments on this post so you might not be able to load, sorry).
Chiefs trade their first round pick (#5 overall) for the Vikings first (#30), second and third round picks. - I didn't make this trade but I probably still would have if I was a part of the draft from the beginning. Chiefs do lose some value with this trade but in the real draft, the Vikings probably would have gave some compensation from the 2011 draft; unfortunately, we could not do that in this draft do to the limitations of the draft.
Chiefs trade their two second round picks (Falcons and Vikings) and their fourth round pick for the Falcons first round pick (#23) and third round pick. - Again, I didn't make this trade, but I was encouraging it. Possibly unrealistic in that we probably would have had to give up our two higher second round picks, but the Falcons guy agreed to it and it went down.
1 (#23 from Falcons) - NT Dan Williams (6'3", 326 lbs), Tennessee - Looking like the best NT in the draft after this week in the Senior Bowl, Williams is a stout 330 pounder who gets good push and demands double teams. Although this may seem like a bit of a reach for some, he was guaranteed to go to the Dolphins with their next pick, and the Chiefs were able to come away with their future NT.
1 (30 from Vikings) - OG Mike Iupati (6'5", 330 lbs), Idaho - This pick may be the steal of the draft. Iupati had a great week of practice and played decently in the Senior Bowl game. Iupati is an athletic lineman who can take over the RG position and adapt to the NFL until Brian Waters retires. Iupati can then move into his more natural LG position in a year or two and become one of the best in the business. Iupati is a great at both run and pass blocking and is the best guard in the draft. Very similar to the Logan Mankins pick by the NE Patriots.
2 (36) - OLB Eric Norwood (6'0", 252 lbs), South Carolina - The biggest reach in the draft for the Chiefs, and the first pick that I made. I like Norwood a lot but he probably would have dropped. After watching the Senior Bowl and in hindsight, I should have picked Brandon Graham with this pick. However, Norwood is a good pass rusher and can learn under Hali and Vrabel and eventually take Vrabel's spot.
3 (68) - FS Nate Allen (6'2", 207 lbs), South Florida - I was glad to see Allen drop this far, as I almost considered taking him with my second rounder. He come in and provides instant competition to the safety position and becomes the center-fielder that the Chiefs have not had in a while.
3 (81 from Falcons) - C J.D. Walton (6'3", 305 lbs), Baylor - A powerful run-blocking OL leader, Walton will fit great into our zone-blocking scheme and hopefully oust Niswanger of his job.
3 (93 from Vikings) - WR Jeremy Williams (6'1", 205 lbs), Tulane - Williams is an underrated WR but was definitely the best left on the board. He runs good routes and has good hands. Reminds me a lot of Chris Chambers. Will be groomed under Chambers and take his number two spot eventually.
5 (132) - ILB Sean Lee (6'2", 234 lbs), Penn State - Lee has had some unfortunate injury problems but in the 5th round, he was a risk worth taking. Coming from Linebacker U, Lee will be able to jump into the middle of our defense and make a lot of plays.
5 (138) - RB Charles Scott (5'11", 233 lbs), LSU - Some people don't like this pick, but he was the best RB on the board. I wanted Montario Hardesty but he was gone. Scott becomes the short-yardage back the Chiefs need to complement Charles and relieves JC of some carries.
5 (140) - TE Colin Peek (6'6", 255 lbs), Alabama - A good blocking TE, Peek also shows good hands and can sneak out and make some plays. I hard worker and a tough guy, Peek fits Haley's mantra perfectly.
1. TE Nate Byham (6'3", 255 lbs), Pitt - Another blocking TE to provide more competition.
2. WR David Gettis (6'4", 215 lbs), Baylor - A vertical threat with good measurables. With a little time learning how to run routes, could develop into a nice receiver.
3. FS Jordan Lake (6'2", 205 lbs), Baylor - I know, I know, I know. This makes three Baylor players in this draft, and I didn't mean it to end up this way. Lake looks to be a Jon McGraw-like special teams ace and can contribute at the safety position in times of need. Very productive in college and packs a punch.
Feel free to critique my draft. I felt like I filled most needs. With a team like our's needing so many players with a lot of talent, even with all these picks, you cannot fill every whole. A need for SS, CB (nickel), WR (speed/slot), and OT (right/left) still exist, but I took players who had the most talent at that time in the draft and filled a hole.
Another seven round fan draft will take place over at MTD after the combine. I have handed the torch over to The.Face.of.the.Franchise to be picking for the Chiefs as I know many people want to have a chance at it. Feel free to go check it out often as it is a lot of fun. Many thanks to JP23 and TheAngelColts who put it together as well as Darwithabar who started off the Chiefs draft until I took over. Also thanks to Mocking Dan and Mocking the Draft for hosting as well as Google Images for the pictures.
Rip it to shreds.


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Junkyard Blawg
Tag: Ramik Wilson
Junkyard Mail: Bulldogs fans' 2014 football expectations mostly optimistic
- 12:09 pm Saturday, June 14th, 2014 by Bill King
This week saw 11 members of Mark Richt's 2014 Georgia football team named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Team: Tailback Todd Gurley, inside linebacker Ramik Wilson and placekicker Marshall Morgan were named to the first team, while flanker Malcolm Mitchell, center David Andrews and outside linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins were second-team picks. Tackle John Theus and cornerback Damian Swann were picked for the third team, and defensive end Ray Drew and inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera were named to the fourth team. Gurley, Wilson and Floyd also were named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-America Team this week.
Meanwhile, [More]
Just how high should 'high expectations' for Mark Richt's Dawgs go in 2014?
- 11:15 pm Wednesday, May 21st, 2014 by Bill King
What sort of football season should Georgia Bulldogs fans expect in 2014?
Speaking at his UGA Day appearance in Augusta earlier this week, The Augusta Chronicle reported, head coach Mark Richt said he hoped fans have "high expectations."
"We all have high expectations for our team for our season," Richt said. "The fact we have Hutson Mason as our starting quarterback [replacing the departed Aaron Murray] doesn't make me feel like it can hold us back in any way. I think he's ready for the challenge. I feel a lot better about him as a starter now that he's done it [More]


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Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:27 pm
Latest Player Updatesclose
John Gilmore
Sun Sep 4, 2011 5:57 pm Saints agreed to terms with TE John Gilmore.
Fantasy Source Spin: The nine-year veteran was cut by the Steelers Saturday. He'll see time in two-tight end sets as a blocking specialist in New Orleans. Gilmore has never caught more than 15 passes in a season.
Source: ESPN.com
Sat Sep 3, 2011 5:08 pm Steelers released TE John Gilmore.
Fantasy Source Spin: The 32-year-old former Buccaneerw and Bears tight end was signed to serve as a blocking specialist, but the Steelers liked what they saw from undrafted rookie Weslye Saunders as the backup to Heath Miller.
Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:48 pm Steelers TE John Gilmore is not assured of a roster spot.
Fantasy Source Spin: Gilmore was signed earlier this month to serve as a blocking specialist behind Heath Miller, but is apparently battling both undrafted rookie Weslye Saunders and second-year pro Jamie McCoy for a roster spot. A load at 6-foot-6, 273 pounds, Saunders is a better bet than McCoy to beat out Gilmore.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tue Aug 2, 2011 9:29 am Steelers signed TE John Gilmore, formerly of the Bucs.
Fantasy Source Spin: The Steelers needed a backup for Heath Miller after losing free agent Matt Spaeth to the Bears last week. Gilmore will fill a blocking-only role.
Source: Gerry Dulac on Twitter
Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:28 am TE John Gilmore, formerly of the Bears, agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Bucs.
Fantasy Source Spin: Surprising the Bucs made Gilmore such a priority, but he's a solid blocker who will add to their tight end rotation. For now, he's a backup to Alex Smith.


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Beauty & Use, Collection Two
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Beauty & Use, Collection One
Starbucks 40th Anniversary Campaign
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From His Closet, 3191 Quarterly Issue No. 7
Primoeza No. 2, 2011
Autumn woods
Photographer: Ryan Thomas Shimala
New Year
Come Darkness, 2010 & 2011
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As promised, another snippet from the current campaign.
"Murder is the Only Option"
Spoiler"So we are trying to find the Sunsword but we do not know where it is?" Ed asked, puzzled.
"If we can gain audience with Madame Eva, I'm certain she can tell us its location," Clarice answered for the third time.
"Once the girl is armed with the Sunsword we will set out for Castle Ravenloft and destroy the vampire lord within," Fluffy cackled.
"Wait, we're giving the sword to cutie here?" Shane asked in surprise.
"Ooh, is it because she is the best warrior in the party?" Ed asked excitedly.
"Of course not!" Fluffy snapped irritably. "She's the only one with Martial Weapon Proficiency."
Clarice sighed. These outlanders behaved so strangely. She was beginning to worry how well the meeting with the Vistani would go. The bronze-skinned woman balled her fists, vowing to do whatever it took to enlist the aid of the gypsies. This latest atrocity wrought on Barovia Village was too much for her to stand. She had to bring light to the shadowy Strahd Von Zarovich and make him pay for his crimes.
The Vistani caravan was camped near the edge of Tser Lake, a place that Clarice remembered as being a beautiful and charming place. However, the blackened skies and the relentless icy rain caused the lake to appear dark and sullen.
Though she had never met any Vistani before, they were exactly what Clarice had always imagined them to be: vibrant, colorful people so full of life and emotion. They were a stark contrast to the downtrodden villagers of Barovia.
"Remember, be on your best behavior," Clarice said to the outlanders. "We don't want to offend them."
"Vistani!" Fluffy cried out as he sprang atop one of the caravan wagons. "Take me to your leader!"
"Where's this Eva woman, eh?" Shane asked gruffly as he grabbed a nearby Vistani girl by the shoulders and tried to intimidate her.
Clarice hid her face with her hands in shame. This was off to a great start.
"Thank you for seeing us, Madame Eva," Clarice said as the group sat down at a table with her. "I'm very sorry for my companions."
"We would have been fine if Ed would have put ranks in Diplomacy and Bluff," Fluffy grumbled irritably.
"I do not have many skill points for things like that," Ed said apologetically. "I dump-ed-ed my Intelligence."
"I can tell," Madame Eva said flatly. "You may each ask one question, and I will answer to the best of my abilities. Be warned, the spirits are not always direct in their dealings with us. The answers you receive may be vague or seem strange for now."
"Ooh, can I ask about the average yearly gross income of Barovian chicken farmers compared to their net income of the same time frame?" Ed asked excitedly.
"Yes, you may."
"So what is it?"
"I'm sorry, you've already used your question."
Shane smacked Ed in the back of the head. While the priest discussed with Fluffy what their questions would be, Clarice silently prayed that one of them would ask about the location of the Sunsword. She knew it was selfish of her, but she wanted to ask about her past. With bronze skin and almost-white hair Clarice knew that she was not a native of Barovia, though she could not remember anything before being taken into the care of the Kolyan family in Barovia Village. She hoped that Eva would be able to at least give her a clue as to where she came from. Her train of thought was interrupted when Fluffy spoke to Eva.
"Do you have any magic items small enough for me to use?" the cat asked.
"Yes," Eva replied. "You boys certainly are fond of simple questions."
"You can't give us your mystic gypsy crap if we ask yes or no questions."
"Does Strahd have the normal weaknesses of a vampire?" Shane asked.
"No," Eva answered, looking slightly bored.
The three adventurers all turned their gaze to Clarice, and her heart sank. It seemed she would never learn more about herself. With a heavy sigh, she looked down at the table.
"What is the location of the Sunblade?" she asked quietly, her face hidden by her bangs.
A swirling yellow aura surrounded Madame Eva as she began to chant eldritch incantations, the light from the candles on the table growing strangely dim.
"I hate diviners," Fluffy grumbled.
A sudden scream from across the camp got Clarice's attention away from the card game a few of the Vistani women had been trying to teach her. She snatched up her sword and raced to the source of the disturbance, only to find the three outlanders standing over the body of one of the Vistani men as hundreds of mangy tabby cats began to devour him.
"You killed him??" Clarice gasped, appalled.
"He was charging double book price for his stuff," Fluffy replied nonchalantly.
"Yep, he was a swindler," Shane said with a nod of agreement.
"He was a bad man," Ed agreed.
"So you killed him?" Clarice asked, taking a horrified step back from the grisly scene.
"Murder is the only option," Fluffy said darkly. "He tried to cheat us, so I sent him to his ... kitty doom."
It was then that Clarice realized that a rather large group of angry and well-armed Vistani had them surrounded. She looked down at the body, up at the three adventurers, then back to the angry mob.
"I only met them yesterday! I don't know them! I'm sorry!" Clarice cried out.
"Like I said," Fluffy muttered. "Murder is the only option."


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Calum Ninnes
Research Assistant
Calum has been working on the faunal component of urban restoration. Working with John Innes and Joseph Waas, Calum has worked on organising and undertaking a translocation of NZ bellbirds into Hamilton City; one of the first cases of active restoration of endemic avifauna into an urban environment. The progressive translocation incorporated various experimental research elements, and was undertaken in collaboration with groups also doing bellbird translocations of NZ bellbirds in the Auckland region. Calum has also been working with Joseph Waas, Laura Molles, and 2 PhD students on a Marsden funded project researching song dialects in kokako. This kokako work has involved assisting students planning and executing extensive field trips to various locations to collect song recordings, and some assistance in analysis of the recordings.
E-mail: email@example.com


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What is the reproductive advantage to producing large drones? And do queen right colonies produce better drones?
The reproductive success of drone honey bees seems to vary among drones depending on their body size. Honey bee colonies furnish their brood nests with two types of comb distinguished by cell size; large cells for rearing males (drone comb, 6.2-6.4 mm diameter, about four cells per linear inch) and smaller cells for rearing workers (worker comb, 5.2-5.8 mm diameter, about five cells per linear inch). Most drones are reared in the larger drone-size cells. Small drones are usually produced when the queen runs out of sperm and lays unfertilized eggs in worker cells or when laying workers in a queenless colony lay unfertilized eggs. The comb cell size determines the body size and weight of emerging drones. Drones emerging from worker cells are smaller in weight and size than those emerging from drone cells (Berg 1991, Berg et al. 1997, Schlüns et al. 2003). Because honey bees invest energy into building special comb with larger cells in which to rear drones and they preferentially rear and foster large drones, large drones must have a reproductive advantage.
Drones emerging from worker cells weighed significantly less than those emerging from drone-size cells, 151.8 mg and 260.8 mg, respectively (Berg 1991). The length of their wings was also significantly different 11.21 mm vs. 12.09 mm. Schlüns et al. (2003) found a mean wing length (distance between the two branching points in the wing venation pattern which reflects about 50 percent of the wing length) for large drones to be 6.03 mm and 5.27 mm for small drones. The wings of small drones that emerged from worker cells were about 13 percent smaller compared to the wings of large drones which emerged from drone cells. This is substantially more than observed by Berg et al. (1997) who reported a seven percent difference for wing length of small and large drones.
Drones reared in queenright (a colony having a healthy, egg-laying queen; opposite of queenless) colonies in drone combs and in laying worker colonies both in worker combs and in drone combs were compared with respect to their live weights at different ages, reproductive capacities, and differences in various body structures (Gencer and Firatli 2005). Depending on the comb and colony type, the weights of newly emerged drones varied. At emergence, the drones from drone comb in queenright colonies were 17 percent heavier than drones from drone comb in laying worker colonies. Drones from worker comb in laying worker colonies were 36.6 and 23.7 percent lighter than drones from drone comb in queenright and laying worker colonies, respectively. The differences between the two groups of drones produced in the colonies with laying workers may result from dietary differences. Drones sampled from drone comb in queenright colonies, drone comb in laying worker colonies, and worker comb in laying worker colonies lost 18.8, 16.1 and 13.3 percent of their initial weights during maturation from emergence to 18 days of age, respectively. Body weights (reflecting investment of workers into the male) of small drones reared in worker cells are 41.9 to 52.3 percent lower compared to the weights of large drones reared in drone cells.
Comparison of different sized drones indicated that large drones have larger mucous glands and seminal vesicles and produce more spermatozoa than small drones (Gencer and Firatli 2005). The average number of spermatozoa in drones from drone comb in queenright colonies (12.01 x 106) was significantly greater than that of drones from drone comb in laying worker colonies (10.17 x 106) and from worker comb in laying worker colonies (8.62 x 106). The other reproductive and body structures, such as weight of mucus glands and seminal vesicles and extent of hamuli (wing hooks), lengths of hind leg parts, total length of hind leg and head width, all had significantly higher values in drones from drone comb in queenright colonies, and the lowest values were from drones produced in worker comb in laying worker colonies.
Africanized honey bees and their comb cell sizes are normally slightly smaller in size than the European honey bee. Rinderer et al. (1985) reported that Africanized drones weighed significantly less (194.6 mg vs. 220.2 mg) and had significantly fewer spermatozoa than European drones (4.6 million vs. 5.7 million/seminal vesicle), although their seminal vesicles and mucous glands were not significantly different in weight. The reduced weight of Africanized drones possibly results from the smaller cell size and less feeding of drone larvae by Africanized nurse bees in comparison to European nurse bees.
The effect of drone honey bee's body size on semen production was further evaluated (Schlüns et al. 2003). In the same colonies, drones were either reared in drone cells (large drones) or in worker cells (small drones). Wing lengths (size indicator) and sperm numbers of small and large drones were compared. Small drones (~13 percent reduced wing size) produce significantly fewer spermatozoa (7.5 ± 0.5 million) than normally sized drones (11.9 ± 1.0 million spermatozoa). The sperm numbers ranged from 1.09 x 106 to 30.31 x 106 spermatozoa and the overall mean was 9.19 x 106 spermatozoa per drone. There was a significant positive correlation between sperm number and wing size within the small drones and in both groups combined. In the large group alone no correlation was found. Small drones produce 20 percent more spermatozoa in relation to their body weight. The rearing investment per spermatozoan is lower for small than for normally sized drones because small drones produce more spermatozoa in relation to their body weight. Since colonies usually produce large drones, the enhanced investment must be outweighed by a mating advantage of large drones. Traits other than sperm numbers have to out weigh the costly investment in large drones. The lower flight performance of small drones in drone congregation areas or a potential difference in semen quality could contribute to the preference to rear large rather than small drones.
Sampling of drones in a drone congregation area in Germany with a drone trap and excluder grids to discriminate between large and small drones, over a three-week period, found an average of 9.14 percent (min = 7.2 percent, max = 13.2 percent) of the captured drones had developed in worker-size cells. Thus small drones appear frequently enough under natural conditions to play a substantial role in sexual competition among small and large drones (Berg 1991).
Berg et al. (1997) trapped drones within drone congregation areas (DCA) and were able to show that small drones originating from worker cells in comparison to large drones reared in drone cells had a reproductive disadvantage in drone congregation areas. Trapped drones from the drone congregation area were compared to drones emerging in an incubator. There was no significant difference in wing length between small drones from the DCA and small drones emerged from worker cells and large drones from the DCA and those emerged from drone cells. The difference in wing length between small and large drones was highly significant.
Several fitness components of regular and small-sized drones were studied (Jarolimek and Otis 2001). Flight characteristics and longevity of large and small drones were quantified. None of the attributes of drone flights: average flight duration, total flight duration, number of flights per drone per day, and maximum duration were affected by drone size on two days with good flight conditions (e.g., sunny, > 20°C). On a cooler day (~ 18° C), a higher proportion of large drones (61 percent) than small drones (7 percent) took mating flights, but because few if any queens take mating flights at these temperatures, this cannot explain the higher reproductive success of large drones. In one colony the large drones had higher longevity; in the other colony there was no difference, so those results were ambiguous. There was a highly significant positive correlation between number of sperm and drone size.
While beekeepers are unable to choose the actual drones that a queen mates with while she is on her mating flight(s), they can select the drones that will be used during instrumental insemination. The size of several body structures have been shown to have positive correlations with the drone's body size and weight and indirectly number of spermatozoa. These characteristics e.g. wing length, could be used in selecting which drones would be used to supply semen for instrumental insemination.
It appears that body size and weight does not fully explain why large drones have a reproductive advantage over smaller drones during mating competition. Differential sperm numbers may primarily account for the greater reproductive success of large drones. Flight ability (Moritz 1981) has also been shown to vary between drones. Both traits clearly would affect individual reproductive success. Furthermore, honey bee drones may indirectly compete post copulation (semen quantity and quality) since honey bee queens mate with numerous drones. After mating, the semen of many drones is mixed and stored in the queen's spermatheca, with a large proportion of the semen being expelled from her body.
When rearing queens and saturating a mating area with desirable drones, it would be advantageous to have big populations of large-sized, sexually mature drones available. In order to achieve this, drones should be reared in colonies with large quantities of drone comb, large nurse bee populations, and abundant supplies of pollen and nectar.
A similar approach in areas that have Africanized honey bees, saturating a mating area with slightly larger European drones, might reduce the probability of queens mating with Africanized drones and aid in slowing the Africanization process.
Clarence Collison is a Professor of Entomology and Head of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS.
Berg, S. 1991. Investigation on the rates of large and small drones at a drone congregation area. Apidologie 22: 437-438.
Berg, S., N. Koeniger, G. Koeniger, and S. Fuchs 1997. Body size and reproductive success of drones (Apis mellifera L.) Apidologie 28: 449-460.
Gencer, H. and C. Firatli 2005. Reproductive and morphological comparisons of drones reared in queenright and laying worker colonies. J. Apic. Res. 44: 163-167.
Jarolimek, J.P. and G.W. Otis 2001. A comparison of fitness components in large and small honey bee drones. Am. Bee J. 141(12): 891-892.
Moritz, R.F.A. 1981. Der Einfluss der Inzucht auf die Fitness der Drohnen von Apis mellifera carnica. Apidologie 12: 41-55.
Rinderer, T.E., A.M. Collins and D. Pesante 1985. A comparison of Africanized and European drones: weights, mucus gland and seminal vesicle weights, and counts of spermatozoa. Apidologie 16: 407-412.
Schlüns, H., E.A. Schlüns, J. Van Praagh and R.F.A. Moritz 2003. Sperm numbers in drone honeybees (Apis mellifera) depend on body size. Apidologie 34: 577-584.
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It's an Elkhart County landmark, and it's headed for the auction block. The American Countryside Farmer's Market and 300 acres of surrounding land will be auctioned off Wednesday night.
The owners claim the Farmers Market building is America's largest wood peg structure. It's 51,000 square feet of old fashioned Amish craftsmanship, and it's about to go to the highest bidder.
"We've had people here from China," said Roger Diehm, a sales manager for Schrader Auction Company, which is handling the auction. "We've had people call us from Washington, New York, Georgia."
They'll all be bidding on 15 parcels of land, though bidders will have the option to bid on parcel combinations or even the whole thing. But the big red building is the big prize.
"It's probably going to be used for something unique," said Diehm. "That's the neat part about it. There's so many things you can do with it."
Elkhart County leaders are just hoping the buyers do something with it that will help the local economy.
"Ideally, it would be some kind of a venture that would create good paying jobs for the area, would bring cash into the area as opposed to sending cash out," said Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce president Phil Penn.
Rumors are swirling about who's interested. The president of Bremen's Rader Equipment told Fox 28 they might bid on the building to use as a dealership. Then there's the one about the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians turning the building into a casino. The band already owns New Buffalo's Four Winds Casino, but a spokesperson tells Fox 28 they are "not interested in buying the building for sale at Wednesday's auction."
Whatever happens Wednesday night, it promises to be quite the scene.
"I've heard a lot of ideas that I would have never thought of for the building," said Diehm. "And that's what's exciting about tomorrow night, just to see who shows up and who comes to the table."
The market opened in May 2007 but closed last September after a lackluster three years. The ownership group has more than 20 investors, and in January 2010 they announced plans to build a vacation complex with a water park on the property. But those plans fell through.
The building and the land aren't the only things up for auction. On Thursday, they'll auction off all the personal property inside the building. Restaurant owners might be interested in the tables, chairs, cooking equipment and other things they have inside.
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Switchboard: 574.679.9758News Phone: 574.679.4545Station Fax: 574.294.1267Email: email@example.com