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We are excited to share the news that a current long term volunteer has designed and donated a brand new spacious cart just for Hocky! Hocky's new cart, or "gerobak" as they call it in Indonesian, is specifically designed to accommodate her limitations. Cushions line the inside of the cart to provide extra support and comfort during her ride. The walls of the cart are high enough to keep her safely inside, but low enough that she can hold on for stability. Furthermore, with two tires this new cart is much easier to navigate over roots and branches than the wheelbarrow.
Hokey loves going on rides in her new cart. Since it is unlikely that Hocky can be permanently returned to the wild on her own, it is one of our new priorities to make Hocky's life at the OCCQ as comfortable as possible. Thank you, Volunteer Allison Leach for Hocky's new cart! It is gestures like yours that indicate how thoughtful actions can generate big dividends in ex-captive orangutan lives.]]>
When caregivers at OFI's Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine are having difficulty handling an orangutan, they often do the same thing: turn to one person for help. That person is Ibu Tuti.
Small of stature and unassuming, Ibu Tuti seems like an unusual choice as an orangutan handler for the more challenging cases. But when you observe her interact with the many orphaned orangutans who live at the Care Center, it is no surprise that her aid is so often requested. Simply put, she has a "way" with orangutans. Whether it is an ape that does not want to come down from the trees, or one who refuses to eat, Ibu Tuti seems to know just the thing to say and just the thing to do. She has a warm and gentle presence, felt by both ape and human alike. Years of dedicated work have given her a deep and nuanced understanding of these complex creatures. Ibu Tuti has filled many roles during her tenure at OFI but she currently acts as one of OFI's longest serving caregivers.
As a young girl Ibu Tuti lived in a small Dayak village that was only accessible by river. She grew up with many animals that also lived in her village and dreamed of one-day working with animals professionally. Shortly after marrying at the age of eighteen, Ibu Tuti followed her husband into the forest where he worked as an assistant at Camp Leakey, Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas' famous research station in Tanjung Puting National Park. Tuti accepted a position cooking the meals for the all the staff who lived and worked at the Camp. It was during this time that Ibu Tuti discovered her love for orangutans. She admits that she was at first afraid of the ex-captive and wild orangutans that lived in the forest surrounding Camp Leakey. But after only a few days she had warmed to their presence. Ibu Tuti still thinks fondly of those early days working in the park and living in such close proximity to the orangutans. "The sounds at night-time, the river, and the orangutans climbing in the trees… It was very beautiful," she recalls "I miss it all the time."
Following her tenure as a cook at Camp Leakey, Ibu Tuti accepted a position at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine. It was in this role that she found her calling as a full-time orangutan caregiver. In her personal life she was raising two children. At work, she was becoming a surrogate mother to many orphaned orangutans. The experiences closely mirrored each other and allowed Ibu Tuti to witness the many ways orangutan behavior reflects human behavior. "I still learn so much from orangutans," she says. "The way they socialize, the way they raise their young, the way they comfort each other… They are similar to us in so many ways."
From the beginning, Ibu Tuti enjoyed every interaction with the orangutans, from the day-to-day to the special cases. However, she quickly found her niche working with the "special-needs" orangutans, a responsibility she maintains to this day. Her role at the Care Center, providing extra care for the sick and skinny orangutans, has proven invaluable to the organization.
Many orangutans arrive at the OCCQ having experienced some sort of trauma, often in the form of human brutality. Many have witnessed their mother being killed and experienced the pain of being ripped from a life in the forest and forced to a life in a cage. It is not uncommon for orangutan orphans to display signs of stress or anxiety. Captivity is not where they belong, even when they are in a rehabilitation center like the OCCQ. When orangutans at the Care Center struggle to maintain their health or adapt to their captive surroundings, Ibu Tuti steps in. She is some-what of an "orangutan-whisperer," knowing just how nurture these "fallen birds" back to health. She often assists the veterinarians in their procedures and specializes in preparing diets and enrichment for orangutans who are too skinny or need extra care.
This position has allowed her to build strong connections with certain orangutans. One of her closest relationships is the one she has with orangutan Saddam. Saddam medical needs that require daily special care. Because of on-going development issues, he hasn't been able to grow hair or maintain a good weight. "Saddam needs a lot of extra love," Ibu Tuti explains "but working with him is one of my favorite parts of my job." You can often find her giving him his medicated bath or sitting with him when he gets his veterinary care. She always remembers to bring him a hibiscus flower during these procedures because she knows they're one of his favorite snacks. Saddam greatly benefits from the extra attention Ibu Tuti provides. Not only has his overall health and weight improved but he has begun to grow small tufts of hair around his shoulders and arms, a promising sign of recovery!
The Care Center has seen many orangutans flourish under the care of Ibu Tuti. Of course, there are challenging parts to the job. Her patient, diligent nature does not go unnoticed and she is often called upon to help with difficult orangutans. It's a responsibility that comes with its risks. Like humans, orangutan emotions in a single day can range from pleasant and playful, irritable and melancholy, gentle or manipulative. It comes with the territory. Wild animals can be unpredictable and, at times, dangerous. She admits that there have been scary moments but that she's experienced more happy times than anything else.
While Ibu Tuti loves the friendships she's made with many orangutans over the years, nonetheless her favorite part of the job at OFI is seeing the orangutans released back to the wild. "The best thing about working with orangutans is seeing them climbing in the trees. I love to see them in the wild, where they belong." With the help of Ibu Tuti's dedication, many orangutans have been able to claim their second chance at freedom!]]>
Ray and Larry love hanging out on their daily releases to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine baby playground. Larry is more timid than Ray and sometimes needs Ray's encouragement to start exploring the playground. Often Larry will sit in his caregiver's lap while Ray climbs around the jungle gym. After Ray has had enough play time, he goes to Larry for some cuddle time.
As two young adolescent males, Darren and Lanang like to play rough with each other. Lanang is the smaller of the two and is easily overpowered by Darren. Sometimes the play wrestling evolves into real wrestling and Lanang runs away to hide. But then, when Darren is least expecting it, Lanang will come up and tackle him from behind and the play starts all over again!
Egle and Meli are like 2 peas in a pod! They play together, eat together, and sleep in each other's arms. On release, Meli is the more adventurous of the two. When she ventures off into the forest to explore the trees on her own, Egle will start crying for her friend!
Weyerhauser and Turner are inseparable whether they're in their enclosures or out on release. After playing together in the forest, they will sometimes emerge from the brush hooked together with one arm over the other's shoulder. They will continue to walk like that as though they were stuck together!
Krista and Tiido are a funny pair. They share a sleeping enclosure and are very affectionate with each other. You can always spot them gently grooming each other, playing together or cuddling up for a nap. They sometimes even share food (a big deal for an orangutan!). But when they are in the forest, it's like they don't even know each other! They both prefer to explore the forest on their own. Even best friends need their "alone time"!
Wendy and Kino are new friends! Wendy is several years older than Kino and usually hangs out with orangutans closer to her size. But Kino is an exception! He is Mr.Popular with orangutans of all ages. Many babies his age wouldn't dare to venture into the forest on their own. Kino is very adventurous and will follow Wendy into the forest with the bigger orangutans. Wendy is gentle with him, almost motherly. The two love to climb trees and swing on branches together.
It is hard to think of a closer friendship at the Care Center than Dwayne and Saddam. Both suffer from similar medical conditions which has left them nearly hairless and very small for their age. However, they found the greatest companionship with each other. Saddam and Dwayne are practically joined at the hip. When they are in the forest together, Saddam follows Dwayne everywhere he goes. Recently, a larger enclosure was built to connect Saddam and Dwayne's existing sleeping enclosures together. Now they spend all their time together, and they never stop playing!
Judy and Ulexa are the sweetest of friends. They never stray far from each other and are always checking to make sure the other is near for a spontaneous hug. Ulexa cries when Judy wanders off without her. At night time you can find them sleeping peacefully, cuddled in each other's arms.
Ari and Dewa share the same passion in life- playing! These two are non-stop wrestling machines. It is only when food or other orangutans come by that they will part momentarily to investigate. Otherwise, they are forever locked in an on-going wrestling match. They provide a lot of comfort to each other as well. In rare moments of calm, they sit side by side, resting on their bellies and observing the world around them!
Growing up at the Care Center isn't the life Ariel was supposed to have. Like all orangutans currently under the care of OFI, (one exception), Ariel was born in the wild. He had two precious, irreplaceable years with his mother where he learned from her about the ways of the forest. Had she not been shot and killed in a palm oil plantation, Ariel would have had many more years to grow and learn by her side. Orangutans typically stay with their mothers until 8 years of age, Ariel only had two! Following her death, Ariel was kept as a pet in Pangkalan Bun by a local store owner. His owner gave him bottles of milk to drink and he spent his days sitting on the floor, watching television. At night, he slept in a bed with a pillow and blanket- far removed from his childhood sleeping on his mother's chest high in the forest canopy.
After a year of indoor living, Ariel was surrendered to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine in Pasir Panjang. He arrived as a shy and quiet toddler, hesitant to make friends or interact with his caregivers. Slowly he adjusted to life at the clinic. Over the years, Ariel has flourished and become a handsome, thoughtful juvenile orangutan. With regular outings to OFI's "forest school", Ariel rediscovered his place in the jungle.
The first thing you notice about Ariel is his stare. His large, chocolate brown eyes will always look directly into yours, like he is trying to tell you something. But his face remains impossible to read. He'd probably be a great poker player if he ever took up the game. Ariel's deep auburn hair is darker than his peers and he is also considerably larger as well. This makes him relatively easy to tell apart from the other youngsters who at times look indistinguishable from one another. However, his understated presence keeps him somewhat of a mystery.
In the mornings, Ariel likes to hitch a ride to the OCCQ forest on the back of his caregiver. He is very easy to carry, usually wrapping both arms around their shoulders in a snug embrace. But once they reach the forest, Ariel makes it clear that he won't be needing any hand-holding! He seems immediately consumed in his own world. With strong arms he leaves his caregiver's back and pulls himself to the top of the OFI playground to observe the surrounding forest, quietly making his plan for the day. In no time, Ariel is off, heading directly into the thick of the branches. He waits for no one as he marches confidently into the woods. Where does he go on these solo expeditions into the forest? Many of OCCQ orphans will head straight for the canopy, but this is not the case with Ariel. He dabbles in tree climbing but much prefers to traverse the forest floor. After all, this is the best place for him to gather tools for his favorite activity- digging!
Around the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, Ariel starts to dig. And Ariel digs like he's a child on the beach getting ready to build the biggest sand castle! He digs like an archaeologist looking for dinosaur bones! He seems to have big plans for these excavations but what these plans are we do not know. Walking around the forest floor, he gathers sticks in preparation for a later dig. Regardless of their practicality, Ariel likes to shovel with the largest, longest branches he can find. He sits down and works with a quiet, diligent focus. Once he breaks through the hard crust of soil on the surface he uses the slightly finer dirt underneath to toss onto his head and face, giving himself a forest facial. The other orangutans become curious of his activities and will occasionally stop to participate in the dig. Ariel certainly doesn't mind the volunteer labor. Digging in the hot Borneo sun is hard work! But long after the others have grown bored and move on, Ariel will continue to quietly dig on his own!
It's not all work out in the forest. Like every juvenile male orangutan, Ariel can't resist a good bout of feisty playing-wrestling. He makes a well-suited opponent for Mason, a fellow orangutan that is small but known for playing rough! Mason has the tenacity but Ariel has size on his side and he knows how to use his strength wisely. He likes to lead play-sessions into the lower hanging trees where he can climb up the branches and over-power his opponents on the floor. While, Ariel won't pass up an invitation to play with his friends, he is happy to spend most of his forest time alone. He is more focused on discovering his environment than rough-housing with his peers.
Every day, Ariel continues to gain strength and competency in the forest from his extended periods out on release. Ariel's slow and calculated responses to his surroundings indicate a growing maturity. One day, he will make a great alpha male. We hope Ariel gets his chance to return to the wild. Like so many others, Ariel was robbed of his natural life. Growing up at the Care Center provided him with the second chance he otherwise may not have had but ultimately, it is not where he belongs. Orangutans are the people of the forest and it is in the forest where they belong. And hopefully that is where all will soon return.]]>
OFI is no stranger to fire fighting and prevention. It seems to be always in our thoughts, even during the long wet season when we often dream of being dry. We often greet the returning rains with comments like "At least it means no fires".
Since May this year at OFI's remote release camps on the edge of Tanjung Puting, where the palm oil plantations meet the forest, our staff have been preparing for the coming fire season.
In May 2014 our OFI construction volunteer team helped build a fire patrol and prevention post near the boundary of the forest to help staff identify fires early. Since May OFI staff has been rotating days at this post and going on patrols looking for local encroachment and identifying fire risk areas.
Our busy but small field staff spent weeks in July and August cutting two fire breaks several miles long at the forest edge to try to get ahead of the burn and prevent fires in open areas spreading into the forest. We hoped these efforts would prevent the fires from approaching our release camp and threatening the forest home where we have recently released wildborn ex-captive orangutans. But the fires came, as they always do.
So far, four fires have been fought and extinguished by our OFI field staff this year. The most recent blaze started September 14, 2014. OFI staff fought this fire for over three days with backpack spray equipment as nearby streams and swamps had dried up, preventing the use of pumps and fire hoses. Staff managed to put out the fire just before nature lent a helping hand and it finally rained. The rain put the stop to this fire spreading. This one fire in September burned an area of over 84 ha on the edge of our release forest. This fire reached within several hundred meters of our latest release camp in the Seruyan forest. We have no doubt that this fire was started intentionally. We believe that fires of this sort are most likely started by locals working with nearby palm oil concessions in order to open up and claim new agricultural areas for palm oil!
Despite personal and financial costs, OFI and local field staff will continue to defend the Seruyan forest and camps, to the best of our ability. We plan to cut wider fire breaks that seem to work well. We now have plans to dig wells to help provide water during the height of drought. In August 2014 we built another fire patrol post in a different area of the Seruyan forest for further fire prevention. We are constantly buying new equipment including pumps, hoses, and shovels.
Unfortunately, as I write this in October 2014 new fires have started both in our Orangutan Legacy Forest and in the Seruyan forest.
You can help! Please donate to our fire prevention efforts. This annual reoccurring threat is one that we must fight. Your dollars can help us hire new staff, buy better equipment, and lift monetary restraints on a job that is physically and emotionally draining.
OFI sends many thanks to our tireless local staff and to you for supporting OFI's efforts to protect orangutans and the forests which are their only home.]]>
Team 1 set forth blazing a trail for the other teams! Team 1 worked at one of OFI's most remote release camps to build a much needed guard post at the nearby forest's edge. Almost immediately this post proved its worth as a vantage point for identifying forest encroachment and detecting fires. For a first hand account of this project, check out this issue's 'News from the Field' article written by Team 1 volunteer Giles Dawson. Many thanks to Team 1 for working so diligently in the sun and rain to get the guard post and tower finished in time for this year's dry season. (Dry season often means fire!) An extra thank you goes out to long term volunteer Brodie Philp for his coordination assistance during this team. Also, extra thank yous go out to senior intern Ruth Linsky for coordinating all the teams this season.
Team 2 also helped greatly at this same remote release site. They built boardwalks in the wet, tropical rainforest to improve the patrol and transect trails. Orangutan and sun bear monitoring at this release site requires the use of trails. Traversing the swamp forest can be difficult at the best of times, and boardwalks are critical to pass through the forest during the wet season. Team 2 volunteers carried enough wood to build three new boardwalks (equalling 100m plus in length). They carried this wood over a kilometer down rugged trails. Our OFI staff (and orangutans) send a big thank you out to Team 2 for making travel in the swamp forest easier!
Team 3 rounded out the season in a different location. The final team worked on an exciting new OFI project, helping in the early stages of creating an artificial "island" in an OFI protected forest, to serve as an orangutan sanctuary area. This entirely female team hauled wood from the area surrounding the prospective "island" where the protective wall would be built. The Team braved acidic sap, biting fire ants, and daily sun exposure. Their positive attitude in spite of frustrations, due to jungle living conditions, was infectious. Team 3 should be proud that their effort was an important start for the orangutan "island" project getting underway. This positivity showed during their down time, which they spent creating new enrichment items for the orangutans at their camp as well as at OFI's OCCQ facility.
Spending time in the jungle is not always easy – and a ground-‐‐level view of field work is an eye-‐‐opening experience! OFI is always grateful to our volunteers for their time, sweat, effort, and understanding. We hope that the short term volunteers can go home to help advocate for orangutans and forests from a more personal point of view. Many thanks to this year's fantastic volunteers first from the orangutans but also from OFI field staff, volunteers, administrators, board and President, Dr. Birutė Mary Galdikas.]]>
During our mid-morning break we lie down on spare planks from our construction site, seeking shade for a small respite. The air is so heavy with moisture that even when lying motionless, one is still drenched in sweat. Occasionally, a small breeze appears from nowhere providing relief for a few seconds. A beautiful butterfly lands on my arm and starts lapping up beads of perspiration. The butterfly's magnificent blue, white and black wings move gently backwards and forwards.
It is day thirteen of our twenty-five day volunteer construction program for the Orangutan Foundation International (OFI). We are building a guard post and water tower for OFI staff at Camp Seluang Release Camp on the edge of Tanjung Puting National Park in Southern Kalimantan. This is one of the release camps where OFI releases rehabilitated ex-captive orangutans, helping them return back into the rainforest where they belong. The tower will also provide protection against attempts to destroy the forest by local people seeking to find a way to possess more land. Fire is the biggest threat, an easy way for individuals and companies to get access to more land and convince the authorities that since the trees have been burned, the land can be converted to plantations.
A small bird watches from a nearby branch, curious about the unusual activity in her environment. In the distance a woodpecker stutters his beak against a tree in search of termites whilst cicadas whistle and purr. Their buzz is so constant that it becomes part of the background noise. There is also a different sound like a gentle hum. It is monotonous and almost indistinguishable from the other background sounds. It is the drone of machinery. It is barely audible, yet a worryingly constant. We are told it is the noise of an excavator clearing the forest to make way for a new palm oil plantation. It is a constant reminder of why we are here in this unique Bornean tropical rainforest and a reminder of the possible extinction the majestic orangutans have been facing for the last 50 years due to human encroachment. It is a reminder that we are on the front lines of the fight against orangutan extinction. The last vestiges of these natural forests are being reduced at an incredible rate. The feelings of distress and frustration on the front line can be overwhelming.
Orangutans cannot survive without their natural habitat. They are arboreal primates who live mostly in trees eating termites, leaves, shoots and fruits. The assault on orangutan habitat results in orangutans moving into plantations where they cannot find food and where they are likely to encounter humans who usually consider them an enemy. Once inside a plantation, orangutans cannot easily survive. They will die unless they get back to the rainforest. OFI does its best to rehabilitate lost or captured orangutans, and release them back into their natural environment. OFI also fights to protect tropical rainforest, which is the orangutans' main habitat.
We are a group of six foreigners and two local carpenters, helped by the OFI Indonesian employees who live at the release camp. Our contribution is, in reality, rather small. But, we are rewarded with the sense that we are, at least, doing "something" for the natural world, which seems to be coughing and sputtering from human abuse. Our volunteer group brings together young individuals from around the world to work together, at times in difficult conditions. It is a unique experience to learn carpentry, under the supervision of Pak Yatim and Pak Masri, our expert local Indonesian carpenters. Ruth Linsky and Brodie Philp, our coordinators and dedicated long term OFI volunteers, provide ongoing translation and banter to keep us all motivated. It is a personal challenge. At times, my 40 year-old body feels exhausted trying to keep up with my younger counterparts. However, I am invigorated by my sense of achievement. Hypnotized by the butterfly on my arm I start pondering thoughts of returning in the future to do this again. The butterfly moves on, innocently unaware of the greater perils of this planet, and we must get back to our construction work.
Now that I have come home from Borneo and the Construction Team is over, I miss the orangutans that bonded with us over such a short period of time in our release camp. Linda, the first to approach and take an interest in meeting me. Sandra the youngster who liked to entertain us. Lydia the naughty one who stole our soap. Topan who held my hand as a seemingly lifelong friend. Each with different and beautiful personalities. I hope their futures are secure. Our Team was exposed to many aspects of OFI's works of care, rehabilitation, forest salvaging, and conservation lobbying. I can fully endorse their arduous task. We were fortunate enough to meet Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas. Dr. Galdikas has sacrificed her life in this battle, and as founder of the OFI, her work has ensured the orangutans do have a realistic chance to survive. I will never forget this special experience or these wonderful animals as well as the fantastic Indonesians at the release camp who looked after us with such selfless care.]]>
It seems very important to Ms. Maggie that she is given the attention and/or treats she feels she deserves. For example, Maggie has an endearing, though naughty, habit of spitting at anyone who walks by her sleeping cage without giving her anything other than a glance in her direction. Now, it's easy to stay out of range of a young orangutan's spit, so problem solved, right? Walk further away? Wrong! We're underestimating our dearest Maggie. With her keen primate depth perception, Maggie recognizes when she cannot spit her saliva-bombs quite far enough to get the reaction she's hoping for, so she changes her tactics.
Obviously, if one is out of spitting-range, it would be rational to assume that one is in the clear. Again, we underestimate our ginger cousin. An orangutan's arm span is significantly longer than his or her height, and these arms can "pack a punch," so to speak. Not only are orangutans' arms unusually long and strong, but they also have features suited to these animals' tree-dwelling lifestyle. An orangutan has extremely flexible arm and shoulder joints giving them 360o swinging abilities (this is similar to humans, although humans lack the orangutans' flexible hip joints). This, of course, is a highly advantageous adaptation for tree-dwelling life. Maggie, who's quite an agile tree-climber during her daytime releases in the play jungle, also employs this brachiating activity to engage her caregivers and visitors. Dearest Maggie will spit a small chunk of fruit into her hand, wait for your back to be turned, and then fling that fruity mess right at the nape of your neck! Her aim seems to be getting better with age!
But fruit bombs should not define Maggie. She only throws fruit when she cannot get your attention. If she has your attention, Maggie is one of the most delightful orangutans at the care center, because she will play and wrestle with you for as long as you would like. She is very gentle and sweet when she is playing. It is this sweetness that is her most endearing characteristic. The assistants very much enjoy playing with Maggie and she tends to be one of their "favorites" although ultimately, all the orangutans are the caregivers' favorites.
Some of her interesting habits might make Ms. Maggie seem like an odd candidate to be the "Orangutan of the Month." But it's exactly that whimsical, fun-loving attitude that makes Maggie an absolute pleasure to be with. With a lust for life, sweet Maggie is the first to entice a shy, fellow orangutan out of her comfort zone and into an intense and exciting match of play fighting. She's an orangutan with the gift of diffusing tense situations, even when she (and her fruit bombs) are sometimes the root cause of those tumultuous moments in the first place. We all love Maggie and her boisterous, playful temperament.
Traveling with a delegation representing the Clinton Foundation's Climate Initiative, Clinton was given a private tour of OFI's Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) facility and accompanied on a special visit to Camp Leakey by OFI founder and president, Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas.
The OCCQ is a non-public rehabilitation center where orphaned and injured ex-captive orangutans are cared for until they are ready to be released into the wild. The facility currently cares for over 300 orphaned orangutans. President Clinton and members of the delegation had the opportunity to witness first-hand several different stages of the rehabilitation process while the adolescent orangutans were taken into the nearby forest to practice their foraging skills, the juveniles perfected their climbing skills at a playground, and the infants explored the forest with their caregivers.
The following day President Clinton, Dr. Galdikas, and the delegation traveled by motorboat up the Sekonyer River and deep into Tanjung Puting National Park to visit Camp Leakey. Camp Leakey is Dr. Galdikas' historic research site established in 1971 and is still active today as a base for all of OFI's research and conservation efforts in Tanjung Puting National Park.
Clinton paid the visit to meet working partners of the Clinton Foundation in Kalimantan, including the Rimba Raya Conservation (RRC) Seruyan (one of OFI's current partners) and Rimba Makmur Utama (RMU) Katingan.]]>
Louis Leakey was a Kenyan paleoanthropologist who devoted his life to uncovering the early phases of human evolution. Using the scientific tools available at the time, he set out to study hominid fossils in Olduvai Gorge, a ravine in the Great Rift Valley in eastern Africa. His discoveries proved that humans originally evolved in Africa, a hypothesis initially proposed by Darwin that had previously been met with skepticism by the scientific community.
Studying fossils is the traditional way of understanding how life forms on earth evolved over time. Fossils provide snapshots of ancient plants, animals, and microorganisms, and through comparison with current life forms as well as other fossil records, the gradual evolution of one species into another can be reconstructed. In addition, estimates of the ages of fossils often allow researchers to deduce how long ago a new species emerged, and the time when the last shared ancestor of two currently existing species roamed this planet. The evolutionary relationships between species are often represented in so-called phylogenetic trees or "family trees". In a phylogenetic tree, each juncture represents the last common ancestor shared between the species at the tips of the branches.
As we can see from the phylogenetic tree of the great ape family, orangutans were the first ones to split off from the great ape family tree and evolve into an independent species approximately 14 million years ago (Mya) [1]. Gorillas diverged from a common ancestor with chimpanzees and humans ~7 Mya, while the chimpanzee and human lineages separated around 5 Mya [1]. Historically, family trees were constructed based on information deduced from fossil records, and by comparison of the morphology (body part characteristics) of existing species. Morphology includes both the outer appearance as well as inner structures of living organisms. For example, if you compare the skeletons of a horse, an orangutan, and a human, you can easily see that the overall organization of their bones is similar – all three have four limbs, their lungs are encased by chest bones, and their jaws contain teeth. At the same time, it is also evident that orangutans and humans share more similarities than either species shares with the horse, which means that orangutans and humans are more closely related.
Although constructing phylogenetic trees from fossil records is a powerful method, there are significant limitations: research is limited to species that were preserved well over millions of years, and to fossils that can be or have been located. Therefore, fossil records often leave researchers with a "missing link" problem: they know that an intermediate form must have existed, bridging the gap in development between two known fossils or a fossil and a current species, but this "missing link" has yet to be found. Also, important information about the biology of a species, such as their behavior, their preferences for certain food, and their interactions with each other, remain elusive as it is difficult to extract this "soft" information from bones.
To overcome the limitations of studying fossils to understand human evolution, Louis Leakey decided to complement his archaeological "bones and stones" research in Africa with field studies of the great apes, our closest living relatives, in their natural habitats [2]. His quest was to unravel the characteristics of the last common ancestor we shared with chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. He also hoped to gain insights into environmental and other factors that triggered the evolution of humans [2]. He assumed that the environment in which early humans evolved was similar to the current habitat of chimpanzees and gorillas in Africa, and he therefore focused his efforts initially on those two species [2]. In 1960, Jane Goodall started studying wild chimpanzees in Tanzania, and Dian Fossey followed in 1967 in her study of mountain gorillas in Congo, and then Rwanda.
In 1971, encouraged by Dr. Louis Leakey, Birute Mary Galdikas began her field studies of orangutans in what is now known as Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia. In many ways, orangutans are distinct from their great ape cousins. Orangutans are found in Asia instead of Africa and their hair is orange instead of black. But what made studying them especially challenging was the fact that they live solitary, mysterious lives high up in the trees instead of in large, obvious groups on the ground. After habituating the orangutans in her study area, Birute Mary Galdikas set out to study their behavior, and she has been following their individual life histories every since. Her studies reveal that, although orangutans spend far less time interacting with each other than humans, gorillas and chimpanzees do, orangutan social networks are intricate and form life-long bonds. Biruté Mary Galdikas likes to say that in contrast to the other great apes, orangutans never left the "Garden of Eden". Orangutans remain primarily arboreal and semi-solitary. Warfare, which is common in human and chimpanzee societies, has never been observed among orangutans. The behavioral studies by Leakey's Angels have yielded fascinating insights into the differences as well as similarities between humans and our closest living relatives, thereby providing an important piece to the puzzle of the evolution of great apes.
Today, studying life at the molecular level has become an indispensible tool that complements and often supports findings made through traditional methods such as archaeology (analysis of fossils), morphology (comparison of body part characteristics), and ethology (behavioral studies). To study evolution at the molecular level, researchers have in recent years sequenced the genomes of many different organisms. In all animals, plants, and bacteria, the genome consists of DNA, and it contains all the hereditary information necessary to keep the organism alive and functioning. Every single cell in our body contains a copy of the genome, giving the cell access to the "building plans" for the molecules of life. By comparing the DNA sequences of different organisms, it is possible to clarify their evolutionary relationships: the DNA sequences of two closely related organisms (such as orangutan and human) will show more similarities than the DNA sequences of two more distantly related organisms (such as orangutan and horse).
Over the past two years, the genomes of both orangutans and gorillas have been sequenced, following the human genome in 2001 and the chimpanzee genome in 2005 [1, 3, 4, 5]. Overall, comparison of the DNA sequences has confirmed the evolutionary relationships previously known: human genomic DNA is 99% identical with the DNA found in a chimpanzee [4]; gorillas come in second in this comparison, closely followed by orangutans, who share 97% of our DNA [1, 2]. In addition to independently confirming what was previously known, each genome contains surprises, leading to unexpected findings and exciting discoveries that could not have been made otherwise.
For the orangutan genome, one of the surprises is its amazing stability over time [1]. Since the orangutan genome has changed considerably less than the genome of any other primate, orangutans are likely much more closely related to the last common ancestor shared between all great apes than any other living species [1]. Therefore, among current life on earth, orangutans are the most similar to the ancestral great ape Louis Leakey wanted to find. This finding shook up a lot of entrenched notions, since it had previously been assumed that all primate genomes evolved at a similar pace [6]. If this had been the case, the genome of modern orangutans would be as similar to that of the ancestral great ape as the genomes of modern chimpanzees and humans are to it.
What may be the cause for the unusual stability of the orangutan genome? Analysis of the DNA indicates that the answer might lie in so-called "Alu elements" [1]. Alu elements are mobile genetic elements – in contrast to regular genes, Alu elements do not stay put in a specific location in the chromosome, but instead they duplicate and then get inserted into new positions. Thereby, the number of Alu elements in the genome steadily increases. Alu elements can therefore be thought of as "jumping genes", and have been identified as one of the major driving forces of human evolution [7]. In the orangutan genome, Alu elements have been remarkably inactive: There have been only ~250 recent "jumps", compared to 5,000 in humans and 2,300 in chimpanzees [1].
The unexpectedly low "jumping rate" of Alu elements is therefore the most likely explanation for the surprising stability of the orangutan genome. While the genomes of the other great apes have been constantly rearranged as a result of Alu elements "jumping" to new places, sometimes leading to dramatic reorganizations, the orangutan genome has evolved at a much slower pace. The close kinship at the molecular level between modern orangutans and the ancestor of all great apes is likely to be reflected at the macroscopic level as well, such as in their morphology and maybe even their behavior [8]. The sequence of the orangutan genome has provided an important piece to the puzzle that complements and extends what we know about the evolution of the great ape family from fossil, morphological and behavioral studies. Louis Leakey, if he were alive today, would probably have been thrilled and amazed to know that the elusive red ape, which had long been thought to be our most distant cousin, might hold such a critical clue to our ancient evolutionary history.
[1] Locke, D. P., Hillier, L. W., Warren, W. C. et al. (2011). Comparative and demographic analysis of orang–utan genomes. Nature, 469, 529–533.
[2] Virginia Morell (1995). Ancestral Passions. Touchstone publishing.
[3] Scally, A., Dutheil, J. Y., Hillier, L. W., et al. (2012). Insights into hominid evolution from the gorilla genome sequence. Nature, 483, 169–175.
[4] International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium (2001). Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome. Nature, 409, 860–921.
[5] The Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium (2005). Initial sequence of the chimpanzee genome and comparison with the human genome. Nature, 437, 69–87.
[6] Easteal, S. (1991). The relative rate of DNA evolution in primates. Mol. Biol. Evol., 8 (1), 115–127.
[7] Kazazian, H. H. (2004). Mobile elements: Drivers of genome evolution. Science, 303, 1626–1632.
[8] Di Fiore, A. (2003). Molecular genetic approaches to the study of primate behavior, social organization, and reproduction. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 122, 62–99.


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NRA Official Silhouette Targets B-34 25-Yard Paper Package of 100
Product #: 629282 NRA #: B-34
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Official NRA targets suitable for scoring matches or for match simulation during practice.
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Dimensions: 14" x 24"
Reduced from 50-yard B-27
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Success has come this year for the back-to-back SAC regular-season champion North Side, which has won the most games for the program since 1998-99 (21-4).
But the practice of resetting goals has gone a long way in keeping the Redskins grounded.
"Being a very senior-laden and goal-oriented group has helped out tremendously," North Side coach Shabaz Khaliq said. "They haven't sat back and patted themselves on the back because they haven't accomplished what they want to. We try to set short-term goals so we can keep their focus. I have been blessed with a group of kids who get it and get the big picture."
North Side will face Snider a third time in the first round of the East Noble Class 4A sectional March 4 after beating the Panthers 68-46 and 54-51 this year.


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Microsoft debuts Office for Android with Tablet Preview
Today, Microsoft released the preview of Office for Android with Tablet. Without an Office 365 subscription, you can now edit your documents for free.Read More
November 27, 2014
Today, Microsoft released the preview of Office for Android with Tablet. Without an Office 365 subscription, you can now edit your documents for free.Read More
Microsoft seemingly cannot decide whether it is for Google or against Google. Nevertheless, for those wanting some Microsoft love on their Android devices can get it through Microsoft Garage. Microsoft Garage is a project by Microsoft looking to bring projects to reality from hackers, interns, ...Read More
Recently, we have seen cloud storage costs dropping significantly, and it has become extremely affordable. However, companies are still increasing the amount of free storage they are offering, and Microsoft has joined in. A post on the OneDrive blog explains that Microsoft is giving away 30GB ...Read More
Well, that didn't take very long, did it? After roughly one half of a year in existence, Microsoft's Nokia X line of smartphones is going away. In a letter to employees from Stephen Elop, we learn that Microsoft is downsizing to the tune of 18,000 people of which 12,500 come from ...Read More
Microsoft have announced a new feedback program that will allow Beta testers to try out upcoming versions of its note-taking app OneNote on Android. To get involved, you just need to join the Google+ Community Page for OneNote and click 'Become a tester'. Allowing the community to ...Read More
We've all heard this rumor before, we've heard it numerous times in fact. All that hope and then we get Nokia X which is an abomination of sorts, not an Android device, hence the use of "proper" in the title. Abomination might be a strong word, but Nokia X is neither a ...Read More
As expected, Microsoft on Tuesday announced its latest Android smartphone in the form of an entry-level Nokia X2. Slated for release in July, the handset features a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display, 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 processor with 1GB RAM, and a 5-megapixel/1-megapixel camera duo. The Nokia X2 ...Read More
One security feature we've heard rumored for Android recently is the "kill switch", a feature that enables the smartphone owner to remotely wipe their phone if somebody tries to steal it. We've seen California and Minnesota both pass legislation on this recently, and we ...Read More
Google has released a new plug-in for users of Google Apps that allows them to use Google Hangouts for video conference calls from within Microsoft Outlook. Users of the email client can now initiate or join a Hangout directly from Outlook if they have a Google Apps account. Simply download the ...Read More
Google became the most valuable brand in the world by leaping over Apple, at least according to Millward Brown's 2014 100 Top BrandZ report. According to them Google had a 40% increase in value and is now valued at nearly $158.9 billion. Google Glass (which is in open beta now) certainly ...Read More
For those who have come to count on the cloud as a baseline file storage method, Microsoft's OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is a very competitive option, offering 7GB of online storage and transparent Office integration. Now the Microsoft OneDrive team, by way of their blog, has provided ...Read More
Microsoft has updated its Office application for Android and iOS making the productivity suite free for home users. Whereas it previously required a subscription to the Office 365 service it is now free for all. As one might expect, Office Mobile lets users create, edit, open, and save ...Read More
We've already told you how to get Flappy Bird on your Android device now that it's gone, but why not just create your own "flappy" game? Today Code.org, a non-profit organization that aims to get more students interested in computer science, crossed two milestones, ...Read More
Skype is a very inconsistent experience, especially when compared to it's iOS counterpart. It seems, however, that Skype are fully aware of this. They just took to their blog to reassure loyal Android users that they are working hard to improve the service. We know that as users have ...Read More
A new rumor states that Sundar Pichai could be in the running to be the next Microsoft CEO. It seems as though Microsoft hasn't really been hunting for a new CEO as actively as they should be. But according to SiliconANGLE, they have their eyes on someone who would really do well in the ...Read More


text: But i'm just saying this to defend what I wrote, honestly I just placed D together quickly. It doesn't matter how you place them, that's Carbo's job not mine. If I could manage a team of NHL players as good as him i'd probably have a different job right now.]]>


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If for some reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase this holiday season, choose our FREE pre-paid shipping label and we'll cover your return! This offer is only good on eligible orders placed between November 1, 2014 and December 24, 2014. We've extended our normal return period to January 15, 2015 or 30 days after your order is received - whichever comes later. Learn more about our return policy.
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Bedside + Accent Tables
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From cozy bedding to fur beanbags, shop 100s of new arrivals!
Save up to 20% on NEW sleeping bags & more + free shipping!
Make a one-on-one appointment with a Design Specialist today.
This bedside design has ample storage and rugged ...
This bedside design has ample storage and rugged style. Distressed pine planking has groove and saw marks, and burnished lettering on each drawer give it the look of salvaged wood. 18" wide x 15" deep x 26" high Expertly ...


text:
Check Out Oprah's Most Memorable Beauty Looks Over the Years
Blowouts and Bouffants: Oprah's Most Memorable Looks
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Blowouts and Bouffants: Oprah's Most Memorable Looks
Oprah Winfrey rarely shies away from trying something new, particularly when it comes to her beauty stylings. And while she may have had some bumps along the way (really, who hasn't?), no matter how she has looked, she has always stayed true to herself. In honour of The Oprah Show's last episode this week — which will air on Channel Ten at 9pm on Friday night — take a peek back at her most memorable beauty looks over the years.
Latest Beauty


text:
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in custody and alive
Crowds are cheering here in Watertown, as law enforcement gets the best possible outcome it could have hoped forSaturday, Apr 20, 2013 1:06 AM UTC 0
News Editor's Picks
Crowds are cheering here in Watertown, as law enforcement gets the best possible outcome it could have hoped forSaturday, Apr 20, 2013 1:06 AM UTC 0
Friends tell Salon the wannabe engineer liked to talk about rap, not politics. Also: "Dzhokhar likes the chronic"Friday, Apr 19, 2013 6:12 PM UTC 0
The Massachusetts senator has pulled ahead of Elizabeth Warren in the polls by running away from the Tea PartyThursday, Mar 8, 2012 5:42 PM UTC 0
An antiabortion leader in Massachusetts recalls an "injury to Catholic religious freedom" under Mitt RomneyThursday, Feb 9, 2012 1:00 AM UTC 0
Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown pledge to discourage independent attack ads. Will it work?Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 4:00 PM UTC 0
In hard times, the noblesse oblige of an underqualified candidate is a tough sellFriday, Jan 6, 2012 8:00 PM UTC 0
Verdict on Massachusetts Muslim marks further erosion of fundamental U.S. rightsWednesday, Dec 21, 2011 1:55 PM UTC 0
Divided over resistance, Boston occupiers are evicted, three dozen arrestedSaturday, Dec 10, 2011 3:18 PM UTC 0
Facing eviction, occupiers accuse Boston Mayor Menino of deceptionThursday, Dec 8, 2011 10:57 PM UTC 0
At Occupy Boston Russell Simmons defends Jay-Z's attempt to cash in on the movementWednesday, Nov 16, 2011 3:36 PM UTC 0
The Boston encampment schools a new generation of social media upstartsTuesday, Oct 18, 2011 7:00 PM UTC 0
Police arrests and beatings prompt a new mood of defiance in the growing crowdsWednesday, Oct 12, 2011 7:10 PM UTC 0
Between two financial giants, a green space occupied by a thousand voices.Saturday, Oct 1, 2011 2:02 PM UTC 0


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Major League Soccer
Case For The MLS Defense
A quartet of Major League Soccer's best defenders are set to play big parts in the Conference finals, writes Goal's Ives Galarcep.
A quartet of Major League Soccer's best defenders are set to play big parts in the Conference finals, writes Goal's Ives Galarcep.
The Blues have a realistic chance of equaling Arsene Wenger's achievement of 2003-04 - but how does Jose Mourinho's side stack up?
Chivas is in danger of slipping bottom in the final week, while the playoff and Libertadores places are yet to be decided, writes Goal's Tom Marshall.
With Tim Howard named U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year, Goal ranks all 52 capped Americans on their overall international play in 2014.
Real continues to rack up huge debts but remains a top spender. Its unrivaled position of power means its losses are not a major problem just now.
The club manager is irritated by Tim Ream's late call-up to join Jurgen Klinsmann's side Tuesday.
SPECIAL REPORT: The Argentine attacker is far from happy at the Catalan club and was only convinced to stay last season by former coach Tito Vilanova.
COMMENT: Gillette Brasil Global Tour takes a look at what players impressed most during the games against Turkey and Austria
K-League club Jeonbuk Motors pulled off an incredible penalty kick that was infamously attempted by Robert Pires and Thierry Henry over nine years ago.


text: Ericsson penalised for reckless driving 24 May, 2014 The Caterham of Marcus Ericsson is lifted off the track Monaco Grand Prix race stewards have penalised Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson for what they deemed reckless driving during Qualifying. The Swedish rookie, who qualified in 22nd position, will have to start the race from the pitlane following a collision with Williams driver Felipe Massa during the session. Ericsson, who will also have two penalty points added to his licence for causing the crash, said afterwards, "On my final push lap I was behind Massa going into Turn Five and he moved offline a bit which meant I had to change my braking point. I locked up and went into the barrier with him which was my mistake. It's unfortunate it took him out too but it looks like the car is okay so now I want to put today behind me and concentrate on the race." Massa was not amused, "I did everything I could in the first session but at the end Ericsson hit me and that ruined my Qualifying." Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, was also reprimanded, for blocking Pastor Maldonado. (GP247) Subbed by AJN. Tweet Related NewsEriccson pays tribute to Super Swede Peterson at MonacoStevens to test with Caterham in Abu DhabiGrosjean handed 20-place grid penaltyStevens to make F1 debut with Caterham in Abu DhabiMerhi hopes to drive for Caterham in Abu DhabiNo Caterham swan song for Barrichello in Abu DhabiBarrichello emerges as possible Caterham driverSeveral drivers vying for Caterham seat in Abu DhabiKobayashi to drive Caterham in Abu DhabiEricsson terminates agreements with Caterham


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Its always a bit of a gamble to dine at a restaurant so close to its opening,.Nevertheless Ela did not disappoint.
To begin with the space is wonderfully warm and inviting, with a beautiful bar, and dark wood everywhere. The cocktail list is small but ambitious. I had the "Tommy Gun," an updated Dark and stormy with smoked blackstrap molasses and vanilla. It was a very nice drink. My DC had a drink that contained Calvados and apple cider, and is served warm. The bartender talked about their ambition to infuse their own liquors, as well as make their own bitters in addition to the syrups they are already making. That in and of itself will make Ela a destination worth returning to over and over.
The menu is offered in four parts, smallest bites to the largest. I started with the shrimp with garclic panna cotta, which was a dish full of flavor. I also tried the hamachi with green apple and horseradish. I expected more of a punch from the horseradish, but it was a very nice bite.
I followed that with an interesting salad made with beets and poached quince, served with yogurt like sauce. The quince was surprisingly mild, but it was very nice dish.
The next dish I had was the scallop noodles... served with shaved carrott and sesame and blood orange, this was a very interesting dish. Lots of flavor, but not the normal caramelized scallop that you come to expect. My DC had a duck breast served with pretzel spaetzel and smoked butternut squash purree. I would have liked a bit more smoke in the squash, and the pretzel spaetzel was very salty. Duck could have been warmer but was well cooked.
Dessert, split a pumpkin pie, which was more like a pumpkin mousse sitting atop gingersnaps with roasted figs on the side. It was a very nice update on traditional pumpkin pie.
There are several dishes that I didn't try that I expect folks will be talking about, including a foie dish with huckleberry, as well as a dessert that includes chocolate chip cookie dough (bit of a gimmick to me...).
I expect them to add a tasting menu similar to Blackfish, and to continue to add to their drink program.
re: urbanfabric
The bar still dominates the room. They are only open from 5pm on, but getting there around 6pm yesterday I did see folks eating at the bar. The menu is small plates so you certainly should be order some of the smaller items at the bar, (no bar menu per se that I was aware of... ). Place did not start to fill up until around 7pm, but it was a Tuesday. I think it definitely could be a neighborhood drink/snack kind of place. I was speaking with the bartender and she said on their opening night it was filled almost completely with people who lived in the neighborhood, who had been regulars at Ansil and all knew each other. It will be interesting to see if it keeps that neighborhood feel or whether it becomes more of a destination dining place.
re: cwdonald
Good to know, thanks. I could see it being a weeknight neighborhood place and a destination on the weekends. I think there was a big void to fill between James, Ansill, and Adsum all leaving. There are only so many seats at the bar at Southwark!
re: cwdonald
I doubt they will make it if they don't get a destination crowd, not sure if there is room for both Southwark and Ela as upscale "drink and snack" neighborhood places. What are the prices like?
re: barryg
Prices range from 8-23 dollars per course. They have this progressive small to larger plate concept which I am not a big fan of. In speaking with the manager he said they expected to put in a tasting menu prixe fixe sometime before the end of the year. Drinks are in the 10-12 dollar range for cocktails. Beer slightly less, though they appear to be serving in 10 oz glasses the way the Oyster House does rather than pint glasses. I did not look at the wine list.
re: cwdonald
Hate to say it but unless it becomes a hot destination draw, it doesn't sound like a recipe for success in this neighborhood which doesn't have a history of supporting anything more than a pub. Nothing to do with quality of the food, everything about the neighborhood. Even Southwark does not fill the restaurant portion.
I'll go try it for snacks and drinks for sure though.
re: ftarazu
David Ansill and Matt Levin didn't make it in that 'hood... a lot of people don't like to go near South Street on weekend nights and the neighborhood itself cannot support restaurants in this price range.
Don't mean to be a downer, Bistrot la Minette is an exception to this rule. I am excited to check Ela out and I with them a lot of luck.
re: barryg
We ate there the other night and liked it very much. We ate in the back room ( at our request) where it was away from the bar crowd. My husband had the gnocchi, which he liked a lot, and I had the sweet potato soup with coffee carmel -- very good. I had the scallop dish and he had fish. We shared the pumpkin "pie", which was excellent. I had a classic gin martini, which was good and strong. We hope it makes it because we live in the neighborhood and like places within walking distances to succeed if they're good.
Stopped in for cocktails and a couple plates at the bar Sat night around 7:00. Surprisingly there were a lot of empty tables and the bar was less than half full, but with so many new places opening these past few weeks the foodies have a lot of rounds to make.
Cocktails were good. Not a fan of the small list of modern cocktails but they made a good Manhattan though the bourbon selection was paltry.
Tried the pork belly and shrimp dishes. I have to admit that while I liked the shrimp dish, I didn't really "get it." I enjoyed it but the popcorn (not listed on the menu but a prominent part of the dish) didn't really add anything, the roe taste got lost, and the whole thing seemed over-conceptualized. But it tasted good and it was a very good portion at $8. The pork belly was a good dish, a nice cut with more meat than fat, perfectly prepared, probably the best pork belly I've had besides Dandelion last season (haven't tried it since it's back on the menu there). The sourdough risotto was delicious too, but the broccoli rate was very bitter, not sure if that was intentional to balance with the other flavors, but to me it was an overly bitter preparation. Fair value at $20, it was a good portion and if sharing an app and/or dessert, would be a fine entree for one person.
One thing I didn't like was that the bar seats were close to the tables. Servers and patrons had to squeeze behind us at the bar which made it less cozy than it could have been. The split bar situation is also weird, the second half has no beverage service or bartender. No one was sitting there so not sure how that will work in practice. Not sure who you would order from, or what the vibe would be like with no drink making action to look at.
grabbed a quick last minute dinner a few saturdays ago. place was full (i had checked opentable about an hour before to see about reservations. at 6pm they were booked till 8:15 for a 2 top) but you can get the full menu at the bar. for some reason there were 3 formally dressed managers/front of house(s)? weird.
bf and i split a medium plate which was definitely a lunch or appetizer sized portion (gnocchi with cauliflower and hen of the woods mushrooms) and a large plate (braised shortrib with sweetbreads, pumpkin, and something sweet, i forget what). absolutely loved the dipping oil that came with the bread that i think was just basil and garlic but the taste was so fresh and full of flavor all i have been able to think about is infusing my own olive oil. the food was good, but this oil was my favorite part of the meal.
the cocktails were all super interesting, and all $11. bf had one with ginger beer, smoked blackstrap molasses, rum, and vanilla (over ice in a normal sized glass) and i had a gin/burnt sugar/absinthe/citrus concoction that was made with a foamer (not mentioned on the menu) served in a vintage martini glass. mine was absolutely delicious and complex in a way that was unexpected, but i felt a little gypped because the drink was probably only about 2 shots worth of liquid and the rest was this foam. it was really good but come on. bf was super into his house-made giant piece of candied ginger garnish, and the bartender mentioned they want to start brewing their own ginger beer, making their own bitters, and even down the line doing their own spiced rum.
I tried Ela over the weekend. While I liked it more than Mica (which I don't like at all) or Blackfish (which I'd like a lot more if their menu ever changed), I don't see myself going back. We skipped the "Third Bites" entirely and had almost every First and Second bite, the only one I'd recommend out of all of them was the foie gras dish, with gooseberries and celery raisin bread. The scallop noodle dish was interesting for one bite, but if you are going to take the time to dismantle a scallop and reassemble it into a noodle, the noodle needs to be an improvement on the scallop you started with, and this wasn't, not by a long shot. I would have greatly preferred the same dish either with an actual scallop or with some actual noodles. The scallop noodle was inferior to both, just a ridiculous exercise in culinary wanking. Almost everything else fell into the same category that most of my meals/dishes at Mica and Blackfish have fallen into: technically fine, executed properly, but boring. With the exception of the foie dish, I didn't have anything I'd make a trip back there to eat, and one dish out of eight meeting that standard isn't enough.
Desserts were nothing special either, particularly the "hot chocolate chip cookie dough" Laban raved about. I might have enjoyed it more if it had been accurately labeled on the menu. There is nothing hot about it, it's cold. The only chocolate in the dish comes from some not-so-chocolatey mini-chips. There is no cookie dough, no hot chocolate, or anything reminiscent of either of them in the dish. The dominant flavor is banana, which is listed last in the subtitle of the menu description. When the menu says "hot chocolate chip cookie dough" in bold letters and "vanilla-bay custard, banana" underneath, call me crazy but I was expecting a dessert that in some way involved hot chocolate and cookie dough (or at least some flavors and textures kinda sorta like either one!) as the main event. We liked the other dessert, manjari chocolate, a lot more.
re: Buckethead
That scallop noodle dish is the best single dish in all of Philly.
Who would have guessed that eating would lead to an ever-expanding social circle, and a very treasured one at that?
Went to Ela for the first time last night. I was there because a Yelp friend told me about the collaboration dinner featuring Shola. Once there, I bumped into folks whom I have met at Shola's and was introduced to some whom I will run into in the future. By the end of the dinner, next table and ours, total strangers just 2 hours ago, were setting up plans to meet and cook together.
Just read some reviews on Ela. So, this kind of food is called "Progressive American"? In that case, I am all for Progressive and, as always, all for American.
Food at Ela: GOOD.
re: borntolovefood
Just to be clear, you had dinner there on a night when dinner was a planned event being put on by 4 chefs, Shola Olunloyo, Chris Kearse, Monica Glass, and of course Jason, who is the chef at Ela. So what you ate there is not what is served there on a daily basis.
re: Buckethead
I was hoping to catch this collaboration but couldn't make it. Anyone review the dishes or have pics of the plates?
I actually just ate at Ela over the weekend (Saturday night so it was just the regular crew in the kitchen). Wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.
I got to try about half of the menu. Overall I liked the food quite a bit. They recommend all three courses, and we found it to be a fair amount of food to be filled but not stuffed. (as for cost, more to come...)
On the firsts: The tomato salad was extraordinary. One of the best bites of tomato that I've ever had. I had the fluke and liked it enough. There was a vanilla/white asparagus puree on the plate, which was alternately pleasant and kind of precious. The gazpacho, ordinarily not my favorite, was quite pleasantl. Very clean flavors and thought the crab was a nice touch. The member of our party with the oysters wouldn't share (!!!), but he said that they were the best he'd had in the city (and our last meal together was at Fish, where I enjoyed the oysters quite a bit).
Seconds: I tried the gnocchi, scallop noodles, and banh cam. The scallops were my course. I found them interesting and was glad I tried it, but would probably order an alternative second plate in the future. I liked the gnocchi, i thought it was a new and creative combination of ingredients that played well together, and the gnocchi stood up well to the broth (I wasn't sure if the broth would start to erode them). The banh cam was far and away the star of this course. I thought it was delicious, and not something I come across in my typical dining circuit.
For thirds, I had the pork belly which was excellent and cooked perfectly. Barbeque lentils were a nice touch. The halibut was also very good, and there was a salmon special that I tasted but am not remembering.
They actually brought the warm cookie do back for desert, based on the Best of Philly nod. I enjoyed it quite a bit, except I don't love bananas and the part of the desert that looked like cookie dough was actually bananas. The only presence of cookie dough in the desert is a warm sauce that was poured over the bananas and ice cream, and was extremely delicious. In my dreams it would have been poured over ice cream and what you would picture in your head when you hear the phrase "warm cookie dough". I also tried a chocolate-several-ways desert and thought it was quite good.
Overall, like I said, I would give the food high marks. Same with cocktails. I had the Tommy Gun and absolutely loved it. Would have had 10 with someone else's liver!
Service was good, knowledgable, and attentive without overwhelming us. It was perhaps a little bit hyperbolic at times (I recall someone describing the service at Sbraga using a more graceful term to describe what I am trying to say, though I can't think of it now).
We also had some serious sticker shock when the bill came. We certainly induldged quite a bit (3 courses each + a couple of deserts, and we didn't hold back on wine or cocktails, but we are not big eaters and even with the abundant orders we didn't bring home leftovers (this is very rare for us), so it wasn't as if we ordered an exceptional amount of food. We ended up clocking out over $100 per person with tip. While not outrageous it was more than we were expecting. I think with careful ordering you could probably control costs a little bit, but who goes out to order carefully? So we will probably not work it into the regular rotation, but I'll plan to be back at some point.
Received a flyer in my email. This one is piquing my interest, in a very pleasing way. The question I have is not "Go or not go?" but "Shall I do 1, 2, or all 3?"
Was born in the year of the Pig. The best thing my parents could have done to me since I have lived a very piggy life of eat, drink and be merry. If you go and see a gray-haired old Asian woman looking very happy, that's yours truly. Please wave and say "Hi".
re: borntolovefood
The opportunity to eat Shola's food is something that should not be missed. All others are good.. but the Shola opportunity really stands out.
Ela is doing a 25% off promotion via Savored.com, for Sundays and Tuesday-Thursday:
I finally got back to Ela last night, have not been since they first opened.
We had a really great meal. We did the 4 course "tasting menu" (really just a prix fixe as you select from the a la carte menu).
Got to try:
* kale salad with bottarga
* scallop "noodle" stir fry
* gnocchi
* spanish octopus
* salmon with hearts of palm, beets, guava, thai chili
* duck thigh "steak" with smoked goat cheese grits, charred romaine, blueberries
* cookie dough dessert
* dunbarton cheese
Mostly everything was fantastic, with great flavors, textures and preparation.
The only exceptions, interestingly, were the dishes we had heard about before: the scallop noodles and the cookie dough. The scallop noodles were ok, but I didn't love the texture of the noodles and the flavor of the dish ended up as generic "stir fry," like you might get in a cafeteria. Kind of a flop IMO. The cookie dough was also fine but a bit too milk-chocolately if that makes any sense. Probably just not our cup of tea.
Service was excellent. The pacing of the meal was perfect and the portions very generous. I don't think we could have eaten an additional course, but maybe they make the portions a little smaller on the 5 and 6 course options. At $45 for the four course menu, it was a very good value. We enjoyed the wine list, it is small but had interesting choices with many available by the glass. Most bottles were in the $50 range too.
Place was full at 8pm but was not loud in the back room. Not sure about volume in the front where the bar is. Atmosphere is nice, though a little dark. The presentations looked very nice too, but it was so dark it was hard to get a good look.
We were kind of lukewarm on the place after our first try a couple years ago, but I'm really glad we went back.


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Could well be the cause, video drivers have always been a major source of BSODs. I'd also guess that this machine has Optimus - is it configured correctly?
Hey guys no its a Kingston SSD and yes I did fit this myself I have ran loads of tests on it and it has always completed and passed with flying colours. Although I stumbled across something yesterday, I did a fresh install of Windows 7 from standad Microsoft Disc instead of alienware one and installed drivers from places such as nvidia etc... I read an artical about Dell modify drivers to work in specific for that computer. With the latest nvidia driver it crashed as always BSOD. So I uninstalled the latest nvidia driver and installed the nearly 9 month old one on Dell's website and re-tested it. So far I can't make it go wrong! Could this have been the problem all along? Or am I just being too optimistic?
Could well be the cause, video drivers have always been a major source of BSODs. I'd also guess that this machine has Optimus - is it configured correctly?
I do think it has optimus I remember seeing that somewhere. But what is it and how would I make sure it's configured correctly??
I'd really like the latest drivers on it though especially for graphics as it will help a lot when gaming :/ bit of a bummer if you can only use Dells old drivers! Any help on getting the latest drivers working would be most appreciated!!!
Optimus is an Nvidia technology - it disables the discrete graphics card when demands are low, then silently enables it when needed. Saves power, reduces heat and noise. It should be covered by the GPU drivers, it's possible there are machine specific optimisations included in Dell's drivers. If you look on Nvidia's website; their drivers usually say that the are not suitable for notebooks, and that you should go to your hardware vendor for updates. Most of the time you can safely ignore this, but you may have found the exception!
abillybob (19th November 2013)
Ah yes! That is what my laptop does only when I'm playing games will my discrete GPU kick in otherwise I just use Intels HD 4600 Integrated GPU for normal day to day tasks. Though speaking to Dell they say I should be able to use Nvidia's drivers with no problem although if the issue only happens when nvidias drivers are installed it surely can't be a hardware problem can it? Thanks for all your help mate appreciate it!
Right after hours of work I'm shipping the thing back. Spoke to ecomputers (the people who I bought it off) and to be honest they have rubbish service kept saying he'd send me the RAM and Hard Drive and for me to replace it! I'm sick and tired of messing around with this device. I want a new one just hoping that 1. He'll reply as he hasn't since I said I want a replacement last night 2. That he'll agree!!! Awful service and he's so rude.... If anyone is thinking about buying from ecomputers dont.
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Apple sees iCloud attacks; China hack reported
Apple said Tuesday its iCloud server has been the target of "intermittent" attacks, hours after a security blog said Chinese authorities had been trying to hack into the system.
Apple said Tuesday its iCloud server has been the target of "intermittent" attacks, hours after a security blog said Chinese authorities had been trying to hack into the system.
Apple began selling its latest iPhone in China Friday, nearly a month after other major territories due to a licence delay by regulators, but it faces a tough battle with rivals led by Samsung in the crucial ...
Grinning with pride, a Chinese farmer held out two precious walnuts—globes so precisely symmetrical that consumers in search of hand massages value them more highly than gold.
Days of heavy smog shrouding swathes of northern China pushed pollution to more than 20 times safe levels on Friday, despite government promises to tackle environmental blight.
China is waging an aggressive cyber-war against the United States which costs American business billions of dollars every year, Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey said Sunday.
The Chinese government might be using smartphone apps to spy on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, a U.S. security firm said.
China has cleared the way for Apple to sell its latest iPhones in the key market by granting it a licence, the industry regulator said on Tuesday, after the US giant agreed to improve the security of users' ...
(AP)—China in recent days has busted a slew of smugglers bringing Apple iPhone 6 models into the country ahead of their official release here, with officials on Sunday reporting the latest seizure of 453 smartphones in ...
US technology giant Microsoft will launch its Xbox One in China on September 29, becoming the first game console to enter the market in 14 years, it said Tuesday, in an apparent reversal of a delay announced ...
China has begun blocking the privacy-protecting search engine DuckDuckGo, which avoids storing user data or tracking online activity, according to the company and security researchers.
China's rapidly growing middle class is expected to be a boon for the travel industry, in both China and the U.S. in coming years.
Microsoft, which was due to launch the Xbox One in China on Tuesday, has said it will put back the "historic" event to later this year, slowing what was billed as the first game console to enter the market ...
A massive deposit of jade weighing about 600 tonnes has been found in northeast China, state media said Friday, with local officials describing the rock as priceless.
In his long road to riches, Alibaba founder Jack Ma says his inspiration has been the film character "Forrest Gump."
Employees of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will see their fortunes swell to nearly $8 billion as the company prepares a massive US stock offering that could be valued at $25 billion.


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I'm just testing this and clearly I'm alive because of it...err... That came out funny. Hey.
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.
I'm just testing this and clearly I'm alive because of it...err... That came out funny. Hey.
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.
read it....
...and I never been as busy as I am now!
I had my orientation for work last week. All about learning the "basics" of my position as a Deli worker. As they said, far easier reading than actually doing it - or something akin to that. Anyhow, last week doesn't compare to what I've been doing this week which is being trained, of course.
I knew the amount of what I'm being paid for has to mean something with what I'm going to do - does that make sense? I'm not complaining, I think it's a very fair pay taking into consideration of what I need to do. Oh. It's not minimum wage either - far from it, actually. The job isn't that hard either, it's just a matter of getting "the hang of it".
Anyway, I haven't had the chance to check the 'net due to being tired. OhEmGee. Who would have thought? I'm not kidding. Really. I've been too tired to do so - I tried but I end up sleeping on my laptop, so I don't bother trying... unless I have the day off.
So I'll end this post with the following:
Step 1. Stare at the red dot.
Step 2. Watch the blue circle disappear.
Step 3. ?????
Step 4. Magic!


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I need all my Q&E ladies now..
My neice that just had the baby in the ambulence got burnt tonight..
She was doing tomatoes in the pressure cooker and the lid blew off-
They called for an ambulance and they couldn't do anything so they life flighted her to to the University of Michigan.
Please Please all the Prayers you can muster up - she has a 2 year old and a 6 week old baby at home.
I know nothing more then this.. Waiting on a phone call.


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First Look: November 25First Look summarizes new working papers, case studies, and publications produced by Harvard Business School faculty. Readers receive early knowledge of cutting-edge ideas before they enter the mainstream of business practice. For complete details ... HBS Working Knowledge, 2 days ago
First Look: November 11 - HBS Working Knowledge, 2 weeks ago
Insider trading: Sebi must knock few heads to drive message
The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Wednesday tweaked its rules on insider trading by widening the definition of the term insider. Under the new rules, persons who are connected on the basis of being in any contractual, fiduciary or ...Moneycontrol.com, 1 week ago
Indian-Origin Portfolio Manager Loses Bid to Stay Out of Jail
An Indian-origin portfolio manager, sentenced to nine years for his role in the most lucrative insider trading scheme in US history, has lost his bid to stay out of jail after a judge ruled that evidence against him was "overwhelming", weeks before ...Outlook India, 1 month ago Indian-Origin Manager Loses Bid to Stay out of Jail NDTV, 1 month ago
Insider trading implications in PIPE investments
By Ravindra Bhandhakavi and Parnika Malhotra Private Investments in Public Equity, commonly known as PIPEs, have become a preferred source for raising capital by public listed companies in India. From the issuer's perspective, PIPE transactions ...Bar & Bench, 1 month ago
GOLDMAN SACHS : Link to jailed investor probed ; Greg Orman set to release financial report
U.S. Senate front-runner Greg Orman plans to make public Monday a financial disclosure report required of U.S. Senate candidates outlining the footprint of his vast financial empire amid escalating interest in the independent's bid for office. ...4 Traders, 2 months ago
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In Pennsport, it seems like we're seeing a steady stream of former industrial buildings get demolished in favor of new construction homes. After a Target trip the other day, we breezed past 103 Tasker St., possibly the next in line for that kind of treatment.
The two story property is listed for sale for $250K, which we think is more than the owners will be able to get for it. According to the listing, it runs street to street, so rear parking sounds like it should be possible but with only 41' of depth, some kind of garage would be required, either on Tasker or Greenwich Street. The listing also indicates that the property needs work, so maybe the future owners will renovate the building rather than tear it down and build new. A third floor addition would make that course of action a little more palatable. Also, does anyone know where the Republican First Ward now meets? Seems this was once a location for that sort of thing, if the sign on the door is to be believed.
Girard, Girard, oh sweet Girard. So much building planned, we just wonder when. Since plans were first announced last year for SoKo Lofts, more than 300 new apartments at just north of Girard, and Liberty Square, just under 250 new apartments just about next door, we've seen a string of new development pop up along Girard both east and west of Front Street. It's hard to think that some of this development has not been spurred by talk of these huge projects, even though they haven't moved at all as of yet. Of course, construction across Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and South Kensington are also surely part of the equation as well.
And it seems that another Girard Avenue project is on the horizon, as we recently came upon plans for 225-29 W Girard Ave. for a four-story mixed-use building with three apartments and a commercial space on the first floor. We wrote about this vacant lot earlier this year when it was for sale for what we thought was high $400K, but it did seem like an interesting development opportunity. According to public record, it's still owned by the same party, so we're not sure who's behind the development. It's also worth noting that an interesting mural with three dimensional characteristics is going to be covered by this project.
It wasn't so long ago that the 3rd & Market intersection had the same campy look it had possessed for years. On the northeast corner was the gaudy Shirt Corner. And the slightly less gaudy but still ridiculous Suit Corner held down the southwest corner. And we liked it that way, thank you very much.
At the corner of 26th & Poplar, a vacant warehouse cries out for redevelopment. And its cries might just be answered sometime soon.
The 12,000 sqft building sits on the border between Brewerytown and Fairmount. To the south is a lovely residential neighborhood. To the north is the rapidly improving West Girard commercial corridor. Next door, unfortunately, is a gas station. But that hasn't stopped developers at other locations in the past.
Recently, a reader directed us to a Philadelphia Speaks thread discussing this property, whose owners recently put in for permits to build a couple of roof decks. Our first thought was that the property was owned by the Graveley family, a group that owns several parcels nearby including the recently demolished Old English Tavern. But no, it's owned by Bambrey Associates LLC, a company that purchased the property back in 2002 and is now finally taking an interest in it as the neighborhood to the north continues to progress.
With all the recent action on Front Street in Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and South Kensington, it's no surprise that people who own properties on this long underperforming stretch are hoping to cash out. One particularly sizable example can be found at 1523 N. Front St., between Jefferson and Oxford Streets.
The large building on the site has been home to James Scollon's Sons Building Construction & Repair, though we're pretty sure they've cleared out by now. The look of the building suggests it was once a church, and historical maps confirm that United Presbyterian Church once called this place home. Now, it's for sale for $2.1M along with a collection of surrounding vacant lots. According to the listing, it's almost 7,000 sqft of land combined.
This property would seem to be calling out for reuse into apartments, surrounded by new construction mixed-use. The existing building would especially work for residential use, considering it doesn't butt up against the El. Oxford Mills, the adaptive reuse project across the street, does come right up to the tracks but has tucked the residences further away. Instead, their space on Front Street is reserved for offices.
For at least a decade and surely much longer, a pet store has held down the retail space at 27-29 S. 40th St., near Penn's campus. But over that last decade, there have been plenty of changes to the surrounding area with the most notable being the construction of the Hub on Chestnut just a few doors down. With the former home of the pet store now available for sale, it seems that more change could be on the horizon.
The property is currently listed for sale for $879K which seems like a high price at first glance. But when you consider the fact that the lot has a footprint of over 2,500 sqft and that it's zoned CMX-4, the asking price seems like it might be met. That particular zoning designation would allow for a seven story apartment building by right, which would seem like a wise choice considering the student housing boom in the general area. On the other hand, developers just a block to the south had a similarly zoned lot almost three times the size and instead opted for a disappointing one-story commercial-only building. So who knows what anyone would build here or what they'd pay.
Along the Schuylkill River banks, there's no shortage of interesting bridges, statues, lookouts, and so forth. There are also plenty of nice-looking buildings (Boathouse Row, anyone?). And then there are the buildings that aren't so nice looking, but have a nice view of the water. Heading into town from Chestnut Hill the other day, we came upon a pair of buildings that fit the latter description to a T.
We couldn't tell you when the two buildings at 4328-44 Ridge Ave. were constructed, or for what use. The architecture actually reminds us a little of hotels in the Catskills. In recent years, the buildings have been rented out for office space, with convenient walking access to downtown East Falls and driving access to the highway. The pair were on the market for $3.2M back in 2009, but eventually the property went to sheriff's sale, apparently selling for under $150K.
Everyone loves the NFL (willfully ignoring the world outside of the US). Everyone loves Big Brothers Big Sisters. In Philadelphia, we can look at both through the lens of a historic building.
Football is the most popular sport in America. One of the reasons this sport has grown in popularity and maintained its position on top of the proverbial heap is the work of the people at NFL Films. This company records football games, edits them down, sets the highlights to dramatic music, and adds narration to create an almost cinematic experience for viewers. They started doing their thing in 1965, a mere five years after the Eagles won their last championship. Back then, they were based at 230 N. 13th St., mere steps from the not-yet Vine Street Expressway.
By the 1980s, NFL Films moved to South Jersey and Big Brothers Big Sisters purchased the building. For years, it served as the national headquarters for this wonderful organization, which connects children with adults who want to make a difference in their lives. Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters made the decision to move their national office to Texas, which means their old home is now available for sale.
In March, we told you about 733 S. 3rd St., a fixer-upper if there ever was one. The building, laid out as a duplex, had wonderful bones, but was missing a couple of crucial details. Like, you know, windows.
As that time, the building had just been purchased for $300K and was instantly put back onto the market for $400K. We were pessimistic that that building would sell at that price without some improvements and to their credit, the property owners have been actively fixing up the property. New windows have been installed. The corner space which was home to a business many moons ago has been painted. And some bricks have been removed in a way we've not seen before.
We don't claim to be engineers, but something looks a little off here. Any construction experts care to chime in on what's going on here? As in why the owners are doing this and what exactly they're doing? We have to assume it's safe as it doesn't appear as though the site has been shut down, but it sure looks weird. Any additional insight would be much appreciated.
In the meantime, the property is still on the market for $400K. And if they continue working on the property, it might soon be worth that much.
Remember last summer, when we told you that a 7-11 had closed at 38th & Chestnut, and expressed surprise because those places never seem to close? At the time, we wondered what would replace the convenience store, speculating that the building would be demolished and replaced by a new apartment building, or maybe a mixed-use building.
Shortly after we wrote about it, someone reached out with a rumor that a bank would be taking over for 7-11 at this location. And now that seems to be exactly what's happening.
In the coming months, perhaps even before the fall semester begins, a Santander bank branch will open here. Not only is this objectively worse than a place that sells Slurpees, but it's a real missed opportunity for a taller and more interesting building. Seems like a no brainer, right in the heart of Penn's campus. But hey, what do we know?


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It sounds as though the New World Order is getting even more desperate and reckless as they lose their grip on the global situation on all fronts. They are beating their drums of war so frantically, they can't hear the reverberations.
Let's hope they make a mistake SO DRASTIC that it triggers The Event. The cabal aren't the only ones who are desperate. Enough is enough. ~ BP
Leuren Moret — URGENT: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY — The eastern Ukraine theater of war is escalating hugely since the G20 ended.
Originally posted on 2012: What's the 'real' truth?:
The eastern Ukraine theater of war is escalating hugely since the G20 ended. The Mossad, mercenaries, 10 international war criminals have been caught with govt troops, and they are now using mini-nukes, ballistic missiles, heavy artillery destroying all of the infrastructure in villages and towns as well has hundreds of citizens every day. At least 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers (Kiev Nazis) have been killed because they had no training and many did not have weapons, and at least 20,000 eastern Ukrainian citizens are dead killed by the Ukrainian bombing and shelling houses. There are elderly people dying because they can't leave their bomb shelters to get food and water. Some have no gas to cook with. This is a blatant and complete genocide and a harbinger of what is coming to many places targeted by the NWO order all over the world. This is the Jesuit template…