text: Countryfile Episode 1110 Facebook Google Tumblr Pinterest Blogger Reddit VKontakt Print Email About this programme Ellie Harrison visits Skokholm Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire to learn about its bird population, and looks back at memorable moments from the rural magazine's recent visits to other islands around Britain. Matt Baker discovers the space-age secrets of the Isle of Wight, Julia Bradbury helps a cow and its calf settle into a new home on the Isles of Scilly, and John Craven has a go at bartering in the Outer Hebrides. Cast and crew Crew Executive Editor Andrew Thorman Series Producer Teresa Bogan Categories Nature Like this? Share it. Facebook Google Tumblr Pinterest Blogger Reddit VKontakt Print Email


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In Mali, troops have arrived at the outskirts of Kidal, one of the final rebel strongholds in the West African country.
France says its two weeks of air strikes have left the rebels, a coalition of militant groups, in disarray.
Kidal is under the control of the Islamist group MIA, linked to Ansar Dine, and the secularist MNLA.
In a sign of the turning tide, both groups have requested talks with the Malian government.
The interim President Dioncounda Traore said he is open to talks with the MNLA, but will not meet any Islamist groups.
"The only group that we could think of negotiating with with some results is certainly the MNLA. But of course on the condition that the MNLA drops any pretence to a territorial claim, that it accepts the integration of Mali once and for all," Traore said.
"Regarding the Islamist Ansar Dine, I think that the only solution for them is to solemnly declare that they renounce Sharia law," the interim President added.
The French-led military intervention in Mali has recaptured much of the country.
On the streets of Timbuktu, residents have been rejoicing after the historic city was liberated earlier this week.
Copyright © 2015 euronews
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subset: commoncrawl


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Senior Member
People saying his ult does no damage are missing their combos. Mid game on, you can R>E>Q>AA (the double hitting E will slow, making hitting both Qs very easy) any carry and 100-0 them and still have your W to escape and plenty of energy for E if you want to fight other enemies. The biggest weakness his ulti has is any flash or blink will completely negate it, not the damage. Also, stop leveling E first, Q is where your burst damage is going to come from since E can not do damage twice. I agree that Zed needs some buffs, but his damage is more than adequate.
instead of a mark that does damage 3 secs later, the mark should amplify all damage done to that target
At least it's a gap closer instead of 2 separated seconds of 40% movespeed boost if you know what I'm saying.
When the mark will do enough damage to kill someone it should just explode instead of waiting the full 3 seconds. Then you don't need to wait around for the 3 seconds to finish.


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We are a full service supermarket, specializing in fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables. Visit our deli for ready-to-eat meals, soups and salads. We are known for our fried chicken. Hot Mr. Pastie turnovers are available every Tuesday.
Be sure to check our website every week for our specials and watch throughout our store for Best Buy specials. When our suppliers lower the price to us, we pass the savings on to you. There are thousands everyday in all departments! Just watch for this sign.
MAR1st-MAR 7th>SandersonRoasting Chicken 99¢ lb.>Whole Boneless Pork Loin $1.99 lb. >80% LeanGround BeefV-Paks $3.69 lb.>Fresh Asparagus $1.99 lb. >Red or WhiteSeedless Grapes $1.99 lb. >Green Giant 5#Idaho Potatoes $1.99>Turkey Hill 64 oz.Drinks 4\$5.00 >Green's 1.5 qt. Ice Cream 2\$3.00w\coupon>Tastykake Family Paks5/$11.00>Fancy FeastGourmet Cat Food 20/$10One Day Meat Sale Mar. 19th>Click here to view this week's circular


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Search Nebraska public |
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This page lists public record sources in Merrick County, Nebraska. Additional resources can be found on our Nebraska State Public Records page, on city pages, and on topic pages.
Merrick County, Nebraska - Free Public Records Directory
Recommend a link for this page County Info Merrick County, Nebraska Home PageGeneral information about Merrick County
Population: 8,101 Area: 485 sq. miles County Seat: Central City Area Code(s): 308 Time Zone: Central Free Search Nebraska Court Records and other ResourcesLinks to state and local court records, general Nebraska court information, directory of courts, and online resources for courts in Nebraska. Free Search Court Directory and Court Records InfoDirectory of court locations in Merrick County, Nebraska. Includes local links to searching court records, dockets, legal research, self help, and more. Free Search
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Contact Info Birth, Death and Marriage RecordsMerrick County Clerk 1510 18th St, Central City, NE 68826 Phone: (308)946-2881 Fax: (308)946-2332 Contact Info Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage RecordsView information about obtaining Merrick County birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Free Search Merrick County census information summaryMerrick County statistics for population, ethnicity, housing, geography and businesses. From the U.S. Census Bureau. Free Search Department DirectoryView Merrick County department directory including email links. Contact Info Delinquent Taxes and Tax SalesMerrick County Treasurer 1510 18th Street, Central City, NE 68826 Phone: (308)946-2171 Contact Info Genealogy ResourcesView links to Merrick County genealogy resources. Free Search Genealogy Records SearchSearch Merrick County genealogy records such as cemeteries, census records, obituaries, and more. Free Search County MapsView various maps of Merrick County, including college, legislative and congressional districts, road, and city maps. Free Search
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Tom Ford Fall 2011 Ad Campaign with Candice Swanepoel [Pictures]
Candice Swanepoel Vamps for Tom Ford's Fall 2011 Campaign
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Candice Swanepoel Vamps for Tom Ford's Fall 2011 Campaign
>> Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel is continuing her high fashion crossover with a solo Fall 2011 Tom Ford ad campaign. She fronts the womenswear portion of Ford's campaign, while Lara Stone is doing Fall 2011 beauty honors. Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott were behind the lens this season — instead of Ford himself — and shot Swanepoel outdoors in London in a spot overlooking the Thames River.
Read More On The Campaign TrailFall 2011 Ad CampaignsCandice SwanepoelMarcus PiggottMert AlasTom Ford
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Thread: Editing XP boot.ini (SUSE 9.3)
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06-09-2005 #1
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Editing XP boot.ini (SUSE 9.3)
With the changes I was wondering how to edit the XP boot.ini to allow booting to the SUSE install. I have a Knoppix CD so I should be able to access the SUSE files. I'm a Linux newbie so be gentle. Thanks in advance.
06-09-2005 #2
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You'll want to check out: Using NTLOADR to boot Linux.
06-09-2005 #3
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Thanks. I checked out the link and followed the directions, booting with a Knoppix live-cd. The good news is I have access to the SUSE files, the bad news is using "fdisk -l" (displaying the two drives and all partitions) only the XP partition contains boot information according to an asterisk. Unless someone has another idea I figure my next option is to reinstall SUSE.


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Italian Labour Party
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Italian Labour Party | |
Leader | Giuseppe Croce |
Founded | 1882 |
Dissolved | August 14, 1892 |
Merged into | Italian Socialist Party |
Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
Ideology | Socialism |
Political position | Left-wing |
Colours | Red |
Politics of Italy Political parties Elections |
The Italian Labour Party (Partito Operaio Italiano, POI) was a socialist political party in Italy.
It was founded in 1882 in Milan by Giuseppe Croce and Costantino Lazzari and was supported externally by the Milanese Socialist League of Filippo Turati. In 1892 the party was merged with the Italian Revolutionary Socialist Party of Andrea Costa and the Socialist League to form the Italian Socialist Party, led by Filippo Turati.[1]


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Source: Joseph von Eichendorff.
Eichendorff, Joseph, Freiherr von, 1788-1857
Historical and Public Figures: A General Portrait File to the 1920s
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building / Print Collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs
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Joseph von Eichendorff.
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Rocky Mountain Raceways MotoX
Are you MOTO?
I am MOTO! Continue reading
2011 RMR Motocross Season Winding Down
So we just completed another successful season of racing at Rocky Mountain Raceway. I say successful because I was able to reach one of my twisted goals, and that was to beat a certain guy in my class. Continue reading


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12 Healthy Lemon Recipes
by Toby Amidor in Healthy Recipes, January 12, 2013
This citrus fruit is extremely versatile and can be used to flavor recipes both sweet and savory. Pucker up for these 12 lemony dishes.
Nutrition Lowdown
For the burst of flavor lemons provide, the calories are pretty minimal at a mere 12 for the juice of one. Lemons are also an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin C, providing over one third of your daily dose. It'll also give you a splash of folate, vitamin B6, thiamin, magnesium and potassium.
Lemon juice isn't the only way to add flavor to dishes. These waffles use grated lemon zest for an extra special burst of flavor.
Recipe: Lemon and Walnut Waffles
Dazzle guests with this easy appetizer made with a few simple ingredients: toasted bread, lemon juice, parsley, garlic and olive oil.
Recipe: Lemon-Parsley Bruschetta
Have this shrimp dish, made with the delicious combo of lemon and dill, on the table in just 30 minutes.
Recipe: Lemon-Dill Shrimp
Roasted Chicken
Craving chicken tonight? This delightful dish pairs lemon with rosemary.
Recipe: Garlic Roast Chicken With Rosemary and Lemon
This Mediterranean-inspired dish serves up omega-3 rich salmon with a flavorful lemon-mint yogurt sauce.
Recipe: Poached Salmon With Lemon-Mint Tzatziki
A spritz of lemon juice does any salad good.
Recipe: Chopped Salad With Lemon and Dill
This quick mushroom side dish has fewer than 60 calories per serving!
Recipe: Lemon Pepper Mushrooms
The vitamin C from the lemon juice helps absorb the iron found in the winter greens in this delicious side.
Recipe: Sautéed Greens With Lemon
This recipe uses flavorful Meyer lemons to bring out the flavor of this cruciferous veggie.
Recipe: Broccoli Florets With Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
Giada's super popular cookie recipe uses a combo of lemon juice, lemon zest and sugar to make a flavorful glaze.
Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies With Lemon Glaze (above)
Have extra lemon lying around? Make a batch of fresh lemonade.
Recipe: Ina's Fresh Lemonade
This classic drink is perfect for entertaining guests.
Recipe: Lemon Drop Cocktail
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Initially, this was going to be a post about Millsap's potential contract with the Jazz considering the ongoing discussions between the organization and the power forward from Louisiana Tech. Given the #WojBomb that dropped Friday morning about the GSW-UTA trade, things changed a little bit. Then Friday night, news came out about both Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll signing with Atlanta. So this post has been tweaked a few times.
Did the Hawks get a good deal for Millsap at $19 million over 2 years? To dive in a little bit, what are some contracts that have been doled out to similar players? For power forwards and centers, we're seeing a range from $9 million per year to nearly $14 million per year. On Twitter, Peter Novak suggested Splitter's $9 million per year should be the floor for Millsap's next contract, and the ceiling somewhere near David West's contract with the Pacers. In the first week of free agency, here are a few of the commitments we've seen:
Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs, $36 million/4 years
Tiago Splitter helped make the Spurs a defensive presence this season, jumping from 11th to 3rd as his minutes increased from 19 minutes per game to nearly 25 minutes a game, including 58 starts (up from 2 the year before). Additionally, he's 6'10'' and some math whiz out there could probably figure out the correlation between each additional inch for a semi- to very-talented center and how many more millions comes along with each inch. The Spurs aren't known for doling out outrageous contracts, so while some of us may have had an initial sticker shock when hearing about this contract, I'm guessing we'll see it as a reasonable contract in a few years.
David West, Indiana Pacers, $36 million/3 years
I don't think David West's influence on the Pacers' Eastern Conference Semifinals run can be underestimated. His veteran presence and defensive toughness helped anchor the top-ranked defense in the league (up from 10th the year before). His previous contract was $20 million over 2 years, so while this contract is an increase in both the number of years and in the amount per year, it's a reasonable bump in each. Like the Spurs, the Pacers haven't been known to sign their own to ridiculous contracts, and given Indiana's success since West's arrival, I think this one is understandable. For comparison's sake, West stands at 6'9'', 250 lbs, a slight height increase over Paul Millsap.
Al Jefferson, Charlotte Bobcats, $41 million/3 years
I feel like every discussion and debate that could be had about Al Jefferson has been had by Jazz fans over the past few years. Crafty, low-post offensive wizard with pump fakes and pivots galore, an aversion to contact (look at his numbers pre- and post-ACL injury—very interesting!), and a sieve-like defender. He rarely turns the ball over and he shoots at a near-50% clip from the field. If you want offense, he'll get you offense. If you want defense, you'll have to look elsewhere. If you want a good locker room guy, he's it. He's comfortable being a team's number one option, he's 6'10'', and those are a few reasons why he got $14 million per year.
So where did that leave Paul Millsap?
Interestingly, Millsap's per-36 numbers are incredibly close to West's. Last season, per-36, West's stats were slightly higher in field-goal attempts, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, defensive rebounds, assists (by 0.1) and points. Millsap had the slight edge in three-point percentage (33.3%!), free-throw attempts, offensive rebounds and total rebounds, steals, blocks, and fewer turnovers. The numbers are very, very close. But West is an inch taller, a better defender, and led the Pacers to the best-ranked defense in the league (though, obviously, Roy Hibbert's emergence had something to do with that, as well).
Millsap's team likely made the argument that he's a better, more skilled player than Splitter, and that his comp is closer to David West. There's some merit to that argument, which is why he's getting $10 million per year, but his height and lack of being a first or second option is probably part of what contributed to the contract only being 2 years. The newer CBA is shortening the length of contracts for players who aren't a first or second option.
Having said that, I think the Hawks got a good deal for Millsap at $19 million over two years. They don't tie up any significant money long term, they get a very good PF that will help make teammates better and will fill up the stat sheet. He'll work hard, and he's added a weapon to his offensive arsenal every year. Until the Miracle in Miami, who knew he had three-point range? Even with a small sample size, he shot 33% from three last year. While rebounding and hustle plays have been his forte since entering the league, he's become a much more complete offensive player.
Good luck in Atlanta, Paul Millsap. You were the epitome of a Jazz man during your time in Utah – you'll be missed.
You're going to read a lot about Gordon Hayward in this fourth edition of the Game Ball rankings. Another batch of glowing...Read More
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Jazz should have re-signed MILLSAP!
Keep the trades coming/..


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Carlos Eire: Ireland, Don't Erect a Monument to Che
Yale Professor Carlos Eire [T. Lawrason Riggs professor of history and religious studies], author of Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy, which won the National Book Award in 2003, wrote this letter and submitted it to the Irish Times in response to plans by the city of Galway to erect a statue honoring Che Guevara. The Times demurred, but it was published in the Galway Advertiser, and Professor Eire has given National Review permission to reprint it on these pages (h/t to the great Cuban human rights blog, Babalú).
Dear editors,
As a victim of Che Guevara's atrocities, as a historian, and as a Cuban of Irish descent, I am deeply disturbed by the fact that the city of Galway is planning to erect a monument to Ernesto "Che" Guevara. I don't mind one bit if those behind this monstrous project want to believe lies — that's their right in a truly free society — but it would be wrong to allow their abysmal ignorance or willful blindness to stand unchallenged. Those who think highly of Che may be surprised to hear it, but they have way too much in common with Holocaust deniers....
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Kufuor, John Agyekum, 1938-
From Library of Congress Name Authority File
Kufuor, John Agyekum, 1938-
Instance Of
Scheme Membership(s)
Collection Membership(s)
- Kufuor, J. A. (John Agyekum), 1938-
Related Terms
- Ghana. President (2001- : Kufuor)
Exact Matching Concepts from Other Schemes
- found: Ghana, the dream of the 21st century, c2001: p. 162 (John Agyekum Kufuor; b. Dec.-8-1938) p. 163 (President J.A. Kufuor) p. 164 (Became president of Ghana in 2000)
- found: Inauguration of the President of the Fourth Republic for a second term, 2005 (Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor (President Elect))
- found: Wikipedia WWW site, Dec 13, 2006 (under John Kufuor: John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor; b. Dec. 8, 1938, Kumasi, Ashanti Region; president of Ghana, Jan. 7, 2001- )
Change Notes
- 2002-12-10: new
- 2006-12-13: revised
Alternate Formats


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Ecology Today
New Study Shows California Droughts Driven by Climate Change and Here to Stay
By Sarah Lazare
Common Dreams
The increasingly frequent and severe droughts that have punished California over the past two decades—including the current record-breaking one—are primarily the result of human-caused climate change and will likely grow even worse, scientists at Stanford University warn.
Published in Monday's issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the new research analyzes historical records, as well as computer simulations of global warming, to investigate the role of changing temperatures during California droughts over the last 120 years.
The researchers concluded that human-driven global warming is exacerbating and increasing the confluent warm and dry conditions that have produced the state's most severe droughts.
"Of course low precipitation is a prerequisite for drought, but less rain and snowfall alone don't ensure a drought will happen," explained Stanford professor and lead author Noah Diffenbaugh. "It really matters if the lack of precipitation happens during a warm or cool year."
"We've seen the effects of record heat on snow and soil moisture this year in California, and we know from this new research that climate change is increasing the probability of those warm and dry conditions occurring together," Diffenbaugh added.
Danielle Touma, a graduate student and co-author of the study, explained, "When we look at the historical record, not only do we see a doubling of the odds of a warm-dry year, but we also see a doubling of the frequency of drought years. Warm conditions reduce snowfall, increase snowmelt and increase water loss from soils and plants."
The researchers say their findings predict worse weather to come.
"We found that essentially all years are likely to be warm—or extremely warm—in California by the middle of the 21st century," said study co-author Daniel Swain, who is also a graduate student in Diffenbaugh's lab. "This means that both drought frequency—and the potential intensity of those droughts which do occur — will likely increase as temperatures continue to rise."
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License
Categories: Ecological News
NASA Study Finds Increased Risk of U.S. Megadrought
By NASA
NASA scientists used tree rings to understand past droughts and climate models incorporating soil moisture data to estimate future drought risk in the 21st century.
Droughts in the U.S. Southwest and Central Plains during the last half of this century could be drier and longer than drought conditions seen in those regions in the last 1,000 years, according to a new NASA study.
The study, published February 12th in the journal Science Advances, is based on projections from several climate models, including one sponsored by NASA. The research found continued increases in human-produced greenhouse gas emissions drives up the risk of severe droughts in these regions.
"Natural droughts like the 1930s Dust Bowl and the current drought in the Southwest have historically lasted maybe a decade or a little less," said Ben Cook, climate scientist at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University in New York City, and lead author of the study. "What these results are saying is we're going to get a drought similar to those events, but it is probably going to last at least 30 to 35 years."
According to Cook, the current likelihood of a megadrought, a drought lasting more than three decades, is 12 percent. If greenhouse gas emissions stop increasing in the mid-21st century, Cook and his colleagues project the likelihood of megadrought to reach more than 60 percent.
However, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase along current trajectories throughout the 21st century, there is an 80 percent likelihood of a decades-long megadrought in the Southwest and Central Plains between the years 2050 and 2099.
The scientists analyzed a drought severity index and two soil moisture data sets from 17 climate models that were run for both emissions scenarios. The high emissions scenario projects the equivalent of an atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration of 1,370 parts per million (ppm) by 2100, while the moderate emissions scenario projects the equivalent of 650 ppm by 2100. Currently, the atmosphere contains 400 ppm of CO2.
In the Southwest, climate change would likely cause reduced rainfall and increased temperatures that will evaporate more water from the soil. In the Central Plains, drying would largely be caused by the same temperature-driven increase in evaporation.
The Fifth Assessment Report, issued by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2013, synthesized the available scientific studies and reported that increases in evaporation over arid lands are likely throughout the 21st century. But the IPCC report had low confidence in projected changes to soil moisture, one of the main indicators of drought.
Until this study, much of the previous research included analysis of only one drought indicator and results from fewer climate models, Cook said, making this a more robust drought projection than any previously published.
"What I think really stands out in the paper is the consistency between different metrics of soil moisture and the findings across all the different climate models," said Kevin Anchukaitis, a climate scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, who was not involved in the study. "It is rare to see all signs pointing so unwaveringly toward the same result, in this case a highly elevated risk of future megadroughts in the United States."
This study also is the first to compare future drought projections directly to drought records from the last 1,000 years.
"We can't really understand the full variability and the full dynamics of drought over western North America by focusing only on the last century or so," Cook said. "We have to go to the paleoclimate record, looking at these much longer timescales, when much more extreme and extensive drought events happened, to really come up with an appreciation for the full potential drought dynamics in the system."
Modern measurements of drought indicators go back about 150 years. Cook and his colleagues used a well-established tree-ring database to study older droughts. Centuries-old trees allow a look back into the distant past. Tree species like oak and bristle cone pines grow more in wet years, leaving wider rings, and vice versa for drought years. By comparing the modern drought measurements to tree rings in the 20th century for a baseline, the tree rings can be used to establish moisture conditions over the past 1,000 years.
The scientists were interested in megadroughts that took place between 1100 and 1300 in North America. These medieval-period droughts, on a year-to-year basis, were no worse than droughts seen in the recent past. But they lasted, in some cases, 30 to 50 years.
When these past megadroughts are compared side-by-side with computer model projections of the 21st century, both the moderate and business-as-usual emissions scenarios are drier, and the risk of droughts lasting 30 years or longer increases significantly.
Connecting the past, present and future in this way shows that 21st century droughts in the region are likely to be even worse than those seen in medieval times, according to Anchukaitis.
"Those droughts had profound ramifications for societies living in North America at the time. These findings require us to think about how we would adapt if even more severe droughts lasting over a decade were to occur in our future," Anchukaitis said.
NASA monitors Earth's vital signs from land, air and space with a fleet of satellites and ambitious airborne and ground-based observation campaigns. NASA develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records and computer analysis tools to better see how our planet is changing. The agency shares this unique knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet.
Droughts in the Southwest and Central Plains of the United States in the second half of the 21st century could be drier and longer than anything humans have seen in those regions in the last 1,000 years, according to a new NASA study published in Science Advances on Feb 12, 2015. The research found continued increases in human-produced greenhouse gas emissions drives up the risk of severe droughts in these regions.
In this video, soil moisture 30 cm (about 1 foot) below ground is projected through the year 2100 for two emissions scenarios. Brown is drier and blue is wetter than the 20th century average. RCP 4.5 assumes reduced CO2 emissions. RCP 8.5 is "business as usual."
For more information about NASA's Earth science activities, visit:
Categories: Ecological News
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Teams with Conservation Partners to Launch Campaign to Save Monarch Butterfly, Engage Millions of Americans
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today launched a major new campaign aimed at saving the declining monarch butterfly. The Service signed a cooperative agreement with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), announced a major new funding initiative with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and pledged an additional $2 million in immediate funding for on-the-ground conservation projects around the country. Introducing the new initiatives at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. were Service Director Dan Ashe, U.S. Senator from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar, NWF President and CEO Collin O'Mara, and NFWF representatives.
While monarchs are found across the United States — as recently as 1996 numbering some 1 billion — their numbers have declined by approximately 90 percent in recent years, a result of numerous threats, particularly loss of habitat due to agricultural practices, development and cropland conversion. Degradation of wintering habitat in Mexico and California has also had a negative impact on the species.
To directly tackle these challenges, the new cooperative effort will build a network of diverse conservation partners and stakeholders to protect and restore important monarch habitat, while also reaching out to Americans of all ages who can play a central role.
"We can save the monarch butterfly in North America, but only if we act quickly and together," said Ashe. "And that is why we are excited to be working with the National Wildlife Federation and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to engage Americans everywhere, from schools and community groups to corporations and governments, in protecting and restoring habitat. Together we can create oases for monarchs in communities across the country."
"Known for its beautiful orange color, fascinating life cycle and remarkable annual migration, the monarch butterfly is the most iconic butterfly in North America," Klobuchar said. "With the butterfly rapidly disappearing, I am pleased to see the Fish and Wildlife Service taking positive steps to reverse its decline. We must build on this momentum, and I will continue to call on the public and private sectors to join together in the effort to protect the monarch butterfly."
The memorandum of understanding between NWF and the Service will serve as a catalyst for national collaboration on monarch conservation, particularly in planting native milkweed and nectar plants, the primary food sources in breeding and migration habitats for the butterfly.
"If we all work together — individuals, communities, farmers, land managers, and local, state, and federal agencies — we can ensure that every American child has a chance to experience amazing monarchs in their backyards," said O'Mara. "By taking action today and addressing the growing threats that are affecting so much of America's treasured wildlife — habitat loss, pesticide overuse and climate change — we will preserve monarchs and America's rich wildlife legacy. The National Wildlife Federation and our state affiliates are proud to stand with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and other key partners on the front lines of action."
The new NFWF Monarch Conservation Fund announced today was kick-started by an injection of $1.2 million from the Service that will be matched by other private and public donors. The fund will provide the first dedicated source of funding for projects working to conserve monarchs.
"The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has a long track record of partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop successful private landowner-focused conservation grant programs," said NFWF Director and CEO Jeff Trandahl. "We look forward to working closely with the Service as we establish the Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund, which will serve as a key component of the effort to revitalize monarch butterfly populations and the important native plant species on which they depend."
From California to the Corn Belt, the Service will also fund numerous conservation projects totaling $2 million this year to restore and enhance more than 200,000 acres of habitat for monarchs while also supporting over 750 schoolyard habitats and pollinator gardens. Many of the projects will focus on the I-35 corridor from Texas to Minnesota, areas that provide important spring and summer breeding habitats in the eastern population's central flyway.
"These projects will not only help us leverage expertise and resources for engaging critical partners on restoring the monarch," said Ashe. "We will also reach out to millions of Americans on both the challenge involved and how they can help. Together, we will make sure that the monarch continues to be a welcome sight across America."
The monarch is perhaps the best-known butterfly species in the United States. Every year they undertake one of the world's most remarkable migrations, traveling thousands of miles over many generations from Mexico, across the United States, to Canada.
The monarch's exclusive larval host plant and a critical food source is native milkweed, which has been eradicated or severely degraded in many areas across the United States in recent years. The accelerated conversion of the continent's native short and tallgrass prairie habitat to crop production has also had an adverse impact on the monarch.
Spectacular as it is, protecting the monarch is not just about saving one species. The monarch serves as an indicator of the health of pollinators and the American landscape. Monarch declines are symptomatic of environmental problems that pose risks to our food supply, the spectacular natural places that help define our national identity, and our own health. Conserving and connecting habitat for monarchs will benefit other plants, animals and important insect and avian pollinators.
The Service's public engagement effort includes a monarch website with details and photos on the monarch's plight, information on how Americans can get involved and direct outreach to schools and communities. Since agriculture also plays a key role in the monarch's survival, our partnership efforts will engage farmers and landowners on management practices that will protect and restore habitat.
Categories: Ecological News
Earth Hour 2015 Countdown Begins
As nations and individuals around the globe gear up to participate in the world's largest grassroots environmental movement, WWF's Earth Hour kickstarted the countdown to the 2015 event with the release of the official campaign video today. Set to the international hit song 'Pompeii' by British rock band Bastille, the two-minute video demonstrates how Earth Hour is empowering individuals and organisations around the world to take action on climate change.
Showcasing memorable moments and achievements from past Earth Hour events as well as powerful statements from world leaders and personalities such as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US President Barack Obama and actors Emma Thompson, Li Bingbing and Marc Ruffalo on the issue of climate change, the Earth Hour 2015 video aims to inspire people with the message to act and 'use your power to change climate change'.
"This is the ninth time the Earth Hour movement will roll across the world. Millions of people will come together to use their power to change climate change and we want to work with them to deliver real solutions for a sustainable future for our planet," said Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Executive Director, Marketing and Communications WWF International.
In the past eight years, Earth Hour has grown from a symbolic lights-off event in Sydney, Australia to the world's largest open-sourced environmental campaign mobilising hundreds of millions of people in more than 7,000 cities and 163 countries and territories.
"We would like to thank the band Bastille, Universal and EMI Publishing for helping us create an inspiring video that captures the energy and power of the Earth Hour movement to impact climate change," said Sarronwala.
Earth Hour 2015 will take place on 28th March 2015 between 8:30 and 9:30 P.M. in your local time zone. To know more about the event and activities happening in and around your city and how you can use your power to change climate change, visit www.earthhour.org.
Categories: Ecological News
NASA, NOAA Find 2014 Warmest Year in Modern Record
By NASA
The year 2014 ranks as Earth's warmest since 1880, according to two separate analyses by NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists.
The 10 warmest years in the instrumental record, with the exception of 1998, have now occurred since 2000. This trend continues a long-term warming of the planet, according to an analysis of surface temperature measurements by scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York.
In an independent analysis of the raw data, also released Friday, NOAA scientists also found 2014 to be the warmest on record.
"NASA is at the forefront of the scientific investigation of the dynamics of the Earth's climate on a global scale," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The observed long-term warming trend and the ranking of 2014 as the warmest year on record reinforces the importance for NASA to study Earth as a complete system, and particularly to understand the role and impacts of human activity."
Since 1880, Earth's average surface temperature has warmed by about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius), a trend that is largely driven by the increase in carbon dioxide and other human emissions into the planet's atmosphere. The majority of that warming has occurred in the past three decades.
"This is the latest in a series of warm years, in a series of warm decades. While the ranking of individual years can be affected by chaotic weather patterns, the long-term trends are attributable to drivers of climate change that right now are dominated by human emissions of greenhouse gases," said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt.
While 2014 temperatures continue the planet's long-term warming trend, scientists still expect to see year-to-year fluctuations in average global temperature caused by phenomena such as El Niño or La Niña. These phenomena warm or cool the tropical Pacific and are thought to have played a role in the flattening of the long-term warming trend over the past 15 years. However, 2014's record warmth occurred during an El Niño-neutral year.
"NOAA provides decision makers with timely and trusted science-based information about our changing world," said Richard Spinrad, NOAA chief scientist. "As we monitor changes in our climate, demand for the environmental intelligence NOAA provides is only growing. It's critical that we continue to work with our partners, like NASA, to observe these changes and to provide the information communities need to build resiliency."
Regional differences in temperature are more strongly affected by weather dynamics than the global mean. For example, in the U.S. in 2014, parts of the Midwest and East Coast were unusually cool, while Alaska and three western states – California, Arizona and Nevada – experienced their warmest year on record, according to NOAA.
The GISS analysis incorporates surface temperature measurements from 6,300 weather stations, ship- and buoy-based observations of sea surface temperatures, and temperature measurements from Antarctic research stations. This raw data is analyzed using an algorithm that takes into account the varied spacing of temperature stations around the globe and urban heating effects that could skew the calculation. The result is an estimate of the global average temperature difference from a baseline period of 1951 to 1980.
NOAA scientists used much of the same raw temperature data, but a different baseline period. They also employ their own methods to estimate global temperatures.
GISS is a NASA laboratory managed by the Earth Sciences Division of the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Maryland. The laboratory is affiliated with Columbia University's Earth Institute and School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York.
NASA monitors Earth's vital signs from land, air and space with a fleet of satellites, as well as airborne and ground-based observation campaigns. NASA develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records and computer analysis tools to better see how our planet is changing. The agency shares this unique knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet.
The data set of 2014 surface temperature measurements is available at:
The methodology used to make the temperature calculation is available at:
For more information about NASA's Earth science activities, visit:
Categories: Ecological News
Rise in Mass Die-Offs Seen Among Birds, Fish and Marine Invertebrates
By Sarah Yang
UC Berkeley News Center
An analysis of 727 mass die-offs of nearly 2,500 animal species from the past 70 years has found that such events are increasing among birds, fish and marine invertebrates. At the same time, the number of individuals killed appears to be decreasing for reptiles and amphibians, and unchanged for mammals.
Such mass mortality events occur when a large percentage of a population dies in a short time frame. While the die-offs are rare and fall short of extinction, they can pack a devastating punch, potentially killing more than 90 percent of a population in one shot. However, until this study, there had been no quantitative analysis of the patterns of mass mortality events among animals, the study authors noted.
"This is the first attempt to quantify patterns in the frequency, magnitude and cause of such mass kill events," said study senior author Stephanie Carlson, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management.
The study, published today (Monday, Jan. 12) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by researchers at UC Berkeley, the University of San Diego and Yale University.
The researchers reviewed incidents of mass kills documented in scientific literature. Although they came across some sporadic studies dating back to the 1800s, the analysis focused on the period from 1940 to the present. The researchers acknowledged that some of their findings may be due to an increase in the reporting of mass die-offs in recent decades. But they noted that even after accounting for some of this reporting bias, there was still an increase in mass die-offs for certain animals.
Overall, disease was the primary culprit, accounting for 26 percent of the mass die-offs. Direct effects tied to humans, such as environmental contamination, caused 19 percent of the mass kills. Biotoxicity triggered by events such as algae blooms accounted for a significant proportion of deaths, and processes directly influenced by climate — including weather extremes, thermal stress, oxygen stress or starvation — collectively contributed to about 25 percent of mass mortality events.
The most severe events were those with multiple causes, the study found.
Carlson, a fish ecologist, and her UC Berkeley graduate students had observed such die-offs in their studies of fish in California streams and estuaries, originally piquing their interest in the topic.
"The catastrophic nature of sudden, mass die-offs of animal populations inherently captures human attention," said Carlson. "In our studies, we have come across mass kills of federal fish species during the summer drought season as small streams dry up. The majority of studies we reviewed were of fish. When oxygen levels are depressed in the water column, the impact can affect a variety of species."
The study found that the number of mass mortality events has been increasing by about one event per year over the 70 years the study covered.
"While this might not seem like much, one additional mass mortality event per year over 70 years translates into a considerable increase in the number of these events being reported each year," said study co-lead author Adam Siepielski, an assistant professor of biology at the University of San Diego. "Going from one event to 70 each year is a substantial increase, especially given the increased magnitudes of mass mortality events for some of these organisms.
This study suggests that in addition to monitoring physical changes such as changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, it is important to document the biological response to regional and global environmental change. The researchers highlighted ways to improve documentation of such events in the future, including the possible use of citizen science to record mass mortality events in real time.
"The initial patterns are a bit surprising, in terms of the documented changes to frequencies of occurrences, magnitudes of each event and the causes of mass mortality," said study co-lead author Samuel Fey, a postdoctoral fellow in ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale. "Yet these data show that we have a lot of room to improve how we document and study these types of rare events."
Funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation helped support this research.
Categories: Ecological News
Lima Climate Talks End, Paris Clock Ticking
The UN climate talks in Lima have ended with the setting of deadlines for the world to come up with plans to curb emissions and adapt to climate change.
By Paul Brown
LONDON, 14 December, 2014 – A deal struck in Lima between 196 nations today leaves open the possibility of saving the planet from dangerous overheating. But its critics say the prospects of success are now slim.
The talks – which ran two days longer than scheduled – set a series of deadlines which mean that every nation is charged with producing its plans to cap and reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
These commitments will then be assessed to see if they are enough to prevent the world heating up more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, the threshold political leaders say must not be crossed in order to avoid dangerous climate change.
The Lima agreement invites all countries to set out their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31 March. The next step will be to draft a legally binding international agreement on how to get below the 2°C threshold. This text is to be made available to all countries for comment by May 2015.
All Eyes on ParisBy 1 November the secretariat of the UN Climate Change Convention is supposed to have assessed whether the commitment of these 196 nations is enough to stop the world overheating – and, if it is not, to point out by how far they will miss the target.
All this is to set the stage for a dramatic final negotiation in Paris in a year's time, when a blueprint for a legally enforceable deal is supposed to be on the table. This is a tall order, however, because each time the parties meet the rich and poor countries wage the same arguments over again.
The developing countries say the rich developed countries that caused the problem in the first place must make deep cuts in their emissions and pay huge sums for the poorer countries to adapt to climate change.
"The text went from weak to weaker to weakest and it's very weak indeed." ~ Sam Smith, WWF Chief of Climate PolicyThe rich countries say that the fast industrialisation of many developing countries means that these countries must cut emissions too, otherwise the world will overheat anyway.
The poorest countries of all, and the small island states, who everyone agrees have no responsibility for the problem, want much more dramatic curbs on emissions, and more money for adaptation to sea level rise and climate extremes than is likely to be forthcoming.
New RealityThe talks take place amid their own jargon, with phrases like the "principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances" seen as essential to point up the difference between rich and poor nations and what they are expected to do.
The talks have dragged on for 15 years since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, in which the rich nations agreed to the first cuts in emissions while allowing the poorer nations to continue developing.
Now that China has overtaken the US as the world's biggest polluter, and countries like Brazil and India are fast catching up, the scientific case is that every country has to curb its emissions, or else everyone faces disaster.
But whether the talks have gone far enough to allow a deal to be reached in Paris next year is a matter of many opinions.
"As a text it's not perfect, but it includes the positions of the parties," said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, the Peruvian environment minister, who presided over the talks and must have been relieved he got a text on which every country was prepared to agree.
Caustic ReactionEnvironmental groups were scathing about the outcome. Sam Smith, chief of climate policy for WWF, said: "The text went from weak to weaker to weakest and it's very weak indeed.
"Governments crucially failed to agree on specific plans to cut emissions before 2020…The science is clear that delaying action until 2020 will make it near-impossible to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, yet political expediency won over scientific urgency."
"It's definitely watered down from what we expected," said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
But those not keen on limiting their own development were happy. "We got what we wanted," Prakash Javadekar, India's environment minister, said.
Despite the different views the talks did not break down, and so there is still hope. This assessment from Mohammed Adow, Christian Aid's senior climate change adviser, probably accurately sums up the Lima result: "The countdown clock to Paris is now ticking. Countries had the chance to give themselves a head start on the road to Paris but instead have missed the gun and now need to play catch-up." – Climate News Network
Editor's Note: Click here for a rundown of what transpired during the full two weeks of talks.
Categories: Ecological News
Ian Player, Grandfather of Conservation Passes On
Nature conservationist Ian Player has died at his home in the Karkloof Valley in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The Wilderness Foundation issued a statement stating ""87-year-old Dr Ian Player, passed away peacefully at midday on 30 November 2014 after a short illness." Player – who is credited with saving the white rhino from extinction in KwaZulu-Natal in the 1950s – suffered a stroke last Thursday. He committed his life to conservation and is known worldwide as the grandfather of South Africa's conservation movement.
Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, a Unesco World Heritage site, posted on Facebook: "In a century when the earth is being badly injured and harmed, nature is desperately in need of wise guardians to protect it. Ian was such a sage. His voice was a beacon of hope, one that recognized the sacredness of all species and the interconnectiveness of life itself. For those of us in the trenches he will be sorely missed. He stood with us in a joint quest to ensure the protection and the well being of all the earth's inhabitants."
This year, the world-renowned Dusi Canoe Marathon, a paddling and portaging ultra-marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, will honor Player, its founder and the inaugural winner (and only finisher) in 1951. "His passion for adventure and conservation will always be cherished by the 12 374 men and women who have followed in his footsteps and completed a Dusi, and by every single one of the athletes that will start the 2015 edition of the race in his memory," Dusi GM Brett Austen Smith said.
There is to be a small, private funeral but numerous memorials are being planned. "His passing has been so gentle and peaceful while his Spirit and Soul were being absorbed into the Greater Universe," Sheila Berry said on behalf of the Player family.
For more information on his remarkable life, visit Ian Player.com
Categories: Ecological News
EPA Proposes Smog Standards to Safeguard Americans from Air Pollution
By EPA
WASHINGTON– Based on extensive recent scientific evidence about the harmful effects of ground-level ozone, or smog, EPA is proposing to strengthen air quality standards to within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb) to better protect Americans' health and the environment, while taking comment on a level as low as 60 ppb. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review the standards every five years by following a set of open, transparent steps and considering the advice of a panel of independent experts. EPA last updated these standards in 2008, setting them at 75 ppb.
"Bringing ozone pollution standards in line with the latest science will clean up our air, improve access to crucial air quality information, and protect those most at-risk. It empowers the American people with updated air quality information to protect our loved ones – because whether we work or play outdoors – we deserve to know the air we breathe is safe," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Fulfilling the promise of the Clean Air Act has always been EPA's responsibility. Our health protections have endured because they're engineered to evolve, so that's why we're using the latest science to update air quality standards – to fulfill the law's promise, and defend each and every person's right to clean air."
EPA scientists examined numerous scientific studies in its most recent review of the ozone standards, including more than 1,000 new studies published since the last update. Studies indicate that exposure to ozone at levels below 75 ppb — the level of the current standard — can pose serious threats to public health, harm the respiratory system, cause or aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and is linked to premature death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. Ground-level ozone forms in the atmosphere when emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds "cook" in the sun from sources like cars, trucks, buses, industries, power plants and certain fumes from fuels, solvents and paints. People most at risk from breathing air containing ozone include people with asthma, children, older adults, and those who are active or work outside. Stronger ozone standards will also provide an added measure of protection for low income and minority families who are more likely to suffer from asthma or to live in communities that are overburdened by pollution. Nationally, 1 in 10 children has been diagnosed with asthma.
According to EPA's analysis, strengthening the standard to a range of 65 to 70 ppb will provide significantly better protection for children, preventing from 320,000 to 960,000 asthma attacks and from 330,000 to 1 million missed school days. Strengthening the standard to a range of 70 to 65 ppb would better protect both children and adults by preventing more than 750 to 4,300 premature deaths; 1,400 to 4,300 asthma-related emergency room visits; and 65,000 to 180,000 missed workdays.
EPA estimates that the benefits of meeting the proposed standards will significantly outweigh the costs. If the standards are finalized, every dollar we invest to meet them will return up to three dollars in health benefits. These large health benefits will be gained from avoiding asthma attacks, heart attacks, missed school days and premature deaths, among other health effects valued at $6.4 to $13 billion annually in 2025 for a standard of 70 ppb, and $19 to $38 billion annually in 2025 for a standard of 65 ppb. Annual costs are estimated at $3.9 billion in 2025 for a standard of 70 ppb, and $15 billion for a standard at 65 ppb.
A combination of recently finalized or proposed air pollution rules – including "Tier 3" clean vehicle and fuels standards – will significantly cut smog-forming emissions from industry and transportation, helping states meet the proposed standards. EPA's analysis of federal programs that reduce air pollution from fuels, vehicles and engines of all sizes, power plants and other industries shows that the vast majority of U.S. counties with monitors would meet the more protective standards by 2025 just with the rules and programs now in place or underway. Local communities, states, and the federal government have made substantial progress in reducing ground-level ozone. Nationally, from 1980 to 2013, average ozone levels have fallen 33 percent. EPA projects that this progress will continue.
The Clean Air Act provides states with time to meet the standards. Depending on the severity of their ozone problem, areas would have between 2020 and 2037 to meet the standards. To ensure that people are alerted when ozone reaches unhealthy levels, EPA is proposing to extend the ozone monitoring season for 33 states. This is particularly important for at-risk groups, including children and people with asthma because it will provide information so families can take steps to protect their health on smoggy days.
The agency is also proposing to strengthen the "secondary" ozone standard to a level within 65 to 70 ppb to protect plants, trees and ecosystems from damaging levels of ground-level ozone. New studies add to the evidence showing that repeated exposure to ozone stunts the growth of trees, damages plants, and reduces crop yield. The proposed level corresponds to levels of seasonal ozone exposure scientists have determined would be more protective.
EPA will seek public comment on the proposal for 90 days following publication in the Federal Register, and the agency plans to hold three public hearings. EPA will issue final ozone standards by October 1, 2015.
To view the proposal: http://www.epa.gov/glo/
Categories: Ecological News
NASA Captures a Year in the Life of Earth's CO2
Courtesy of NASA
An ultra-high-resolution NASA computer model has given scientists a stunning new look at how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere travels around the globe.
Plumes of carbon dioxide in the simulation swirl and shift as winds disperse the greenhouse gas away from its sources. The simulation also illustrates differences in carbon dioxide levels in the northern and southern hemispheres and distinct swings in global carbon dioxide concentrations as the growth cycle of plants and trees changes with the seasons.
The carbon dioxide visualization was produced by a computer model called GEOS-5, created by scientists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office.
The visualization is a product of a simulation called a "Nature Run." The Nature Run ingests real data on atmospheric conditions and the emission of greenhouse gases and both natural and man-made particulates. The model is then left to run on its own and simulate the natural behavior of the Earth's atmosphere. This Nature Run simulates January 2006 through December 2006.
While Goddard scientists worked with a "beta" version of the Nature Run internally for several years, they released this updated, improved version to the scientific community for the first time in the fall of 2014.
For detailed views of various parts of the world, visit:
A Closer Look at Carbon Dioxide
Categories: Ecological News
Global Fishing Watch is Eye on the Ocean
Close to 90 percent of the world's oceans are over-fished or fully exploited, according to 2014 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Fishing fleets operate way out to sea, often operating in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other no-go zones, far beyond watchful eyes.
But not for much longer.At the recent 2014 IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia the prototype of a new big data technology platform called Global Fishing Watch was unveiled. Developed through a technology partnership between SkyTruth, Oceana and Google, the system utilizes AIS (Automatic Identification System) satellite data points from commercial shipping and analyzes the data which provide near-real-time information about a ship's movements. It includes identity, speed and direction of the vessels and is capable of removing non-fishing vessels from the display. The platform will ultimately provide citizens with a simple, online platform to visualize, track and share information about fishing activity worldwide.
In the press release issued at the unveiling, Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless states, "By engaging citizens to hold their elected officials accountable for managing fisheries sustainably and for enforcing fishing rules, Global Fishing Watch will help bring back the world's fisheries, protecting and enhancing the livelihoods of the hundreds of millions of people who depend on ocean fisheries for food and income."
Brian Sullivan, Program Manager, Google Ocean & Earth Outreach stated that by combining massive data and cloud computing to enable new tools in a Google-scale approach, the new platform can lead to "ocean sustainability and public awareness."
"So much of what happens out on the high seas is invisible, and that has been a huge barrier to understanding and showing the world what's at stake for the ocean. But now, satellite data is allowing us to make human interaction with the ocean more transparent than ever before. Fishermen can show how they are doing their part to fish sustainably, we can motivate citizens to watch the places they care about, and we can all work together to restore a thriving ocean," said John Amos, President and Founder of SkyTruth.
The projected launch of the Global Fishing Watch free web portal is anticipated in 2015 or 2016, depending on the availability of funding.
Learn more about the project here.
SkyTruth is a nonprofit organization using remote sensing and digital mapping to create stunning images that expose the environmental impact of natural resource extraction and other human activities. We use satellite imagery and geospatial data to create compelling and scientifically credible visuals and resources to inform environmental advocates, policy-makers, the media, and the public. To learn more, visit SkyTruth.org.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 600,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, visit www.oceana.org.
Google Earth Outreach is a team dedicated to leveraging and developing Google's infrastructure to address environmental and humanitarian issues through partnerships with non-profits, educational institutions, and research groups. To learn more, visit earth.google.com/outreach.
Categories: Ecological News
Land Trust Alliance Teams with Environmental, Health Allies to Combat National Health Crisis of Nature Deficit Disorder
"If nature contact were a medication, we would be prescribing it to everybody."
~ Howard Frumkin, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Washington
Cooperative Initiative Anchored by Wingspread DeclarationThe Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, has teamed with allies from across conservation and health sectors to announce today an initiative to combat nature deficit disorder, a national health crisis with substantial economic and social implications.
"We, as a species, are now far more sedentary and disconnected from the land than our forerunners, and we are paying the price," said Rand Wentworth, the Alliance's president.
This cooperative initiative is anchored by the Wingspread Declaration, a document signed by 30 of America's leading health officials, academics and nature-focused nonprofits. The Declaration calls for concerted action from health, environmental, academic, governmental and corporate actors to cooperatively reconnect people with nature and secure new commitments to protecting nature.
"If nature contact were a medication, we would be prescribing it to everybody," said Howard Frumkin, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Washington, and one of the signatories to the Declaration. "It is safe, it is effective in preventing and treating a wide range of diseases and improving well-being, and, compared to many medications, it costs less, has fewer side effects and doesn't need to be administered by a specialist. Investment in natural settings for healing, recreation and routine activities is investment in health – and it's an investment that yields a very high return."
This new initiative comes at a time when more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, incurring $148 billion in medical costs annually and contributing to 18% of U.S. adult deaths. Publicly available data shows U.S. healthcare costs are the highest per capita in the world – and that amount continues to increase.
"But consider an alternative," Wentworth said. "Consider a forest trail. Consider a fresh breeze. Consider the robust body of evidence linking human health to nature."
Wentworth said on both the quantitative and qualitative levels, time outdoors is known to improve people's well-being. Nature deficit disorder is linked to higher rates of anxiety disorders and of mood disorders, such as depression, and exposure to green space counters these tendencies. People who live near natural settings are likely to report better mental health; urban parks are known to lower stress and elevate mood; and studies have even linked green neighborhoods with lower rates of obesity in children and longer life spans in elders.
"We know that increased activity can improve health," said Ray Baxter, senior vice president of Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy at Kaiser Permanente, and another signatory to the Declaration. "We also know that access to nature can encourage and empower increased activity. So we should do everything possible to increase access to nature for everyone."
Leaders from parks and health are discussing and supporting the Wingspread Declaration this week at milestone meetings in New Orleans and Sydney, Australia. Over 13,000 health providers at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in New Orleans and 5,000 parks and protected-land professionals at the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia, will learn more about the Declaration and its goals.
Additional supporters are also responding to the Declaration's call on health institutions to include nature in their practices and prescriptions; call on schools to ensure all children grow up connected to nature; call on elected officials and philanthropists to invest in parks, trails and green spaces; and call on employers to reconnect their employees with nature.
"We have a moral imperative to improve access to nature for communities with the highest health needs," said Rue Mapp, who also signed the Declaration and is CEO and founder of Outdoor Afro. "And in doing so, we not only prevent health problems, but we treat the crisis at hand."
Visit www.healthandnature.org to learn more about and endorse the Wingspread Declaration.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,200 member land trusts supported by more than 5 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at www.landtrustalliance.org.
About the University of Washington School of Public Health
The University of Washington School of Public Health is one of the nation's leading such institutions. Our vision — "Healthy people in sustainable communities — locally, nationally, and globally" — drives a three-part mission: teaching, research, and service. Over the last 40 years, our 10,000 graduates have gone on to transform communities and lead health organizations. Our faculty and students accomplish innovative research to meet the emerging challenges of the 21st century, such as environmental change, obesity and nutrition, health policy, health systems that work, and the social factors that affect our health. To learn more, visit sph.washington.edu.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, we have a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 9.5 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.
About Outdoor Afro
Outdoor Afro is a social community that reconnects African-Americans with natural spaces and one another through recreational activities such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, gardening, skiing and more. Outdoor Afro disrupts the false perception that black people do not have a relationship with nature and works to shift the visual representation of who can connect with the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.outdoorafro.com.
Joshua Lynsen
Media Relations Manager, Land Trust Alliance
Categories: Ecological News


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Does PHENTERMINE MAKE YOU ITCH?
- Posted:
- 19 Feb 2011 by carol owens
- Topics:
- phentermine
Answers (1)
18 Dec 2011
Yes! At first I thought I might be allergic to my laundry detergent since I was itching all over and I have had a similar experience with tide. So I didn't take a pill one day and the itching stopped. I itch like crazy and it causes me to welt up wherever I scratch. Not sure what is going on. But definitely going to be calling my Dr to see if there is something else I can take.
Further Information
- Phentermine Information for Consumers
- Phentermine Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Phentermine (detailed)
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Boiler Room |
Radiators & TrimGas Products |
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Location: 185 Price Parkway, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Hours: 8:00AM - 7:00PM, Mon - Fri.
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Do not use this item for any installation or repair of potable water applications. This product does not comply with the "Safe Drinking Water Act," which requires that products meet low-lead standards in order to be used in systems providing water for human consumption (drinking or cooking). This item is for non-potable (non-human consumption) water applications only.
Product Type: |
Delay on Make |
Time Delay: |
.03-10 Min Adjustable |
Voltage: |
Amperage: |
1.5 |
Amp Inrush: |
15 |
Holding Current: |
10 mA |
Voltage Drop: |
2.5v @1amp |
Wiring: |
2 Wire |
Delay on Make Timers are ideal for compressor staging and stagger starting multiple motors and other equipment. Helps to reduce power surges.
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Simple and best of all it works
Comments about ICM105 Delay on Make Timer (.03-10 Minute Adjustable Delay):
I wanted a 24vac DOM timer to reduce motor starter banging when customers change selector to different choices, this was first try, then call to ICM suggested the switch settable model ICM 103 set to 2 sec delay and works perfectly. Simple to install. and best of all... MADE IN USA ! [...]
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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This timer works good in the humid and hot environment and is part of our production controls on selected equipment.
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Time Delay: |
10-1000 Sec Knob Adjustable |
Product Type: |
Bypass |
Voltage: |
Amperage: |
1 amp (max) |
Amp Inrush: |
10 |
Holding Current: |
40 mA (minimum) |
Frequency: |
50-60 Hz |
Size: |
2" x 2" |
Voltage: |
Frequency: |
50-60 Hz |
Amperage: |
1 amp (max) |
Holding Current: |
40 mA (minimum) |
Amp Inrush: |
10 |
Adjustable Time Delay: |
12-390 Seconds |
Dimensions: |
2" x 3" |
Voltage: |
Frequency: |
50-60 Hz |
Voltage Unbalance: |
Adjustable: 2-25% |
Control: |
Delay on Break Timer: |
.1-5 Minutes |
Output: |
SPDT (relay) |
Output: |
10 amps (N.O.) |
Output: |
6 amps (N.C.) |
Dimensions: |
6.5" x 4.25" x 1.5" |
Size: |
6" |
Material: |
Galvanized Steel |
Application: |
Air Quality |
Voltage: |
24v |
Motor: |
Spring Open |
Motor: |
Power Closed |
Motor: |
Reversible |
Motor Mount: |
Top |
Motor Mount: |
Side |
At SupplyHouse.com, our goal is to bring you the highest quality plumbing, heating and HVAC supplies at competitive prices. Our product catalog includes PEX Plumbing Supplies, Radiant Heat Supplies, VisionPro Honeywell Thermostats, Taco pumps and mini-split air conditioners. If there are items you are looking for but can't find on our website, please contact our Customer Service Representatives & we will do our best to find what you need.
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Celebrities on Set | Week of March 9, 2012
Jennifer Aniston, Jon Hamm, Amy Poehler, and More Stars on Set
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Jennifer Aniston, Jon Hamm, Amy Poehler, and More Stars on Set
March kicked off with a work-heavy week for some of the biggest names in TV, film, and music. Jennifer Aniston maintained a low profile on the set of an untitled project in Stamford, CT, while Amy Poehler took over a carnival with her Parks and Recreation costars, Rob Lowe and Adam Scott, in LA. Also in LA, Selena Gomez slipped on a '60s-style ensemble to shoot, as Jon Hamm suited up for his '60s-set hit show Mad Men.
Click through to see the rest of this week's stars on set.
Link Love
- The Blade Runner sequel also officially has a director — Moviefone
- Serial fans will love this true-crime miniseries — HuffPost Entertainment
- Which artist is pulling a Taylor Swift on Spotify? — Vulture
- The 25 greatest moments of the Alien franchise — Hitfix
- 4 unwritten rules Hollywood needs to forget about — Cracked
- Is it the end for Dr. Herman on Grey's Anatomy? — BuddyTV
- You might be surprised by Nina Dobrev's favorite costar — The Vampire Diaries
- 20-year-old Amy Poehler's scene for a pilot is pure gold — Splitsider
- The Internet reacts to Leonard Nimoy's death — POPSUGAR Tech
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The Associated Press
RENO, Nev. — Marqueze Coleman gave Nevada the lead by hitting the first of two free throws with :35 left in overtime and AJ West put an exclamation on it by rebounding his missed second attempt and dunking, giving the Wolf Pack a 66-63 win over New Mexico Saturday night.
Nevada trailed by eight points after Sam Logwood's jumper with 4:14 left, but Coleman put the Wolf Pack on his back, drilling a 3-pointer and following it up with six straight free throws to put Nevada up by one, 57-56 with 1:50 to play.
Monday Basketball • West Las Vegas Middle School boys at Santa Fe Indian, 4 p.m., Santa Fe
Tuesday No local varsity events scheduled
Wednesday Basketball • Robertson boys (A,B,C) vs. West Las Vegas, 4 p.m., Mike Marr Gym • West Las Vegas Middle School boys vs. Los Alamos, 4 p.m., WLV Softball • NMHU at Eastern New Mexico (DH), noon, Portales
Thursday Basketball • Robertson girls (A,B,C) vs. West Las Vegas, 4 p.m., Mike Marr Gym
Jaylen Gutierrez torched the Pojoaque Elkettes for a game-high 17 points and kept her West Las Vegas club in the top half of the District 2-4A girls' basketball standings on Wednesday night in Jacona.
West won 54-40 to improve to 2-1 in district, tied with Taos, which beat Robertson.
The Eric Young era is over at New Mexico Highlands University.
School administrators announced late Tuesday that Young will not return as NMHU's head football coach this coming school year.
No further details were provided as to the reason for the decision.
By Jesse Gallegos Luna Community College
Luna Community College freshman catcher Mercedes Gonzalez hit at a .714 clip to lead the Lady Rough Riders to a split in weekend softball action.
It was the season opener for Luna Community College.
The Lady Rough Riders beat Trinidad State 8-7 and lost to Colby Community College (Kan.) 12-10. Both games were played in Trinidad, Colo.
NMHU and Optic reports
Oscar Mendoza, a native New Mexican who starred for Gadsden High before going on to more than 17 years in coaching, has been named head coach of women's soccer at New Mexico Highlands.
Mendoza succeeds Justin Wagar, who resigned in January.
"I am pleased that Oscar has agreed to be our next soccer coach," Athletic Director Jeff Falkner said. "I think his experiences and ties to the region will aid him greatly as he takes our soccer to new heights in the future."
Friday Baseball • LCC at Western Oklahoma State, noon, Altus, Okla. • NMHU vs. Eastern New Mexico, 1 p.m., Brandt Park Basketball • NMHU women and men vs. Colorado Mesa, 5 and 7 p.m., Wilson Complex • Robertson girls (A,B,C) at Pojoaque Valley, 4 p.m., Jacona • West Las Vegas girls (A,B,C) vs. Taos, 4 p.m., Gillie Lopez Gym • West Las Vegas Middle School boys at Valley, 4 p.m., Valley Softball • LCC at Midland Classic, TBA, Midland, Texas
Three individuals and one relay team from New Mexico Highlands women's track and field team qualified for nationals with their performances in this past weekend's University of New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque.
New Mexico Highlands won its first baseball game under new head coach Shannon Hunt on Saturday, downing host Lubbock Christian 18-8 in the nightcap of a doubleheader and the finale of a three-game set in Lubbock, Texas.
NMHU is due to host Eastern New Mexico at 1 p.m. Friday in the Cowboys' home opener at Brandt Park. The teams will play a four-game series through Sunday.
Wednesday Basketball • Robertson girls (A,B,C) at Taos, 4 p.m., Taos • West Las Vegas girls (A,B,C) at Pojoaque Valley, 4 p.m., Jacona
Thursday Basketball • Robertson boys (A,B,C) at Taos, 4 p.m., Taos • West Las Vegas boys (A,B,C) at Pojoaque Valley, 4 p.m., Jacona • Memorial Middle School boys at Pojoaque, 4 p.m., Pojoaque Wrestling • NMHU at Western State, 7 p.m., Gunnison, Colo.


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After 35,693 shots fired, 583 grenades thrown and 2,184 bad guys killed, Bodycount's single-player mode lies bleeding before me. All seven hours and eight minutes of it. And I'm happy to report it was damn fun shooting holes in everything. In that respect, it is a big success. However, I was under the impression that the game would really come into its own on repeat plays in the eponymous Bodycount mode – and that's where things have gone awry.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. For those who've never encountered Bodycount before, it's a first-person shooter designed to put the fun back into shooting things. From the creators of Black (although with Stuart Black himself quitting the project before it was complete), it's similarly heavy on the destruction and all about the simple joy of firing a gun.
Above: Firing guns at things often ends in mass destruction. Which is as it should be, of course
I can't think of many FPS games with as much emphasis on weapon balance, which Bodycount excels at. Most games have shotguns that are predictably super-powerful up close but lose their sting rapidly over distance, but it's all exaggerated here, to great effect. Explosive grenade launchers are ludicrously powerful but take an absolute age to reload. And the silenced pistol is fast and quiet, but you need to be bang on with the accuracy or you're dead. It all translates into on-the-fly tactical changes that seriously turn the tables of combat.
There's a small amount of snap-to if you squeeze the aim button, but it's not enough to make this a skill-free experience. I did find myself using the trigger more for this feature, however, than the interesting walk/stand/lean mechanic that lets you squeeze the trigger to different degrees depending which effect you want. Leaning is fun, however, especially if you pretend to dodge bullets like Neo out of The Matrix.
That's not the only similarity with Keanu's finest hour (well, second-finest hour after Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, naturally), as once you get through a few levels of naturalistic environments, suddenly you find yourself inside a very futuristic bunker.
Above: Bit of a curve ball, these sections. But they're ultra-challenging, even on Normal
It looks more like Capcom's Gamecube classic P.N.03 than anything else, and practically recreates the Matrix's lobby shootout in every room. Taking cover, waiting for reload gaps and leaning out to take a pot shot works really well and I can't help but think perhaps this futuristic concept should have been explored further. It has quite a distinct feel and could have had its own game.
But instead, it's used for variety (which is still commendable) and you soon find yourself back above ground, exploring a new area. From Africa to Asia, every setting has its own colour theme, meaning you can tell pretty much instantaneously how far through the game any screenshot is.
Above: Now, I like the orange area, but I also like the blue area. But which is best? Only one way to find out...
Asia's blue works beautifully, especially when the rain is hammering down. The sound effect of the rain on a tin roof is superb with stereo headphones on, especially with the gunfire, explosions and collapsing masonry sounding so good alongside it.
However, the music isn't so hot. It's generically themed to the area you're in, sure, but it's pretty featureless and all melody is passed up in favour of orchestral stabs and repeating ostinato patterns that get tiresome very quickly, especially when you're stuck looking for a way to reach the next waypoint marker.
It is frustrating when you're enjoying yourself immensely and then suddenly it all goes quiet because you've killed everyone and haven't found the next spawn trigger. You can see where you're supposed to go by the little on-screen marker (complete with distance reading), but signposting is pretty poor.
I always found my way eventually, but there were several occasions where I simply didn't know where I should be going. The coast in the bay was one, and another was outside the mine. It breaks up the action and could have been fixed so easily.
Impressively, the game doesn't get boring even when you're stuck on a particularly difficult section. I lost count the number of times I died and restarted on the Pirate Bay (when you're tracking a general in the warehouse). It's damn hard. But while the challenge itself was fine, it was the restart point that frustrated me.
Above: There's the warehouse in the background, guarded by a suicide bomber. Nice
You see, I'd found the general. I'd killed the guards, flushed him out and followed him to the other end of the map. And I killed him with a grenade. Mission updated – great. But then a sniper shot to the head cost me my life… at which point I was put back to the run-up to the warehouse. That's not fair. And it's not the only time a tough mission objective is cleared but you can still die and go back to the section before it - it happens quite often.
The game is still all about the action wherever you are in the narrative, so it doesn't grate for quite a while as you reattempt tricky sections, but reloading for the umpteenth time does start to stretch that willingness to try again.
Available Platforms: | Xbox 360, PS3 |
Genre: | Shooter |
Published by: | Codemasters |
Developed by: | Codemasters |
ESRB Rating: |
Rating Pending
PEGI Rating: |
Rating Pending
crumbdunky - September 4, 2011 7:04 a.m.
IceBlueKirby - September 2, 2011 3:54 p.m.
Hobogonigal - September 2, 2011 2:04 a.m.
SunnyvaleTrash - September 1, 2011 5:50 a.m.
Yeager1122 - August 31, 2011 9:54 a.m.
NanoElite666 - August 31, 2011 9:52 a.m.
HaVoK308 - August 31, 2011 8:21 a.m.
jake66play - August 31, 2011 7:17 a.m.
Project93FTW - August 31, 2011 6:43 a.m.
SerpentineZERO - August 31, 2011 6:17 a.m.
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AuthorityFigure - August 31, 2011 5:41 a.m.
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"The harder you work, the luckier you get." by Gary Player
Below is the poem entitled Weak which was written by poet Teresa Harr-Pena. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by Teresa Harr-Pena
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I watched you sleep For, I could not Your at peace I struggle not to wake you Wanting to touch your skin But dare not A moment of weakness Might have made a difference Now you are awake I am miles away Haunting memories Of what could have been Can it still be I always ask myself Did you awaken me Was the answer


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Photographer: User Mikegr on de.wikipedia
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Pronunciation: /ˈhɪpʃɒt/
Definition of hipshot in English:
adjective& adverb
chiefly North American 1Having a dislocated hip.
Example sentences
- Kamman is compact and moves slowly, with a slightly hipshot shuffle.
1.1 [ as adverb] Standing with one hip lower than the other.
Example sentences
- After closing the door, Partain turned to find her, the scarf now loosened, standing slightly hipshot in the middle of the room.
- This part of the anatomy is fairly flat, without much interior modeling, and the hipshot pose with the weight slung backward makes it loom larger.
Definition of hipshot in:
- US English dictionary
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