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Started by Guest_LeChatNinjah_* , Dec 30 2012 10:18 PM
35 replies to this topic
#1 Guest_LeChatNinjah_*
Posted 30 December 2012 - 10:18 PM
Love 'em?
Hate 'em?
DD and I are outside watching some wee miceys play on the back patio. They're cute. Yes, possibly disease-riddled vermin, but KYOOT!
I have no rodent phobia, although not huge fan of rats.
Spiders - also not huge phobia, but don't want one on me.
Cockroaches - approaching phobia level for me. Hate muchly, they creep me out.
My DP has a phobia of ants, I find it amusing.
What about you?
Posted 30 December 2012 - 10:23 PM
I got the past oh how cute they are after they ate their way through several cupboards repeatedly and p*ssed everywhere along the way. Once we had an inside infestation, it was a horror story.
Posted 30 December 2012 - 10:26 PM
After living through a mice plague out in the country, I cannot stand them. They chew through anything and stink like you wouldn't believe.
Posted 30 December 2012 - 10:51 PM
I used to think they were cute, until they invaded our kitchen. We even bought the no-kill mousetraps because I didn't want to hurt them. But after the poo and wee everywhere and the shredded paper, and after they got into our chest of drawers and ate the kids' Easter eggs I'd hidden last year, I became merciless and visit death upon all mice who enter our home.
Posted 30 December 2012 - 11:15 PM
I didn't mind them, until we had some in our rental house and they managed to eat DSDs easter chocolates that were on top of the fridge!
On the plus side, we have 5 indoor cats and no mice inside the house.
Though I went down to feed the chickens a couple of months ago and I picked up the chook food container and a mouse ran out form under it and I was on the chicken coop with the door closed with the mouse and I screamed blue murder and DF ran over and I said there was a mouse and he laughed at me
Since then I've refused to refill their food LOL Mum or DF do it! Took me weeks just to go back in to check for eggs!
Posted 31 December 2012 - 12:14 AM
I had a horror movie mouse situation earlier this year. I hate the ****ers! They are far from cute
#7 Guest_LeChatNinjah_*
Posted 31 December 2012 - 01:03 AM
To be fair to said mice, I've only seen 2 and there are no chewed anythings around.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:05 AM
They are cute. But only the pet kind. We have one, the other died.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:13 AM
Hate and fear.
Have had a couple of mice infestations inside since the neighbours chook pen was placed on the other side of the fence and the stink and the damage they can do inside the pantry is disgusting.
Fairly recently my DH took every single thing out of our very full pantry and they had chewed into everything that was not in a plastic container and I threw heaps out. I scrubbed that sucker out with soap and bleach and bought a pile of plastic containers and have had none since but for any mouse that decides to invade again there is a lovely packet of Ratsack waiting for them hidden on the floor at the back....we caught 3 of them with peanut butter on traps.
Spiders are no problem to me, cockroaches are starting to p*ss me off as they seem to hide in my junk mail in the letterbox and I love my junk mail.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:14 AM
Mice (and rats) are so far from cute. I don't like them at all (and I am also scared of them). I am however not scared of snakes,spiders or any other crawling insect. Just mice.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:18 AM
If they talk and wear tutus, they are cute.
Anywhere else, not so much.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:27 AM
I love mice, they are adorable and amusing to watch but with that said I have a freezer full of mice and rats to feed my snakes .
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:31 AM
A fair chunk of my vents are mouse-centric. I hate them with a passion.
We're in the middle of a mouse plague and feel like we are making zero headway against the pests. The house reeks of mouse urine, mouse poo and dead mouse (from the ones who have eaten baits and died in the wall cavities). They have cost us several thousand dollars in baits, traps, and replacing food they have eaten.
They've used some irreplaceable vintage dresses and heirloom baby blankets for nesting materials and destroyed a lot of my childrens toys.
I hate them. I now take a kill on sight approach even to 'pet' mice because they are the same species!
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:33 AM
Pests!! I can see that they could look cute, but if there were baby mice playing on my patio my Dh would be setting up traps around the house because it would appear we had a mouse problem. I do not like them around my house and my kids will probably not be allowed to have them as pets if they ever ask...
Rats I do not find cute at all.
I have a bit of a fear of spiders. I can deal with it if needs be, but prefer to let someone else if they are willing (Dh). Redbacks are creepy but for some reason fascinating. But they always cop it if I find them unsuitably close to my house or on objects they shouldn't!
Posted 31 December 2012 - 08:55 AM
QUOTE (LeChatNinjah @ 30/12/2012, 10:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Love 'em?
Hate 'em?
DD and I are outside watching some wee miceys play on the back patio. They're cute. Yes, possibly disease-riddled vermin, but KYOOT!
I have no rodent phobia, although not huge fan of rats.
Spiders - also not huge phobia, but don't want one on me.
Cockroaches - approaching phobia level for me. Hate muchly, they creep me out.
My DP has a phobia of ants, I find it amusing.
What about you?
When it comes to rats & mice I'm with you OP, germy lil bastards, but they can look cute in a pet shop cage.
Spiders I have ahuge phobia of
Cockies-I don't love them, but I'm not afraid of them
Ants-I think they are sadistic little bastards, you don't have to stand on them, they'll hunt you out, crawl to a sensitive spot and attack for NO reason!
Posted 31 December 2012 - 09:05 AM
I was never that fond of mice but it turned to active dislike after mum got an infestation from the neighbours, and it took months to get rid of. Humane traps were useless, the malignent little feckers didn't like peanut butter and we couldn't use ratsak because mum was worried the dogs would eat it.
Now the only mice I like are the gorgeous little Spinifex Hopping Mice I saw at the zoo yesterday.
Rats, I cannot stand. Neither can DH. They're diseased disgusting little vermin. I used to hate driving around the country in harvest time in Ireland because you'd get groups of rats running across the road in front of the car from harvested to unharvested fields. Ugh. I recollect instinctively raising my feet off the floor of the car, which is completely illogical, but there you have it.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 09:17 AM
QUOTE (tamjk @ 31/12/2012, 09:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
A fair chunk of my vents are mouse-centric. I hate them with a passion.
We're in the middle of a mouse plague and feel like we are making zero headway against the pests. The house reeks of mouse urine, mouse poo and dead mouse (from the ones who have eaten baits and died in the wall cavities). They have cost us several thousand dollars in baits, traps, and replacing food they have eaten.
They've used some irreplaceable vintage dresses and heirloom baby blankets for nesting materials and destroyed a lot of my childrens toys.
I hate them. I now take a kill on sight approach even to 'pet' mice because they are the same species!
I feel for you.
My first introduction to my DH's family home in the Mallee was during one of the most severe mice plagues in history.
I don't think it is easy to imagine what they are like in these proportions. There was a moving carpet of mice so that just walking on the paths outside was impossible....day and night although night was worse. There was a huge palm in their front yard that had about a metre of mice surrounding the perimeter as others were scrambling over these mice up into the fronds. At night time you could here them under the bed and I was so fearful of putting my feet onto the ground at night that we took an icecream bucket into the room with us and pee'd on top of the bed.
Once they had eaten their way through all the scraps of wheat at the silo they started on everything else, they even chewed food left on children's faces as they slept.
It took months and thousands and thousands of dollars to get rid of them and then there was the damage they left behind.
I rarely visit my In Law's house anymore because even without a plague they are there, it seems to be a 'Mallee' thing.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 09:28 AM
Don't like mice, but find rats much scarier. Having cats we never have them inside. My cat catches the occasional rat in her enclosure (used to be a chicken pen).
I am scared of cockroaches, espcially the flying ones, cane toads and furry caterpillars. Spiders are okay as long as they are not on me.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 09:31 AM
For me there is a big difference between pet mice (which we used to have) and wild ones that invade my house every other year.
Wild mice don't last long around here, if they don't go for the traps, my oversized puppy tries to catch them (and since she is unco, tends to squish them against walls rather than actually catch them properly).
Posted 31 December 2012 - 09:48 AM
Mice are cute until they enter my house, the they are just little ****ers that must be destroyed.
Cockroaches revolt me. My dog is very handy at catching them, only problem is she likes to bring them inside, chew them up and then roll in them. Disgusting. At least when she kills mice she just leaves them outside.
Rats are hideous and noisy when they invade your roof space.
Ants drive me fecking crazy because they invade my bathroom all the time and we can't find where they are coming in.
Spiders don't worry me all that much.
Termites freak me out, insidious little buggers.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 10:43 AM
To be fair to said mice, I've only seen 2 and there are no chewed anythings around.
Mice always have friends. You have only seen 2 but you can bet there are others around.
Mice start breeding at 6-8 weeks old and have 5-12 in each litter (pregnancy lasts 3 weeks). One mother mouse can produce over 100 babies a year. Get onto it now before they breed out of control!
My parents lived on a farm. When I was born there was a mouse plague. They had to put the legs of the cot in tins of water to stop the mice from getting into the cot. When I wasn't in bed the table was the only safe place for me. The legs of the table were in tins of water to keep me safe from the mice.
We had a mice plague last year. One day I was at the computer desk and saw a mouse poking it's head out of a whole near the kitchen bench!
A mouse family had moved in set up home with extended family and friends. We had no idea, only seen a few mice around to that point. It quickly got out of control. We could hear them squeaking in the wall. The cat was catching 6-8 mice a day just from the whole in the wall and there were plenty more around the house. The house stunk of dying mice. I had to wash all the girls clothes because mice had gotten into the draws. They destroyed a few special things too. Mice are not cute. They cause a lot of damage and they are dirty.
I hate big flying cockroaches too. We seem to always get them in QLD summer.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 11:41 AM
I hate them. We never had a problem until we moved into his house, which us only around the corner from our old place, and the same vintage! We've been throwing the rats am throw packs into the ceiling, and that's sorted them out. They did get into the pantry, but we've put everything not plastic containers, and put rats am around the drain pipe, where they were getting in.
Fingers crossed they've gone for good!
Posted 31 December 2012 - 11:54 AM
Thankfully we have a cat so we haven't got any- but a few of our neighbours have had a few. (We have a creek nearby). I think they are gross.
I hate, with a passion, those huge brown grasshoppers! They scare the be-Jesus out of me. Strangely the smaller ones are fine.
Cockies are disgusting- I think that is more because they are germ ridden.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 12:35 PM
Completely terrified of them. Ok with snakes, spiders etc
Posted 31 December 2012 - 12:57 PM
QUOTE (LeChatNinjah @ 31/12/2012, 02:03 AM)
To be fair to said mice, I've only seen 2 and there are no chewed anythings around.
Don't forget where there's one mouse there are 10 more so you got about 20 somewhere.
Little ****ers breed like rabbits
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$93 Average price per night
|Hotel Rigi Seestrasse 65, 6354 Vitznau, Switzerland (3.1 miles from Rigi)
Score from 184 reviews: Very goodIdeally located in central Vitznau, the Rigi hotel offers completely renovated standard rooms and spacious superior rooms in the annex. More…
$108 Average price per night
|Hotel Beau Rivage Weggis - Beau Rivage Collection Gotthardstrasse 6, 6353 Weggis, Switzerland (2.7 miles from Rigi)
Score from 188 reviews: Excellent There is 1 person looking at this hotel.The Hotel Beau Rivage Weggis is located right on the shore of Lake Lucerne. It offers a restaurant with a lakeside terrace, an outdoor pool, a spa center, free Wi-Fi and free parking. More…
$124 Average price per night
|Hotel Rigi Klösterli Klösterliweg 17, 6410 Kulm, Switzerland (0.8 miles from Rigi)
Score from 19 reviews: Very goodHotel Rigi Klösterli is located halfway between the valley and Kulm. It features an on-site restaurant and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. It offers basic rooms with shared bathroom facilities. More…
$80 Average price per night
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Honda Dealers Milwaukee, WI
Showing Honda dealers within 25 miles of Milwaukee, WI Edit search
Authorized Honda Dealers
1. David Hobbs Honda 6.1 miles
6100 N Green Bay Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53209
"Overall great experience"
2. Schlossmann's Honda City 7.8 miles
3450 S 108th St
Milwaukee, WI 53227
"Goran did a get job!"
3. Boyland Honda 7.6 miles
6141 S 27th St
Milwaukee, WI 53221
"Slow but fair"
4. Russ Darrow Honda 11 miles
9301 W Brown Deer Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53224
"Dealer responded in short order, but their information was not accurate. I asked if there was any damage, as there appeared to be either a reflection or large dent in the photo. They assured me it was only a reflection, so I drove an hour to see the car. However, I was disappointed to see that the car was in very poor shape - and there was a huge dent in the hood. The photos and description were misleading, and the representative fed me false information. I really got the feeling that they were telling me what I wanted to hear in order to get me in the dealership."
5. Wilde Honda 14.6 miles
1603 E Moreland Blvd
Waukesha, WI 53186
"very good"
Dealers With Used Honda Inventory
1. Boucher Chevrolet 14.9 miles
1421 E Moreland Blvd
Waukesha, WI 53186
"emailed us back promptly"
2. Lexus North Shore 5.5 miles
1433 W Silver Spring Dr
Milwaukee, WI 53209
3. AutoSource Motors, Inc. 5.7 miles
1010 E Layton Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
"Great job. Found the car I wanted and called them directly. Set up a time to meet at the dealership and bought the car that day. Excellent customer service. Friendly. Very helpful through the whole process. "
4. Griffin Ford 14 miles
1940 E Main Street
Waukesha, WI 53186
"Very responsive..very efficient..professional...will be following up soon when ready to buy."
5. Boucher Group 22.2 miles
9601 Washington Ave
Racine, WI 53406
"Great atention"
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FOX Soccer Exclusive
USA begins summer with stern test
- NYCF must heed past MLS lessons
- USA youth must be given fair chance
- US Soccer's secret scouting network
- Youth, talent shaking up US movement
- MLS, USL put players' interests first
- Rogers pioneers major movement
- Robles story serves as cautionary tale
- Building up USA talent asking for trouble
- Investment in coaching remains priority
- USA finds ways to foster goalie talent
The long, slow slog dawns here, in rainy and cloudy Cleveland, where the United States men's national team will play Belgium in a friendly (live, Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET) that will be their first of as many as 11 games over the next 59 days.
There will be another friendly with Germany on Sunday, followed by three World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, Panama and Honduras. After that, it's on to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. That campaign will last at least three games, but could stretch to six, should the United States reach the final, as it is expected to.
In all, a sizable group of 26 players were called up for the first five games and two more were soon added to help handle the sheer volume of labor to be completed over a three-week span. Many more will be called for the Gold Cup, the biennial joust for supremacy of North and Central America and the Caribbean which now grants the winner a spot in a playoff with the 2015 victor for a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
But first, the Belgians. And what formidable foes they will make. They haven't been to the European Championships or World Cup since 2000 and 2002, respectively, and their country has teetered on the brink of dissolution. But a new vigor in nurturing the talent washing into the country with every wave of fresh immigrants has re-made them into a budding powerhouse. With a core that's only in its early-20s and already starring in the Barclays Premier League – Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Marouane Fellaini, Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku, Jan Vertonghen – there is no apparent ceiling for their future achievement.
"Belgium is one of the best rising teams right now in Europe," head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in an ornate ballroom of a hotel. "It's a very challenging team. They're top class players that will give us a tough test. That's what we need, to take the measurements with those teams."
Belgium is a prototype of sorts that Klinsmann has spoken of his desire to make the United States soccer team more of a reflection of its demographical mosaic and to capitalize on the talents of diverse American diaspora. After initial friction, that's how Belgium forged a tantalizingly talented collective. They made the most of their country's cultural melting pot by incorporating players of Congolese, Moroccan, Malian, Martinique and other origins. Together, Belgium have sped their way to leaders of UEFA's Group A with a 5-0-1 record.
Building up talent is simply asking for trouble. Just ask these guys.
"It's just the way global soccer is going," said Klinsmann. "Everywhere in the world now young talent is coming through the ranks with two passports. It's definitely worth it when you look at all the big nations in the world, you look at Belgium and Germany and France and see what's going on there, it's something we have to do our homework on as well."
Both sides will be somewhat decimated when they appear for kickoff at FirstEnergy Stadium, with the tail end of the European club season and injuries conspiring to rob the game of some marquee names.
For Belgium, Premier League sensations Hazard and Benteke carry slight injuries, although the latter might play anyway. Nicolas Lombaerts, Axel Witsel and Nacer Chadli, meanwhile, didn't make the trip, having only just wrapped up their seasons. This nevertheless leaves Belgium with the immensely opposing potential team comprised of forwards Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas and Dries Mertens; midfielders Steven Defour, Marouane Fellaini and Moussa Dembele; defenders Tomy Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen – with plenty of premier talent remaining on the sidelines.
On the American side, Maurice Edu, Brek Shea and Corey Ashe are unavailable because of injury. Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, Fabian Johnson, Michael Bradley and Danny Williams haven't joined the camp yet, as they too didn't finish their seasons until this past weekend. Rights backs Timmy Chandler and Steve Cherundolo didn't make the initial rosters because of fitness concerns.
"It's a puzzle that we always work on that is challenging but it's also fascinating because it's an opportunity for the next one in line, that we always want to see," Klinsmann said. "It gives the players opportunities to prove things to us." That's how the United States found its new center back pairing of Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez against Mexico. It was born of necessity and the combination was such a success that the understudies are now the incumbents. Sacha Kljestan will get his own long-overdue chance to play in his natural position when he starts alongside Jermaine Jones in central midfield in the place of Bradley on Wednesday.
This is where these friendlies at the start of a busy stretch add significant value. Because for all the progress the United States seemed to be making in a gutsy win over Costa Rica amid a blizzard in Denver back in March and a draw on Mexican soil a few days later, demonstrating a rediscovered collective willpower, the team is still worryingly thin in most positions.
With the heavy workload facing the Americans this summer, the emergence of any prospective contributors would be most welcome.
More Stories From Leander Schaerlaeckens
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SOCCER Headlines
Klinsmann recalls Shea, Onyewu to USA senior squad
USA-Ukraine friendly moved due to civil unrest in Kiev
McBride, Lilly, Bradley elected to US National Soccer Hall of Fame
USWNT's Morgan to miss Algarve Cup with ankle injury
Hoffenheim's USA midfielder Johnson to sign for Gladbach
Starting over: MLS purchases Chivas USA from Vergara
USA to host China in Colorado after Algarve Cup
Liverpool, Manchester United announce opponents for US tour
Violence puts USA's exhibition against Ukraine in jeopardy
Julio Cesar signs loan deal with Toronto FC | Inside MLS


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Hang tight!
Recipe by Everettrj
"Bite-size mini quiches packed with flavor and nutrition. They can be filled with a variety of your favorite meats, cheeses, and veggies, but spinach and crab are a favorite in our family! Serve warm topped with a dollop of sour cream and salsa or just alone as a great portable and easy breakfast."
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cooking spray
1 tablespoon
olive oil
1/2 cup
finely diced onion
1 (10 ounce) package
fresh spinach, chopped
large eggs
1/4 cup
milk, or as needed
1/4 cup
shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup
shredded Asiago cheese
1/4 cup
grated Parmesan cheese
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3/4 cup
imitation crab meat, finely chopped
I made this for dinner, my family loves to have breakfast items for dinner. I used real crab because I had some left after Superbowl Sunday. They were really tasty, perfect blend of flavors. Next time I will probably use larger muffin cups if I am making them for a meal. The miniature ones are appetizer size.
This was Ok but i found it rather bland.
14 Ratings
We used a full size muffin tin, so I doubled the eggs milk and cheese and followed the recipe after that. My daughter (13) made most of it and the flavor was good and it was easy. We will make this again.
Incredibly DELISH! I think I am one of the first to try these or rate them anyway...I used REAL crab meat and O..M..G! This is the 2nd time I've made these now.I made these as appetizers for a gathering and I got rave reviews...loved by all- they were fabulousoooo! Thx! Great recipe! =0)
This was OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD! Like others I used the big muffin pan and it made 6 perfect size quiche! I added mushrooms, red and green bell peppers and garlic. I also used 1% milk and low fat cheese because we are dieting. These were so easy to make!
I Made these for Thanksgiving breakfast.. I only had a 12 cup muffin pan and my family ate them all up and requested for me to make more.. I didn't change anything in the recipe and they were awesome.. I did however use imitation crab meat and it was still great!!!! Well be making again very soon!!!.. Thank you
These were very good. I used a full size muffin pan. I used the same measurements, but added 2 extra egg-white and used a total of about 1-1/4 c imitation crab meat. I used more cheddar in place of the asiago cheese and I also threw in some green onions... I only used one so next time I will add more and maybe I'll add a little more cheese next time too. Overall, very good and I will be making them again, but with a few more changes in an attempt to make it 5 stars. :-)
Loved this recipe , made this for a breakfast brunch it was easy to make . It was a big hit with the family . This wil be a go to recipe from now on . My husband loved it and he doesn't like crab . I put the crab meat in diced in the blender and it was amazing it mixed in with the spinach so much easier . I recomend this recipe to anyone who likes healthy choices .
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Mini Spinach and Crab Quiche
Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 90
Calories from Fat: 52
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Tournaments / Re: 2015 Midwest DOUBLES Championship - PDGA B Tier - April 19th - Lakeside« on: March 27, 2015, 12:02:08 pm »
The pdga rules is how I've played alternate shot in the green country dubs twice in Tulsa. No player throws twice in a row. Jacks scenario that a team would intentionally miss a putt so the better driver could drive is a possibility, but the strokes would add up if they did it repeatedly. It is simpler to just play it as described...no player ever shots twice in a row.


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Horticultural Technology
Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program
The Thompson School has a program leading to a Certificate in Landscape Horticulture. This day program is open to part-time students who want to concentrate in landscaping and obtain a credential, but who are not matriculated in a degree program at the Thompson School or elsewhere within the University.
The UNH Thompson School is well-known for its strong career-oriented programs which provide a combination of theoretical classroom and practical in-the-field education. This Certificate Program in Landscape Horticulture draws upon these Thompson School strengths to prepare individuals for career entry-level employment in landscape design, construction, and maintenance. Students in this program will find their talents challenged and developed by a faculty concerned with student learning. Students will be able to apply the skills and knowledge they learn to a variety of settings. If a student is accepted for admission to the Thompson School Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Horticultural Technology, credits earned in the Certificate Program are transferable.
Course Requirements
The Certificate Program consists of 22 credit hours of courses taken in the Thompson School's Horticultural Technology curriculum.
Core Requirements (12 credit hours):
HT 205 Plants, People and Place (2 cr.)
HT 415 Soils and Land Use (2 cr.)
HT 417 Soils and Plant Nutrition (2 cr.)
HT 234 Pest Management (4cr.)
HT 256 Horticultural Pruning (2 cr.)
Approved Electives (10 credit hours): selected from the following list:
HT 251 Intro to Design Communication (2 cr.)
HT 257 Woody Landscape Plants (3 cr.)
HT 258 Herbaceous Ornamental Plants (2 cr.)
HT 260 Grounds Maintenance (2 cr.)
HT 263 Landscape Construction (4 cr.)
HT 266 Garden Design and Culture (2 cr.)
HT 270 Grounds Management (2 cr.)
HT 272 Landscape Design Studio (4 cr.)
A Certificat in Landscape Horticulture will be awarded by The Thompson School of Applied Science upon successful completion of the required courses with an overall grade average of C (2.00) or better. A permanent academic record of courses completed at UNH will be maintained at the Registrar's Office.
Application Information
This program is designed for individuals who wish to broaden their Landscape Horticulture background or make a career change into the field of landscape design, construction and maintenance. Application is made through the Thompson School of Applied Science. Transfer of credits from other institutions should be discussed with the Horticultural Technology Certificate Program Advisor. Each student, once accepted into the program, will have a faculty advisor. Faculty advising includes program planning, career counseling, and information on transfer into the Thompson School's Horticultural Technology Associate in Applied Science degree program. Students can register through Continuing Education.
Application Procedures
- Currently enrolled UNH students should complete and return the application form before taking a third course in the program (at the latest). Students may be enrolled concurrently in these courses while they are submitting their application for acceptance into the Certificate Program.
- Non-UNH applicants need to complete and return application form with a $25 non-refundable application fee. Checks should be made payable to UNH. The application fee is waived for currently enrolled UNH students.
- Non-UNH Applicants must also request that their official transcripts from high school, GED equivalency, and any college programs be sent to Certificate Programs, Attention Senior Administrative Assistant, Thompson School of Applied Science, 291 Mast Road, Durham, NH 03824.
- We recommend you set up an appointment for academic advising with our Horticultural Technology Curriculum faculty. Please call (603) 862-1025 to schedule an appointment.
- An interview with the TSAS Assistant Director of Admissions is strongly suggested. Please contact Deb Pack at (603) 862-1025 to set up an interview.
>> UNH Student Certificate Program Application
>> Non-UNH Certificate Program Application
For more information please refer to this document: Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program.
Transfer Credits
Due to the small number of courses required for the certificate, normally only one course (up to 4 credit hours) will be accepted in transfer from other colleges. This course must be similar in content to a required certificate course, must be at least a 2-credit course, and must have been completed with a C (2.00) or better grade. Students who believe they have courses that might be transferable should discuss this with the Curriculum Chair in Horticultural Technology or with their assigned faculty advisor.


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Andreas Lubitz, Germanwings Co-Pilot, Received Training in Arizona
Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The co-pilot who was at the controls when the Germanwings flight crashed this week received some of his training in America, the airline's CEO revealed Thursday.Andreas Lubitz, 28, was a German citizen and started working for Germanwings' parent company Lufthansa at a flight training center outside of Phoenix in 2008, company officials said.The facility, called Airline Training Center Arizona, was owned by Lufthansa and is used by its pilots in addition to other training locations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, officials said.A spokeswoman for Germanwings told ABC News that he also received some of his training in Bremen, Germany.In spite of undergoing some of his training in 2008, he reportedly took breaks during the process and only became an official Germanwings pilot in 2013."Six years ago there had been an interruption to his training," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said at a news conference Thursday. "We checked his skills and his competence and then he went back to training school. After that he was successful."He went on to explain that the interruption lasted for a few months but he did not elaborate on the reason and said it was something that could happen regularly in their program.Spohr said Lubitz passed training school "with flying colors.""He was fit in all areas, 100 percent," Spohr said.He had 630 hours of flying experience by the time he was at the controls during Tuesday's fatal crash into the French Alps, only 100 hours of which were on the same model plane, the Airbus A320, officials said.U.S. law enforcement officials have offered cooperation on the investigation."The FBI has offered assistance to our French partners, who are leading the investigation into the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525," the agency said in a statement Thursday. "We stand ready to fulfill any requests for information or assistance by crash investigators, as we work with partner nations whose citizens were impacted by this tragedy."
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Vatican Opens Doors to Homeless for Special Tour, Dinner
iStock/Thinkstock(VATICAN CITY) -- The Vatican will open its doors on Thursday to the homeless of St. Peters' Square, allowing the people who usually only see its steps outside to observe its beauty inside.A group of 150 homeless men and women were invited to take a guided tour of the museum and gardens, participate in private prayer in the Sistine Chapel and receive a free dinner in the Vatican Museum's cafeteria.The tour will pass the Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis has chosen to live instead of the stately Papal apartment, and include a stop at a recently opened room in the museum that houses the pope's historical carriages.When the group reaches the Sistine Chapel for prayer, they will be the only ones there. ANSA reports the chapel, which contains Michelangelo's fresco masterpieces, will close early to allow for the exclusive tour.The invitation is just one of a string of actions taken by the pontiff to reach out to the poor. To mark his birthday in December, Pope Francis had sleeping bags distributed to the homeless in and around St. Peter's Square. In February, the Vatican built showers and hired barbers for the homeless around the square.And in mid-June, Francis will lunch with some of Turin's homeless on a visit there, the Vatican announced Wednesday.Pope Francis' outreach to the poor echo one of the central messages of his papacy.
"Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent," Francis said in 2013.The Vatican has called on the homeless to help distribute gospels or prayer booklets to the faithful in the square on Sundays during the pope's noontime prayer.The tour and dinner was organized by the Office of Papal Charities, which regularly distributes meals to the homeless who live in Rome.
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Germanwings Crash: How Co-Pilot Kept Captain Out of the Cockpit
iStock/Thinkstock(COLOGNE, Germany) -- The protocols that were put in place to stop an attacker from taking control of a plane were used against a captain by his co-pilot that resulted in the Germanwings crash in the French Alps, the airline's CEO suggested Thursday.The CEO of Lufthansa, which owns Germanwings, spoke on Thursday about the safeguards in place to separate the cockpit from the rest of the plane, saying that the co-pilot appears to have purposefully locked his colleague out in the minutes leading up to the fatal crash.CEO Carsten Spohr said that the Airbus A320 in question has a code on the outside of the door that will open it "electrically and automatically" but it can be stopped by whoever remains in the cockpit."This can be impeded by those in the cockpit by pressing a lever that says lock and the door will be closed for five minutes," Spohr said.The cockpit voice recorder was found in the wreckage and investigators have reportedly been able to hear the captain exiting the cockpit, leaving 28-year-old co-pilot Andreas Lubitz at the controls.Tapping can be heard on the audio recording, progressing into louder banging, which is believed to be the captain trying to get back into the cockpit, Spohr said, noting that the company's planes had the doors to the cockpit reinforced so that access is not possible using force or weapons."Since the eleventh of September, the access to a cockpit has changed," Spohr said, referring to the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001.Pilots and crew members know the code to get into the cockpit "by heart," Spohr said, suggesting that the co-pilot purposefully prevented the captain to get back inside.
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Germanwings Crash: What We Know About the Co-Pilot
iStock Editorial/Thinkstock(MARSEILLE, France) -- The co-pilot who was at the controls of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps this week had logged relatively few hours, at least by U.S. standards, prior to the fatal flight.He has been identified by French authorities as German citizen Andreas Lubitz, 28, and his actions in the final minutes of the flight are believed to have caused the crash, Brice Robin, public prosecutor of Marseille, said Thursday at a news conference."The intention was to destroy the plane," Robin said, speaking mostly in French.An airline spokeswoman said Lubitz had 630 hours of flight experience and only 100 of those hours were on this particular model of plane, an Airbus A320. By comparison, a U.S. first officer would be required to have at least 1,500 hours of experience to get hired by an airline.Investigators have been able to listen to the audio recording from inside the cockpit and the captain can be heard leaving the cockpit and then tapping on the door to re-enter but being denied, Robin said.The banging on the door grows louder while the co-pilot can be heard breathing throughout, he added, suggesting he was not incapacitated before the Tuesday crash that left 150 people dead.Robin said the co-pilot had no reason not to allow the captain back into the cockpit and he should not have gone silent on the radio to air traffic control."When you commit suicide, you die alone," Robin said in response to a question. "With 150 on the plane, I wouldn't call that suicide."
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Germanwings Co-Pilot Appeared to Want to 'Destroy the Plane,' Prosecutor Says
F. Balsamo - Gendarmerie nationale / Ministere de l'Interieur via Getty Images(MARSEILLES, France) — The co-pilot of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps this week appeared to want to "destroy the plane," Brice Robin, public prosecutor of Marseille, said Thursday."The intention was to destroy the plane," he said, later adding: "Death was instantaneous."Speaking at a news conference conducted mostly in French, Robin confirmed reports about the pilot being heard on the voice recorder asking co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, a German citizen, to take over the controls, with a chair heard being moved and door heard closing.The co-pilot, 27, took control, Robin said, and the accelerated descent was made manually.Whatever the cause, Germanwings initially took exception to the prosecutor's comments, tweeting this morning, "We are shocked by the statements from French authorities that the co-pilot deliberately crashed the aircraft."But at a news conference later in Cologne, Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa, which owns Germanwings, said, "We have to accept that the plane was crashed on purpose." He added, "It seems to be true that the co-pilot denied the pilot access to the cockpit."He asked people not to rush to judgment, however, which he called "speculation" about the co-pilot's intentions, adding, "the motivation could be of various nature."He stressed that the co-pilot, who had 630 hours of flying time, had undergone extensive psychological and aviation review since beginning training in 2008 and joining the company as a first officer in 2013, though his training was interrupted six years ago for an unspecified reason."In our worst nightmare, we could not have imagined that such a tragedy could take place at our company," Spohr said, speaking in German and agreeing with French authorities that terrorism was not involved.He declined to characterize the crash as a suicide, saying there has to be something else involved. "It is a puzzle for us," he said.As for the chain of events, prosecutor Robin said all had seemed normal as the pilots communicated in a "amicable" way for the first 20 minutes of the flight.But later, the captain can be heard on the voice recording knocking on the door and asking over the speaker to re-enter the cockpit, but there was no response from the co-pilot, Robin said.The co-pilot can be heard breathing until the moment of impact, Robin said, so officials believe he was alive until the crash in which all 150 people on board are presumed to have died.Air traffic control can also be heard calling, with no response from the cockpit.Lubitz, who lived in Montabaur, Germany, had no reason to lock the pilot out of the cabin, no reason not to respond to air traffic control and no reason to disable the plane's ability to maintain contact with other plans in the area, Robin said.Toward the end of the descent, investigators can hear "violent" banging on door as the pilot tries to get in, Robin added.Lufthansa CEO Spohr said pilots are able to enter a code to re-enter the cockpit but that the pilot inside is able to disable the system electronically. So either the captain did not enter the code or Lubitz blocked his entry, he said."We have total confidence in our pilots and co-pilots," he said.
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Why NASA Plans to Grab Asteroid Chunk
NASA(NEW YORK) -- NASA wants to relocate a piece of an asteroid and tow it into orbit around the moon as part of a test of new technologies that could be used on a manned mission to Mars.The space agency had considered attempting to capture an entire asteroid, but instead said this week it would pluck a 13-foot boulder from one during an unmanned solar-powered space mission set for 2020.The rock will then be hauled for several years until it is placed in orbit around Earth's moon.In 2025, the space agency said it would then send two astronauts inside the Orion space capsule to explore the mini-asteroid.According to NASA's plan, the astronauts would take a spacewalk on the rock, documenting its surface and grabbing a fragment to bring back to Earth.The ambitious mission is a crucial test for the space agency as it prepares to one day send a crew to Mars.During the five-year Asteroid Redirect Mission, NASA is expected to gain more insight into robotic grabbing technologies, soft landings and allow astronauts to test suits that could be used for a deep space mission.NASA said it likely will not announce which asteroid it has targeted to be a part of the plan until 2019.
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"New York Times" Report: Germanwings Pilot Locked Out of Cockpit Before Crash in France
ABC News(NEW YORK) -- One of the pilots of the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps may have been locked out of the cockpit, a senior military official involved in the investigation told The New York Times.The official said that the audio on the cockpit voice recorder indicated one of the pilots was outside of the cockpit and unable to re-enter, according to the paper. The unnamed official described hearing the pilot unable to re-enter the cockpit, lightly knocking on the door at first -- before pounding on it."You can hear he is trying to smash the door down," he told the Times.ABC News was unable to independently confirm the report.Investigators have not yet recovered the second black box from the Airbus A320, which crashed Tuesday in Southern France while en route to Dusseldorf, Germany. All 150 on board, including three Americans, are believed to have been killed.Earlier Wednesday, the director of the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA) said an audio file from one of the the black boxes, the cockpit voice recorder, had been found, but did not say whether voices were heard on the recording.
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Saudi Arabian Ambassador to US Announces Airstrikes Against Houthi Rebels in Yemen
Scott Rothstein/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir said on Wednesday that his nation had begun airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen."The use of force is always the last resort and it is with great reluctance that we took this step," al-Jubeir said. "We will do whatever it takes in order to protect villages and the government of Yemen from falling and from facing any dangers from outside militia."The Saudi ambassador also told reporters that a coalition of more than 10 nations has agreed to participate in operations meant "to prevent Yemen from falling at the hands of the Houthis.""Rather than engage in peaceful dialogue and in a peaceful transition to a stable and democratic Yemen they have always chosen the path of violence," al-Jubeir said of the Houthis.
Earlier in the day, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki confirmed that Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi left his residence on Wednesday. She did not have any further information on where Hadi had gone to. Houthi rebels were believed to have been advancing on the city of Aden, where Hadi was believed to have been.
A statement from National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on Wednesday reiterated the U.S.'s condemnation of the "ongoing military actions taken by the Houthis against the elected government of Yemen. Those actions, Meehan says, "have caused widespread instability and chaos that threaten the safety and well-being of all Yemeni citizens."
The statement also noted that President Obama authorized logistical and intelligence support to the coalition operations in Yemen, but has not approved any direct military action.
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US Embassy in Uganda Issues Emergency Warning Citing 'Possible Terrorist Threats,' Says Attack Could Happen 'Soon'
Pawel Gaul/iStock/Thinkstock(KAMPALA, Uganda) -- The U.S. Embassy in Uganda has issued an emergency warning to American citizens, warning of "possible terrorist threats" and that an attack could take place "soon.""Out of an abundance of caution, the U.S. Mission has cancelled some non-essential events scheduled at local hotels in the coming days," the message states. U.S. citizens are advised that there will likely be increased security sweeps and delays while entering or exiting hotel areas.The embassy is also recommending U.S. citizens in Uganda review security plans, be aware of their surroundings and take steps to enhance security -- including varying their daily schedules and avoiding crowded locations.Last week, the U.S. embassy in Djibouti announced a closure to review its security posture in regards to potential terrorist threats.
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US-Led Coalition Offering Support to Iraqi Security Forces in Effort to Retake Tikrit from ISIS
File photo. iStock/Thinkstock(TIKRIT, Iraq) -- U.S-led coalition forces began operations on Wednesday in an effort to "support Iraqi Security Forces in Tikrit" after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi requested assistance.Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren confirmed that the Iraqi government had requested support, saying Wednesday that "operations are ongoing."According to a statement, the coalition is providing "air strikes, airborne intelligence capabilities, and Advise and Assist support" to the Iraqi Security Forces. The efforts are part of the ISF's attempt to retake the city of Tikrit from ISIS. "These strikes are intended to destroy ISIS strongholds with precision, thereby saving innocent Iraqi lives while minimizing collateral damage to infrastructure," Lt. Gen. James Terry, the coalition's commanding general, said. "This will further enable Iraqi forces under Iraqi command to maneuver and defeat [ISIS] in the vicinity of Tikrit."
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Italian High Court Delays Amanda Knox Ruling
Ida Astute/ABC News(ROME) -- Italy's highest court has delayed its ruling on whether to uphold the Amanda Knox murder conviction of fellow student Meredith Kercher. An Italian high court judge said on Wednesday that because of the volume of evidence presented to the court, a ruling won't come until Friday.The verdict was originally expected on Wednesday after lawyers gave their closing arguments. Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, face more than 25 years in prison, though Knox says she'll fight extradition if found guilty. Defence lawyers in the case said there is no physical evidence that puts Knox and Sollecito at the scene of the crime. Evidence for a third person, Rudy Guede, was found all over the murder scene, however. He's half-way through his prison sentence for the murder of Kercher. The prosecution argued that Knox's partial confession -- later retracted -- painted an accurate picture of the crime scene that indicated she was involved.Prosecutors asked to reduce the pair's long prison term by three months for a minor related crime whose statute of limitation had run out.
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Germanwings Crash: American Mother-Daughter Pair Were on Board
ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Two of the Americans on board the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday have been identified as a mother and daughter who were traveling together.The mother has been identified as Yvonne Selke, who worked at the consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton, and the company has confirmed her identity to ABC News.The second American victim was her daughter Emily Selke, who recently graduated from Drexel University."Our entire family is deeply saddened by the losses of Yvonne and Emily Selke," the family said in a statement Wednesday. "Two wonderful, caring, amazing people who meant so much to so many. At this difficult time we respectfully ask for privacy and your prayers.""Booz Allen and our employees are mourning the sudden and shocking death of Yvonne Selke, an employee of nearly 23 years, and her daughter, Emily, in the Germanwings airliner crash in the French Alps this week," Betty Thompson, an executive vice president with Booz Allen Hamilton, said in a statement."Yvonne was a wonderful co-worker and a dedicated employee who spent her career with the firm supporting the mission of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency," Thompson said.National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director Robert Cardillo also offered condolences."Every death is a tragedy, but seldom does a death affect us all so directly and unexpectedly," Cardillo said in a statement. "All of us offer our deepest condolences and will keep her family and her colleagues in our thoughts."The Selkes were two of the 150 people who died in the Tuesday morning crash.There was a third American, yet to be identified, on board, according to the U.S. State Department.
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NASA Finds New Evidence of Life-Supporting Ingredient on Mars
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS(NEW YORK) -- NASA's Curiosity rover has found new evidence of nitrogen on Mars, proving that the red planet has -- or at least had -- the right stuff to sustain life.The rover drilled into Martian rocks and discovered evidence of nitrates, which are essential compounds to the building blocks of life."The discovery adds to the evidence that ancient Mars was habitable for life," NASA said in a blog post.Despite the finding, the space agency said "there is no evidence to suggest that the fixed nitrogen molecules found by the team were created by life."The nitrates are believed to be ancient and likely came from meteorite impacts or lightning events, according to NASA, which also pointed out that the surface of Mars is currently inhospitable to known life forms.Curiosity has also found signs that other elements needed for life once existed on the red planet, including liquid water and organic matter, which were located in the Gale Crater billions of years ago, according to NASA.
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Alice Leading Name for Royal Baby, UK Betting Company Says
Samir Hussein/WireImage(LONDON) -- Britain's Prince William and Duchess Kate will welcome a blonde-haired girl named Alice on a Thursday in April, if bookmakers have their say.The U.K.-based, online betting company Betfair announced on Tuesday that the name Alice has overtaken the name Elizabeth as the most popular bet for William and Kate to name their next child after an "unexpected rush of support for Alice over the last 24 hours.""The public love a royal announcement and we're expecting the arrival to be the novelty betting heat of the year," Betfair's Cormac Dowling said in a statement.William, 32, and Kate, 33, are expecting their second child in April.The royal couple has revealed neither Kate's exact due date nor the sex of their second child.Betfair says that bets are evenly split over whether the new royal will be a boy or a girl, but girls' names are leading the way in the betting for a name.Alice is followed by Elizabeth and Charlotte and then Richard and James, to round out the top five.The name Alice is in William's royal lineage. The aunt of William's grandmother, the Queen, was named Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. She died nearly 11 years ago at the age of 102, according to the monarchy's website.Betfair says bookies got the name correct when Prince William and Duchess Kate had their first child, Prince George. George took over 70 percent of the bets prior to the birth, according to Betfair.The 1-year-old prince's full name is George Alexander Louis.Another U.K.-based online betting and gambling company, Ladbrokes, says it has also seen a surge in support for the name Alice in recent days."A mystery gamble has developed on Alice in the last few days, and such is the support it's now the joint favorite with Elizabeth at 5/1," Ladbrokes spokeswoman Jessica Bridge told ABC News. "Punters in the U.K. are desperate for Prince George to be joined by a little sister next month, and with a few weeks to go baby betting is booming."Ladbrokes held what it billed as the first-ever corgi race earlier this month to predict a baby name for Prince William and Kate.In that race, the winner was Alexandra, though the odds-on favorite for the girl's name had been Elizabeth, the namesake of the baby's great-grandmother, and James for the boys, an 8 to 1 favorite.Here is the full list of Royal Baby Odds as provided by Betfair:Royal Baby NameAlice 3/1 Elizabeth 5/1 Charlotte 11/2 Richard 10/1 James 12/1 Victoria 12/1 Arthur 12/1 Alexandra 12/1 William 14/1 Charles 14/1 Diana 14/1 Philip 14/1 Catherine/Kate 14/1 Mary 14/1 Henry 16/1 Frances 16/1 Alexander 20/1 Albert 20/1 Spencer 20/1 Christopher 20/1 Florence 25/1 Francis 25/1 Eleanor 25/1 Michael 25/1 Rose 25/1 Margaret 25/1 Ella 28/1 Alfred 33/1 Anne 33/1 Anthony 33/1 Ava 33/1 Caroline 33/1 David 33/1 Frederick 33/1 John 33/1 Philippa 33/1 Sarah 33/1 Amelia 40/1 Edward 40/1 Emily 40/1 Helen/Helena 40/1 Louis 40/1 Sophie 40/1 Andrew 40/1 Penelope 50/1 Carole 66/1 Jane 66/1 Louise 66/1 Robert 66/1 Stephanie 80/1 Camilla 100/1 Trevor 100/1 Raheem 500/1 Sepp 500/1
Hair color of babyBlonde 6/4 Brown 7/4 Black 7/2 Red 5/1
Gender of babyMale EVS Female 8/11
Day of birthThursday 5/1 Friday 11/2 Monday 11/2 Tuesday 11/2 Wednesday 6/1 Saturday 6/1 Sunday 6/1
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Italian Police Arrest Three Suspected Recruiters for ISIS
iStock/Thinkstock(ROME) -- Police in Italy have arrested three suspected members of an Islamic extremist cell believed to be recruiting jihadists for ISIS.Two of the suspects were taken into custody in northern Italy Wednesday after authorities searched their property. Police say one suspect -- a 20-year-old Italian of Moroccan descent -- is accused of posting 64 pages of pro-ISIS propaganda on the Internet. The document was posted on Facebook and other sites and was written in Italian -- evidence, police say, of an attempt to recruit jihadists in Italy. The two other suspects, an uncle and nephew, have Albanian citizenship. One lives in northern Italy and the other in Albania. Police say all three were in touch with an ISIS fighter with links to Italy.Wednesday's arrests were the result of a long, covert operation, according to authorities. Italy has been on high alert for terrorist attacks since ISIS threatened it would invade Rome in a video several months ago.
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Germanwings Crash: Three Possible Reasons Why the Plane Went Down
Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses(NEW YORK) — The black box will reveal the critical final moments before a Germanwings flight bound for Dusseldorf crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday, but experts have already been able to theorize about some of the most plausible options.The official cause of the crash is still a mystery, but the biggest indicator of trouble comes from the plane's increased drop in altitude in the minutes leading up to the crash.There were steps taken by the pilots, including a 15 degree shift in direction during the descent, that suggests they were in control to some extent, but there was no communication with air traffic control which is part of standard operating procedure during such a move, experts said."One of the most important aspects of that is to talk to air traffic control because you're descending right into oncoming air traffic and the pilots know that they changed their course 15 degrees off their course, which is exactly what you would do in an emergency descent but on the way down, there's no conversation," former U.S Air Force pilot and current ABC News aviation consultant John Nance said on ABC's Good Morning America. "Could they not talk? Had they turned off the electricity because of a fire? We don't know that."The inability -- or the choice -- of the pilots not to communicate with air traffic control suggests two possible causes, the first being a lack of oxygen within the aircraft, which led to depressurization and incapacitated the pilots.Tom Haueter, a former National Transportation Safety Board director, told ABC News that another reason could be that there was smoke or some kind of fire in the cockpit that would have made it difficult not only for the pilots to see but also for them to operate the aircraft, potentially leading them to be overcome with smoke.A third possibility comes from the indication that the pilots appeared to be handling some kind of problem and assessing their options by taking the steps to descend and adjust their path accordingly, but may have been overcome by that problem, whatever it may be."It definitely looks like an emergency descent for unknown reasons but beyond that we don't know," Haueter said."It means something very quickly catastrophic was going on. We don't know the build up to that," he added.The rapid descent is the main cause of concern for Nance as the plane was dropping one and a half to two times as fast as normal. At 10:45 a.m., the plane was flying at 38,000 feet, but they began dropping one minute later, officials said on Tuesday.By 10:53 a.m., they were down to roughly 6,000 feet, officials said."Most troubling is why in an area that they know the Alps are, that they go up to 15,000 feet, why did they not level off at 15,000 feet? Why continue down? That really indicates the possibility...of incapacitation," Nance said.
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High School Mourns Loss of 16 Students on Germanwings Flight
Abdulselam Durdak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images(HALTERN, Germany) -- A German high school is in mourning Wednesday for the 16 of its students and two teachers who were on board the plane that crashed in the French Alps Tuesday.The students and teachers from Joseph Konig School were returning home from a Spanish language exchange program aboard the Germanwings Airbus A320 when it crashed.The plane was traveling from Barcelona, Spain, to Dusseldorf, Germany, when it suddenly began a rapid descent from its cruising altitude at 38,000 feet. It plunged 32,000 feet in eight minutes, according to Germanwings. When the plane was at 6,000 feet, it lost contact with air traffic control.The plane was carrying 144 passengers, including two babies, and six crew members, Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann said at a news conference Tuesday.The high school held a makeshift memorial in its gym Wednesday. Many carried candles and signs as they mourned their peers. One mourner carried a sign that said, "Yesterday we were many. Today we are alone."Ina Grajestiki, a violin teacher at Joesph Konig, told ABC News, "I don't know how to work today. ...I cannot believe this, that it's happened."Police helicopter searches of the Germanwings Airbus crash site resumed Wednesday morning.
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Rare Mammal Spotted in China After Two Decades
Photograph by Li Weidong(BEIJING) -- The Ili pika, a rare animal with a teddy bear face and bunny-like ears, finally has been found and photographed more than 20 years after it was first discovered.The animal, scientifically known as Ochotona iliensis, was spotted again last summer in the Tianshan Mountains in northwest China by scientist Weidong Li, National Geographic reported.Li accidentally discovered the species in 1983 while on a government assignment to study natural resources and infectious diseases, the magazine said."As Li explored a valley by Jilimalale Mountain, he saw a small, gray head sticking out from a crack in the rock," National Geographic wrote. "The animal was about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long, with large ears and several small brown spots in its gray fur."In the 1980s, Li brought specimens to the China Academy of Sciences, which confirmed it as a new species, the magazine said, adding the Ili pika then eluded Li for more than 20 years until last summer, when a volunteer group with Li went "pika searching."The Ili pika lives in China and is considered vulnerable to extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).Increases in grazing pressure and global atmospheric pollution resulting in climate change are believed to be the primary threats to these animals, according to the IUCN.The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, where Li reportedly works, did not immediately respond to ABC News' calls and emails requesting to speak with Li for additional comment.
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Why Some Bees Are Now Carrying Backpack Trackers
Kew Gardens(LONDON) — Here's the buzz about these crazy bee trackers: Ecologists at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London have suited up bumble bees with tiny metal trackers to map their behavior in hopes the data will help them understand why the insects are in decline.Attaching something so small to a buzzing bee takes both patience and precision.
Kew Gardens
In order to suit up the bees, they were first chilled for 10 minutes to make them calmer. Using tweezers, researchers then carefully glued the trackers onto the bees' backs using superglue.
Kew Gardens
The bee backpacks measure 4.8 millimeters by 8 millimeters. They include radio frequency identification tags that allow ecologists to detect bee behavior from as far as 1.2 meters from a detecting unit.Each bee has a unique tag that allows researchers to monitor their behavior. The tag reports back to the detecting unit within its range."This piece of the puzzle, of bee behavior, is absolutely vital if we are to understand better why our bees are struggling and how we can reverse their decline," Sarah Barlow, a scientist at Kew Gardens who tested the technology, said in a statement.The technology, which was developed by Tumbling Dice Ltd., could be used after the trial to track the movements of other insects and how they interact with flora, fauna, crops and the world around us, scientists said.Follow @ABCNewsRadio Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Audio File Recovered from Germanwings Black Box
ABC News(DIGNE, France) -- The spokesman for the lead investigating agency said on Wednesday that they have recovered an audio file from the black box of the downed Germanwings flight but have not found the second black box from the Airbus A320 that crashed in the French Alps.This comes after French Prime Minister Francois Hollande said at an earlier news conference that crews had found the exterior of the black box but not the module that contains the memory equipment, though the spokesman for the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA) went on to deny any such discovery."We have not localized the black box," said BEA Director Rémi Jouty. "We have not found any debris of the black box and in the history of air accidents we know about ... [we] don't remember any recorder broken into little pieces."When asked if they had ruled out the possibility of the crash being the result of a terrorist attack, he said the BEA is "not ruling out any hypothesis at this stage."Investigators have recovered an audio file from the first black box, the cockpit voice recorder, though no further details were revealed about whether or not voices are heard on the recording.Jouty noted that it would take days for initial findings to be released, though it will be weeks before a full understanding is clear. But, he was able to weigh in and tentatively ruled several possible causes out based on the debris pattern."The area seems very big but the debris seems very small which is not at all consistent with an aircraft that exploded mid-air," Jouty said."At the moment, there's no information leading us to think that the weather conditions were particularly bad," he said.One of the problems facing investigators is the location of the crash site, as the area is very steep and unstable. Investigators and site crews have to be tied to one another when they are near the crash site to ensure their safety, Jouty said.Earlier on Wednesday, Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann noted that two Americans were on board the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps Tuesday.The U.S. State Department later confirmed that two Americans were on board."We are in contact with family members and we extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the 150 people on board," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. "We are continuing to review our records to determine whether any other U.S. citizens might have been on board the flight."The Germanwings plane crashed Tuesday in the Alps in southern France with 150 people on board, including two babies, the airline said. Hollande said there were "apparently no survivors."Searchers returned to the crash scene on Wednesday, as France's minister of the interior said a black box voice recorder from the plane is damaged. Even so, said the official, Bernard Cazeneuve, the information on the recorder should be retrievable.The CEO of Lufthansa, which owns Germanwings, said a full analysis of the voice recorder was expected to be done by Thursday. But Brice Robin, public prosecutor of Marseille, said on BFM TV that black box results could take several days.The initial focus for the voice recorder investigators will be "on the human voices, the conversations," followed by the cockpit sounds, France's transport minister, Alain Vidalies, told Europe 1 radio Wednesday morning.The flight data recorder has not been retrieved yet.Police helicopter searches of the Germanwings Airbus crash site resumed Wednesday morning.Xavier Roy, coordinator for French air rescue, told ABC News that no bodies are going to be taken from the mountain Wednesday, and that the investigation on site will take a week. Unlike other crash sites, Roy said, there isn't much to find."When you go to a crash site you expect to recognize parts of an airplane." he said. "Sadly, here you don't see anything -- just debris scattered all over."He added that this was a difficult area to search, as it is "nearly impossible to reach by foot," making it challenging to get rescuers in and out of the area safely.The top priorities now are locating bodies and the second black box, he said.In addition to 72 Germans, 35 Spanish and two Americans on board, Winkelmann said there were two victims each from Australia, Argentina, Iran and Venezuela. One victim each came from Britain, the Netherlands, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, Belgium and Israel, he said, adding that the list isn't yet final because the company is still trying to contact relatives of 27 victims. Winkelmann added that in some cases, victims' nationality weren't clear because of possible dual citizenship.Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy were scheduled to arrive at the crash staging area Wednesday.The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, the Germanwings CEO said. Lufthansa called the crash "an accident.""Seeing the site of the accident was harrowing," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr tweeted Wednesday morning. "We are in deep mourning. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the victims." Follow @ABCNewsRadio Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.