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The Skeleton Coast is one of Namibia's most remote locations. It is also one of the most beautiful and unique places in the world. This blog post will give you everything you need to know about going on a once in a lifetime flying safari to this isolated paradise.
Flying high above the dunes(Image courtesy of Natural High Safaris)
The Skeleton Coast can be difficult to get by land, as much of it is restricted and vehicles are simply not allowed in. But by plane, exploring this area is a cinch! There are several different 'fly-in' options for the traveler who wants to explore from the skies, with a variety of operators offering packages that range from scenic day flights to four-day flying tours.
Get a unique view of the icnonic Sossusvlei from the skies.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
One such operator who organizes three-day safaris is the Schoeman family who run Skeleton Coast Safaris. It is a small family business that specialises in taking small groups of visitors (no more than eight) into Namibia's desolate and beautiful Skeleton Coast.
The Schoeman's run three camps which guests are ferried to and from in light aircraft. At each camp unique and beautiful flora, fauna, geology and shipwrecks can be found and explored making this experience definitely one for the bucket list.
(Video courtesy of Expert Africa)
The three night tour usually follows the same schedule but nothing is set in stone when you get to places this remote. Each night you will be in a different location, and each of the camps you visit has its own distinct appeal.
There is the Kuidas Camp, with its shipwrecks, amazing birdlife and astonishing stargazing opportunities in the evening. These attractions make the Kuidas Camp is the perfect way to kick-off your three day fly-in safari of the Skeleton Coast.
The camp is lush and yet the surrounds are stark.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
On your second night you will be stopping at the Leylandsdrift Camp which is situated near a natural spring. The camp borders the Skeleton Coast National Park and getting to this camp may juat be the highlight of your day as you will do several low sweeps of the surrounding area. Flying above this astonishing landscape will give you a once in a life time opportunity to take in one of Namibia's most beautiful areas from a unique perspective.
Isolated and beautiful, the desert dunes of Namibia's West coast.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
Once you touch down at Leylandsdrift Camp you can go tracking desert adapted elephants (read more about these amazing creatures here) and visit the nearby Himba settlement where you can learn about one Namibia's indigenous cultures.
A Himba woman.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
The Kunene River Camp is most often the last port of call for adventurers on the three day Skeleton Coast Safari. To get to this camp you will fly North from the Leylandsdrift Camp over seal colonies and more beautiful rolling desert. Once at the camp you will be treated to an open air 4x4 safari that will take you to the border between Namibia and Angola.
The Kunene River camp looks over the mighty river.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
Mountains and dunes meet on the plains near the camp.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
When you visit this camp, and during your journey to the campsite, keep an eye out for Namibia's 'fairy circles'. Seeing these geological wonders in the stirring mountainous region is truly unforgettable.
4x4 tours are all part of the unforgettable experience.(Image courtesy of Expert Africa)
Obviously a tour like this is an absolutely amazing experience which is incomparable to anything else you can do in any other country, but don't just take our word for it: Read what people who have been on the tour think about it over here.
If a multiple day flying safari sounds a bit too hectic then why not hop on a scenic flight instead and get to witness Namibia unfold below you as you take a low-level flight over its dunes and landscapes. Here are just some of the companies in Namibia who offer scenic flights and flying safaris:
Skeleton Coast Fly-In Safaris
Wings Over Africa
Desert Air
Wilderness Air
African Profile Safaris
Scenic Air
One of the Skeleton Coast's many shipwrecks, seen from above.(Image courtesy of the Namibian)
If you plan on visiting the Skeleton Coast remember that it is always wise to bring clothes that are good for both extremes of temperature that you will be exposed to in the region. During the day it can be extremely hot, while during the evening it can get bitterly cold- so make sure you bring shorts, t-shirts, long pants and sweaters.
Dunes and airplanes- a match made in Namibia.(Image courtesy of the Namibian)
The bustling capital of Namibia is a city that proudly wears its history on its sleeve. Buildings, monuments and neighborhoods not only weave a narrative of the local histories and cultures, but it also makes for fascinating sightseeing.
Welcome to Windhoek!
The city is clean, well organized and fairly easy to navigate, making it ideal for walking tours and casual sightseeing. There are few must-visit sites in Windhoek that are all the more interesting when you know a bit of their back story.
This bustling main road cuts through the city centre and on it you will be able to take in the Gibeon Meteorites. 31 of the original 77 meteorites that fell near the town of Gibeon in Southern Namibia have been crafted into an unusual but beautiful piece of municipal art near the Sanlam Building on Independence Avenue. Thought to be over 4 billion years old, the 150 tons of space debris fom part of the largest meoteorite shower in the world.
At the intersection of Independence Avenue and John Meinhert Street, you'll find the bronze kudu statue, one of Windhoek's best loved statues. This popular landmark and meeting place was unveiled in 1960 and symbolizes a "spirit of hope" and a "shared passion for the beautiful abundance of the country's wild."
Head up the avenue toward the iconic Christus Kirche church, located on a traffic island in the middle of Robert Mugabe Drive. Take in its curved gables, quartz sandstone walls and elements of Neo Gothic and Art Nouveau, and you will understand why it is often used as the face of Windhoek, on countless postcards and brochures.
The church's clock and three bells were imported from Germany, as was the stained glass that was manufactured in Nuremberg and was a gift from the Emperor Wilhelm II.
The Christus Kirche.
Visitors to Windhoek are increasingly taking the opportunity to visit the thriving township of Katutura, which itself has a fascinating history linked to the country's colonial past.
When the League of Nations made Namibia a South African protectorate, many of the apartheid policies and strategies were applied to the city of Windhoek, such as the policy for "separate development", and in the 1950's, township areas for the various ethnic groups were created, with a view to keeping the city segregated.
The local black population was relocated to the township of Katutura, a name that means "the place where we do not want to settle". The plans ignited great opposition, eventually culminating in a bloody confrontation on Dec 10, 1959, a date that is today commemorated as "Human Rights Day" in memory of the 13 people who lost their lives.
The Katutura of 1968 consisted of about 4000 standardized rental houses without water and electricity organized into sections of five different ethnic groups. Each house had a living area of 45qm and a large letter on the door symbolizing the tribe (D = Damara, H = Herero etc.). If you look carefully, you can still see some of the letters on the walls to this day.
Jerusalem street, Katatura.
Windhoek's total population is currently around 300 000 people, about 60% of these people live in Katutura. There are many suburbs of Katutura with poignant names such as Soweto, Havana, Babylon and Wanaheda. But residents of the townships have built these neighborhoods into vibrant, prosperous locales that can give visitors a unique insight into Namibian life.
Take a guided tour through the lively meat market at Single Quarters, where visitors can have a taste of "kapana", the local road-side barbecue that is the snack of choice for many Namibians. Or drop in at Soweto market, a commercial centre where small businesses such as seamstresses, vendors and hairdressers thrive.
A local vendor preparing kapana.
Another popular stop is the Penduka Women's Centre. This non-governmental development organisation aims to empower disadvantaged or disabled women in Namibia by giving them a place to make beautiful hand-crafted souvenirs. In the Oshiwambo and Otjiherero languages the word Penduka means "wake up".
Arts and crafts...
...made by the women at the Penduka Women's Centre.
For the more daring, visit the infamous Eveline Street – the street that never sleeps. Lined with an array of shebeens (bars), hairdressers & other informal traders, its worth the visit if only to see the quirky names of the bars.
Windhoek offers its visitors a plethora of dining options- the international cuisine at places like Stellenbosch Wine bar or the ethnic fare to be found at Xwama in Katutura and the "Penduka" restaurant.
Xwama- fusion culture, fusion food!
While in Namibia, visitors can step out of their gastronomical comfort-zones and get a taste for the local cuisine- from mopane worms, to the local brew omalodhu or more hearty foods like springbok and kudu steaks.
For more great food ideas, take a look at our post on where to eat in Windhoek.
Mopane worms- in a tin. Go on, try one.
For those who find themselves in Windhoek en-route elsewhere, it can be so much more than just a stopover. Whether you prefer to explore with a guide or on foot, with family or alone, it can offer a memorable, enjoyable Namibian experience.
Picturesque- Parliament Gardens in Windhoek.
The Rare and Endangered Species Trust is an organisation that operates in Central-Northern Namibia near the town of Otjiwarongo and the Okonkjima game reserve. Many of you may remember them from our post on Pangolin conservation, but REST also plays a leading role in the effort to conserve endangered vultures in Namibia. Read on to find out how you can help too.
The Cape Griffon vulture, in flight.(Image courtesy of REST)
Most people are surprised when they find out about the plight of the various species of vultures in southern Africa. The fact is that vulture numbers are down across the region, and unless strong action is taken immediately we risk losing many of these species.
In Namibia Maria Diekmann decided to take action and many years ago founded REST. The trust now runs many programs to help save various species of animals in and around Namibia. Maria, along with her dedicated band of volunteers and permanent staff, hopes to educate the public on the plight of the vulture and in doing so illustrate just how vital these birds are for a functioning and healthy ecosystem.
Maria preparing to release Diana, a White Backed vulture, into the wild.(Image courtesy of REST)
Simply put, vultures are nature's clean-up crew. These birds can eat just about anything, ingest any pathogen and remove it from the ecosystem. What this does is it takes this undesirable meat, and disease, out of the ecosystem.
Without vultures doing this, whatever disease is in an animal's carcass will get ingested by other scavenging animals (wild dogs, jackals etc) and will eventually land causing a lot of harm to the entire ecosystem that has been robbed of its vultures.
Wild White Backed vultures nesting.(Image courtesy of REST)
Poaching is a massive problem for vultures in southern Africa. These birds are the ultimate innocent bystanders in the bloody war that is poaching. This is what happens: A gang of poachers will kill an animal for its ivory, horn or pelt and will then discard the carcass in the bush. Once this is done the vultures, who have keen eyesight and a knack for sniffing out a meal, will circle and eventually descend down to feed on the dead animal.
Many game rangers and anti-poaching teams had begun to use the circling vultures as a way of spotting where an act of poaching may have occurred and could then begin to give chase to any possible poachers. But the poachers have gotten wise to this. Now these highly organised gangs of thieves and smugglers will poison a carcass that they have killed in the hopes that it will kill off the vultures in area and thus make it harder for the game rangers and authorities to find them.
Nelson, a rescued Cape Griffon vulture who, unfortunately, is too damaged to send back into the wild.(Image courtesy of Linda Millington, via REST)
In August, this year, 600-1000 vultures were killed when one poached elephant carcass was deliberately poisoned in an attempt to rid an area in the north of Namibia of its vultures. Visit here to see if you can lend a hand to help lessen this crisis. It is estimated that every year nearly 2000 cultures are deliberately poisoned.
There are other problems facing vultures in our modern world as well. Loss of habitat, internal organs for use in traditional medicine, ignorance and even misguided farmers who pump their cattle and herds full of an anti-inflammatory drug that is as deadly as a poison to a vulture. We cannot stop all of these things at once, but we can begin to reverse the thinking behind each of these problems, one at a time.
The good news is that you now know about the problem. More good news is that through organisations like REST we can all lend a hand to making the world a little bit more vulture-friendly. And as with most conservation efforts it starts with education. By learning about the vital role, and by teaching this to young children REST fulfills an integral role in bringing awareness to the masses about the plight of the vulture, and you can help.
Volunteers at REST tagging a Cape Griffon vulture. This was the first time ever that this species had been tagged using telemetry.
You can volunteer. Not only is this a fantastic way to get to learn about a variety of different animals that REST concerns itself with, but it is also a fantastic way to have a unique and moving experience in Namibia. Click this link to find out all the details on REST's volunteer project.
Volunteers at REST get the full hands-on experience.(Image courtesy of REST)
There is accommodation for volunteers with running water and all the amenities you need to live comfortably in the bush. You won't be finding a TV or anything like that though! The prices are reasonable and all the money paid is ploughed straight back into the trust's efforts.
A vulture, flying the coup.
If you do not have the ability, or time, to volunteer then you can always donate money to the trust. All money is directly spent on conservation efforts as the organisation is well streamlined to ensure that no money is wasted on needless bureaucratic expenses.
Funds are used to maintain things like REST's vulture restaurant.(Image courtesy of REST)
Maria and REST rely on donations and sponsorships to allow them to continue doing the good work that they do, so once you have finished reading this article please consider donating some time or money to their cause.
One of REST's focuses is the critically endangered Cape Griffon vulture. There are only 12 breeding pairs left in Namibia of this majestic bird. That is not a big number, and it is even more shocking when you consider that 50 years ago there were over 2000 of these birds.
Nelson having a bit of a pose for the camera.(Image courtesy of REST)
But, if you visit REST you can see what is hoped will be the first successful breeding project of the Cape Griffon in captivity. Things are looking good right now and everyone is holding thumbs that this will be the start along the long road to recovery for these vital, and too often forgotten about, birds.
We need to support organisations like REST and we have to educate ourselves, and everyone we know, about the importance of vultures in the wild and by extension, our lives.
REST is planning for the future by protecting what we have now.
Capturing the best of Namibia on film can be as challenging as the land itself, but never fails to reward avid photographers. We asked professional photographer Lizzie Shepherd from the UK to share some of the thrills and spills of her latest expedition to Namibia.
"Skeleton Coast Dunes" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
It probably won't surprise you to know there were several unforgettable moments during our trip, so it's quite hard to choose. My first instinct was to say an evening spent in the Giant's Playground with thunder and lightning nearby. But I think I'm going to have to go with my dawn shoot in Deadvlei. We'd walked across the cool sands in the dark, arriving in the pan just as the darkness was starting to ease. My husband decided he was going to climb Big Mama dune to catch the sunrise, whilst I opted to stay in the pan to capture the Camelthorns in the soft light of dawn. Soon after he left I heard the sound of feet clattering on the pan. At first I couldn't think what could be making the sound but as I looked towards the distant edge of the pan I was just able to make out a couple of Gemsbok. At the same time, they noticed me and stopped to stare back for a while. Clearly not impressed by this intruder, they then continued on their way, trotting round the edge of the pan. It was the most magical moment to share the pan with just these two Oryx - the rhythmic sound of their hooves on the pan will stay with me forever.
"Quiver Tree Portrait" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
Namibia is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding places I've photographed. I have always loved deserts and Namibia boasts some of the finest. The vast open spaces, big skies, at times desolate scenery have always appealed. Equally, the more hidden riches and the amazing flora and fauna that thrive in the desert. The diversity of the landscape and its inhabitants is extraordinary and offers wonderful opportunities for photographing grand vistas, abstracts and, of course, wildlife.
One thing I must mention also is the wonderful hospitality of Namibia - of all the African countries I have visited, it stands apart as being an incredibly safe and stable place to visit. The people are friendly and welcoming, and the infrastructure is excellent - it really is very easy to get around most parts of the country and the accommodation options are superb. All these things make it so much easier to concentrate on your photography and to make the most of the opportunities that come your way.
I think the biggest challenge during our visit (in December) was the sun - for the most part the weather was a little too good! Of course I tried to concentrate my photographic efforts on the first and last part of the day but, even then, the skies were often cloudless. If you are on a limited timescale, as most of us are, it is inevitable you will at times be photographing nearer the middle of the day in quite harsh light - you just have to adapt your approach accordingly and make the most of the conditions you find.
"Grasses & Sand Namib Rand" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
I think the first one I'd choose would be 'Camelthorns and the last rays, Deadvlei'. When I visit a classic location such as Deadvlei, I try very hard not to look at any photographs of the area for some months before I visit. I'm always keen to try to forget what anyone else has done and hope simply to respond to the place, in my own way. It was such a thrill finally to visit the pan and, if anything, it exceeded my expectations. I hadn't realised the dead Camelthorns would be quite so beautiful - often they are portrayed as quite dark - yet the wood is surprisingly light and the colours and textures are fabulous. There was a graphic beauty about the combination of trees, pan and dunes and I felt this composition, in the fading light, really captured what I found so special about the place.
"Camelthorns and the last rays, Deadvlei" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
My second choice is one of my more abstract landscapes - 'The long and winding road at dawn, Wolwedans'. This was taken shortly before sunrise in the immaculate NamibRand nature reserve and I love the cool, silvery green tones of the amazing grasses, giving way to the rich red sand below. These grasses varied in colour from a rich golden yellow to a silvery blue colour and it was wonderful to witness how the hues changed as the sun rose above the horizon. I have a very similar image taken about 15 minutes later and the ground looks a completely different colour.
"The long and winding road at dawn, Wolwedans" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
My third choice has to be 'Lightning strikes, the Giant's Playground'. I have to say that, at the time, I was a little disappointed with this image - I had no chance to do a recce beforehand and had to rush like mad to capture that last bit of red sunlight on the Quiver trees, taking repeated shots in the hope of also catching a lightning bolt. As a result there really was no chance to fine tune my composition. I was extremely lucky to catch the lightning and, on reflection, feel proud to have made a striking photograph at a time when I was having to rely on instinct to make the most of some amazing conditions in a spectacular, but unfamiliar, location.
"Lightning strikes, the Giant's Playground" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
My main camera is a Nikon D800e but I also have a backup camera with me - at the time it was a Nikon D600 but I now use a Fuji XE-1 as a small and light alternative and/or backup. I like to have a range of lenses with me - on this trip I had focal lengths between 14mm and 300mm covered. A sturdy tripod is a must, along with a couple of cable releases and spare batteries for the times when recharging is difficult/impossible. Plenty of memory cards as well as devices on which to back them up. I also like to have a laptop with me to review images on the trip. When going somewhere with a lot of sand, a really useful addition is a couple of small paint brushes for cleaning off the sand from the camera and lenses - it gets everywhere and this minimises the chance of it finding its way inside your gear!
"Burnt by the sun Sossusvlei" © www.lizzieshepherd.com
#1: Do plenty of research and to work out the kind of scenery that will appeal most to them. Also do they want to see big game or do they want to visit some of the tribes like the Himba (both things we had to omit on this trip due to time constraints). Unless you have endless time and resources at your disposal, then it really is impossible to include everything on your trip.
#2: Plan an itinerary that gives you at least two nights in most places. A few one night stays are fine but you don't want to be on the move all the time. I would also recommend having a few 'wild card' or spare days, where you do not have a fixed itinerary. We did this and really enjoyed the freedom of being able to make a few last minute decisions, including a fascinating detour to Terrace Bay on the Skeleton Coast.
#3: My final tip would be to do something we didn't do - take a flight over the dunes. It's expensive but by all accounts well worth it if you can afford it. You should get some super photographic opportunities and it's something I would really love to do on a future visit.
About Lizzie Shepherd
Lizzie is a professional photographer based in North Yorkshire in the UK, specialising in landscape, nature and travel photography. She provides commercial photography services to a number of different clients and exhibits her work at a number of galleries locally. She runs small group and 1-2-1 photographic workshops, both individually and for Tripod Travels. Find out more about Lizzie by visiting her website www.lizzieshepherd.com or following her on Facebook and Twitter.
This part of a series of blog post interviews with photographers on how to Capture Namibia. Every week we'll be posting tips, tricks and amazing photographs from these impressive photographers.
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Marsel van Oosten
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Paul van Schalkwyk
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Aus is a small village that can be found in Namibia's south west. It lies on the B4 national road and is a popular site to visit for travellers exploring the deep south of Namibia or those who are making their way to or from the charming harbour town of Luderitz.
Aus, stark and beautiful.
Aus' origins can be traced back to July 1915 when German forces surrendered to the South African forces who had been pursuing them through South West Africa (what is now Namibia) as part of the WWI effort.
The location where the village now stands used to have internment camps for the German prisoners of war, but in May 1919, after the ratifying of the treaty of Versailles, the camps were dismantled. Now all that remains of that era are a few graves of the soldiers who passed on at the camp or in the surrounds. But the village that sprung up around the camps remains.
The village itself is modest and unassuming, but it's location makes it the perfect place to use as a base of operations when exploring the interior of Namibia's south. For example, to the west of Aus is one of Namibia's most talked about attractions. In this area, just outside the village, a patient traveler can catch a glimpse of one of the few herds of wild horses in the world.
Wild horses are very inquisitive creatures.
These wild horses cohabit the land with ostriches, oryx and other desert adapted animals. Check out our post on the Wild Horses of Namibia to find out more about these amazing feral creatures.
As already mentioned, beyond being a very pretty and relaxing place in it's own right, many adventure seekers use the small village as a base to explore the southern interior of Namibia.
125km West of Aus is Luderitz. Check out our blogs on what the quaint seaside town has to offer, from its unique architecture, adventure sports, cultural activities, and a nearby ghost town you've never heard of. This little coastal town is also a fantastic gateway to the stirring south west coast of Namibia and is a must visit if you are in the south.
To the East of Aus you can find Keetmanshoop and the quiver tree forest, which are both remarkable destinations for those willing to go off the beaten path.
The iconic quiver tree.
To the south of Aus lies the Orange River, the border between Namibia and South Africa and the astounding Fish River Canyon. You must read our post on the amazing day hike you can take into the canyon by clicking here.
Hiking in the Fish River canyon is once in a lifetime experience.
Klein Aus Vista
Klein Aus Vista is a collection of four different styles of lodges, the Desert Horse Inn, Eagles Nest Chalets, the Desert Horse Campsite and the Geisterschlucht Cabin. These four accommodation options mean there is something to suit every adventurer's taste when looking for a place to spend a few nights in Aus.
Klein Aus Vista is part of the Gondwana Collection of lodges and accommodation option. The Gondwana group often has special rates and package deals for travellers in Southern Africa, so be sure to check out their website to see if you qualify for any special rates.
The Desert Horse Inn
This is the perfect place for families of all ages to stay for a few nights. The rooms are beautifully situated and simply appointed. There is a good restaurant and plenty of space and excellent views of the beautiful semi-arid surrounds.
The Desert Horse Inn, comfortable and unforgettable.
Eagles Nest Chalets
These chalets are a 15 minute drive from the Desert Horse Inn's main reception and are very popular. Each unit is uniquely decorated and is situated in such a manner that once you arrive at your chalet you will feel like you are in your own private wilderness.
A view from one of the chalets.
Each chalet is built around the massive boulders that have settled at the foot of the mountain against which the buildings have been constructed.
The individualised rooms are...
...literally built...
...in and around the natural rock formations.
Desert Horse Campsite
Klein Aus Vista also manages two self-catering accommodation spaces, one of which is the Desert Horse Campsite which affords campers the opportunity to set up camp under beautiful camel thorn trees and amongst the enourmous granite boulders which litter the entire area.
This is an excellent place to use a base of operations for those adventurers who would like to a bit of light rock climibing and hiking in the mountains of the region. The campsite is also a mere 20km's away from where you can find Aus' famous wild horses.
DIY camping at its finest.
Geisterschlucht Cabin
The Geisterschlucht Cabin is quite the hidden gem at Klein Aus Vista. This unique and rustic little cabin can only be hired by one group o travellers at a time, regardless of their number. There are two dormitories in the cabin that sleep ten people each.
Isolated and inspiring, the cabin is a perfect getaway.
This means that you and your travel companions can settle down on your own in the beautiful surrounds. Like the Desert Horse Campsite the cabin is close to the wild horses and is also an excellent place to set off on hikes from.
If you stay at the Geisterschlucht cabin look out for the nearby relics from a bygone era.
If all these options are fully booked then check out this link, for a few other places where you can lay your head to rest in and around Aus.
While staying at the Desert Horse in you may also want to take advantage of their sunset drive. Here are three pictures taken on one of these drives:
Namibia's southern regions have so much to offer- so don't miss out!
Sesriem is often only thought of as just a gateway to the famous and amazing Sossusvlei, but it is also home to the Sesriem Canyon, a natural gorge carved millions of years ago by the once mighty Tsauchab River.
If you are heading into the Namib and you find yourself in the Naukluft National Park of Namibia, you will no doubt hear talk of Sesriem, a small settlement with a filling station and general supplies store close to the southern end of the Naukluft Mountains.
Sesriem Canyon, Namibia
Photo courtesy of TravelNewsNamibia.com
The canyon's birth dates back between two and four million years, when continental upheavel resulted in the creation of most of the westward flowing rivers in the Namib Desert region.
Today the Tsauchab River only runs after good rains fall in the nearby Naukluft Mountains, but the canyon is a testament to the rivers long-past prime some 15- 18 million years ago when the gorge was created by the river's once sweeping movement.
The canyon is up to 30 metres deep at points and is roughly about 1km long- with a width that ranges between one and three metres wide, flattening out as it approaches the iconic Sossusvlei.
The name Sesriem is derived from the Dutch/Afrikaans words for "six (zes) belt (riem)" and was given to the settlement by explorers returning from the Dorsland Treks. "Six belt" is a reference to the six belts, usually made of Oryx hide, that a thirsty settler would have to tie together in order to reach down into the deep hollows in the canyon floor to extract the crystal clear cool underground water which collects under the canyon's floor.
Take a stroll along the river bed of the Sesriem Canyon
Photo courtesy of summitpost.org
Sesriem canyon is an interesting place to walk and appreciate the canyon's multiple layers of exposed rock. It is best appreciated at sunrise or sunset, where the changing shadows and soft light foregrounds the area's breathtaking scenery, setting up excellent photography opportunity or offering a weary traveler a chance for some quiet reflection.
For those visiting by day, a walking trail leads into the canyon from where the layers of the different sedimentary layers are more clearly visible. A variety of tree species also grow within the canyon, such as the unique laurel fig.
Do note though, if you are visiting in the warmer months of the year, do try and avoid walking around during the hottest parts of the day. Rather beat the heat and leave for your walks through the canyon very early or later in the afternoon when the Namib begins to cools down.
If you're staying in the park, ask your lodge to organise a special sundowner over the canyon for spectacular views
After good rains, pools of water collect in the narrow, sheltered sections on the floor of the canyon. These pools of crystal clear water are an invigorating sight in the barren and stark surrounds, and some of the larger pools even present adventurous explorers with a chance to enjoy a refreshing swim.
Deeper hollows in the canyon's floor hold supplies of permanent water, even in the dryer months, which many animals use to survive in the harsh land. The pools are filled with species of fish, so be on the lookout for the barbell which call these pool's their homes.
A campsite managed by the Namibia Wildlife Resorts is situated close by under huge camel-thorn trees, and right by the Sesriem gate, hot air balloons depart in the early morning, providing scenic flights over the Sossusvlei dunes.
The sand dunes at Sossusvlei are some 60km from the entrance the Sesriem gate of the Naukluft National Park, and the drive to the famous dunes will take about an hour.
The gate into Sesriem only opens at sunrise, so if you are staying outside of the park (which you will be unless you are staying at the Sossus Dune Lodge), you will have to wait until sunrise to begin their journey to Sossusvlei.
Never-ending views over the Namib at Sossus Dune Lodge, a stone's throw from Sesriem Canyon
If you like nature walks: read about the Waterberg
If you like canyon hikes: read about the Fish River Canyon
More on the Sossusvlei area
Here's a list of the public holidays for 2014:
1 January 2014
New Year's Day
21 March 2014
Independence Day
18 April 2014
Good Friday
21 April 2014
Easter Monday
1 May 2014
Workers Day
4 May 2014
Cassinga Day
25 May 2014
Africa Day
29 May 2014
Ascension Day
26 August 2014
Heroes Day
10 December 2014
Human Rights Day
25 December 2014
Christmas Day
26 December 2014
Family Day
Happy planning and happy travels!
See what's on the Namibia Travel Planning Checklist
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The wild horses of Namibia have captured the imaginations of countless authors, photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. They can be found in the south west region of Namibia and they are truly a sight to behold.
Horses up ahead!(image courtesy of Wild Horses of the Namib)
The wild horses of Namibia have been wrapped in mystery for many years. With various travellers, zoologists and historians trying to trace their origins for the last 100 years. As a result of the mystery several different stories have developed, and it is only recently that the truth about these animal's introduction in to the wild has become known.
Horses on the outskirts of the Namib.(image courtesy of Wild Horses and Mustangs)
There are many origin stories for these wild horses, some suggesting these horses were abandoned by German stud farmers, others claim that the horses survived a shipwreck and made their way into the interior of the country. But these popular theories have been recently dismissed and disproven and historians and zoologists now have the answer to the question of where these mysterious beasts came from.
Where do the horses come from?
It was 1914, and German and South African troops were doing battle across what was then called South West Africa. The German forces had begun retreating from the 10 000 strong South African battalion who were well armed and well equipped with over 6000 horses.
The South Africans had set up a semi-permanent camp in the Namib around a dug well to provide water to the troops and their horses. It was this camp that the retreating Germans decided to disrupt in order to try and delay the advancing South African troops.
Dueling horses. (image courtesy of the Namibian)
A German military report makes the following observation: "In the morning of March 27, the tireless flight lieutenant Fiedler flew to Garub and successfully dropped bombs on the enemy camp amidst 1700 grazing cavalry horses causing great confusion."
The bombs that were dropped would have scattered some of the horses and many of those animals would not have been recovered as the South African troops quickly pulled up stakes and pursued the German forces shortly after the bombs fell.
The horses that fled into the wild during these World War I skirmishes were supplemented by other escaped horses from stud farms around the region. Based on photographic evidence, a former mayor of Luderitz, Emil Kreplin, had been breeding workhorses just south of Aus in Kubub, and that some of these horses escaped the farm and eventually joined with the other horses who had made it into the wild in the region.
The wild horses of Namibia are sociable animals that tend to stick together.(image courtesy of the Namibian)
The horses would have likely congregated around the region's mountains as there are many natural watering holes that can be found at the foot of the mountains.
Foal and mother in the harsh environment.(image courtesy of African Bush Bird Tours)
After diamonds were discovered at the nearby Kolmanskop in 1908 the German colonial authority decided to demarcate a massive area of land that was off-limits for anyone without the proper clearance. As a result of this the horses, who mostly escaped to the wild between 1914 and 1930, were able to live in a small area of land that was relatively free from humans.
These horses live in extreme conditions
The horses were also able to drink from the watering hole that the South African army had made and were thus able to stay hydrated in the parching desert heat.
Then, in 1986, the mining company who had the rights to mine the area for diamonds turned over the land on which the horses were living, previously called Diamond Restricted Area 2, to the Namibian government for inclusion in the Namib Naukluft Park.
The horses are now free to roam large tracts of land free from human interaction
If you want to see these majestic beasts your best chance will be heading to the small town of Garub. The little town of Garub is 20km west of Aus which is the main town in the region.
Horses investigating our parked car on the B4 toward Garub.
A small observation deck has been built inbetween Garub and Aus that visitors can use to look out on to a watering hole that has been constructed for the horses. Horses, gemsbok (oryx) and ostriches often frequent this oasis and seeing all three in the same space is truly a magical experience!
Oryx, ostriches and wild horses all drinking from the watering hole.
This shelter is easy to find as it is just off the B4, 20km outside Aus, and is well sign posted.
The lookout point is sign posted once you turn off the B4.(image courtesy of Wild horses and Mustangs)
If you want to stay in Aus for a few nights then look out for our post all about Aus and the things you can do there whilst visiting this hidden gem of Namibia's southern region.
Wild horses at sunset.(image courtesy of Cheryl Korff, via Panoramio)
Read about the desert adapted rhinos of Namibia
Download our adventure travel planning guide
Read about the Desert Adapted Elephants
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Now Taking Nominations: You Let the Dogs Out
We're going to switch gear and do something a little fun over the next week or two. One of the next features we're going to have on the site, now that we've released our 15th season All-Time Lightning Team is to create the All-Time Lightning All-Dog Team. We're going to go back through 14 seasons of Lightning hockey to reminisce on some of the worst players ever to wear the bolt and we need your help in crafting the list.
Here's the rules:
1.) You can't nominate any player whose rights are currently held by the Lightning. We're not looking to poison morale in the present, just to look back fondly on some of the bad old days. Sorry Tim Taylor haters, take it down the road.
2.) Whoever you nominate has to have played at least 10 games in a Lightning jersey. You lucked out Mario Larocque.
In the end we hope to have 12 awful forwards, 1 punchless enforcer, 6 defenseless defensemen and 2 sieve-like goaltenders. Nominees will be graded by the Bolt Prospects staff based on only the most unscientific of criteria, the foremost of which will be the shear stench they emitted while on the rink.
Don't feel like you have to give us all 22 players. Individual nominations are actually preferred. Use this blog thread to nominate who you think was the biggest mutt in Lightning history and give us a paragraph on why you think that player should be thrown in the pound. Then, keep checking Bolt Prospects over the next couple of weeks to see if we put your pooch on the list.
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First Nomination
And I will make the first nomination:
D Ian Herbers, 1999-2000
One of only two Lightning defensemen to ever make me want to gouge out my own eyes so I didn't have to watch them pretend to play. It's no coincidence he was in the British league two seasons later. Good thing too: they don't have a death penalty, and the way he played was definitely criminal. He's now the coach of the Johnstown Chiefs in the ECHL. He couldn't have outskated anyone in that league either.
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good topic
I'm sure you'll get flooded with entries. These are two personal favorites, though they're more recent.
D Mathieu Biron, 36 games, 0-0-0, -16, 12 PIMs
People seem to agree when I call him a stiff, so let's just stick with that. -16 in only 36 games (probably averaging 10 minutes a game maybe?) says a lot. One of the biggest guys I've ever seen in person, but to this day I can't figure out why he still keeps getting contracts. I still remember an interview with Torts about him.
Torts: Ah, he's a really nice kid. Unfortunately he brings that onto the ice.
Reporter: So, do you have ways to get him going, make him mad?
Torts: Well, I dunno, but he certainly has ways of making ME mad.
G Dieter Kochan, 20 games, 1-11-0 3.96 GAA .862 SV%
There are probably guys more deserving, but I remember one particular game when he came in for Khabibulin, went to get the puck in the corner, lost the puck & got scored on while still out of the net. Me & the spouse called goalie screwups "pulling a Kochan" for a few years after that one. I see on TSN that he just retired, but he seems to have been pretty successful in the AHL, so glad things somewhat worked out for him.
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where to begin...
I tend to shudder anytime I hear the names "Kevin Hodson" or "Rich Parent" (combined 6 wins through 54 total games), but I'd tend to lean toward Hodson if only because we brought him back out of retirement for him to do absolutely nothing useful as Habby's backup in 02-03.
In terms of enforcers you could make a strong case for Gordie Dwyer having stuck around for 3 seasons with only 4 assists and a 23-game suspension to show for it. Other than that, you could almost name anybody from those 50-losses/season years without much protest.
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I'll never forget his first game. I went to a sports bar to watch this kid who Dudley just signed be the first to make the jump from the UHL to the NHL. That's like plucking someone off the Kansas City T-Bones "pro" baseball team and having them bat 3rd for the Royals the next day.
That poor kid.
I think Modano beat him on his first shift with a soft wrister from the left circles.
His eyes were as big as pancakes.
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My Dog
Yves "the skating machine†Racine
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Pete you might want to provide a list of former bolt players, I seem to remember a couple of enforcer types who were nothing but thugs on the ice but cannot remember their names. I have the feeling that I may have a mental block against remembering some of these dogs. What about Wendall Young- the goalie, geez I hope I got that right???
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All-Time Roster
Per aapbolt's request, here is the all-time Lightning roster from hockeydb:
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subset: commoncrawl


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PERRY Co., Ky. (WYMT) - UPDATE: 2-21-14 11 p.m.
The generosity of an anonymous donor is giving this story a sweet ending.
When Destini Hall's story aired Monday it was just the right timing.
"Then she was just walking by her TV and about that time Destini's story aired and she told her husband that's who we have to give this chair to," said Mother Nancy Hall.
The donor she is referring to just so happened to have a lift chair they were no longer using.
For the Hall family it is an answered prayer.
"When you do work for God he will bless you in many ways and that's the way that I feel, we've been blessed tremendously," said Nancy Hall.
She said it is a relief to no longer feel the financial burden of buying a chair for the new County Line Community Church.
"Oh my gosh thank you so much," Nancy Hall said. "You don't know what this means to me, my church, my church family, and my child."
The more than $2,000 they collected was originally planned for the lift, but now Destini said they will use the money for new pews.
"I'm still going to bake cupcakes because there's still some stuff at the church we're going to help pay for," said Destini Hall.
The motivated 13-year-old had a message for those with spina bifida or other disabilities: "You can still do stuff any other kid can just in a different way," said Destini Hall.
Proving the recipe for success involves a little determination and a pinch of fate.
Her mother said they are delivering the lift chair to the church Saturday.
It's a labor of love.
Destini Hall is a middle school student in Perry County.
Hall said when her homework is completed she heads to the kitchen and begins baking cupcakes.
She was born with spina bifida.
Her mother, Nancy Hall, said she is really proud.
"There's not a lot of things she can do, but this is one thing she loves to do and she really took off and went with it," said Nancy Hall.
About two weeks about Destini said she posted a picture of her tasty treats on Facebook.
"I told her it was a great idea and that she should sell the cupcakes and donate the money to church," said Nancy.
She said they have attend the County Line Community Church in Hazard for nearly 10 years.
The church is currently building a new facility and Destini is selling her baked goods to purchase a chair lift for the church.
She said the chair will make it easier to get the second floor for youth activities.
She hopes to raise $5,000 to cover the costs.


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Level :Masters | Stream :Sciences | Subject :Pulp & Paper Science
Level :Dual | Stream :Engineering | Subject :Computer Science and Engineering
"old question paper of 3rd year ba"
12 Feb 2014 03:34 PM in Arts:Arts Colleges
"old question papers 1st b.com 1st sem"
11 Oct 2013 03:00 PM in Sciences:Science Colleges
"admission process of oxford university for indian students"
"Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) conduct a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) every year for the admission to its B-Tech and other courses offered at the IIT Mumbai, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Chennai,..."
Form Available from :November 8, 2012 | Form Submission deadline :December 15, 2012 | Exam Date :April 7, 2013
"AIEEE is a national level entrance test conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for admission to undergraduate courses in Engineering, and Architecture(including Planning) and Pharmacy..."
Form Available from :November 4, 2012 | Form Submission deadline :December 31, 2012 | Exam Date :April 8, 2013
Lucknow University - Lucknow
Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University - Nagpur
National Institute Of Technology - Warangal
"dear sir is there b tech correspondense in your college.i want to do b tech correspondense so please give me your answer to my mail" - 04 Feb 2013
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"If you are one of those individuals who has an affinity towards nature and plants, and want to build career in lap of nature, career as a Botanist is the right one for you that deals with the study of..."
New Delhi: Ever since the semester system has been introduced at the University of Delhi (DU), a series...
Is a newspaper better than an e-paper? This is one of the most commonly considered questions in our electronic...
Learning something cannot be judged unless it is put to test. Tests are the process of evaluation that...
Mumbai: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to set up special question papers...
New Delhi: The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi has announced the dates...
The Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) is all set to implement upon its new initiatives in...
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November 26, 2015
Douglas County health officials in Omaha say a man has died of West Nile virus, marking the county's first death from the mosquito-borne disease this year.
Health Director Dr. Adi Pour says the man was over 65 years old and had traveled to Texas before getting sick with the disease. The man had been hospitalized.
West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus from an infected bird. The virus has flu-like symptoms.
Health officials say residents should limit their time outdoors during dawn or dust, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if they're outside and use insect repellent.
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QNA Consultants Inc. 1234 NE 52nd Place Suite Kirkland WA PH 425 999 9000 FX 425 999 9001 www.QNAConsultants.com FASS FACILITY UPDATE
Prepared for. Michael Fidalgo Owner Prepared by. Constance Wu Sr. Consultant Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service FASS is company specializing in sales and repair service of automobiles. FASS plans to expand its market by adding two new outlets in the greater Seattle area within the next two years. At this stage of growing its business Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service has unique opportunity to evaluate its current staff and define its future staffing needs as well as its employee development and benefits plans. QNA Consultants Inc. proposes to work with Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service to assess and update its current staff and to establish modern Human Resources Department that will serve the company's needs into the future. Proposal Number. 1245 4405 Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service The Project QNA Consultants Inc.
THIS AGREEMENT is made this Day day of February Year by and between QNA Consultants Inc. "Company" and Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service "Customer". Each of the undersigned parties and QNA Consultants Inc. understands that both parties have desire to establish an employment consulting or other business relationship between the Company and the Customer. The Proposal Pack Non Disclosure is page agreement short form version is also available. See the Proposal Packs for the complete text of the Non Disclosure agreement General Provisions Governing Body. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington. Exclusive jurisdiction and venue shall be in the King County Washington superior courts. Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and writings and constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. The prevailing party in any action to enforce this Agreement shall be entitled to costs and attorneys' fees. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Customer and Developers and their respective successors and assigns provided that Developers may not assign any of his obligations under this Agreement without Customer's prior written consent.
EXECUTED as of the date first written above. QNA Consultants Inc. Title. Date signed. Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service Title. Date signed. The Objectiveģ Fidalgo Auto Sales and Service is automobile sales and repair facility. Efficient expansion of facilities and personnel is the primary objective. . Need #1. Evaluate and develop the Human Resources department.
and so on...
A Document from Proposal Pack
The complete Business Services and Consulting Sample Proposal - with the actual formatting, layout and graphics - is available in the retail Proposal Pack.
that I bought the Proposal Pack. The reaction from my existing clients has been great! They are very impressed with how detailed and professional my new business proposals are."
Rob Actis
This 'flip-book' sample is for our web site illustration purposes only. The actual sample is delivered in the retail products as an Adobe Acrobat PDF document. Proposal Kit products do not include this 'flip-book' style presentation.
Get the complete copy of the business services and consulting proposal sample and the extra material you need to create your own unique proposal. This sample is included as a free bonus in every Proposal Pack and Proposal Kit Professional product.
Read this article for more ideas on how to write this type of proposal: How to Write a Service Sales Business Proposal
Using Proposal Pack, you can write your own custom business services and consulting proposal tailored specifically to your needs. Use this sample as a model: the pages are completely customizable, so you can add your own text and logo. To change the look, just choose a different Proposal Pack design - this business services and consulting proposal sample is included in all Proposal Packs. You can also expand on this sample by adding more topics from the Proposal Pack.
The Business Services and Consulting sample proposal is from an outsourcing firm pitching their consulting services to a local company.
This is a good example to follow for anyone offering consulting services to their clients.
There are hundreds of proposal topics to choose from in Proposal Pack. This sample uses the following set of Proposal Pack topics: Title Page, Table of Contents, Non-Disclosure Form (Long Version), Executive Summary, Cost Summary, Client Operations, Project Management, Contract and Terms, Project Summary, Qualifications, Services Provided, References.
The Business Services and Consulting sample proposal is from an outsourcing firm pitching their HR consulting services to a local automotive repair company.
The FASS sample proposal is from an outsourcing firm pitching their services to a local automotive repair company. This sample illustrates how to use any of our Proposal Packs to pitch a company's goods and/or services to a potential client. The Proposal Pack framework can be used by virtually any company.
Human resources staffing firms, small business owners, outsourced service providers and consultants.
Sample business proposals are completed proposal examples you can use as a guide when writing your own unique business proposal. Sample business proposals illustrate how a collection of proposal templates from one Proposal Pack design was assembled together into a framework and the details filled in to complete the proposal. The Wizard proposal software includes this sample proposal as one of its business situations you can auto-create your own proposal from.
Ian Lauder has been helping businesses write their proposals and contracts for almost two decades. Ian is the Owner and Founder of Proposal Kit, one of the original sources of business proposal and contract software products started in 1997.
Proposal Kit Produced
By Ian Lauder
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The complete Business Services and Consulting Sample Proposal - with the actual formatting, layout and graphics - is available in the retail Proposal Pack.
Create winning business proposals & contracts with minimal effort and cost. Proposal software, proposal templates, legal contracts and sample proposals.


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LAS VEGAS (AP) - A federal oversight agency says Las Vegas police are keeping better track of officers using deadly force, and are close to putting cameras on the uniforms of some officers.
Justice Department Community Oriented Policing Services officials are making a mid-term report Wednesday about Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department use of force policies and practices.
COPS officials reported last November that the department needed an organizational transformation, and said officers needed better training to resolve crisis situations without firearms.
The update credits the department with keeping annual statistics on deadly use of force, and improving use of force reviews and public communications.
It says the department has made progress on all but four of the 75 recommendations that the reviewers made 10 months ago.
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text: Hi, I'm wondering what is the status of SSE support in SBCL? I see that there was some activity on the list not too long ago<http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.lisp.steel-bank.devel/15587>, but it is not obvious (from the perspective of an outside observer) whether it went anywhere or not. Thanks. -- Elliott Slaughter "Don't worry about what anybody else is going to do. The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay


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Google expands custom URLs for Google+ to all users
updated 06:56 am EDT, Wed October 30, 2013
All social network users to gain vanity URLs in the next week
Google is slowly expanding the availability of custom addresses for Google+ accounts, after initially rolling it out to prominent users and businesses in August. The change, which will allow normal users to use a shorter vanity URL, will be gradually introduced to the rest of the social network's population over the next week.
Vic Gundotra of Google advised that the option to add custom URLs will be visible on accounts, once it passes a number of criteria. Custom URL claimants need to have an account that is at least 30 days old, is followed by at least 10 other accounts, and have a profile photo, before they will be added to the queue.
The update to vanity URLs comes the morning after the company showed a number of new features in Google+, including improved Hangouts, updates to Auto Awesome for photographs, and the introduction of Auto Awesome to videos.


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Lubbock-based United Supermarkets, LLC, parent company of Market Street, is enhancing its Smart Rewards loyalty program, which attracted more than 140,000 members since its June 2011 launch. The program will now feature more ways to earn points and many more options for redeeming them.
"The Smart Rewards loyalty program has far exceeded our expectations in its first year. Our Market Street guests in the Metroplex have embraced this unique program and appreciate the cash discounts the program gives them just for shopping with us," says Robin Cash, loyal marketing manager for United Supermarkets, LLC. "These new enhancements mean that our guests will earn points much faster, and they will have more choices in how they can use their points."
"Smart Buys" are a new component to the program. Guests can purchase specially marked products throughout the store and receive bonus points ranging from 25 to 500 points per item. Points can be used toward a wider variety of reward options, including free products along with discounts on grocery and fuel purchases.
Reward options will rotate seasonally, allowing guests to be able to pick which rewards they want for their family. Redeeming points is easy and can be done through the new touch-screen kiosks located at the front of any DFW Market Street location, on the new Market Street mobile app, or online at the store's new website, www.marketstreetdfw.com.
The Smart Rewards program is free, and Market Street guests in the DFW area can sign up in any store location. The electronic enrollment process takes only seconds, and members may use their phone number during checkout instead of carrying a membership card. Members will automatically receive an online account when they enroll in Smart Rewards.


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HIT/HIE Resources:
This page contains links to both State and National resources, providing information regarding Health Information Technology (HIT) and Health Information Exchange (HIE) that may be of interest.
Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN)
Wisconsin Health Information Technology Extension Center (WHITEC)
Password Reset
Please enter your e-mail address. You will receive a new password via e-mail.


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Mind-Body Clinic
Life as a Georgia State University student can be challenging and at times stressful as you try to balance academic, social and extracurricular responsibilities. Stress can affect your mental and physical health, negatively impact relationships with friends and family and contribute to poor academic performance. Therefore, the ability to effectively manage stress is an important life skill for students to acquire as early as possible.
Everyone experiences stress at one point or another in their lifetime. It's how you handle the stress that matters. The Mind-Body Clinic is dedicated to providing information and a set of practical tools and strategies for coping and reducing the negative consequences of stress. Participants who visit the Mind-Body Clinic will:
- Learn about Consciously Resting Meditation
- Practice relaxation techniques utilizing stress relief biofeedback
- Unwind in the Relaxation Room
- Participate in Wellness Workshops
- Receive support and encouragement to engage in healthy lifestyle practices
Please explore the links listed above to access our stress relief programs.


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You lucky things; it's another video day! Today, Ken and I are sharing our tips and tricks to ordering flooring (and other building materials) online. It can be tricky, yes, but with the right steps, you're covered. Watch and learn:
A huge thanks to 360Flooring.com. We had such a great experience with them and can't sing their praises enough!


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November 27, 2015
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, swimmer Diana Nyad talks with her crew less than two miles off Key West, Fla., Monday, Sept. 2, 2013. Nyad, 64, is poised to be the first swimmer to cross the Florida Straits from Cuba to the Florida Keys without the security of a shark cage. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman)
KEY WEST, Florida (AP) - Diana Nyad has become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage.
The 64-year-old Nyad stepped ashore in Key West on Monday just before 2 p.m. EDT, about 53 hours after she began her swim in Havana on Saturday.
As she approached the shore, spectators surrounded her in the water, taking pictures and cheering her on. She swam within a couple dozen feet of the beach and walked on to dry land. She looked dazed and sunburned.
It was Nyad's fifth try to complete the approximately 110-mile swim. She tried three times in 2011 and 2012. She had also tried in 1978.
Her last attempt was cut short amid boat trouble, storms, unfavorable currents and jellyfish stings that left her face puffy and swollen.
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has taken steps to ensure that the information received by consumers is clearer and easier to understand, which should enable Americans to more easily compare financial products and understand contract terms. The Dodd-Frank law ensured that the agency could help Americans become savvier purchasers of credit cards, student loans, and mortgages, among other financial products as a means of preventing another financial crisis. In July the CFPB is expected to issue a simpler form to help consumers understand and compare mortgage loan terms, including loan amount, interest rate and whether the interest rate could rise, prepayment penalties, and whether there are balloon payments. Supporters say that the forms also clearly explain the monthly amount borrowers would owe and services they can shop for, including pest inspections, courier fees, and title insurance, in an effort to save money. However, critics say the agency should do more to improve explanations of what settlement fees are for and whether they are required. These critics suggest that lenders should be required to speed up delivery of final loan terms, giving paperwork to borrowers at least three days before closing. Additional improvements are being called for in credit card forms and student loan agreements.
Web Link


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Hey kids, I have a GREAT way for you to have a great time this year and to help keep Frisco beautiful all at the same time!
The Patch Program is your chance to stay Recycle-rific. Look below for the different projects you can do and the cool patches you can earn. Put these patches on your backpack and show off your GREEN pride at school.
The "Rufus Recycles" patch is the sportiest way to show off your Eco-Coolness.
To earn the "Rufus Recycles" patch, you have to participate in a Frisco "Clean It and Green It" event. Our next event will be on April 21st, 2012 in the IKEA parking lot. To pre-register for the event, Click here to fill out your Frisco Volunteer form.
Nothing says "I'm a Green Team Hero" like a "Cari the Cart" patch. Earning your "Cari the Cart" patch couldn't be easier. Just collect 5 box tops from cereal boxes you have recycled or collect 5 pop tops from aluminum cans you have recycled. Mail the box tops or pop tops to Ms. Molly. Remember to include your name, address and telephone number.
Environmental ServicesC/O Ms. Molly6101 Frisco Square Blvd.Frisco, TX 75034
Keeping Frisco Bee-autiful is fun and "Buzz" is looking for your help. To earn your "Buzz the Bee" patch, help Buzz pick up trash along one of our Frisco streets.
Step 1: Call Ms. Molly at (972) 292-5914 to set up a time and place to do your clean up.Step 2: Organize a group of friends to help you clean up.Step 3: Arrive at the location where Ms. Molly will give you grabbers, bags and moral support.Step 4: Pick up the litter along the designated area.Step 5: Have lots of fun.Step 6: Get your "Buzz the Bee" patch and a thank you from Frisco citizens for helping to keep our city BEE-autiful.
For more information, contact Ms. Molly at (972) 292-5914.
All patches are available while supplies last.


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Posted 18 December 2006 - 01:34 PM
Seeing as it's getting close to playoff time I thought we may as well have a thread.
I'm a Raiders fan btw...so as some of you might know, I will be looking for a second team to follow through the playoffs. I like the Bengals and the Jets, but neither of them are guaranteed to make the playoffs.
Chargers look just about the best team in the NFL right now. An NFL with only one strong conference and, tbh, a lack of identity with an insane ammount of player movement.
Posted 18 December 2006 - 03:38 PM
I was always a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Posted 18 December 2006 - 04:28 PM
The Cowboys look interesting after putting Romo in the quaterback position. As long as they ensure Terrell Owen's eventual bust-up with management occurs after the playoffs are over, I think they won't do too badly.
> I'm a Raiders fan btw
I know very little about Am. football, but even I felt some sympathy. Any hope of beating one of the Rams, Chiefs or Jets, to make it 3 wins in the season?
Posted 18 December 2006 - 05:08 PM
Our D is very good and has great hope for the future, but our Offence is the worst in our history and probably one of the worst 20 of all time.
Posted 20 December 2006 - 06:02 PM
Posted 15 January 2007 - 06:13 PM
I've liked Manning and Brady the past two/three seasons, so a Colts-Patriots match-up always sounds great for me. I'll be firmly with the Colts, though.
Posted 15 January 2007 - 10:26 PM
I dont really have a favourite team but I love individual players - Keshawn Johnson, T.O., Chris Carter, Thurman Thomas, Junior Seau. I grew up watching a lot of sport and football, American football and basketball were my main ones. We never used to get much on tv when I was young so I had to stay up late with my dad to get a glimpse in the early days. Then it took off and now everyone thinks they know all about it. It can get a bit boring with all the timeouts and stuff, and I am not a fan of the celebrations the players do after say a tackle or for tying their shoe laces.
Posted 16 January 2007 - 04:25 PM
I've been lucky enough to catch a few big college football games and the difference in night and day. The atmosphere is usually electric and the people seem much more into the game rather than just being there.
There's usually a marching band, people are chanting or singing and the overall vibe is just much better.
Say what you will about the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, it is a hell of a lot more energetic than any of the NFL games I've attended over the last 20 some years...
Posted 16 January 2007 - 09:57 PM
Posted 17 January 2007 - 01:45 PM
Posted 17 January 2007 - 03:44 PM
I just heard that the NFL has plans to play a regular season game in the UK next season (or was it the one after that?).
Found this on ESPN.com :
Posted 17 January 2007 - 06:25 PM
Posted 26 January 2007 - 01:18 AM
Posted 26 January 2007 - 10:47 AM
The Superbowl XLI could be a classic...here is a quick and simple break down of the two teams:
AFC Champs-Indianapolis Colts
-In the Superbowl for the first time since the franchise was moved to Indianapolis
-Led by inspirational Quaterback Peyton Manning; this is his first Superbowl in his record breaking 9 year career.
-Head Coach Tony Dungy has also never reached the Superbowl before despite getting lots of his teams into the playoffs.
-The team is built on a great Offence and, more specifically, a great passing game with Manning throwing to two of the best wide receivers in the game; Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Harrison and Manning are the most prolific QB-WR combo of all time for yards and TD's (I think). They are backed up by a decent running game with Dominic Rhodes and the rookie Joseph Addai who are both fast and skilfull runners, more than powerful bruisers. Many feel the teams real key to success is the offensive line, or the small group of players who protect the QB and make space for the runners.
-The Defence takes a back seat for Indianapolis, but despite a poor regular season, they have really improved in the playoffs. A collection of smaller, but much faster players, they don't tend to give up many really big plays and are all quick to the ball, despite not being big tacklers. Better at stopping the pass than stopping the run.
NFC Champs- Chicago Bears
-This is their first SB since the great 1985 team that had players like 'The Fridge' and was arguably the greatest Defence of all time.
-Lovie Smith (yes that really is his name) is in his 3rd season as a Head Coach and has done a tremendous job in restoring some of the greatness to this franchise, starting by reinstalling the tradition of great Defence.
-Brian Urlacher is the teams superstar and leader. He is a Middle Line Backer, this is basically like the Quaterback of the Defence. In his 7th season he is the talisman for the team just like Manning is for the Colts.
-Defence is what this team is built on. It isn't as great as the 1985 one, but it is still very dangerous. Capable of being very hard hitting but also forcing lots of turnovers - interceptions or fumbles - they will be missing a key player in Defensive Tackle Tommie Harris...he's the guy that trys to 'Sack' the QB.
-The Bears Offence is much maligned and very much in the shadow of the teams Defence. Quaterback Rex Grossman has had a pretty poor year and the team have relied on him making more big plays than mistakes. The running game is more potent for them with Thomas Jones, fast and skilfull, and Cedric Benson, big and powerful, providing a great one - two punch.
It's all set up for a classic Offence v Defence battle. Manning v Urlacher. Whilst that could be fascinating I get the feeling that the real fireworks will come when the Chicago Bears Offence play the Colts Defence...both units are a bit all over the place and the Superbowl can do funny things to the players in it.
I did forget to mention one aspect of play Special Teams....this is kicking, punting and kick/punt returns. The Colts have probably the best Kicker in the league with Adam Vinatieri. If the game is tight, he could be the difference maker. Equally the Bears have a great rookiekick off and punt returner... (kick off is when the game is restarted after the half or after a Touchdown/Field goal...the team that scores kicks the ball back from their half down to the opposition in their half....a punt is when a team is in a desperate tactical situation and has to get rid of the ball, so they punt it back to the opposition) ... his name is Devin Hester and he is FAST! He broke the record for touchdowns on Kick Off returns this season (7) in his rookie year and in 2 different games he scored touchdowns on 2 kick off returns.... he could keep the Bears in it, or mess up the way the Colts Offence want to play by putting them behind early.
One final point....the Colts are coming from the AFC division, which is much, much stronger than the NFC where the Bears come from. The Bears are still a good team, but it's debateable whether they are even as good as 2 of the teams the Colts beat to get to the Superbowl (The Ravens and Patriots...who beat the Chargers). After all this hype the Colts could run away with it and, if I'm hones, I wouldn't mind that, because Manning deserves a SB ring to shut up all the doubters, the same people that haunted Dan Marino's great career (he never won an SB).
Here are some videos for you;
Devin Hester with some fireworks...
Bears D...
The Colts... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO0J6nN49Kk
Posted 26 January 2007 - 05:59 PM


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Well it may be a little forcing but it isn't as harsh as other ways. When we tried the butt rope and when he kept raring up, he cut his head on top of the trailer. Then we just tried with pressure and even after 5 hours he still refused. I think food and water is a positive way because he realizes while in their eating and drinking that it isn't such a dangerous place and that he can relax. I have seen some ppl just forse a horse in, shut the doors and haul it wherever it needed to go and not even give the horse a chance to warm up. I would like my horse trailer to feel like home.
Just from doing it that way, after 1 month he now loads without even leading him in. Whenever we walk up to the horse trailer with him, we let his halter go and he walks on up and from the side we then clip him to the short lead that is hooked up front. I just feel it wasn't forceful as some other methods.


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This Godfrey Group custom 10×20 trade show exhibit is well lit and the lighting is warm and inviting. Also, from point number three in the article, this booth utilizes the space well with a greeting counter, conference table, and the backwall. There are a number of elements here for a 10×20 booth, but it is not crowded.
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Navigant Research
Cleantech Market Intelligence
Is Fuel Efficiency Finally Starting to Drive Down Gas Tax Revenue?
In October, the U.S. General Accounting Office released a report with a rather startling title: "All States Received More Funding Than They Contributed in Highway Taxes from 2005 to 2009."
To explain, all U.S. states send money collected from fuel taxes and a handful of other fees to the federal Highway Trust Fund. This money is then reapportioned back to the states in what has been often been a contentious process. States that get back less than they contribute are considered "donor" states, and perhaps not surprisingly, they complain about this. What this GAO report says is, from 2005 to 2009, every state in the U.S. was a "donee" state, receiving more from the Highway Trust Fund than it contributed. The federal government chipped in additional money from general tax revenues to support states' highway and mass transit investments.
So how did every U.S. state turn into a trust fund beggar in this period?
As noted, the Highway Trust Fund receives excise taxes collected on motor fuels, levied on gasoline, diesel fuel, gasohol, and fuels, as well as taxes related to trucks, trailers, and other heavy-use vehicles. It has long been predicted that efforts to reduce hydrocarbon fuel consumption from the U.S. passenger vehicle fleet – whether through greater fuel efficiency, proliferation of electric cars, or growing use of other transportation modes — will start to reduce fuel tax receipts. Has this finally happened? Well, the GAO report says that the purchasing power of the trust fund dropped, in part because the federal gas tax rate has not increased since 1993. And the report notes that contributions did decrease, but only from 2007 to 2008. So, for the period through 2009, it's not clear whether the fuel efficiency predictions had finally come true. However, the Congressional Budget Office is forecasting another revenue shortfall by the end of fiscal year 2012. And the GAO report concludes that fuel taxes may not be a viable long-term source of transportation funding as vehicles become more efficient and increasingly run on alternative fuels.
This is particularly relevant right now because Congress is working on its next transportation authorization bill, which would set spending levels for another six years. Congress will have to grapple with the issue of funding, in the midst of an election year cycle where discussions about revenue are constant fodder for politicking.
But the trends going forward are clear – all indications are that the U.S. vehicle fleet will become more efficient and more electrified. This doesn't have to be a major technology transformation either. As my colleague Dave Hurst recently wrote, it could be a simple transmission change. Stop start vehicles, which simply incorporate more robust batteries and starter systems than in conventional ICEs, can reduce fuel consumption by 5% to 10%, and come with a price tag only slightly higher than today's ICEs. Pike Research projects sales of these vehicles to take off in 2012, reaching 25 million globally by 2017.
With fuel consumption going down, the U.S. will likely have to consider alternatives to the current Highway Trust Fund revenue stream. Earlier reports to Congress have proposed taxes based on vehicle miles travelled or freight-based charges. In my next blog post, I will explore some of these options, especially the VMT based fees which could capitalize on the increased availability of driver location data from GPS and smartphones.


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The Minnesota Wild found themselves in a pinch on Wednesday afternoon when it came down that starting goaltender Niklas Backstrom wouldn't be in attendance. Most teams would just call up a goalie from the AHL to serve as the backup.
Minnesota did exactly what most teams would do, and they called to Houston to bring up Matt Hackett to be the backup to Joshua Harding on Wednesday. The only problem? Hackett didn't even get into the Minneapolis airport until a half hour before the game. That's not entirely helpful with the pregame skate or any situation where Harding would go down.
That's where the pinch comes in. As a result, they turned to the beer leagues and signed 51-year-old Paul Deutsch to dress for Wednesday's game against the Predators. Here is the full story of the signing from Michael Russo at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, complete with quotes like this:
"I actually was shaking while I was signing [the contract]," said Deutsch, who filled in "Minnesota Roosevelt Junior Varsity defenseman -- 1978," as his previous team on the contract.
Unfortunately for those hoping for the underdog story, Hackett did make it to the arena just in time, meaning Deutsch was a scratch.
The Wild aren't complete stranger with Deutsch. He has been brought in to help the team in a tight situation before, serving as a goaltender in practices for the Wild. This time it will be in front of a little bigger crowd.
If he would have had the chance to play, he might have signed another contract by the end of the night: one for a movie. Deutsch is a screen printer for his day job. But making the story even more incredible? Deutsch didn't start playing goalie until he was 37 years old.
"When you play senior men's hockey and you show up to the rink and there is no goalie, there is no game," Deutsch said. "So that's how I started playing. I was tired of coming, walking into the room and, 'Oh rats.'"
The funny part is that Deutsch already planned to go to XCel Energy Center for the game anyway, just as a fan with a youth hockey team. Well, he'll come away with a pretty good souvenir.
Here is a story the Wild ran on their website from before profiling Deutsch.
Photo: Getty Images
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @BrianStubitsNHL on Twitter.


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Filing shows new information on T1 tablet in the works from HTC
updated 03:51 pm EDT, Mon August 25, 2014
Device named Flounder according to Wi-Fi Alliance certification, comes in three models
More information has come to the surface regarding HTC's rumored T1 tablet. On top of South Korean regulators passing a device with the 0P82100 model number, the Wi-Fi Alliance has also approved a device under the same identifier. The Wi-Fi Alliance shows that the tablet is named Flounder, according to the firmware version on the device.
To go along with the 0P82100 model number, two additional SKUs are outlined in the filing to bring more consumer options to the tablet market. Talk Android obtained the certification, displaying that the three model numbers were classified under "Tablet (Wi-Fi and other)." The tablet, running Android L, has switchable 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, WPA and WPA2 security, and is certified for 802.11n and ac protocols.
Twitter account "UpLeaks" reports that the original 0P82100, the model number previously tied to the T1/Flounder, will be a Wi-Fi only version of the tablet, while the 0P82200 will be a United States CDMA2000/LTE version. The final SKU, 0P82300, is said to be a world LTE version. The Twitter account also posted that the T1 would be released before October 9.
flounder(T1#F, WiFi-only); 0P82100- @upleaks (@upleaks) August 23, 2014
flounder_lte_us(T1#WL, CDMA2000/LTE); 0P82200
flounder_lte_world(T1#UL, WCDMA/LTE); 0P82300
None of the previously-leaked information on the tablet was confirmed in the new filing, so it's still isn't known with certainty that the device will bear the Nexus branding, or what the size of the screen will be. UpLeaks previously said that the device would be powered by a 64-bit Tegra processor, 4GB of RAM and an MDM9x25 modem. The tablet would reportedly have near-field communications (NFC) and GPS as well.
The device would be the first new tablet from HTC since 2011. The company has been giving hints that it would be returning to the tablet market since last summer.


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Daily NewsView All News
Nepal – Government prepares final employment policy draft
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has prepared the final draft of the National Employment Policy 2013, reports the Himalayan Times. The report focuses, among other things, on promoting entrepreneurship, bringing in youth to the agricultural sector, encouraging youths to take up vocational courses, career guidance counselling for high school graduates, and timely dissemination of labour market information, such as job vacancies.
The draft, prepared in cooperation with the International Labour Organisation, revolves around job creation in five key areas: agriculture, manufacturing, construction, information technology based enterprises, and tourism. However, acknowledging the role of workers' remittance in poverty reduction and economic development, and considering the foreign employment sector as the key job provider in the medium-term, the draft also incorporates provisions on providing skills training to at least 50% of people leaving the country for employment purpose.
Paban Kumar Timilsena, the Under-secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said "We will now hold discussions with key stakeholders like trade unions and employers organisations and incorporate their suggestions in the draft. Discussions will also be held at regional and central levels, and with various ministries that will have to formulate policies in line with this document."
According to Mr Timilsena, these consultations will be completed prior to the end of this fiscal year after which the draft will be forwarded to the cabinet for final approval.
Over the years, Nepal's labour market scenario has remained bleak. This was because of low growth rate, dominance of works in the informal sector, labour disputes and inadequate skills, among others.
An estimated 450,000 people join the Nepalese labour market every year, of which only a small fraction secure employment in the domestic market. Approximately 400,000 accept placements abroad.


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We created Pandora to put the Music Genome Project directly in your hands
It's a new kind of radio –
stations that play only music you like
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: I. Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
Features of This Trackan acclaimed work
a well-known composer
a Romantic-Era style
a symphony orchestra
major key tonality
a lively tempo
a symphony
These are just a few of the hundreds of attributes cataloged for this track by the Music Genome Project.show more