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Solar Superstorm
Solar Superstorm Scientists are beginning to understand a historic
solar storm in 1859. One day, they say, it could happen again.
Listen to this story via streaming audio, a downloadable file, or get help.
October 23, 2003:Â Newly uncovered scientific data of recorded history's most massive space storm is helping a NASA scientist investigate its intensity and the probability that what occurred on Earth and in the heavens almost a century-and-a-half ago could happen again.
Right: An ultraviolet-wavelength picture of the sun taken by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on Oct. 23, 2003.
In scientific circles where solar flares, magnetic storms and other unique solar events are discussed, the occurrences of September 1-2, 1859, are the star stuff of legend. Even 144 years ago, many of Earth's inhabitants realized something momentous had just occurred. Within hours, telegraph wires in both the United States and Europe spontaneously shorted out, causing numerous fires, while the Northern Lights, solar-induced phenomena more closely associated with regions near Earth's North Pole, were documented as far south as Rome, Havana and Hawaii, with similar effects at the South Pole.
What happened in 1859 was a combination of several events that occurred on the Sun at the same time. If they took place separately they would be somewhat notable events. But together they caused the most potent disruption of Earth's ionosphere in recorded history. "What they generated was the perfect space storm," says Bruce Tsurutani, a plasma physicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
But the energy released by the Sun is not always constant. Close inspection of the Sun's surface reveals a turbulent tangle of magnetic fields and boiling arc-shaped clouds of hot plasma dappled by dark, roving sunspots.
Once in a while--exactly when scientists still cannot predict--an event occurs on the surface of the Sun that releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of a solar flare or a coronal mass ejection, an explosive burst of very hot, electrified gases with a mass that can surpass that of Mount Everest.
Below: These Northern Lights appeared over Wisconsin on Oct. 22, 2003. During the superstorm of 1859, such lights appeared as far south as Cuba and Hawaii. Photo copyright Chris VenHaus.
What transpired during the dog days of summer 1859, across the 150 million-kilometer (about 93 million-mile) chasm of interplanetary space that separates the Sun and Earth, was this: on August 28, solar observers noted the development of numerous sunspots on the Sun's surface. Sunspots are localized regions of extremely intense magnetic fields. These magnetic fields intertwine, and the resulting magnetic energy can generate a sudden, violent release of energy called a solar flare. From August 28 to September 2 several solar flares were observed. Then, on September 1, the Sun released a mammoth solar flare. For almost an entire minute the amount of sunlight the Sun produced at the region of the flare actually doubled.
"With the flare came this explosive release of a massive cloud of magnetically charged plasma called a coronal mass ejection," said Tsurutani. "Not all coronal mass ejections head toward Earth. Those that do usually take three to four days to get here. This one took all of 17 hours and 40 minutes," he noted.
Below: SOHO coronagraphs captured this movie of a coronal mass ejection (CME) heading toward Earth on Oct. 22nd. NOAA forecasters expect the CME to cause a geomagnetic storm when it reaches Earth on or about Oct. 24th, but not as severe as the superstorm of 1859.
Not only was this coronal mass ejection an extremely fast mover, the magnetic fields contained within it were extremely intense and in direct opposition with Earth's magnetic fields. That meant the coronal mass ejection of September 1, 1859, overwhelmed Earth's own magnetic field, allowing charged particles to penetrate into Earth's upper atmosphere. The endgame to such a stellar event is one heck of a light show and more -- including potential disruptions of electrical grids and communications systems.
Back in 1859 the invention of the telegraph was only 15 years old and society's electrical framework was truly in its infancy. A 1994 solar storm caused major malfunctions to two communications satellites, disrupting newspaper, network television and nationwide radio service throughout Canada. Other storms have affected systems ranging from cell phone service and TV signals to GPS systems and electrical power grids. In March 1989, a solar storm much less intense than the perfect space storm of 1859 caused the Hydro-Quebec (Canada) power grid to go down for over nine hours, and the resulting damages and loss in revenue were estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
"The question I get asked most often is, 'Could a perfect space storm happen again, and when?'" added Tsurutani. "I tell people it could, and it could very well be even more intense than what transpired in 1859. As for when, we simply do not know," he said.
To research the "perfect space storm" of 1859, Tsurutani and co-writers Walter Gonzalez, of the Brazilian National Space Institute, and Gurbax Lakhina and Sobhana Alex, of the India Institute of Geomagnetism, used previously reported ground, solar and auroral observations, and recently re-discovered ground-based magnetic- field data from Colaba Observatory in India. The findings were published in a recent issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research.
SpaceWeather.com -- current information about solar activity and auroras
NOAA Space Environment Center -- the official source of space weather data and forecasts
SOHO -- the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
The Hydro-Quebec Blackout of March 1989 -- On March 13, 1989, at 2:44 am, a transformer failure on one of the main power transmission lines in the HydroQuebec system precipitated a catastrophic collapse of the entire power grid.
Geomagnetic Storms Can Threaten Electric Power Grid -- The sprawling North American power grid resembles a large antenna, attracting electrical currents induced by giant solar storms.
The Biggest Explosions in the Solar System -- (Science@NASA) NASA's RHESSI spacecraft aims to unravel an explosive mystery: the origin of solar flares.
Solar Flares on Steroids -- (Science@NASA) Solar flares that scorch Earth's atmosphere are commonplace. But scientists have discovered a few each year that are not like the others: they come from stars thousands of light years away.


text: At what point do you let baby "taste" foods that would not really be ideal for them to eat- like cake, icing, ...(ok I guess I'm mainly referring to junk/snack/dessert type foods)? My lo is 6.5mos old & only eats solids maybe once a day- fruits & veggies only. However, more than once people have said to me- oh, have you let her taste that? or just put a little on your finger and let her try it... Most recently, I was eating a piece of cake & my mil said I should put some on my finger & let dd taste it, then she acted like I was being mean by not letting dd taste. I think it's way too early for her to be tasting things like that & it irritates me more when people give me a hard time about it, but am I just being too uptight about the whole thing and making it more of an issue than it should be?

subset: commoncrawl


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Gotta love the winning hand slaps.
Can I join too, boys? Please? I'll even pat your tushies to seem like one of the guys.
Can I join too, boys? Please? I'll even pat your tushies to seem like one of the guys.
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Trailers & Trailer Safety
Transporting Older Equine Athletes
Drs. Erin Denney-Jones and Ann Rashmir-Raven give tips for keeping horses healthy when hauling them.
Photo by Erica Larson, News Editor
Natural Disaster: Are You and Your Horse Ready?
Are you and your horse ready for emergency evacuation? Get tools and information you need to keep your horse healthy.
Does Short-Distance Hauling Harm Horses' Respiratory Tracts?
Based on study results, researchers believe short trips likely have limited implications for healthy horses.
Photo by Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse
Does Short-Distance Hauling Harm Horses' Respiratory Tracts?
September 20, 2016
Based on study results, researchers believe short trips likely have limited implications for healthy horses.... Read More
Poll Recap: Trailer Loading Competency
July 26, 2016
Of the 901 respondents, 703 (78%) said they are confident their horse would load in a trailer on the first try. ... Read More
Long-Haul Transport and Horse Health Risks
May 05, 2016
Long-distance transport poses risks for horse health and welfare that should not be taken lightly, researchers found.... Read More
Nutrition Tips for Traveling With Your Horse
April 18, 2016
Travel stress can lead to gastric ulcers and colic. Use these strategies to help keep your horse healthy away from home.... Read More
20 Disaster Planning Questions
March 12, 2016
Community disaster planning begins at home and in neighborhoods, and with understanding your farm.... Read More
Safe Travel in Winter
January 23, 2016
With proper planning for winter trailering, you can keep your horses (and yourself) safe and healthy.... Read More
The Horse's Top Blog Posts of 2015
December 26, 2015
Popular blog topics included pasture management, old horses, saddle fit, trailer safety, and more.... Read More
Poll Recap: Horse Hauling Options
September 22, 2015
The majority of poll respondents (74%) said they own their own horse trailer. ... Read More
On the Move With Your Horse
September 17, 2015
Before you hit the asphalt trail, consider these expert tips to make sure your horse arrives healthy and happy.... Read More
Researchers Seek Input for Horse Transportation Study
July 06, 2015
The research team is collecting information on equine transport practices and transport-related illnesses.... Read More
Help, My Horse Won't Get Out of the Trailer!
May 14, 2015
A Facebook fan asks for help with his horse, who's become a reluctant unloader. ... Read More
Finding Housing for Horses During Evacuations
May 13, 2015
Don't wait until disaster is on your doorstep to find a place to take your horses when evacuating. Remember these tips.... Read More
Poll Recap: Summer Travel Plans
May 12, 2015
Of the 674 respondents, 167 (25%) said they plan to travel more than 200 miles from their barn this summer.... Read More
How Do I Get My Horse to Load in a Trailer?
April 16, 2015
An equine behavior expert offers training tips for making trailer loading drama free.... Read More
Double-Decker Horse Transport Bill Introduced
March 31, 2015
The bill stems from a deadly 2007 incident involving the crash of a double-decker trailer carrying Belgian draft horses.... Read More
Shipping Horses Long Distances
February 16, 2015
Consider these factors when transporting horses afar, be it to a show or a new home. ... Read More
Are You Crash-Ready?
January 19, 2015
Here's what to do if you have a horse-hauling accident and how to avoid a wreck in the first place.... Read More
Take Precautions when Hauling Horses in Cold Weather
January 18, 2015
While hauling during cold weather can be challenging, proper planning will keep your horse performance-ready.... Read More
The Good Ride
November 21, 2014
Don't load your horse onto the trailer before understanding exactly what he's getting into.... Read More
UF Researchers Seeking Input on Survey
November 14, 2014
The survey is designed to gauge interest for a unique service that could be provided by local equine hospitals. ... Read More
Virginia Man Charged After Trailer Crash
November 05, 2014
The crash killed two horses; one died at the scene while the other was euthanized.... Read More
Equine Guelph Holds Large Animal Rescue Courses
October 10, 2014
Speakers encouraged attendees to take what learned back to the industry to help improve emergency rescue success rate.... Read More
Tennessee Horse Hauler Enters Plea Deal
September 03, 2014
A horse hauler whose firm was shut down by federal authorities has pleaded guilty to a single charge under a plea deal.... Read More
Saddle Up Safely Releases Booklets on Safe Equine Travel
August 25, 2014
"Trailering Your Horse Safely" and "Travel to a New Environment" cover topics from choosing a trailer to horse behavior.... Read More
Relocating a Horse
May 29, 2014
Whether you're heading south for a winter show circuit or relocating permanently, preparation is key. ... Read More
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Farm Call: Your Questions Answered
Moving Your Horse Safely
Q. I will be moving my horse from Kansas to Virginia in the near future. What preparations can I make to ensure the health of my horse in transit? With the very mobile population of the United States, this is becoming a very common question of horse owners. You need to decide well in advance of the trip whether you are going to transport your horse by personal trailer or


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This eriophyid mite is host specific to bermudagrass, Cynodon spp. It is widely distributed in New Zealand and North Africa. Entomologists suspect that it originated in Australia. The first detection in the U.S. was in 1959 in a bermudagrass lawn in Phoenix, AZ. Now it is a major pest of bermudagrass in Arizona. In 1962, it was detected in Florida and is now found throughout the southern states.
The bermudagrass mite is a major problem on golf courses. It survives best on grass that is not mowed closely, such as the edge of bunkers, the lips of sand traps, and around trees. In home landscapes it is more of a problem on well fertilized lawns.
The first symptoms of a bermudagrass mite infestation is grass that fails to begin normal growth although it is well fertilized and properly watered. The mites feed under the leaf sheaths and suck sap from the stems. At first the leaf tips yellow slightly and the leaf tips begin to roll. As damage continues, the internode distance shortens and "witches broom" or rosetting occurs. As the damage continues to get worse, the grass develops clumps that resemble miniature cabbage heads. The leaves eventually die back to the stem. If not controlled, the stems and stolons may die. Mite injury is much more severe during hot, dry periods. The injury can initially be mistaken for water or nutrient stress. Careful examination of the grass with a 15X to 20X hand lens will reveal the mites. The leaf sheath should be pulled back to make detection easier.
Under summer conditions the mites can go from an egg to an egg-laying female in 7–10 days. This allows populations to build very quickly. All life stages are found together under the leaf sheaths. As many as 200 mites may exist under a single leaf sheath.
Mites are spread by way of clippings, by hitchhiking on insects in the grass, by the wind, and by water. It is a good practice to remove the clippings from an infested area. Proper water and fertility management will help infested grass recover and may prevent damage in the first place.
Chemical controls can be used, but the spray must penetrate the leaf sheath to contact the mites. Addition of a spray adjuvant to enhance penetration may help. A second application within a week is usually needed to kill the newly hatched mites.
A few of the improved cultivars of bermudagrass are resistant to bermudagrass mites. These include 'FloraTex', 'Midiron', and 'Tifdwarf'. Most other common varieties and cultivars are susceptible.


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Tour de Houston registration
On Nov 16th, Get outside and explore the city of Houston covering 35 miles with a few interesting stops along the way. Participants must provide their own lunch and be able to comfortably ride a bike at 10 miles per hour.
For more information visit http://www.uh.edu/recreation/
- Location
- CRWC and Houston
- Price
- Student $10, Student Guest $30
- Sponsor
- Campus Recreation
- Contact
- Caleb Wells, firstname.lastname@example.com


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It's nice to know you're not alone :)
Printable View
It's nice to know you're not alone :)
Hello, I am new here and my DS is turning one next week. My DD only nursed until she was 10 months so toddler nursing is new to me. It is interesting to read how different each child is. DS is currently nursing 6 to 10 times a day depending on how often he nurses at night.
I work part-time and still pump three times in 8 hours for him. I wanted to ask those moms who work and nurse toddlers:
At what age of your LO did you stop pumping?
How often did you pump at different ages?
When you stop pumping does your supply bounce back on the days you are off and your LO wants to nurse?
My twins just turned 2. They nurse at least 3-4 x's a day. When they were one, they probably nursed around 6 times or so..They definitely LOVE their "nah nah's"!


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Educator Licensure
PRIORITY Processing of Applications for Licenses and Endorsements
The Educator Licensure Division has an established procedure to help districts fill positions and candidates gain employment on a priority rush basis.
Rush requests should be limited to job-dependent situations where there is a reasonable expectation that the license, endorsement or approval will be issued. For licenses, the ROE can verify that the applicant has submitted the following:
- an application
- a copy of a valid, comparable certificate/license from another state
- official transcripts
For a rush request for an endorsement or approval, the ROE can verify that the applicant has submitted the following:
- an application
- official transcripts.
Many endorsements and approvals require tests. The ROE should verify whether the test has been passed. If it has not, the district should be advised that the applicant is not eligible for the endorsement or approval at this time.
Priority processing may be requested only through a Regional Superintendent (in Chicago, the Human Resource Department of Chicago Public Schools). A local district may request that the ROE or CPS send priority notification to the State Board of Education. The regional superintendent will determine the validity of the request and then submit a completed priority rush form to the State Board. ISBE Educator Licensure staff will process priority applications within two weeks (10 working days).
- Priority Rush Request Form


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Minnesota State Mankato's Honors Program challenges motivated students to take their college experience further than they thought possible. They will develop the ability to solve problems, the skills to tackle tough jobs and the courage to engage in difficult discussions. They will cultivate the desire to seek new knowledge and to explore new places. They will become widely recognized, renowned, prominent, distinguished leaders, researchers and global citizens who are able to bring about change in the world, no matter what their chosen discipline may be.
The program includes classes designed specifically for honors students as well as a variety of co-curricular activities to enrich those classroom experiences. Students will have the opportunity to work with mentors, to take part in the University's Undergraduate Research Conference and to be involved in a number of other events, seminars and activities on and off campus.
Because they will have the opportunity to push themselves to do more here at Minnesota State Mankato, they will be ready to push for success in the real world as well.
Ready to achieve your maximum potential as a member of the Honors program? Submit your application today!


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Black History Month Activities
As part of its celebration of Black History Month, Bluefield State College will show the movie "The Color Purple," February 18, at noon in the Student Union, and at 7 p.m. in the Basic Science Auditorium. There is no admission charge to any of these movie showings and the public is invited to attend.
The recording artists "Unda Presha" will present a concert at BSC, February 20, at 7 p.m. in the Basic Science Auditorium. There is no charge for admission, but tickets are needed. Tickets may be picked up at the BSC Campus Activities Office, Student Union Building.


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A great gray owl sits on a downed spruce tree just off West Hill Road early Monday evening. The owl caused a small traffic jam as people stopped to view and photograph it.
Young bird watcher Landon Bunting first sighted the owl and told another birder, Jason Sodergen, who then put out an alert on the Kachemak Bay Birders email list.
"It was just an amazing event," Sodergen said. "It was great to see it."


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Dr. Peter Eglin
Professor (RETIRED)
Contact InformationEmail: email@example.com
Languages Spoken
Academic Background
BA (University Coll., London); PhD (UBC)
Academic interests: ethnomethodology and conversation analysis, philosophy of social science, human rights, responsibility of intellectuals
Peter Eglin taught sociology at Laurier since 1976. He was Humboldt Research Fellow at the Universität Konstanz 1980-1981, and Visiting Research Associate at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies at Wolfson College, Oxford in 1981. As a visiting professor he has taught at the University of Toronto, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic and the University of Wales at Bangor. He is author of Talk and Taxonomy: A Methodological Comparison of Ethnosemantics and Ethnomethodology (1980). With Stephen Hester he is co-author of A Sociology of Crime (1992) and The Montreal Massacre: A Story of Membership Categorization Analysis (2003), and co-editor of Culture in Action: Studies in Membership Categorization Analysis (1997). His work has been translated into French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese and has appeared (in English) in the German journal Zeitschrift für Soziologie. As a student of ethnomethodology and conversation analysis he investigates the use of categories for describing persons in practical reasoning in talk and texts in various settings, including in the university classroom (see What do we do Wednesday? Canadian Review of Sociology, 2009), and including work on gender categories and the category feminist. He has contributed chapters to the Handbook of Sociology and Human Rights (2013) and the Routledge Handbook of Language and Culture (2014).
He is also exercised by the question of intellectuals responsibility in a number of human rights issues, notably Canadian war crimes in Afghanistan, state terrorism in El Salvador, near-genocide in East Timor, the Montreal Massacre and Israeli crimes in Palestine. The culmination of this work is to be found in Intellectual Citizenship and the Problem of Incarnation (2013).
He is incensed by the ongoing ruination of the universities under neoliberalism. He fears for the survival of the human species under global warming, and he strives for a world liberated from capitalism and strong states.


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In: Van Driesche, R., et al., 2002, Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States, USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04, 413 p.
lived and persistent, and can occupy a large proportion of suitable habitats in a relatively short time. The fern is classified as a Category I invasive species (the most invasive species) by the Florida Exotic Plant Pest Council (Langeland and Craddock Burks, 1998).
Extent of losses. It is hard to quantify the extent of the losses due to Old World climbing fern. The explosive growth and rapid spread of the fern are relatively recent. It was first collected from Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Palm Beach County in 1966 (Beckner, 1968), and by 1993, it was present on 493 ha (11%) of the park and the Loxahatchee National Wild and Scenic River (Roberts, 1998). In 1995, the weed was present on 6,800 ha (12%) of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Palm Beach Co.), where it was undetected in 1990 (S. Jewel, pers. comm.). The land area infested by this fern is estimated (from aerial surveys) to have increased 150% between 1997 and 1999 (A. Ferriter, pers. comm.). Present losses due to this weed are bad, yet modest compared to potential losses unless effective controls can be found and implemented soon.
Geographical Distribution
In the United States. Lygodium micophyllum is a subtropical and tropical plant that requires shallow aquatic habitats or moist soils. At present, L. microphyllum is limited to the southern third of the Florida peninsula from Brevard and Highlands County south. The area with the lowest winter temperatures currently infested is Polk and Highlands Counties (ca. 28°N) in south-central Florida. These areas are in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9B (minimum of 3.9 to 6.6°C) (Cathey, 1990). Because Zone 9B extends up the eastern coast to the Georgia border (ca. 30°N), the weed may well be able to colonize this area. Zone 9B extends to just above Tampa on the west coast of Florida. If spores of the fern are carried across the Gulf of Mexico to the southern coast of Texas and Mexico, the weed could establish in those areas because of suitable climates and habitats. If it establishes in Mexico, it could spread south to much of wet tropical America. Lygodium microphyllum also is naturalized to a limited extent in Jamaica and Guyana (Pemberton and Ferriter, 1998), so the opportunity for it to spread within the Caribbean and other tropical portions of the Americas already exists.
Native range. Lygodium microphyllum has an exceptionally large native range, occurring in much of the moist Old World tropics and subtropics (Pemberton, 1998). The fern's temperate limits are between 28°S and 29°S in Australia and South Africa, and 25° N and 27°N in Assam (northeastern India) and the Ryuku Islands (the southwestern most part of Japan). It spans more than half of the world's circumference from 18°E in Senegal to 150°W in Tahiti. In Africa, L. microphyllum ranges from Senegal south and east through most of West Africa to Zaire, then south to Angola, east to East Africa, and then south to South Africa. In Asia, the fern is distributed from India and Nepal, east through much of Southeast Asia, and north through the warmer provinces of southern China to Taiwan and Okinawa. It also occurs throughout many of the Southeast Asian islands to Australia and, in the Pacific, east to Tahiti.
Background Information On The Pest Plant
The correct name of Old World climbing fern is L. microphyllum (Alston and Holttum, 1959; Hanks, 1998), but the species is occasionally referred to as Lygodium scandens (L.) Sw., particularly in older works. As many as 40 species have been placed in the genus Lygodium (Mabberley, 1997), but a recent revision has reduced this number to 26 (Hanks, 1998). All but two species are from areas with tropical or subtropical climates. The genus Lygodium has usually been placed in the Schizaeaceae, a small primitive family that also includes the genera Actinostachys, Schizaea, Anemia, and Mohria (Prantl, 1881; Holttum, 1973; Hanks, 1998). Since Lygodium is unique morphologically, it is sometimes interpreted to comprise its own monogeneric family, the Lygodiaceae (Bierhorst, 1971; Wagner and Smith, 1993). The relationship of the Schizaeaceae (Lygodiaceace s.s.) to other groups of ferns is unclear (Smith, 1995).
Lygodium microphyllum is a distinctive fern in North America. This vine has pinnately compound fronds (pinnules), except the sterile fronds (pinnae), which have entire margins. Lygodium japonicum (Thunberg ex. Murray) Swartz, another invasive species in the southeastern United States, has twice pinnately compound fronds with sterile fronds that have toothed margins. Lygodium palmatum (Bernh.) Sw., a temperate native member of the genus living from Appalachia north to New England, has palmately compound fronds. Lygodium microphyllum has been placed, based on morphology, in the subgenus Volubilia; the native L. palmatum in the subgenus Palmata; and L. japonicum in the subgenus Flexuosa (Prantl, 1881; Hanks, 1998).
The biology of L. microphyllum is not well studied. The fern is a long-lived perennial vine. The aerial vines are actually very long leaves with a stem-like rachis and leaflet-like pinnae and pinnules comprising the photosynthetic tissue. The plant bears both fertile leaflets with sporangia bearing teeth along the edge of the blade, and sterile leaflets with entire margins. The true stems are underground rhizomes. These vines can be 30 m in length. Growth and sporulation appear to occur all year. The fern produces large numbers of spores; more than 800 spores/m3/hour were trapped in one Florida infestation (Pemberton and Ferriter, 1998). Spores can germinate in six to seven days (Brown, 1984). Dried spores taken from the plants have germinated after two years (Lott and Pemberton, unpub.). The life cycle of L. microphyllum is the same as with other ferns. The spores require moist conditions to germinate and grow into small, liverwort-like gametophytes. Male and female organs are produced on the same gametophytes and fertilization occurs when the swimming spermatozoid swims from the male organ to a female organ to penetrate the ovule. Fertilization gives rise to the familiar large leafy fern, which is the sporophyte stage. The fern spreads locally by vegetative growth and over long distances by wind-borne spores. The plant can grow in standing water and wet soils, and either in full sun or shade.
Analysis of Related Native Plants in the Eastern United States
In addition to L. palmatum (discussed above), there are West Indian Lygodium species that are being considered in the biological control program because of the proximity of this region to southern Florida. Lygodium volubile Sw., which occurs in Cuba and other areas of the West Indies, belongs to the same subgenus Volubilia as L. microphyllum. Lygodium cubense Kunth. (a Cuban endemic), Lygodium venustum Sw. (found in the West Indies), and Lygodium oligostachyum (Willd.) Desv. (endemic to the Dominican Republic and Haiti) (Prantl, 1881; Hanks, 1998) all belong to the subgenus Flexuosa.
Except for L. palmatum, the only native North American plants that have been considered related to L. microphyllum are three species of Anemia, one species of Actinostachys, and one species of Schizaea (Wagner and Smith, 1993; Nauman, 1993; Mickel, 1993). Anemia mexicana Klotzsch occurs in southwest Texas and northern Mexico. Anemia adiantifolia (L.) Swartz is locally common in Florida and the West Indies. Anemia wrightii Baker in Hooker and Baker is a tiny rare fern limited to lightly shaded solution holes and limestone sinks in southern Florida and the West Indies. Both Florida Anemia species are broadly sympatric with L. microphyllum. Schizaea pusilla Pursh is found in the northeastern part of North America. Actinostachys pennula (Swartz) Hooker is a widely distributed species in tropical America whose only known North American population is on Everglades tree islands that are being overgrown by L. microphyllum.
The relationships among the genera of the Schizaeaceae S.l. are unclear (Smith, 1995). Recent molecular research (rbcL) on the phylogeny of ferns found that Lygodium, Actinostachys, and Anemia have more intrageneric distance than occurs between most fern families (Hasebe et al., 1995). The research also showed the family to be very isolated, with more intrafamilial distance between it and other fern families than occurs between most fern families (Hasebe et al., 1995). The molecular data and the antiquity of the Schizaeaceae (Anemia spores are known from the Cretaceous [Smith, 1995]), suggest that the family arose earlier than other fern groups.
History of Biological Control Efforts in the Eastern United States
Area of Origin of Weed
While the native range of L. microphyllum is well defined, it is very large and the area(s) of origin of the plants that have become invasive in Florida is unknown. To attempt to identify the region(s) of origin of the Florida plants, collections of Florida material and material from many different parts of the native range are being made for genetic comparison. The weed is of horticultural origin in Florida (Pemberton and Ferriter, 1998). It was recognized to be a potential problem not long after it was found to be naturalized (Nauman and Austin, 1978).
Areas Surveyed for Natural Enemies
A preliminary survey for the natural enemies of Lygodium spp. was made in Japan, northern Taiwan, and Hong Kong during the autumn of 1997 by R. Pemberton. Lygodium japonicum, the only Lygodium in Japan, was common in central and western Honshu, including Tokyo. Lygodium microphyllum was uncommon in northern Taiwan; only one population was found. In Hong Kong, L. microphyllum, L. japonicum, and Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Swartz were examined. Lygodium microphyllum occurred in small patches, a few meters wide, along streams and on hillsides in heavy soils. The discovery of various pyralid moths attacking the plants helped secure funding for the project.
Much of the exploratory effort for Lygodium natural enemies is being carried out by J. Goolsby and T. Wright. This effort began in 1998 and is focused on L. microphyllum and other Lygodium spp. (L. japonicum, L. flexuosum, and Lygodium reticulatum Schkuhr, Farnkr.) in Southeast Asia and Australia. Lygodium microphyllum is widely distributed throughout the wet tropics and subtropics of Australia and Southeast Asia. Within Australia areas in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia were explored. In southeast Asia, areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand were surveyed. Several trips have been made to each of the collection locations to capture the seasonal diversity of herbivores, and more than 250 sites have been visited. In these areas, L. microphyllum is not weedy and is associated with a complex of insects, mites, and pathogens. Lygodium microphyllum and Lygodium smithianum Pres. were surveyed in West Africa (Benin, Ghana, and Cameroon) by R. Pemberton in 1999. West Africa is at the western edge of L. microphyllum's huge Old World distribution. The plant was found in both swamps and in diverse terrestrial habitats in high rainfall areas. The plant often was common, but not abundant or dominant. Two short visits were made by cooperators to a L. microphyllum population in Natal South Africa, near the plant's southern latitudinal limit.
Natural Enemies Found
More than 18 species of herbivores have been collected from L. microphyllum (Table 1). The pyralid moth Neo Musotima conspurcatalis Warren is the most widely distributed, followed by an eriophyid mite in the genus Floracarus. Most efforts to locate natural enemies have focused on the above-ground portions of the fern. Searching methods have included visual inspection, beating trays, and black-light trapping.
Table 1. Herbivores Collected from Lygodium spp. in Asia and Australia
In South Africa, few natural enemies were found. In West Africa, the most damaging and common natural enemy of L. microphyllum was a Tenuapalpis mite (Tenuapalpidae), which caused brown, channel-like scars on the leaves. The mite also commonly fed on Nephrolepis ferns, which indicated a undesirably wide host range; Nephrolepis ferns are a modern group of ferns whereas Lygodium ferns are an ancient group. The paucity of natural enemies associated with Lygodium in Africa may relate to the time of year that the surveys were made, or to the low diversity of Lygodium species on the continent. Only two species of Lygodium occur there, compared to about a dozen species in southeast Asia, where many natural enemies have been found.
A rust fungus, Puccinia lygodii (Har.) Arth., native to South America and naturalized in the United States, has recently been found infecting L. japonicum in northern Florida (Rayachhetry et al., 2001). The rust is not known to occur in the region infested by L. microphyllum and its capability to infect L. microphyllum is unknown. It is a glasshouse pest of ornamental Lygodium (Jones, 1987), and may have a role in L. microphyllum control (Pemberton, 1998).
Host Range Tests and Results
Host specificity testing schemes based on plant family affiliations, as employed for weedy flowering plant, are not suitable for use with weedy ferns because of the lack of agreement on fern families, even in recent publications. Recent molecular work (Hasebe, 1995) has helped to identifying more natural groupings of ferns. Nevertheless, fern genera are usually the reliable taxa used to orient host specificity testing. Because of the relatively modest number of genera of ferns in Florida and the southeastern United States, it is possible to test representatives of most genera. The most difficult species to evaluate are the 40 species of ferns considered threatened or endangered in Florida. Most all of these ferns are neotropical species reaching the northern limits of their ranges in southern Florida. Permits from federal, state, and local governments are needed to collect small numbers of representative species of each genus of rare ferns. Because of the taxonomic isolation of the genus Lygodium, we expect to find specialist natural enemies with host ranges limited to the genus.
For the moth species currently being evaluated, host range tests have been designed to measure the oviposition behavior of the adult and the suitability of the test ferns for development of the immature stages. No-choice sleeve cage tests are being used to determine oviposition responses of the adults. Oviposition in sleeves is recorded daily, along with hatching and mortality of immature stages. In many cases, adult moths do not oviposit on test plant species. For these species, naïve neonate larvae are placed on test plants to determine their ability to feed and develop. For larger larvae, which are big enough to crawl between test plants in a choice test, simultaneous presentation of cut foliage from several test plant species will be used to determine the ability of larger larvae to choose plant species best suited for completion of their development.
Cold-temperature tests will be used to determine the critical lower thermal limit for survival of the target herbivores. Because the geographical range of L. microphyllum is from 28°N to 28°S, specialist herbivores of this fern also will be tropical or subtropical species. In cases where development of these herbivores occurs on temperate species, such as L. palmatum in North America, the lower thermal limit of the herbivore could reduce the risk to such non-target species. We do not expect tropical or subtropical biological control agents to tolerate winter temperatures found in the southern part of L. palmatum's range.
Releases Made
No releases of any agents have been made against Old World climbing fern in the United States as of 2000.
Biology and Ecology of Key Natural Enemies
Developmental studies of C. camptozonale were conducted on two hosts, L. microphyllum and L. japonicum. Females laid an average of 25 eggs either singularly or in clusters on the upper surface of mature pinnae. Longevity of adult females was 6.2 days. Development time from egg to adult was 44 days at 24°C on both plant species. Cataclysta camptozonale appears to have four larval instars. Pupae can be sexed based on the presence of a slit in the middle of the second to last tergite in males only. The sex ratio of the laboratory colony used in this test was slightly female biased with a male:female ratio of 1:1.3.
Preliminary host range tests have started with C. camptozonale in the laboratory. Fifteen fern species have been tested in no-choice tests. Thus far it appears that C. camptozonale larvae develop only on Lygodium spp., including the North American endemic L. palmatum. Further testing is underway to determine the host range and critical minimum survival temperature of this moth.
NeoMusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Neo Musotima conspurcatalis has been collected from many locations in northern Australia and the wet tropics of southeast Asia. Larvae defoliate leaves and skeletonize L. microphyllum in a manner similar to C. camptozonale. To determine whether N. conspurcatalis might be a complex of species, we used molecular genetic methods to analyze the DNA of populations from different areas. Molecular sequencing of the mitochondrial D2 gene showed an exact match between the specimens from Australia and southeast Asia. This indicates that both populations are likely to be the same species.
Fecundity, longevity, and host range of this species appear to be very similar to that of C. camptozonale. Neo Musotima conspurcatalis has only been collected in tropical regions thus far. The geographical distribution of this moth seems to indicate that it is not tolerant of the cooler winters of the subtropics; however, further studies are planned to determine the exact critical low temperature.
Musotima sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Musotima sp. has been collected in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, but only on L. microphyllum. It appears to be restricted to areas with tropical climates to a greater degree than either C. camptozonale or N. conspurcatalis. The moth is currently being described by Alma Solis (ARS-Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland).
Although little is known so far, preliminary studies in quarantine indicate that adults of this species live up to 10 days, pupal development requires eight days, and the sex ratio favors females (m:f, 1:1.5). Larvae are vigorous defoliators of L. microphyllum, although the damage is less pronounced in the field, presumably due to parasitism and predation. The species also completes its life cycle on L. palmatum and L. japonicum.
We intend to compare mite populations from Australia with those from southeast Asia, using molecular DNA tools. Analysis of the DNA (D2 gene) should indicate whether there are several species feeding on Lygodium in different parts of its range. Danuta Knihinicki of New South Wales Agriculture identified the mite as Floracarus sp. and intends to describe it as a new species. Field studies are continuing to determine the life cycle and host range of the mite. Preliminary testing indicates that this mite is highly specific to L. microphyllum.
Recommendations for Future Work
The biological control program against Old World climbing fern began in 1997. Although promising natural enemies have been located, none have been fully tested and none released. For this reason and because large areas of L. microphyllum's native range are unexplored, surveys to locate additional natural enemies will continue in southern China, various Pacific islands, Irian Jaya, New Caledonia, and India. In addition to surveying for herbivores attacking L. microphyllum and other Lygodium spp. in the weed's native range, surveys of neotropical Lygodium species will be made to find natural enemies not previously associated with the weed.
Molecular phylogenetic studies are planned that will attempt to match the genotype of the L. microphyllum population in Florida with populations from around the world. More than 30 samples of L. microphyllum from Florida and various parts of its native range have been collected. Matching the invasive population with its source population should lead us to the natural enemies which with the greatest affinity for the Florida genotype. This research also will allow us to determine the degree of relatedness of species within the genus. Several subgenera have been established based on morphology. We intend to look for congruency in placement of the species in subgenera with molecular-based phylogenies. Understanding which species are most closely related to L. microphyllum (in the same subgroup) will allow us to develop the most meaningful host plant test list. This is especially important since many species of Lygodium are neotropical and could potentially be affected by introduction of biological control agents to Florida.
The climatic factors that influence distribution of potential agents also must be investigated. Because L. palmatum occurs in temperate areas of North America, it should not be at risk from importation of agents that have tropical or subtropical origins. Laboratory tests to establish the critical thermal limits of potential agents are planned.
More than two hundred field sites in Australia and Southeast Asia across a wide range of climates, soil types, and nutrient regimes have been surveyed for natural enemies. Lygodium microphyllum cannot be described as weedy in any of these locations. Yet, it is not apparent from field surveys which agent(s) most restrict population growth of this fern. Field studies are planned to determine the regulatory effects of the key agents on L. microphyllum. Floracarus sp. appears to be associated with leaf necrosis and defoliation. We intend to investigate the role of this mite in promoting infections by plant pathogens. Pathogens and insects also may be associated with the rhizome of the fern. Methods must be developed to identify rhizome natural enemies and determine if they reduce the growth of the plant. Although current research is focused on L. microphyllum, L. japonicum could become a part of the program in the future. This invasive fern is naturalized in the United States from Texas to the Carolinas and southward to central Florida. Its more temperate distribution would require the use of biological control agents more tolerant of cold climates than those needed for L. microphyllum. Use of such cold-hardy agents might place the native species L. palmatum at risk. Additional information on these ferns is available in the Lygodium Management Plan for Florida (Ferriter, 2001).
Alston, A. H. and R. E. Holltum. 1959. Notes on taxonomy and nomenclature in the genus Lygodium
Beckner, J. 1968. Lygodium microphyllum, another fern escaped in Florida. American Fern Journal 58:
Bierhorst, D. W. 1971. Morphology of Vascular Plants. Macmillan Company, New York.
Brown, V. 1984. A biosystematic study of the ferns of the genus Lygodium in eastern North America.
Cathey, H. M. 1990. USDA plant hardiness zone map. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural
Craddock Burks, K. 1996. Adverse effects of invasive exotic plants on Florida's rare native flora. Florida
Ferriter, A. (ed.). 2001. Lygodium Management Plan for Florida. Florida Exotic Pest Council Lygodium
Hanks, J. 1998. A monographic study of Lygodium Swartz (Pteridophyta: Lygodiaceae). Ph.D.
Hasebe, M., P. G. Wolf, K. M. Pryer, K. Ueda, M. Ito, R. Sano, G. J. Gastony, J. Yokoyama,
Holttum, R. E. 1973. Posing the problems, pp. 1-10. In Jermey, A. C, J. A. Crabbe, and B. A. Thomas
Jones, D. L. 1987. Encyclopaedea of Ferns. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Langeland, K. A. and K. Craddock Burks, (eds.). 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-native Plants
Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The Plant Book, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United
Mickel, J. T. 1993. Anemiaceae, pp. 117-118. In Flora of North American Editorial Committee (eds.).
Nauman, C. E. 1993. Lygodiaceae, pp. 114-116. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.).
Nauman, C. E. and D. F. Austin. 1978. Spread of Lygodium microphyllum in Florida. Amererican Fern
Pemberton, R. W. 1998. The potential of biological control to manage Old World climbing fern
Pemberton, R. W. and A. P. Ferriter. 1998. Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), a
Prantl, K. 1881. Die Schizeaaceen, pp. 7-85. Morphologie der Gefässkryptogamen Volume 2. Verlag
Rayachhetry, M., R. W. Pemberton, R. Leahy, and L. Smith. 2001. First determination of the
Roberts, D. 1998. Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Brown, pp. 16-17. In Langeland, K. A and K.
Smith, A. R. 1995. Non-molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for ferns. American Fern Journal 85:
Wagner, W.H. and A. R. Smith. 1993. Pteridophytes, pp. 263-264. In Flora of North America Editorial
Wagner, W. H. 1993. Schizaceae, pp.112-113 264. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee
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text: We've all heard it– that six-word phrase that inspires believers (you can always tell they're inspired by the way they nod and make the affirmative humming noise) but makes our eyes twitch and our teeth grind. Six unassuming words, strung together to create an inordinate amount of animosity between two already divided groups. "There are [Read More…]


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Business Digest September 28, 2012
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Harold's Restaurant and Lounge has opened for dinner and drinks in the space formerly occupied by Fusion Food and Spirits at 1940 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, next to the Plaza Hotel. Pratt Management Co., which owns the hotel and restaurant, brought in consultant Noah Heaney, who helped develop the Bitter Bar in Boulder and Jax Fish House in Fort Collins, to recraft the restaurant.
Thousand Oaks, California,-based Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN) has received regulatory approval to give its Prolia drug to men with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fractures. Amgen's production plant in Boulder makes the bulk substance denosumab, which is used to make the Prolia and Xgeva osteoporosis drugs. People who suffer from osteoporosis experience weakening and thinning of the bones. Osteoporosis is most commonly seen in post-menopausal women, and the drugs already are approved to treat women.
The Trader Joe's grocery store coming to the Twenty Ninth Street shopping area in Boulder will not sell the chain's popular and bargain-priced "Two-Buck Chuck" wines. Unlike most states, wine and liquor generally cannot be sold in Colorado grocery stores. State law limits each chain or independent grocer to apply for only one license to sell full-strength liquor, and the Monrovia, California-based Trader Joe's chain of specialty grocers has decided that the newly announced Denver store at Eighth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard — not the one planned for Boulder — will be the state's designated wine merchant. Fans of Trader Joe's coined the term "Two-Buck Chuck" to refer to the chain's selection of discount wines, which carry a Charles Shaw label and now mostly sell for about $3.99. Both stores are to open in 2013.
Level 3 Communications Inc. is rolling out its Vyvx Solutions to new markets in Latin America. Broomfield-based Level 3 (NYSE: LVLT) is a telecommunications provider that operates long-haul telecom lines and also provides services and infrastructure to broadcasters. Vyvx is a suite of video transmission solutions broadcasters use to take and transmit video on location at news and sporting events.
The city of Longmont's sales- and use-tax collections increased 4.8 percent in August, compared with the same period a year ago, according to the city finance department's latest report. Longmont collected $3,889,443, in August, compared with $3,712,983 collected in August 2011. The collection in August represents sales made in July. The sales-tax component of collections increased by 3.2 percent from the same month the year before, and the use-tax component increased by 12.1 percent. Total sales- and use-tax collections for the year to date increased 2.9 percent compared with the same period in 2011, according to the report.
The city of Boulder's sales- and use-tax collections increased 2.1 percent in July, compared with the same month a year ago, according to the latest report from the city finance department. Boulder collected $8,713,668 in July compared with the $8,535,347 it collected in July 2011, according to the report. The collection in July represents sales made in June.
Xcel Energy Inc. has saved an estimated $17 million in energy costs by using a new energy-forecast software product developed in collaboration with Boulder-based Global Weather Corp. Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) now has used the WindWX energy-forecast service for a full year. Xcel saved about $7.8 million in 2011 alone, the two companies said. Forecasts are designed to help utilities such as Xcel make decisions about when to use less power from existing power plants when sufficient winds are forecast, the companies said. Xcel paid about $5 million to develop the service in connection with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.
Researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Laboratory, which are both based in Boulder, have developed instruments NASA aircraft are about to use to peer into hurricanes. NOAA and NCAR are working with NASA for its Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel mission. The three-year mission will fly two unmanned aircraft around and above hurricanes to study what makes them intensify or weaken and what determines their course.
Boulder-based Campus Publishers, a division of Redrock Publishing Co., has added Sam Houston State University to its family of more than 40 official university visitor guides. The guide will make its debut in summer 2013.
Boulder-based Also Energy LLC, maker of renewable-energy monitoring and portfolio-management software, is monitoring more than 200 solar installations on public schools, colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Schools either build their own photovoltaic energy system to power their facility or partner with financiers or utility companies, and the power is sold to them at a fixed or reduced rate. AlsoEnergy provides solar energy production-monitoring data along with educational kiosks to the educational field.
Longmont-based Dot Hill Systems Corp. (Nasdaq: HILL), a provider of SAN storage solutions, has been selected by NEC High Performance Computing Europe to supplement NEC's parallel file system LXFS, based on "Lustre" technology. The joint solution, which integrates Dot Hill AssuredSAN 3000 and 3003 storage arrays with NEC's file system products, has been deployed at several university research data centers as well as at development centers in the automotive industry.
MWH Global, a Broomfield-based provider of consulting, engineering and construction services, will begin offering financial-management consulting services following its acquisition of StepWise Utility Advisors. Englewood-based StepWise is a financial-management consulting firm that specializes in water and wastewater utilities. Terms of the acquisition were undisclosed.
Boulder-based private equity firm Grey Mountain Partners, in connection with its affiliate company, Denver-based Consolidated Glass Holding, acquired Insulpane of Connecticut and Orchard Glass Distributors.
Longmont United Hospital now has a da Vinci Si Surgical System in its operating room. The robotically assisted device is operated by a surgeon and features a three-dimensional camera and "arms" that hold surgical instruments. It can be used to perform a variety of surgical procedures, including hysterectomies, prostatectomies and colorectal surgeries. It sells for about $1.75 million, according to industry statistics.
Deadline to submit items for Business Digest is three weeks prior to publication of each biweekly issue. Mail to Editor, Boulder County Business Report, 3180 Sterling Circle, Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80301-2338; or email to firstname.lastname@example.com with Business Digest in the subject line.
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Why CEOs hate dealing with Human Resources
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- Guest Column
How many times have you heard the chief executive groan "Do we really need HR at this meeting?"
Why is it that many CEOs simply hate dealing with their human resources managers?
Sitcoms such as "The Office" and comic strips such as "Dilbert" have a heyday poking fun at HR staff. Is HR really as insensitive, overly administrative and generally annoying to work with as it's often depicted?
After supporting CEOs for more than 26 years with HR challenges and strengthening their human capital strategies, we know firsthand the obstacles HR has demonstrating their value to achieving critical business strategies and objectives. We also know there are almost always two sides to every story.
First, let's look from the CEO's viewpoint. It's true that HR professionals can miss golden opportunities to prove the value they bring to the table.
Here are five common problems CEOs experience with HR.
Not understanding the business. The executive table suffers no fools. HR must understand how the company runs, makes money, the CEO's vision for growth and how HR can drive and align its programs toward these goals. When training new HR managers, first on the list should be a facility tour, introductions to every department and an emphatic reminder that HR wouldn't exist without these people.
We're not here just to accomplish every cool program we want; we're here to assist the company's overall mission. If HR doesn't learn the business inside out, it will be viewed as administrative and ancillary to the leadership team. Top HR leaders are indispensable to the executive team; they add value to discussions that aren't only HR specific, communicate return on investment and speak intelligently to pressing issues facing a busy board.
Not having credibility with their peers or just not getting along. The HR director who says "That's not in my bandwidth" is setting up for his or her own death knell. HR must possess a well-rounded skill set toward any problem, be technically solid in the core areas of human resources and, most importantly, be right in difficult situations.
Not really "knowing your stuff" or faking an answer instead of researching the correct solution is the fastest way to lose credibility from management. CEOs understand HR can't be a constant fountain of knowledge, but misfiring on the toughest HR situations is hard to recover from.
Not getting along with other executives? Sorry, but no excuses here. If HR can't be a good example of people skills, who can? This is one of those "life isn't fair" moments, but that's the way it is. HR always must be in the lead as a team player.
Weak analytical skills. HR employees unable to see the financial impact of projects lose credibility fast, not only with the CEO but also with operations, finance and the board. A Denver CEO in the emerging technology space explained, "They have probably gotten into HR because they have strong social skills but don't possess the analytical side. This becomes a problem when the hard issues arise. They can't handle them, and then the CEO has to step in."
Telling the CEO "You can't do this" with difficult employee situations. This was a particular pet peeve of a CEO in my corporate past. My best approach was learning to educate and share best management practices and potential legal concerns and then let the CEO choose her path. By presenting information in a logical and understandable style, the CEO successfully navigated those tricky employment waters.
CEOs count on HR to solve problems where they're not an expert, but they're also not used to being told what they "have" to do. The HR leader who learns both tact and diplomacy quickly becomes a trusted adviser and confidant.
A little too quiet in the chair. You don't get invited to the executive meetings because you want to be there. You're invited when you provide valuable insight, you're current on all company news and developments, and management doesn't want to have the discussion without you.
Jean Imbler-Jansen, SPHR, is president of Strategic HR Solutions, an executive search firm and HR consultancy in Boulder. Reach her at 303-247-9500 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Warning Warning! Really annoying disabling of magazine-function in ads on iPads will
soon get really tiresome - scratch that, it is already.
Seems that the sway/pro-bono-type clients are the only ones who dare try this trick, Amnesty started it with the ad that would not swipe away in an iPad newspaper. Sure, fine, that ad makes a good point, but disabling a function to make that point is hella risky.


text: Billy Farwig is a former U.S. Ski Team coach and is the former manager of Salomon's race and freeride program. Farwig was a World Cup service tech for Salomon Canada and for the U.S. World Cup downhill teams. Recently Farwig served as the Executive Director for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, where he still is involved as a coach.


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Councilman Joey Heard had the item put on the agenda because he said he had heard the mayor say the funding should no longer be given.
Mayor Rey Jaso said he did say that and that he would stand by his word.
"We need to be fair. They are hanging on by a thread. We already committed the money in the first place," Heard said.
The council voted to fund the Foundation to the tune of $200,000 over two years.
The council voted in August to bestow one lump sum of $100,000 from sales tax money. The second $100,000 would be given this August.
With its first director quitting after five months, some doubt whether the Foundation would be successful was voiced by Councilman Dale Skrobarcek.
"Don't think y'all have proven yourself," Skrobarcek said.
But Foundation President Ann Fierova said five months (the time the director was in the position) isn't enough time to judge.
She said the new Family Dollar, Wine Fest, Country Opry and County Fair were growth factors that can be attributed to the Foundation.
"The county is poised for tremendous growth," she said.
And she said a housing project is about sealed for Refugio, noting that housing was one of the Foundation's top priorities.
Also, she noted that the Foundation received 20 applications to fill the directorship vacated by former director Joe Arredondo, who was present at the meeting.
"I think that gentleman back there (pointing to Arredondo) was a good selection," said Councilman Lenny Anzaldua.
Councilwoman Karen Watts asked Arredondo why he left the position.
"I didn't have enough money. I couldn't travel," he said.
He said he couldn't travel for certification, adding that after paying salaries, the light bills and office expenses, there wasn't enough.
Watts asked how much Arredondo would have needed. He replied between $250,000 to $300,000.
"I have to be traveling," he said. "I can't stay here and sell widgets."
Bayside Mayor Ken Dahl, a member of the Foundation board, disagreed with Arredondo, saying people work with what they have.
"We have a vision. We have a good model. Give us time," Dahl said.
He added that the Foundation is committed and that four or five of the candidates to replace Arredondo "are looking good."
But Skrobarek said the remaining $100,000 should go to develop things for the residents of Refugio.
Commissioner Ann Lopez, another member of the Foundation, said the intent of the Foundation was to apply for grants.
She said the county judge encouraged the Foundation to come up with a master plan, thereby finding other ways to fund the Foundation.
"I would like to see it extended another two years. That's my thought," Watts said.
Ann Lopez said Caterpillar is looking outside of Victoria currently, and that is a possibility.
Lopez also said she could not praise the city council enough for believing in the Foundation.
Heard said he never asked for any receipts for what the Foundation does. He added that he didn't ask to be updated, as well.
Fierova said the Foundation has a financial report generated every month that could be provided to the council.
Also suggested was to recruit one of the city councilmen to the Foundation board.
Watts suggested a workshop in August to determine what would be planned after that last $100,000 was awarded to the Foundation.
She said a budget and guidelines would help the matter.
"To me, I am seeing results," she said.
Skrobarcek voted against continuing the commitment to fund the Foundation, while Heard, Frank Hosey and Watts voted to continue the commitment. Anzaldua abstained from voting. The funding passed.
The council also increased the permit fee for game rooms/amusement businesses in the city limits from $350 to $500 an eight-liner machine.
The council also voted to give the Refugio County Chamber of Commerce its request for $8,572 in motel tax money.
And the council also voted to implement a school resource officer position. A police officer would be reassigned until the new fiscal year when the a new position could be budgeted.
The school district has agreed to pay the officer's base salary of $39,688, according to Police Chief Andy Lopez Jr.


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Comments: These were my very first flats, seeming last year was my first year being in cross country also being in the varsity team as well. Id say this shoe is a great, really durable, flexible, light, and thats what i usually look for in a shoe. this feels just like a sock but the only thing of this shoe that i dont like is the track on this shoe is eva foam and it does tend to rip from its actual sole, as i say this happen to some of my teammates. this problem has just barely started on my zoom streaks but its been a year since ive bought these shoes. ive ran all my cross country races and done all my work outs in my in these shoes
i would really recommend these shoes for beginners through pros
From: Ricardo, Oxnard, CA, USA
Comments: Whether your doing workouts, road races, or if your part of those California cross country runners, this will be the shoe for you! First off, this show lasts a very long time time, and I mean like over a year. I got my Streak XC 2 in June of 2011, and its now mid June of 2012 and I have done most of my track workouts in them and did all of my cross country races in them and occasional road races in them. The upper is very breathable! Provides great reaction feel for those who mid foot and forefoot strike. A MUST BUY!
From: Kieran (45-70 mpw) ,San Rafael, California
Comments: Shoe sizing is very dependent on the shape of your foot, accordingly we all vary. If you have wide feet with your big toe being the longest you will need to size up 1/2 to 1 full size If you have skinny feet with your middle toes being the longest you will be good with your normal size of shoe. I'm really not sure who would possibly need to size down 1/2 a size in this shoe, it's a really narrow shoe. I guess some people do, but not many.
From: Ken, SLC, Utah, USA
Comments: These are great shoes for road racing. Personally, I would not use them for more than a 10K, but faster runners might like them for longer distances. My 5K and 10K PRs were run in these shoes. I also have Brooks T-7s and Asics Piranhas, and I like the feel and slightly stiffer push-off of these shoes over the others. As far as the sizing, I have a slightly wide size 9 foot and the shoes fit me true to size. A little snug at first, but they stretch a bit after a few short runs and fit perfectly. Also, be aware that the upper is open mesh, so if running off road they will capture a lot of dirt quickly. My only complaint is that the dye in the shoes transfers to light colored socks.
From: Dave, Redondo Beach, CA, USA
Comments: Overall, this is a decent shoe. I run about 45 miles per week, but only wear these for intervals and races. The one thing i don't like about this shoe is that it is very thin under the arch. I don't have wide feet, but i always feel my feet falling off the edge.
From: Matt, Illinois, USA
Comments: read others' "size down" comments so bought in my usual 10.5 size and a 1/2 size up pair of 11.0s. FYI: Actually, the 10.5s fit and I sent the size 11 back ... So, no sizing up or down for me. Switched to a forefoot gait & minimal footwear 3 years ago and have since done ALL training and racing (5K to marathon) in Adidas AdiZero Pros. Wasn't sure about the Zoom Streak XCs, but bought them on b/c of the low heel-toe drop/offset (4mm) and overall minimal structure. Felt I wanted just a bit more cush for forefoot landing and these did the trick. After break-in (50miles or so) I really started liking these. The toe box is slim, but being minimial I feel they've been able to break in & stretch enough to accommodate. Oh, and the strings are strange, like ribbons almost and unless I double-knot & crank 'em, they come untied. Obviously, would be easy to replace, esp. since they're black. Anyway, excellent alternative to the "road" version with the 10mm drop, uuugh!
From: K, Kentucky, US
Comments: SIZE 1/2 DOWN FROM WHAT SHOEFITR TELLS YOU! YOU WILL THANK ME LATER!!
From: Joey, Syracuse, Ny
Comments: I am a racewalker. I use this shoe for interval training and all races up to 10K. This is a great shoe. The fit is good. Good room in the toebox. I have experienced no problem at all. During workouts and races I do not feel the shoes. They are very light and my feet enjoy the fit. I have bought extras of this shoe so I can use them for the next 4 years.
From: Alfred, Birmingham
Comments: I HAD THE PREVIOUS STREAKS IN THE LIME GREEN, AND I HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS FROM THE START. BLISTERS CONSISTENTLY EVEN AFTER BREAK IN, TONGUE WAS TO THIN AND CUT OFF CIRCULATION AND WAY TO NARROW..NOW THE NEW VERSION HAS A NICE SOFT PADDING IN THE TONGUE MAKING LACING MUCH BETTER, THE FOOTBED IS SLIGHTLY WIDER, BUT STILL NARROW LIKE A FLAT SHOULD BE. IT RUNS LARGE SO SIZE DOWN 1/2. SO FAR I HAVE PUT 11 RACES AND HAD ZERO PROBLEMS..THIS IS A GREAT OVERALL FLAT NOW THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEMS.
From: MARK, LOUISIANA
Comments: great shoe for races and workouts--relatively inexpensive, low heel-toe ratio, and awesome colors. my one reservation is it's width--very narrow. i went up 1/2 a size and they feel a little too long, but its the only way i could wear them comfortably. other than that, i would recommend this shoe! 4/5 stars
From: Chen (5'10", 135 lbs, 35-40 miles/week), Boston, MA


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Great St. Ambrose students make great St. Ambrose stories. Here are a few.
Spring 2016 graduate Maureen Marrandino writes, "Three years ago, our family took a leap of faith."
Changes include dual MBA, early admissions for four undergraduate majors.
Program seeks to add $100,000 to anonymous gift
New Admissions and Welcome Center has become a campus gateway
Recognition from national publications for service to veterans
Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver Health Sciences Education Wing honors generous grant.
Students from summer research groups at St. Ambrose and Augustana recently gathered to discuss their findings
MOT faculty and graduates sported blue tennis shoes to support a fellow student
Occupational therapy students create Christmas magic for children with disabilities.


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The Refugio Police Department was notified and arrived at the scene around 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 3.
The Corpus Christi Police Department's Bomb Squad responded about 8:40 p.m. to assist.
"When it comes to public safety, that's not everything, it's the only thing," Police Chief Andy Lopez Jr. said.
Police and the Refugio Volunteer Fire Department evacuated the area and access was blocked for safety.
"We did it textbook style," Lopez said.
"People have entrusted us to do the right thing. You can never do too much when it comes to public safety," he added.
Lopez said the shopping center as well as a block back were evacuated and cordoned off.
Lopez contacted the Corpus Christi Police Department Bomb Squad.
"We wanted to contact people who had expertise in the field. The bomb squad was the only one I know that is close by," he said.
"To avoid any kind of panic, we told people it would be in their best interest to evacuate," he added.
After checking out the bomb, the bomb squad personnel told local law enforcement and fire department personnel to move back farther from the scene.
Bomb squad personnel recovered the bomb and took it with them to Corpus Christi.
"They have to actually check the devise to see if it is active," Lopez said.
So far, Lopez said the bomb appears to be a "practice rocket round."
"If it were to go off, it could severely injure people," he said.
"We are still waiting for an official report from the bomb squad," he said.
The preliminary assessment was that it was inactive.
Refugio County Chief Appraiser Connie Arnold Raymond, whose office is in the Refugio Shopping Center, said a man who had permission to use the dumpster discovered the bomb at about 5 p.m.
By 9:18 p.m., the area was cleared and the bomb was transported to Corpus Christi.
"The Refugio County Volunteer Fire Department is to be thanked. Chief Don Pullin was professional and receptive to anything we wanted to do. He was 'Johnny-on-the-spot,'" Lopez said.
"We coordinated well to resolve the situation, and we took the necessary precautions for public safety," he added.
Lopez also credited the bomb squad for its help.
"Thank God and the Corpus Christi Police Department Bomb Squad for their resources," he said.
"The bomb squad got there expeditiously and expediently. They were able to make us feel at ease again," he said.
He also complimented the Refugio County Sheriff's Office dispatcher for coordinating with dispatching during the situation.
He said there are still questions that need to be answered: How did the bomb get there in the dumpster? Who put it there? And why?
"This was not responsible. There are proper ways to dispose of these things," he said.
He said people can call the Refugio Police Department, and it can arrange for disposal of rockets or ordnance.
"We are going to actively investigate to try and find out who put it there," Lopez said.
More information will be posted as it is received.
Read more: mySouTex.com - Bomb Scare in Refugio


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By David Arkin
County clerks in eastern New Mexico were surprised by a Sandoval County clerk's decision to grant gay and lesbian couples marriage licenses.
On Friday, Sandoval County Clerk Victoria Dunlap recorded 26 licenses for gay and lesbian couples, which Attorney General Patricia Madrid quickly declared invalid. There were another 40 other couples who had received marriage applications that went unrecorded.
The move made national headlines and comes on the heels of a controversial move by San Francisco to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Dunlap's decision caught many by surprise, including Curry County Clerk Mario Trujillo.
"Thirty-two of 33 counties are still behind the way we interpret the law," he said. "We don't know why Sandoval County did what they did. We will not be issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples here."
Roosevelt County Clerk Joyce Fraze said she was "very disappointed" with Friday's development.
"Looking at that statute and the way I read it, it says that we have to have a male and a female. I don't know how she (Dunlap) could say that it didn't mention anything about gender," she said.
Dunlap said she was unaware of any law prohibiting licenses from being issued for same-sex couples. She sought an opinion from County Attorney David Mathews after getting a call last week from someone asking about same-sex ceremonies.
No one came to clerks' offices in Curry or Roosevelt counties seeking same-sex marriage licenses on Friday, clerks in those counties said.
Madrid said in a letter that state law prohibits counties from marrying same-sex couples.
"Until the laws are changed through the legislative process or declared unconstitutional by the judicial process, the statutes limit marriage in New Mexico to a man and a woman," wrote Madrid, a Democrat. "Thus, in my judgment, no county clerk should issue a marriage license to same-sex couples because those licenses would be invalid under current law."
Trujillo said he recently had an inquiry from someone about getting a same-sex license.
"I told the person that we didn't do them and that seemed sufficient for them," he said.
A former Curry County clerk was involved in a request from an individual to get a same-sex marriage license, but their request wasn't granted, Trujillo said.
Fraze said she doesn't remember anyone ever inquiring about a same-sex marriage license in Roosevelt County.
"This was an issue several years ago and our attorneys wrote an opinion on how we should handle this and they said we shouldn't issue them," she said.
The New Mexico Association of County Clerks agreed in 1997 that since the statute on marriage states male and female on the legal application, they would deny licenses to same-sex couples.
Lawmakers in eastern New Mexico aren't sure about their involvement concerning the state's law on same-sex marriages.
"It's one of those issues that I move a little libertarian on," said Sen. Clint Harden, R-Clovis. "I don't think it's something that lawmakers should (address), but it's one of those issues we might be forced to."
Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, said same-sex couples are becoming an issue that everyone is going to need to deal with.
"I guess we need to help people who need legal help when they want to be with each other in terms of the same sex," he said. "They have no help with medical insurance. They aren't treated like a legal married couple. They want to be recognized by the state. It's something we all need to deal with. It's becoming an issue."
Both Campos and Harden said they didn't support gay and lesbian marriages.
It was quite evident just how big an issue gay marriages are becoming in northern New Mexico on Friday.
Some reacted with boos and shouts when the attorney general's letter, announcing that same-sex marriage licenses were invalid, was read.
"This is not OK. We deserve rights," shouted Carolyn Ford, angrily gesturing with one hand while holding a bouquet of red and white roses in the other.
Ford and her partner, together 10 years, got their application for a license Friday and completed a ceremony. They were in line to record their license when Madrid's action stopped the process.
"It's going to be across the country and so we wanted to be ahead of the curve," Dunlap said.
By mid-afternoon, a line snaked outside the clerk's office, housed in the county courthouse. Outside, two preachers held impromptu ceremonies near the main street of the usually sleepy town along the Rio Grande.
"There has been some backlash, but this has been more positive from what I hear. They're happy, crying, joyful," Dunlap said of the couples waiting outside her office.
Among the first to get their license were a lesbian couple who immediately had a brief marriage ceremony.
"When we heard the news this morning, we knew we couldn't wait. We had to come down here," Jenifer Albright said after she and Anne Schultz, 35, both of Albuquerque, exchanged vows in front of the courthouse.
James Walker took an extended lunch break so he and his partner of 26 years, Michael Palmer, could get a license. They were married in Toronto last year, but the union wasn't acknowledged in the United States.
Walker said he believed a marriage certificate from Sandoval County "would give us a lot of rights and benefits that have been denied us as a couple, including the rights associated with property ownership and the rights associated with medical decisions."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tax question
Shall the City of Clovis, New Mexico, be authorized to impose a municipal gross receipts tax equal to one-fourth of one percent (1/4 %) of the gross receipts reported or required to be reported in the City of Clovis, for the purpose of furthering and implementing the municipal capital outlay gross receipts tax (Section 7-19D-12, NMSA 1978) and in accordance with the law?


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Hi, has anyone any advice for me, please?
I have been feeding successfully over the last 6 months, but every now and then my supply has been low. I believe this to be connected with my monthly cycle. But over the last week, my milk has nearly dried up altogether and I'm so unhappy because I'm not ready to stop breastfeeding yet.
I put my baby to the breast very frequently to encourage supply, but my boobs seem empty and they are becoming sore from sucking.
He'd just started to sleep through the night, but now he wakes again and he seems unsettled and in need of a decent feed. He has fewer wet nappies, but still at least 6.
About a fortnight ago, I started to give him a small evening meal of solids each day, mixed up with pumped breastmilk, which didnt seem to effect my supply, although I felt like I was contaminating him at first!
I am very active and exercise most days, and I try to eat a healthy diet. My sister thinks that I dont eat enough calories and that's the problem. Would that cause my previously plentiful supply to dissapear so suddenly? It's not like I crash diet or anything.
This is my fourth baby, and I fed the others until they were well over a year with plenty of milk.
Is it possible for my milk to come back now that it has got so low? Ive tried fennel tea, calcium and magnesium suppliment, bananas, more rest etc.
I feel like I'm failing. I will be devistated if I have give up feeding. This will be my last baby and I will miss feeding so much. Has anyone else had this problem? Do you know what might be causing it? What else can I do to get my milk back? Please help if you can. Thanks.


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Don't forget to check out the rest of the Target deals I've posted.
Thanks Freebie Spot!


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Here's Winking at You, Kid
One of the reasons America is the best country in the history of the world is because of our nearly psychotic drive to innovate. Whether it's the creation of sports like baseball and basketball or the marketing genius to realize that stuffing a sausage inside of a pancake and then putting it on a stick will sell like hotcakes, Americans are driven to innovate.
However, sometimes that drive hops the median from "nearly psychotic" and crashes head-on into stark, raving mad. Here's proof:
Who does this?
Now, I'm not saying that I wouldn't mind watching Ines Sainz walking by and winking at me…..
….but for chrissakes, guy. If you want to sell people on a wacko idea, at least put a little effort into the marketing. We're Americans. We love good ideas but we also want to be convinced why we should buy into them. Even the brilliance of Baconnaise doesn't just sell itself.
So get out there and keep innovating. Just make sure that if it's going to wink at me, I have a reason to wink back.
4 Comments
Keep up the posts with Sainz in them, please. And baconnaise? What have I been missing! I'm heading to the store as soon as I'm off of work…
'Minoring In Baseball'
Now Sainz is more like the visions I expect at RSBS, just a little closer next time, oh wait it's Jeff that's the stalker not Allen… may bad…
Truly bizarre! Unfortunately, there are some butts out there that really shouldn't be "winking".
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
Allen: Seriously? Action? Not with that. Duck? Yeah duck behind the bushes to avoid her. Oh and by the way, basketball was invented by a Canadian…it's just that we are not very good at it (Steve Nash is the exception.)


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For Immediate Release
May 15, 2013
State Board of Education to recognize ACT's College and Career Readiness Award winners at May Board meeting
Four award recipients named for work in College and Career Readiness
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education will take time during Thursday's monthly Board meeting to recognize four recipients; a student, high school, community college and employer awarded under ACT's College and Career Readiness Campaign. Illinois is among seven states, along with Alabama, Colorado, Iowa Kentucky, North Carolina and Wisconsin, that is participating in the inaugural year of ACT's award program to recognize efforts in advancing college and career readiness.
"We talk about college and career readiness nearly every day at the State Board of Education and in schools across the state," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "It's so important that we also take time to recognize those who are making this benchmark a reality. Their efforts should not only be honored but shared as many more strive to achieve the same outcomes."
The ACT awards honor the college and career readiness efforts of an exemplary student, high school, community college and employer. Illinois' recipients are:
- Roman M. Martin, Senior West Leyden High School, Northlake: Martin earned the Student Readiness Award. A member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, History Honor Society, Math team, Martin has also played football and baseball for the Leyden High School District 212. He has also served as a mentor for ACCESS, a freshman support program where he helps students adjust and thrive in the high school setting.
- Urbana High School, Urbana School District 116:This Central Illinois School of 1,100 students earned the College and Career Transition Award. With more than 62 percent low-income students, this school has increased access and participation in AP courses and exams. Students regularly earn ACT scores above the state average, post a higher graduation rate and a lower drop-out rate than the state average.
- Harper College, Palatine: Harper College, the winner of the Career Preparedness Award, partners with elementary schools within the college's district under the No Excuses University Program, hosting field trips as part of the program to help cultivate an early interest in college. Harper College also hosts Community Nights on campus to develop relationships with educational, business and public sector partners.
- Fabric Images Inc., Elgin: Fabric Images, a provider of printed and non-printed tensioned fabric architecture and displays, has earned ACT's Workplace Success Award. Honored by Unit School District 46 and the local Chamber as Business of the Year, this company has promoted the ACT WorkKeys Assessments, participated in presentations to schools, both staff and students, in developing connections between education and business/industry and how core skills are being applied in the workforce.
Staff at the State Board of Education nominated recipients of the four award categories. A national selection committee will select one outstanding example per category across all states. The campaign will conclude May 21 at the ACT National Gala on College and Career Readiness in Washington, D.C.
Follow us: Visit the official ISBE website at http://www.isbe.net.


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The School Library Profiles developed by the Library Research Service are meant to be used as a comparative tool for school libraries in Colorado. The results represent data received from school libraries that completed the 2008 Colorado School Library Survey. Profiles for each participating school compare individual school data with averages for schools with similar grade level and enrollment ranges. Please note that since all data were derived from responses to the survey, schools that did not respond to the survey are not represented in the Profiles.
Use the school locator (below) to find the school for which you would like to see the 2008-2009 School Library Profile. Remember, schools that did not respond to the 2008 Colorado School Library Survey will not be represented in the Profiles.
Please Note: Starting with the 2008-09 profiles, we are using medians instead of averages for the comparison groups. Medians represent the school in the middle of each statistic - i.e., there are equal numbers of schools above and below the median. For this reason, we felt this was more representative of the "typical" school than average, which can be more strongly influenced by outliers.
- Arrowhead Elementary School, Aurora
- Belleview Elementary School, Greenwood Village
- Buffalo Trail Elementary School, Aurora
- Canyon Creek Elementary, Aurora
- Cherry Creek Charter Academy, Englewood
- Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village
- Cherry Hills Village Elem Schl, Cherry Hills Village
- Cimarron Elementary School, Aurora
- Cottonwood Creek Elem School, Englewood
- Creekside Elementary School, Centennial
- Eaglecrest High School, Centennial
- Falcon Creek Middle School, Aurora
- Fox Hollow Elementary School, Aurora
- Grandview High School, Aurora
- Greenwood Elementary School, Greenwood Village
- Heritage Elementary School, Centennial
- Holly Hills Elementary School, Denver
- Homestead Elementary School, Centennial
- Horizon Middle School, Aurora
- Liberty Middle School, Aurora
- Meadow Point Elem School, Aurora
- Overland High School, Aurora
- Prairie Middle School, Aurora
- Sagebrush Elem School, Aurora
- Smoky Hill High School, Aurora
- Summit Elementary School, Aurora
- Thunder Ridge Middle School, Aurora
- Timberline Elementary School, Centennial
- Village East Community Elem, Aurora
- Walnut Hills Community Elem, Centennial
- West Middle School, Greenwood Village


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Clinton Smith considers himself a regular on weekends at the Dawg Houze bar in Portales.
Dawg Houze owner Chad Heflin has started a taxi service for bar patrons. It operates Thursday night through Saturday night.
Smith, a 24-year-old airman stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, usually walks 15 minutes to and from the bar as his means of responsible travel.
But now Smith is happy that his walking days are behind him. For these past two weekends, Smith has used the Dawg Houze's new taxi service.
"We don't really have a taxi service here so getting to and from places is a lot more difficult when you're drinking," Smith said. "It makes it a lot more convenient when (the Dawg Houze) can pick you up and drop you off."
Dawg Houze owner Chad Heflin wanted to provide this service for patrons to curb drinking and driving.
"I'm doing this strictly as a service for Portales and Cannon Air Force Base," Heflin said. "I set the prices the way they are and that's just so I can pay for gas and the driver."
Taxi ride service is offered Thursday through Saturday evenings.
Prices set by Heflin are $8 per stop in town and $23 to the south gate of Cannon. He says the Dawg Houze is only insured to drive within a 15-mile radius of the bar.
Heflin feels charging a flat rate is convenient and less-expensive for a group of people since they will split that price.
Pick-up service begins at 8 p.m. and stops at midnight. The last ride from the Dawg Houze will leave at 2:30 a.m.
To arrange a pick-up, people must call the package store and provide a desired pick-up time, the number of people in their party, and an address and then the clerk will process the request.
For those who decide to leave their vehicle and use the taxi service, Heflin says the bar will not tow cars from their parking lot the following day.
Heflin said his two drivers have good driving records and have passed a background check.
Thirty patrons used the service the first weekend.
Smith was one of them, and he said the service was fast and the taxi was clean.
"I'm all for having a smart plan and having rides accessible to people," Smith said. "Anything that goes against drunken driving, I'm all for."
Lt. Mark Cage with the Portales Police Department commends Heflin for providing this service because Cage emphasizes that adults should make the right choices when drinking.
"That's our goal. We want to keep people safe and Heflin is being proactive," Cage said.
Heflin is looking forward to purchasing another taxi by fall if his service proves to be a need for area and Cannon residents.
"This is new to the community. No bar has ever done this around here," Heflin said. "I'm learning as I go. The ultimate goal is it's going to be well worth it for this community to have this service."


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Hanukkah begins sundown 12/24
Jewish Museum Members must create an account to receive a member discount.
Max: 250 characters
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The Jewish Museum
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text:
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Chicago Bulls.
But I can live with Knicks defeating Bulls 10 out of 10 times now.
Loved the Showtime era when the greatest PG of all-time was doing his Magic. He can play all positions and carried the whole team to chips. Magic was just......magical!
Here is a clip for some the younger fellas.
FYI Magic was drafted by the Lakers and Kobe (13th overall) was acquired in a trade. GM Jerry West had great eyes for youthful talents.
Chicago Bulls.
But I can live with Knicks defeating Bulls 10 out of 10 times now.
I can't see myself rooting for any other team outside of NY. If there weren't a NY team. I'll only support certain players....and continue to root for the NY collegiate teams.
I'd probably be a Clippers fan. I followed the Buffalo Braves when I was younger and loved Randy Smith & Ernie D...
If there were no Knicks I think i would go with the Clippers.I feel bad for them getting ridiculed for so many years for being in the same city with a successful team.
Nuggets since that's where half our old team is anyway.
The Bulls, Pacers and hear are all disqualified for ruining my childhood!
.......I would also probably watch more collage ball than pro ball too.
" It's a new era for the Knicks "
Twolves or bobcats.
ibaka and splitter are like my favorite players.
No Knicks - No NBA
Dont understand.....I was born/raised in the BIG 5 Boros of New York city, which have double n more of Everything, plus having every creed of people on this planet in New York....it was Red Holzman Knicks with "Earl the Pearl Monroe" got me in the park playin B.ball everyday & night.
In other words....I cant imagine a life in New York without Knicks/Yankees/Giants
The one i can't get over is the series when we took a 2 nil lead when Starks Posterized Jordan , Grant with the left hand Leaner Dunk and the bastards won the next 4 games in a row ! And what about that memory with Smith at the end of game 5 under the bucket getting blocked and missing layups and then the outlet to BJ Armstrong for the lay in to end the game !
That pisses me off to no end !
Anyway, the show must go on and we will get our revenge ! Believe me !
Your heart is in the right place, supporting all the right teams!
I'm close to throwing up when I see people rocking Jets gear at Knicks games.....how anybody can support that team is a mystery to me....they played in our stadium for decades...how embarrasing and fake is that? Jets playing at Giants stadium.....now they remove our Super Bowl pictures and trophies when they have a 'home' game....what a plastic club. Tim Tebow is a good guy, I feel sorry for him he doesn't deserve to be a Jet and especially a backup to Mark San****.
If the Knicks would no longer exist I wouldn't support another team. I'd probably support a single player or something like that. I really like Kevin Durant so OKC winning the whole thing would be a pleasent thing to watch.