text:
Here is a sample of what our customers have to say about the results they've achieved with software, courses, and consulting from Method R Corporation.
After reading the book and helping with a couple of issues here at work I have started thinking whether I should go back to doing some optimization work. With trace data and the tools you provide I can do stuff that no one here has even imagined possible and I really enjoy cracking those puzzles.
Guðmundur Jósepsson
Miracle Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
Tuned a query from 140 seconds to <2 seconds…and I couldn't have done it without using @MethodR Profiler. #oracle
John Scott
Founder of APEX Evangelists, Leeds, England
via Twitter
I turn to Method R not only to provide these wonderful tools and the education to know how to use them, but also in time of crisis to ask for help when we're in over our heads.
Andrew Zitelli
Principal Software Engineer with Honors, Thales-Raytheon Systems, Fullerton, California
[Cary Millsap presented a] great session at Oak Table World 2015. I am really upset I did not have a camera—to share with my teammates. It is not that often we can see such master in our area. And a man who enjoys doing his job—basically making magic :-)
Yavor Ivanov
Ask for a tour at a shop or dealership that works on Porsche, Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, or any other high end vehicle. Take a look at the tool boxes, and the tools. You will see names like Mac, Cornwell, Proto, and Snap-on.
These tools are expensive. There is a reason for that. These tools are accurate and well made. The wrenches are forged, not cast—they don't break under pressure. The people working on these vehicles depend on these tools to make their living. These are the tools they go to every day.
Take a look at your tool box—what's in it?
Method R tools are the Oracle Diagnostic equivalents of Mac, Proto, Cornwell, and Snap-on. The Method R Workbench is the tool box of choice for Oracle Performance analysis. There are free tools that do many of the same things, and I have used them. But, I've only used them only if Method R was unavailable.
A basic Snap-on tool chest filled with tools will cost $10–20k US, maybe more. The price that Method R charges is an irresistible bargain.
Jared Still
Principal Consultant, The Pythian Group, Beaverton, Oregon
...A few months ago, while reviewing a performance issue, the only file provided was the output of Method-R Profiler. I was surprised to learn how intuitive it was to read it. It was obvious to me that Method-R Profiler was designed by someone who really masters the topic of performance analysis. Method-R focus is WHERE is the time. To me, that is the only right approach for this kind of tool. We all want to find quickly and easily WHERE is the time consumed. I totally like Method-R. It gives me what I need to diagnose a process performing poorly. Its output is accurate, clear and clean.
Carlos Sierra
Oracle Support Analyst and Author of Oracle Trace Analyzer and SQLT, Orlando, Florida
"About TKPROF, Trace Analyzer and Method-R Profiler" at carlos-sierra.net
As I completed a training course from Method-R last Friday, I would really like to send you a thank you note. Now I have a clear understanding how to attack a performance problem, and, most importantly, how to identify the problem. I feel like this course is the most valuable performance-related course I've ever had, especially the tracing analysis. The wealth of data in the trace files is hugely valuable and daunting at the same time. With the MR set of tools, the trace files make sense now. They make it possible, sometimes just within minutes, to get to the very root cause of a performance problem, pretty much eliminating all the trial-error-guess work.
Thank you very much for the tools and for the course!
Sergey Demin
Oracle professional, Atlanta, Georgia
It took me only 30 minutes to install MR Tools and MR Profiler, analyze a troublesome tracefile and get a whole new view of the problem. Not a network issue as I suspected, but several, periodic, "SQL*Net message from client" wait events of 10 to 26 seconds duration. Something else than network issue maybe, at least a whole new angle on the problem. Would have taken me days to spot that.
Blown away.
Lars Johan Ulveseth
Senior Systemkonsulent, SYSCO, Bergen, Norway
I attended your Mastering Oracle Trace Data one day seminar in London last year. I have last week, successfully reduced the User I/O Wait times by over 64%, and for one query, reduced the PIO from 15,000,000 per day to 4,000 per day. All this was achieved by analysis using Oracle Extended Trace files and MRSKEW.
MRSKEW made the analysis so much easier, processing gigabytes of trace file data in a matter of minutes. This is without doubt, the best £400 my company has spent.
Tony Sleight
BAE Systems, Warton, England
ILO, the Method R instrumentation library for Oracle, is an open source project directed by Method R Corporation developers. It contains PL/SQL procedures for measuring tasks using Oracle extended SQL trace. The procedures are installed and compiled in the target Oracle instance and can be called by code written in any language that has access to the Oracle database tier. ILO is fully integrated with the Method R SLA Manager, which allows you to organize and analyze response time data for your entire application system.
…Over 3,000 downloads served since 2010.
sourceforge.net statistics
December 2012
I have used the Profiler software since 2002 to solve numerous elusive performance problems. The Method R Profiler and Method R Tools are the best Oracle performance diagnostic tools I have ever used.
Andrew Zitelli
Principal Software Engineer with Honors, Thales-Raytheon Systems, Fullerton, California
The Profiler (combined with Method-R) has enabled me to resolve performance problems that could not have been resolved in any way other than by pure luck. The return of the modest investment cannot be beat. I saved a failing project as soon as I got it. I highly recommend it over the so-called "free" stuff.
Tony Aponte
Database Administrator, Clearwater, Florida
If you ever need to analyze #Oracle tracefiles for performance, the @MethodR is worth every euro. More info less effort. #mrskew.
Ronald Rood
The Netherlands
via Twitter
But damn… the M-R profiler is a hot piece of software. :) Definitely nice design and coding there. I find it extraordinarily useful. For larger organizations, I think it's definitely worth the investment.
Jeremy Schneider
Oracle Performance Analyst
Comment on "Method-R Tools" at The Oracle at Delphix
Just wanted to let you know I took a 6-day process down to 9 hours using what you taught me about I/O!! It is on its way to QA and should be in production by the end of August. This is a great win for the business!! Still think you are a god, and thanks again for the lesson!
Nanci Hansen
Senior Developer, Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Plano, Texas
From the very beginning, working with Method-R was an absolute pleasure. ...The code was excellent: well written, modular and reusable where appropriate, and it performed exceptionally well. Of course, there are detailed exception messages to capture any possible errors, and I still haven't encountered an uncaptured error in testing. The code is also instrumented, providing better visibility of active processes and allowing trace files to be captured easily when needed. Method-R exceeded requirements and expectations in their delivered code, and the difference between the code as it existed a year ago and as it exists today is almost unbelievable.
Robyn Sands
Database Systems Architect, Cisco Systems, Lawrenceville, Georgia
"A Long Overdue Thank-You" at adhdocddba.blogspot.com
Your consultants were a tremendous help yesterday. I'm very pleased that you were able to analyze and solution my challenge within a 2-hour timeframe. it was both humbling and illuminating watching you work. My hat's off to you.
Jon Spencer
Manager of Professional Services, Orasi Software, Inc.
Quite a few years ago, I created an Oracle/Java system for a client that supported only a handful of users, but did quite a bit of processing. Years later, and after an upgrade or two, I revisited that same system. Things had slowed quite a bit and since I happened to be re-reading Cary Millsap's Optimizing Oracle Performance at the time, I decided to use his performance methodology to attempt to tune the system. The client had no budget for any of Oracle's performance tuning packs or Method R tools. However, by simply turning on extended tracing and applying the methodology in Cary's book, I was able to fine-tune the system and easily spot the problem areas. One portion that involved fairly involved processing and generated thousands of PDFs was reduced from taking 13–16 minutes, to 26 seconds! The biggest surprise for me was how relevant the book still is, even with 10g and 11g. Thanks for a great book! Maybe I'll convince them to buy Method R tools for 12c… ;)
Shelby Spradling
Technical Architect / Technical Project Manager / Oracle Developer, Spradling Consulting, Austin, Texas
No other software comes close to the precision and trustworthiness of Method R software.
Alex Gorbachev
Chief Technology Officer, The Pythian Group, Ottawa, Canada
"Pythian Tools: Method R Profiler, MR Tools & MR Trace" at www.pythian.com
Consistent is key here… Consistency based on a method that has proven his merits in the performance community, to get fast and accurate results. That is what the Method-R Profiler will provide you with, consistency, based on trace file input and a method that has proven very useful in performance analysis. Another advantage is that it the tool will profile all the trace file content given and puts it in context based on the Method-R methodology, that is performance result measurements in the context of response time analysis. One of the things I like is that it also takes into account where time was not spend, said differently, database things "doing nothing". In the case of a network resolving issue, this could be one of the hints you might get from a Method-R profiling report signifying: "your problem is not in the database, but outside it, see the round trips/time spend…".
Within half an hour, I presented to my colleague, the offending SQL statement. He needed almost 2 days to figure out the same, after long discussions with other team members, fiddling with report options in tkprof and the trace analyzers and trying to see it all in context; regarding the info presented in his reports. The Method-R profiling method has its merits on that account that you can skip most of these pointers and pinpoints you towards the problem at hand, in context, via profiling. Less time spend is, also in this case, less money "wasted".
Marco Gralike
Principal Database Consultant, AMIS
Oracle ACE Director, Specialization XML DB
"Review: The Method R Profiler" at blog.gralike.com
I have played with MR Tools and some tracefiles. The Profiler has just done its job. I'm amazed. I even had to get my copy of Optimizing Oracle Performance. Why didn't anyone tell me before? :-) I think I have learned more on tracefiles and performance the last 14 days, than I have the last 14 years.
Lars Johan Ulveseth
Senior Systemkonsulent, SYSCO, Bergen, Norway
- Best content. It [Method R Profiler] clearly identifies WHERE the time is spent. So we can focus correctly where we need to.
- Easy to install. I installed it on my laptop and it was as simple as downloading a file. I thought I was missing something, but not at all. Installation took me no time at all!
- Installs nothing in the database. This means I can analyze Trace files on a system other than their source.
- No need to connect to a database.
- Output is clean and easy to read.
Carlos Sierra
Oracle Support Analyst and Author of Oracle Trace Analyzer and SQLT, Orlando, Florida
"About TKPROF, Trace Analyzer and Method-R Profiler" at carlos-sierra.net
Cary Millsap has the rare ability to teach complex topics in a manner that everyone can understand. He is innovative and entertaining, and he always challenges his audiences to think beyond the status quo.
Andrew Zitelli
Principal Software Engineer with Honors, Thales-Raytheon Systems, Fullerton, California
Using your profiler and Method R is going very well. It was definitely the right decision skipping OraSRP since your software delivers so much more information.
Kim Hindsböl
Senior Oracle DBA, T-Systems International GmbH
The Method R Tools coming with the Mastering Oracle Trace Data course are making analysis of trace file a breeze and very versatile.
Alain Caron
Oracle DBA, Montreal, Canada
The support of Method R is great! I had the joy to participate in their beta program for version 2 of MrTrace.
Martin Berger
Database Administrator, Vienna, Austria
"Get Your Traces—Yourself" at berxblog.blogspot.com
Our friend Dave Ensor—the grand old man of Oracle performance science—once told me in private that Cary Millsap was the best man inside Oracle to disprove theories. True. But he can also create. This book is fantastic. Those who read it will be kings for the next few years.
Mogens Nørgaard
Director, Miracle A/S, Ballerup, Denmark
We really like Profiler. We've always had trace files, but most developers do not know how to read them. It makes things very easy and gives me the evidence I need to demonstrate the problem is in the code, not the database.
Dorrie Keyes
DBA Manager, Indianapolis, Indiana
It was fun to learn so much about a topic I've known "well" for many years! My time was very well invested—causing me to rethink old ideas and think in new ways.
I was able to meet and learn from one of our industry's iconic figures [C. J. Date]. Nowhere else could I have learned relational theory and design as it was meant to be.
John King
King Training Resources, Scottsdale, Arizona
As a proud owner of MR Tools I think it rocks. I can honestly recommend it to everyone. Easy to use, time saving and also helps to catch problems easily. Thanks for writing it.
A. Coskan Gundogar
Database Administrator, London, England
Within one minute of installation the Method R Profiler exceeded all expectations. We went live with a new warehouse management system this Friday because all of the tuning was done ahead of time. The Profiler pointed out all of the application inefficiencies which we turned over to the vendor. They were able to fix the ones with the largest impact on the online response times. That gave our management the confidence they needed to make the Go/No-Go decision. Until I got the Profiler we were looking at postponing it until next quarter. I pity the poor souls that have to optimize in mere mortal ways.
Tony Aponte
Database Administrator, Clearwater, Florida
Dear Sir,
I owe you and your corporation a long overdue thank you for Method R.
A couple of months ago, I was helping a client get through a serious performance problem on a project that was already late and getting later, we were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel until we got to the last part of the application. We were facing a query that was part of a customer facing module that had to run in under 2 seconds per execution, and the current tests showed it running in 40 minutes. There was much consternation and many meetings were called, management was getting anxious and lots of memos were being sent.
I finally managed to convince the local DBA over there to send me a trace file of the application while the problem was occurring, then turned the Profiler on it. Out of 40 minutes of response time, over 39 minutes and 59 seconds were being spent one index call. Said call stood out in big bright red in the Profiler file….
One 'ALTER INDEX ...' call later to make the index unusable for the test…and the query completed in ½ second. We dropped the index, no recoding, release date met, …customer happy.
Thanks again.
Bernard Antonuk
Chief Technology Officer, Orion Data Management, Hopkinton, Massachusetts
The first time I used it, the Profiler helped me reduce the run time of one query from 6½ hours to less than 11 minutes.
Guðmundur Jósepsson
System Performance Analyst, Reykjavík, Iceland
I just finally got 'round to installing MR Trace in SQLDev, and I can say, "Wow... Just wow." Absolutely blown away by how simple yet effective it is.
John Scott
Apex Evangelists Ltd, Halifax, England
With Method R tools, they not only share their know-how and tools they use to tune systems, but they have polished them into solid, clean, tight, professional-level tools that are dependable, high quality, and written with integrity.
Kyle Hailey
Delphix, Menlo Park, California
"Method-R Tools" at Kyle Hailey's blog
After driving Mr Trace for less than 1 week, I can already see several things that stand out very nicely.
- MR Trace solves the scoping problem when trying to capture accurate trace files (the importance of correct scoping is mentioned in several places in your book).
- From an infrastructure perspective, installing MR Trace is unlikely to cause alarm in a corporate DBA group, whereas other tools that I've looked at require such things as ftp or ssh access to the oracle trace directory, which in some large shops is absolutely forbidden.
- And the third item which is also worth mentioning is the speed in which your support organization has turned around requests, I have been very impressed by how responsive your support team has been.
- When you combine MR Trace and the Profiler, we've been able to turn around fixes with almost no interruptions and have taken warehouse queries that use to never finish down to less than ten minutes.
Bernard Antonuk
Chief Technology Officer, Orion Data Management, Hopkinton, Massachusetts
MR Tools 2.0 ROCK! They seem much faster at processing large batches of trace files than v1.0. With MR Tools and the Method R Profiler, I will be invincible! :D
Ian Woodbury-Kuvik
Sparkworx, California
The C. J. Date course produced by Method R was the best investment in my professional career.
Raji Ramachandran
Data Architect, Caxton Associates LP
Every now and then even the best practitioners must take a step back to re-ground themselves in the fundamentals of the trade. The "blocking and tackling." Chris Date does a great job lecturing about logic and set theory—the blocking and tackling of the relational model. No one is more qualified to show us where the tools of our trade have munged the model. And his presentation style makes it a pleasure to learn.
Steve Ollig
Data Architect, Lifetouch Inc.
Method R consistently delivers a world class experience.
Steve Montgomerie
Sr. Oracle/PeopleSoft DBA, Siemens Corporation
I'm a firm believer in the Method R strategy for performance tuning as it has worked well for me countless times over the years.
Brandon Allen
Database Administrator, Scottsdale, Arizona
You guys have optimized every process in the sales path, precise, concise, simple, great work!
Aníbal Gattás
Freelance Consultant and System Engineer, Argentina


text:
Other Companies Brix! Free Driver Download
V1.25 build 124 (3 Apr 2004)
Manufactured By:
Other Companies, Deutsche Telekom Berkom GmbH, P41
File Name:
Modem Drivers, ISDNAdapter(RunSetup)
Video Tutorial: How to Download & Install a Driver
Device Name
V1.25 build 124 (3 Apr 2004)
Supported Operating Systems
Windows 2000, Windows NT4, Windows NT3.51, Windows ME, Windows 98SE, Windows 98
Link to Page
Uploader Notes
Treiber_für_SCITEL Brix! Quattro-E_(4 Port So) alle Microsoft Betriebssysteme ab Win98 - Win2000
Driver Provider and Manufacturer "Deutsche Telekom"
T-Nova ISDN driver disk contain devices:
Siemens IView ISDN board
SCITEL Brix! Quattro-E
Telekom A4T ISDN board
Telekom A2T ISDN board
Telekom A1T ISDN board
BERCOS A4 ISDN board
Telekom A2P ISDN board
BERCOS A2 ISDN board
T-Nova ISDN Puck
Uploaded By
Andrej (DG Member) on 5/8/2009
Driver Package
SCITEL_Brix__Quattro-E.rar (13.3 MB)
Hardware Ids Supported
Related Drivers
Search All Other Companies Brix! Drivers
DriverGuide.com - Download Choice
Direct download is available only to our Premium Members. Free members are required to use our DriverGuide installer or consider these Premium options:
DriverGuide.com - Using DriverGuide's Installer
DriverGuide's installer software (Windows only) simplifies the driver installation process. It safely downloads and verifies your driver and then assists in the installation of it.
You may notice that the file size of the installer software is much smaller than the file size of your actual driver. The reason is that first the installer setup file is downloaded, and then the installer software does the work of fetching your driver from our fastest download server.
The installer setup file has been certified safe by leading-class virus and malware scanners.
Sometimes anti-virus software can report false positives. If this happens to you, we encourage you to submit the file you download to VirusTotal (a free, independent service which identifies malicious content) where you will see dozens of other anti-virus scanners report the file is perfectly safe.
The installer setup file may include a purely optional advertising offer which you are free to decline. We only work with trusted advertising partners.
Note: Windows only. Mobile, Mac OS and Linux users can choose other download options by deselecting the installer checkbox below the download button.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This site uses a level of encryption that ensures all the information you submit remains confidential.
Call us: 1-888-476-8737
The Personal is committed to providing a barrier-free environment to meet the needs of clients, partners and employees with disabilities. We have taken numerous initiatives to improve accessibility and will continue do to so.
At The Personal, we strive to ensure that clients with disabilities can access the products and services they need in an independent and dignified way. To that end, we have taken certain initiatives:
The Personal is committed to making sure all our communications are accessible to everyone and to taking into account the accessibility needs of people with disabilities.
If you have a disability, please ask us for any additional information or communication supports you need.
At The Personal, we strive to make it easier for people with disabilities (such as blindness, deafness and cognitive impairment) to use our Internet and mobile solutions. In order to reduce navigation barriers, we have implemented an ongoing web accessibility improvement program. The program includes a process to correct and upgrade our websites.
This program will allow us to gradually apply Level A rules under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, followed by Level AA (by 2021), in compliance with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The Personal strives to offer equal opportunities to everyone interested in working for the company. We ensure that our employment practices are equitable and accessible, allowing us to attract and retain people with disabilities.
The company has developed an equal access employment program designed to promote the fair representation of minorities and people with disabilities.
Our premises are designed to ensure employees with disabilities have easy access to work sites. Plus, workstations can be adapted on request to meet the individual needs of a person with a disability.
You can play an important role in helping us improve the accessibility of our products and services. Your comments and questions will help us establish new policies, practices and services to meet your needs and serve you better.
Please contact us if you have any accessibility questions, requests or comments.
Telephone:For questions about our information and communications standards, call us at:1-888-476-8737
For questions about our employment standards or to speak to customer service, call us at:1-866-944-4762
Internet: Click the Contact Us link. Choose "Human Resources" or "Technical Problems" from the Subject dropdown list, and then choose "Accessibility" from the Specify dropdown list.
Mail:The Personal Insurance Company P.O. Box 7065, Station AMississauga, OntarioL5A 4K7
Not Ready to Get a Quote Yet?


text:
Attention all "pugateers" and pug lovers of all ages; Dog Fancy magazine is featuring the pug on its September cover. There is a four page article on the breed and a full color double truck pull-out.
I got my subscription copy in the mail on Thursday but I'm not sure when the September edition of Dog Fancy will be at the newsstands.


text:
The Danville Mustang Blast U-13 Girls were able to bring home another Championship Victory from the 2007 Nor Cal State Cup held mid-December. This was a third time for the Blast showing at the Nor Cal finals, and marked a second consecutive Championship win. After a challenging but exciting weekend, the girls defeated the CV Chilipeppers with a final score of 3-2.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, January 4, 2008, 12:00 AM
Town Square
Third time for the Blast
Original post made on Feb 2, 2008
Like this commentPosted by Bethoney Ritter
a resident of Charlotte Wood Middle School
on Feb 2, 2008 at 4:01 pm
The Blast Rock!!! especialy their goalie Beth Ritter


text: Looking at a Gtspec or a Prova ( if i can find a used one ). Any of you folks have an opinion on which one is nicer? I'm aware of the thumb grips on the Gtspec and actually like this feature but the Prova "looks" like a nicer wheel. If I can find a Prova used for the same price as a new Gtspec I might go that route....anyone here have an experience with these wheels? thanks in advance. Also wanted to ask those that use either one of these how the smaller diameter feels in relation to the oem wheel. Thanks


text:
Timely and useful developments in the fields of HVAC engineering.
Features the latest information exclusive to the green-buildings industry.
By clicking below, I acknowledge and agree to Penton's Terms of Service
and to Penton's use of my contact information to communicate with me about Penton's or its third-party
partners' products, services, events and research opportunities. Penton's use of the information I
provide will be consistent with Penton's Privacy Policy.


text:
Obama: I'd like higher gas prices, just not so quickly
posted at 3:20 pm on June 11, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
According to Barack Obama, high gas prices don't really constitute a problem for Americans. He stated yesterday that the reason for our anger is the rapid increase in prices, not the prices themselves. Obama claimed that Americans would have accepted a "gradual adjustment" to the current cost:
Obama wants higher gas prices? Do the rest of the Democrats feel the same way? It certainly would explain why they continue to block domestic energy production in oil. It would also explain the bloated Lieberman-Warner bill, which would have imposed a heavy regulatory bureaucracy on the energy industry, along with rationing that would have both driven up prices and held down supply.
Mitch McConnell decided to attack this on the floor of the Senate today:
I think we need some clarification from the Democrats on this issue. Barbara Boxer claimed last week that the Democrats wanted to "address" high gasoline prices. Did they want to make sure they rose even further?
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text: Hi Ya'll, I am a newbie and thought I would run this question by you. I have heard of open feeding in Spring time with the chicken waterers and stuff, but what do you think about open feeding with the candy (fondant)? I was thinking of putting it in something that has a little water around it so the ants would not get it and let them all feed instead of putting it in the top feeders. That way with the colder weather coming, I can take off the open honey super I have on them. Thanks in advance.


text:
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Water Striders Mate On Water's Surface Film
Water striders mating on a surface film of water. Hydrogen bonding between water molecules creates a unique environment where a community of organisms live (the neuston). Rouge River backwater, Oregon, ca. August 1975.
Photo Details
Wayne Wurtsbaugh
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- Registered:
- January 2000
- Posts:
- 900


text:
Know A Boat's Capacity
Fueling A PWC...Safely!
Serious accidents can also occur when fueling a PWC. Spilled or leaked fuel can ignite and explode, especiallyin an enclosed space. Here are some safety procedures for PWC operators to follow:
Fuel Selector Switch On A PWC
Before filling a tank or gas can, follow these guidelines:
BoatEd.com, Used by Permission, Copyright © 2000 by BoatEd.com
Navigate to Page:
Ranger Hotline
Report poaching and wildlife violations. You can receive a cash reward if your tip leads to an arrest—even if you wish to remain anonymous.


text:
In my case, the bees do bring in honey in the fall, whether or not they bring in more or less, I don't know. I don't generally harvest in the fall because I would rather not feed. I harvest in June and leave the rest for the bees for summer (they will sometimes use all remaining honey in summer) and winter.
The only problem with requeening I have found is that sometimes it fails and I get a deadout. Happens to one or two hives per summer. Other than that, things seem to go fine. My dearth is often months long, June to September even. It gives the new queen plenty of time to get her affairs in order.
They definitely do bring in more stores for winter. The honey is typically much darker. Last year, they brought in very little because very little was available so I had to feed. This year is much better, after early June harvest, performers are currently sitting on a full deep of honey or better. In fall, I'll redistribute as necessary. Also trying to overwinter some nucs. They haven't absconded yet, but they're generally sitting on one frame or less of honey at this point. They have definitely curtailed brooding at this point. There are three.


text:
Hef's Movie Notes: 12 Angry Men
Hef introduces the cult classic, 12 Angry Men
Tonight: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam and Jack Klugman in the unforgettable 12 Angry Men.
Like Requiem For A Heavyweight and Marty, 12 Angry Men was an award winning teleplay.
Henry Fonda saw the television version and wanted to turn it into a movie.
This film was cinematic heresy at the time it was made.
The story of a jury trial deliberation was shot on a single set in an actual New York jury room.
Director Sidney Lumet carefully planned every scene. The cast rehearsed for a full two weeks before the actual 20-day shooting began.
The resulting real-time drama made film history.
Cinematographer Boris Kaufman used a total of 365 takes, almost all of them from different angles, to create the compelling emotion of the movie.
Kaufman's other credits include On The Waterfront, Baby Doll and Splendor In The Grass for Elia Kazan, Long Day's Journey Into Night and The Pawnbroker.
Fonda and writer-producer Reginald Rose raised the $340 thousand for this production themselves.
Released as a conventional booking in large theaters—instead of art houses where it might have played for months—the film failed to turn a profit and Fonda never received his deferred salary.
But with favorable critical reviews, the film achieved true cult status and had a major influence on other films that followed.
The film received three Oscar nominations—for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay.
It is one of the three films in which Fonda felt he gave his best performances—the others being The Grapes Of Wrath and The Ox-Bow Incident.
So now–from 1957– 12 Angry Men.


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Goldman Sachs: Sell Agency Mortgage REITs NLY, AGNC
It's been a brutal 2013 for agency mortgage real-estate investment trusts, and Goldman Sachs isn't a fan of their prospects for 2014 either. Arguing that investors "can't fight the Fed," Goldman initiates Sell ratings on the big two agency mortgage REITs, Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and American Capital Agency Corp. (AGNC). Of course that Sell rating might have come in handy, say, a year ago, since NLY and AGNC are already down 26% and 29% respectively in 2013. But here's Goldman:
We estimate 10-15% downside risk to book value as interest rates rise and mortgage OAS (option adjusted spread to Treasuries) widens following Fed tapering, which our US economists expect in March 2014. We estimate 25 bps of MBS spread widening and a 50 bp increase in 10-year Treasury rates by year-end 2014 with spread risk contributing 5-10% of the book value decline for AGNC and NLY....
While agency mortgage REITs have already significantly underperformed the market this year... we think investors and sell-side analysts have been slow to realize the downside potential. With Fed tapering on the horizon, we feel that it's better to get ahead of the risks and "not own" the stocks going into a potentially volatile period for agency MBS spreads. We believe it will be very difficult for the stocks to generate total returns that perform in-line with or beat the market in a rising rate environment – even with the stocks already trading at significant discounts to book value.
Goldman said further dividend cuts are likely:
We expect earnings (and thus dividends) to come under continued pressure as the companies delever and increase their hedge ratios in anticipation of MBS market volatility. Dividends have already been cut 22% by NLY and 36% by AGNC since 1Q13, and we expect additional cuts of 40% over the next year, in-line with our projected decline in earnings.
Goldman notes that with the two stocks already trading around 0.8x book value "we don't see significant downside over the next 12 months; however, we don't believe investors have fully priced in potential book value declines and dividend cuts as a result of Fed tapering and steadily rising rates." Goldman sees total returns of 2% for NLY, which assumes 5% price downside and projected 2014 dividends of $0.80, and and 4% for AGNC, based on 6% price downside and projected 2014 dividends of $2.00. More from Goldman:
As a trade that's highly levered to interest rates, we would be more positive on agency mortgage REITs if we expected the Fed to delay tapering past June, which could cause agency mREITs to outperform the market for a short-term trade. Overall, we view the agency mREITs as defensive stocks for periods of slow economic growth, provided the yield curve is upward sloping. We do not view them as "buy and hold" investments for multi-year periods.
As an alternative, Goldman says hybrid mortgage REIT Two Harbors (TWO) "has better prospects to maintain its book value and dividend due to its nonagency exposure and potential for MSR acquisitions, and we rate it Neutral."
NLY is down 1.8% to $9.87 early Thursday afternoon, while AGNC is down 1.7% to $19.42. TWO is down 0.6% at $9.01.


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Home › Forums › Campfire › Editor's Roundtable › Boys in the Wild (Short Film)
Jan 30, 2013 at 5:46 am #1298622
Ryan JordanAdmin
@ryanLocale: Rocky Mountains
Companion forum thread to:Jan 30, 2013 at 7:37 am #1948772
Randy MartinBPL Member
@randalmartinLocale: Colorado
Nice job Ryan. While I don't have a son, I do have a teenage daughter and can empathize with the lack of interest by today's youth in outdoor activities because of the "inconvenience" of it all.
I wonder if choosing carefully the way we introduce them to the wilderness experience might be helpful by making the initial experiences as positive as possible and make the wilderness a fun learning experience (Navigation games, wildlife sightings, making fire etc, carry light packs..).Jan 30, 2013 at 9:35 am #1948825
Richard NisleyBPL Member
@richard295Locale: San Francisco Bay Area
GREAT JOB RYAN – it evoked me to deeply ponder an important topic that I hadn't previously given much thought.Jan 30, 2013 at 10:17 am #1948852
Nick GatelBPL Member
@ngatelLocale: Southern California
Good job, Ryan!
Regarding your comment of:
"I'm not even sure I have the desire to see 'all teenage boys go into the backcountry.' "
I agree, this isn't for everyone. However you did point out some important factors that influence what kids do today. For most of us here on BPL, we would like our children to participate in our outdoor passions — but you cannot force them to enjoy it. But the factors you point out are often detrimental to raising kids with "character."
Over the years I have seen so many questions posted from parents wondering how to handle their kids, and friends often ask me for input on difficult situations. My answer usually is, "Who is the parent," because the situations involve the need for someone to make a decision, and that is the parents' responsibility. Too many parents allow their children to make the important decisions.
I have two grown children and am extremely proud of how they turned out. Never had a problem with either, and they have always been 'high achievers' in anything they tried. Since I was in my mid to late 30's when they were born, often I was a generation removed from the parents of their friends. So I really saw a difference in how their friends were raised versus my kids. Perhaps I had an advantage of nearly 20 years of life experience as an adult, before they were born. But as parents, their mother and I set the expectations. We refused to deal with the things you pointed out; (culture of entitlement, peer influence, etc.). We set the standards and raised them to gain self-esteem for what they were, not what the rest of world was. For example, there were no video games in the house — they weren't allowed. Television was limited and had parental control — the kids thought is was normal to sit together at night and talk; they also thought it was normal to read a book instead of watching TV.
We took the kids camping starting at age 6 months. This was our vacation every year. And we did not bring things for our own entertainment, we spent everyday together doing family things. Of course, everyone had some personal time everyday, which was usually reading a book.
When they started school, they were required to join an activity during the year. What is was, was up to them — sports, music, clubs, scouts, etc. Joe played sports. Nicole played sports but hated it, and soon got involved with cheer leading and then dance. And every year between September and June most of our time was involved in participating in these activities. We had to give up a lot of our personal wants/needs so we could properly raise our kids. Raising kids was our most important and primary job. And it wasn't always easy.
The other thing we did is set standards of performance for school, activities, and personal conduct. The standards were not some arbitrary goal of all "A's" in school or winning a race or a competition; but that they gave it their best effort. By the time they started junior high they knew right from wrong, and could not be swayed by their peers.
To me the important thing is for parents to be parents. It doesn't matter if the parents hike, or go camping, or enjoy other activities; the important task is to raise kids with character. And I think Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts build character. Both of my kids were in scouts for a short period of time. These troops were in suburban areas and the outdoor activities were nominal. They opted out of scouts because they would rather go camping and hiking with us — even though most of their friends looked down at such family outings.Jan 30, 2013 at 12:18 pm #1948912
Kevin BabioneBPL Member
@kbabioneLocale: Pennsylvania
I enjoyed the film also and have seen different ways of children spending time in the woods.
We've always car-camped as a family and I started taking my twin girls on backpacking trips when they were just four (they're six now). We don't do high mileage and usually head someplace where they can play – a stream, a downed tree "jungle gym", or perhaps even a shelter along the AT (they love to sweep). They get excited to be out in the woods because it's one of the things I love to do. We don't take electronics or other games – they use their imagination to create entertainment. I suspect my twins, like their older (22 and 18) sisters, will always love being outside in the woods.
On the other hand, I've been on a couple of trails backpacking in PA when I've passed what I can only describe as a "penal colony" of kids being forced to carry heavy packs. The kids were clearly not enjoying themselves and I'm afraid it's someone's idea of "get them outside so they can build some character." Perhaps forcing kids into the woods and making them miserable does work for some, but it has to be the minority (whose home life must be truly awful).
I've always believed that love of anything starts in the home and I'm guessing that anyone who's a member of BPL with children has already instilled a love of the outdoors in their kids. Ryan's video might be inspirational to non-BPL members, but it seems like preaching to the choir to me.Jan 30, 2013 at 12:56 pm #1948934
Art TyszkaBPL Member
@arttyszkaLocale: Minnesota
Fantastic short film. I share the same concerns to what's happening with this generation. The outdoors is good for the soul and provides a richness to life that many other experiences can't match. Hopefully everyone on BPL that has kids tries to pass on some appreciation for the outdoors.
I have 2 kids, ages 13 and 8. They're not always willing, but car camping, short backpacking and kayaking are family activities that I "force" on them so we have some quality time together. I believe that while they may not always appreciate it now, these experiences will help them lead a fuller life where they realize some self reliance and responsibility for themselves. Many other parts of our society seem to be trying the opposite.
I really enjoyed the film and thoughts.Jan 30, 2013 at 12:57 pm #1948936
Joe ClementBPL Member
@skinewmexicoLocale: Southwest
Once again Nick hits the nail on the head. I can say from my experience with Scouts that most parents today instill a need of "things" in their children, but not a desire for "experiences". Couple that with a culture of "everyone gets a trophy, and everyone gets a snack", there isn't much need to achieve. And when you're given everything you could want, you don't develop the kind of work ethic that is going to make you get outdoors, IMO.
Added – in my experience, single moms are more likely to try to get their kids involved in outdoor activities. Not so for Junior League / Private school moms. Way too overprotective – the helicopter parents.Jan 30, 2013 at 1:54 pm #1948961
Sumi WadaBPL Member
@detroittigerfanLocale: Ann Arbor
I'm a mom and have a 14 year-old son. I always hear the talk about "kids today" and how they're glued to their TV/cell phones/computers/video games, lazy, entitled, etc., etc. but my actual experience has been the exact opposite and, frankly, I think the problem isn't the kids at all but us adults.
Backcountry trips take a lot of planning and effort from us parents — every meal, gear, itinerary. Not only that, we have to be *with* the kids 24/7 and keep them entertained without the TV, computers, video games… Most parents I know wouldn't have a clue. You only have to look at the popularity of "all-inclusive" resorts and cruises with "kids clubs" and 5-day package trips to Disney to understand that most parents don't want the responsibility of planning every meal, itinerary, activity, much less be engaged with their kids 24/7 for a couple of days straight.
My experience is that kids LOVE this outdoors stuff. Not just kids like my son who's been getting out there with me since he was a toddler but all his friends that we've taken camping, kayaking and hiking with us. Even the out-of-shape fat kids who were stunned when I took their cell phones away. Yeah, they whined a bit at first but, by the end of the weekend, they were ready to come back.
So, imo, if kids aren't getting out there, it's simply because we aren't taking them.Jan 30, 2013 at 2:31 pm #1948973
Mike WBPL Member
@skopeoLocale: British Columbia
Being the father of two boys, I have thought about this quite a bit. From what I've observed it's really a bit of "nuture" and "nature". I grew up in a family that did nothing in the outdoors. My three (older) brothers had very little interest in outdoors activities and I had no role models. But from a very early age I knew I had to hike and fish to be happy, in spite of my lack of opportunity to do so. I think I was genetically programmed to be outdoors. I don't think everybody is and although it's hard for anybody on BPL to imagine that, I think it's true.
I think creating an environment where my kids felt welcome to be with me was a large part of why my kids became interested in the outdoors. I didn't force them, I don't believe in that, but they knew they were always welcome to join me. This often meant scaling down my hiking plans to fit their abilities and leaving my fishing rod at home so I could pay attention to their casting/fishing. I think this is something that is sadly missed by the current "me" generation. If you put yourself first, your kids won't want to be with you no matter where you are.
My kids are now 24 and 27 and we still do fishing and backpacking trips together every summer. I thought these outings would end when my son got married last year but quite the opposite… I was asked to give my new daughter-in-law backpacking and fly fishing lessons this year and we had a couple of great trips. I think if we (as parents or leaders) are welcoming, people of all ages will want to give it a try.Jan 30, 2013 at 2:41 pm #1948976
John DonewarBPL Member
@newtonLocale: Southeastern Texas
Excellent video!
"Life of ease, protection and entitlement"
Many of us parents say that we want better for our children than what we had at their age. Quite often we mistake "better" as easy or entitled.
Many coaches in athletics stress getting back to basics. What is more basic than walking for transportation, carrying your possessions, putting up a shelter, collecting and treating water to drink, catching, preparing and cooking your dinner while working as a TEAM.
How many teenagers these days actually know where milk or hamburgers come from? How many know where eggs come from and that chicken strips are not an anatomical part of a chicken?
I am not an alarmist but we need to teach our kids how to survive when the lights go out, the microwave doesn't work and the water isn't flowing out of the faucet.
It is our responsibility to teach our children well.
Once again, EXCELLENT VIDEO Ryan!
Party On,
NewtonJan 30, 2013 at 3:20 pm #1948994
David NeumannBPL Member
@idahomtmanLocale: Northern Idaho
I thoroughly enjoyed the short film and concur with your thoughts Ryan. I was fortunate to grow up with a father who wanted to hike and backpack and so beginning at age eight we ventured into the High Sierra each summer. Prior to having my own children, I was a national Sierra Club backpack leader for around ten years and all of the trips I led, with one exception, were for teenagers. Back in the late 70's and 80's, the Club used to offer 10-16 trips each summer and they all filled up and they all had waiting lists. Sadly, I've noticed now that they offer, at most, one or two trips for teens.
My own boys were introduced to backpacking before each reached the age of six and there is no question of the many positive benefits derived from the experiences. As an educator and coach for 34 years, I have witnessed much the same behavior changes in our youth, particularly with boys. I applaud all adults who not only take their own children into the wilderness, but also volunteer as scout leaders and others who are able to offer these valuable experiences to other teens.
Even now, as a Park Service volunteer, I continue to witness both the power of the wilderness experience for teens and the flip side for those who haven't had the opportunity to experience the power of an extended wilderness trip. I agree that this activity is not suitable for all boys, but how do we really know who might benefit most from the power of the wilderness?
Thanks again for the great film. I hope it inspires adults to take responsibility for helping teens grow up to be active and responsible adults.Jan 30, 2013 at 3:43 pm #1949002
Brendan SwihartBPL Member
@brendansLocale: Fruita CO
Thanks for the film, Ryan, and lots of good thoughts from everyone. I distinctly remember the magic of my first backpacking trip (age 14ish???), even after growing up camping frequently and being in a quite "outdoorsy" family. I loved the simplicity of a lot of your shots (especially the sequence of making the food).
I don't know that I agree with the film's premise, though. Backpacking as an activity is relatively new (pretty rare pre 70s), and I don't know that there's ever been a time when the majority of kids couldn't wait to get back into the wilderness. Activities like hunting and fishing have a longer history of getting people into the backcountry, but I don't see any less young people involved in these activities. When I was in middle/high school (90s), I bet there were only a small handful of kids that had ever been on a backpacking trip, and the ones who had the opportunity and didn't take it had the same excuses you list. It was just the lucky/smart ;) ones that took a chance and said yes when someone offered to take them. Many of the ones who say no will go later in life. I guess I'm with the Sumi re: "kids these days" argument. Kids have been wasting time on dumb stuff for a long time.
All that said, good on ya for taking them. It's a pretty profound and formative experience to have…Jan 30, 2013 at 4:44 pm #1949021
Tom DealMember
@tomsbackwoodsLocale: Northern Idaho
Very well done!Thanks for all your time and effort!My children are grown and gone but I will be sharing this vid with a few parents I know and I'm going to watch it again!Jan 30, 2013 at 4:50 pm #1949026
Warren GreerSpectator
@warrengreerLocale: SoCal
Great video. I learned my love of the wilderness through Boy Scouts. And though it took a twenty-something year hiatus, it is now again strong as ever. I owe that to the passing of my scout master and the decision made by some of his "boys" to honor his wish to be scattered at his favorite wilderness peak. Even in his death he brought us together and many of us rekindled our love of the natural world.
I beleive that everyone should be given the chance to experience the outdoors and then they can know what its like and if they would like to do it again. How can you know what you may like if you don't try it? Backpacking may be work, but you don't have to pay me to do it.
I appreciate the other comments above. Some good insight and experience.Jan 30, 2013 at 5:54 pm #1949058
Robert SyringBPL Member
I am a scout leader from Minnesota and over the years I have led our troop and families west to hike, camp, climb, etc. The first year we went to the Black Hills in SD and we had 25 people, the second year we went to Yellowstone/Tetons with 45 people and the third year we went to Glacier with 65 people. Not all participants did overnight backcountry trips, but we all camped each night. What I have found is that there is large, relatively untapped desire by normal people to get into nature's wild places. Most people just want to be shown that it can be done, and as Ryan says in the video "let nature take it from there". It is amazing to see kids play games, build stuff, make campfires, etc. without any electronics/distraction once in a natural setting At Boards of Review we typically ask each scout the best thing about being in the troop and EVERY boy has responded he thought the summer trips out west were by far the best. I was also surprised at the level of interest by the girls (sisters of the scouts) who came along. Many parents told me their daughters didn't want to go, but ended up having a very meaningful experience and wanted to go on the next trip, including the optional backcountry trip. Many people don't want the extreme wilderness experience, but most if not all people want to some connection with nature.Jan 30, 2013 at 6:36 pm #1949074
John TaylorsonSpectator
@heyjtLocale: SoCal
Excellent job!
I am moved, inspired and encouraged after viewing your video for the third time.
I lead the backpacking program for Troop 4 in Pasadena, CA. With this being our centennial year (yes, 100 years!) and over 100 registered scouts, sadly, there are only a handful of boys that are interested in backpacking. Every statistic you mentioned resonates with what I see in my own son and most of his friends.
The boys (and ASM's) that do show an interest in lightweight backpacking, are helping to spreading the UL gospel. They are learning that experiencing the wilderness in its natural beauty and sometimes fury can be a challenge, but the rewards are immense and they get to actually experience real life instead of the virtual existence viewed on their TVs and video games.
Thank you for all your hard work in putting this project together. I plan on showing Boys in the Wild at next week's "Backpacking Workshop" for the new scouts and their parents. I am sure it will be as much of an inspiration to them as it is to me.
Thanks again,
jtJan 30, 2013 at 8:12 pm #1949123
Jason ElsworthBPL Member
@jephotoLocale: New Zealand
The outdoors was a huge part of my life as a teenager, thanks to Scouts and a wonderful event called Ten Tors, which took place every year on Dartmoor. I am eternally grateful to the people who gave up there time to make it all happen.
I applaud Ryan for all the effort he puts into getting young adults into nature. I do, however, recognise that it's not for everyone and that some will come to it later in life. As to the video I will have to go against the crowd here and say that whilst it raised some important issues I thought the tone, especially in the opening section, was terrible.Jan 30, 2013 at 10:43 pm #1949164
Luke SchmidtSpectator
@cameronLocale: Idaho Falls
Good thoughts Ryan. I especially liked one reason given why kids aren't into outdoor activities.
"Competition from other activities that might be… more – how shall we say this lightly – beneficial for self esteem? (I find that wilderness is the ultimate smackdown for a teenager's inflated ego!)"
I have totally seen the "ego smackdown," it can be a very good learning experience. Its only bad if its so severe that the kid swears off backpacking.
The teens I meet live in an artificial world. They base their identity on how they look to their peers at school and normally hide their true self. Putting them in the wilderness creates a "real world" environment where they are judged on their contributions to the greater good rather then their appearance.
This "ego smackdown" was what made a Wilderness Therapy program work for us. Our program was unique in the area because we had no "point system" where kids earned privileges or punishments. We didn't need one; if the boys acted foolishly they got smacked by reality. Our boys quickly learned that acting cool and "gangsta" didn't do much good in the woods. No one cared about those things. They cared about whether you could help on a real world project like chopping firewood or packing a canoe.
I even noticed this at residential summer camp. Kids would act more "real" because they knew they were being judged (and more importantly valued) for who they really were not just what they looked like. A remember a couple of teenage girls telling me camp was the place they felt most at home.Jan 30, 2013 at 10:46 pm #1949165
dallas shewmakerMember
@dallasshewmakerLocale: Southwest
I agree with most of the points raised in the video. As a specialty backpacking store owner that outfits a lot of youth groups, and as a Boy Scout counselor for the Backpacking Merit Badge, I'll add this to the mix:
• Some kids that come to the Merit Badge classroom portion we teach at our store are surprised to learn that yes, they actually have to go on backpacking trips to get the badge (Doh!)
• Many Scout troops do not go backpacking because there are not enough available Dads/Troop Leaders with enough backpacking experience to lead (more experienced volunteers are needed for trips – you don't have to even attend the weekly meetings)
• Many parents with car-camping-only experiences apply what they know to packing their son's pack, with good intentions (but it doesn't translate well)
• Some qualified potential adult volunteers will not volunteer for Scout trips out of fear of being falsely accused of something inappropriate, or don't want to deal with various Scout field requirements (well intended, but occasionally cumbersome – the antithesis to what some seek while outdoors)
• Many parents will not allow their son to go, as they consider backpacking too dangerous to be out of cell phone range for days (a SPOT Messenger or sat phone with the group is helpful at assuaging Mom's fear)
• Parents will spend $$ thousands on some of their children's pursuits, but tend to prefer WalMart gear or want to get away with ill-fitting hand-me-down's for backpacking ("in case Junior doesn't like it", which becomes self-fulfilling with bad gear)
• Parents willing to buy light, properly fitted gear report more satisfied trip experiences by their kids (imagine that)
• Boys running around near home seemingly have boundless energy for spurts, but they fizzle fast on the trail. (Keep daily mileage short)
• As a reflection of their technology experiences, most Scouts can master the menu of a GPS in minutes, but have no paper-map-reading ability on their own (don't let a kid get away from you on the trail)
• Some boys complain loudly about conditions on the trail, but a day after getting back are the first to talk about what a great time they had. (patience is a virtue, and usually rewarded, for volunteers)
• There's a rehab service we work with that takes troubled, mostly city youth out in the backcountry for 6 full, minimalist-gear weeks. Now those kids come back with a changed outlook on life!
Every generation fears the next one will be a failure. I imagine we'll be proven wrong as well.Jan 31, 2013 at 4:36 am #1949202
Nicholas NelsonMember
@nick0n1Locale: Southwest
I think Dallas put it best with his final quip, "Every generation fears the next one will be a failure. I imagine we'll be proven wrong as well."
I think one could make most of these same arguments about many other things in kids' lives today: kids don't play enough sports, they don't read enough, they don't play "pretend" games anymore. And yet, you could blame each of these things for a lack of time spent in the others.
This reminds me of an interview that Penn Jillette gave a while back. It's a little tangential, but it's about the idea that video games aren't a lesser way of spending one's time.
It's the last two paragraphs on the first page:
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2009/11/20/penn-jillette-is-tired-of-the-video-game-bulls.aspxJan 31, 2013 at 7:41 am #1949241
Joseph LiberaBPL Member
Great video. My take-away from the video overall is the celebration of a wonderfully successful outing! I find very little to lament. Every generation has its challenges. I suspect that video-games, obesity, and nature-deficiency are no greater a barrier to well-being than child-labor, disease, violence, and poverty experienced by previous (and current) generations.
It seems that a real barrier to the younger generations enjoyment of the outdoors includes available adult leadership and preservation of the outdoor resource. Leading a small high adventure crew over a 5000 ft pass has always been and will continue to be the privilege of a minority of hikers. How do we leverage (or grow) available adult leadership to bring these experiences to more young people? All the while honoring LNT principles, and certain organizational requirements related to risk e.g. Consent Forms, Tour Permits (scratch that) Tour and Activity Plans, Med Forms (Parts A, B, C, and D?), Hike Safely, WFA, Hazardous Weather Training. I think that's it :)
I have no doubt that these videos, and opportunities presented by BPL such as Lightweight Backpacking for BSA will continue to motivate a small group of adult leaders to get outside and on the trail – with young men and women. That's reason to celebrate!
Joe LiberaJan 31, 2013 at 1:15 pm #1949376
Jay WilkersonBPL Member
@creachenLocale: East Bay
Excellent message and video! I can't wait to show it to my 12 year old only if I could get him off his computer.Jan 31, 2013 at 8:20 pm #1949513
Cody BartzBPL Member
@codybartzLocale: Northern Minnesota
This is a start. Nice video and well put words. I believe it is very true. Keep spreading the word and get more off the couch and in the outdoors!Jan 31, 2013 at 8:32 pm #1949516
Rod BraithwaiteBPL Member
@rodoLocale: Salish Seashore
FWIW, my daughter became very enthusiastic about backpacking immediately after I pointed out that, after getting a bit of kit & experience, it was the perfect way for her and her teen friends to escape the purview of adults.Feb 1, 2013 at 6:53 am #1949624
Ryan JordanAdmin
@ryanLocale: Rocky Mountains
Thank you for all the great feedback on the video. The comments have stimulated my thinking so much. Some of it reinforced, with some new ideas to ponder as well.
Interesting that a few of the comments gravitated towards the assumption that kids today are probably going to be just fine tomorrow (past history?) even though they seem to waste as much time today as the last generation did, perhaps on different things.
I'm less fearful of kids wasting their time, as I am of them not being able to escape into a nature experience in order to (as I suggested in the video narrative) find some rest and reprieve.
An important trend I see across the past few generations is that the increasingly fast paced, information-rich, and economically complex world we live in today may require more simplicity and rest, simply to avoid psychological and emotional burnout, and if nature-connected experiences aren't in the quiver as a (very practical) coping mechanism for today's generation of young people, then we risk leaving future generations with less capability to cope with an increasingly stressful first world.
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Security + V ECH UK Question
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And what course would be more beneficial for a pen tester? Looking at security + it looks more about general security then pen testing. But they are bringing a new version out in May.


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Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing.
I love your photos. I show them to middle school students in after-school science programming. They get such a kick out of all the critters you showcase. Thank you so much for sharing.
Glad to hear that they enjoy them! Have a look at some more of my shots at http://bugguide.net/bgimage/user/60607
Also I'm an airline pilot and a bit of a science geek myself let me know If there is anything else I can do to help inspire the kids.
Nice shots! Good job!
Very nice! I was wondering what lens(es) and set up are you using?
Tony P.
There must be a harder way to do that... let me find it for you.
Canon T2i with a EF-s 55-250mm. I crop zoom post production. I'm saving up for a true macro lens someday.
Awesome pictures yea I still need my first macro lens also there pricey.
Tony P.
There must be a harder way to do that... let me find it for you.


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A plumber has to remember to keep his mouth closed....oh yeah, payday is on friday!
This is the funniest true story I've seen in a long time.
Attack of the Sewer Beast | KenThomas.us
Attack of the Sewer Beast
WARNING: This post contains profanity. A lot of profanity. If youre the sort of person who gets wound up about that sort of thing, then you should probably go read something else.
The odds are good that 90% of the people reading this have never given a lot of thought to sewer systems. You make a deposit, presumably in a toilet, and you pull down on a little chrome handle and your deposit goes away, and thats probably where your knowledge of the process goes away too - so youre going to have to trust me on this one. Theres a big pipe that comes out of the bottom of the toilet, and that big pipe connects to an enormously complicated underground system that transfers your deposit to a central location, subjects your deposit to all sorts of horrific chemical processes, and eventually returns your deposit to Mother Nature in a much less objectionable form than the abomination you created. Fortunately, you dont have to do anything to keep this system functioning except pay your water and sewer bill.
But it hasnt always been that simple. In rural parts of the country, it wasnt that long ago that people would just dig a hole in the ground and shit in it. Then privacy was invented and people built little houses over the hole so they could take a crap without everyone in the neighborhood watching them do it. Then pipes were invented, and people started putting toilets inside their house, which was a huge improvement because you could use the toilet without having to brave the elements, and also because you could make your current deposit without having to sit on a big hole full of your previous deposits, which (believe me) is every bit as unpleasant as it sounds. Unfortunately, all this business with the pipes brought up the somewhat thorny issue of figuring out where the pipes (and therefore the deposits) should go.
Back in the days when nobody gave a rats ass about the planet, there was a pretty easy and obvious answer to that. You just ran the pipe downhill to the nearest creek, river, pond, or ocean, and let gravity handle it. This was a great idea, and worked really well, except for the minor problems that it made all the water smell like crap, killed most of the things living in it, and hampered peoples enjoyment of the great outdoors when every swimming trip became the equivalent of bobbing for turds.
Then some genius invented the septic tank, presumably naming it septic because barrel full of crap wouldnt have sold as well. So then you had a toilet in the house, and pipe coming out of the toilet, running across the yard, and going into a big tank buried out there somewhere.
And that sets the background for our story
It was the summer before I joined the Army, so I was probably 17 years old. Beard, hair down past my shoulders, the whole nine yards. I dont think I was more irritating and obnoxious than your average 17-year old, but lets face it - given the usual state of boys that age Im setting a pretty low bar there. The usual smartass mouth, the usual know-it-all attitude, and the usual ignorance so profound I couldnt find my own asshole with both hands and a flashlight.
Implements of destruction.
My family had a house, and that house had a toilet, and that toilet had a pipe, and that pipe went to a septic tank. Unfortunately, the whole thing had stopped working. Wed pull down on the little handle, and our deposits would move around in little circles for awhile, but they just didnt go anywhere. In order to make them go somewhere, wed use a plunger and pretty much force everything down the hole, and therefore into the pipe. What we didnt know was that the pipe had collapsed about halfway out to the septic tank. With no outlet on the downstream end, every time we went to work with the plunger, we were unknowingly packing that pipe full of crap.
This went on for quite awhile, until eventually the inevitable happened and the pipe filled up. Keep in mind here, we didnt know the pipe had filled up. We didnt know the pipe had collapsed. We just knew that you could work that plunger situation all day long, and the intended result just wasnt achieved. This was clearly an unpleasant and untenable situation, so one day my Dad and I set out to address it.
Our assumption was that the pipe was clogged up with something. This is a pretty common problem with pipes, so our assumption made sense. In fact, it happens so often that they make a tool specifically for this eventuality, which is called a snake. A snake is a long metal ribbon that you slide into the toilet and down the pipe, in hopes of dislodging the blockage. Dad and I worked the hell out of that snake, with nothing to show for it at all. After an hour or two of fruitless snake action, we eventually decided that having this big-ass porcelain toilet in the way was preventing us from getting the kind of access we needed, so we removed the toilet from the floor (and set it in the bathtub) so we could get directly at the pipe.
Removing the toilet required us to turn off the water supply line to the house, which you may want to remember because it plays a small role later in the story. So now weve got the water turned off, the toilet in the bathtub, and a big metal pipe sticking an inch or two up out of the bathroom floor, full to the rim with crap. More work with the snake. No success with the snake.
At the time, my Dad was working the night shift, so after another hour or two of fruitless snake action, Dad had to go to work.
I was 17 years old, and I knew everything, and I was pretty pissed off about spending an entire Saturday in a smelly bathroom slamming a metal ribbon around with nothing to show for it, and nothing in the world would have made me happier than to come up with a clever solution to this whole problem and fix it myself while my Dad was gone. So I started burning brain cells.
The snake just isnt long enough I thought, so the only thing that connects this end of the pipe to the blockage (remember I still thought we were dealing with a blockage) is the crap in the pipe itself. I concluded that by somehow increasing the pressure on the crap on my end of the pipe, it would apply pressure to the blockage, and eventually force it out into the septic tank. Problem solved. This was an utterly brilliant idea, which was flawed only because it had no relationship whatsoever to the reality of the situation.
So I measured my end of the pipe, and I started wandering around looking for things to fit the pipe, and eventually I found an old mop. The head of the mop, as it turned out, was a perfect fit for the inside of the pipe. Even better, it had a long wooden handle that made it perfect for applying pressure. Two minutes later, I was in the bathroom, with the head of that mop stuck in the open end of the pipe, and I was applying a whole hell of a lot of pressure. I pushed, I shoved, I leaned. I may have even jumped on it a little bit. Every inch that I pushed that mop head down, was another inch of increasing pressure inside of that pipe.
And now we need to pause a moment to talk about diameter. See, among the many oversights and gaps in my knowledge was the critical fact that the pipe wasnt consistent in terms of diameter. 2 or 3 feet below the level of the floor, the pipe got bigger. About an inch bigger all the way around, as a matter of fact. So once Id applied 2 or 3 feet of pressure, my precisely calibrated mophead suddenly failed to completely fill the pipe.
To simplify that for you? Id applied a lot of pressure to a lot of crap, and I had suffered a breach of containment in fairly sudden and dramatic fashion.
Objects in the picture are more horrifying than they appear.
A geyser of shit.
A goddamned shit grenade.
Shot in the face with a 12-gauge shitgun.
Still gripping that stupid mop, I went to my knees, and the shit literally went to the ceiling. There was shit on the walls, shit on the curtains, shit in the sink, shit on the light fixture overhead. More to the point, there was shit on me. A lot of shit on me. There was shit in my hair, shit in my beard, shit on my clothing, you name it. There was shit on the inside of my glasses.
My first thought? Oh shit.
My second thought? I have got to get this taste out of my mouth.
And while were on that subject, let me go ahead and answer the question Im always asked when I get to this part of the story: Just like it smells.
I staggered to my feet, unable to articulate any actual words, I was flailing around and roaring at the top of my lungs with some indescribable blend of horror, rage, and overwhelming disgust. My Mom and my two younger sisters, who had been in the living room watching TV when the catastrophe occurred, came running to see what was wrong. As soon as they witnessed the half-blind shit-covered beast stomping out of the bathroom, the youngest one started screaming, the middle sister started puking, and my mother was laughing so hard she couldnt breathe.
Did I mention that the water to the house was turned off? Yes. Yes, I think I did.
Still fighting with the whole taste issue, I made it to the kitchen, leaving brown footprints all the way, and grabbed the first thing that came to hand. A glass of milk. Looking back on it, Im kind of proud that I made it through the whole episode without ever throwing up, but I have to admit that when I took the glass away from my mouth and saw the brown stain all around the rim? I got pretty close.
Eventually, I went outside and got the water turned back on, crust of shit drying in the sun, and Mom came out to the backyard and sprayed me down with a garden hose for about 2 hours. Then I went in the house, cleaned the bathroom up, and took a shower. Then I took another one. I believe there were 3 or 4 showers altogether. Roughly 4 hours were invested just brushing my teeth.
But you know what? You probably wont believe this, but as bad as it was, that Saturday afternoon and the Spectacular Geyser of Shit wasnt the worst thing that happened to me that weekend. What could be worse? The worst thing was that my Mom went to church the next day and told everybody the whole story.
I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine. - Ayn Rand
A plumber has to remember to keep his mouth closed....oh yeah, payday is on friday!
Thanks for the true story.I laught my through it. I do know where the crap goes cause I'm a lift-station mech. for the city of Hammond.
Oh My GOD!!!
Karl! You Bastard!!!!!
I laughed so hard I have muscle cramps in my rib cage!
Normally, I'd say something like "Holy Shit Batman!" But it just doesn't seem right...
Imagine whirled peas
Peace, Love, And Superior Firepower


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Who is Your Human Rights Hero?
Posted by Corey Hill in Featured, For Our Members, Global Exchange Community on 6th March, 2013 | No Comments
Do you have a Human Rights Hero you want to tell the world about? Well, then you're in the right place. Introducing the 2013 Human Rights People's Choice Award Contest, where people just like you nominate and vote for their Human Rights Hero.
Read More...


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Staff & Student News
In early November, MacArthur Associate Curator and Chair Thorsten Lumbsch (Botany) travelled to Helsinki, Finland to serve as an Opponent (=Examiner) for the Ph.D. defense of the Finish graduate student Ulla Kaasalainen who has worked on the occurrence of toxins in lichens containing cyanobacteria. Thorsten used the time in Helsinki to discuss the timeline and early steps of organization of the next international meeting of the International Association for Lichenology with a group of colleagues in Helsinki. Thorsten is president of this association and is working with the local organizing committee to prepare for the 2016 meeting.
The Division of Mammals (Zoology) welcomes a new international student from Brazil. João Luis da Fonseca is an undergraduate student at the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo in Vitôria, studying with Dr. Yuri Leite. João has received a one-year fellowship from the Brazilian government's program "Science without Borders" to study at The Field Museum with MacArthur Curator Bruce Patterson and to work alongside Negaunee Collection Manager Bill Stanley and Preparator Anna Goldman, learning preparation and curation techniques and procedures. By happy coincidence, while João is studying in Chicago, Resident Graduate Student Nate Upham (CEB) will work in Dr. Leite's laboratory in Vitôria, amplifying the DNA of Brazilian endemic taxa that can not be exported under Brazilian law. Science without Borders indeed!
Research & Publications
The 7th edition of Images of the Past by T. Douglas Price (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and Curator Gary Feinman (Anthropology) has been published by McGraw-Hill. The book, geared for classes in world archaeology, is an introduction to prehistoric archaeology that aims to capture the excitement and visual splendor of archaeology while at the same time providing insight into current research methods, interpretations, and theories in the field. The 7th edition offers a beautifully illustrated, full-color, site-by-site survey of prehistory and has been revised in accordance with both new discoveries in archeology and the interests of readers. Image left: The cover of the seventh edition features a photograph taken by Linda Nicholas (Adjunct Curator, Anthropology) of an effigy vessel that was unearthed by Feinman and Nicholas during the excavation of a high-status tomb at the site of El Palmillo (the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico). This is the first time that an artifact discovered by one of the authors has appeared on cover of Images.
Robert A. Pritzker Assistant Curator for Meteoritics and Polar Studies Philipp Heck (Geology) and visiting scholar and collaborating postdoc Matthias Meier from Lund University, Sweden, were in Philadelphia from November 1–4. Philipp collaborates with Antonios Zavaliangos, head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University, Philadelphia and his group in the micro CT scanning lab at Drexel (image right) to obtain micro-CT scans of rare meteorites. "Micro-CT scans are non-destructive and reveal the different components within a meteorite," says Philipp, "it is important to have a record of a rare meteorite before cutting it for mineralogical and chemical analyses, in particular if the piece is unique." The team analyzed one of the very few pristine pieces of the recently-fallen and donated Sutter's Mill meteorite and for the first time also analyzed a rare fossil meteorite that was found by Research Associate Birger Schmitz's (Geology) group in a 470 million-year-old seabed of mid-Ordovician limestone in Sweden. The data is currently being processed for tomographic reconstructions and analyses; the first results will be presented at a major scientific conference next year.
Associate Curator and Chair Ryan Williams (Anthropology) gave the opening lecture for the educational lecture series of the exhibit Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes at the Cleveland Museum of Art on November 4. Ryan highlighted how Wari emerged as the Andes' first empire in the 6th century AD and chronicled the five keys to their success: an adaptive agricultural technology in time of climate stress, a religious system that incorporated local beliefs, an advanced economic commodity exchange system, based on investment in roads and administrative centers that represented Wari interests across the realm, and the hosting of feasting events that cemented relationships and impressed visitors with fantastic food and drink. The exhibit is the first to focus exclusively on Wari in the United States and drew on the expertise of Ryan and other distinguished colleagues who study the South American empire. Susan Bergh curates the exhibit.
Staff Scientist Jason Weckstein (Zoology/Birds) spent the week of October 22–26 at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he collaborated with Research Associate Kevin Johnson (Illinois Natural History Survey and Zoology) and Steve Taylor (Illinois Natural History Survey) to complete a manuscript on the population genetics of two lineages of cave crickets from caves in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. During the visit Jason also worked on several projects with Kevin Johnson, postdoctoral fellow Julie Allen, and former Field Museum undergraduate intern Joseph Cacioppo (now in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DVM/Ph.D. program) focused on reconstructing the evolutionary history of four megadiverse chewing louse genera that parasitize perching birds (the largest order of birds, Passeriformes). The aim of this work is to compare patterns of coevolutionary history between these four megadiverse parasite lineages. These lineages differ in many characteristics including feeding ecology, host specificity (how many hosts a given parasite can infect), and ability to disperse between hosts. Thus, the ultimate goal of this work is to understand what factors allow some parasites to be generalists (infecting many species of hosts) whereas others are specialists (infecting only a single host species) and what factors are associated with the ability of a parasite to switch between hosts. These are key evolutionary questions that have important consequences for understanding the ecology and evolution of all parasites and pathogens including those of humans and our commensal animals.
Fieldwork & Collections
Associate Curator and Chair Ryan Williams, Adjunct Curator Donna Nash, and Research Associate Nicola Sharratt (all Anthropology) conducted ethnographic and geoarchaeological collections in Chile and Peru in October focused on ceramic production and stoneworking. Ryan and Donna acquired clays and conducted ceramic production and firing experiments with local potters in Azapa, Chile, and Moquegua, Peru. They also acquired samples from five stone and four obsidian quarries from Easter Island, Chile. These materials will be instrumental in characterizing the sources of material for museum collections made at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Image left: Results of a open air ceramic firing experiment of clay samples in Moquegua, Peru.
An international team led by Field Museum botanists and comprised of eight scientists from Thailand, New Zealand, France, and the U.S., conducted fieldwork in New Caledonia during September and October (see header image). New Caledonia is one of the world's 35 biodiversity hotspots (and one of the smallest—about the size of New Jersey) with exceptional biological and ecological diversity. This group of islands is located in the South Pacific at the southern extremity of the Melanesian region, 1,200 km east of Australia. Adjunct Curator and Collections Manager Matt von Konrat (Botany) led a four-week expedition collecting early land plants (liverworts, mosses and hornworts), ferns, and lichenized fungi. The fieldwork is part of a long-term project investigating spore-producing organisms in the South Pacific led and coordinated by Field Museum scientists. The multi-disciplinary team included Associate Curator and Chair Thorsten Lumbsch and Postdoctoral Research Scientist Juan Larraín (both Botany). An expedition of this scale for these organisms in New Caledonia is unprecedented. The trip yielded over 5,000 specimens, with dozens of new generic and species records for the island, and probably several species new to science, including a tree fern species discovered by Dr. Leon Perrie of Te Papa Museum, New Zealand. Louis Thouvenot of the Muséum National d'histoire Naturelle in Paris was instrumental in facilitating the expedition.
More information about the expedition can be accessed here. Financial support from multiple agencies and individuals are gratefully acknowledged, including The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Negaunee Foundation, and the National Science Foundation. Check out a radio interview with Dr. Leon Perrie about the trip and the discovery of the new tree fern species at this link.
Associate Curator Bill Parkinson (Anthropology) traveled to eastern and central Europe in late October. In Hungary, Bill met his colleagues Dr. Attila Gyucha (Hungarian National Museum) and Dr. Paul Duffy (University of Toronto) to participate in the Békéscsabai Kolbászfesztivál (Békéscsaba Sausage Festival); where Bill and his colleagues competed in an international sausage making competition that involved over five hundred teams, each of which was required to produce 1.5 meters of paprika-rich Hungarian sausage. Although their team did not win the competition, they met many of the important local officials who have continuously supported their ongoing research in the Körös Region of Hungary over the last fifteen years. Image left: Bill at the Békéscsabai Kolbászfesztivál.
Bill and his colleagues also traveled to the mountains of northern Hungary, where he collected samples of obsidian (volcanic glass) from its source location. Carpathian obsidian was used throughout central and eastern Europe for making stone tools in prehistory. The Department of Anthropology has been building an economic geology type collection that serves as a worldwide resource for geological materials that were critical for ancient economies. Our obsidian type collection now includes key sources from four different continents. Image right: An artifact made on Carpathian obsidian excavated at a Copper Age (4,500 BC) village located several hundred kilometers from the geological source.
At a conference in Mikulov, Czech Republic, Bill and his colleagues presented their paper, entitled "Rain or Shine: The Dynamics of Prehistoric Village Organization on the Great Hungarian Plain," in a session entitled "Human-Landscape Interaction in Prehistoric Central Europe: Analysis of Natural and Built Environments,"organized by Monika Baumanová, Karolína Pauknerová, Roderick Salisbury, and Gábor Bacsmegi. The paper explored the long-term patterns of settlement organization and environmental trends during the Holocene on the Great Hungarian Plain. Bill and his colleagues argued that social concerns were more important in settlement placement and organization than environmental considerations during many periods of prehistory.
The Botany Department hosted two Brazilian visitors to the collections from October 22–26. Sarah Maria Athie de Souza from the Universidade Federal Rural de Penambuco worked on the genus Stillingia (in the Euphorbiaceae family). Sarah annotated a number of new types that she found in the Department's collections. Jefferson Sobrinho from the Feira de Santana State University examined collections of Pseudobombax (in the family Bombacaceae) from October 24–November 4. Both visitors made stops at the Smithsonian and the Missouri Botanical Garden herbaria during their trip as well.
Collection Manager Alan Resetar (Zoology/Amphibians and Reptiles) attended the annual meeting of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Non-game Amphibian and Reptile Technical Advisory Committee in Indianapolis on November 3rd. He presented a review of his 2012 amphibian and reptile field activities in northwestern Indiana. On September 7–8, Alan attended the Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (MPARC) meeting in Pioneer, Ohio.
Research Associate Paul Brinkman (Library) spent three days (October 29–31) combing through historic photographs, manuscript documents and other rare treasures in The Field Museum Library's special collections. This research was done in connection with Dr. Brinkman's project on the history of the Captain Marshall Field Paleontological Expeditions in the 1920s. The first installment of this project, called "Red Deer River shakedown," will be published in the journal Earth Sciences History in late 2013.
Regenstein Collections Manager Chris Philipp and Regenstein Postdoctoral Fellow Mark Golitko (both Anthropology) traveled to the north coast of Papua New Guinea during the month of October to obtain permissions for renewed archaeological and ethnographic fieldwork planned for 2013. On this trip they also visited with colleagues and toured Pacific collections in Sydney (Australian Museum), Canberra (Australia National University and Australia National Museum), and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery). On this trip Philipp also brought back 90 contemporary artifacts for the Museum's Pacific holdings (string bilum bags, baskets, ornaments, and some raw materials used for their construction). Image left: Chris Philipp at a market in Wewak, northern Papua New Guinea, where he purchased contemporary objects for the museum's collections.
Tatyana Livshultz, Assistant Curator of Botany at the Philadelphia Academy of Science visited the Botany Department for two days in late October. She first met with Collections Manager Christine Niezgoda and Digital Imaging Specialist Daniel Le to see the Botany Department's Digital Photography Center. The Academy is partnering with Field Museum on the Global Plants Initiative project and Tatyana was interested in learning about protocols. During her stay she also met with Adjunct Curator and Collections Manager Robert Lücking and Adjunct Curator and Collections Manager Matt von Konrat (both Botany) to discuss the North American Bryophyte and Lichen Digitization project, a multi-institutional, NSF-funded consortium, in which The Philadelphia Academy is a new partner. Tatyana was also interested in seeing how the bryophytes are curated.
Graduate Research Assistant Matthew Piscitelli (Anthropology) has recently returned from a six-month archaeological field project in Peru. He has excavated a series of small-scale temples at the Late Archaic (3,000–1,800 B.C.) site of Huaricanga in the Fortaleza Valley to explore variation in religious practices in the evolving complex polities on the Peruvian coast. Using an innovative multidisciplinary approach, Matthew is applying modern scientific techniques such as pollen analysis, micromorphology, and X-Ray Fluorescence to reconstruct ancient ritual practices. Through a better understanding of ritual practices one can investigate how early leaders negotiated the social milieu through ritual performance and, as a result, can develop theoretical models relating religion and society. Matthew's fieldwork has been generously supported by The Field Museum, the Women's Board, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Brennan Foundation, and National Geographic. Further funding for analysis has also been acquired through a recent NSF dissertation grant. To learn more about the project please visit Matthew's website here.
Public Education & Media Coverage
On November 9, C&R Media Interns Jared Berent and Kate Webbink released a new The Field Revealed entitled We Are All Stardust. Join Robert A. Pritzker Assistant Curator for Meteoritics and Polar Studies Philipp Heck (Geology) and his team in their quest for presolar grains—cosmic stardust older than our Solar System!
The November 2 issue of the Southtown Star included an article on Regenstein Conservator JP Brown's (Anthropology) recent presentation on CT scanning at The Field Museum; you can view it here.
After passing 10,000 podcast downloads, the "What the Fish?" team has released Episode 11: Feeding Frenzy. In this episode, "What the Fish?" is joined by their first return guest ever, Sarah Gibson (University of Kansas). This week's panel of four discusses some of the most dominant aquatic predators in the world from the famous Piranha to African Tiger Fish, sharks, and the Lancetfish. As always, tune in every other Friday for the latest discussion from the fish nerds: Assistant Curator Leo Smith, Postdoctoral Research Scientist Matthew Davis, Consultant and Volunteer Eric Ahlgren (all Zoology/Fishes). Please follow them on Twitter and tweet your fishy questions to @FM_WhatTheFish or firstname.lastname@example.com. The podcasts are also available at iTunes here.
A delegation from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) visited The Field Museum from October 31–November 3 for an extended tour of the research, collection, and exhibit facilities. The NMP recently received approval to renovate an existing building in Manila (designed by Daniel Burnham!) to serve as the new Natural History Museum of the Philippines, and they intend to use the Field Museum as a prime model for their planning. The four delegates were Dr. Ana Labrador (Assistant Director of the PNM), Dr. Arvin Diesmos (herpetologist), Mary Louise Bolunia (archeologist), and Roberto Balarbar (conservator). The delegation toured facilities and held discussions in Anthropology, Exhibits, and Zoology (Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Invertebrates, Mammals), and met with C&R Senior Vice President and Head of Collections Lance Grande; they also presented brief talks about the new museum at a special seminar on November 1. Curator Larry Heaney and Research Associate Danny Balete (both Zoology/Mammals) have been invited to serve as planning advisors on the new museum, where they will discuss issues involving facilities and staffing priorities.
MacArthur Associate Curator and Chair Thorsten Lumbsch and Collections Manager Christine Niezgoda (both Botany) led a behind-the-scenes tour of the herbarium on October 25 for 23 National-Louis University students in conjunction with a course Executive Vice President Jim Croft is teaching at the Museum.
On November 6, Staff Scientist Jason Weckstein (Zoology/Birds) gave a presentation to four 3rd grade classes at Lincolnwood Elementary School in Evanston. Many of the student-guided reading groups had read a book about the Wandering Albatross (Diomedia exulans) and Jason brought one of the Museum's Wandering Albatross specimens so that the students could see the immensity of this amazing bird species. He also carried a few specimens of common gull species from Illinois so that the students could learn more about some of their own local "seabirds."


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National Futures Association has always been committed to providing our Members with the resources they need to meet their regulatory obligations as efficiently as possible. Although no list can capture all of a Member's regulatory responsibilities, there are certain requirements that may not be part of your day-to-day operations. Below is a listing of certain requirements you have for the upcoming year. Again, this list does not capture all of your responsibilities, but it should help remind you of certain non-routine requirements.
NFA Members can file many of their required documents electronically.
You can search the NFA Manual by section, Rule number and/or keywords.