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Risk Assessment Technical Approach
Section 7 - Ecological Risk Assessment
The ecological RA will be conducted for CSSA using the most current protocols and toxicity information available at the time of the assessments. Preference will be given to reference documents obtained from the TNRCC, including the Interim Guidance for Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments at Corrective Action Sites in Texas (TNRCC, 1999). Main reference documents and applicable guidance were described in Section 1.2. The technical approach to be followed during performance of the ecological RA is outlined in this section.
Development of the initial list of COPCs for the ecological RAs will be in a manner similar to that described for the human health RAs, but will be subject to further refinement based on toxicity screening against ecological benchmarks. The ecological RAs will evaluate soils, groundwater, surface water, and sediment exposure pathways.
Similar to the human health RAs, the framework for the ecological RAs will encompass four main components. The implementation sequence of these components is illustrated in Figure 7.1. The components are:
Problem Formulation. The description of potentially exposed ecosystems; identification of representative plant and animal communities; development of a CSM that identifies affected media, exposure scenarios, pathways, and ecological receptors; and selection of appropriate assessment and measurement endpoints.
Characterization of Exposure. The evaluation of the receptor exposure conditions and development of contaminant exposure values (i.e., the C-terms) for direct contact with the affected soil, and for concentrations transferred to consumer organisms through food ingestion (i.e., as determined through the use of transfer factors).
Characterization of Ecological Effects. The selection of chemical-specific screening values for potential effects (benchmarks), and the extrapolation of these values to the site receptors for use as the measurement endpoints for the assessment.
Risk Characterization. The use of ecological hazard quotients as indicators of potential risks, and the qualitative evaluation of uncertainties associated with the ecological RA process.
7.1 - Ecological Risk Assessment Overview
7.1.1 Tiered-Analysis Approach
This technical approach for the ecological RAs conforms to 30 TAC §350.77 and the TNRCC Interim Guidance (TNRCC, 1999) and describes a tiered analysis for screening sites and/or site contaminants for subsequent, more complex risk evaluations. The risk characterization results from each tier are used as the basis for scientific/management decisions for remedial actions and/or to determine the need for implementation of more detailed evaluations of ecological risk.
The initial step of the tiered ecological risk assessment process involves completion of a Tier 1 Exclusion Criteria Checklist, 30 TAC §350.77(b) (Appendix 1). If the results of completion of the checklist indicate that no unacceptable ecological risk exists due to incomplete or insignificant exposure pathways, then the ecological RA will be complete. However, if the affected property does not meet the Tier 1 exclusion criteria, the property will be evaluated, as needed, in accordance with subsection(s) (c) Tier 2: screening-level ecological risk assessment and/or (d) Tier 3: site-specific ecological risk assessment of 30 TAC §350.77. If, as indicated by the results of the Tier 1 Exclusion Criteria Checklist, unacceptable ecological risk exists, a Tier 2 screening-level ecological RA will be performed following the procedure outlined below.
7.1.2 Ecological Risk Assessment Process
The implementation sequence for main elements of the ecological RA process and their interactions are illustrated in Figure 7.2. The key elements are:
Development of a CSM that identifies significant exposure routes and representative receptors.
Identification of ecological COPCs on the basis of an analysis of site attributes (i.e., analysis of site operational history and background screening for inorganics), frequency of detection, and benchmark screening.
Estimates of vegetation exposures through COPC uptake from soils and wildlife exposure to COPCs through food ingestion on the basis of potential chemical transfer through the food chain and the behavior and mobility of the receptor organisms.
Calculation of ecological hazard quotients, which are chemical- and receptor-specific ratios between the calculated exposure concentration and an appropriate reference value intended to be indicative of safe threshold levels for receptor organisms.
The evaluation of risk will be conducted for each site by calculation of ecological hazard quotients for general receptor groups such as vegetation, and for representative species to be selected from the array of wildlife present at CSSA.
7.1.3 Existing Field Observational Studies
The use of hazard quotients for ecological risk characterization will be complemented with existing information on plant communities and wildlife as an independent line of evidence of potential ecological risk. This information will be used to compare individual sites to reference locations in terms of spatial coverage (density) and diversity of vegetation, and population abundance and diversity of species. The use of multiple lines of evidence for the ecological RA is consistent with USEPA (1997b) guidance. Available biota monitoring and field study reports for CSSA include the following:
Background Information Report (Parsons ES, 1998);
Integrated Cultural and Natural Resources Management Plan (SAIC, 1997);
Camp Stanley Storage Activity Habitat Evaluation (Engineering Science, 1992);
Annual golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo surveys.
7.2 - Problem Formulation
7.2.1 Characterization of Chemical Stressors
For the ecological RA, it is anticipated that a near-surface interval and a deeper root-zone interval will be evaluated as the ecological receptor exposure intervals in soil. Site-related COPC concentrations in affected media to which ecological receptors may be exposed will be statistically summarized for each site as described for the human health risk assessment. Similar to the human health approach, maximum site concentrations will be used to perform an initial site screening. If necessary to calculate C-terms, the exposure concentrations to which ecological receptors may be exposed will be the lesser of the 95 percent UCL or the maximum detected concentration for each COPC in a given exposure interval for a specific exposure area.
As described in Section 4.3.1 and Section 4.3.2 for the human health RA, COPCs will be further refined through an analysis of frequency of detection and background screening. Basewide and/or site-specific background data obtained from previous reports will be used to help establish which chemicals can be considered to represent site-related activities.
7.2.2 Identification of Ecosystems Potentially at Risk
Available reports have documented the predominant biotic communities present in the CSSA area. These documents and other available references will be used to help identify the various biotic communities located in and near CSSA.
7.2.3 Development of CSMs for Potential Ecological Exposure Pathways
A preliminary CSM for typical exposure of vegetation and wildlife to chemical substances in environmental media is presented in Figure 7.3. The main transfer mechanism is the uptake of chemical substances by the site vegetation and organisms, and subsequent transfer along the food chain through insects, small herbivores, and larger mammals. In turn, these organisms support multiple predators that include carnivorous mammals, birds, and snakes. The transfer pathway from insects includes an intermediate step through secondary consumers (e.g., insectivorous mammals, birds, and reptiles).
A second exposure pathway is the ingestion of groundwater from on-site wells through cattle and wildlife watering facilities supplied by CSSA. Other pathways include the direct incidental ingestion of soil, surface water, or sediment by wildlife during foraging, grooming, and/or burrowing. This type of direct exposure is accounted for in the risk calculations by incorporating soil ingestion as a component of the diet of each receptor organism. Although dermal contact and inhalation are two other possible direct mechanisms for exposure to contaminants by burrowing and/or swimming organisms, their contribution to risk is likely to be less than the contribution of other exposure routes. Currently there are no adequate data to quantify potential exposures of, or to determine potential effects on, wildlife from dermal contact or inhalation. Therefore, these exposure routes will not be quantitatively evaluated in the ecological RA, but will be addressed qualitatively in the uncertainty analysis.
The ecological RA will assume that current site conditions will be maintained for the foreseeable future. Therefore, at exposure areas where current site conditions contribute to habitat constraints that restrict the presence of ecological receptors (e.g., where structures cover the ground surface or where site components are below grade), evaluation of ecological risks may not be necessary because pathways to receptors are not complete.
7.2.4 Endpoint Selection
A broad assessment endpoint has been adopted for the ecological RA, and where appropriate, more narrowly defined assessment endpoints (and corresponding measurement endpoints) may be developed for individual areas. The broad assessment endpoint is the determination of adverse effects induced in ecological receptors at the population level by exposure to site-related chemicals in affected media. The measurement endpoints selected to evaluate the assessment endpoint are no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs). Chemical- and receptor-specific NOAELs will be used as the reference values for calculation of hazard quotients. This is a conservative approach that is protective of site organisms because adverse effect levels might require exposure to concentrations that are much more elevated than those indicated by the NOAEL. Toxicological studies frequently use test doses that are increased in a logarithmic sequence, a procedure that often results in an order-of-magnitude gap between the no-effect and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL).
For wildlife species, the ecological RA will focus on the evaluation of potential population-level effects on receptor species selected to be representative of general biotic groups (i.e., feeding guilds) present at the sites. Potential effects at the population and ecosystem levels also will be inferred if a significant risk is estimated for multiple receptors or for organisms that are key components of the food web.
7.2.5 Characterization of Exposure
Existing information for ecological habitat and biological characterizations has been used to identify potential receptors and exposure pathways for each site and for the installation in general. Existing documentation on biological communities at or adjacent to the sites will be used to identify species and their related home range sizes. Species home ranges will be used, where appropriate, to evaluate the site contamination level in reference to a species home or feeding ranges.
Any threatened or endangered species that may exist in the area will be identified and appropriate safety factors will be applied to the benchmark exposure concentrations. Two endangered bird species, the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler, potentially occur on the facility; and several invertebrates are proposed for listing which have potential to occur in the area.
For each site at CSSA, the preliminary CSM will be evaluated and revised as necessary. Only those pathways determined to be complete will be retained for the ecological RAs. Justification for retaining or excluding exposure pathways in the ecological RA will be provided in reports.
7.2.6 Identification of Ecological Receptors
The organisms potentially exposed to contaminants in any media are commonly referred to as ecological receptors. For direct exposure of vegetation to chemical substances in soils, the risk evaluation will be based on general reference values that were derived from combined toxicological data for several plant species.
For wildlife exposure through food ingestion, specific receptors will be selected for risk evaluation, taking into account the potential for exposure (e.g., food ingestion rate, mobility) and sensitivity to individual contaminants. The use of commonly occurring species from various trophic levels as ecological receptors is a screening method for potential effects on site organisms, and is intended to reduce the uncertainty in the risk analysis. When potential adverse effects are identified for a specific receptor, a potential risk is also assumed for other wildlife species having similar diet composition and mobility, and for endangered, threatened, or special-status species potentially present in the site vicinity. As noted in Section 7.2.3, current and future land use scenarios, and their resulting impacts on site ecology, are assumed to be essentially the same for purposes of the ecological RA.
Several wildlife species are commonly associated with plant communities dominant in the area. The species representative of various trophic levels known or expected to be present at the sites will be selected as potential receptors for the ecological RAs. Threatened or endangered species with potential to occur on the site will also be included in the RAs.
Aquatic biota may be exposed to site contaminants when surface soils are transferred to drainage channels leading to Salado, Leon, and Cibolo Creeks. As soils are deposited, sediment associated organisms come into contact with soil constituents. Potential effects on these organisms will be assessed on the basis of sediment quality guidelines that are protective of the overall aquatic community.
7.2.7 Direct Exposure to Soils
Vegetation, the base of the herbivore food chain, is primarily exposed to soil constituents by uptake of contaminants through the root system. Some chemical substances are largely retained in underground plant tissues while others are translocated, to a variable extent, in shoots, leaves, fruits, and seeds. For the ecological risk evaluation, the soil depths under consideration will include two depth intervals: a near-surface interval (e.g., from 0 to 0.5 foot) and a deeper, root zone interval (e.g., from 0.5 to 5 feet). These intervals follow the TRRP definitions and include the depths at which root biomass of most grasses, forbs, and small shrubs occur, as tabulated in Table 7.1 (data presented by Bell, 1992). Also, as previously discussed, the depth of the selected exposure intervals will depend on the available sampling data.
Soil microorganisms and other invertebrates are directly exposed to soil constituents. For earthworms, the exposure route is a combination of dietary intake and dermal contact. These two types of exposure are not considered independent in the ecological RA because, in practice, toxicological effect levels (benchmarks) documented in laboratory and field tests are measured in terms of soil concentrations, thus including both types of exposures. Earthworms are good candidates for risk evaluation of the contaminant transfer pathway based on detritivore organisms.
Table 7.1 - Average Maximum Root Depths of Plants
Percent of Plants Having an Average Maximum Root Depth of:
3 feet
6 feet
9 feet
12 feet
15 feet
C-terms will be calculated for each COPC in each soil exposure interval as previously described, and will be used as the exposure concentrations for plants, and for the incidental soil ingestion exposure route for wildlife organisms. This approach is conservative because it assumes that soil constituents are completely bioavailable for uptake by organisms. Site-specific soil properties, however, tend to reduce the bioavailability of contaminants. For example, in the case of metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc, their uptake by vegetation and their potential phytotoxicity have been related to multiple soil geochemical parameters, including mineralogy, pH, redox potential, and organic material content (EPA, 1983). Furthermore, exposure assessments for metals often assume that the metal is present in its most toxic form, typically the inorganic salt form evaluated in many toxicological tests. There are multiple initiatives underway to calculate actual availability of soil contaminants to vegetation and soil organisms (i.e., Alexander et al., 1995). Results of a study by Hansen and Chaney (1984), shown in Table 7.2 illustrate potential limitations in the transfer of metals and other inorganic substances from contaminated soils to plants and herbivores. These geochemical constraints on bioavailability will be noted in the uncertainty analysis of the Screening Risk Assessment/Risk Assessment (SRA/RA) reports.
7.2.8 Qualitative Assessment of Soil Contaminant Transfer to Aquatic Systems
Aquatic biota might be exposed to site COPCs by the transfer of surface soils to surface water by runoff from rainfall events. If a significant transfer pathway for chemical substances is present from site soils to aquatic organisms, this exposure pathway will be evaluated qualitatively in the ecological RA. Temporal ponding of water, that may occur in some locations, will not be considered suitable for development of a complex aquatic ecosystem; however, short-term exposures will be qualitatively evaluated on a case-by-case basis if needed.
Any qualitative estimates of contaminant concentrations in surface water and/or sediment due to overland flow will be based on a simplistic partitioning model. These estimates will be compared to state and federal surface water quality and sediment criteria to provide a qualitative evaluation of potential adverse effects to aquatic species.
Table 7.2 Transfer of Inorganics from Soils to Plants and Herbivores
Potential for Uptake by Vegetation
Potential for Toxicity to Herbivores
Mercury, fluoride, aluminum, lead, iron, and chromium (trivalent)
Not taken up by the roots, or not transported from roots to shoots.
Minimal potential: plants do not absorb the element or chelate it in the roots.
Copper, nickel, and cobalt
Minimum transfer from roots to shoots and leaves: root cell sap contains high levels of organic acids and amino acids that chelate (bind) many elements.
Low potential: element levels in plant foliage are generally safe for herbivores due to phytotoxicity limits.
Zinc, manganese, boron, and arsenic
Readily transported from roots to shoots and leaves.
Moderate potential due to phytotoxicity limits.
Cadmium, selenium, and molybdenum
Readily transported from roots to shoots and leaves.
High potential: plant residue levels often reported as causing toxicity to herbivores.
Arsenic, boron, cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc
Variable transport to fruits and seeds: many plants restrict entry of various elements and compounds into reproductive structures.
Variable, depending on plant-specific concentration in fruits and seeds, and degree of consumption by birds and mammals.
7.2.9 Exposure to Wildlife by Dietary Intake
184.108.40.206 Direct Soil Ingestion
For many wildlife species, diets may include the incidental ingestion of soil. Typically, the ingestion rate is less than 10 percent of the diet for most wildlife species. The exposure to contaminants by direct soil ingestion may be significant for herbivores feeding on underground portions of plants and for insectivores feeding on soil dwelling invertebrates (EPA, 1993b). Table 7.3 lists example soil ingestion rates for receptors that may be among those selected for evaluation in the RA.
126.96.36.199 Food Intake
For terrestrial wildlife, dietary exposure through consumption of vegetation is considered the primary exposure route for chemical substances. The transfer of chemical substances from the site vegetation to wildlife species follows three main sub-paths.
Consumption of vegetation by insects and other small arthropods such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. These organisms support insectivore organisms such as lizards and various songbirds, which in turn are consumed by predators such as snakes and birds of prey.
Consumption of vegetation by small rodents and seed-eating birds. These organisms serve as the transfer mechanism to multiple predators that include snakes, birds of prey, the coyote, and the fox.
Consumption of vegetation by large grazers such as deer. These grazers have relatively few predators within CSSA boundaries with the possible exception of the coyote. In practice, the main transfer mechanism for this sub-path is consumption by carrion eaters.
22.214.171.124 Dietary Intake Calculation
Exposure to a chemical substance by dietary intake will be determined by:
the chemical concentration in the food source;
the food ingestion rate (IR) of the consumer organism; and
the area use factor (AF), which accounts for the fraction of the diet that an organism actually obtains from the site.
The AF takes into consideration the dietary fraction derived from a site based on the organism's foraging/feeding range (i.e., the mobility factor, which is the ratio between the site surface area and the foraging/feeding range), and seasonal exposure that limits exposure to certain periods of the year. High mobility animals, such as raptors, have extensive foraging ranges and are known to obtain their diet from multiple locations, while low-mobility organisms such as invertebrates and small wildlife have a higher degree of exposure because most or all of their diet is derived from a particular site.
Table 7.3 - Example Wildlife Exposure Parameters for Ecological Risk Assessment
Based on the three above listed exposure parameters, the dietary exposure for an organism can be calculated as:
Dietary Exposure = Concentration in Diet x IR x AF
Dietary exposure is expressed as a daily dose per unit body weight (mg/kg/day);
Concentration in diet is given in mg/kg (dry weight basis);
IR is the daily ingestion rate of food and/or water consumption, expressed as a fraction of the organism's weight (kg food or water/kg body weight/day); and
AF is the area use factor, a unitless value that accounts for the organism's foraging range (hectare/hectare) and/or seasonal presence (fraction of the year).
As summarized by USEPA (1993b), Table 7.3 shows available data on foraging ranges and soil, food, and water intake rates for representative ecological receptors present. The data presented will be updated with more current and complete information as appropriate before being used in the ecological RA. Values proposed for use in the RA will be the midpoints of the reported foraging ranges and the reported ingestion rate data. Table 7.3 also summarizes the predominant diet composition of the example receptor organisms.
When the concentration of a chemical compound in various types of foods is known or estimated, its dietary concentration can be calculated based on the relative contribution of each type of food to the organism's diet. The nomenclature used for identification of the concentration of chemical substances in five major food sources, and their relative contribution to an organism's diet (as "fI" the fraction in the total food ingested) are tabulated below:
Concentration in Food Source
Relative Contribution to the Diet
Dietary Transfer Factor
Small carnivores
For a species whose diet includes multiple foods sources, the dietary concentration of a chemical substance is calculated as:
Concentration in Diet = fSCS + fVCV + fI CI + fHCH + fCCC
fS + fV + fH+ fI + fC = 1
For species with diets composed predominately of only one or two food sources, the contributions of other food sources become negligible. For predatory organisms such as raptors that rely on herbivores and small carnivores as their main food source (fS = fV = fI = 0), the dietary concentration simplifies to:
Concentration in Predator's Diet = fHCH + fCCC
7.2.10 Calculation of Tissue Concentrations from Soils Data
Because organism tissues are not routinely monitored during typical site investigative studies (e.g., RFIs) or even during initial phases of ecological RA studies, the concentrations of chemical substances in wildlife diets are often unknown. In such cases, it is necessary to estimate tissue values from concentrations measured in soils. Tissue values will be estimated from measured concentrations in soils when analytical data are not available, or are not applicable to the sites under consideration.
To evaluate potential effects on wildlife by food ingestion, the concentration in the diet can be estimated from concentrations detected in soils using unitless transfer factors (TFs). These TFs are empirical values that account for the potential accumulation of a chemical in organism tissues at each transfer step in the food chain.
Based on the use of TFs, the concentration of a chemical substance in tissues of four types of organisms can be estimated from the soil concentration (CS) as follows:
Concentration in Vegetation Tissues: CV = CS x TFV
Concentration in Invertebrate Tissues: CI = CS x TFI
Concentration in Herbivore Tissues: CH = CV x TFH
CH = CS x TFV x TFH
Concentration in Small Carnivore Tissues: CC = CI x TFC
CC = CS x TFC x TFI
For an omnivorous organism having food derived from multiple food sources, the concentration of a chemical substance in its tissues (CO) can be estimated as:
CO = fSCS + fVCV + fI CI + fHCH + fCCC
Replacing the concentration in diet as a function of soil concentration using dietary transfer factors results in:
CO = fSCS + fVTFVCS + fITFICS + fHCS (TFH x TFV) + fCCS (TFC x TFI)
And finally, rearranging the equation as a function of the soil concentration (CS), the concentration in the tissues of the omnivore organism is obtained as:
CO = CS [ fS + fVTFV + fITFI + fH(TFH x TFV) + fC(TFC x TFI) ]
Transfer factors used in exposure-rate calculations for organic compounds can be obtained from the technical literature or can be calculated using empirical equations relating potential bioaccumulation to the tendency of the substance to accumulate in lipid (fat) tissues (as measured by the octanol-water partition coefficient, Kow). For example, a literature value of 0.2 is available for the soil-to-vegetation TF for the organic compound benzo(a)pyrene, which has a log Kow of 8.1 (Bell, 1992). Table 7.4 presents example literature-derived TFs for the soil-to-vegetation (TFV) and vertebrates to predators (TFc) pathways for metals. A default value of 1.0 is used in the table when estimates of the TFs were unavailable or when the potential for bioaccumulation of a given metal is known to be low. This default value conservatively indicates that concentrations of a chemical in the plant or consumer organism tissues are similar to those found in the soil or food source, respectively.
188.8.131.52 Transfer from Soil to Vegetation Tissues
Transfer of organic substances from soil to vegetation tissues can be calculated from the Kow using the following empirical equations for roots and foliage:
log (TFV for net root uptake) = 2.0 - 0.11 log Kow
log (TFV for foliage) = 1.588 - 0.578 log Kow
Net root uptake is based on experimental data relating the uptake of multiple pesticides by barley roots to their Kow (Table 3.6 of Bell, 1992). For foliage, a geometric correlation equation is available from data on bioconcentration of 29 chemicals in cattle-feed grasses as a function of Kow (Travis and Arms, 1988).
The example TFs from soil to vegetation (TFV) presented for metals in Table 7.4 were calculated from concentration ranges in plant tissues, as summarized by Baes, et al. (1984). The TF was obtained by dividing the midpoint of the reported ranges for vegetative tissues by the average concentration of the element in natural soils. Data for non-vegetative tissues (fruits and tubers), which have lower levels of metals bioconcentration than vegetative tissues (USDOE, 1998a; USDOE, 1998b; USDOE, 1998c), were not used to calculate the presented transfer factors.
22.214.171.124 Transfer to Vertebrate Tissues
For the purposes of demonstration in this technical approach document, a single transfer factor (TFH = TFC) was used in Table 7.4 to account for accumulation of metals from plants/prey organisms (invertebrates, small vertebrates) to their consumer organisms. A default value of 1.0 was used for metals, with the exception of mercury, which is known to bioaccumulate in high trophic levels of the food chain (EPA, 1993c). For organic substances, the transfer factors TFH and TFC will be calculated as a function of the Kow using literature data (e.g., Howard, 1990) to represent the expected increase in tissue concentrations from a secondary consumer (e.g., a food chain multiplier for trophic level 3 consumers) to a higher order consumer (e.g., trophic level 4). The most current data available will be used to calculate TFs once COPCs have been determined and receptor selection has been finalized.
7.3 - Characterization of Ecological Effects
The initial screening phase of the ecological RA will involve the comparison of COPC concentrations in affected media to screening values that identify threshold levels below which adverse effects on receptor organisms are unlikely. These screening values for potential effects on site organisms are referred to as benchmarks. For evaluation of effects on organisms by direct exposure, the value for comparison to benchmark is the concentration of a chemical substance in the medium. For evaluation of exposure through food and/or water ingestion, benchmarks for specific chemical substances are dietary doses associated with various adverse levels documented under experimental conditions.
Currently, there are no universally-accepted methods for deriving benchmarks used in ecological RAs. For different locations and exposure scenarios, multiple approaches and benchmark values have been used in the evaluation of ecological risk. Commonly used benchmarks document toxicological endpoints for individual species and, less frequently, potential effects on several test species or assemblages of organisms. The following section describes the proposed benchmark derivation methods and rationale for their use in the initial screening assessment of potential ecological risk.
Table 7.4 - Example Transfer Factors for Potential Bioaccumulation of Metals in the Terrestrial Food Chain
0.26 – 4.8
0.1 – 0.55
0.01 – 0.9
1 – 2
0.2 – 0.6
aMetals bioaccumulation at typical soil concentrations (Baes et al., Table 2.6 to 2.10, Figure 2.16).
bA default value of 1.0 is assumed for metals without reported values.
cTFs for insects, deer and mink based on concentration ratios between mercury-contaminated areas and reference sites
Benchmarks for evaluation of potential effects of contaminants on terrestrial vegetation will be obtained from various sources, including the most current screening reference values used by the Environmental Sciences Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to evaluate the need for remediation at hazardous waste sites within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Energy (Will and Suter, 1995a and 1995b). These screening benchmarks identify soil concentrations with low potential for effects on vegetation based on toxicological data for multiple test organisms. In the evaluation of potential effects of COPCs in soils on terrestrial wildlife, benchmarks likely will be based on toxicological data for individual test species, such as those summarized by Sample, et al. (1996). Aquatic systems will be based on USEPA and state criteria, Suter and Tsao (1996), and Jones, et al. (1996).
Due to limitations of the toxicological database, many benchmarks are commonly obtained by extrapolation of acute-effect levels (such as the LC50, the concentration that is lethal to 50 percent of the test organisms) to a no-adverse-effect level, the measurement endpoint selected for the risk evaluation. Extrapolation is also often required between related organisms or chemical groups when toxicity information is unavailable for the target receptor or the COPC. The basis for the extrapolation methodology is described in Section 7.3.3.
7.3.1 Benchmarks for Effects on Vegetation
Benchmarks for screening of potential effects of metals on terrestrial plants were developed by Will and Suter (1995a) based on a summary of reported low-effect levels on vegetation growth and production. Will and Suter ranked reported data and used the 10th percentile of the data distribution as a screening benchmark intended to provide a 90 percent level of protection for plant communities. When phytotoxicity data were insufficient for calculation of a 10th percentile, the lowest-effect level reported was used as the benchmark value. In some cases, low-effect concentrations were obtained by extrapolation from lethal effects data (low-effect level = 20% LC50).
Benchmark values for organic substances are obtained primarily by extrapolation of acute-effects levels for a single species (an EC50) to a no-effect level. For pesticides, benchmarks usually represent the maximum application rates resulting in no-observed-effect levels (NOELs) on crops, as reported by the USEPA (1983). These values are extrapolated to soil concentrations assuming a 6-inch penetration in the soil, and negligible pesticide degradation or accumulation. When unavailable, the NOEL was obtained by extrapolation of lowest-observed-effect levels (NOEL = 10% LOEL).
7.3.2 Benchmarks for Effects on Wildlife
Benchmarks for screening of potential effects of metals on mammals and birds by dietary ingestion represent the NOAELs for dietary intake reported for a selected test species. In the selection of final benchmarks for the RA, preference will be given to toxicological data documenting effects on reproduction and development associated with chronic exposures. Most NOAELs used in risk evaluations, such as those summarized by Sample, et al. (1996), are data obtained using laboratory mice, rats, and mallard ducks as test organisms. Other toxicological data for benchmark development are available in other summary documents by USEPA (1993b), Extoxnet (1993), Hill and Camardese (1986), Hudson, et al. (1984), Sax (1986), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (1986a and 1986b) and Will and Suter (1995b). Final wildlife benchmarks will be developed from most current available information once receptor selection and COPC determination are finalized.
7.3.3 Benchmark Extrapolations
Due to limitations inherent in the ecotoxicological database, many benchmarks must be obtained by extrapolation of acute lethal effect levels to NOAELs, the measurement endpoint selected for the risk evaluation. Extrapolation is also required among related organisms or chemicals when toxicity information is unavailable for the target receptor or the specific COPC.
126.96.36.199 Endpoint Extrapolations
For chemical compounds without a reported chronic NOAEL, extrapolations may be made from subchronic tests, and from tests documenting LOAELs or acute effect levels such as the dose lethal to 50 percent of the test organisms (LD50). Extrapolation factors are as follows:
Chronic NOAEL = 10% Chronic LOAEL
= 5% Subchronic LOAEL
126.96.36.199 Site-Specific Extrapolations
Appropriate toxicity data are often unavailable for a site-specific COPC or a specific ecological receptor because such data are limited to relatively few chemical compounds tested with laboratory organisms and plant species. For the ecological RAs, NOAELs will be extrapolated, if necessary, between chemical compounds, and from test organisms to the selected ecological receptors, as described below.
Extrapolation Between Chemicals. When toxicity data for a specific COPC are not available, the value will be obtained from a surrogate compound. When available, data from a closely-related chemical will be used to generate the toxicity reference value (TRV). In cases where this information is unavailable, the compound with the lowest toxicity concentration value reported within a given chemical group will be used as a surrogate compound (i.e., the most conservative value). Surrogate compounds may be used for COPCs in the following chemical groups: VOCs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated benzenes, insecticides, and herbicides.
Extrapolation Between Different Species. Toxicity data for dietary intake by terrestrial wildlife is largely based on laboratory testing of selected organisms. Among mammals, the most frequently tested organisms are the laboratory rat and mouse. Commonly tested bird species include the mallard duck and various quail species.
Following USEPA's approach for deriving human toxicity values from animal data, experimentally derived NOAELs and LOAELs are used to estimate NOAELs for wildlife by adjusting the dose according to differences in body size. Based on a data review for mammal species by Sample, et al. (1996), this relationship can be best expressed using a scaling factor of the form:
Scaling factor = (weight of wildlife mammal species / weight of test species) 0.25
Unlike mammals, most reported scaling factors for bird species do not significantly differ from a value of 1 (Sample, et al., 1996). Accordingly, a scaling factor of 1 is considered appropriate for interspecies extrapolation among birds.
7.4 - Ecological Risk Characterization
7.4.1 Methodology
The assessment of ecological risk will be based on the calculation of ecological hazard quotients (HQs). This parameter is a semi-quantitative estimate of possible risk that is calculated as the ratio between exposure concentration for a given chemical substance and an applicable reference toxicity value, the exceedance of which identifies possible adverse effect levels on a receptor. For the RAs, it is proposed that the measurement endpoint, the NOAEL, will serve as the reference value. Because of the numerous conservative assumptions typical of ecological RAs, and several resulting uncertainties associated with HQ calculation, HQs only provide order-of-magnitude estimates of the potential for adverse effects, not exact measurements of actual effects on receptor organisms. For the ecological RAs, the characterization of potential effects of chemical substances on selected receptor organisms will be based on the following guidelines proposed by Barnthouse et al. (1986) and adopted in subsequent evaluations of ecological risk (EPA, 1989d; Watkin and Stelljes, 1993; Menzie et al., 1993):
Adverse effects are not expected for HQ values equal to, or less than, one;
A potential for environmental effects is indicated by HQ values greater than one.
Where appropriate, the HQs for COPCs with similar modes of action may be summed by receptor for each SWMU. The resulting cumulative ( HQ is referred to as an ecological hazard index (HI).
7.4.2 Analysis of Uncertainties in the Ecological Risk Assessment
Similar to the human health RA, a qualitative analysis will be made of the uncertainties associated with the quantification of ecological risk. This analysis will be based on the potential of underestimating or overestimating the risk of adverse effects in organisms using four uncertainty categories: low, moderate, high, and unknown potential.
In general, assumptions that will be used in the evaluation of receptor exposures and potential adverse effects are conservative and tend to overestimate actual risk values. Extrapolation factors and TFs for potential bioaccumulation of chemical substances will be selected to provide an elevated level of protection for sensitive ecological receptors. Specific parameters and assumptions that affect the uncertainty of the risk characterization will be noted in the uncertainty analysis. Such parameters/assumptions may include assumptions about the bioavailability of COPCs in soils, the exposure factors applied (e.g., foraging ranges and seasonality of exposure), and data limitations (e.g., depths of sample collection).
[Next Section]


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#2160 - Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - Editor: Jerry Katz
Expand Messages
- The Nondual Highlights#2160 - Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - Editor: Jerry KatzHighlights Home Page and Archive: http://nonduality.com/hlhome.htm
Letter to the Editors: Click 'Reply' on your email program, compose your message, and 'Send'. All the editors will see your letter.This issue features a book review by Jerry Katz of Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom, by Ibn 'Arabi. Interpreted by Shaydk Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti.Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom by Ibn 'Arabi
Including What the Seeker Needs and The One Alone
Interpreted by Tosun Bayrak
Fons Vitae (1997) ISBN 1887752056 paperback - Index 302 pp. $19.95Further information: http://www.fonsvitae.com/divine.htmlReviewed by Jerry Katz~ ~ ~I was glad to discover the publisher of this book, Fons Vitae. I recommend visiting their website and catalogue: http://www.fonsvitae.com/MG1.html.The following, from the website, is an introduction to this publisher:FONS VITAE (Al-Kauthar), a non-profit, charitable foundation, and refereed press, is devoted to making available works from the world's great spiritual traditions which could be of true use to a person of any faith seeking Wholeness or Holiness. Literally translated from Latin as "the fountain of life," fons vitae refers to the Knowledge which flows out to humanity from the Divine Source.
Although Fons Vitae was established in 1997, its efforts are a continuation of publishing begun in Cambridge, England in 1979 as Quinta Essentia--focused on symbolism, the arts, and universal spirituality-- and the Islamic Texts Society--whose aim is to translate important work in the Islamic tradition, especially Sufism. Our wish is to bring out books which are exquisitely produced and impeccable in scholarship, which could be used with confidence by both the university professor in classes and by the person interested in the eternal verities, with no compromise to a recent soft focus on spirituality. A person seeking the realm of the sacred must have authentic and reliable, traditional sources to find the sustenance required for his or her own path and inspiration.
Fons Vitae is a refereed publishing house, which ensures the highest academic standards for its publications. Members of its editorial advisory board include such scholars as Robert Thurman, Huston Smith, Ewert Cousins, Seyyed Hussein Nasr, Anne Feldhaus, William Chittick, and William Graham. See full list of editorial advisors with biographies. Fons Vitae is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, having 501c3 status. As such, all donations and contributions are eligible for 100% tax deductions.
Gray Henry (fonsvitaeky@...)~ ~ ~Now, to the review...I bought this book for the 20 page section entitled The One Alone, which is very nondual. I also read the 18 page Translator's Introduction, which tells about the life of Ibn 'Arabi. These two sections alone make the book an important addition to a library of nonduality books. The bulk of the volume, a book of wisdom on governing oneself, I have only so far scanned and therefore have not included any other mention of it in this review.Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi lived from 1165 to 1240. He "has become one of the most important expounders of Sufi wisdom." "Ibn 'Arabi all his life felt the pain of not being understood. Yet the breadth and depth of his wisdom, insight, vision, and knowledge was and is awesome to whomever catches a glimpse of it. Many of his expressions of divine mysteries have never been improved upon. Many important affairs, which he foretold centuries ago, have taken place and continue to take place."This introduction is brief, a distillate of the life of Ibn 'Arabi. It covers his life from birth to death, describes his physical appearance, reveals extreme controversy surrounding Ibn 'Arabi, demonstrates his wisdom, tells about a meeting with an adolescent Rumi, and more. Throughout this distillate is communicated the author/translator's love and understanding of Ibn 'Arabi, the person and his works; clearly, it must be the case, otherwise how could Ibn 'Arabi's words set forth in this book cut so cleanly?The One Alone is a work of pure nonduality. To demonstrate that, here are a few quotations, a few fragments which do not do justice to this entire work:"Therefore, if you know yourself without being, not trying to become nothing, you will know your Lord. If you think that to know Allah depends on your ridding yourself of yourself, then you are guilty of attributing partners to Him -- the only unforgivable sin -- because you are claiming that there is another existence besides Him, the All-Existent: that there is a you and a He.""You presume others to be other than Allah. There is nothing other than He, but you do not know this. While you are looking at Him you do not recognize Him. When the secret opens to you, you will know that you are none other than He.""...do not think that you need to become nothing, that you need to annihilate yourself in Him. If you thought so, then you would be His veil, while a veil over Allah is other than He. How could you be a veil that hides Him? What hides Him is His being the One Alone.""When the secret of a single atom out of all the atoms from which the elements are made becomes known, the secrets of the whole universe visible and invisible will be revealed. Then you will not see anything but Allah either in this world and in the Hereafter.""Thus when you know yourself, your self and selfishness will leave you, and you will know that there is nothing in existence but Allah.""...the meaning of 'The eyes cannot see Him...' is that there is no existence other than His. The Truth can only be conceived of by Itself, which has no other identity except the Truth: Allah sees Himself by Himself and by none other than Himself. His Essence sees His Essence."I am not aware of The One Alone being available on the internet. If it is, it could easily be incomplete, inaccurate, or intentionally modified. There is an excerpt on my website at http://www.nonduality.com/ibn.htm, but I haven't checked it for accuracy, and it is only a very brief portion of the entire work. The One Alone may be the most nondual writing in Sufi literature. It may also be called nondual Islam. Look how (and how could it be surprising?) close it is to nondual Judaism:Islam (via Ibn 'Arabi): "If you think that to know Allah depends on your ridding yourself of yourself, then you are guilty of attributing partners to Him -- the only unforgivable sin -- because you are claiming that there is another existence besides Him, the All-Existent: that there is a you and a He."Judaism (via Kabbalah): "If you suppose that Ein Sof emanantes until a certain point, and that from that point on is outside of it, you have dualized. God forbid! realize, rather, that Ein Sof exists in each existent. Do not say, 'This is a stone and not God.' God forbid! Rather, all existence is God, and the stone is a thing pervaded by divinity."Islam and Judaism is the vast ocean of nonduality. In the name of understanding and peace, The One Alone, along with The Essential Kabbalah, by Daniel C. Matt, should sit together on a book shelf.--Jerry KatzDivine Governance of the Human Kingdom by Ibn 'Arabi
Including What the Seeker Needs and The One Alone
Interpreted by Tosun Bayrak
Fons Vitae (1997) ISBN 1887752056 paperback - Index 302 pp. $19.95Further information: http://www.fonsvitae.com/divine.html
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Smelly hallways and rooms, 3 cancelled ports of the original 8 ports: Sea Princess Cruise Review by flipsyde98
Overall Member Rating
Smelly hallways and rooms, 3 cancelled ports of the original 8 ports
Destination: South Pacific
Embarkation: Sydney (Australia)
The staterooms are small like many other cruise ships. However, these are even smaller than the staterooms of some other cruise lines. In addition, the first room that I had on the Sea Princess, A527, was old and outdated. The drawers were broken and did not slide out easily. The temperature settings for the water in the shower did not work well at all. Sometimes after leaving the shower on for a while, the water will get VERY hot, and even setting the water at the lowest temperature will not make any difference. As with any old ship (or building), the walls are very thin. You can hear people in the rooms around you coughing, and can hear conversations in the hallway very clearly. In the morning, expect to wake up to the sounds of housekeeping cleaning the rooms near you.
In our room specifically, A527, there was a spot on the floor that would bend and pop in and out of place. It's as if it was a metal plate that had a bend in it. It couldn't be More triggered by just walking around the room, but when the ship was in motion, it would have a loud "pop" when it would go out of place, and then another loud "pop" when it popped back into place. It would be as loud as someone banging on a door or a wall. If it were just the sound, it may not have been as bad, but when it did this, since the foot of the bed was near this spot, it would shake the bed too. During the first half of the cruise, it would only do this every few minutes or so when the ship was in motion, so it somewhat could be ignored (although it still led to nights without good sleep). However, near the end of the cruise, this area would pop in and out of place every few seconds, about 5 to 8 times a minute. This caused us not to get any sleep at all, and we finally got the front desk to switch us to another stateroom. Keep in mind that this cruise was completely sold out, so we were only able to switch to another stateroom because one cleared out after one of the passengers disembarked the ship early. The cruise staff said they would try to fix the issue, but being that this cannot be observed unless the ship were in motion, eventually the customer relations manager took charge and moved us into an upgraded oceanview room E338. This room seemed to not have the issues of the other room. The other room was an inside room, and this was our first time staying in an inside room whereas in other cruises we had always stayed in an oceanview room. However, normally the only difference between the 2 was that one can see the ocean. Still, after staying in the oceanview room during the last few days of our cruise, it is apparent that there are major differences:
• Slightly larger stateroom, but still smaller than some of the staterooms of other cruise ships.
• The deadbolt lock actually locks.
• None of the cabinets are broken, so they all roll out smoothly.
• The hinges of the bathroom door is more stiff. This prevents the door from swinging open and close while the ship is moving. This was an issue with the original room.
Finally, the hallways and staterooms (actually, just about everywhere on the ship) smell bad on the Sea Princess. I know that many cruise ships have issues with people's flatulence or whatever, but this one is especially bad. It smells like urine/feces walking through many of the hallways, and that smell eventually gets into the staterooms as well.
Entertainment: 2/5
The shows are all made for the senior crowd on the ship, which makes up over 95% of the passengers. Almost all the music is from the 1960's or older. This is fine, but at least have more variety that caters to people of other age groups as well. I would have appreciated music from the 80's at least. I'm in my 30s, so I'm not exactly a kid (relatively speaking), but entertainment options on other cruises that I've been on had much more variety than the ones on the Sea Princess.
Aside from the shows, the rest of the onboard "entertainment" is pretty much a joke. Princess Cruises tries to turn almost anything into a way to sell things to the passengers, whether it be items from their boutique shops, seminars for their spa, fitness classes, teeth whitening, etc. Their "late night parties" are always empty since as mentioned earlier, almost all the senior passengers go to sleep as soon as the last show ends, and the few that remain aren't enough to get more people to stay.
Food: 3.5/5
The food on the Sea Princess ranges from decent to good quality. The buffet food can be hit and miss, but the problem with the buffet food is that it's almost the same thing every day. While this is fine for a short cruise (< 5 days), this cruise was for 13 days. 13 days is a long time to see pretty much the same stuff every day. The breakfast looks almost identical each day. Lunch and dinner have almost the same items with very few changes.
The restaurants, most of the time, have better food. There's a good variety every day, and the quality is good. One thing I noticed however, is that while many other cruise lines have top quality food on their formal nights, this doesn't seem to be the case with the food on this cruise. The formal night food was about the same as every other night.
Service: 3/5
The service in all cruise ships is generally very good. The main server that we had at the restaurant was excellent. However, for the nights that they had the flexible dining times and we would get different servers, the service was just average for the most part.
One annoying thing about the way Princess handles their buffet dining room was that they would always try to close off about half of their dining room, especially during breakfast and lunch. Even when it got busy, this would still be the case. This would lead to not enough tables for people to sit. I know that they don't want to have their staff run everywhere trying to clean up after people in the entire dining room, but there were many times when there simply were not enough tables available, and people would walk around for a long time looking for an available table. We even had our table taken over by another passenger once, even after we had just put our plates down on the table and had just left to grab a drink.
Housekeeping for the most part kept things clean. Some things would be missed, especially on the days where our normal housekeeping person was ill and another person had to take over.
Ports/Sailing: 1.5/5
For a 13 day cruise, we ended up having 7 days at sea and only 6 port days, when originally it was only supposed to be 5 days at sea. Overall, 3 of the 8 original ports were cancelled. Now, I do understand situations of weather preventing access to some ports. This was a cruise to New Zealand in October, so yes, there are some windy conditions. The first two sailing days were very rough with many people getting seasick. However, those are just the conditions of the sea, and that's not what I'm using when I give this rating.
The first port delay was Tauranga. It was reported that there were windy conditions, and this prevented the ship from getting into the port. The ship had to wait and recheck every 4 to 7 hours. This of course took up the entire day, and the ship did not get there until night time. Still, Princess Cruises was intent on having this be one of the stops, and therefore, everything else became delayed a day. The problem is that this resulted in the cruise cancelling the last TWO ports in the Southern tip of New Zealand, and replacing them with a much less interesting port in the MIDDLE of New Zealand. One would think that they would just cancel one other port and continue traveling the original route. Therefore, this was no longer a cruise that went AROUND New Zealand. It would only be one that visited a few different ports in the North Island, and a couple less interesting ports in the South Island, and then go back through the middle.
So schedules change. The part that is the most irritating about this was that Princess Cruises would use the weather as something that they could blame for everything, and that it was always for "the safety and security of our passengers". The exact wording used in the memo when they cancelled the last two ports read as the following: "The forecast weather for later in the cruise from Port Chalmers to Fiordland is expected to intensify around the south end of New Zealand. As the safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority, and to avoid the worst of the weather, we have made the necessary decision to cancel our calls to Port Chalmers and Fiordland National Park." This satisfied many of the passengers on the ship, since after all, "There's nothing we can do about the weather." However, I did check the weather for those locations as the cruise continued. According to the weather forecast as those days approached, the actual weather was excellent, even better than the weather in the other ports. It seems Princess Cruises just used weather as an excuse to skip the Southern ports of New Zealand when they really needed to stop at Tauranga an extra day to resupply. It just feels like Princess Cruises is very dishonest in what they tell their passengers.
Also, there were many delays getting people to shore at the ports. Some delays were due to weather, but even when weather was not an issue, the cruise ship would have issues with the tenders and even the required local shuttle buses, even after the cruise staff promises that "there will be no tenders and the buses will be a smooth operation". Well, tender tickets were still used for the buses, and there was always still a large delay regardless. Overall, Princess Cruises is very disorganized, and cannot handle any situation that changes their plans, including the disembarkation of the ship.
Overall: 2/5
I guess we would fit in more with the rest of the crowd if we were retired and didn't mind spending so much time stuck on a ship. However, due to the quality of the staterooms and the loss of time at the actual ports in the schedule, I cannot recommend the Sea Princess. The overall feel is just that Princess Cruises just does things to get as much money from their passengers, and don't care to deliver as promised. When passengers pay so much to see certain locations listed in the agenda, at least make it look like you are really trying to get them there. Of the different cruises that I have taken, this one was the worst. I can't say that this was a good way to spend our honeymoon, and that I'm glad the cruise was not the only part (although a large part) to our honeymoon. Less
Published 11/03/13
Cabin review:
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text:
Welcome to Canada Immigration Services
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We have compiled a list of the most important Immigration Services in Canada.
Here are some simple pointers to help you navigate the treacherous waters of immigration.
- If you want to work in Canada while you are waiting for permanent residency, be sure to apply while inside the country if you can. If you move to Canada after applying from your home country, it will be impossible to get a work permit from inside the country without support from a company inside Canada.
- If your spouse is Canadian, immigration laws are so much easier, as this offers you a true benefit of a Canadian citizen sponsoring you. There will be a page coming to help you and your spouse enter Canada legally and without the hassle of being restricted by work permit visas.
- The typical wait times for immigration applications are around two years. You should be prepared to not be able to work for at least 18 months if you are ineligible for a work permit visa in Canada.
- Be honest in your criminal background check. If you have been convicted of a crime in your country it does not necessarily mean an automatic refusal of entry into Canada, but lying on your residency application does constitute a federal offense, and will automatically result in your deportation from Canada.
- Never engage in work in Canada if you are not authorized to do so. If you are found to be working illegally in Canada, it will automatically result in your immediate deportation and refusal to enter the country for up to five years.
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More tips to come in the following weeks and months. I hope you found these first batch of tips helpful. I will consider it a success if you decide to move to Canada and enjoy the wonderful life here.
Don't forget to contact the best local Canadian Immigration Services located throughout our website.


text:
Post: Lost Cockatiel
Posted by Willow on 7/31/11
Wellsville, NY
Willow is a 2 year old Pearly Pied Tiel. He loves toes and
hair and will be attracted to both. He has very bright
orange cheeks, and is a very yellow tiel. He is full
flighted and got caught in a gust of wind when he escaped
out the door above my head. This happened, on Friday July
29, 2011, at Hillside Homes, or University Hill, across
from Alfred State College Wellsville campus.
He is not leg banned.
He can wolf whistle, say hello, and whistle bridge over
river kwai .
Please call 585-593-1994
Posts on this thread, including this one
Lost Cockatiel, 7/31/11, by Willow.


text:
> I've discovered that 192.168.0./24 192.168.1/24 192.168.50/24
> 192.168.100/24 and 192.168.200/24 appear to be frequently
> used. Any body know of any others that are used by default
> by any common SOHO firewall products?
Probably worth adding that Belkin ADSL routers seem to operate in the
192.168.2.x range.
I've seen plenty of educational establishments running in the 172.16-31
C.M. Bagnall, Partner, Minotaur
Tel: (07010) 710715 Mobile: (07811) 332969 ICQ: 13350579
AIM: MinotaurUK MSN: msn at minotaur dot cc Y!: Minotaur_Chris
This email is made from 100% recycled electrons


text:
I Self Divine – LA State of Mind [Free Download]
Rhymesayers announced today that I Self Divine will be releasing his second studio album "The Sounds of Low Class America" on May 8th 2012, and to support the album, I Self Divine will be releasing four mixtapes (one each month) for free download. Today the first mixtape "LA State of Mind" has become available for fans to download (link above) and the ten track mixtape is the first of "The Culture Series" as we lead up to the album release. Hip-Hop Kings will be promoting the Culture Series and of course the album itself, so you can check the download link above and the official artwork for I Self Divine – LA State of Mind here.
Category: Free Downloads
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Evan Gottfried presents Music for Kids of All Ages - Long Island Children's Museum
Hours: 11am and 2pm
Ages: All
Price: $4 with $11 museum admission; $10 theater only
11 Davis Ave. - 516-224-5800
Garden City, NY 11530
Description: Get ready to take a creative musical journey with Evan as recounts his adventures with slugs, alien wildlife (zoopers and cralingers), and his trip to a land where everything is upside-down. Evan�s songs inhabit both a unique universe of imagination and the beautiful world that we all share every day. He inspires the creative and silly, so come learn cool things and have fun.


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Barbecue Themed Couples Baby Shower
From Giftypedia
Having a co-ed baby shower is a fun alternative to the traditional baby shower where the parents-to-be can share the celebration with all of their family and friends. Planning a baby shower with a BBQ theme is a fun way to encourage the guys to come. Having a Baby Shower as a cookout makes for a more casual atmosphere where the guys can be comfortable and also makes for a family-friendly baby shower theme. If you are the hostess of a co-ed shower it is suggested to get a male helper to co-host. Not only will he help balance activity planning, he will also help encourage the other guys to attend -- which sometimes can be one of the challenges in throwing a couples shower. Below are some tips and ideas to help with your planning...
Tips and Ideas for Planning a Barbecue Themed Co-ed Baby Shower
An outdoor baby shower is a laid-back celebration that can include all of your family and friends. Choosing a location for this type of shower is simple -- a Baby-Q Couples Shower is perfect right in the backyard. If you cannot accommodate a lot of people in your home or backyard, find a public park where there will be plenty of space. Be sure to check with the park office about reserving picnic spaces. You may have to rent the picnic space for large groups.
Guest List and Invitations
When planning a couples shower be sure to involve both expectant-parents in the planning process, especially when it comes to the date of the celebration. Be sure to agree on a date that's good for both of them to avoid conflicts with a sporting event or girls night out. Once the date has been decided it is time to create the guest list with both parents. Ask them to make of list of people they would like to invite and make sure that there are plenty of the dad-to-be friends on the list.
When picking an invitation, avoid too many pastel colors and opt for a more man-friendly invitation; ideally one that has a cookout theme. You may also want to consider tweaking your invitation wording to replace the word "shower" with "celebration". If you do choose to use the word "shower" make sure that it is clearly stated that it's a guy-friendly baby shower.
Holy Smokes! Barbeque Themed Baby Shower Invitation
Buy some bubblegum cigars in either pink or blue if the expectant parents know the gender, if not use both colors. Then attach the bubblegum cigars to an invitation with the wording:
|Holy Smokes!
(insert mother's name) and (insert father's name) are having a bundle of joy!
You are invited to a barbeque celebration in their honor. We'll be Grillin' and Chillin' so come join us for a roast of a good time!
Please RSVP to Dawn by May 29th
When sending the invitations you could also include a recipe card and request for the guests to write down their favorite barbeque recipe for the dad-to-be so he will have a variety of grilling recipes, because he might be in charge of cooking for awhile.
When planning a male-friendly baby shower picking the menu is the important part since the main event is defiantly the food. Cute finger foods and foo-foo appetizers are not going to cut it at this baby shower. When picking the menu you can either choose to have gourmet barbecue dishes or serve classic barbecue favorites like hamburgers and hotdogs. Most people enjoy a backyard barbecue, and this type of menu typically requires less planning than a traditional baby shower menu, and offers the guys an opportunity to brag about their grilling skills.
Serve the food buffet style and make sure there is plenty of seating places for all your guests. Consider serving a "baby-menu" and make mini versions of burgers, hot dogs, and serve salads and sides in small serving cups. Offer a variety of drinks like beer, mocktails, and lemonade. Put out a wheelbarrow or metal beverage tubs full of ice for bevarges and beer, tie a bottle opener to the handle for an easy self-service drink station.
Decorations for this type of shower should be kept simple, try to down-play or avoid pastel or frilly traditional baby shower decorations. Keep it fun, festive and gender neutral.
Games and Activities
When deciding on if you should plan games or activities for the shower it is best to talk it over with the male co-host and the parents-to-be on their preferences. If you decide to have activities make sure to plan games that both men and women will feel comfortable playing and will have a good time.
Many people decide not to have games at a coed baby showers, instead guests will talk and mingle and share parenting advice which makes for a fun, intimate party with friends and family. However, almost always, when the guys actually play the baby shower games, they really get into them. They love competition! So, games or no games, everyone will have a great time.
If you are not planning to have scheduled activities here are a few suggestions:
- Set up a game area with activities such as Cornhole, Ladder Golf, Frisbee, Badminton or Bocce. This will give the guests something to do between mingling with other guests.
- Have the items ready for a pick-up game of softball, kickball, or flag football.
- Set up an area for the guests to put their creative skills to work and make the parents-to-be some cute gifts. Have a table with supplies to make the expectant dad a barbecue/grilling cookbook. Have recipe cards so that they guests can write their favorite recipe along with a piece of advice for a new dad.
- Have a craft area where guests can create the dad-to-be grill aprons and bibs for the baby. They can hand paint plain aprons with fun sayings like, "A Man and his Grill", "Super Dad" "I Cook for Survival", "Big Daddy on the Grill", etc. The guests can paint bibs with sayings like, "BBQ Apprentice", "Grill It Daddy-O", "Born to Grill", "Future Grill Master", etc.
Some of the guys will enjoy playing games especially if it involves being competitive, here are a few suggestions:
- Have a Diaper Raffle. For any guest who brings a bag of drapers, they will receive a ticket and win a prize. (Be sure to include activity information in the invitation.)
- Have a Diaper Poker Tournament. Each guest will bring a pack a diapers as the buy in, each pack will be for a specific amount of chips (i.e. $250 chips). Create a nice prize for the winner of the tournament, for example a Grilling gift basket with grilling utensils and gourmet sauces. It's a win-win for guests and the parents-to-be, a guest will get a nice prize and the new parents will have a hearty supply of drapers.
Opening Gifts
Opening of the gifts is another area where the parents-to-be will need to be consulted, most women enjoy watching gifts be opened but this may bore the guys.
If they prefer to open the gifts together make sure to have the mom and dad-to-be sit together, so that they are both involved with the opening. The expectant-mom could open all the gifts from the female guests and the dad-to-be could open the gifts from the male guests, or they can take turns opening the gifts.
If the guys get bored, put them to work. For toys or gifts that need assembly, you can ask the male guest to work on them while the other gifts are being opened. On the other hand if the guys do not want to be involved, have an area where they can retreat and watch a movie or sports, or this may be a great time for the guys to have the Diaper Poker Tournament.
Guys love food so having edible baby shower favors may be the best option. Package foods that are sure to please all the guests like chocolate-covered pretzels, cookies, candy bars, or add a few guy-favorites like beef jerky or nuts. Other options for guy-friendly favors are cigars with personalized matchbook, sports cards, mini-flashlights, pocket knives, or movie rental gift card.
Another great favor option that will go along with the Backyard Barbeque Baby Shower Theme are KC Masterpiece® brand Barbecue sauce favors. All you need are bottles of KC Masterpiece® Barbecue sauce and favor cards with the wording: Thanks for coming and creating a masterpiece of a Baby Celebration. Hope you had a smoking good time. Happy Grilling! from (insert mother's name) and (insert father's name).
Related Articles
- Jack and Jill Bridal / Baby Showers
- Tips for Planning a Jack and Jill Baby Shower
- Baby Shower Games
- Grandparents Baby Shower
- Tips for Planning an Adoption Shower
- Tips for Buying Eco-Friendly Baby Gifts
- When Gifts Should be Opened


text:
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I went for a business trip staff was amazing restaurants were delicious very impressed with breakfast buffett
The hotel staff was very accommodating for our grou.
overall great experience not that we were in our room much but it was great getting to the bed when we needed it. we were there for a rock concert.
Modern decor, ambiance and great staff. Room was excellent and bed comfortable
I have stayed in this location twice and my experience has always been excellent!
We enjoyed being next to the mall and many choices for dining. We would stay at this hotel again.
Exactly what we wanted. Everyone was super nice. Great hotel.
Everything about our experience with this hotel was awesome. This was the best weekend I have had. Every Staff member we came in contact with were very courteous and extremely helpful. Breakfast was a buffet type with made to order omelets.
I would recommend it if you know what to expect. Club lounge food was horrible and not cleaned often enough. Bar was only open in the evening around 4 or 5 pm. Not that I'm a big drinker but I was on vacation and maybe wanted something in the afternoon. Was out of my brand of drink after the first ...
There's a reason the top 3 star hotels in Columbus, Ohio are so incredibly popular: They combine comforting amenities and just-for-you service with some of the best rates and discounts the area has to offer. When you book a stay at a three star hotel in Columbus, you'll get access to perfect little perks like on-site restaurants and cocktail bars, well-appointed fitness centers, and spacious rooms.
Search for a cheap deal on a 3 star upscale hotel in Columbus for the most elegant experience, or grab a low rate on one of the cheap 3 star hotels in Columbus near the local attractions, if you want something a touch more unassuming. Whatever your traveling style, make sure to use the search tools at Expedia to track down prices, read more about amenities, and score a few local discounts.
From business trips to family getaways, the Columbus 3 star hotels offer a fantastic home base for any type of vacation.


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Paraguay Geography
Paraguay is landlocked and crisscrossed by many rivers. The three largest - the Paraguay, Parana and Pilcomayo - form over 75% of the country's borders.
Two major regions divide the country; the Paranena, east of the Paraquay River, is a fertile, cultivated landscape, with rolling hills, low mountains and subtropical forests.
To the west of the Paraguay River, the hot scrub lands and low plains of the Chaco cover about 60% of Paraguay's total land area.
Paraguay Photographs
Chaco plains cleared for cattle grazing Peer V at en.wikipedia
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Countries Of South America
This page was last modified on April 7, 2017.


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Mallorca is a spanish gem in the azure waters of the mediterranean sea. As one of the largest islands in the mediterranean it perfectly describes the mediterranean way of life. An eclectic yet peaceful combination of cosmopolitan ports, mountain top tapas restaurants, olive groves and sandy which shores.
The west of the island has the largest resort of Palma which has a brilliant nightlife and lots for those to do who are young at heart and who love the faster paced holiday. The east of the island is populated with picturesque towns such as Pollensa, filled with 100s of stunning villas, olive groves and secluded beaches hidden in amongst the coves and bays.
A Villa Holiday in Majorca can cater for everyone, from those wishing to be in amongst the cosmopolitan crowds of palma to those who want privacy and seclusion in Formentor.
The frantic younger south of the island with Palma & Magaluf is offset perfectly by the secluded and serene north and east sides of the island. Alcudia and Puerto (Port) Alcudia mixes the historic old town center of the old town with the Blue Flag beaches of the coast. The Neighbouring S'Albufera Nature Reserve offers a perfect day trip to relax in amongst the sand dunes & lagoons. Cala d'Or once was a tiny fishing town, now it is the luxury destination for the jet set elite visiting the island. Secluded coves and a golfers paradise make this the perfect destination for those wanting all of the luxuries.
Cala San Vicente is what Cala d'Or used to be 20 years ago. Littered with a few villas and restaurants it offers those who visit 3 perfect beaches within walking distance. Port De Soller offers you the romantic side of Mallorca with Villas nestled in amongst the wooded mountains overlooking the sea. Valldemossa is a beautiful historic town nestled in amongst the wooded mountains of Mallorca, stay here to have the perfect getaway and relaxation break. Puerto Pollensa and Pollensa are the crown jewels of Mallorca. A resort catering for everyone from couples, to families to the jet set. There are villas scattered in the hills and in the town in and around Pollensa. Or you can head for the beach front apartments on the Pinewalk in Puerto Pollensa; either way you will have a holiday you will never forget if you visit Puerto Pollensa.
Find your perfect Villa in Mallorca with Private Pools, Terraces, Gardens, Hot Tubs, Plunge Pools, Air Conditioning, Wifi, Broadband and much more.
Find your perfect Mallorcan Villa Holiday with Travelopo, Travelopo will have the luxury villa in Mallorca for you.
Why Choose Travelopo For Your Villa Holiday in Mallorca?
Travelopo has the largest selection of villas in Mallorca of any villa agency in Europe. Offering everything from 20 bedroom villas in the hills of Mallorca to 1 bedroom ultra modern apartments on Pinewalk in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca.. With a dedicated team of advisors in both the UK and Mallorca, we are perfectly positioned to help you find your dream Mallorcan villa holiday.
Book your Villa Holiday in Majorca with Travelopo
To make an enquiry simply click on the Enquire Now button on any property and fill out the enquiry form. One of our dedicated specialists will then be in touch within 24 hours. If the property is "instant book" you can book online now.


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QUESTION: We have found mice nests under the hood of our car. Can you suggest a solution apart from shaving cream on cotton balls? We would sure like to give this a try. Thanks in advance for any help you can give us. Joan (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: To prevent future infestations, seal off any openings with silicone or foam insulation because mice are able to squeeze through the tiniest openings. Some people put a few mothballs under the air cleaner cover in the engine of their car. However, be advised mothballs contain poisons and can make people sick. Mice are also repelled by the smell of mint, so hanging a mint air freshener in your vehicle may be effective. Or make your own peppermint air freshener by sprinkling peppermint essential oil onto a piece of cardboard and placing it inside your vehicle. Or shave Irish Spring bar soap and sprinkle it in your car as mice don't like that smell either.
QUESTION: I use the recipe on the back of the Chipits bag to make chocolate chip cookies. The chocolate chip cookies that I bake always come out of the oven hard and not chewy like I would like. What am I doing wrong? Steph (Grunthal)
ANSWER: The instructions on the back of the bag recommend baking cookies at 375 degrees. Turn your oven to 350 degrees and bake the cookies just until the outside edge is slightly brown. The cookies will feel soft but will set when they cool.
QUESTION: My boyfriend chews with his mouth open. It doesn't matter where we are, even at fancy restaurants. It makes me sick and I feel like gagging but I don't want to say anything to him since he isn't a little kid. Should I dump him? Carlota (Richer)
ANSWER: Whoa! If you are deciding between dumping the guy and politely asking him to close his mouth while he chews, I would choose the latter. If it bothers you now, imagine how much it will bother you in 10 years. This may be easily fixable with a few loving words.
QUESTION: I once read in the newspaper a remedy of something to put on concrete walks and steps to keep them free of ice. I would like to find out what this was as we have a big problem with ice on our front step. Thank you for your assistance. Elaine (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: When rock salt is not an option, some people pour plain Dawn dish soap onto their steps or sidewalk. The theory behind this is because of the high alcohol content, the dish soap will not freeze. I have heard both positive and negative reviews on this technique. Another option is to sprinkle non-clumping cat litter onto slippery steps to offer traction as you walk.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my videos/blog/website: reena.ca!