text:
Thanks in part to advancing technologies in the laboratory and the field, new findings are accumulating quickly. But a shadow hangs over the subject. Many migratory species, from songbirds to sharks, are in sharp decline. Some, such as right whales and sea turtles, are seriously endangered. The main causes are habitat destruction and the accompanying human-made obstacles that impede migrations, such as roads, dams, developments, fences, fishing gear and tall structures. The newest threat, and potentially the worst, is climate change, which already seems to be disrupting the migratory cycle of some species. As Princeton University ecologist David Wilcove writes in a recent book, No Way Home: The Decline of the World's Great Animal Migrations, "The irony is that just as the phenomenon of migration is slipping away, we are entering a golden age for studying it."
Martin Wikelski, director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany and an associate professor of ecology at Princeton, calls the flood of new information about migration "mind-boggling," but adds, "Aristotle speculated that migratory birds spent the winters in swamps, stuck in the mud. For many animals, we're still about as dumb as Aristotle. We just don't know."
Wikelski is doing his bit to fix that. The pioneering scientist has collected the first data on individual migrating insects, for example. He and his team glued tiny radio tags onto 14 green darner dragonflies and followed them by car and airplane until the transmitters died. The insects surprised Wikelski by acting a lot like birds—or rather, birds act like the bugs, since insects are more than 100 million years older. Like birds, the dragonflies stopped to rest and refuel, took advantage of tail winds, and hunkered down when bad weather made travel inadvisable. "It's stunning," says Wikelski. "It looks as if the general rules of migration could be similar between these different classes of animals on the wing." It also looks as if the migratory urge is far more ancient than previously suspected.
Many creatures wander, but only some are true migrants. Most biologists define migration as repeated seasonal movement between breeding and nonbreeding grounds by the same individuals. The exceptions are certain insects, which complete the cycle in generational relays. Monarch butterflies, for instance, leave Mexico in the spring and stop in the southeastern United States, where they lay eggs and die. Their descendants undertake the next stage of the migration. By mid-summer the third or fourth generation has completed the trip to the northeastern United States and southern Canada, where they lay the eggs that will become the most amazing generation of all—the one that flies 3,000 miles in autumn to the same mountain forests in Mexico.
Until a few decades ago biologists did not know how monarchs and other migratory species find their way. A series of experiments in the mid-1970s—in which reversing magnetic fields around songbirds triggered them to fly the wrong direction—revealed that the birds use Earth's magnetic field to navigate. It is now known that some 50 species—including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects as well as birds—follow magnetic pathways, although scientists are still debating just how the animals detect magnetism.
Other navigational aids include circadian clocks, internal sun and star compasses, smells and geographical features such as mountain ranges and coastlines. Most migrants seem to rely on a combination of these, depending on conditions. It turns out that monarchs, for example, navigate partly via an internal sun compass, but since the sun appears to move across the sky throughout the day, they must constantly correct their course. Steven Reppert, a professor of neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, recently discovered how: The monarch's sun compass communicates molecularly with its circadian clock. "There must be a genetic program that gets turned on in the migrating generation," says Reppert.
Thanks to tracking devices, we now know the astounding distances that some migrants travel. Humpback whales shuttle more than 5,000 miles between breeding grounds off Central America and feeding grounds off Antarctica, the longest known migration by any mammal. An endangered leatherback turtle swam 12,740 miles across the Pacific, the current record for sea vertebrates. For sheer distance, nothing beats birds. Sooty shearwaters astonished scientists by flying more than 40,000 miles in a loop from New Zealand to Chile, Japan, Alaska and California before a trans-Pacific trip back to New Zealand. The birds averaged more than 200 miles per day for 200 days. That pales compared to the bar-tailed godwit that flew 6,340 miles nonstop between New Zealand and North Korea, where it rested briefly before continuing to its breeding grounds in Alaska. At the other end of the scale, salamanders often scurry just a few hundred yards between their winter burrows and their breeding ponds.
Wikelski expects advances in satellite tracking technology to further transform research on migration. To that end, he recently helped start the ICARUS Initiative, whose twin goals are to launch a satellite devoted to migratory animals and to develop tiny, powerful transmitters that will allow researchers to follow creatures as small as insects across broad stretches of time and space. Until scientists can track individuals throughout their travels via satellite, many aspects of migration will stay hidden.
That frustrates Peter Marra, a research scientist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. His strongest wish is to follow individual birds through the entire migratory cycle, including stopovers, to see how each phase influences the others. Meanwhile Marra gleans information indirectly from stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes. Because different habitats provide different diets—which leave distinctive isotopic "signatures" in feathers and tissue—he can use those signatures to detect how birds spend their summers and winters.
For 20 years Marra has been comparing two populations of American redstarts that winter in Jamaica, one in a lush mangrove forest, the other in dry scrub. The birds living the lush life eat well all winter, storing up reserves that enable them to migrate earlier in spring, giving them dibs on the best territories in North American breeding grounds. By contrast, the scrub birds eat less well and need more time to bulk up, which delays their departure and forces them into unclaimed territories typically containing poorer habitat. Because mangrove birds get a head start on breeding, they and their offspring may leave earlier in the fall and reclaim the best winter habitat in Jamaica—a pattern of haves and have-nots that may repeat itself, and affect breeding success, health and survival, through generations.
"Most researchers are focusing on just one period of the annual cycle—the breeding season," says Marra. "But we're seeing that the nonbreeding season drives a lot of what happens during rest of the cycle." Its middle stages—the actual travel—remain terra incognita to scientists, whether for redstarts, leatherbacks, leafhoppers or sharks. The sheer number of habitats used by different animals in different locales at different points in their migrations presents a formidable challenge to conserving those ecosystems.
Yet conservation is badly needed. The habitats of migratory species nearly everywhere are under pressure from deforestation, farming, overfishing and expanding human populations. Human-made obstacles also hinder travel. Dams block salmon, ships hit whales, skyscrapers kill birds, and fences block animals such as deer, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Across the United States, the web of roads connecting city to suburb to exurb grows ever more dense, as does traffic, multiplying the hazardous barriers facing migratory animals.
John Bissonette, an ecologist for the U. S. Geological Survey and a professor at Utah State University, studies such obstacles and ways to mitigate them. "We're not about to see a reduction in cars or speed," he says, "so instead we deal with animal behavior." In southern Utah, for example, traffic on two interstates was killing large numbers of migrating mule deer. In a pilot project funded by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Bissonette and student Silvia Rosa looked at the impact of installing underpasses and innovative right-of-way escape ramps along 25 miles of highway. Deer-vehicle collisions dropped by 95 percent. "We've essentially restored the migratory routes that come from the mountains in the east and cross the interstate to the west," he says.
Most western migratory routes have already disappeared. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, for example, one pronghorn population has lost all but a single pathway between its summer and winter habitats. For more than 6,000 years, the animals have been making this seasonal journey between what is now Wyoming's Upper Green River Basin and Grand Teton National Park. Though some 400 pronghorn still take the 300-mile round-trip, they must cross a gauntlet of highways, housing developments, drill pads and more than 100 fences. If more obstacles block this last passage, especially at several choke points along the route, scientists say the continent's longest known pronghorn migration (and the longest migration of any land mammal in the lower 48 states) will die.
"It's promising, and better than I would have thought possible five years ago," says Joel Berger, a biologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society and University of Montana who has been involved in the corridor campaign. But he points out that the region's pronghorn are facing a newer threat: gas field proliferation. "In just five years, there has been more than a tenfold increase in traffic in areas where pronghorn winter," says Berger.
Migrations are also being challenged by climate change. Researchers are reporting new behaviors among migratory animals worldwide that may stem from higher temperatures—shifts in breeding ranges, mis-timing of cues and departures—with consequences that roll through the migratory cycle. "Since the wintering habitats are changing at different rates than more northerly habitats," says Marra, "things get really out of sync."
In the Netherlands, for example, some populations of pied flycatcher have crashed because the birds are arriving from African wintering grounds too late to feast on a once predictable bounty of caterpillars. Because of higher springtime temperatures in Europe, the insects are hatching earlier than they once did.
Changes in sea temperature, meanwhile, are expected to alter wind patterns and cause more frequent storms, stressing all flying migrants. Rising ocean temperatures also seem to be pushing organisms such as zooplankton and krill closer to the poles, with repercussions up the food chain, leaving whales and other animals either hungry or forced into longer migrations to find prey. And even a slight rise in sea level will submerge many atolls where marine turtles nest.
Can migratory animals adapt? No one knows. Over the centuries, at least a few species have started, stopped and restarted migrating, and some birds have recently shown flexibility by changing routes or timing or breeding sites in response to new environmental conditions. In the Midwest, for instance, ducks are arriving later in the fall and resting longer before continuing south, perhaps in response to higher temperatures. "But I think it would be dangerous to assume that all species can adapt," says Wilcove, "or that they can respond to the full array of threats we are imposing on them."
Wilcove points out that by 1890, the United States already had managed to destroy the greatest mammal and bird migrations ever known—60 million bison on the Great Plains and hundreds of millions of passenger pigeons east of the Mississippi. "History suggests that once a great migration is destroyed," he says, "there is little prospect of recreating it."
Steve Kemper watches warblers and other migrating birds from his home in Connecticut.
NWF in Action: Protecting Migratory Habitat
To help restore habitats and create healthy stopover points for migratory and resident animals—especially within and around large metropolitan areas—NWF recently launched the Flyway Cities Coalition. Made up of elected officials, city planners, nonprofit groups, educational institutions, nature centers, volunteers and others, the coalition works to connect and protect migratory habitat within the four major U.S. flyways: the Pacific, Central, Mississippi and Atlantic. This year, the coalition is focusing its efforts in San Diego (Pacific), Austin (Central), Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale (Atlantic), and will expand in 2009 to include Seattle (Pacific), Denver (Central), Chicago (Mississippi) and Boston (Atlantic). To learn more, including how to participate, contact email@example.com.
Web Exclusive
Ill Winds for Migratory Songbirds?
Because the costs of their seasonal travels are enormous, for many migratory animals, energy efficiency is a matter of life or death. In the first-ever study of its kind among free-flying migratory songbirds, researchers now have discovered the energy-saving secrets of one species: Swainson's thrush, which makes biannual, 4,800-kilometer journeys between wintering grounds in Panama and breeding grounds in Canada, a trip that—each way—requires 3.2 million wing beats per bird.
By attaching tiny, temporary radio-transmitters to 15 thrushes—devices that not only revealed the birds' locations but also their heart rates, a proxy for energy expenditure—scientists from Princeton University, the University of Montana and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany found that birds with more pointed wings, and with wings that carried less weight per area, used less energy than others. More significantly, the researchers also discovered that avoiding high winds and atmospheric instability resulted in less energy use.
The scientists, who published their results in the journal PloS ONE, say the latter finding is worrisome, given that global warming is expected to increase both high winds and atmospheric instability. "We think that climate change may have severe consequences for small intercontinental migrants," says coauthor Martin Wikelski, an associate professor of ecology at Princeton and director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.—Laura Tangley
Warming Leaves Long-Distance Migrants Behind
Since 1970, temperatures along the eastern coast of Massachusetts have risen by 2.7 degrees F. One result is that many of the region's trees are leafing out earlier than they once did, causing caterpillars and other bugs that feed on these leaves to emerge sooner. Biologists now report that at least some migratory songbirds—which critically depend on a springtime flush of insects to prepare for the breeding season—have adapted to the change by arriving earlier from their southern wintering grounds.
Analyzing bird-banding data, researchers from the University of Massachusetts and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences found that 8 of 32 species they looked at are now passing by Cape Cod on their way north earlier in the springtime than they were 38 years ago. While that's good news for these birds—primarily species, like the swamp sparrow, that winter in the southern United States—the bad news is that species that winter farther south in Latin America—the great crested flycatcher, for example—have not been changing their ways. The challenges facing such species are twofold. First, temperatures in the Tropics are not rising as fast as they are in the temperate zone. The other problem is that during winter the birds are so far away that they receive no environmental cues that spring in Massachusetts is coming early, unlike birds that spend the winter, say, in North Carolina. The scientists, who published their study in Global Change Biology, say the inability of long-distance migrants to adapt to earlier northern springtimes may be contributing to the declines being reported among many of these species.—Laura Tangley


text:
The appearance of advertisements and product information on this site does not constitute an endorsement by Equipment World Magazine, and Equipment World Magazine has not investigated the claims made by any advertiser. Product information is based solely on material received from suppliers.
Kobelco Construction Machinery America offers the SK295LC full-size excavator. The SK295LC is perfectly suited for tough jobs that require both power and precise control. The SK295LC ACERA Mark 8 relies on a Tier III-certified FPT(tm) turbocharged engine, from one of the world's premier engine manufacturers. The Kobelco Power Boost(tm) system offers 10 percent more bucket breakout force on command, while the Intelligent Total Control System (ITCS) recognizes the operator"s moves, providing progressive power where and when it"s needed. The SK295LC ACERA Mark 8 comes standard with a longer X-frame for increased stability and a heavy-duty boom and arm. The power-mode selection feature allows the operator to choose from four different modes, depending on the job type and difficulty level. The machines also offer easy serviceability with ground-level access to the radiator, oil cooler and intercooler, hydraulic pump, tank, hoses and filters, batteries, air filter, back-up alarm and other connections to increase productivity and efficiency.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Product Description
All blocks, as every Garhauer part, come with Garhauer's 10 year unconditional guarantee.
Stainless Steel Foot Blocks, designed for the true off shore sailor looking for the ultimate in rugged dependability, these blocks are constructed of polished stainless steel cheeks and load straps making them an excellent choice for installation at the masthead or other hard to service areas. These blocks improve the appearance of any boat.
Part Number: FB-06 A


text:
Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
alerik wrote:I like good beer.
Sound off with a great beer that everyone else should try.
I'll keep it simple to start off, I recently tried the Sam Adams Black Brew and I loved it. I love darker beers in the cold. Sign in, sound off, and be recognized.
sleepy wrote:I sleepy, do hereby commit to use the Comet as my main midrange disc for a period of no less than one (1) year; commencing 11/24/09 and ending (if I so choose) on 11/24/10.
sleepy wrote:Goose Island's Brown Ale (can't remember the exact correct name)
Return to Off-Topic, Miscellaneous, etc.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
The Farm Bill is one of the most important federal policies affecting US agricultural conservation. The Farm Bill has existed in different forms for many years and comes up for reauthorization approximately every five years. Congress recently passed the latest farm bill, The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill).
Most of the Farm Bill funds are spent on nutrition, but commodity programs, crop insurance, energy, and conservation programs are also part of the Farm Bill. Learn more about how the Farm Bill is funded.
Some of the nation's most successful voluntary conservation programs are funded by the Farm Bill. Across the country, farmers are protecting wildlife habitat, controlling soil erosion and reducing polluted runoff with assistance from Farm Bill programs. Yet these popular programs are woefully under-funded. Many landowners who would like to do more for fish and wildlife are turned away for a lack of funds. It is very important to the future of wildlife on private lands that the Farm Bill continues to provide sufficient funding to address conservation needs. Visit this page to learn more about how Farm Bill conservation helps wildlife.
Several different Farm Bill conservation programs have helped improve wildlife habitat in the US. Learn about the unique functions of each program in the page below. The Agricultural Act of 2014 consolidates some of these programs into a new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and authorized a new Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Read more in our full analysis of the 2014 Farm Bill.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) pays farmers annual rental payments under 10-15 year contracts, to set aside marginal land. The program also pays up to half the cost of establishing conservation practices that address soil erosion, water quality, wetland and forest enhancement, and wildlife management. Examples of these practices include establishing vegetative cover or trees on erodible cropland, planting native grasses, thinning or conducting controlled burning of pine forests, and placing filterstrips along stream banks to stem polluted runoff and provide habitat for wildlife. The Agricultural Act of 2014 reduced the amount of acreage allowed in the CRP gradually each year, down to 24 million acres allowed by 2018.
David Davis is proud to be a part of the solution for declining sage grouse populations, which once flourished in western Washington, but have since declined by about 75 percent. Davis and his fellow farmers in Douglas County, Washington have turned nearly 186,000 acres of wheat into sage grouse habitat since CRP was created in 1985. "The birds were disappearing until CRP got going," Davis says. "This summer, I saw 10 or 12 young sage grouse cross the road just before harvest. I've never seen that before." Davis's success is being repeated in Oregon, Idaho and Montana, where greater sage grouse also are using CRP habitat.
The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program that enables landowners to restore or protect native grasslands on portions of their property. Grasslands are valuable wildlife habitat currently in decline. Due to limited funding, there is a backlog of over 800,000 applications from farmers to participate in the GRP.
Jeff Basford owns a farm in Dodge County, MN. According to NRCS, Mr. Basford was able to create valuable wildlife habitat through the Grassland Reserve Program while working to achieve his land management goals. A wide range of wildlife, including many bird species, have benefited from the planting of native grasses on the farm. "You know that old saying: If you make it they will come. Well, they did," said Basford. The native warm season grasses have provided valuable habitat in both the summer and winter seasons for pheasant populations, according to NRCS.
The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) allows interested farmers the opportunity to restore, maintain and protect wetlands on their property. Most lands restored under WRP are marginal, high risk, flood-prone lands that wouldn't be suitable for growing crops. The WRP enables landowners to take these lands out of production and restore them to beneficial use as wetland wildlife habitat.
One of the first WRP projects in Michigan, the Portage River Restoration, has become a perfect example of what can happen when a farmer is willing to take marginal cropland out of production and put it towards a higher use. According to NRCS, this 180 acre wetland restoration located in Jackson County, restored 80 acres of marsh and 100 acres of grassy wetlands and uplands – perfect fall migratory staging and breeding habitat for Sandhill cranes and other migratory waterfowl. This part of Michigan has one of the highest nesting densities of Sandhill cranes in all of North America thanks in part to wetland restorations projects such as this one. The land remains in private ownership, with a permanent easement to protect it into the future.
The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that pays up to 75 percent of the cost to private land owners of enhancing wildlife habitat on their land. The program is not limited to agricultural lands, but is open to any private landowners who would like to create wildlife-friendly habitat enhancements to a portion of their land, such as restoring native prairie grasses, performing forest management practices, or improving aquatic areas.
WHIP was combined into EQIP in the Agricultural Act of 2014. A minimum of 5% of EQIP funding will go to wildlife practices as the 2014 Farm Bill is implemented.
In Moore County, NC, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is helping a local community partner with an equestrian facility with the overall goal of restoring longleaf pine savanna that, according to NRCS will be beneficial to local wildlife. The hope is that the new habitat will be beneficial to the endangered Red cockaded-woodpeckers as well as other types of wildlife, including amphibians, reptiles and grass and shrub- breeding birds. Winter fires are being used to clear the forest floor, allowing for increased sunlight and improved habitat conditions.
Unlike programs that pay farmers to set aside certain lands, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) rewards agricultural producers for environmentally-friendly measures they are willing to undertake on the lands that they keep in production. CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial forestland. The 2008 Farm Bill funded the CSP at $17 million per year; the 2014 Farm Bill contains $40 million in mandatory funding over 5 years.
Similar to CSP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices on their lands. Practices are based on a set of national priorities that are adapted to each state. These priorities include: reduction of point- and non-point source pollution to watersheds and groundwater; water conservation; reduction of soil erosion; and promotion of wildlife habitat for at-risk-species.


text:
I have read the post several times and I am still unsure of its reasoning's.
Then to put it as simply as I can:
Ven. Vimalaramsi attributes an especial importance to those modes of anapanassati that involve calming the bodily and mental formation. There is no evidence in the Suttas that they have an especial importance.
Ven. Vimalaramsi takes the Pali phrase translated as "...tranquillizing the bodily formation..." to mean that something tight or tense needs relaxing. This seems a highly improbable interpretation, for there is no evidence that the verb passambhati ever means "to relax".
At the same time I am rather surprised by the framing of the post.
Really? Why are you rather surprised? When the OP is a query as to whether anyone has an issue with a modern teacher whose teachings have generated controversy, you might have good cause for surprise if my contribution had been a post on, say, the history of test match cricket or the life-cycle of the humpback salmon. But what cause for surprise when it's nothing more or less than what the OP was soliciting?
Perhaps if Bhante wanted to make a truer evaluation of Bhante V, then a personal dialogue between the two could help clear up any concerns he has about any mischief.
When the concerns are justified no amount of dialogue will clear them up. Reading the venerable's books on the Ānāpānassati Sutta and Mettabhāvanā, as well as his series of posts to DSG some years ago, I am satisfied that the two criticisms I made in my post are justified.
And lest my use of mischief in the earlier post be misunderstood . . .
According to the Oxford Dictionary in phrases like "the mischief lies in..." and "the mischief of it is that..." the word "mischief" means the most vexatious feature of something. Naturally it wasn't my intention to suggest that Ven. Vimalaraṃsī was being mischievous.
Best wishes,


text:
SAN LEANDRO — A 33-year-old Hayward man was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of shooting another man in the leg, police said.
Joseph Sommer was arrested in the 14500 block of School Street in San Leandro at 4:20 a.m. following the shooting, police said. The victim, whose name and age were not released, was transported to a hospital for treatment. His condition was not available Saturday afternoon. The motive in the shooting was not released.
California Highway Patrol officers were in the area and spotted the suspect's vehicle speeding. Officers stopped the car and arrested Sommer without incident.
"This was an isolated incident and we are thankful the suspect was arrested. We continue to have success by working with our neighboring agencies to combat crime within our community," San Leandro police Lt. Randall Brandt said.
Anyone with information about this incident should call San Leandro police at 510-577-3230 or an anonymous tip line at 510-577-3278.
Contact Kristin J. Bender at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/kjbender.


text:
Worth accepts assignment to Triple-A Toledo
DETROIT -- Tigers shortstop Danny Worth, designated for assignment earlier in the week to make room for Eugenio Suarez, decided to accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Toledo and is expected to join the Mud Hens soon.
As a player who was designated for assignment for a second time, Worth had the option to decline the assignment and opt for free agency. Considering Worth has been moved back and forth between Detroit and Toledo eight times since 2012, the decision would've been understandable.
The tradeoff would've been giving up a Major League contract, which still pays him even though he was taken off the 40-man roster. Though another team would've surely signed him if he hit the open market, there's no guarantee they would've signed him to a big league deal.
Worth played 20 games for the Tigers before the move, batting 7-for-42 with a double, five RBIs, two walks and 12 strikeouts. He made 11 starts at shortstop without an error, and he pitched two innings in relief to help out a short bullpen. Though Worth's success throwing a knuckleball has set up the question of whether he could try pitching full-time, team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said earlier this week that it hasn't been discussed.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Our certification gives consumers the confidence that every purchase has a real impact in farmers' lives.
Certification & Your Business
The Fair Trade certification model is designed and audited to ensure equitable trade practices at every level of the supply chain. To earn a license from Fair Trade USA to use the Fair Trade Certified™ label on their products, companies must buy from certified farms and organizations, pay Fair Trade prices and premiums and submit to a rigorous supply chain audits. This process entails a high level of transparency and traceability in their global supply chains. Today, our partner companies range from small, mission-driven coffee roasters to some of the largest transnational corporations in the world.
Fair Trade USA connects farmers, cooperatives and US businesses to facilitate joint business opportunities, relationships, and the growth of the Fair Trade market.
These guidelines provide direction on how to use the Fair Trade Certified™ logo and the term "Fair Trade Certified™" on product labels, packaging, POS materials and more. You can report label misuse here.
You can use paypal to pay your quarterly licensing fees.
Note - please insert the name of your company, the quarter you are paying for, as well as the invoice number, if applicable, in the 'Payment For' field.
What company will this payment be for?
How much will you be paying?
Please fill out both fields in order to use this Paypal button. Thanks!


text:
Dear Members,
The Buddha praised Ratthapala Thera to be foremost(etadagga) for going forth out of faith. (saddhapabbajitana.m)....I so love this story...the bhikkhu with incredible faith !
[From Buddhist Dictionary of the Pali..Presented by Dr.Han Tun @ SariputtaDhamma/JTN/Mult]
Chief of those who had left the world through faith (saddhapabbajitanam). He
was born at Thullakotthita in the Kuru country as the son of a very wealthy
councillor and was called by his family name of Ratthapala. He lived in great
luxury, and, in due course, married a suitable wife. When the Buddha visited
Thullakotthita, Ratthapala went to hear him preach and decided to leave the
world. His parents would not, however, give their consent till he threatened to
starve himself to death. Realizing then that he was in earnest, they agreed to
let him go on condition that he would visit them after his ordination.
Ratthapala accompanied the Buddha to Savatthi, and there, dwelling alone, he
attained arahantship within a short time.
Then, with the Buddha's permission, he returned to Thullakotthita and dwelt in
the deer park of the Kuru king. The day after his arrival, while begging for
alms, he came to his father's house. His father was in the entrance hall having
his hair combed, but, failing to recognize his son, he started to abuse him,
taking him for an ordinary monk, one of those who had robbed him of his son.
Just at that moment the slave girl of the house was about to throw away some
stale rice, which Ratthapala begged of her. The girl recognized his voice, gave
him the rice and told his parents who he was. When his father came to look for
his son, he found him eating stale rice as though it were ambrosia. (This eating
of stale rice made of him an aggariyavamsika.
Having already finished eating, when invited to enter the house, he would not do so,
but on the next day he went again, and his father tried to tempt him by making a
display of the immense wealth which would be his should he return to the lay life,
while his former wives, beautifully clothed, asked him about the nymphs, for whose
sake he led the homeless life. "For the sake of no nymphs, Sisters," he said, and they
fell fainting under the shock of being addressed as "Sisters." Growing impatient at
the conduct of his family, he asked for his meal, ate it, preached to them on
the impermanence of all things, the futility of wealth, the snare of beauty,
etc., and returned to Migacira.
Note : The reader may perhaps be interested to read
MN 82 Ratthapala Sutta: About Ratthapala
translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhuhttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.082.than.html
Love Buddha's dhamma,


text: Small Business Development Center The mission of the University of West Alabama's Small Business Development Center is to grow the economy in the western region of Alabama, known as the Black Belt, by providing entrepreneurs with the education, information and tools necessary to build successful businesses. The Center services are targeted to Choctaw, Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, and Wilcox counties. Services We Provide The UWA SBDC provides consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow small business operations. From helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses to helping small firms expand, the SBDC is the resource that entrepreneurs in all industries can turn to for help -- help that can make the difference between success and failure. Any consultations will be given free of charge and are confidential. The center's staff and university faculty are qualified to provide expert advice in the following areas: Business Plan Development Financial Analysis Pre-Venture Counseling Research & Development Assistance Market Planning Assistance Business Regulations and Licenses Bookkeeping/Accounting Financial & Loan Packaging Assistance Management Consulting Operational Planning Minority and Women Business Training and Workshops Procurement Assistance Training Events The UWA SBDC seeks to address the needs of entrepreneurs by providing free to low cost, high quality seminars at convenient times and locations. Training topics range from preliminary operation for those planning to start a business to advanced seminars focused on the needs of the experienced business owner. For a listing of upcoming training events please contact the center.


text:
When most developers fled the sinking San Diego housing market, Brad Termini and business partner Dane Chapin stuck around to shop for project failures.
They bought land foreclosures for as little as half price during the past five years of uncertainty to carry out $150 million in residential land development.
"We've never bought a piece of land that we didn't have three people we know really well say we're crazy, we overpaid and don't know what we're doing," said Termini, co-chief executive of Zephyr Partners, a private developer in San Diego.
Once ridiculed, Zephyr now finds itself in a seemingly enviable position in the local real estate market. The heavily discounted supply of land it has acquired since the recession's start is the kind of stuff its competitors, public and private builders, are struggling to secure — and at a reasonable price.
Rising home prices and a sunnier consumer outlook have sent homebuilders into a frenzy to buy land in San Diego County and resume once-stalled projects. Land analysts say the demand for lots has returned to that of peak times — causing lot prices to soar. It also raises concerns of deteriorating affordability for consumers.
Still, like consumers, homebuilders and developers are hungry for product.
"We've talked to industry experts who have been in the business for 20-plus years ... and pretty consistently, they say it's one of the most heated markets experienced in their careers," said Termini, of Zephyr Partners.
Construction returning
After a six-year lull, homebuilding in the county is chugging along at a steady pace. Master-planned projects shelved during the downturn make up the bulk of new-home development in San Diego County.
At the height of the market in 2003, San Diego saw nearly 9,500 construction permits for new homes. That number fell nearly 81 percent in 2009, the worst year for U.S. homebuilding since 1959.
Even during the building lull, certain major homebuilders — particularly those with lots of capital — recognized the importance of continuing land shopping in California. Between fall 2009 and 2011, Los Angeles-based KB Homes infused more than $1 billion into land investments, focusing on Texas and California.
Builders have stayed loyal to California because it's viewed as a highly desirable place to live. Lower-than-normal mortgage rates have added to the list of reasons consumers want to buy real estate here.
"From the Bay Area to Orange County and San Diego, the demand for new homes in these desirable markets was never met in the boom years," said KB Homes chief executive Jeffrey Mezger, in a September 2011 earnings call transcribed by financial website Seeking Alpha.
"People have always wanted to live in these areas near jobs, transit, recreation and good schools," Mezger added.
Irvine-based Standard Pacific also has kept a laser focus on acquiring lots in the Golden State. Knowing the challenges of buying residential parcels in San Diego County on their own, it went straight for a legacy project.
In September, Standard Pacific finalized a deal with a local developer to control 1,700 undeveloped lots at Del Sur, a master-planned community mothballed during the recession. The company spent $246 million in the third quarter to acquire 3,500 home sites in San Diego, which included the Del Sur lots.
KB Homes recently struck similar deals as other companies waffled about re-entering the California market. It closed on two coastal communities in North County, the company said.
The idea was to build lot volume, more easily done with existing projects.
"Our early mover advantage of acquiring land at favorable prices in the right locations, (was) first going after finished lots and then leveraging our strong master plan and development capabilities to pursue raw land," said Mezger, of KB Homes.
"That has allowed us to stay ahead of the demand curve, avoiding the worst of the hypercompetitive fray that land buyers are experiencing in most of our markets," Mezger added.
Similar acquisitions have occurred not just in North County but also in areas like Otay Ranch in the South Bay, another large-scale development that has come back to life after a multiyear lull. Builders that have contributed to that development's revival include Brookfield Homes and KB Homes.
Eventually, smaller to medium-sized developers jumped back into the land market, which has seen meteoric lot-price hikes in the past two quarters.
This has meant an increase in infill activity, such as the one in coastal Carlsbad led by private developer Zephyr Partners. The company began to demolish an existing apartment complex, which it acquired at a discount during the downturn to build $2 million condos in its place.
"In the land market, all the easy pieces are gone, except for large county holdings," said Borre Winckel, executive director of the Building Industry Association of San Diego, a trade group that represents builders' interests.
The infill market is not limited to private builders. KB Homes and Shea Homes are among the builders who have closed on smaller deals, as low as eight-unit parcels, said Gunder Creager, vice president of Colliers International in San Diego.
Public builders have even cobbled together four to five smaller deals to build volume and reduce overhead costs.
"That's what you gotta do with tight inventory," Creager said.
Land costs soaring
The appetite for land has led to bidding wars among homebuilders and upward pressure on lot prices.
Residential land costs in the county have gone up an average of 20 percent to 30 percent during the past year, but certain areas are seeing more rapid price movement.
In Carlsbad, a finished lot — the most desirable land site for a developer — is about $442,000, a 61 percent increase from a year ago, says analysis from Irvine-based Land Advisors Organization, which brokers residential land deals. That figure is based on a 6,000-square-foot lot.
"Land prices have gone up exponentially," said David Landes, a broker at Land Advisors' office in Mira Mesa. "We're seeing some areas at peak prices of 2005, and in some cases, exceeding those."
Increased demand and rising home costs have turned the market into a favorable one for land sellers like Jose Escobedo.
Escobedo, who's preparing for retirement, has watched demand rise for parcels like his. He owns more than four acres of developable property in San Marcos, where the price of a finished lot has increased 55 percent from a year ago to $310,000.
The 65-year-old landscaper bought his two pieces of land about two decades ago for about $125,000 each.
The real estate market is marked by "highs and lows," said Eric Escobedo, who spoke on behalf of his father, Jose. "A lot of people have regrets about purchasing land mainly due to the fact the price that they bought it at. But he's not hamstrung by the price. … He won't regret (selling it) because he didn't overpay."
The prospect for selling looks especially rosy for Escobedo because new development has been coming in near his parcels, said his son, Eric. Escobedo's lots, which are being prepared for market, have already received unsolicited bids, said Landes, whose company is brokering the deal.
While some builders are willing to pay top dollar for finished lots, they're in limited supply.
Because of that, builders are moving to the fringes of the county, where it has historically taken builders longer to bring projects to life, Landes said.
Builders also are having to look for properties in any stage of the entitlement process, which requires buyers to prepare them for development.
Ultimately, whether a developer buys a parcel comes down to simple business. Generally, builders don't pay more than a third of the home's for-sale price, said Scot Sandstrom, who owns New Pointe Communities, a private builder in San Diego.
"So if you're building a $1 million home, you try to pay about $300,000 a lot," he said. "That means we have to look harder to find land that makes sense. The prices of homes have gone up, but you can't apply it necessarily by doubling your land costs."
Pipeline refilling slowly
Land deals are up, but new-home construction pipelines may take a while to repopulate.
After home prices peaked in 2005, land transactions in the county dried up in 2007 and remained depressed until 2011.
Not only did that mean less new-home construction, it also meant fewer properties were being readied for development.
Builders and developers filed 1,260 applicants to build subdivision lots from January to May — already surpassing the 965 filed for all of 2012, county assessor's numbers show. However, it will take time for those lots to be ready for construction.
Parcels come in different stages of building readiness, from finished lots to raw land. With the exception of finished lots, other lot types require work, such as grading and permitting, before they can accommodate construction.
That whole entitlement process, which can be time-consuming and expensive, was largely put on hold during the recession, causing a current shortage in finished lots.
Entitling land can take six to nine months for major cities to several years if you're dealing with the county, said Landes, the land broker.
Raw land, the most basic stage, takes the longest to get ready for building. Sometimes, the process may not be completed due to environmental regulations, said Creager, the executive at Colliers.
Some builders are concerned about what this backlog will mean for pent-up demand and skyrocketing home prices.
Recognizing increased demand and low supply, homebuilders who have finished units have been able to raise prices as much as 20 percent per phase and controlling how many homes are on the market at once.
The result has been the return of wait lists, car lines and concerns of consumers being priced out of a fast-paced market.
"I think we always need to be cautious of rapid movement in either direction," said Termini, the developer at Zephyr Partners.
"Markets tend to overreact to positive and negative news, and we're experiencing a little bit of that now," he added. "Buyers are starving for new product, and there's not a lot of it available for people."


text:
Q: My family loves fresh pasta and we go to The Hill every Saturday night to satisfy our craving. I hear that fresh pasta is easy to make at home. Do you have a beginner's recipe that I can try?
A: I just spent three weeks back-packing across Northern Italy, and I found the 'Ravioli of Venice' to die for!
Walking the streets of Venice, I was constantly reminded of Marco Polo, who is said to have introduced spaghetti to Italy from Asia. I found that each region in Italy may have the same type of pasta but under different names. All pasta, whether egg-based or dry, can be classified into one of three classical preparations: cooked pasta served with a sauce or condiment, pasta in broth or soup and baked pastas.
One of my favorites (and one of the easiest to make) is the ravioli, believed to have been created in Venice, Italy, in the 14th century with blanched fresh herbs, mixed with egg and fresh ricotta, and stuffed between two layers of fresh pasta. I searched the streets of Venice looking for the best ravioli, and just outside Piazza San Marco, I found a little restaurant called Trattoria Da Gianni. With fresh fish and pasta made daily, I knew that this was the place to be.
Ingredients (makes 24 ravioli):
1 lb. all-purpose flour
3 eggs
Pinch of salt
½ c Parmesan cheese
3 T mascarpone cheese
4 T fresh herbs, chopped (I use basil, oregano and spinach)
For Cooking:
3 T olive oil
1 T salt
4 T fresh herbs
DIRECTIONS: In a bowl, add the flour and make a hole in it so it looks like a volcano. Crack the three eggs into the center and add the salt. As you work your way around the bowl, incorporate the flour and egg together until it forms a ball.
Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it to finish incorporating the flour and eggs. When complete, wrap the dough in plastic and let it rest in your refrigerator for an hour. This will give the gluten in the dough time to relax so you will not have tough pasta.
While dough is resting, blend all ingredients together for the filling. Set aside.
Remove the dough and cut into three equal pieces. If you have a pasta machine, roll out the dough into long, thin sheets. I prefer to do it the traditional way using a rolling pin. Be sure to roll the dough out very thin. You should end up with a sheet of dough that is approximately 8 inches across and 20 to 24 inches long. Starting at one end across the middle, place a teaspoon of filing every inch and work your way across the sheet of pasta. You should be able to place two fingers between each spoon of filling.
Fold the pasta sheet in half, covering the balls of filling. Using your fingers, press the dough together around each of the balls of filling to remove any excess air. Using a knife, cut small squares around the filling with about a finger's width on the side. You can use a fork dredged in flour to mark the edge each. This will give it a finished look.
COOKING: Blanch the pasta in boiling, salted water for about three minutes. Remove from water and let dry over paper towels. Heat oil in sauté pan and sauté cooked pasta until they begin to brown. Remove from heat and add fresh herbs. Toss and plate. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.
Nutritional facts (4 to 5 ravioli):
220 calories
11 g fat
31 g carbs
14 g protein
Chef John Johnson is River City Casino executive chef. Do you have a recipe request for Chef John? Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Brinjal Bartha – Eggplant Purée Dip
- 2 large Fair Trade Certified eggplants
- 2 large Fair Trade Certified tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter) or canola oil
- 2 medium onions finely chopped
- 2 tsp grated or chopped ginger
- 1 tsp ground Organic Fair Trade turmeric
- 1 to 2 tsp Organic Fair Trade cayenne powder
- 2 tsp salt or to taste
- 2 tsp Fragrant Garam Masala
Dice the eggplant and tomatoes. Heat ghee or oil in a large saucepan and fry the onions and ginger on medium heat until they are soft and the onion starts to brown. Add the turmeric powder, cayenne salt and fragrant garam masala and stir thoroughly. Add the eggplant and tomatoes, stir really well and cover. Simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally until all the liquid evaporates and the combination of the eggplant and tomato forms into a thick purée.
Served hot or cold, Brinjal Batha is ideal as a dip for naans and pita bread.
Tip: Grill the eggplant over charcoal to impart a smokey flavor.
*This recipe was submitted by The Spicy Gourmet


text: Sports Beans are a fun way to get energized! Developed by US Pro Team sponsors Jelly Belly these jelly beans have been specially formulated to fuel the body during exercise with carbohydrates electrolytes and vitamins C and E. They pack as much punch per serving as other energy products and allow you to eat just what you need for optimal performance. Sports Beans are appropriate for a broad range of active people including endurance athletes weekend warriors and sports enthusiasts - and anyone else looking for a great tasting burst of energy! Each serving provides 25g of carbohydrates to fuel your body during intense activity and 120mg of electrolytes which are essential for metabolising carbohydrates and maintaining hydrationSports Beans are also an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin CThey're easy to eat and taste great! Energize with one packet before activity and use additional beans as needed during activity to sustain energy levelsCheck stock and price


text:
Major League Lacrosse on Saturday held its 2012 All-Star Game, Presented by Moe's Southwest Grill, in front of a crowd of 4,841 at FAU Stadium in Palm Beach County, Fla. The game featured a Young Guns v. Old School format, with players who joined the league between 2001-08 competing for the Old School team while those who joined between 2009-12 represented the Young Guns. Old School edged out the Young Guns 18-17 and Charlotte Hounds midfielder Stephen Berger was named Bud Light MVP for his three goal performance. Berger was the lone representative for the Hounds on the Old School squad, while Billy Bitter, Ryan Flanagan, Adam Ghitelman and Jovan Miller all suited up for the Young Guns.
The Old School team jumped out to a 4-2 lead, including the first from Berger. Their lead was extended to 7-4 early into the second quarter, with another tally from Berger and the first of the night for
Paul Rabil of the Boston Cannons. However, the Young Guns put up a three goal run to tie the game at 7. The teams then traded goals, with Berger adding his third of the night, to finish the half in a 9-9 tie.
The goals went entirely back and forth through the first nine minutes of the third quarter, but Old School held the 13-12 advantage thanks to a 2-point goal from Rabil. Old School tacked on two more for a 15-12 lead before
Jeremy Sieverts of the Denver Outlaws scored his second of the night for the Young Guns to end the quarter at 15-13 Old School. Ghitelman was in net for the Young Guns during the game's second quarter, as well as 8:32 of the third. He had six saves on 10 shots in the second and two saves on four shots in the third.
Max Siebald of the Long Island Lizards ripped a 2-point goal for the Young Guns to tie the game at 15-15 with 8:11 left to play. Old School responded with two goals, but the game was quickly tied again thanks to another Young Gun 2-pointer, this time from
Brian Ferrell of the Cannons. In the game's final minute
Steven Brooks of the Chesapeake Bayhawks beat Lizards' goalie
Drew Adams to win it 18-17 for Old School. Flanagan led the Young Guns with five groundballs in the game.
Three Hounds also participated in the Bud Light Skills Competition at halftime. Ghitelman attempted "The Gauntlet," an obstacle course style contest, and finished with a time of 21 seconds. The winner was
Joel White of the Rochester Rattlers with a time of 14.62 seconds. Berger and Miller took shots in the "Freestyle" competition, which allows players to show their creativity, but ultimately lost to Hamilton Nationals goalie
Brett Queener who threw his stick into the air and spun it around before kicking it into the net for a goal. The "Fastest Shot" contest was won by Ohio Machine defenseman
Kyle Hartzell with a speed of 111mph, which ties the MLL record.
The Hounds (2-6) return to regular-season action on Saturday, July 7 when they host the Bayhawks (7-1) at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. In their first meeting this season on June 9, the Bayhawks dominated the Hounds 15-7. Faceoff is set for 7pm.
See the
complete box score for the 2012 MLL All-Star Game.


text:
Celebrate Oscar Sunday with a LES MIS-Inspired Cocktail!
Tim Federle, author of the new Broadway novel BETTER NATE THAN EVER, is soon coming out with a cocktail recipe book, Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist. For anyone who has yet to plan their Oscar night menue, check out his Les Miserables-themed cocktail "Les Fizz" below!
Check out more at usaweekend.com.
Les Fizz
• 1/2 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain)
• Champagne, to fill
• Fresh strawberries
During a commercial break, pour the gin and liqueur into a flute, then fill to the top with champagne. Garnish using a strawberry stabbed with a French flag toothpick. For Les Mis insiders, serve with a loaf of bread. (Just don't steal it. We're looking at you, Jean Valjean.)
Yield: 1 drink
Per serving: 17 calories, 4 g carbohydrates, 0g protein, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 3mg sodium


text:
Mentoring Medical Students
The Office of Medical Student Research is committed to helping researchers establish excellent mentoring relationships with the students working in their laboratories and research centers.
Mentoring Resources: A collection of articles and links about being an effective mentor.
Become a mentor: Are you interested in becoming a mentor? Send your project information to the Office of Medical Student Research or find out when we are holding events where you can meet students who are interested in doing research.
Current Mentors: Do you currently have a student in your lab?
Opportunities for your students: A number of organizations provide awards for students who have completed research projects.


text:
In this training video, taken in Brazil, Jason Miller squares off with Rousimar Palhares. It's great to see two fighters working hard – and learning from each other.
How often do you train?
Founded in 1996 by Paul Reavlin, Revgear has proudly earned the distinguished acclaim 'Pro Gear for Pro Fighters' and continues to be the leading innovator and manufacturer of Martial Arts equipment including training gear, fight gear and fight apparel.
The Revgear winning formula of supreme construction and cutting edge technology allows them to succeed in their strives to meet the training needs of athletes and competitors all over the world with durable equipment that can withstand the most demanding bouts.
Revgear's innovation creates products that are devoted to specifically meeting and exceeding the needs of those training in Martial Arts, MMA, Boxing, Self-Defense or Fitness Training.
One of the struggles facing gym owners is new member retention. Gym owners spend a considerable amount of time, money and energy on just getting potential members
Subscribe to the Revgear Blog
Boxing Gloves
Punching Bag
Heavy Bags
Jiu Jitsu Gi
MMA Gloves
Revgear is a leading manufacturer of combat sports equipment, gear & apparel since 1996. Revgear has sponsored hundreds of athletes of all level and has been used at the highest level of competition since it's beginning. Revgear is tested on the mat & proven in the cage. The pro's use Revgear and so should you.


text:
We have 1 only in our sale stock of this item , in "Colour Black; Size 22in", at only £16.00.
We have 1 only in our sale stock of this item , in "Colour Brown; Size 32in", at only £16.00.
Select the relevant options above to get this great price.
*Required information
Your friend will be able to reply directly to you from this email.
We respect your privacy: we will not record your email address nor your friends email address (unless either of you are already registered as a Country Supplies customer).
Thank you.
* Required information
Thank you


text:
Fashion Programs at Mount Mary University
Mount Mary University offers a truly unique career-oriented Fashion program with a variety of options for study within the industry.
The Fashion programs at Mount Mary prepare you to apply artistic principles and techniques to the apparel design projects and the management of fashion merchandising and marketing.
Did you know?
We're "on the map!"
Mount Mary's Fashion program listed as "world class preparation for a career in fashion." See #10 on the top 50 Fun and Insightful Facts about Education in Milwaukee. -- M Magazine, January 2011
Rated as one of the top programs in the country, Mount Mary's fashion program melds the excitement of change, the challenges of new technology, and a sensitivity to design, manufacturing, and merchandising which enhances student ability to create innovative and functional solutions
You'll be introduced to real-world experiences and utilize the latest state-of-the-industry software to gain a working knowledge of industry technology.
Choose from two unique majors -
Mount Mary's Fashion students receive unique learning opportunities including our annual art, design and fashion show, CREO. Held each spring, this event is a culminating project and collaborative effort of our Fashion, Art, Graphic Design, and Interior Design students. Learn more about this event that draws hundreds each year.


text:
Outfield work has helped Zimmerman's throws
WASHINGTON -- Since returning to third base this past Monday, Nationals slugger Ryan Zimmerman seems to have more zip on his throws to first base.
He was able to turn a double play on Monday, for example, in the seventh inning against the Rockies.
Leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon lined a shot to third base. Zimmerman dove, caught the ball and made a perfect throw to first baseman Adam LaRoche to double off Corey Dickerson at first.
Manager Matt Williams has also noticed a difference in Zimmerman's throwing. The skipper believes playing left field helped Zimmerman improve his throwing. The warm weather may have helped, as well, according to Williams.
"I think his arm feels fine. I would imagine that throwing from the outfield and making the longer throw may have helped him, as well," Williams said. "I think he has thrown fine."
Zimmerman said he is not doing anything differently. He doesn't throw as often, like he did before games.
"I'm not doing anything too crazy, nothing different," Zimmerman said. "Hopefully, it keeps going like it's going."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time He can also be found on Twitter @WashingNats. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
We almost witnessed a couple of fatalities in Miami.
'); var yuipath = 'clientscript/yui'; var yuicombopath = ''; var remoteyui = false; } else // Load Rest of YUI remotely (where possible) { var yuipath = 'http://yui.yahooapis.com/2.9.0/build'; var yuicombopath = 'http://yui.yahooapis.com/combo'; var remoteyui = true; if (!yuicombopath) { document.write('
We almost witnessed a couple of fatalities in Miami.
Damn wish orlando had pulled that one out
shoving match that I guarantee gets called a brawl in Oakland with the Blazers
Seeing Jermaine O'Neal involved in a scuffle brings back bad memories . Really don't see how anyone deserves a suspension for this one, possible Bogut for being the instigator.
Wow, Wesley being ejected is huge though, dude was on fire Not sure how Green is ejected, but not Bogut....home cooking at its finest
I haven't watched the whole game or anything but that entire thing's on Bogut, dude threw an elbow at Freeland's chin. maybe there was some mitigating circumstances but that was just dirty by Bogut.
Blazers announcers are livid, rightfully so. Bogut caused this whole fight, but the Blazers lose their best player(who only ran over to the bench to save Mo from being manhandled by O'Neal). Refs deciding games really infuriates me.
Typical Warriors not having the player who escalates the situation getting kicked out of the game.....
"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel
"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
I don't know how to compute this but how many games are we ahead of Miami Heat.
Pacers 12-1
Heat 10-3
Pacers + Colts + Seahawks = Game mode on!
2 in the lose column, but it is way to early to even look at that now.
So how exactly is Portland winning so many games, is their offense just that good? It's going to be interesting to see Aldridge vs. West.
2. Count the difference between the wins and the losses. Add them together and divide by 2. 12-10=2, 3-1=2, 2+2=4, 4/2=2
another example. If the HEAT loose their next game, they are 10-4. 12-10=2; 4-1=3; 2+3=5; 5/2=2.5 two and a half games.
Well last year that had a top 3 starting five in the league, but one of the worst benches in history. Adding Mo, Wright, and Robinson was a big plus (and McCollum will be coming back from injury sometime in Dec.), plus Freeland has actually looked like a serviceable back up bigman this year :O. Replacing Hickson with Fropez was also a solid gain, as Robin will actually play defense and box out, something Hickson was allergic to. It also doesn't hurt that Matthews has been on absolute fire. They remind me of the Nuggets, so while I think they will win a lot of reg. season games with scorching offense, their defense doesn't make think they will last longer than 2 round max in the postseason. Really fun team to watch though.
Charlotte Hornets will bring back purple-and-teal colors
The Charlotte Bobcats will go purple-and-teal when they become the Hornets next season as it was in 1988 and as the fans want it to be again.
Bobcats management revealed the color scheme in an exclusive interview with the Observer. The purple-and-teal scheme will be accented by black and light shades of gray and blue.
A formal announcement by the team is expected later Sunday.
Returning to the teal-and-purple look in the original Alexander Julian-designed uniforms seemed a no-brainer after the Bobcats received permission from the NBA in July to adopt the Hornets nickname. The original Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002 and switched nicknames to the Pelicans this season.
We thought it was very important for us to listen to our fans and the overall community. There seemed to be an overwhelming desire to pay homage to the legacy of the Hornets, from their time here before, Bobcats President Fred Whitfield said. We listened to our fans, and thats what led us in this direction.
Pete Guelli, the Bobcats chief marketing officer, said polling of the Charlotte market indicated about 80percent support for a name change to Hornets, and support for bringing back teal-and-purple ran nearly as high.
One interesting point about the accent colors: that light blue looks an awful lot like Carolina blue, a color Bobcats owner Michael Jordan wore as one of the Tar Heels all-time best players.
We understand its an important color to the region, said Guelli of the blue shade. It scored high in our survey and was part of the original Hornet color palette.
The Bobcats are still working on new uniforms and logos. While no final decisions have been made, next seasons uniforms probably wont be replicas of the originals, with pleats and such.
Clearly there would have been some evolution for any brand over 23 years. There would be some evolution of what the look would be, Whitfield said. Were being very deliberate to make sure our uniform design is something our fans would be excited about, and also have a current look and feel.
Julian, a national clothing designer who grew up in Chapel Hill, advocated the teal-and-purple color scheme when then-team owner George Shinn asked him to design the prototype uniforms. By 1995, Hornets gear was the hottest seller in the NBA. Charlotte Hornets legacy items sold by the NBA are still big sellers among young consumers.
The Bobcats have already seen new revenue from the name change. Theres been an uptick in season-ticket sales an 89percent renewal rate, plus about 2,000 new season-ticket equivalents.
Team management is waiting for league approval to start selling more Charlotte Hornets gear in the team store at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Without a doubt, we can attribute (improved ticket sales) to the rebrand. People want to be here for the first season of the Hornets, Guelli said.
Were working every day with the league to start selling Hornets gear, even before (the rebranding at the start of next season). Right now we can sell the Heritage products. Next is (merchandise) with the new colors and eventually the logo.
Things like the new logo and mascot are complicated issues because that is intellectual property the New Orleans franchise was using as recently as April. The Bobcats are trying to strike a balance between ramping up their own plans without complicating New Orleans transition to the Pelicans name and look.
Just getting the right shades of teal and purple was a chore involving the Bobcats, the NBA office and the hundreds of companies that sell NBA-licensed apparel. Bobcats management rounded up old Hornets gear and saw eight variations on what was then called teal. That wont cut it in 2013.
We needed to establish one shade of teal, so that 400 (licensees) could all provide the same color products. We worked so closely with the NBA to establish a color that could be reproduced on any product and taken to retail, Whitfield said.
If you look at the purples in the NBA, there are three or four different shades. We had to meet as a group, get our owner involved and say, What shade of purple? Because its not all just purple.
The franchise is budgeting about $4million to change everything inside and outside the arena from Bobcats to Hornets over the next 11 months. The big things include resurfacing the game and practice courts and deciding what replaces Rufus as the team mascot. There are numerous other issues, like renaming the dance team from the Lady Cats or changing the teams limited liability corporation (from Bobcats Sports and Entertainment).
The Bobcats have identified 250 aspects of the arena everything from the signage along the video board to murals of the players in uniform to Bobcats orange waste cans that must be replaced before the 2014-15 season.
We have an obligation to do this thing right, Guelli said. When people walk into the arena in the fall of 2014, they need to know this is no longer a Bobcats experience. Its a Hornets experience.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...#storylink=cpy
They actually have a bench now. Plus, Robin Lopez is a much better fit alongside Aldridge than Hickson was.
Tonight, all flags must burn, in place of steeples.
Autonomy must return into the hands of the people.
This must be demoralizing for the Bulls. They no bench any more either.
we've moved into 8th in the east at 5-8. the only thing funnier is Atlanta being 3rd by a mile with an 8-6 record. They could drop another 3 games and still keep it.
I really thought we had terrible chemistry. Then I saw the Nets today. It really can get much worse.
It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.
Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004
BTW Jennings despite his epic shooting funk is averaging 8 assists on a team with zero outside shooting. I will credit him for being a very solid floor general.
He's gotta come out of that shooting funk, though.
It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.
Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004
Utah has 38 points with 2 and a half minutes to go in the 3rd against OKC. Holy ****!!!
Wouldn't it be magical if these teams which are rolling teams out with no chance all got Spur'ed in the lottery? Of course it will not happen since they changed it, but it would be neat to see 3 teams move in front of the lowest 3 losers.
With the way Chicago playing right now, they might as well lose this season and hope they get lucky once again and pick one of the top prospects in the draft. Not that I'm promoting tanking, but with their roster situation a mini rebuild is needed. They just don't have a consistent scorer other than Boozer and Deng right now, and they might be gone next year.
As for Brooklyn...wow. Just pure disaster for a team with high expectations. Maybe they can make it work after a few more games.
It's sad, but it is the smart thing to do. This will be another lost season, and they are paying 7 million dollars in tax to be a playoff team. Might as well get something in return for Deng and let Butler play his natural position.
They won't tank though. Thibs will just not allow it. That's my take of course.
The Nets have major problems.
Did anyone else catch Doug Collins comments about the Nets Friday night on ESPN studio. He is almost never critical of other coaches. So when he was critical of the situation with the Nets, I took notice. He said the hiring of Kidd cheapens the coaching profession, like anyone can do it.
You might say well what about the other former players who have never coached. Doug made a great point, those other former players who never coached before did not become head coaches 1 months after retiring from playing. They were out of it for a few years, had a chance to study the game as a would be coach.
Hornacek is doing a very good job, if you watch the Suns play you can see a team that is together, seems to have a plan, plays hard. Sure they are probably a .500 at the absolute best, but they are maximizing their talent, that is for sure.


text:
Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
Stringbean wrote:My only problem with 150 discs is that they tend to get blown around in the wind. Have to take them out of the bag on days with 15 mph + winds.
andrew wrote:So, does anybody know of any online retailers that have 150 class PPDS in stock?
andrew wrote:Yeah, already checked those bins (small world). Next time I'm in there (probably Monday) I'll ask if they'd be interested in and able to order 150g PDs....
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Social media at Marquette
Social media is a field with a growing audience, and it provides a powerful tool for communicating with Marquette's key audiences. This website aims to show the scope of Marquette's presence in social media and provide guidance for university partners.
It makes strategic sense for Marquette to be involved in social media because:
Good communication practice dictates that we use all methods to engage our audiences wherever they are.
There are already conversations about Marquette in social media, and our participation allows us to lead the discussion that defines our brand.
Social media is an innovative communication channel and allows us to position the university as an innovator among our peers.
Social media gives us the ability to interact directly with our audience and connect our audience with each other, which is key to building engagement.
Social media allows us to drive and harness the power of word of mouth — the buzz factor — which is perceived as more credible and authentic than traditional marketing materials.
Marquette is active on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Tumblr and Foursquare. As of February 2011, Marquette had more than 23,000 fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter, more than 750 videos on our YouTube channel, more than 2,000 photos on our Flickr page, and the 10th-most popular university Foursquare profile in the country.
For Marquette's full white paper on social media, e-mail Sr. Director of Interacted Marketing & Digital Strategy Tom Pionek.


text:
pilgrim wrote:Not only is this obviously unjust, the consistent poor reporting in many such articles is quite damaging as can be seen by some of the responses here.
richard_rca wrote:So in your eyes the fact that companies had to comply to new regulations to ensure that everyone could practice their religion is justification for arrogant, nationalistic bullying? Did you miss the part about the violence?
Mix any religion with a strong state that constantly produces a discourse about national purity and you'll have this sort of problem; buddhism is seemingly not an exception.
.When we talk about our human suffering, it brings out our compassionate tendencies. But when we talk about our opinions, about what I think and what you think about politics and religion, then we can get into wars. I remember seeing a film in London about ten years ago. It tried to portray Russian people as human beings by showing Russian women with babies and Russian men taking their children out for picnics. At the time, this presentation of the Russian people was unusual because most of the propaganda of the West made them out to be titanic monsters or cold-hearted, reptilian people - and so you never thought of them as human beings. If you want to kill people, you have to make them out to be that way; you cannot very well kill somebody if you realise they suffer the way you do. You have to think that they are cold-hearted, immoral, worthless and bad, and that it is better to get rid of them. You have to think that they are evil and that it is good to get rid of evil. With this attitude, you might feel justified in bombing and machine-gunning them. If you keep in mind our common bond of suffering, that makes you quite incapable of doing those things
Return to "Connections to Other Paths"
Users browsing this forum: an_user and 68 guests


text: 7-Eleven expands its line of travel-size products to help vacationers this season. In today's world of baggage fees, long security lines and restrictions on what can be carried onto the airplane, few U.S. travelers would use the words "travel" and "convenience" in the same sentence. But to make life on-the-go a little easier, 7-Eleven Inc.


text:
And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
Anywhere your adventuring takes you, this multicolor rucksack is up for it. Each bag is handmade in Brooklyn of durable waxed canvas, supported by a sturdy chest strap and padded back support for long treks. The main interior compartment is waterproof and fitted with an interior laptop sleeve, so you can make the trail your office when the mood strikes.
This product ships from the maker within 7 days, via USPS
If you're not happy with this item for any reason, you may return it for a full refund within 14 days.


text:
On May 14, The New York Times published a moving essay by Angelina Jolie in which the actor revealed she had undergone a double mastectomy — even though she did not have breast cancer. However, Jolie was aware that she had inherited a genetic mutation that increased her risk of developing breast cancer to about 87 percent. That mutation, associated with a "BRCA gene," additionally upped her chances for developing ovarian cancer to about 50 percent. Facing such grim odds, Jolie decided to be proactive and minimize those risks by having her breasts and ovaries surgically removed.
Jolie wrote that while her decision to undergo mastectomy was not easy, " … it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."
Public response to Jolie's bold revelation was overwhelmingly sympathetic. And many commentators appreciated her essay's substantial potential to educate the public about tests available to detect BRCA genetic mutations — particularly relevant to men and women with family histories of breast and ovarian cancers. More importantly, she hoped her story would empower those testing positive for the mutation to become more fully informed about prophylactic options that could, possibly, save their lives.
Additionally, it was obvious that Jolie's revelation generated significant shock and awe. After all, it's myth-shattering to acknowledge that someone who seems to "have everything" can't be shielded from ordinary bad luck or mundane mortal tribulations. It's also jarring to read the words of an iconic American sex symbol who does not struggle with the skin-deep cultural notions of beauty and femininity that have been firmly associated with her body; instead, after her surgery Jolie asserts ". . . I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."
Mostly, however, Jolie's essay may shock because it directly and forcefully reminds us that personal choice determines much of what happens to us in life. Socioeconomic forces can mightily intervene, Mother Nature frequently visits, genetic mutations sometimes lurk, and gods and the Fates may hold sway. Still, in between those providences, our bodies and our lives and the people to whom they matter are profoundly affected by the daily choices we make about our own health and well-being. And consciously acknowledging that can prove to be a weighty personal responsibility.
Clearly, for medical and moral reasons, little should stand in the way of people who, like Jolie, have familial risk for developing breast or ovarian cancers and wish to seek genetic testing as pro-active responsible stewards of their own bodies.
And yet, as you read this, the U.S. Supreme Court is mulling a case that addresses formidable legal and financial obstacles in the way of obtaining BRCA genetic testing, whether in the clinic or research lab. Those obstacles stem from a for-profit company's claim to own patents on the BRCA genetic mutations themselves. That company, Myriad Genetics, contends that its discovery and isolation of those genes justifies its patent rights and, consequently, its authority to monopolize and regulate testing for BRCA gene mutations.
The case raises complex theoretical and legal questions about whether an isolated human gene should even be considered a patentable invention. Plaintiffs challenging Myriad's patent argue that genes should be considered more like gold: a miner who might discover a unique way to locate and extract gold from earth is, nonetheless, not entitled to a patent on gold.
On a more practical plane, plaintiffs contend that Myriad's patents have allowed the company to charge exorbitant and unwarranted fees for BRCA testing: up to $3,000. This has not only created a financial obstacle for many women and men seeking testing, but it has also contributed to escalating health care costs. And because no other lab is free to perform the test, patients have nowhere else to turn for confirmatory testing when false negative results from Myriad labs are suspected.
Finally, many researchers claim that Myriad's monopoly has obstructed independent scientific investigation that could advance understanding about BRCA genetic mutations in service of patient care.
In court, Myriad lawyers argued their patent was valid because the company's capacity to isolate the BRCA genes was a product of "human ingenuity" and that patients never had the BRCA isolated gene "before the Myriad invention." But I think that's a patently misguided and self-interested outlook, and I hope the case against Myriad succeeds.
In my view, genes are naturally occurring things — never property or byproducts of human invention. They have been passed over centuries, from one generation to the next, belonging to everyone but to no one in particular. And they have defined who we are as human beings, long before the gold rush on the human genome was made possible by the happenstance of modern technologies. Real lives, embodying innate genetic mutations, are at stake.
Kate Scannell is a Bay Area physician and the author of "Death of the Good Doctor."


text: God that was so heartbreaking see Alissa fighting to not burst out in tears. Yet, that Joyce kept digging into her, "How do you feel? How are you going to recover from this in the free skate?" Doesn't she have any compassion. At least Scott has tons of compassion for her.


text:
Join our newsletter for new products, special offers, and more!
Enter email address
Sell your stuff or turn those old games into new!
Don't see what you're looking for? Create a Want List!
Partner with the Knight!
It is said there were once fifteen Magic: The Gathering cards so potent, they were banned or restricted from the known realms of competition. But in the years that have passed, the game has evolved and these elder cards are once again in play. Master these weapons from ages past and give your opponent a beating of historic proportions.


text:
Yes, it's been a slow day. Feel free to suggest more wrestlers
Last edited by Kashdinero; 01-22-2013 at 08:10 AM.
I'd rather have nothing than have a lie.
I'd rather have nothing than have a lie.
UWA Presents:
The Final Show in all of UWA History!
Live this Saturday October 6, 2012
From Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan
Theme: "Still Swinging" by Papa Roach


text:
The dish on Long Island's restaurant and food scene.
Rachel's Waterside Grill, one of the many restaurants on Freeport's Nautical Mile devastated by superstorm Sandy, reopens tonight.
Co-owner Ivan Sayles termed it a "soft opening," with a limited menu, as the staff returns to the reborn establishment. He expects the restaurant to have its "grand opening" on April 26. The renovated restaurant now sports a glass wall overlooking the water where windows had been.
He said Rachel's was rebuilt in about two months. More than two feet of water flooded the restaurant. "Everything was on the ground and ruined," he said.
The doors open at 5 p.m.
Rachel's Waterside Grill, 281 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport; 516-546-0050.


text:
By JAMES CLAY SMITH
Your Voice Contributor
During a recent visit to South Carolina, I was surprised by a headline from The Wall Street Journal ranking the Charleston Metro region as having the country's highest growth in adults with college degrees in 2011. Knowing that the number one question our economic development folks hear from businesses when they're being recruited to Louisville is, "do you have a well-educated talent pool?â€, I was curious why Charleston was so successful in attracting these well-educated individuals.
Interestingly, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance credits the region's success in attracting college graduates as directly related to Charleston's efforts in cultivating and supporting its creative talent. In fact, creative industries represent the fourth largest sector of the Charleston economy. Charleston has recognized the need to invest in its creative community as a key economic growth strategy, and these efforts are producing positive results.
First, let me disclaim that I have no credentials with the creative community other than having married a landscape architect more than a few years ago. The creative class includes anyone who trades in intellectual or creative capital, and whose livelihood is derived from an innovative enterprise. Creatives are graphic artists, gallery owners, restaurateurs, designers, photographers, musicians, writers, architects and inventors. Creatives are innovators. Innovation drives entrepreneurism, and entrepreneurism creates jobs.
A city attracting and retaining creative people challenges the old model of people moving to follow jobs. Quoting Steve Warner of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, "Creative talent goes where creative people want to live – quality of life is the main driver – and business development follows.†Warner shares that there are three T's of attracting and retaining creative people: technology, tolerance and territorial assets. Creatives demand the technological infrastructure needed to support the high-tech tools of the twenty-first century. They choose to live in communities that are open to diversity, and work actively to cultivate it. And they value the authenticity that can be found in the unique experiences specific to the cultural and physical attributes of the local community.
Much to the chagrin of the old corporate order (with which I closely identify), Creatives don't care as much about convention centers, downtown malls and casinos. Historical buildings, a vibrant music scene, urban parks, universities and thriving local restaurants are of much greater value. Waterfront Park, NuLu, the Derby Festival, 21c Museum Hotel, the Forecastle Festival, My Morning Jacket and Whiskey Row are all examples of the unique, authentic and local experiences that attract and retain Creatives to Louisville.
Even with austere state and local budgets, it is essential for government to make investments in Louisville's future. Mayor Fischer's proposed $500,000 plan for stabilizing Whiskey Row is the type of investment Metro government needs to make to preserve the authentic character of our downtown. I applaud the Whiskey Row investors led by Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown for stepping up once again with their personal resources.
Creative neighborhoods cannot be designed and built from the top down, as has been demonstrated time and again by the failure of faux-urban renewal projects. NuLu is a great example of a creative community that has evolved from grassroots but needs to be nurtured. The $10 million state-funded streetscape improvement project on East Market is a great opportunity, if it focuses on creating a more pedestrian-oriented area and not just an enhanced thoroughfare for moving commuters in and out of the business district.
And the Louisville business community should hire its local creative talent. I was reminded of this just recently when reading about Louisville based web designer Mission Data, whose greatest obstacle is convincing Louisville businesses that they don't have to go out of state in order to get a world-class web presence. We need to celebrate and support our local Creatives.
Charleston's success is proof that a flourishing creative community will not just attract well-educated adults, but can be a powerful economic development tool. In Louisville we must embrace this strategy, and support the public and private investments required to compete with other progressive urban areas that are pursuing these talented and well-educated individuals. The creative community is what keeps Louisville from becoming Anywhere, USA.
James Clay Smith is the President of Central Bank of Jefferson County.


text:
21 Jump Street was really, really good. Highly entertaining from staryt to finish and a few scenes that were extremely funny.
I highly recommend as well.
Sure a few jokes feel flat especially towards the end, but for this type of movie, I don't think I could have liked it anymore than I did


text:
5 movies which still inspire Indian weddings
Movies imitate life or life imitates movies? It is a classic who came first– egg or chicken situation. The debate may never find a clear winner but here is a sure-shot list of five Hindi movies which went beyond being entertainment. These movies not just broke box-office records but went much deeper to redefine the phenomena called the 'big fat Indian wedding'.
Recommended Read:
Top Actresses who left Bollywood after Marriage
Health Benefits of Getting Married
Most Stylish Celebs at Bollywood Weddings of 2012


text:
Found this. Tanking is not really cool and will never be.
ESPN.com: What other factors affect a team's ability to win at playoff time?
Auerbach: Like I always said, everything can happen in the playoffs.
I'll give you an example. Suppose you're coming down to the wire and you got a chance the last two weeks you're fighting for the best record. Then all of a sudden you have your best player, or your two best players are questionable with injuries.
You gotta make a decision. Should I bench these two guys and finish second, or should I go all out to get a one-game home-court advantage?
That situation could very easily arise. Bill Russell could have some problems with his knees and I could have played him 10 minutes a game over the last two weeks or I could rest him for four or five games, and so on.
But we played him his regular 45 minutes. The thing we used to go by was every game is important and don't try to be cute and play the angles. Play every game, win every game, let the chips fall where they may.
I remember people used to tell me years ago, when Bird was here, wouldn't it be better if you lost some of these games and then you would play so and so instead of so and so. I never bought that. I never bought that theory. Bird was like I was win every game and let the chips fall where they may.