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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
LEADERS: Azerane Bam BinkyBunny JerseyGirl LBJ10 LittlePuffyTail LongEaredLions RabbitPam
Hi All,
I've been a part of this website for about a month now, and I've seen some excellent advice and support given. Now I'm wondering if someone can help me out?
Last night, my boyfriend and I finally got fed up with the constant competive "marking" that all 3 of our bunnies are doing to our carpet when they get their turns out.
Spraying water confuses them. Yelling at them, which isn't the best thing, doesn't work well, but poops will fly as they flee the scene anyway.
Mabel started the whole thing; before we got her, Hugo didn't poop outside the litterbox, and Bungee recently started copying them.
Mabes is the third bunny I've got of the trio. When I first got her, no one was bonded. After about 4 months of hard work, in May, Hugo and Bungee were finally together in one cage.
The whole time, Mabel and H&B's cages were side by side.
We let Mabel out seperately from the other two to avoid fighting. Bungee and Mabel "fight" through the bars of the cage when one is out. (Usually Bungee initating it from the outside while Mabel is inside her cage). But its not a constant thing and doesn't happen all the time.
We've tried to do playdates with Mabel and Hugo. Hugo seems willing. Mabel is a scaredy cat and will react violently when scared. So, after some bites and scratches( to us), we kind of didn't give the playdates good effort. They haven't had one in a long time.
Does anyone have any suggestions if we try to spend all weekend working with the three of them?
Should I continue trying to get Mabel used to other bunnies by just using Hugo on a playdate? Or should I try to supervise all 3 at once?
One other thing, Mabel has a cataract in one eye, but I suspect she still has SOME vision in it.
She has no problem snuggling with me and in general is a pretty happy bunny. They all have been binkying a lot more lately, and moods are overall happy.
Also, Mabel is a larger bunny, a new zealand red. But I think she may only be 7-8 lbs?
Bungee is the second largest, 6 lbs? And Hugo is probably about 5.
Please help, we are tired of putting up with the constant poos they leave as we think it is competitive marking. I can't think of any other solution other than having to get them all together as a family.
FYI Mabel is the big bun in the first pic, H&B are in the second, obviously already bonded together.
Have you tried taking bunnies out in the car? I know that helped with my two buns - maybe take hugo and Mable out together to get them bonded a bit first?
Is there somewhere you could let them out that is neutral to all 3??
Has Mable and Bungelina been spayed? (Fantastic name by the way)
I've had to learn to be more patient with my two females Booboo and Mable, but its going ok at the mo..
There seems to be quite a few bunny lovers here with 3 or more bunnies so it must be possible!! don't give up, you did a great thing rescueing Mable and eventually you'll reap the rewards x
Good luck x
Thanks Tabby, I love taking pics of them. But I'm still a bit of an amateur photographer
Let me know how your bonding goes, I need all the ideas and help I can get, it looks like!
Do you have pics of your 3 guys?
Hi Bunnybabe, I'm a bit nervous doing the car thing with 3 bunnies...We only have 2 carrying cases, and I'm pretty sure Mabel won't fit in either of them. How would you recommend going about it? Bring them all out in carry cases (we'd have to get a third) and then dump them all in the backseat? Or into a large cardboard box? One time, when we were trying to bond Hugo and Bungee, someone recommended putting them on a clothes washer. So we carried them down the hall (we live in a condo w/shared facilities) and put a laundry basket and dropped them both in...Fur was flying!!! It was like those old cartoons where all you can see is a huge cloud of smoke and tufts of hair flying about!
Hey GH, thanks for the compliment...H, M, and Bung are all simulateonusly blushing right now...Or sleeping, what do I know, I'm at work
A big issue with us is the neutral zone thing. We have a large dining room/living room that they all share and that is where the cages are. (Next to the TV - so they think we are always watching them, haha). We have a bedroom which we don't allow them in, unless they sneak in or push the door in, the little devils...And there is a computer room, where we attempted all of the bonding sessions. But, although the 3 of them don't get regular access to this room, I don't always shoo them out if I'm on the computer...So perhaps this territory is not-so-neutral anymore.
The pet store cart is interesting- Is this something you've had success with? I wouldn't have thought that pet store employees would have allowed rabbits, esp. since there are cats and dogs roaming the stores with their customers. (Petsmart, Petco, etc.)
The marking is mainly pooping. They all do it around the periphary of the living room/dining room. There was one major spot in the corner of a wall and couch that they insisted on peeing and doing a LOT of pooping, so we took one of the old cages we no longer need and put it there.
That helped at first, but then they started pooping right in front of the cage rather than to go in it! Also, there is a corner litter box in this "rest area" cage, but they don't really use it - they go all over the cage floor as well.
Thank you for the bonding articles, I will check into them.
I know i was very worried taking them out in the car (my vet recommended putting them both into 1 carrier before they were spayed!!! I didn't do it cause i was petrified that they would fight before we got to the car!! ) BUT having said that every time we've took them since being spayed, they get so scared when they go into a box (I don't use the carrier - I use a neutral cardboard box) that they just sit there....
We decided between us that I would drive (slightly more irratically than normal - to throw them around a little) and my hubby would referee, sorry i mean watch out for any scraps in the back. As it happens they were too scared to fight, they just sit and pant.
I got a bit worried the first few times as they took ages to calm down, but Binkybunny said that this was part of the reason it works.
I can see why you were told that sitting them on a washer would work, I think it would be simular. I probably shouldn't say this but we've put them in the box we use to take them for a drive, but just carry them around and spin a little, and move the box up and down.... it had a simular effect and hubby got a work out to boot.
I don't think this is a miracle cure, but it helps, along with a lot a patience and nerves of steel!!
Good luck and I really wish you well x
Theresa - You've gotten some good advice already. But I just wanted to just reiterate some of the points already made. Bonding bunnies that don't get along is so tiring and messy! So I do understand. It can turn the most calm easy going person into Charles Manson.
First, if they have gotten into a nasty fight lately, then you may want to give them a break from each other - a week or two. and it would be best to start again when you are ready to commit to doing bonding sessions everyday: (and I know this is not easy and it can be a real pain in the arse!)
Calm Persistance (everyday) small small dose sessions - car rides (or some other suggested stressor) to start if they fight first. I usually bring a blanket to cover over the car seat and put them in the back seat with a litterbox. My husband would drive while I supervised. Throughout the process try and stay relaxed and calm because if you start getting tense, it's not going to help, so if you start to feel tense or mad, impatient, take a deep breath, and if you still can't be patient, then just stop and do it again later or then next day.
Neutral territory, Do they go into the bathroom? What about the bathtub? On this site, in the bonding section, I created a semi-neutral territory, but it might work as a neutral territory too. http://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/Bon...aspx (scroll down to Bonding Tips & Tricks)
All three at once or pair up first? This really depends. When all three are together, do Hugo and May fight at all? Does it cause Hugo and Bungee to fight? Many times this will cause disruption in all three and they need to work it out, but If after trying with all three,Bungee and May are still fighting, then I recommend you try and do actual dates with the Bungee and May. If those two are doing car rides together only, then they might be more likely to cuddle with just each other. Then once they start gettting along, bring Hugo into the mix. If you also have Hugo and May date, then you need to make sure, BEFORE, you put Hugo back with Bungee, that you rub your hands all over Bungee, and then all over Hugo, to help cover the scent of May. Otherwise Bungee might smell May on Hugo, and that may cause a fight.
What if they just will not get along? Sometimes, even after months and months of trying, some pairs will still have disdain for each other. (this is rare) You might find that Hugo can have playdates out with May, but May and Bungee will always have to be separated. Does that mean they will always have a poopfest in your house? Not once they have settled into the situation.
I can reallly sympathize with you because I was in your situation - sort of. I have a rare case of bunnies that refuse to get along. I have a trio. Jack and Rucy are extremely bonded. Bailey is a very queenish bunny who likes to be dominant and loves to be the human's favorite. I actually did get Bailey and Rucy to get along (I haven't finished posting their journals), I spend endless hours, months on ending getting them from literally trying to kill each other to cuddling. But Bailey would just become too Bossy. She seemed so insecure, and had to reinforce her dominance over and over, and I just felt it was causing Rucy too much stress (she'd get sick or her jaw abscess would return), so I just decided to separate them permanently. They will cuddle near each other through the fence (it's tight netted so they can't hurt each other) and they will also fight through the fence, but Rucy's health has never been better, so I know it was the best thing.
Jack and Bailey do get along, and they can have playdates.
I would love to have them all get along. But it just wasn't meant to be, and now the house is more peaceful and the poopfest is gone! But before giving up, first really give bonding a try.
NOTE: You can try to do the whole weekend thing. I have heard that works! I do know that when I tried it, it didn't for me, and I felt extremely frustrated, because I was so hoping it would work, and as the hours, and hours, and hours passed, and nothing was improving, I just got mad. Which did not help the situation. But that's just me, and you might have the patience of saint.
Well everyone, we had "playdate #1" last night.
It lasted about 20-30 min. In the kitchen.
In our condo, we have a long, thin kitchen, about 9x11 feet. So, subtracting the counters, we had about 11x4 square feet to play with?
(there are entrances at each end)
The plan was that we were going to set up some laundry baskets to block one end, and then position myself in the other end, blocking that entrance physically.
We were going to start with Mabel and Bungee, since they seem to have the most animosity. So, I went to pick up Bungee from the cage, and she FREAKED. She hates being picked up, esp. from her cage. So, last second, instead of getting frustrated, I just grabbed easy-going Hugh.
I then handed Hugo off to Mike, who held him at bay on the kitchen floor while I went to get Mabel out of her cage.
Although Hugo runs through the kitchen when doing the Bundy 500, it is merely part of his circular lap he does around our condo. And although he does like to run up to the fridge and / or jump into the fridge when we go near the kitchen, he's not an expert at walking on the tile flooring. He still slips a bit, and he's never marked in the kitchen. So, I think this is the best "neutral" territory we have, given that the girls don't even VENTURE into the kitchen like dare-devil Hugh.
I don't know why we didn't think of it earlier. I guess b/c of the way the girls don't like to walk on the surface. But apparently, that is a good thing?
So I extracted a scaredy-cat Mabel from HER cage and brought her to the kitchen. (Mike was all prepared with oven mitts on both hands! )
I sat down to position myself on the floor against the opening at the far end opposite Mike and Hugo, who is munching on a carrot piece in the middle of the kitchen floor (while slipping and splaying his front legs humorously for us).
I try to put Mabel down on the tile and she VELCROD herself to my lap. She snuggled in as much as she could; she didn't want anything to do with the tile or Hugo!
Hugo, while munching away, definately noticed Mabel, but was far to interested in eating than meeting her. They were about 2-3 feet apart.
So, I kept periodically trying to place Mabel down, but she wouln't detach herself from me. My bf got her a carrot piece, and she refused to eat it on the floor. So, with her in my lap, and me holding one end of the carrot, she decided she was comfortable enough to eat it! I took that as a good sign, b/c scared bunnies don't want to eat.
Eventually, we got her to move about a little bit on the floor, providing I stretched out my leg as a "railing" around the periphery. Hugo walked around, they got pretty close together, but no lunging/growling/biting. Yes!
However, I'm not sure if that was b/c Mabel was clung to me, being a scaredy cat?
Mike and I changed positions (He at the entrance and me in the middle with Mabel) to sort of force Mabel to be out in the open with Hugo.
By this time, Hugo had figured out how to push the laundry baskets at the opposite entrance away, and was sneaking off. Mike retrieved him a couple of times, but Hugo was soooooo determined that eventually Hugo got pissed off.
So I knew that no more progress could be made without our normally good natured bunny, therefore it was pointless to continue the playdate at this point.
Hopefully, we can try for playdate #2 tonight!
Hi guys,
we had playdate #2 tonight, but it was shorter than yesterday.
Mabel was still quite the velcro-bunny, but not as bad. I took a dishtowel and put that on the tile so she could sit on it. I got her to eat a carrot off of it, not just from me holding it out for her
Though it was only ~15 minutes, they had a few really CLOSE encounters...3 nose to noses, BRIEFLY.
No fighting, etc. I have a good feeling about this, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. Plus there is still the issue of Mabel-Bungee.
Also, I put Hugo back in Mabel's cage and left Mabel out, so he was getting his marks and scent in her territory... Then Mike put Hugo back with Bungee.
Fingers are x!
Actually the bonding sessions are over, and there ended up being about 6 - 8 weeks worth, but we were having tech difficulties as we were changing hosts, and now I have to go back and actually find the old files one by one. So it's taken me a while to get those journals back up.
They actually ended up getting along, but then Bailey just couldn't stop being too bossy with Rucy, and because Rucy has had health issues (reoccuring jaw abscess) which she had before I adopted her, then I felt the stress of being bossed around was bad for her health. Since I separated them, she has been abscess free. So if Rucy didn't have some health issue, I would have probably kept on trying for a little bit longer, but I found this to be the best solution for this situation,
However, I am still going to keep putting the journals up as the body language and progression towards success will be helpful for others.
Wow we are actually 3 for 3 on the playdates now. Last night, it only lasted maybe 10-15 minutes.
The playdates seem to be getting shorter the more adverturous and closer they become. Also, Hugo doesn't much understand or like being forced to be in one area.
They walked by each other a few times, with no reactions. That is very good.
Mabel went up to Hugo and kind of sniffed nose to nose, and I got nervous, so I reached to get my hand ready/pat her head, but I started her a bit since I came round on her left side (cataract), so she reacted and grunted briefly. But no bite. I feel bad, since that was kind of my fault. I just get so nervous!
This weekend when we go to costco, hopefully we'll get a really big box that we can use to barricade off one entrance to the kitchen. The laundry baskets aren't quite cutting it, and Hugo is sneak between them or jumping onto them.
I guess we'll keep on doing this pattern regularly every day - I don' t know when we'll determine that they will be allowed in the common areas on the rugs. Any suggestions?
With regards to switching cages - the main problem is getting Bungee out of her and Hugo's cage. She's a PITA trying to pickup, and I don't wnat to let her out when Mabel is out, yet.
Yes, keep it up with that pattern everyday, until you feel like you can actually relax and not watch so carefully. This means, they would be able to walk around each other without freaking out, they would be relaxed around each other - hopefully even begin to snuggle. This could mean a week, or even two, or even more if two of them are still tense. (but hopefully not)
If you move to quickly, and they haven't become at least friendly before you move them, then they can still be more apt to fight.
I think the best way to tell if you could move them to the next step is if you would feel confident enough to read a book while in there, or even leave the room to do a couple of chores around the house (within ear shot)
When you do move them to the next location be sure not to give them too much space - still try to keep them confined within the common area, otherwise they can revert back to old territorial behaviors.
Also, when you finally do move them to the 2nd location, they may go through a bit of dominance posturing and tense behavior, but just pet them and help them settle down. Usually this will die down. But if it gets worse, and they get aggressive, you may need to go back to the first location.


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Races in Al-Greya (From what is known locally in Aramidia)
Humans are the standard by which all others are measured. Not because they are the oldest, wisest, or strongest of the races, but because they are the most widespread and varied. Other races such as dwarves and elves have never had a surviving foothold in this part of the world, and as such are not listed. Humans come in all varieties, from savage warriors of distant jungles to wise priests and holy crusaders. Humans live a little over half a century in Al-Greya. Their skin color ranges greatly, and their eyes are varied.
Human Variants of Al-Greya
Aesirgard (slave race)
Golden-haired, blue-eyed, bearded barbarians clad in chain hauberks wielding axes and wooden shields. Vigor d8; +1 to Intimidation and Tracking rolls.
Tall and powerful, with broad shoulders, curly hair and long beards, their brown skin wrinkled by harsh wind and sun. Agility d8; +1 to Climbing and Stealth rolls (but only outdoors).
A tawny-haired, grey-eyed, tanned skinned people. Str d6, +1 Charisma; +1 to Ride and Diplomacy rolls.
Argolaine (Sea Born variant)
These dark skinned and sky blue eyed people have thick, curly, dark hair and short, stocky bodies. Agility d6, +1 Charisma; +1 to Boating and Piloting rolls.
Brythtar (slave race)
Stocky, with fair skin and blond hair. Agility d6, Spirit d6; +1 to Survival rolls; receive the Beast Bond Edge for free.
Dark-haired, bronze-skinned hillsmen, bare-chested with steel shields and battle-axes. Agility d6, Vigor d6; +1 to Climbing and Tracking rolls.
Cormarean (slave race)
Black skinned as Al-Greyans go, due to intermixing with various offshoots, with a stout build and tawny hair. Vigor d6, Spirit d6; +1 to Streetwise rolls.
Hythinian (slave race)
Tall, unnaturally thin, fair-skinned folk with light brown-blonde hair and blue-green eyes. Smarts d6; +1 to Intimidation rolls; get the Arcane Background (Magic) edge for free.
Hyconian (slave race)
Horsemen with hooked noses, black hair and eyes, and deeply tanned skin; riders wear steel and silk and gold. Agility d8; +1 to Riding; ignores Unstable Platform penalty of –2 when firing bow from horseback.
Short, stout, broad-shouldered people with light brown skin, blue or brown eyes, and jet black hair (much like the Shemites, to whom they are distantly related). Strength d6, Spirit d6; +1 to Intimidation (Bluff) and Knowledge (Religion) rolls.
Black-haired and yellowish-skinned with slanted dark eyes, dressed in silk robes and oriental armor. Agility d6, Smarts d6; +1 to Notice and Acrobat rolls.
Dark-haired, bronze-skinned folk with light to dark brown hair. Vigor d8; begin play with an extra Edge (must meet requirements).
Kelbian (slave race)
Light brown to deep black skin and savage eyes. Strength d6, Agility d6; +1 to Stealth (outdoor only) and Survival rolls.
Tall, white skinned people with deep blue eyes and light or blonde hair. Smarts d6, Spirit d6; +1 to any Knowledge roll (the Nellarians being the scholars and historians of Al-Greya).
Tan, with dark hair and lean bodies. Smarts d6, +1 Charisma; begin play with 50% more starting money.
Pilisian (slave race)
Short, stocky, redish skinned people with wild black hair confined by copper bands, decorated with feathers. Agility d6, Vigor d6; +1 to Stealth (outdoor only) and Survival rolls.
Shemite (slave race)
Generally of medium height, though sometimes, when mixed with variant blood, gigantic, broadly and strongly built, with hook noses, dark eyes, and brown hair. Vigor d6, Spirit d6; +1 to Persuasion and Streetwise rolls.
This ruling class is tall, hawk-faced, bronze-skinned with dark hair and black eyes. Smarts d6; +2 to Knowledge (banking and finance) rolls; gets the Noble Edge for free.
Turallen (the 40% majority in Al-Greya)
Turbaned men with hooked noses; veiled women with black hair. Agility d6, Smarts d6; +1 to Persuasion and Streetwise rolls.
Vannoth (slave race)
Red-haired and lightly freckled skinned ravagers and raiders in longships, with ring mail, horsehide shields, spears and swords. Strength d6; +1 to Riding and Swimming rolls.
Black-haired, light brown skin; shaven-headed priests, turbaned warriors. Spirit d6; +1 to Knowledge (Religion) and Notice rolls. The Veshedian's Notice skill is special though in that he or she can use it to sense what a person's motive is (think old-school D&D, and the "Know Alignment" spell).
Deeply tanned with dark eyes, wearing loose-fitting robes. Smarts d6, +1 Charisma; +1 to Stealth (city only) and Streetsmarts rolls.
Tanned, curly-haired sailors and princelings, an admixture of Zigarian Valley folk (possibly of Shemite origin), invading Pilisians, and Hyconian tribes. +2 Charisma; +1 to Notice and Swimming rolls.

subset: commoncrawl


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"This news should be reassuring to nervous parents," says TIME medical writer Christine Gorman. Pediatricians may not need to be reassured: While some parents took last year's results very much to heart, effectively banishing light from their sleeping children's rooms, doctors had not been particularly impressed with the data. "Some pediatricians have mentioned it to their patients' parents, but there hasn't been an overarching night-light recommendation from the medical establishment," says TIME medical contributor Dr. Ian Smith. "This is something that scientists will discuss with each other, not with parents."
Night-Light Study May Have Been Shortsighted
Everyone knows there's nothing better than a night-light to banish those monsters that go bump in the night. And so when a study linking the use of night-lights to nearsightedness was published in 1999, guilt-wracked parents were forced to choose between their children's comfort and their own peace of mind. Tonight, parents and children alike can sleep a bit easier: Two studies published in this week's issue of the journal Nature go a long way toward debunking last year's scare; researchers were unable to duplicate the findings reported in the preliminary study. They say the figures may have emerged because the earlier study did not discount the possibility that short-sighted parents might be more likely to use nightlights and that short-sightedness tends to be passed from generation to generation.


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A freshman-dominated team usually means a rebuilding year for most ball clubs, but the Southwestern College Jaguars insist that they have never been hotter.
Leaving preseason behind with a 7-4 record, the Jaguars won their first Pacific Coast Conference game against Palomar College on Tuesday in a nail-biter that had fans sitting on the edge of the bleachers up until the last inning. SWC recorded the 9-8 win despite an unusually messy performance by its defense. The struggling infield had an uncharacteristically sloppy game, missing catches and chasing balls through the dirt. Even seasoned pitcher Kiki Medina was dishing less than he normally serves.
But the awkward miscues on the field are natural this early in the season, according to freshman Miguel Solano, and are nothing to worry about when compared to the solid hitting the team has displayed all preseason.
"We've got to work a little more on the routine plays and we'll be okay," the second baseman said. "This game was a great way to start our league. We swung the bat, we battled and we came up with the win."
Head coach Jerry Bartow agreed that this game was not a bad way to begin conference play. "If we're going to win it, we might as well do it now," said Bartow, who could be heard from the dugout throughout the game whistling and shouting encouragement to his team.
The Jaguars' winning ways may have to do with the off-field bonding the team has been doing this season. Sophomore Cody Sos said the players have been hanging out after practices which is doing a lot to help them gel as teammates.
"It's extremely important because when you like each other you believe in each other," he said. "When someone is pulling for you, you play better as a team."
Sos, one of the club's two catchers this season, has been helping to bring along some of the less experienced players. And he is not the only one. Many of the returning sophomores are taking the new talent under wing.
"I call Kiki my mentor because he pitches, plays outfield and hits, just like I do," said freshman pitcher Juwun McCray. "We got Sos and everybody. They are our leaders."
Strength of the club, McCray believes, is the team's compatibility.
Medina agreed the ball club is emanating great spirit, adding emphatically that he has enjoyed working with McCray and the other pitchers.
"This team has the best chemistry of any team I've ever been with," he said.
Returning for his second year with the Jags, Medina is arguably the club's strongest arm and is well-respected by his teammates.
But most of the seats in the dugout this year are filled with fresh faces, a unique advantage in the eyes of some of the players.
"I like how the freshmen are taking over," said shortstop Sheldon Gabriels. "I like having a younger team that can play on through the years. We're always getting better. We can't ever peak."
In tough games like the season opener against Palomar, it may just be that attitude that makes the difference between a win and a loss. Outfielder Chris Allen strongly believes in the power of positivity. Next to the coach, he's the loudest voice in the dugout shouting support for the team.
"The chemistry on our team is insanely good," he said. "All of us just love each other, all of us just want us to get better and see how far we can go. It's going be a team to see."
A freshman-dominated team usually means a rebuilding year for most ball clubs, but the Southwestern College Jaguars insist that they have never been hotter.
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Dr. Gridlock: Your traffic and transit questions
Robert Thomson: Welcome, travelers. There's a busy weekend coming up in DC area transportation news, plus, we've got a lot to talk about concerning our regular problems with getting around.
David Lacosse, Manager of Metro Escalators: Under David Lacosse's watch, the escalator situation has been a complete and utter disaster. Not only that, but this is a guy who refuses to be interviewed, so he pretty much avoids answering tough questions. Why hasn't this guy been fired yet?
Robert Thomson: I was thinking about the escalator problems this morning. Just wrote a post for the Dr. Gridlock blog saying that the Bethesda escalators -- the two between the platform and mezzanine -- are working again, after a maintenance project that lasted half a year.This is something Metro should have figured out how to fix by now. There are many problems with the escalators, but they've been known for more than a decade.At the same time, I'm not sure that one guy should be the focal point. (Metro has gone through plenty of top managers over the past few years. Do you think Metro service has gotten better?)The Post's Ann Scott Tyson did interview David Lacosse over the summer. Here's one graph from her July 21 story:"If I could have 1,000 escalator mechanics, we would be in nirvana, but the budget is not going to pay for that," said David Lacosse, director of Metro's Office of Elevators and Escalators. "So you are struggling with the number of people you have and the amount of area."
Orange line morning delay: Hi Dr. Gridlock,I got to the Court House station this morning at around 7:50 to find the next orange line train was scheduled to come in eight minutes. A few minutes later, I heard an announcement that there was a train out of service at Farragut West, causing delays. I never received an e-alert for this delay, and as far as I can tell it was never up on wmata.com. Do you know why some delays never get alerts? Thanks.
Robert Thomson: I'm not sure why this is, but I agree that the e-alerts from Metro are spotty. I try to follow what's going on with all the lines, by receiving Metro's e-alerts and looking at its Twitter feed.Sometimes, there are plenty of advisories about a disruption, and other times, nothing. The gaps don't seem to involve any particular line. Recently, during the morning rush, there was nothing about a lengthy disruption on the Red Line.
Marine Corps Marathon: Please help! I have a large group coming to town this weekend, leaving from National Airport this Sunday-- MCM day. Unfortunately, they will have lots of luggage and are not Metro-savvy, so I need to coordinate cabs for them.How long would it take to get to DCA from the Dupont/Woodley area, leaving at various times between 7 a.m. and noon? I'm thinking they should allow at least an hour. I see the long list of road closures; it's just very hard to make sense of visually. Will cabbies know the proper diversions, or should I map everything out for them ahead of time?
Robert Thomson: For all, the marathon's Web site has course maps on this page:http:/
HOV Lanes on I-66: Why during the weekend when traffic is at a stand-still on I-66 do they keep the HOV lanes closed? It's extremely frustrating sitting in traffic when these lanes are closed to traffic. It doesn't make any sense.
Robert Thomson: There's no reason the HOV lanes should have been closed on the weekend on I-66. Are we talking about the far left lanes in each direction? Or might you be thinking of the shoulder lanes, which are open only during the weekday rush hours?
DC on Saturday: Your weekend announcement of road closures seemed to have missed a lot of closures in DC. The most significant of them was not warning of the Memorial Bridge closure. It wasn't a very pleasant Saturday morning for me and many other commuters.What happened?
Robert Thomson: I'm sorry you got stuck. Are you thinking of the posting I do each Friday morning on the Dr. Gridlock blog? The one I call "The weekend and beyond"? To do that, I review the announcements from the local transportation agencies and also whatever I picked up in driving or riding around the region.I think it's the most comprehensive preview in the DC area, but it's still only about 10 items for the entire region. So I try to spread out the items to cover all parts of the region.Also, I welcome any suggestions about what travelers would like to see in that guide. If you're worried about a particular upcoming event, or you just think your part of the region isn't getting enough attention, let me know at email@example.com this weekend, I'll probably highlight the Marathon, the Jon Stewart rally and Halloween, but there will be plenty of other stuff.
Tyson's Corner construction : The news stories tell us that there will be two more years of construction hell in the VA-267, I-495 area. Why can't VDOT and the Airport Authority implement some operational improvements to lessen the impact.Possible solutions could include: making one more toll booth EZ-path only (perhaps only during the peak hours); allowing HOV vehicle to enter the eastbound 267 just after the main toll plaza to get them out of the interchange traffic; add some thin flexible traffic bollards to the beltway exit lanes/through lane lines to try to eliminate the late mergers who block one of the two through lanes to force themselves into the exiting beltway traffic.They need to do something! Two more years is a long time.
Robert Thomson: Those are good questions. Travel on Route 267 is affected by two of the biggest transportation projects in the country: The HOT lanes and the Dulles Metrorail construction.The airports authority, which operates the toll road and is managing the rail project, is holding a public meeting tonight to discuss issues affecting drivers. Here's how we described it on the Dr. Gridlock blog:The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates the Dulles Toll Road, is holding an informational meeting for the public tonight.The forum will provide information on the road's finances, operations and planned improvements. Airports officials said there will be exhibits and representatives from the agency to discuss tolls, increases that have already been approved and financing for the Metrorail extension to Dulles and beyond.The meeting is scheduled for from 5 to 8 tonight at the South Lakes High School Cafeteria, 11400 S. Lakes Dr. in Reston.
Bikes on Sidewalks: Now that the Capital Bike Share program has started, I see even more bikes on crowded sidewalks. What are the laws concerning bike riding on sidewalks and will police start enforcing these laws? I am tired of having to move out of the way, or get hit while I am walking on sidewalks when there is a bike lane less than 10 feet away on the street. Thank you.
Robert Thomson: The Washington Area Bicyclist Association offers great guides about the rules. They are helpful for cyclists and for motorists:http:/
Metro enter/exit same station charge: If you enter a Metro station and see that the platforms are overcrowded, etc., and then just turn around and go back into the office, you are charged for entering/exiting the same station (minimum fare).Metro claims that they do this so as to prevent a conspiracy of two people exchanging farecards/SmarTrip cards and then entering/exiting "same" station. The problem with this response is that there is still a monetary incentive to do this type of conspiracy because of the the distance charge.Furthermore, couldn't metro just have a 10-minute grace period of entering/exiting same station? You go in and realize it's terrible. Or, they could just apply zero charge for entering/exiting station to SmarTrip cards and have triggers whereby it's not allowed more than X number of times per month. Can we just get Metro to admit that they are just trying to get more money out of us even when they have disaster days (not uncommon)?
Robert Thomson: I think what Metro should do is make sure that its station managers are alert enough to discover problems on their platforms and have the means to quickly post signs warning incoming riders about severe delays.Right now, riders don't necessarily have a way of knowing what's going on before they see the platform. (We talked about this a moment ago regarding the lack of consistent e-alerts about disruptions.)
Jon Stewart Rally: Speaking of the rally, how much lead time do you think people need to have to get downtown via Metro (red line from Glenmont)? I have friends coming from out of town to go.
Robert Thomson: For all, the Jon Stewart rally is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday on the National Mall, between 3rd Street and 7th Street NW.It's hard to say how many people are going to attend. I haven't heard anything about Metro putting on extra service for that. I think the event sponsors would have to pay for it. (As is the case with the Marine Corps Marathon.)Metro says it's going to be working on the elevated tracks at Rhode Island Avenue again this weekend. That suggests you should add 20 minutes to your regular travel time getting downtown.
New Fairfax Parkway extension: Heading south is great - heading north, out of Ft. Belvior, you are forced to link up with the existing parkway at Rolling Road.A two-lane section of traffic will need to line up in the right lane, wait for the light, and then merge onto the parkway.Is this the best we can do? What happens when 1000's of workers come out of the new NGA and other buildings and clog this one-lane exit?
Robert Thomson: Even though the parkway extension has opened, we're still about two years away from having all the planned connections constructed.Yes, I think that will be a problem in the early going concerning the BRAC relocations. But I'm more worried about what's going to happen farther north at the Mark Center.
Escalators vs Stairs: Why can't Metro retrofit some of the escalators to boring, old-fashioned stair cases?Obviously, some places this will never work (Bethesda, Rosslyn), but on others it can (Clarendon). You can also have stairs between the upper and lower platforms like at Navy Yard, Courthouse, and L'Enfant. That would allow Metro to use its limited staff on fewer systems.
Robert Thomson: That's a good idea. And in fact, there are plans to add staircases at some stations, such as Foggy Bottom. But that's still a fairly expensive undertaking. I think the local governments would have to kick in extra money -- taxpayer money -- to finance some projects, or deals would have to be worked out with private developers who want to build by the Metro stations.
bicycles: How come most cyclist don't believe they have to follow the rules of the road? They regularly blow through stop signs and red lights, and never yield when they should. It's not only dangerous for them but they are putting others at risk as well.
Robert Thomson: Saturday night in Adams Morgan I watched as a cyclist blew threw a stop sign into the path of a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Didn't even slow down.But I can't conclude from that -- or other incidents we all could describe -- that "most" cyclists do any one particular thing. I watch traffic for a living and can't conclude that "most" drivers do any one particular thing either.What I notice is that many travelers -- motorists and cyclists -- will obey traffic rules when they have no other choice and ignore them when they can.
CONSTRUCTION LIGHTS ON THE DULLES ACCESS RD: The construction site in the middle of the Dulles Access Road is illuminated at night using very bright overhead lights, some of which are partially aimed at oncoming traffic on the access road. This has the effect of blinding drivers and making it very difficult to see the darker areas beyond the lights - which creates a hazard (even at the posted speed limit) given the narrow shoulder and the way in which lanes frequently shift due to the construction. Are there any rules in terms of how these lights are used? Is anyone thinking about the safety hazard created here?
Robert Thomson: I'm not sure what the "rules" are but that certainly doesn't sound like a safe setup. I'll ask the project about the lighting. I'm sure they have no interest in blinding drivers entering a work zone.
Different Escalator Issue: Hi, Dr. Gridlock. My sister and I raced the Army Ten Miler this past weekend. We were on the middle escalator at the Pentagon Metro station, which was packed with racers and spectators, heading up to street level. All of sudden, it came to a jerky stop. Luckily no one was hurt. All of the escalators had been ascending but this one was stopped so people entering the station could use the escalator as stairs.Of course we all just walked up but it seems like it would have been safer if someone had prevented people from getting on the escalator and then stopped it when it was empty. There was an elderly woman next to me who probably would have preferred not to walk up.
Robert Thomson: I can't believe that any Metro employee turned off the escalator while people were on it. Certainly, that's not what's supposed to happen.The escalators have sensors that will stop the machinery if there's a lot of pressure from riders. Most often, it happens when people run on the escalators, but I think it could also happen if they are extremely crowded.You're certainly correct that Metro often stops escalators to use them as stairways under crowded conditions, but the normal procedure is to place a barrier across the entranceway and let everyone get off the other end before stopping the escalator.
Robert Thomson: Thanks for joining me. That's all the time we have for today's session. I'll copy the remaining questions and search for answers.Please come back and join me next Monday. And remember that you can contact me anytime during the week at firstname.lastname@example.com safe.


text:
Wyoming Liberty Attorneys Sue City of Cheyenne for Political Sign Regulations
CHEYENNE – Wyoming Liberty Group attorneys sued the City of Cheyenne on behalf of resident Ronald Williams in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming today, challenging provisions of the Cheyenne Unified Development Code (UDC) that restrict political signs on private property as an unconstitutional abridgement of free speech. "The UDC limits Cheyenne residents to two political signs on lots less than one acre, and only allows residents to put these signs up during a certain timeframe," said Steve Klein, co-counsel to Williams. "This censorship unconstitutionally limits one of the cheapest and most effective forms of political speech available to Cheyenne residents."
Throughout the fall season, WyLiberty attorney Boyd Wiggam testified repeatedly before the Cheyenne City Council and worked with some council members and a coalition of concerned citizens on language to amend the UDC to protect free speech. After final reading of this amendment on December 23, it failed to garner the votes necessary to pass.
"Despite our efforts, the council did not amend the unconstitutional provisions," said Wiggam. "What's most unfortunate is that some council members actually believe aesthetics and maintaining property values justify censorship. This not only flies in the face of our Constitution, but common sense."
Ron Williams, a longtime Cheyenne resident, successfully sued the city in state court in 1995 over similar zoning rules. At the time, the city only allowed displaying political signs from 45 days before an election to 10 days afterward. The court struck down the law, but time restrictions on signs were once again ratified in the UDC in 2012 along with numerical limits.
"It's only January, but political races are already underway and I believe the time to speak out is now, not in 10 months," said Williams. "I want to support candidates in local, state and federal elections, but I can't do all of that with just two signs. It's frustrating that after winning my earlier case the city would enact an even more restrictive zoning ordinance, but the First Amendment hasn't changed. I look forward to our day in court."
Cheyenne attorney Tim Kingston, who represented Williams in his earlier suit, also joins this lawsuit as co-counsel.
"In Mr. Williams' prior case, the Court struck down an ordinance virtually identical to the UDC," said Kingston. "It is sad that Mr. Williams must re-litigate the issue, especially when the City already knows and has admitted that its current ordinance is unconstitutional."
Benjamin Barr, lead counsel in WyLiberty's Legal Center, is also co-counsel to Williams.
"We've worked on some very complex speech cases at WyLiberty, but this isn't one of them," said Barr. "This case is about core political speech, and we aim to re-affirm first principles and put the City Council and other city officials on the right track to considering free speech a priority, not a problem to be solved


text:
DORSET-L ArchivesArchiver > DORSET > 2003-08 > 1060104632
From: "Eddie Hann" <>
Subject: Re: [DOR] Herbert Battrick in Newfoundland
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 18:30:33 +0100
References: <000c01c35b4b$2642e960$ae60ff3e@laptop>
> I am trying to find the marriage of Herbert Battrick to Dorcas ?????
> The 1881 UK census Dorcas gives her place of birth as HOUBER GRACE in
Newfoundland in 1841 ...... they married in Newfoundland C1865/7 and had two
children there.
> Any help with Dorcas's maiden name or details of the marriage would be
most welcome ....
Have you tried http://ngb.chebucto.org which has an amazing amount of
Newfoundland genealogy. Would imagine you need Harbour Grace
Eddie in Peterborough
This thread:
|Re: [DOR] Herbert Battrick in Newfoundland by "Eddie Hann" <>


text:
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Do one pull-up, kick higher, and learn new swing dancing moves.
I am a warm, welcoming and compassionate person. I love people. I love learning, conversing, philosophying, going crazy, travelling, debating... Sometimes I also like to put my reason aside and be subject to my emotions and see how far those would lead me. It led me to win the heart of the man that I love. You want something? Go and get it! :p
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Why I'm on Couchsurfing
Once with one of my friend we were at a party but it was not that good. So even if we were hundreds of kilometers from home lost in the mountains (Pyrenees), we decided at around 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning to find a place to sleep. We were thinking in a farm or a shelter and more we were walking more we started to imagine ourselves in a nice and cosy home, wrapped in warm covers. So finally, we tried our luck and knock to a guy's house where the lights were still on. He opened the door and welcomed us in his wonderful house that he mainly made himself, all in wood. He offered us tea and the next morning he cooked for us. It was amazing, you can guess how happy we were. He as well showed us a game that he created himself. It was pretty cool!
anthropology, philosophy, adventures, travel, people,environment, Martial Arts, Strength, Cardio, and Flexibility training, self-sufficiency, joggling, cooking, hitch-hiking, hiking, dance, guitar, red wine and beer...
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movies:"Into the wild", "My name is Totsy", "Black Book", "Pirates Des Caraibes", "Hachiko, a Dog story", "American History X", "Yes Man","une belle histoire" "Black Swan", "Le diner de cons", "Out of Africa", "The boy with the stripped pyjamas"..Books: The Millenium Series from Stieg Larsson, "Les fourmis", "les thanatonautes", "l'empire des anges" Bernard Webber, "The alchimist", "The witch of Portobello" Paulo Coelho... music: Ben Harper, Bob Marley, Beatles, Cat Stevens, Jack Johnson, Ryan Adams, Damien Rice, La Rue Ketanou, Les Coboyes Fringants, Tryo, Louise Attaque,Xavier Rudd, Mugison, Loreenna Mckennit, Louis Amstrong, Jacques Brel, Patrica Kaas..
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Got married to the most amazing individual the universe have the privilege to host. And I was never interested in getting married before.
Saw the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Survived camping 5 weeks during an archaeological dig. We stayed 3 miles away from the nearest village, no warm comfy bed, no hot shower, no signal, 4 weeks of rain (that was the real challenge), but so much fresh air, fun, and adventure. All those nights, sharing food and drink around a fire, singing along to our guitar players, and so much freedom. To spice it all, brown bears were roaming around our camp, which kept us close to each other. We had a good Romanian mountain man to keep us safe. :)
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