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*Hours of service listed above may be affected by holiday closures.
The Ocean Park Branch Library is located at the corner of Main Street and Ocean Park Blvd.
By Freeway. Take the I-10 freeway to the 4th Street exit. Take 4th Street south for 0.3 miles and then turn right on Pico Blvd. Proceed 0.5 mile to Main Street, then turn left. The library will be on the left.
By Bus.The Ocean Park Branch Library is served by the Big Blue Bus lines 1 and 8.
Limited metered parking is available along Norman Place, Ocean Park Blvd and Main Street, as well as in the lot directly in front of the Branch's Norman Place entrance. Additional metered parking is available in City Lot 11 with entrances located at 2934 Main Street and at 170 Hollister Avenue.
Bike Racks. Cyclists can secure their bikes at the bike racks on Norman Place next to the parking meters. Additionally, there are artist-designed bike racks located behind the library on 2nd Street and in front of the library on Main Street.
Ocean Park – Exterior Materials Returns – Two returns are located on Norman Place on the sidewalk near the Library entrance. These returns are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and accept books, magazines and audiovisual materials. Please do not drop donations into these returns. All donations should be brought to the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Children. The Ocean Park Branch offers storytimes and puppet shows, class visits and much more.
Teens. Take advantage of our community volunteer opportunities (8th grade and up).
Adults. Enjoy our Ocean Park Book Group which meets the first Saturday of the month.
Community Room. A 60-person capacity meeting room is available for rent for meetings or programs that are free and open to the public.
Collections. Explore a wide array of popular books, magazines, DVDs, Music CDs, and books on CD for both children and adults.
Computers. The Ocean Park Branch Library is equipped with 6 public access Internet stations.
Wi-Fi. The facility is equipped with free City Wi-Fi.
Photocopiers and printers. Black-and-white printing and photocopying, as well as color photocopying are available.
The Ocean Park Branch Library represents one of the few Carnegie-endowed structures still functioning as a public library in Southern California. Built in 1917-18 on land donated by the Tegner family, the original building was designed by local architects Frank T. Kegley and H. Scott Gerity in the Classical Revival architectural style. The Ocean Park Branch Library was declared a historic landmark by the City of Santa Monica Landmarks Commission in May 1977. In 1984 the architectural firm Mayer/Taylor was hired to design the addition, which currently houses the children's and teen sections and to add significant features for handicapped access. Mayor Christine E. Reed and the Santa Monica City Council hosted a reopening ceremony of the branch on October 14, 1985. In 2011, the Branch benefitted from an interior improvements project and new signage was erected outside of the library. The current building size is 8,434 square feet.


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The UK's top online gay news website.
To view more articles from
Pink News, CLICK HERE >
The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBTQ and straight ally communities of the Charlotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainment, news and views content in print and online that directly enlightens, informs and engages the readers about LGBTQ life and social justice issues.
To view more articles from
QNotes, CLICK HERE >
One of the world's top gay news websites. We highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter for a daily digest of the top gay news.
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Gay Star News, CLICK HERE >
The world's leading gay news source. The magazine reports monthly on news, politics, business, medical issues, fine arts, and entertainment. Advocate.com is a source for breaking news and current events in all of those areas.
To view more articles from
The Advocate, CLICK HERE >
Kenya's Bold Newspaper
To view more articles from
The Standard, CLICK HERE >

subset: commoncrawl


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Financial Performance Management
Financial Performance Management refers to the ways that a company manages and monitors financial results across an organization. The primary purpose is to compare actual results to budgets and forecasts and make adjustments accordingly so that companies will be better equipped to meet their financial goals.
Ventana Research describes financial performance management as a specific set of capabilities that includes "defining their company's key performance indicators, formulating strategic plans and forecasts, handling performance reporting, and increasing finance operational efficiency and execution company-wide."
Of course, a mixture of historical data, real time information and forecasting in order to achieve a multi-dimensional analysis of financial results. As with collaborative disclosure management, financial disclosure management also implies a unification of key processes: close, consolidation, reporting, planning, and analysis.
When performed optimally, financial performance management allows organization to experience a number of benefits:
- More agility when faced with unexpected business events through scenario modelling, rolling forecasts and what-if scenarios
- Less focused on the operational intricacies and more focused on becoming a strategic function for executives to use when taking action
- Identify underlying trends and interpret large amounts of data quickly
- Join departments to a central vision so that decisions can be made with the core goals and financial truth top of mind, with finance at the heart of every decision


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31 May 2013
The Cathay Pacific Group today announced that it has raised HK$2 million through a corporate-wide appeal that will go to support UNICEF's relief efforts in Ya'an, Sichuan in Mainland China, where an earthquake on 20 April took a devastating toll.
The donation includes around HK$850,000 contributed by Hong Kong and overseas staff between 29 April and 10 May, together with dollar-for-dollar matching by the company. Participating companies included the Group's two airlines, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, and six wholly owned subsidiaries – Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific Catering Services, Cathay Holidays, Cathay Pacific Services, Hong Kong Airport Services and Vogue Laundry.
The funds being presented to Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) also include around HK$1.15 million collected from passengers on Cathay Pacific and Dragonair flights between 1 and 15 May under the Change for Good inflight fundraising programme.
Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Affairs Chitty Cheung said: "We were all deeply saddened by the news of the latest earthquake to hit Sichuan and the terrible impact it has had on the lives of the province's people. We are very grateful to our staff and passengers for contributing to our appeal to help the people of Sichuan. We know this money will be put to good use by UNICEF, which has been our trusted partner in the Change for Good programme since 1991."
UNICEF HK Chief Executive Irene Chan said: "We are happy to see the action taken by the Cathay Pacific Group to help people affected by the earthquake around the city of Ya'an in Sichuan Province. UNICEF will continue to help those whose lives have been turned upside-down and work to build their resilience."
The monies raised in the appeal will go directly to UNICEF to help children who are suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake and are in need of medical supplies, nutrition, education, clean water and sanitation. All the UNICEF field offices, including the China office, are regularly subject to both internal and external audits. UNICEF HK will publicise how it is using funds through its public communication channels including its website, www.unicef.org.hk
Over the years, the Cathay Pacific Group has responded quickly to help those affected by major natural disasters, launching appeals to raise money from staff and passengers, boosting the funds raised through dollar-for-dollar matching, and providing help for the shipment of relief materials to alleviate the suffering caused. The airline launched appeals following the Asian tsunami in 2005, the Sichuan earthquake of 2008, the Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011, and the Thailand floods in the same year.


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Company Details
|Payment Type:
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Packaging: Outer packing is strong carton with Five corrugating medium, inner packing is foam which would protect the product in well condition.
Brand: VICPAS
Transportation: Ocean,Land,Air
Place of Origin: Guangdong, China (Mainland)
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So your company has finally decided to take the leap and eschew traditional backups in favour of an off-site data backup strategy. Due to its increasing popularity, a number of vendors have sprung up to meet the demand for off-site data backups.
Paul Mah was interested in finding out more about what businesses should expect from their off-site data backup vendor, so he quizzed Jennifer Walzer, chief executive officer and founder of Backup My Info!, for a better understanding of this relatively nascent industry. Walzer gave a number of pointers on what businesses should expect from their off-site data backup vendor, to which Paul added his own notes.
More Smartphones that Work for Business New smartphones for today's business user.
Eight Steps to Leveraging Social Networks in Your Job Search Eight steps to focus your online job search.
How to Effectively Manage Project Risks Effectively manage project risks by adopting a process that systematically deals with the overall problem of uncertain events and conditions.
Related Topics : CDW, Resellers, Asset Management, Technology Evaluation, Vendor Management
Embracing a digital supply chain not only drives greater agility, efficiency and innovation, it also creates business advantage for companies. ... More >>


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It's a relatively common sight at the airport: the conclusion of a short-term mission trip. A dozen suburban teenagers wearing matching yellow T-shirts talk about two weeks of manual labor at an orphanage and share iPhone photos of their trip to the jungle. Wheaton College anthropologist Brian M. Howell has puzzled over this phenomenon. Is it about service, tourism, personal pilgrimage, or something else completely? Are short-term missions even missions at all? Freelance writer Jeff Haanen spoke with Howell, author of Short-term Mission: An Ethnography of Christian Travel Narrative and Experience (IVP Academic), about how Christians justify short-term mission trips, the problem with these stories, and how churches can do short-term missions better.
As an anthropologist, why write a book on short-term missions?
When I started teaching in the 1990s, I asked students about their cross-cultural experiences. Some hadn't done anything, or some maybe had taken a cruise. But when I came to Wheaton College and asked the same questions, I would get stories about northern Ghana, Mongolia, the Czech Republic—places people don't normally go on vacation. Short-term missions had exploded, and all these students had gone on short-term mission trips.
I was curious not just about the experiences, but the fact that they talked about them so similarly. They seemed to have this really well-developed narrative and vocabulary about what these trips were for and what they were like. It didn't matter whether they went to Mexico or to South Africa, it was all similar. I was interested in how these trips affected them culturally and made them think about their faith.
What was the common story you uncovered?
The common ...1


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New request for Infra-red icons. I would like to see the following icons be created:
- official infra-red logo (see: or (without the text of course))
- infra-red beam sending (for example to a TV set).
See: for inspiration
It has to be a beam, because that's what infra-red light does (the picture must depict that it has to be pointed to the receiver). Yes, I know: how do you design such icon??? Maybe such like this: - infra-red sensor (the electronic part itself. More this kind of design: This picture: in combination with this picture: (turn the latter picture straight up, facing aside so the halfcircle points to left or right, have the three stripes come out of the half circle like in the former picture. Oh boy, designing descriptions of users that are so vague... it's a hard job to get to the point where the customer says: YES, that's the one I was thinking of :-) Thanks in advance and BIG hugs! Love your work!!


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I've decided that I'm going to dedicate Friday's to "fabulous" parties, tutorials and products that I have seen that week. I try to share things I see on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest when I see things I love but I thought this would be a great way to end the week featuring other great finds!
Get ready for the Kentucky Derby with this great Bourbon Bar from Celebrations at Home.
I am so in love with this beach party that was featured on Chickabug!!!
Here is a great free printable for a teacher's gift from Love the Day.
Have a great weekend!


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News & Notes
Japanese Resort Theme Park Opens 'Plant Factory'Oct 12 (Tue ), 2010
Japanese Resort Theme Park Opens 'Plant Factory' Powered by Solar Energy
Huis Ten Bosch, a large resort theme park located in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, started operations of a pilot "plant factory" on its premises on November 14, 2009. The unit, funded as one of the 2009 Advanced Plant Factory Promotional Projects sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will be the first one in the Kyushu region open to the public. It will be powered primarily by Huis Ten Bosch's onsite photovoltaic (PV) generation system.
A plant factory allows the growing of vegetables indoors all year round. It is a system that artificially creates the environment necessary for plants to grow by controlling the amount of culture solution, air, and light from light-emitting diodes (LED). Because the amount of light, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration levels can be optimized without being affected by the weather, the growth rate of vegetables is two to four times faster than those grown in open-air fields, and yields are ten to twenty times higher.
Vegetables harvested at the factory are served at Huis Ten Bosch's hotel restaurants for visitors to taste, while vegetable scraps are composted for use on plants in the park. The resort also re-uses the nutrient solution used in the solution culture by spraying it onto park plants.
The PV generation system (900 kilowatts) is located at Huis Ten Bosch's Nagasaki Next-Generation Energy Park. It includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery system that stores the energy generated by the PV system to light the plant factory at night.
Huis Ten Bosch official website


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Canadian Dessert Recipes
View All | View Summaries
Date Cake Recipe (Canadian Inspired Dessert)
03.15.12 by Jackie
This date cake is inspired by a Canadian dessert. My sister-in-law Lya's friend, Haley, recently made a delicious, moist maple cake. It was so good Lya asked if she could have the recipe so I could replicate it for the family. I didn't have any maple on hand so I made a variation using date syrup and dried dates.
The cake turned out absolutely divine. It's so moist! But the best part is the date syrup glaze that is a great reminder of the flavor of the dessert and a way to seal the cake for extra freshness, even the next day. Ours didn't make it that far!
Full Recipe...


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MIAMI -- More than 1,000 people gathered Monday in U.S. Century Bank Arena at Florida International University (FIU) to celebrate the life of football player Kendall Berry, who was stabbed to death outside the front doors of the campus recreation center last Thursday. Berry, 22, was a junior from Haines City, FL, who played running back on the school's football team.
At the memorial service, FIU President Mark Rosenberg called on the audience to join hands "in solidarity against senseless violence."
Berry died from a stab wound after an alleged altercation with fellow student Quentin Rashad Wyche ended in violence. Wyche reportedly fled the scene, then turned himself over to police on Friday night. He was later charged with second-degree murder and held without bond. Investigators said Wyche threw cookies at Berry's girlfriend, which sparked the argument. Berry died at the hospital of a single stab wound to the stomach.
Miami-Dade law enforcement interviewed at least eight witnesses to the incident, according to The Miami Herald. Eyewitness accounts on a Huffington Post blog said Berry was playing a pick-up basketball game in the rec center the evening he was killed.
The rec center was closed immediately following the incident, says Robert Frye, director of recreation services at FIU. Instead of opening at 6 a.m. the following day, the rec center remained closed until noon. Frye says some rec center staff members already have met with representatives from the university's counseling center, and that the entire staff is scheduled to meet with counselors today.
At the memorial service, Berry's father cautioned against further violence.
"I know this will be hard to believe but that was the very first fight that kid got in. The very first one," Berry's father, Derrick Spillman, said at the service. "It only takes one time, people."


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Watch out poinsettia.
Watch out poinsettia.
Amaryllis is growing its reputation and role as a major player in holiday decorating and gift-giving.
The big brown bulb matures into a bold beautiful flower that keeps on giving for years to come — unlike the poinsettia that is typically tossed in the trash or compost pile.
"Growing amaryllis is much easier than it appears," says Lisa Ziegler of Newport News, Va., owner of The Gardener's Workshop, an online gardening shop at shoptgw.com.
"I think the beauty of the blooms literally scares people from growing them. But the flower is in the bulb when you buy it, and it is coming out of the bulb with or without your help. Your help just makes it look a little nicer by providing basic care."
In addition to providing different hues of reds, pinks and whites, amaryllis can be the beginning of a new "pass it on" tradition in your family, according to Ziegler.
"I met a lady at a flower and garden show recently that has the amaryllis bulb that her mother grew for years, and it was passed on to her when her mother passed away," she said. "She continues to care for it as her mother did, and it blooms every year."
Amaryllis also makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
"They last just as long, if not longer, cut from the bulb as left on the bulb," Ziegler said.
To use as fresh cuts, grow as usual, cut the stem just above the bulb when the bud is colored but just starting to open. Treat as a cut flower, placing in clean water with fresh flower food for a beautiful display. Harvest flower stems as they develop leaving the leaves on the bulb — as these are the food making the flowers for next year! Follow the regular instructions included with the bulb for summer care.
Here's how Lisa Ziegler suggests you plant and care for amaryllis bulbs for the best results:
Before planting the bulb, place in a saucer and cover the roots with half an inch of lukewarm water for a couple of hours — this encourages root formation. Select a container that has a drainage hole. Fill the container with potting soil and place the bulb on top. Add just enough potting soil so that at least half of the bulb is exposed above the soil surface. No fertilizer is needed. Allow to dry out between watering. As the bulb grows, you will notice an increase need for water. Provide support for your bulbs before they need it, using three to four twigs from your yard, each about 18 inches tall and diameter the size of your little finger. Push the twigs into the soil — either into each corner of the container or use three twigs to create a tri-pod. Tie the twigs together at the top with raffia. The foliage grows up and through the support, virtually hiding it, and you can tie a wide, beautiful ribbon around the waist of the plant for added support if needed. Planting three amaryllis bulbs together in a container puts on a show you never forget. Place the planted bulbs in a cool bright spot; remove faded flowers promptly to increase the life of the remaining flowers. After flowering, cut off the faded flowers and let the leaves continue to grow and develop. To encourage this, provide regular water. In May place your pot in a sheltered shady spot in your garden. In September, refrain from watering. In October, remove pot and all from garden, trim foliage and place in a dry cool but frost-free location. In January, remove old roots and repot in fresh soil. You will enjoy flowers again indoors come late winter.
"With amaryllis, bulb size matters because large bulbs produce more stems, more flowers and larger flowers than younger smaller bulbs," Ziegler said. "Larger bulbs also make saving the bulbs from year to year easy and rewarding. Each year the show just gets better."
In addition to garden centers, you can find amaryllis bulbs through:
The Gardener's Workshop atshoptgw.com or 888-977-7159. Brent and Becky's Bulbs atbrentandbeckysbulbs.com or 877-661-2852. Color Blends atcolorblends.com or 888-847-8637. Longfield-Gardens atlongfield-gardens.com or 855-534-2733.
Note: For ways to use amaryllis, as well as paperwhites, for holiday gifts and decorating, visit Dig. Drop.Done atdigdropdone.com.
Contact Kathy Van Mullekom via: email@example.com. Distributed by MCT Information Services.


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The distinctive Canada geese that populated the GastonCountyPark in Dallas were a joy to many who watched them through the years.
Click HERE to follow the debate and Like The Gazette on Facebook
But the birds' excessive waste also prompted complaints from numerous visitors. So county officials, who agreed the flock had grown too large, paid to have 144 of the birds rounded up and euthanized Tuesday.
That decision to eliminate the entire flock ruffled the feathers of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, an Indian Trail nonprofit that says the county acted too hastily, when it could have simply had the fowl relocated.
GastonCountyParks and Recreation Director Cathy Hart said the county was simply reacting to a longstanding problem the best way it knew how.
"It's pretty common for (overpopulation) to happen around ponds at schools, parks and airports," she said. "This is a (euthanization) service that is used a lot, unfortunately."
Carolina Waterfowl Rescue Director Jennifer Gordon said the county never made its intentions clear. Her organization had been trying to work with GastonCounty to manage the problem, and had already relocated some of the birds. Had they known the entire Canada goose flock was going to be destroyed, they would have relocated them all, she said.
"The bigger issue here is that all animals deserve to be treated humanely," said Gordon. "They had options to do that and they didn't use them."
Birds seen as a nuisance
Non-migratory Canada geese populations have been on the rise in recent years. They stand out with their brownish gray bodies, black heads and necks and white face patches.
Yet while the birds are attractive, their droppings are less appealing to the nose and shoes. A single goose can produce a half-pound of feces per day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services division.
The waste often coated the grassy areas around the park's ponds, athletic fields, picnic areas, concert stage, restrooms and parking lots. Before summer events such as Pops in the Park, the county had to repeatedly spend time and money power-washing areas and cleaning up feces, Hart said.
"It was really time-consuming," she said. "We had citizens complaining they couldn't even use the trails out there because of all the geese droppings."
Canada geese are federally protected. But their increasing reputation as a nuisance has prompted the USDA to offer an option for removing them. Park staff must first try other approved methods to disperse geese and prevent them from reproducing, said USDA spokeswoman Carol Bannerman.
GastonCounty paid the Wildlife Services division $1,666 to send a team to the park Tuesday morning. The geese are moulting — shedding old feathers and growing new ones — and unable to fly away. So specialists herded the birds into a temporary corral, placed them in poultry crates and transported them elsewhere to be euthanized via gas.
"They are euthanized following guidelines approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association … and disposed of as required by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit," Bannerman said.
No warning?
Hart said she made it clear to Gordon in early May that Carolina Waterfowl Rescue could remove any of the birds it wished to, and relocate them to a sanctuary.
"On May 23, they came out and removed a number of the birds," she said. "We've allowed them to do that any time they wanted."
About 10 domestic ducks and geese are still at the park, Hart said.
Gordon said it's not normal for her nonprofit to rescue an entire flock of Canada geese.
"Realistically, we wouldn't come in and take every bird from a park," she said. "We left what was a very reasonable amount of geese out there."
Rebecca Duffeck, a Carolina Waterfowl Rescue volunteer who lives near the park, has looked after the geese and ducks for years. She said there were no more than 40 to 50 Canada geese living there.
Gordon and Duffeck say Hart never divulged that a contract was being signed to wipe out the entire flock.
"We were talking to them, offering to help them with the geese and at no point did they tell us what they were really planning," Gordon said.
The nonprofit could have transported the birds to a 300-acre preserve it owns in South Carolina, she said.
Hart said the county recently put up signs at the park directing visitors to not feed the geese. In recent years, park officials also tried measures such as enclosing picnic shelters near the ponds with temporary fencing, spraying the ground with goose repellant, allowing the grass to grow taller around the lake, and even removing fertilized eggs.
Gordon disputes that adequate steps were taken to manage the goose population. She believes the county violated the USDA's requirement.
"There was no planning or thought put into this," said Gordon. "If they don't have a management plan, the geese will just return. And they can't just keep killing geese over and over."
Source: http://www.gastongazette.com/spotlight/county-contracts-to-kill-geese-bird-lovers-cry-fowl-video-1.164074#


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Find Your Perfect Home.
Elsie Real Estate
Elsie is located in Michigan. Elsie, Michigan has a population of 971. Elsie is less family-centric than the surrounding county with 28.02% of the households containing married families with children. The county average for households married with children is 31.52%.
The median household income in Elsie, Michigan is $39,130. The median household income for the surrounding county is $60,381 compared to the national median of $53,482. The median age of people living in Elsie is 43.5 years.
Elsie Weather
The average high temperature in July is 82.4 degrees, with an average low temperature in January of 15.9 degrees. The average rainfall is approximately 33.4 inches per year, with inches of snow per year.
Elsie Map
Real Estate Near Elsie
Nearby Cities
Nearby Cities Homes for Sale
Elsie Zip Codes


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Saturday, 31 March 2012
On the crux of Ring of Steall 8c+, on the way to the actual crux!
I have been enjoying good sessions in fine conditions on my project at Steall. My objective was just to get a sequence I was happy with before I leave for Switzerland. But It's gone better than I expected. On the last session I linked from the block after the Ring of Steall crux to the top. This rather brutal section of climbing revolves around three big moves in a row. Each of them used to feel pretty damn hard in isolation. But on my second link they felt pretty solid.
It's taken a bit of time to re-learn the subtleties of the Ring of Steall crux. But I think I've got it again now. But I'm still a good bit away from the pre-requisite of managing to redpoint through it every go! I still think the egyptian move must be one of the best moves on British rock. Easy if you do it perfectly, impossible if you are even slightly out of the right body position.
I'm definitely feeling some momentum of a good run of training and can't believe I'll be in Switzerland next weekend! First up, more STEEEAAALLL!
Michael getting the workout on my own route Steallworker, 8b.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Clocking up some training hours
Greg Boswell working on Leopold, 8a.
A great three days at Steall with Michael and Greg. The first morning started grimly wet after 24 hours of heavy rain. All the streams were in spate, and that was just the ones coming down the crag. Nevertheless we worked our moves and got sequences dialled on our respective projects.
Today the sun was out and spring was well and truly in the air for the first time. The crux of my project was still seepy, so it was simply time to put in the reps on the first half. To get steely strong and fit on the moves. This bit is both hard and easy. Sore fingers, pumped arms and tying right back in for another burn right after you lowered off. On the other hand, there's no stress. Hard work is not scary on it's own. You can't lose; just put in the hours in the knowledge that the big progress happens right here, not on the eventual redpoints, which are just the very end of the process.
In the last week I've gone from bouldering strong with zero endurance to almost getting through the crux of Ring of Steall 8c+. It's a great start, but just a start. I have some killer beta for the crux, but could do with a bit more. The bit above Ring of Steall gets properly hard. It feels good to be able to rep the easy lower part without getting pumped. But to even get close to redpoints, I'd need to be doing the same on the upper half. I couldn't even imagine that right now. About a month or maybe six weeks of uninterrupted power-endurance training on the right sort of terrain will be needed.
Soon I'm leaving for a long trip with a fair bit of bouldering. So I'll rack up some more sessions on the crux, and hopefully get a confidence boosting link before I go. While I'm away I can continue to build up some iron crimp strength and the sort of fitness you only get from trips. Exciting stuff.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: Glen Nevis, Ring of Steall, Scottish sport climbing
Friday, 16 March 2012
Steall sessions start with a new route
Bouldery climbing on Stolen Direct 8b/+, Steall
Finally a break in the rain and some decidedly unwintery weather in Scotland and it was time to venture up to Steall for the first time this season. I had a quick session on my project which although obviously still felt sick hard, I could do the moves straight away so it was nice to get a first taste of the effects of the winter's training.
After that I decided to look again at a direct start to Stolen that I bolted last year. I had thought the first three bolts would be 8b+ in themselves, with the meat of Stolen to do above that. But a small block had fallen off making a slightly better foothold just where you need it. After a couple of tries, I did it! Since I'd only had one quick bolt to bolt up Stolen and hadn't tied onto a rope for a looooong time, I didn't think I'd have the endurance to carry on to the top without a couple of sessions learning how to be a route climber again. There was a bit of puffing and panting, but I got there without too much stress. My base level of strength does seem not too bad. A good place to start for the project. The direct start to Stolen might be 8b or 8b+, not sure so we'll say 8b/8b+.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: Glen Nevis, Scottish sport climbing
Glen Nevis Walks podcast 5
Episode 5 of the Glen Nevis Walks podcast talks about the Gaelic names of the Ben and the Mamores range with Gaelic historian Ron Cameron. Mick Tighe tells about his north face lowers on Ben Nevis, being lowered on a 1000 foot rope to find stuck ice climbers somewhere in the night below. John Muir Trust ranger and climber Ali Austin tells us about some of the wildlife in the Glen which I must say constantly amazes me.
Enjoy. It's right here. And on iTunes here. By the way if you are into putting something back, you could join myself and a small group of other folk doing a clear up in the lower part of the Glen around the curling ponds on Friday 23rd March. Details here.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: Glen Nevis
Friday, 9 March 2012
Important link
The other day, I mad a massive breakthrough on the Skeleton Boulder roof with the '2 halves' link. I couldn't quite believe it happened after seeming so, so far away. It's quite strange how a few different strands of progress combine to propel you forward such a long way.
Although I was pretty sure that a poor kneebar was the right beta for me to get through the crux, I was desperate to sort out something for my left foot to put myself in balance and with a stable base to slap the pinch on the lip without my feet cutting loose. Out of a lot of options, I've finally homed in on a sequence that I'm sure works for the whole link. The catalyst was losing a couple of pounds last week and a good stint of sessions on different boards.
I has simply improved my strength/weight ratio enough to feel what the solution would be. You might think 'why didn't you get light earlier'. I don't think that would really have worked. Short of a drastic weight loss, which would be seriously counterproductive in the longer run, I wasn't ready to trim up until now. I needed to put in the hours on the line first, getting stronger on the moves and homing in on the best sequence for most of the moves.
Now I feel good and confident on many of the moves, and since I'm starting to round off my fitness state with a pound or two lost, I'm getting closer to thinking about going into link mode and really going for some big attempts. I did actually climb from the start to the crux too, so you could call it overlapping halves. But I wasn't tight enough on the third move to get my knee pulled right up to the best bit of the kneebar, so it doesn't count. That can be my immediate goal now.
The buzz of the breakthrough link from the second hard move to the top kept me up for most of a night. Pointlessly starting to imagine rest day/redpoint day planning despite the crazy Lochaber weather, which if I may say has been irritatingly crap.
The feeling of having made an irrefutably clear breakthrough in strength and climbing ability isn't something that happens all the time, except in the easy first couple of years of climbing where you just have to show up to get stronger and better. I'm aware of how special it is. So the prospect of trying to build on it and adding three more moves onto the start of my link is a little scary. But I'm sure I'll get over it.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 3 comments
Labels: Glen Nevis
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Hill running
Glen Ceitlin granite boulder hunting
Although it doesn't even come close to the enjoyment I get from almost any type of climbing, I still enjoy running for a few different reasons. When I lived in Dumbarton in the mid 2000s and was training to get strong enough to climb Rhapsody, I used to do my fingerboarding and endurance circuits each day and then go running on the streets late at night. I used to use it to switch off and remind myself why I was doing all this training. I wasn't doing the run in a particularly scenic place, so the enjoyment was purely internal. At that time, I used to think of hill runners as crazy. It just seemed so hard and relentless. How could you ever be fit enough to be able to enjoy it. Only later I understood how slowly hill runners (except the real pros of course) run uphill.
Now I live in the mountains I enjoy running primarily for the scenery and terrain. A great formula for me has been to use my runs to explore potential new bouldering spots in the more remote highland glens. Sometimes there are great boulders, sometimes there is just nice scenery and weather. Either way, it is enjoyable and answers a curiosity.
Nice big boulder, a few good easier climbs to go on this.
Running the other day in Glen Ceitlin on my first run of the spring season, I was reminded that the feeling of running on open mountainside (apart from the real uphill parts) is like floating. It takes so much concentration to move at speed between rocks, tussocks, holes and over streams without falling over. Yet it is not thinking - just immediate, subconscious reaction to the movement sequence demanded from split second to second. Despite having to focus hard, your conscious mind has the chance to sit back, relax and enjoy being there.
Hill running suddenly makes sense when you think of it in these terms - a feeling of flying over the terrain with little conscious effort. It's obvious really that it would have to hold an enjoyment that was very strong, to be worth all the hardship that goes with it for those who do it all the time. Proper training for top performance in any sport has it's fair share of grinding hard work doing boring exercises for the rewards. Hard climbing training, despite it's hardships (lactate, finger skin destroying circuits and repetitive finger strength exercises) still probably has nothing on endurance running in this respect.
It's true though that such feelings are fleeting. Just as I was floating along, dreamily pondering these ideas while running back down Glen Ceitlin, I misjudged the consistency of the bog ahead and dropped up to my knees in slurping peat porridge, lunging forwards with my momentum to land on my knee on a granite boulder beyond. After rolling around, clutching my knee and moaning for a few minutes, I limped off down the glen. Brought back down to earth.
It's true though that such feelings are fleeting. Just as I was floating along, dreamily pondering these ideas while running back down Glen Ceitlin, I misjudged the consistency of the bog ahead and dropped up to my knees in slurping peat porridge, lunging forwards with my momentum to land on my knee on a granite boulder beyond. After rolling around, clutching my knee and moaning for a few minutes, I limped off down the glen. Brought back down to earth.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 4 comments
Glen Nevis podcast episode 4: Steall
Episode 4 of the Glen Nevis Walks Podcast is up now on Friends of Nevis here and on iTunes here. This episode takes us through to Steall and the most dramatic bit of the glen. As usual there are stacks of good interviews but you climbers might be particularly interested in Kevin Howett's rather worrying description of taking 60 foot falls onto an RP1 and breaking his ribs during the first ascent of Chairoscuro E7 6b in the gorge. I made the second ascent of Chairoscuro, onsight, in 2010, 23 years after Kev's ascent. So listening to him describe the lonely upper arete brought back some strong memories for me too!
We've also made a couple of videos of the interviews contained in our Glen Nevis Walks podcast series. They'll give you a taster of some of the interviews in the episodes. The first is geologist and climber Noel Williams describing the fascinating and unusual geology of Ben Nevis and it's volcanic caldera.
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Labels: Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis
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Callista Gingrich, wife of Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, poses with her mother, Bernita Bisek of Whitehall, during a gathering of supporters Monday night at Northwoods Brewpub and Grill in Eau Claire. Photo: Shane Opatz, Leader-Telegram.
Wait, Callista's mother is a mounted stag head?* I was worried, after the Goddess Callista polled badly, that Team Newt would yank her off the campaign trail. As you can see above, they didn't, but maybe they should have? Pure terror. There's a whole gallery of photos to enjoy!
*I guess this has something to do with her being the Moon Goddess, like Diana!


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text: The Future of Streaming Video Listen Download Embed Share Share this on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Share this on Twitter (Opens in a new window) Share this via Email ( YouTube/Getty Images ) Summary Transcript Transcript BROOKE GLADSTONE: So let's stick with that metaphor. What happens to a supernova? Its remnants spread throughout the universe, ultimately giving rise to new planets and stars. So if it's a supernova, we got that goin' for us. And streaming services might be among those new or newish formations. Right now they're starved for nourishment. That's because advertisers won't spend nearly as much for digital properties as they do for analog TV. Some subscription services do earn a profit, Netflix, for instance. But we still don't know if YouTube is paying its way for Google. Peter Kafka is a senior editor at All Things Digital. He says Google sympathizes, a little, with the producers who say they can't survive on the pittance they earn. PETER KAFKA: If you're Google, by the way, who owns YouTube, you probably shrug your shoulders and go, sorry it's not working out for you, hope you stick around. We'll try to make it work. But you really don't worry that much because they're gonna make money regardless. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Do we know for a fact that YouTube is making money for Google, because Google certainly isn't saying? PETER KAFKA: They're probably not making nearly as much as they could. But regardless, Google makes a gazillion dollars. They have 12,000 people selling their ads alone. YouTube is one component of that. So they'd like it to work, but it's not an existential problem for them if it doesn't work as well as it could. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Some of the producers end up making about $2.50 for every thousand views their clips generate? PETER KAFKA: When you're all said and done, if you've generated a million views, on YouTube and you're effectively getting a $2.50 CPM – that means for every thousand views – you'd get $2500 in ad revenue. And a million views on YouTube's pretty good. And these guys are sort of scratching their heads trying to figure out how do I create content at a price where I can make money. We need to figure out some other way to do this. BROOKE GLADSTONE: What do you think about the subscription model? This week, YouTube said it would start a subscription service. Do you see possibilities in that? PETER KAFKA: Right. One of the things I'm, I'm sure they're gonna say is, look this is another way for content creators to make additional money. We never expected anyone to survive solely on advertising. And they'll say, look, if you look at your TV dial, almost everything on there is supported by at least two forms of income. Right, they get money for selling advertising. They also get money through cable subscription fees. I still think, overall, there are so many options, so many things you can watch that it's very hard for any one individual to sort of create an audience big enough to create an equivalent budget that they'd have offline. Does that make sense? BROOKE GLADSTONE: But why does it seem that everyone is assuming that ultimately streaming video will make money? Condé Nast in March just announced it was starting its own video network, with original series inspired by Glamour and GQ. PETER KAFKA: Video, comparatively, gets much higher ad rates than standard web publishing. The hope is boy, the rest of our digital business is not doing that well, maybe this will solve the problem. Plus, if you take a long view, they say look, web video is just beginning. The analogy everyone likes to use is this is cable TV in the early eighties. No one thought a lot of A&E or USA or AMC, and now these are all big super valuable properties. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Wait a minute, we seem to be operating on the assumption that they are dying. PETER KAFKA: Yeah, but they're worth billions of dollars right now. Next week, the TV networks will come to the advertisers to show off their new shows, and they're gonna ask for an increase in rates. They'll get some degree of that, too, by the way. And everyone knows what's happening, but they're still gonna keep putting money into TV because everyone likes that system; they think it works better than the alternative, for now. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Since doom has been predicted for a number of years and the revenues earned by television continue to rise, are we wrong? PETER KAFKA: The question is, is TV different than music and newspapers? Those businesses were ravaged by the digital world and they basically fell off a cliff. That hasn't happened to TV. TV has gotten stronger. So, has it gotten stronger because the moat around it is much deeper? BROOKE GLADSTONE: Meaning that advertisers are so entrenched? PETER KAFKA: Advertisers are entrenched. It's basically monopolies or duopolies, in terms of the way you get this stuff. So is it just a matter of look, it's just a harder castle to storm and they'll bring it down eventually, or do people value video differently than they value music and newspapers and journalism? I think there's a little bit of both. I do think it's harder to substitute crappy video for good video whereas it turns out that for a lot of news, for instance, most people didn't really care what screen they got it from and what publisher it came from. It's good enough. I think it's hard to swap out Game of Thrones and show you something someone did in their basement and for you to be happy. An interesting question though is, is that if you look at what's popular on YouTube right now, it is stuff being done in kids' basements. And one question I'm always asking people who have 12-year-olds or 14-year-olds is, do your kids distinguish between Game of Thrones and something that Ryan Higa, who's a big YouTube celebrity, made, which is crude and – popular. And they said, nope, it's all just stuff, it's all screen time. They value it equally. And if you an entrenched old media company, that has got to be a terrifying prospect. BROOKE GLADSTONE: But Peter, isn't that the wrong question you're asking because 12-year-olds don't stay 12 years old forever. And I would argue that they do make a distinction. They just like that basement stuff now. PETER KAFKA: Look, the difference, right, is that there is going to be nearly infinite options for these kids. They have them now, they will continue to have them. So if it turns out you like Ryan Higa, maybe that's what you like, and you don't need to sort of upscale your ambitions and tastes or such. [OVERTALK] BROOKE GLADSTONE: No, no, that's – that's nonsense. I loved Top Cat growing up. That doesn't mean – well, maybe I would check out Top Cat occasionally, if it was around, but my tastes have changed since I was 12. PETER KAFKA: I think that you are forgetting – and I tend to forget, and I think people who listen to this show tend to forget – that what we consider valuable and good is probably a pretty small slice of what's popular. I can't imagine a large part of your audience is watching Honey Boo-Boo. There's a show called Duck Dynasty - it's the most popular thing on TV right now, more popular than network programming. BROOKE GLADSTONE: But are you suggesting that popular taste now is more debased than it was 20 years ago, that with all of these possibilities the stuff at the high end is gonna suffer? PETER KAFKA: The question is will the 12-year-old of today pay some amount of money per month to get something like Game of Thrones 10 or 20 years from now? Or will they be content to watch just whatever slop sort of washes over them from YouTube? BROOKE GLADSTONE: So let me throw the big question at you: There's so much great stuff out there. Is this something that we can continue to see? Or is it, as Bob suggests, a supernova, a big beautiful explosion before fewer dollars inevitably lead to a descent into the shoddy? What do you think? PETER KAFKA: Eh, can I – can I hedge? BROOKE GLADSTONE: No. PETER KAFKA: Look, the economic model that allows Madmen to exist today is going to go away. It allows a channel like AMC, which has an audience of whatever, gets a subscription fee from all of them, whether or not they're watching it, sells ads and allows them to spend a bunch of money on a show they've never seen before called Madmen and put it out there, that's gonna go away. Either John McCain is gonna legislate it away. BROOKE GLADSTONE: On Thursday, John McCain offered a bill that would force cable to unbundle their offerings. It's not likely to fly. PETER KAFKA: Probably not gonna happen. What's probably going to happen, more realistically, is eventually consumers are just gonna stop paying for this stuff, again, over a long period of time. Look, I think people are still going to value individual bits of content. There's an enormous amount of options there. The audience atomizes, right, so what's valuable to you is not valuable to me. So it's a smaller amount of money to make each individual thing. But if we care enough about it, we'll pay for it. BROOKE GLADSTONE: So you're feeling good? PETER KAFKA: I'm feeling good. But look at what's on the cable dial, hour after hour, day after day. There's a lot of reruns, there's a lot of reality shows, there's a lot of sub-reality shows, there are a lot of infomercials. If you end up replicating that world, where there's a handful of really good things online and a bunch of crap, you're replicating TV and it's not a terrible thing. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Thank you. PETER KAFKA: Thank you. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Peter Kafka is a senior editor at All Things Digital, AllThingsD.com. [TOP CAT THEME MUSIC UP & UNDER] Hosted by Brooke Gladstone Produced by WNYC Studios


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Trouble has again found a Gastonia man who stood trial twice for first-degree murder, and who remains a suspect in the 1997 killing of a 76-year-old woman.
Trouble has again found a Gastonia man who stood trial twice for first-degree murder, and who remains a suspect in the 1997 killing of a 76-year-old woman.
Donald Baxter Wells, who once described himself as a crack-smoking, stand-up comic, remains in Gaston County Jail accused of a Dec. 23 common law robbery.
In his most recent brush with the law, Gastonia police say Wells threatened a Family Video Store worker to rob the store at 1423 W. Garrison Blvd. of $187 in cash.
He was booked into Gaston County Jail on Christmas Eve under a $50,000 bond and remained there Wednesday.
But the 52-year-old Wells remains a suspect in the disappearance and unsolved slaying of Sarah McAbee.
He stood trial twice for McAbee�s killing, but in both cases a Gaston County jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.
In his first trial, the jury split 6-6 and in the second the jury split 11-1 in favor of acquittal, said his former attorney Thomas Hunn in a 2007 interview.
Wells has always maintained his innocence in McAbee�s killing, according to past interviews and Hunn.
Police investigators contend that Wells killed McAbee, but that they could not prove it in court, according to interviews conducted on the 10-year anniversary of the slaying.
Part of the problem, investigators say, remains a lack of evidence. McAbee�s body remained submerged in about 7 feet of water in an abandoned well for almost 10 months before she was found.
Crime scene investigators reported finding smudges instead of fingerprints.
A tipster alerted police to the abandoned well between Cherryville and Bessemer City, near Tryon Elementary School. The tipster even told police about an artificial Christmas tree they would find on top of her body.
McAbee died from a brain injury caused by blows to the head.
McAbee�s disappearance and slaying remained in the news throughout the case due in part to the diligence of her granddaughter, Penny Wooten Nester. The granddaughter tried to keep the case in the public�s eye in hope that her grandmother would somehow be found safe.
Nester could not be reached for this article, but in conversations over the years she has remained committed to finding an answer to the unsolved case.
McAbee seemed to have just vanished on Dec. 19, 1997, after leaving her Clouse Street home for a walk, which was a common practice for her.
The older woman was known as a hoarder who did not trust banks. McAbee was known to sew thousands of dollars into her clothing, which she would wear as she walked around the neighborhood.
After her disappearance, family members would find $16,000 hidden in a laundry basket and another $9,000 tucked inside a purse.
McAbee lived a peculiar existence. Family members said she carried lessons she learned during the Depression and Would War II throughout her life, often rummaging through trash bins to collect items most would consider worthless.
Inside the coat pockets she wore when she died police would find a large wadded towel, a handkerchief, three ballpoint pens, a black comb, a flattened Coke can and a cross on a chain that was deteriorated. There also was a second handkerchief, another ballpoint pen, a wad of plastic bags and glass fragments.
McAbee weighed less than 100 pounds and police searched her home twice in part because they felt they could have missed finding her body among the clutter inside her home.
But police believe McAbee confronted Wells about a sewing machine she had bought from him on the morning of her disappearance.
Wells also confessed to the killing during a drinking binge, even taking a person to the well where McAbee would be found Oct. 3, 1998, according to court testimony.
But defense attorneys Hunn and co-counsel Rick Schultz presented an alternative theory, pointing the finger of guilt at one of McAbee�s own sons.
McAbee�s known distrust of banks would have made her an easy target of family members� greed, defense attorneys argued.
Also, one son drove by the well at the same time police were removing McAbee�s body, a coincidence defense attorneys deemed suspicious.
So for now, the case remains unsolved.
Wells has been in Gaston County Jail six times since 2009 for crimes ranging from drugs to probation violations to robbery charges.
Over the years, Wells contends that police have had it out for him.
He says police investigators remain sore that they have never been able to put him away for good on the murder charge.
And Wells always adds that he did not kill Sarah McAbee.
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or @TheGazetteKevin on Twitter.


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Ximena Diez-Barroso and Alejandro Adrete's wedding was a family affair that would take place in her father's native Mexico. We quickly zeroed in on Los Cabos—its easy airport access would be convenient for our international travelers, and Los Cabos Marquis Hotel could accommodate all 450 guests. After a quiet civil ceremony Friday night, Ximena and Alejandro descended the steps to the poolside patio, where their guests and an exquisite feast awaited them. We made coral the central theme for our party, incorporating its vibrant color and sculptural quality into seating, tables, and centerpieces. The results were sexy, sleek and modern.
The next day, the religious ceremony was held in the main lobby, overlooking a reflecting pool and ocean beyond. We turned a square cement planter into a centerpiece of floating gardenias and candles, and over the stage we built a breathtaking arch of white roses. To overcome the sterile "ballroom" feel of the dinner venue, I constructed two risers to house tables at different levels. The bride and groom wanted to dance the night away in a fabulous, chic nightclub. Since the hotel didn't have one, we put it together, with couches in turquoise silk and tiger-print skin, a gold leather bar, and apple green walls. A signature cocktail—two parts tequila, one part espresso, and a liberal sprinkling of Tia Maria—plus coffee, Bloody Marys, and breakfast sandwiches kept people partying until seven in the morning, when even the bride and groom had to admit it was time to call it a dazzling night. —Colin Cowie
Excerpted from Colin Cowie's Extraordinary Weddings. Copyright © 2007 by Colin Cowie. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. Buy the book »
For more of Colin's extraordinary weddings, see the May/June issue of Brides magazine, on newsstands now.


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Feb. 5, 2007
County players among All-American hopefuls
Courtesy: The Tennessean
by: Chip Cirillo
Monday, 02/05/07
They're all inside players.
They're all from Williamson County teams.
They all attend private schools in the Division II Middle Region.
They've all signed letters of intent.
And all four have been nominated for the McDonald's All-American high school basketball teams.
Brentwood Academy's Brandon Brown and Brian Wright and Battle Ground Academy's Scott Saunders have been nominated for the boys team. BA's Victoria Dunlap has been nominated for the girls team.
Wright's older brother, Brandan, made the team last year when the game was held in San Diego.
"I went out there last year and had a lot of fun watching him play," Brian said. "Brandan said it was a blast playing with the best players in the country and getting challenged like that. It's definitely a big deal."
The final selection of the 24 boys and 24 girls who make the teams will be announced Feb. 24. The games will be held March 28 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., and televised live by ESPN.
Wright averages 13.3 points and 2.5 assists per game as a 6-foot-5 small forward for the Eagles (18-2), who are ranked first in the Division II state poll. Brown and Wright have both signed with Lipscomb.
"I didn't expect this would ever happen," Brown said. "To be nominated is awesome because you're up there with the best players in the nation."
Brown, a 6-6 power forward, is averaging 17. 1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
"Brandon is unique because he can play with his back to the basket; he is very good in the perimeter and he can defend the perimeter and the post, so he's a mismatch problem," BA coach Lyle Husband said. "Brian is tremendously athletic. He's an incredible leaper. Defensively he's really tough."
Saunders, a 6-9 center who has signed with Rice, is averaging 19.7 points and 13 rebounds per game for BGA (14-6).
"Having this many nominated definitely speaks well for Division II," Saunders said. "A lot of people think the private schools are not as strong as the (Class) AA and AAA schools."
Saunders came to BGA two years ago from Jesuit High School in New Orleans after his family evacuated from Hurricane Katrina. His father, Larry, was a captain at Duke in 1970 and 1971.
"Scott made the adjustment very well," BGA coach Gary Smith said. "The kids just love him. He was named all-state last year as a junior."
Dunlap, a 6-foot post player who has signed with Kentucky in basketball and track and field, averages 13.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.6 assists per game. She's also a regular customer at McDonald's.
"My favorite thing to get is the No. 12 (Extra Value Meal)," Dunlap said. "That's a Filet-O-Fish with large fries and a large Hi-C orange."
She's a large reason why BA (20-6) is ranked second after winning its first state championship last season. Dunlap led BA to a 41-25 win over No. 3 Pope John Paul II (17-5) on Friday.
"She's hard to guard," BA coach Rhonda Brown said. "I'm sure every team we play says we're going to box her out, but that's easier said than done. She's one of the top high jumpers in the state and probably in the country."
Story Link:http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070205/COUNTY090102/702050323/1166/COUNTY09


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Rare bird and egg specimens collected more than 100 years ago take the spotlight in an intriguing new exhibition, the Secret World of Museum Science, opening today, 16 May, in the Natural History Museum at Tring's Gallery 2. The exhibition is free and runs until 6 November.
Rare specimens in The Secret World of Museum Science exhibition opening today at our Tring Museum have helped scientists in their research. Left: Peregrine falcon egg similar to ones used to explain the dramatic decline of the species back in the 1960s. Right: Rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome, feather samples have recently been analysed against live birds today to find out why there is a drop in population.
Our Tring Museum has the largest collection of bird specimens in the world and this new showcase will give us a glimpse not only of these historic, behind-the-scenes specimens and their stories, but of their importance to Museum research and science.
'The exhibition explores the relevance of what has been collected and identifed at Tring and demonstrates how the collection is being used for current scientific purposes' says Dr Robert Prys-Jones, head bird curator at Natural History Museum at Tring.
Another highlight in the exhibition is a rare composite skeleton of a dodo (left) Raphus cucullatus collected during the 1860s from the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean. It is seldom seen on public display.
I asked Alice Dowswell the exhibition's curator how things were going with the installation:
'We've been working closely with the bird group curators to install all the specimens, including the fragile dodo skeleton. Staff members have been testing out the video unit, watching clips of interviews with our bird curators talking about some of the projects they and our specimens have been involved in including clips about Darwin's mockingbirds, fraud in the collections and peregrine falcon eggs.
'We've also been having fun with our dodo dig - brushing away sand to reveal model dodo bones and comparing them to the real thing on display nearby.'
The exhibition includes games and four videos of bird research, historic and current, featuring Darwin's mockingbirds research, the restoration of the Mauritian ecoystem where the dodo became extinct, the Meinertzhagen collection fraud and peregrine falcon egg findings.
You can see one of these online on our website. Watch the Restoring the Mauritian ecoysytem home of the dodo video.
Find out about visiting Tring Museum
More about our bird research at Tring
Enjoy some more photos of specimens featuring in the exhibition. Select them to enlarge.This Blue lorikeet parrot, Vini peruviana, from an island in southeast Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, is one of the oldest specimens in the Tring bird collection. It was probably collected on one of Captain Cook's voyages between 1768 and 1779. That means it's at least 232 years old.
Wild budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus, are small, streamlined parrots, the wild ancestors to pet budgies. There are many such specimens in the Tring collections. Budgerigars can see ultraviolet (UV) light and have patches of plumage that glow under IV.
Red kite, Milvus milvus, became extinct in England from 1871 but was introduced in 1989 in the Chilterns with a growing population today. This is the first specimen of this species in our collection from the Chilterns area since their re-introduction and was donated to the Museum after it was found dead on a roadside.
This is the only example of the extinct Fiji bar-winged rail, Nesoclopeus poecilopterus, preserved in spirit anywhere in the world, held in our collection.
Clutches of cuckoo and host eggs, like the nightingale and hedge sparrow used to research how cuckoo eggs match the host eggs
Beautiful tail feathers of the Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, carefully cleaned and preserved by our curators. This specimen is a recent addition to the collections and was presented to the Museum in the winter of 2010 after it collided with a window and died.
Specimens like this Steller's sea eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus, claw shows the structure of the foot, with bones and tendons still in place


text: IronMagazineForums! I am pleased to announce I am the OFFICIAL P.S.L. REP!! We have a lot of things going on! I will be creating a few bodybuilding help threads these should have a TON of tips and tricks, we can always learn a thing or two. I can also help assist you with any questions you have regarding P.S.L. you can always create a thread here or you can send me a private message. Well, I am very happy to be here and I cannot wait to get to start the bodybuilding discussion threads so we can get into some serious muscle building!


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Author - virarajendra
copyright - virarajendra
Brought forward on account of "Aattukaala Pongala" Festival (Mahotsavam) scheduled to takes place from the 3rd of March to 12th of March at Aattukaal in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India, venerating Goddess Kannaki (Paththini = Bagawathi Amman = Maari Amman = Mangaladevi))
The origin and the spread of the Cult of Kannaki (Paththini) - Part 3
(10) New Paththini Koattam (Temple) at Poompuhar
Thiru K.S.Ramalingham of Poompuhar with a view of re-creating the earlier Paththini Koattam destroyed in the big sea erosion of former Kaviripoompattinam decided to build a new Paththini Koattam at Poompuhar. The foundation stone for same was laid by the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Kalaignar Karunanithi and (Late) "Silambuch Chelvar" Ma.Po. Sivagnanam, and on the 4th November 68. The temple was built at the expense of Thiru & Thirumathi K.S.Ramalingam and their son Thiru Rajasekaran and the Kumba Abishekam (Kadavul Mangalam with Kuda Neeraattu Vilaa) was held on the 8th July 1972.
This Paththini Koattam was built entirely of granite stone and is of a square shape where the newly carved granite stone statue of Goddess Kannaki was consecrated. This beautiful statue of Kannaki with serene features and a Silambu in the right hand was carved by Kanapathi Sthapathi the Chief Sthapathi of Maamallapuram Silpa Acadamy.
The "Kannaki Thirunaal" is being celebrated annually at this temple on the day of Anusham star in the month of Aadi (July/August). temple - day Kannaki entered heaven (demised) as per Silappathikaaram.
(11) New Silappathikaram Kalai Mantram (Art Gallery) and other Mantrams at Poompuhar
The former Minister of Tamil Nadu Kalaignar Karunanithi decided to re-create the greatness of the Kaviripoompattinam (also known as Poompuhar), which was destroyed by the big sea erosion in the second century A.D. with the help of the literary evidences of that period. Kaviripoompattinam the seaport capital city of Chola Nadu, was the birth place of Kannaki, Kovalan, Mathavi and Manimekalai. The outcome was the Silappathikaaram Kalai Mantram and other Mantrams which were built on his initiative at Poompuhar in 1973.
Silappathikaram Kalai Mantram in Poompuhar has a beautiful seven-tier building of exquisite sculptural value. The first storey is 12 feet high and the other upgoing storey's each has a height of 5 feet, on top of which a Kalasam has been erected of a height of 8 feet. making a total height of 50 feet.
The Kalai Mantram depicts the scenes from the Tamil Epic "Silappathikaram". It was opened in 1973. These exquisite scenes are immortalized in stone on the walls of the gallery. The Makara Thorana Vaayil at the entrance of the Kalai Mantram is of the same design as the Makara Thorana Vaayil at the Mangaladevi temple at Neduvelkuntram (present Mangaladevimalai) at Kumili in Kerala built by Cheran Chenguttuvan and re-discovered by the Scholar Govindaraasanaar.
The Ilanji Mandram, Paavai Mantram, Nedungkal Mantram and Kotrappandal which were the prominant public places of Poompuhar during the period of Silappathikaaram, have been re-created in this same region with much artistic beauty.
Ilanji Mantram is a building with a tank the water which was said to have cured many illnesses. Nedunkal Mantram is a building with tall pillar as landmark. Pavai Mantram is a building - where justice were done to people. 'It is said' that if any injustice has been done, the Pavai (idol) would shed tears.
The following URLs helps to have a glimpse of the Kannaki & Kovalan Statues at Silappathikaaram Kalai Mantram at the Poompuhar. The Kalai Mantram depicts the scenes from the Tamil Epic "Silappathikaram" immortalized in stone on the walls of the gallery:
Courtesy: Vijayan - Wikipedia
Coutesy: K.Vijayan - YouTube
(12) New Kaanaki Statue at Marina Beach in Chennai
A beautiful statue of Kannagi cast in bronze holding her anklet in one hand was installed on an elevated concrete pedestal at Marina Beach in Chennai, on the initiative and orders of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Kalaignar Karunanithi in the year 1968. It was removed from it's location by the subsequent government in December 2001. The statue has been re-installed again at it's original location on the initiative of the former Chief Minister Kalaignar M.Karunanithi on 03-06-2006.
The following URL helps to have a glimpse of the above Kannaki statue at Marina beach, Chennai:
(13) New Kannaki Shrine at the Kailaasanaathaswamy Temple Colombo, Sri Lanka
In the region called the 'Captains Gardens' in the city of Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka, there is a Siva temple known as the Sri Kailaasanaathaswamy Thirukkoyil (Devasthanam) - the "Kaileswarem". This temple is said to have been built in the year 1796 A.D. and is presently run by a Trustee Board comprising of all Chettiars, very well managed with all Poosai Valipaadukal and all Temple Rituals conducted daily.
The Trustee Board of this Temple came to know of the Panchaloka Icons of Goddess Kannaki cast at Swamimalai at Thanjavur by the Sthapathi (Late) Devasenathipathy and his sons on the request of the late "Silambuch Chelvar " Ma. Po. Sivagnanam of Tamil Nadu, with his own personal guidance to the Sthapathis on the iconographic details to be incorporated in the two Panchaloka Icons to be consecrated in a Kannaki Temple.
These Kannaki icons were intended to be consecrated in a stone temple to be built to Kannaki at Koodaloor district of Tamil Nadu, adjacent to the Kumili District of Kerala where the Chera Emperor Chenguttuvan built a stone temple to Goddess Kannaki in the year A.D 115, now in a dilapitated condition still not renovated by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The bigger Icon of Kannaki 6 ft in height with the Thiruvaasi cast in the shape of a Silambu was to be consecrated within the Karuvarai of this temple, and the small Icon 2 ft in height also with a Thiruvaasi in the shape of a Silambu was to be taken around as the "elluntharuli Icon" of Kannaki during the festive seasons.
A ten acre land to build this temple and a monetary fund to cast these Panchaloka Icons were provided by the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (Late) Dr.M.G.Ramachandran around the year A.D.1982. The Chief Minster demised on the 24th of December 1987, and thereafter the Government Officials entrusted with the Chief Minister's Order failed to execute same effectively and neither the land nor the balance monetary fund (less the advance already paid to the Sthapathi) was given to the Initiators of this Project which prevented the construction of the intended Kannaki temple at Koodaluur in Tamil Nadu.
The completed Icons were recommended by the then Government Officials to be kept in Tamil Nadu Tourist Board office as a Tourist attraction, which was refused by the Sthapathi and the Initiators of this Project and remained idle for quite some time.
It was at this time the Trustee Board of Chettiars of the Kailaasanaathaswamy temple, Colombo, Sri Lanka came to know of the sad plight of this Project and paid the balance due on the payment to the Sthapathi and took the two Icons to Sri Lanka.
They built a beautiful Karuvarai in the corner of the Kailasanatha Swamy Temple in the form of a 'Ratham' (Temple Chariot) and the main Kannaki Statue has been enshrined in same.
Finally the fine pieces of Panchaloka Icons work of 'Tamilian Metal Art' by the great Sthapathi of Tamil Nadu Late "Devasenathipathy" - "which should have" adorned the New Granite Kannaki (Paththini) Temple that was intended to be built at Koodalur district in Tamil Nadu adjacent to the Kumili District of Kerala, under the great initiative of Late M.P.Sivagnanam - Leader of "Tamil Arasu Katchchi" of then Tamil Nadu, under the patronage of then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G Ramachandran found it's way to Sri Lanka with no New Granite Temple too being built at Koodalur, due to the 'gross negligence and un-patriotic attitude' of the "Governmental Officers" after the death of this Chief Minister.
The Photos of these Icons are sequenced as follows ;
(1) Front view of Kannaki under Silambu shaped Thiruvaasi.
(2) Rear View of Kannaki under Silambi shaped Thiruvaasi.
(3) Front view of smaller "elluntharuli Icon" of Kannaki taken around during the festive seasons.
(4) The stationary Ratham (enclosed Chariot) shaped Karuvarai built adjacent to Kailasanather (Sivan) Temple where Kannaki Icon is enshrined.
(14) Epilogue
The Kannaki (Paththini) Cult was initiated by the Chera Emperor Cheran Chenguttuvan on the request of his Queen Venmaal after the great tragedy that took place at Mathurai, and at Neduverl Kuntram (at present Kumily) coupled with the miraculous events that took place therein, lead her to be elevated as a great woman of Godly nature and powers among the people triggering her worship as a Goddess. With the initiation of her worship by carving her statue and consecrating same in a temple specially built in granite with the Poosai Valipaadukal and Velvi Valipaadukal being conducted in the presense of many king of different countries made spread all over Chera country (Kerala), Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Tulu country of present Karnataka. With the Sanskritisation of religion in Tamil Nadu, during the time of Pallavas it appears Kannaki temples gradually were changed into various Amman temples, where as in some areas it was specifically known as Maari Amman.
Courtesy: Ashoksunder Films
(15) Some confusions & contradictions on Silappathikaaram & Manimekalai made by few Scholars
It is observed that some Scholars have expressed their views on the date of Silappathikaaram & Manimekalai on the contents of these two texts, which are much in contradictory to the informations we presently have, and needs immediate correction.
The following URL helps us to have a study of the views of some Scholars on Silappathikaaram & Manimekalai
(1) Contradiction: Scholar Swamikannu Pillai on the basis of astronomical data concluded that (the) period of (Silappathikaaram) was 756 C.E, where as Scholar Rajarao on (the) same basis concluded the date of Shilappadigaram as 465 C.E
Answer: The two Scholars referred above have arrived at two different dates falling much far apart, eventhough they both based their findings on the same astronomical details given in Silappathikaaram. How much trust can anyone place to arrive at the date of Silappathikaaram by this 'unreliable method', based on scanty details.
(2) Contradiction: As per Scholar K.K Pillai the probable composition (of Silappathikaaram) took place in 500 C.E, (while) Scholar Vaiyaapuri Pillai fixed the period at 800 C.E.
Answer: I understand from another source that Scholar Vaiyaapuri Pillai fixed the date based on the etymological study of Tamil Language used in these two epics. The results arrived at by Scholars on the period of a Literary or Religious compositions purly on the linguistic and etymological basis, cannot always be taken as the positive guidance in estimating the period of a work. It could only be a rough guidance "in the absense of any other evidences," but not in the face of many other historical evidences which are already available in the text of these works.
Further it is very unfortunate that these two Scholars failed to realize that during the period mentioned by them, the Kalabhra and Pallava kings have already gained grounds in Tamil Nadu. How is that there is no mention whatsoever about them in Silappathikaaram and Manimekalai, if they belonged to the period of 500 C.E or 800 C.E.
Could it be confirmed by any Scholar, that the Yavanas (Greeks & Romans and Indo-Greeks) who were present in Tamil Nadu and India during the period of Silappathikaaram & Manimekalai, were also present even in 500 C.E or 800 C.E. - the period of Kalabras & Pallavas.
The Sathakarni kings of the Sathavahana dynasty referred in Silappathikaaram too disappeared in the history of India by 300 C.E. So how could Silappathikaaram be dated to 500 C.E or 800 C.E.
If we take the date given by the above two Scholars as that of Silappathikaaram, can any Scholar confirm that the great Kaviripoompattinam (Poompuhar) that existed "with the tall buildings of the Yavana (Romans) Traders" - as per Silappathikaaram too existed during the period of Kalabras & Pallavas who ruled Tamil Nadu. No - as Kaviripoompattinam (Poompuhar - the Chola seaport capital of this period) as mentioned in Silapathkaaram, has been swallowed up by the sea (Tsunami) just few years after the great tragedy at Mathurai, which too is confirmed in Silappathikaaram.
My suggestion is that the Literary Scholars trying to fix the date of ancient Literary works should not base their conclusions purly on etymological & linguistic grounds, but should arrive at same paying much attention to the historical informations in those literary works, and co-relate them to the historical "time line" of Tamil Nadu and India. Hence these dates claimed by the above two Scholars could be rejected, but with much respect to them.
(3) Contradiction: Scholar Prof K.A.N Shastri has declared that Shilappadigaram and Manimegalai are the two hoaxes of 800 C.E in which the author pretends to be contemporary of Senguttavan.
Answer: The above reference to a statement "said to have been made by Prof K.A.N Sastri" is found to be totally in-correct, and I have still not come across of same in any books of this 'respected Scholar'.
Even if it was made by 'some other Scholar', it is very unfortunate that he has made such a remark. Both Silappathikaaram and Manimekalai are by no means a hoax, as this "Cult of Kannaki" is existing even today nearly 1900 years later in some parts of Kerala, and 'to some extent' among the Sinhala Buddhist population & the Tamil Hindu population in Sri Lanka, and also in Tamil Nadu in transformed form as "Maari Amman Valipaadu".
Again the dating of this Scholar too is wrong. As mentioned earlier if Silappathikaaram was of the period 800 C.E. then why is it the earlier Kalabras & subsequent Pallavas are not mentioned anywhere in these two Epics, and why are the Yavanas (Greeks & Romans) referred in these Epics didnot exist in the year 800 C.E in Tamil Nadu. Also why are the Sathavaahana kings mentioned in Silappathikaram too disppeared in the Indian History during this period of 800 C.E. I think who ever the Scholar is, he too have been mislead by Scholar Swamikannu Pillai's wrong prediction on the date of Silappathikaaram based on astronomical data in same.
Also we are aware from the Velvikkudi cheppedukal, Seevaramangala cheppedukal, Sinnamanur cheppedukal, which speaks of Pandiya kings after king Kadungoan who relieved the Paandiya Nadu from the clutches of Kalabhra kings, have no mention whatsoever of Pandiyan Ariyapadai kadantha Neduncheliyan and Vetrivet Cheliyan of the Silappathikaaram period. Hence it is clear that it was long before the Kalabhra invasion of Tamil Nadu that these two king existed, and the two epics donot fall to the period mentioned by this Scholar being 800 C.E.
Further in the core text of Silappathikaaram in 'Varam tharu Kaathai', and in the 'Pathikam' text of same, it is stated that Ilango Adikal was the younger brother of Cheran Chenguttuvan and (obviously) was his contemporary. He was present at the time the Poet Saaththanaar related the entire story of Kannaki to Cheran Chenguttuvan. Ilango Adikal was also present at the time of consecration of the Kannaki statue at the newly built temple at Kumily in Kerala as seen from the Silappathikaaram.
(4) Contradiction: It has been pointed out in the above Website (URL given), as to how the king Kayavaaku of Silappathikaaram came to be known as the equivalent of king Gajabaahu of Sri Lanka.
Answer: It should be noted the name Gajabaahu of the king of Sri Lanka has three Sinhalese alphabets, the "Ga", "Ja", and "Bha" as also in Sanskrit. There are no such alphabets in Tamil, and hence the Tamil equivalent of this name with the Tamil alphabets becomes Kayavaahu.
(5) Contradiction: It has been also said elsewhere by some Scholars that the Gajabaahu under reference in Silappathikaaram is in fact the Gajabaahu - 2 and not Gajabaahu - 1 of Sri Lanka.
Answer: It shoud be noted Gajabaahu - 2 ruled Sri Lanka from A.D.1131-1153. This period is long after the period of Chola supremacy over northern half of Sri Lanka from A.D.1002 to A.D.1078, which lasted 76 years. Hence how could Cheran Chenguttuvan, Paandiyan Neduncheliyan & Chola Nedumudikkilli, and the Roman Traders mentioned in Silappathikaaram, all be present during the period of Gajabahu - 2 being the 'post - medieval Chola period'. Further Sri Lankan chronicle named 'Rajavaliya' too positively attributes the Silappathikaaram connection to Gajabaahu - 1 and not to Gajabaahu - 2.
The following URLs will help to do a study of the geneology of the Sri Lankan kings during the period of Gajabaahu - 1 & Gajabaahu - 2.
(6) Contradiction: It has also been pointed out by some Scholars elswhere that the Silappathikaaram & Manimekalai were not true stories but created by Poet Ilango Adikal and Poet Saaththanaar as themes to their two epic poems, with events in the poetic works too created to draw the interest of the readers, and not a true story.
Answer: I regret the Readers and Others citing the views of these Scholar's who have made wrong deductions on Silappathikaarem & Manimekalai, and request them to study through my Threads thoroughly, inclusive of the visits to the Websites given therein, and also to view the YouTube leads given to be more enlightened on this subject matter.
From Silappathikaaram we further note the kings who were present at the consecration ceremony, were denoted as the Ariya kings who were released from the temporary prisons and the kings released from permanent prisons the Kongu king of Kudaku country, the Maluwa (Malawa) king, and king Kayavaaku of ocean surrounded Ilankai (Sri Lanka).


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Hubble Resolves Puzzle about Loner Starburst Galaxy
Astronomers have long puzzled over why a small, nearby, isolated galaxy is pumping out new stars faster than any galaxy in our local neighborhood. Now NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has helped astronomers solve the mystery of the loner starburst galaxy, called NGC 1569, by showing that it is one and a half times farther away than astronomers thought. Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and Advanced Camera for Surveys made the observations of NGC 1569 in September 1999, November 2006, and January 2007.
Starburst Galaxy NGC 1569
Astronomers have long puzzled over why a small, nearby, isolated galaxy is pumping out new stars faster than any galaxy in our local neighborhood.
Now NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has helped astronomers solve the mystery of the loner starburst galaxy, called NGC 1569, by showing that it is one and a half times farther away than astronomers thought.
The extra distance places the galaxy in the middle of a group of about 10 galaxies centered on the spiral galaxy IC 342. Gravitational interactions among the group's galaxies may be compressing gas in NGC 1569 and igniting the star-birthing frenzy.
"Now the starburst activity seen in NGC 1569 makes sense, because the galaxy is probably interacting with other galaxies in the group," said the study's leader, Alessandra Aloisi of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md., and the European Space Agency. "Those interactions are probably fueling the star birth."
The farther distance not only means that the galaxy is intrinsically brighter, but also that it is producing stars two times faster than first thought. The galaxy is forming stars at a rate more than 100 times higher than the rate in the Milky Way. This high star-formation rate has been almost continuous for the past 100 million years.
Discovered by William Herschel in 1788, NGC 1569 is home to three of the most massive star clusters ever discovered in the local universe. Each cluster contains more than a million stars.
"This is a prime example of the type of massive starbursts that drive the evolution of galaxies in the distant and young universe," said team member Roeland van der Marel of the Space Telescope Science Institute. "Starburst galaxies can only be studied in detail in the nearby universe, where they are much rarer. Hubble observations of our galactic neighborhood, including this study, are helping astronomers put together a complete picture of the galaxies in our local universe. Put the puzzle pieces in the right place, as for NGC 1569, and the picture makes much more sense."
Aloisi and her team actually discovered the new distance by accident. They were using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys to hunt in NGC 1569 for the kind of red giant stars (stars near the ends of their lives) that shine because of fusion of helium nuclei in their cores. These stars are dimmer than bright red giants without helium burning, but when detected, they can be used to estimate the galaxy's age.
"When we found no obvious trace of them, we suspected that the galaxy was farther away than originally believed," said Aaron Grocholski of the Space Telescope Science Institute and the lead author on a paper describing the results. "We could only see the brightest red giant stars, but we were able to use these stars to recalibrate the galaxy's distance." Bright red giants are reliable "standard candles" for measuring distance because they all shine at the same brightness. Once astronomers know a star's true brightness, they can calculate its distance from Earth.
Previous estimates of the galaxy's distance made with ground-based telescopes were unreliable because they looked at the galaxy's crowded core and were unable to resolve individual red giant stars.
The Hubble study observed both the galaxy's cluttered core and its sparsely populated outer fringes. The sharpness of Hubble's Advanced Camera pinpointed individual red giants, which led to a precise distance to the galaxy. Astronomers measured the galaxy's distance at nearly 11 million light-years away, about 4 million light-years farther than the old distance.
"This was a serendipitous discovery," Aloisi said. "Hubble didn't go deep enough to see the faintest red giant stars we were hunting for because the galaxy is farther away than we thought. However, by capturing the entire population of the brightest red giant stars, we were able to calculate a precise distance to NGC 1569 and resolve the puzzle about the galaxy's extreme starburst activity."
The results were published in the Oct. 20 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The science team for the NGC 1569 observations consists of Alessandra Aloisi and Marco Sirianni (STScI/ESA), Aaron Grocholski, Jennifer Mack, and Roeland van der Marel (STScI), Luca Angeretti, Donatella Romano, and Monica Tosi (INAF-OAB), and Francesca Annibali, Laura Greggio, and Enrico Held (INAF-OAP).
Science: NASA, ESA, A. Aloisi (STScI/ESA), J. Mack and A. Grocholski (STScI), M. Sirianni (STScI/ESA), R. van der Marel (STScI), L. Angeretti, D. Romano, and M. Tosi (INAF-OAB), and F. Annibali, L. Greggio, and E. Held (INAF-OAP);
Image: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and A. Aloisi (STScI/ESA)
Donna Weaver/Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
410-338-4493 / 410-338-4514
firstname.lastname@example.com / email@example.com
Alessandra Aloisi
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md./European Space Agency


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Chuck Berry, Opera Director Peter Sellars Share Sweden's Polar Prize
U.S. rock legend Chuck Berry and American opera director Peter Sellars have been awarded the 2014 Polar Music Prize, Sweden's most prestigious award for musicians.
The prize committee on Thursday praised the 87-year-old Berry as a "rock 'n' roll pioneer" and said every solo played by rock guitarists over the last 60 years contains his DNA.
It said Sellars has showed that classical music is not about dusty sheet music, but "a way of reflecting and depicting the world."
The laureates will receive 1 million kronor ($154,000) each from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony in Stockholm on Aug. 26.
The award was founded by late ABBA manager Stig Anderson and is typically shared by a pop artist and a classical musician.