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Hungary & Romania Highlights
About Romania
Medieval fortresses, haunting tales, and countryside traditions are waiting to be discovered on this eight-day Eastern European journey. Begin in the bustling metropolis of Budapest before venturing off the tourist trail to Romania, where medieval villages, churches, and the storied Bran Castle of Dracula fame await. Along the way, top guides help deepen your knowledge of the region.
What's Included
National Geographic Journeys Exclusives: Transylvanian Foodie Experience, Sighișoara
National Geographic Journeys Exclusives: High Tea at Bran Castle, Bran. Guided historic tour of Budapest. Visit to the Salt Mine terraces in Egerszalok. Guided visit of Salina Turda Salt Mine. Sighisoara old Town Visit. Black Church visit in Brasov. Guided tour of Bran Castle. Snagov Monastery visit. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Discover Budapest's historic highlights and hidden gems on a guided walk, Select ingredients at a Transylvanian market and prepare a traditional meal with a local chef, Immerse yourself in the haunting history of Transylvania's Bran Castle, View splendid medieval frescoes inside Bucharest's Snagov Monastery.
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, Avg 12.
Meals Included
7 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Private bus.
Solo Travellers
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Hotels (7 nts).
Joining Hotel
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
Joining Instructions
Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don't see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.
Getting to Hotel International Bucharest:
By Taxi: From Bucharest International Airport to the hotel should take approximately 1 hour.
By Public Transportation: Take bus 783 from Aeroportul Henri Coanda Sosiri in the direction of Piata Unirii, until stop Piata Unirii 1 (16 stops). Get off, cross the park and take bus 117 in the direction of Piata Sfanta Vineri for 2 stops, and then get off at Bulevardul Mircea Vodă. Another option is walk from Piata Unirii 1 for 15 minutes to the Hotel International Bucharest.
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
G Adventures Berlin office: +4915203076785
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from within UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from within Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from within Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from within New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Note: Please make sure to bring a Halloween costume
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. That said, keep in mind that as a fast-paced trip, there may not be adequate time for laundry service to be completed. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
It is customary in Europe to leave a small tip for service providers, such as waiters, if you are pleased with the service (€1-2).
Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.
Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline €30-40 per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
Please see the itinerary for information on optional activities, descriptions and estimated pricing.
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit:
Medical Form
Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility' is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our CEOs work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Please refer to the physical ratings in this Trip Details document for more information.
The medical questionnaire can be found online at:
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation
The Planeterra Foundation planeterra.org is a Canadian non-profit organization that helps empower local people to develop their communities, conserve their cultures, and create humane and supportive systems for their endeavours. Planeterra provides capacity building and catalyst grants to get community social enterprises off the ground. These businesses address local challenges by providing benefits for indigenous people, empowering marginalized women, and granting disadvantaged youth access to education, employment, and brighter futures. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating programs into G Adventures' itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra's largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.
Dollar-a-Day Program
G Adventures' Dollar-a-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar for every day you are on trip. 100% of these donations go directly to support community development projects worldwide that are implemented by Planeterra.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will send it on to you.
Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/
Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Max Pax
Group Leader
2 Chief Experience Officers (CEO) throughout, local guides.
Day 1 Budapest
There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting.
Included Activities:
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
Day 2 Budapest (1B, 1L)
Explore Budapest by embarking on a guided historic tour of the city. Start at Heroes Square and hop on the metro to learn the history of Europe's second oldest underground transportation system. Discover the Opera House, Liberty Square and Chain Bridge, ending at the Great Market Hall with a typical Hungarian lunch. The afternoon is free to explore.
Included Activities:
Budapest City Tour
Day 3 Budapest/Cluj-Napoca (1B)
Embark on a full-day transfer from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca. Along the way, stop in Egerszalók to visit the Salt Hill terraces. These rare salt springs and water terraces are a great place to stretch our legs or enjoy a picnic.
Included Activities:
Salt Hill Terraces
Private Vehicle (1.80 hour(s), 130km)
Private Vehicle (4.50 hour(s), 365km)
Day 4 Cluj-Napoca/Sighișoara (1B)
Visit Salina Turda Salt Mine, the world's deepest underground salt museum and marvel at 2,000 years of history and highly preserved galleries. Learn about all the purposes of the mine over the years, from being used as a World War II bomb shelter to becoming a warehouse for storing cheese. From here, head to Sighișoara and enjoy an orientation walk of the old town on arrival.
Included Activities:
Salina Turda Salt Mine Visit
Sighișoara Old Town Visit
Private Vehicle (0.75 hour(s), 35km)
Private Vehicle (2.00 hour(s), 120km)
Day 5 Sighișoara/Braşov (1B, 1L)
Transfer to the small medieval village of Medias. Together with a local chef, visit the market to pick out fresh ingredients for your Transylvanian cooking class and learn about the cultural and gastronomical influences found in Transylvanian cuisine. In the afternoon, head to the town of Brasov to visit the famous Black Church.
Included Activities:
Transylvanian Foodie Experience
Black Church (Biserica Neagră) Visit
Private Vehicle (1.60 hour(s), 115km)
Day 6 Braşov (1B)
Enjoy a free morning to explore Brasov's baroque architecture and beautiful squares. Later, visit the haunting Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's castle, for a guided visit. Afterwards, head to the castle's tea house for an afternoon tea accompanied by the on-site historian and learn about the castle's eerie past and connection with Dracula.
Included Activities:
Bran Castle Visit
High Tea at Bran Castle
Day 7 Braşov/Bucharest (1B)
Travel back to Bucharest, stopping to visit Snagov Monastery and its intricately painted walls. Dating back to the 14th century, the monastery is believed to hold the remains of Vlad the Impaler. Once in Bucharest, enjoy an orientation walk. Opt for a final night out on the town.
Included Activities:
Snagov Monastery
Orientation Walk
Private Vehicle (2.75 hour(s))
Day 8 Bucharest (1B)
Depart at any time.


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Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., says the Senate Agriculture committee is coalescing around a safety net structure for the 2012 Farm Bill that contains revenue protection and expanded federal crop insurance, but does not include the direct and counter-cyclical payment programs.
"It's very clear as we look at what's happening with the commodity groups, the proposals coming forward, the proposals within the committee from respected members of the committee that we are moving in a similar direction as it relates to a risk management program and a safety net," Stabenow said.
She specifically welcomed the ADAP and STAX revenue-based safety net ideas championed by the National Corn Growers Association and National Cotton Council, respectively, and labeled as thoughtful two Senate proposals to build on changes in the current ACRE program.
"Those are very important pieces of work that colleagues on the committee are coming forward with," Stabenow said. "We are sitting down working with all of them to see where we might come to an agreement."
The American Farm Bureau Federation told Stabenow that direct payments should be maintained. She says that's unlikely given the current budget environment.
"What we're hearing from others, colleagues outside of the Agriculture Committee, there is clearly a bulls-eye on direct payments," Stabenow said. "So I think our job of fighting for production agriculture is to look at how we can, working with the commodity groups, those affected, to find the most effective way to develop a safety net and risk management system that will be supported by our colleagues."
Stabenow says it's unclear whether the joint congressional deficit-cutting committee will tell her and House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., exactly how much money needs to be cut from farm programs.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology provides a supportive environment for faculty, staff, trainees and students from all national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This creates an intellectual and physical environment in which basic chemical principles are applied to the understanding of cell signaling events, with these new insights then used in the creation of new therapeutic strategies. The major responsibilities of the Department are to: (1) educate medical students and physicians in the rationale for drug selection; (2) train contemporary pharmacologists; (3) develop new knowledge in the biomedical sciences; and (4) provide information about existing and emerging drugs to members of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the University of Pittsburgh and the general community.
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Create a VSP.COM Member Account and get instant access to your personal benefit information. Check out your coverage, find a doctor, see past visits and more.
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LOGIN | Create An Account
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upgrading to Internet Explorer 11 or later for the
best viewing experience.
For personalized information about your plan, coverage, and exclusive member-only offers, create an account or log in. For the most accurate doctor list, enter the required fields, above, and select your Doctor Network. If you're not sure which network your plan offers, contact your Plan Administrator.
Searching for a VSP network doctor doesn't guarantee your eligibility or coverage.
Important Notice: Any physician included in this directory is listed for outpatient office visits. In addition, the directory includes information regarding whether the provider is currently accepting new patients.
VSP continually assesses the doctor network to ensure adequate access for members. VSP's access standard is one doctor in a 10 mile radius urban/suburban and one doctor in a 25 mile radius for rural. VSP utilizes reports to analyze and determine the percentage of members that will have access to a doctor within a specified distance. VSP runs specific reports to determine if standards are being met and whether or not to apply appropriate interventions when gaps are identified.
To report a directory inaccuracy, contact VSP at 800-877-7195 or email email@example.com to submit a report.
The VSP Global Premier Program is intended to help VSP members maximize their vision care benefits. The Premier indicator is not meant as a designation of care quality as all of our doctors already meet VSP's high quality standards for professional services. The doctor's information and Premier status is subject to change. Premier Program elements may be modified and substituted by VSP from time to time.
Not all provider locations offer all services. Eye exams may be performed by Independent Doctors of Optometry at a location adjacent to retail locations, as required by law. Please check with your VSP network doctor to find out if he or she provides the services you need.
VSP contracted providers cannot discriminate against the hearing impaired, developmentally challenged and/or physically challenged. They must also allow full and equal access to covered services, including insureds with disabilities as required under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The information provided is supplied by the individual providers, subject to regular audits, and based on our records as of the date of the search and/or printing of the directory.
If there's a conflict between this information and your organization's contract with VSP, the terms of the contract prevail. This information is owned by VSP, and may only be used in connection with the provision of eye care services under a VSP eye care plan. Any other use is not allowed. Improper use of this information may subject the user to liability.
As a VSP member you can access language interpreter services at no cost. Call Member Services at 800-877-7195.
Directory Last Updated on 06/16/2019
VSP network doctors choose the plans they participate in. If you aren't a member, or don't log in, we can't guarantee the doctors on the list participate in your plan.


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Gold ETFs to invest in gold deposit schemes: Sebi
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has allowed gold ETFs of mutual funds to invest in gold deposit scheme (GDS) of banks, subject to certain conditions including that the "total investment in GDS will not exceed 20% of total asset under management of such schemes".
A RBI panel has estimated that about 20,000 tonnes of idle gold is lying with the people. The central bank wants to channelize the idle gold for productive purposes and also check the demand for imports.
As per Sebi guidelines, before investing in GDS, mutual funds would have to put in place a written policy related to the investment with due approval from the board of the asset management company and the trustees.
"The policy should have provision to make it necessary for the mutual funds to obtain prior approval of their trustees for each investment proposal in GDS of any bank," Sebi said in a circular.
Further, the policy has to be reviewed by mutual funds, at least once a year. "Gold certificates issued by banks in respect of investments made by gold ETFs in GDS shall be held by the mutual funds only in dematerialized form," the circular said.
Last month, the finance ministry had announced plans to link gold ETFs of mutual funds with gold deposit schemes of banks with a view to increase domestic availability of physical gold.
Rising gold imports have been a major concern for the government as it contributes substantially to the widening current account deficit (CAD)-the difference between the inflow and outflow of foreign currency. Gold imports till December stood at $38 billion. In 2011-12 fiscal, its import stood at $56.5 billion.


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Hillsborough courthouse burglarized after Gasparilla | Weird
TAMPA, Florida -- Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies are looking for the man who broke into the Hillsborough County Courthouse on Saturday evening.
Deputies say an unidentified man in his 20s forced his way into the courthouse annex by smashing a glass door, hours after the Gasparilla parade took place nearby. The man was reportedly shirtless and wearing parade beads, and he appeared intoxicated.
See also: 68 arrested during 2013 Gasparilla parade
Security escorted the man from the building, but he fled before law enforcement arrived. Deputies say he caused approximately $500 in damage.
Gasparilla has been a Tampa tradition since 1947, and ranks as the
third largest parade in the United States, according to the event's official website. It attracts an estimated one half million attendees annually.
Anyone asked with information on the suspect is asked to call the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200 or anyone with any information regarding the identity and whereabouts of this suspect and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or text "CSTB plus your tip" to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637).
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Photos: Ex-Charlie Sheen Goddess Bree Olson
Naughty Schoolgirls: Naughty schoolgirl night at Tampa club pictures
Outrageous mug shot galleries...
Strange: Some of the most unusual mug shots we've seen
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Celebrities: The rich and famous have their own booking photos
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Making sense of Ruby
An IntelliSense Cure for Method Madness?
Hands on We were six months into the project before we even realised we had a problem. Until that point, we had assumed IntelliSense was a trivial matter that could doubtless be wrapped up in an afternoon's coding. After all, how hard can it be to program some lists of names that drop down when someone types a dot?
The answer, as we were soon to discover was: very, very hard…
The project in question is called Ruby In Steel and it's a Visual Studio development environment for the Ruby language. Ruby is a so-called "dynamic" language, which is a polite way of saying that it's hugely unpredictable.
A Ruby program is so dynamic that you can never be sure what it is up to from one moment to the next. To take a simple example, when you write some stand-alone functions into the editor, those functions get bound into the base class of the entire Ruby class hierarchy. That means that every single Ruby class automatically "inherits" them - and the IntelliSense system is expected to know about it!
If we'd been developing an IDE for a more traditional language – C# or Java, say – life would have been so much easier. Those languages go to great lengths to tell you what they are up to. Each variable declares its data-type in advance and when a variable starts life as an integer it's pretty safe to assume that it's going to stay an integer until the great garbage collector in the sky finally pops it out of existence.
With Ruby, you can't make any such assumptions. The types of variables are not declared and they are infinitely changeable. A variable called
x might be start out as "Hello world", suddenly change into 76.23 and, just for the heck of it, end its days as a small fluffy Teddy bear object called Eric.
Some code-completion systems solve this problem in a cunning way - they cheat. Instead of working out what type of object x is at any given moment, taking into account all the difficult stuff such as its scope, inheritance and context, they work alphabetically. If someone enters a dot followed by the letters 'my', they drop down a list of names such as '
my_method', '
my_othermethod' and '
my_random_guess' whether or not those methods have anything to do with the object in question.
Creating real IntelliSense (as in Figure 1) is much harder. The only way to do it properly is to analyse the code much as the Ruby interpreter itself does. The big difference is that the interpreter only goes into operation when a program is complete whereas an IntelliSense system has to deal with code that is constantly changing due to editing. After each change, it has to reanalyse the code all the way back up to the root of the entire class hierarchy. This sheer complexity of this analysis explains why IntelliSense systems for dynamic languages are not that thick on the ground.
Programmers often say that one of the defining characteristics of Ruby is that it's so much fun. All I can say is, they obviously haven't tried programming IntelliSense for it! ®


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About anonymous sources and Kotaku...
Two stories on Kotaku last week triggered some reader questions about how we use anonymous sources, how reliable they are, what it means when you see an anonymously-sourced story on Kotaku and, frankly, whether we're practicing what we're preaching. I'd like to address that here.
As both editor-in-chief of Kotaku and a reporter who has been covering video games for a decade, I take all aspects of reporting about games seriously. Maybe you can tell. Maybe you can't. We can be very casual about a lot of things at Kotaku, share lots of opinions, sometimes try to make you laugh and so on. But as its core mission, I want Kotaku to reveal the truth about video games. I want it do that through reporting and through criticism, trafficking in both the external truth revealed through reporting and the internal truth of a reviewer or critic's honest appraisal of a game. Because of that, I will always be proudest of our best reporting and I will always be most upset when I feel we fail to deliver you the best reporting possible.
Getting a story right thrills me. Getting a story wrong nauseates me. Thankfully, the former is far, far more common on Kotaku than the latter. And in the case of the latter, it is our responsibility to always correct reporting errors and to do so in a transparent way. No journalistic outlet is perfect. Everyone needs to run a correction at some point; the better outlets can keep corrections to a minimum and are clear about them when they do.
Anonymous sources are, I believe, an essential part of reporting. Naturally, they introduce their own set of risks. They raise questions that skeptical readers should always ask. Why is the anonymous source not able to share their identity? What does that lack of public accountability indicate regarding the source's confidence in the information they are sharing? Is the risk of them outing themselves valid? All of that is weighed against the quality and relevance of their information—in the case of Kotaku, that's the relevance of their information to a readership of people who love video games. I and the rest of my reporting team would prefer to always let you, the reader, know who has given us the information we're reporting. Sometimes it's simply not an option.
There are, nevertheless, a few things you can count on when you see an anonymous source in a Kotaku story.
First, we know who they are or, in very rare instances where we can't, we will have at least have locked down the information they're sharing as being true. We'll often hear from people who don't initially reveal their identity to us. We're happy to get anonymous tips. We'll look into the more interesting ones and, if we choose to report them, we'll find out who the source is. If we can't meet them in person, we might ask them to send us a picture of their driver's license, for example, to verify their identity. We expect at least that level of trust from the source—that they should be able to tell us who they are, even if the public can't know because it might threaten their job, their relationship with someone, etc.
This should distinguish our use of anonymous sources from those supplying the rumors of a Nintendo Fusion console last week, which Jason Schreier wrote about as he traced some eyebrow-raising rumors about a new Nintendo console back to reporters who couldn't account for who gave them that information. Contrast that with sources for anonymously-sourced stories such as Jason's piece about bad working conditions at an indie game development studio or, of all things, this piece about the black-and-white-striped pre-release Xbox One. Or this one about the then-unannounced next Aliens game. Our fall-of-LucasArts coverage, to give you another example. We knew exactly who the sources were. We just weren't at liberty to publicize their identities. Their information, time has shown, was correct.
The second thing to know about our use of anonymous sources, is that we do our best to give you, the reader, some sense of the caliber and quantity of those sources. While some reporters may use a phrase like "sources say" when they in fact only have one source, at Kotaku, I expect my reporters to not fudge the numbers—nor will I ever do so. If there is just one anonymous source, that should always be clear in the story. Ideally, we will also be able to narrow down that source for readers, specifying them as, say, an executive-level source or a source familiar with the Japanese game industry or what have you. That may not seem like a lot of specificity, but it should help you understand, even if just vaguely, the nature of the source.
The third thing to know is that we have checked out the source's information to the best of our ability. That's where I personally tripped while reporting a story last week regarding GameStop's accidental orders for the cancellation of pre-orders for the Wii U version of Watch Dogs. That started as a rumor that I tried to chase down. While I will investigate any new anonymous tipsters' information and bounce it off other public and non-public sources, I will sometimes put extra credence in the assertions of a source I've used multiple times. The thinking is: they were right the last two, three, seven, eight times... they've never been wrong about this aspect of the gaming scene... so they're probably right this time, too.
Last Friday, I checked in with one of my regularly-correct sources about the rumor making the rounds online that GameStop in Italy was canceling pre-orders of the Wii U version of Watch Dogs and that the game had been removed from GameStop Italy's computer systems. The rumor was too flimsy on its own, so I bounced it off a source who has always been correct about retail matters regarding various retailers. The source told me that GameStops in the U.S. had experienced the same cancellation order in their computer systems. My mistake was to treat that source as corroborating the Italian report rather than—and this is obvious in retrospect—introducing a new detail about the U.S. Having the retail side of the story down, or so I thought, I reached out to the game's publisher, Ubisoft. Ubisoft no-commented, offered no off-the-record indication about what was going on and left it at that. I published my article, confident that GameStop had issued cancellations.
I noted in the initial story that the game was still available on GameStop's website, a red flag I should have heeded more carefully. Shortly after the story was published, I saw some readers saying they hadn't had their pre-orders cancelled. I saw that another outlet had received comment that GameStop Italy was saying the whole thing was a glitch and that pre-orders for the Wii U game would resume. Alarmed, I did a few standard things I should have and normally would have done from the get-go: contacting GameStop stores and reaching out to GameStop's public relations department. The former said the game was still available for pre-order. The latter exchanged e-mails with me, first confirming the accidental cancellation in Italy and then, when I asked about the U.S. cancellation I'd heard about, saying "Yes. It has been corrected." Around the same, time, I heard from my source, who said that they'd double-checked their info and, it turned out, just that morning GameStop in the U.S. had rescinded the U.S. cancellation. That rendered the whole affair moot and negated the need for any article on Kotaku.
I updated my story twice in the hour after it was published and did so as clearly as possible, noting my mistake. While I had been right to not run the Italy rumor on its own and had been right to bounce it off a good source and off of Ubisoft, I'd been mistaken in thinking there was nothing more to be gained by contacting GameStop directly. My source had been correct about the initial cancellation order, but only up until a point, it seemed. I'd failed to imagine what it was they didn't yet know when I'd spoken to them. I'd made an amateurish mistake due to veteran hubris—a lesson that anyone can learn from, I hope.
I pride myself in the accuracy of my reporting. I can point to spot-on, anonymously-sourced stories about unreleased gaming hardware or, say, this one about the then-unannounced Titanfall. When I have to use anonymous stories for a story I think is unusually important—such as whether the then-upcoming Xbox One is going to require an Internet connection to start games—I'll do so with as much multiple sourcing and transparency about the sources' identities as possible. I'll check and double-check, as will all my reporters. You can assume our anonymous sources are good (you've even heard of some of them, I bet), and you can rest assured that a slip like Friday's is something I personally will do my best to ensure never happens again. I can't remember a similar situation with my work in the last decade and hope there will be another decade before it happens again. Everyone makes mistakes, but I don't have to be ok with that.
Anonymous sources are important, as is the trust that you put into this site. My team and I will continue to do everything we can to enable you to have the highest confidence in the articles we report, whether our sources are anonymous or not. Our reporting should always tell you what we know and, as much as possible, it should take into account what we don't yet know. There's always more truth to discover.
To contact the author of this post, write to email@example.com or find him on Twitter @stephentotilo.


text:
Fox Ignores Benghazi Witness Testimony Proving Obama Did Not Order Troops To "Stand Down"
Fox News ignored congressional testimony that confirmed military leadership ordered a small team of troops to remain in Tripoli in order to protect embassy staff there from possible threats during the September 2012 attacks on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, instead baselessly speculating that the president must have personally told the force to "stand down."
During the May 8 congressional hearings on the Benghazi attacks, witness Gregory Hicks -- who was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in Tripoli at the time of the attacks -- explained that his team had proposed that a small group of four special forces troops leave Tripoli to provide aid in Benghazi, but that they were not authorized to do so by Special Operations Command Africa, a division of the U.S. military:
REP. ROBIN KELLY: You said that four military personnel were told not to the board that plane and that this call came from Special Operations Command Africa. Is that right?
HICKS: That's what I understand.
Fox News ignored this portion of Hicks' testimony. On Hannity the night of the hearings, host Sean Hannity disputed Fox News contributor Juan Williams' accurate explanation that "the military made this decision" to baselessly speculate the president, as Commander in Chief, must have been involved in the decision making process to ask the special forces to remain in Tripoli:
HANNITY: Wait a minute, we don't have a Commander in Chief or chain of command,and that somebody along the way, we don't know who eight months later, made a decision and told them to stand down while Americans were under fire and getting killed in Benghazi?
The next morning on Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy continued this smear against Obama, claiming it was still a "big question" who made the decision, and that "to a lot of people's understanding, the only people who could say stand down would be the President of United States or the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta."
As The Wall Street Journal reported [1], diplomats on the ground the night of the attacks had learned of new threats to the Tripoli embassy complex, and a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed [2] to U.S. News that the assessment of Special Operations Command Africa leadership at the time was that "it was more important for those guys to be in Tripoli" for embassy security.
- Posted In
- Government [3], National Security & Foreign Policy [4], Military Personnel & Veterans [5]
- Network/Outlet
- Fox News Channel [6]
- Person
- Sean Hannity [7], Steve Doocy [8]
- Show/Publication
- FOX & Friends [9], Hannity [10]
- Stories/Interests
- Benghazi [11]


text:
With the success of the EVIL DEAD remake I wonder if young movie goers will understand the shock and outrage that came about with the initial release of Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO. In 1960 this film stunned audiences around the world with what was then extreme footage. Compared to today's films it was nothing but that's the thing about classic films. To watch them and to get out of them what the film maker intended you have to place yourself back at that time rather than view it from today's standards.
But apparently there was plenty going on behind the scenes with the creation of PSYCHO as well and that is the story behind the new DVD release HITCHCOCK. Not only that the film is also a love story of a great director and the woman that helped him reach the pinnacle of his career. The two themes work side by side to tell an interesting story that holds your interest from start to finish.
The film opens with Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) looking for a new project having just finished with the release of NORTH BY NORTHWEST to rather tame reviews. His wife Alma (Helen Mirren) is trying to get him to work with an old friend, Whitfield Cook (Danny Huston), who has a new book in the making. But Hitchcock is searching for something no one expects, no one has seen. Eventually he comes across something other studios are bypassing, a popular book called PSYCHO.
Based on the true life story of Ed Gein, a small town man who seemed rather easygoing but who was cannibalizing corpses and using body parts to decorate his home, Hitchcock sees something unique here. The problem is no studio will back the picture with the funds necessary to make it. Discussing this at home Hitchcock and Alma decide to make the picture using their own funds. If the film is a success they can thumb their noses at the studio heads. If it fails, they lose all.
The production story told here revolves around Hitchcock's obsession with the blonde haired beauties that always took center stage in his films. While he never touched, he often found himself entranced by their beauty to the extent that he often times ignored the one woman who supported him from the start of his career to its end.
On the love story side we are witness to Alma's seemingly friendly interest in Whitfield. Working together in his secret beach house their efforts are truly platonic. Problems arise when Hitchcock finds Alma spending more time working there than on his project. His suspicions increase the more she's away to the point he actually becomes jealous, much the same feelings Alma has as he ogles the blondes in his films. Beneath the anger both have about their particular situations there is a deep love that lasted until their deaths.
The film is an interesting look behind the scenes of what became the biggest hit that Hitchcock had in his long career, a success he never exceeded. The main thing that makes it work is the performances by both lead actors here. Mirren offers a woman who loves her husband deeply yet feels ignored both by him and those who don't realize just how much she contributed to his success and she does it in both subtle and non-subtle ways. Hopkins turns in another outstanding performance as well. Where he could have simply done a caricature of Hitchcock he instead gives us the nuances that the man was known for but also displays the complexity and insecurity behind the genius that was there.
The movie was released but sparingly so to theaters and has received little push on the DVD market as well. That's sad because my guess is there are few young people today who know exactly who Hitchcock was and the amazing films he made. Ask and if you're lucky they may know PSYCHO but not the other films he is known for. This movie would make a great starting point to get them interested in the man and his films. It's entertaining and informative and leaves you wanting more.
Click here to order.


text:
No formal funeral–services will be held for the Death of the Nation.
This oil-sketch was done over thirty years ago. I've forgotten the title. This hints at the kind of isolation that led millions to stay quiet while this nation and the world died yesterday, with the formal end of 2012.
There are no longer any laws to guide us, no roads to ease our individual-journey, only SILENT dangers and sudden inexplicable crimes against us all. Dates, times or places, along with human-history have all been shredded in anticipation of the coming of those confrontations that have been linked to all that we call—WAR.
Owns the coming year!
Recently: "Most guns are to be outright banned. Under the head senator of the committee that controls what laws can be introduced (Diane Feinstein). So they're going to try, with the new larger majority in the senate to pass the new Assault Weapons Ban – where most guns are banned, they shut down gun shows: They shut down any sale of any firearm; giving a firearm to your grand-son: That's all banned. But none of that compares to basically all gun owners; depending upon the interpretation 'most' having to go to the ATF (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms); NO JUDGE, NO JURY, NO BACKGROUND, NO PROOF. You've done NOTHING WRONG, you're GUILTY.
You're not guilty until you're proven innocent—you're GUILTY. They can just deny you the ownership of the guns you legally bought and went through a background check (to own-k). The media spins this and says things like "Gun Owners should pass background checks – gun safety classes" This is how guns were banned fifty-plus years ago in New York…
…You will bring all the guns you already legally own including stuff manufactured in the last hundred years—this is all guns—this IS anything semi-auto ~ you bring it in and this lady (Feinstein) and her ATF, a known criminal organization ~ they will then decide IF YOU CAN OWN THE FIREARMS." (1)
The ATF is the bunch of thugs & criminals that Hillary Clinton (in the absence of Attorney-General Janet Reno) sent in with flame-throwing tanks to wipe out the people in the Branch Davidion Compound in Waco, Texas. Their building was burned to the ground. America was attacked illegally by the government in that action.
That illegal attack then, created today's breaking-point.
The same ATF that led the dead-on-arrival feral War-on-Drugs; was also the same agency involved in the FAST & FURIOUS gun transfer with Mexican Drug Cartels. Obama & Holder distributed hundreds of assault-weapons, in volume, to global drug-dealers. Obama and his AG were both involved, yet together, these two TRAITORS "officially-ruled" that they were not-guilty of any wrong-doing.
REMEMBER, no one has gone to JAIL for the attempted-takeover of America, since even before George W. Bush was crowned dictator on 12-12-2000.
Now the ATF is in charge of whatever happens to anyone "that actually goes to them for judgment". Neither they, the president, congress nor the courts have any right to INFRINGE on anyone who has the protection of the Second Amendment. By trying to arrest, fine or seize any weapons from any citizen—
It is the Feral-Government that is breaking "the law" and
government officials should be arrested!
Since the gravity of this problem began to surface—DISARMING THE PUBLIC—most people are totally confused about how to respond; or even how to begin to deal with whatever might be coming with this latest new set of illegal-orders. Gun-owners are the targeted citizens that took the Second Amendment at face value, and now are to be illegally-arrested after-the-fact because the feral-government is again changing the rules, long after the facts, on which their current actions are based. (2)
This is NOT about guns, this is about TOTAL & ILLEGAL CONTROL of all the people in this place that must be forcefully RESISTED by gun owners and by every person that wants their freedom back.
People ask me: "But how can we resist and be effective: What can we do, where do we start, how will we know what to do when the time comes?"
When U.S. General George Patton who said "Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" spoke to the same problem that American-draftees faced then, that each of us faces now: Patton had some sage-advice for the young who had never faced the kinds of death that any war demands from ordinary people in the same way that ordinary gun-owners and patriots have been forced-to-face today. The key to everything is what just happened to all Americans in the last few days.
George S. Patton, the real person was a lightning-rod filled with controversy both on and off the battlefield. However, today we need to be able to understand what most did, when Patton was fighting for us against the NAZI's.
In the 1970 film George C. Scott as Patton says: "The NAZI's are the enemy, wade into them, shoot THEM in the belly: When you put your hand into a bunch of goo that a moment ago was your best friend's face: You'll know what to do!"
Ironically we are now still fighting NAZI's: 4th generation NAZI's! They are the current-global-Zionists, the Amerikkkan traitors that have joined forces to become more savagely-evil than were the troops were that we fought against during WWII. The Third Reich gave rise to Israel's Fourth Reich of today. That was the plan all along.
This cancerous-death-sentence has attached itself, for money, to the mindless new-world-order that condemns humanity to permanent enslavement or death: Unless we come-together-now to remove this global-cancer. If this does NOT happen then the world as we know it will simply no longer exist.
Ally yourselves with those frightened young recruits as they listened to a two-star general when he explained to them the reasons that men and women need to fight back today, against this tyranny, that has found its way into America in 2013.
1) Bill: Legal Gun Owners Must Surrender to ATF
2) The last four articles from 2012:
Goodbye to History, December 30
Sun Tzu & Fatal Errors, December 29
The Rock & the Hard Place, December 28
It Really Is This Simple, December 27
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All images are © kirwan, all rights are reserved (unless otherwise noted).


text:
China's military buildup: How far along is it?
China's faster-than-expected military buildup has alarmed the United States and its Asian allies and could help the Pentagon gird against deeper defense cuts threatened in some corners of Congress.world Updated: Oct 10, 2011 11:33 IST
China's faster-than-expected military buildup has alarmed the United States and its Asian allies and could help the Pentagon gird against deeper defense cuts threatened in some corners of Congress.
But even though the sophistication of China's People's Liberation Army has exceeded US military forecasts, there is a recognition within the Pentagon that some of its most-cited conventional capabilities are still in their infancy.
China's first aircraft carrier, a refurbished Soviet-era vessel known as the Varyag bought from the Ukraine, began sea trials in July. Chinese sources said Beijing is also building two indigenous carriers, a claim the US military believes is misleading at best.
Admiral Robert Willard, commander of US forces in the Pacific, told Reuters that while China might be pursuing procurement or some other embryonic action on an indigenous carrier, it would be premature to say "a keel is laid."
"The only ship that anyone has seen and that they have discussed with any level of fidelity is the Varyag, this particular ship that has floated," Willard said in an interview.
But the refurbished Soviet-era carrier is not yet fully operational. China, the last permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to get carrier capability, will not be able to effectively field an aircraft carrier with any combat aircraft aboard for years, according to Pentagon estimates.
A Pentagon assessment to Congress noted Brazil's navy offered to provide China training in carrier operations.
"However, Brazil's limited capabilities in this area and the extensive problems with Brazil's own carrier program raise some questions as to the implications of the offer," it said.
Not ten feet tall
Then there is question of China's stealth fighter jet, the J-20, which did its first test flight during a visit by the US defense secretary to China in January.
Despite the attention given to the J-20, the Pentagon does not expect it to achieve an effective operational capability before 2018.
There are also questions about how effective its stealth capability may be. The J-20's test flight proved its stealth design but did not reveal other attributes to help it avoid detection that might come later, sources say.
"China faces several hurdles as it moves toward J-20 production, including the mastery of high performance jet engine production," the Pentagon report said.
The United States has had a proper stealth fighter since Lockheed Martin's F-117 Nighthawk made its first flight 30 years ago. That aircraft was retired from service in 2007.
Prior "low-observable" US aircraft date back to the 1950s with the U-2A high-altitude reconnaissance plane.
The PLA is also still some way from mastering the ability to mount large joint force operations, which will be needed to make the most of newfound capabilities grabbing headlines.
The US military has spent the past decade of war honing joint operations that weave together teams and skills from across its armed forces -- a hard-won but potent tool.
The US Navy's top intelligence officer warned before retiring earlier this year against overestimating Chinese military capabilities.
"I don't view them as 10 feet tall," Vice Admiral David Dorsett said. "Have we seen large joint sophisticated exercises? No ... They are at the front end of developing their military capability."
Is China "on the march"?
At the same time, the US military believes China appears on track to field a modern, regionally focused military by 2020. A comprehensive strategy to maintain the US edge in the Pacific will require investment, a tough challenge in an era of budget cuts.
The Pentagon now counts a base budget, excluding war costs, of over half a trillion dollars. China downplays its defense spending but acknowledged in March a 12.7 percent rise in 2011 defense outlays to 600 billion yuan ($94 billion).
Still, the US military, while expressing confidence in future funding for the Asia-Pacific region, is not parroting some of the more volatile China rhetoric seen in parts of Congress.
"I know some folks like to sugarcoat the terms in describing China as a rival or competitor but the fact is Communist China is an enemy of democracy," David Rivera, a lawmaker on the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, said in a recent hearing on Taiwan.
The US military's estimates of China offer a more mixed view. This year's assessment noted China's lack of operational experience and large amounts of antiquated hardware but said the PLA was "steadily closing the technological gap with modern armed forces."
Dean Cheng, a China expert at the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington, said future Chinese advances like improvements in its anti-ship ballistic missile would influence US risk assessments when deploying near its shores.
That is not to say China will be able to flat-out deny US access to nearby waters any time soon.
"Denial is a function of risk -- what level of risk are we willing to accept in order to do whatever it is we're going to do out there," Cheng said, noting US submarines, for example, can be very difficult to detect.
The PLA's aggressive posture in the South China Sea and its increasing military edge over Taiwan are sources of concern -- as are its investments in nuclear submarines, which suggest China is seeking to support operations well beyond Taiwan.
Those concerns have found fertile ground in Congress, where the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee accused China of widespread cyber espionage.
Some lawmakers have reacted angrily to the US decision to give Taiwan a $5.85 billion arms package including upgrades to F-16 A/B fighter aircraft, instead of also delivering the late-model F-16 C/D fighters that Taipei wanted.
"China is on the march in Asia, and its primary target remains democratic Taiwan," said the House Foreign Relations Committee's chairwoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
China sees Taiwan, a self-ruled island, as an illegitimate breakaway from Beijing's rule that must accept eventual reunification.
The United States switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to mainland China in 1979 but it is obligated by law to supply Taiwan sufficient arms for self-defense.
As China's regional military ambitions come into view, so does discussion of its global goals. But Dorsett noted China's global aspirations are longer term, seeking to turn its navy into a global power "by the middle years of this century."
"That's their timeline," said.
"Should we expect them to be much more competent 10 years from now than they are today? As long as their economy's robust, absolutely."
First Published: Oct 10, 2011 11:28 IST


text:
The Hyperbaric Medicine Center at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at P/SL in Denver, Colorado, is recognized nationally as a leader in providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment. We have the only multi-place hyperbaric chamber in Denver, Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain West. We also have the only hyperbaric-certified team of physicians, nurses and technologists in the Denver metro area.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Services Provided
- Medical assessment of patients and establishment of care plans
- Hyperbaric treatment
- Wound management, in conjunction with hyperbaric treatment
- Patient and family education
- Diving physicals/fitness to dive
- Regional referral center for the Divers Alert Network
These services are often provided at the request of a patient's primary care or emergency physician. The referring physician is an integral part of our multidisciplinary philosophy.


text:
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Up, Up and Away in my beautiful balloon
How is everyone's Thursday going?
It was another chilly day here. I did my usual post office run, and stopped by Chapter's (a Canadian book store chain, similar to Barnes and Noble) looking for the STUFFED magazine that I'm in. Nope...not there. I hope they do get it. I can't wait to see it on the shelf. Maybe they are just a little late here in Canada. Has anyone else seen it in the stores?
I'm almost done loading the photos from 2008 in my flickr account. I want to get it up to date so that I can load new fresh paintings as they become available. Soon, soon I shall have it all done :)
Here is my newest painting BALLOON RIDE. Wouldn't you love to just float up into the sky and drift around above the trees?
Talk to you soon!
17 comments:
- The Old Oaken Bucket said...
Hey Tascha! I have not been able to locate Stuffed in my stores either. If I do, I will send you one. I love all the paintings in Flickr. I found the one I own called "Basket of Bunnies." Wouldn't it be neat if the owner of each one made a comment. So many paintings, so much talent...you should be oh so proud!
- January 8, 2009 at 10:05 PM
- tascha said...
Thanks so much! Don't worry about sending me one, I have a complimentary issue that the magazine sent me, I just want to see what it looked like on the shelves :)
You're a sweetheart for offering though!
- January 8, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Hi Tascha, wow, love your blog. just found it. love the folksy feel...
- January 8, 2009 at 10:34 PM
- LuLu said...
Bonjour Tascha! This balloon painting is exquisite! I too have been trying to find a Stuffed magazine to no avail. I finally ordered it directly. Oh! that winter is really something, isn't it? I am already dreaming of green grass and having a cup of coffee in the morning sun outside on the deck. Take care, LuLu
- January 8, 2009 at 11:23 PM
- Simply Victoria said...
I will look for that magazine! I love your art.
- January 8, 2009 at 11:28 PM
- suze said...
I have not seen it in stores yet but heard that it was out. I need to get out of bed and get all the new magazines!!
I need your beautiful balloon to take me away!
- January 9, 2009 at 12:25 AM
- Fishstikks said...
Another gorgeous little painting!
Looks so sweet.
I had a hard time finding the Stuffed magazine also. I went to my local Borders store on a Wednesday and they told me to check back the following Friday.
They finally did have it but I was jonesing so bad for it.
It totally stood out from all the other magazines and looked so good on the rack. Be proud, you look amazing in it!
Will most definitely have to come find you on Flickr.
- January 9, 2009 at 7:03 AM
- CupZup said...
Hello Tasha! I like your paintings. It's not likely that someone would paint something like that! And your video of the blue dog is terrific! I like the shades of blue and the cute little dog! Could you also post more paintings online? I would love to look at them! Thanks!
- January 9, 2009 at 7:14 AM
- Jane said...
Tascha, I absolutely love it!!! Jane xx
- January 9, 2009 at 8:09 AM
- Walk in the Woods said...
Oh, Balloon Ride is ... deLIGHTfully charming! But your work always (a word I *rarely* use) lightens my heart!
Have a beautiful day!
- January 9, 2009 at 8:44 AM
- marie*jolie said...
What I especially love is the color combination!! Those colors are gorgeous together.
- January 9, 2009 at 1:46 PM
- Angela Recada said...
Hi there! I haven't found Stuffed in Wisconsin yet either, and I've been looking everywhere. I'm hoping they are just late with restocking their shelves because of the holidays. :-(
I'd sure like to ride that balloon to somewhere warm!
Take care,
- January 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM
- Carolee said...
I believe they have it at Barnes and Noble here in the states now (I'm in Pennsylvania) - It's on my list of magazines to buy (have to space them out, hehe!)
LOVE the new painting!
~ Carolee
- January 10, 2009 at 11:06 AM
- Divaeva said...
Beautiful! I love the little black kitty!
- January 10, 2009 at 1:39 PM
- Carolyn said...
Very nice colors! I enjoy your blog.
- January 10, 2009 at 3:17 PM
I love this painting! I love your site..it is so beautiful. Even though I see your work on Flickr I'll have to drop again now that I know your site is here!
~Christine :)
- January 16, 2009 at 8:06 PM
- snippetgirl said...
Too cute! I want to be riding in that balloon :).
~~The SnipPet Girl
- January 21, 2009 at 10:01 AM


text:
All temporary Carnival stands along Terrebonne Parish's parade routes must come down by Friday or owners could face sanctions.
All temporary Carnival stands along Terrebonne Parish's parade routes must come down by Friday or owners could face sanctions.
Stands, which could be installed up to 30 days before the season's first parade, must be removed within 10 days following Fat Tuesday, making this year's deadline Friday.
With only a day left, about 15 stands still remain along Main Street and Park Avenue. Each tardy stand owner will get a call and a letter informing them of the removal deadline, zoning officials said.
Joe Jeffery, 62, has been erecting his 35-foot-long stand on West Park Avenue near Landmark Furniture for 14 years. Last year, he said he took his stand down on Ash Wednesday, but this year he waited until the weekend when the traffic is lighter.
Jeffery uses an 18-wheeler truck to tow the stand and others if requested. It takes about 30 minutes for him to put the stand up, he said, and another half-hour to take it down.
Jeffery said the stand holds about 30 to 40 people and is always a good time.
"It got some good usage this year," he said. "We really lucked out with the rain."
During the stand's offseason, Jeffery said he tries to keep it in good shape with new paint, light checks and other routine maintenance. Lafourche Parish has no laws stipulating when stands can be in place.
In both parishes, the structures are banned from roads, intersections and any place that obstructs motorists' view.
In Terrebonne, all stand owners must secure a permit from the Planning Department. At $50 a pop, there were 50 permits issued this Carnival season, generating $2,500, said Terrebonne Planning Director Pat Gordon. Last year's totals were 55 and $2,750.
Owners who don't remove the stands could be charged with a misdemeanor. A judge determines the punishment.
After Friday, the Planning Department will start sending out violation letters to individuals who haven't removed their stands, Gordon said.
"Hopefully they will all be removed within the next couple weeks," he said. "It looks like already half have been removed. I saw some dismantling them in the rain."
The $50 fee covers the expense of inspecting stands and processing permits. The parish upped the fee to $100 in 2008 but cut it in half after getting numerous complaints. Prior to 2008, parade-stand permits were free.


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Peter Lawrence Boyle, Jr. (October 18, 1935 – December 12, 2006) was an American actor, best known for his role as Frank Barone on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and as a comical monster in Mel Brooks' film spoof Young Frankenstein (1974).
Boyle, who won an Emmy Award in 1996 for a guest-starring role on the science-fiction drama The X-Files, won praise in both comedic and dramatic parts following his breakthrough performance in the 1970 film Joe.
Boyle was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania of Irish descent, the son of Alice and Peter Boyle, Sr. He moved with his family to nearby Philadelphia. His father was a Philadelphia TV personality from 1951–1963 who, among many other things, played the Western-show host Chuck Wagon Pete, and hosted the afterschool children's program Uncle Pete Presents the Little Rascals, which showed vintage Little Rascals and Three Stooges comedy shorts and Popeye cartoons.


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I hope you read the article �Diet Tips From Cavemen� that appeared right above my column last week. Cavemen had to hunt for everything they ate, nuts, seeds, berries and eatable greens being the most available food. Because they had to chase, stalk and kill for their meat, they didn�t eat too much of it. Hey, we evolved from these people! They did something right.
Because I teach exercise for a living, my focus is on eating food that produces energy. I must be at the top of my game and it isn�t always easy. Ideally I would have steamed vegetables and a little piece of chicken and a salad on the side for every meal. But during a hectic day that is a hard menu to follow. Besides this type of prepared food is not easy to find everywhere at a price we can afford. In other words, it is not convenient. Yikes!
If we think about good food as fuel that keeps our immune system strong and helps us stay well, it takes on a new perspective. Because I exercise so much it really matters what I eat and in what quantities. When I don�t follow a good diet I feel lethargic and fatigued. The amount of food a person needs will vary with age, sex, weight and activity level. The rate at which you burn calories depends not only on the type of exercise you do, but also on how vigorously you do it.
Carbohydrates � the sugar and starches in the diet � are the most confusing when it comes to �what� and �how much.� Carbohydrates break down in the body into glucose, which muscles use for energy. Oh boy, lots of French fries and potato chips! No, no, no! The good carbohydrates provide glucose, which muscles use for energy. Excess carbs are stored in the liver and tissues as glycogen and released as needed for energy. If you are not exercising and using the carbs , guess what, it stores as fat. A good source of carbohydrates is whole grain pasta, breads and cereals, fruit, vegetables, and brown rice.
Next would be protein. It should be a part of your main meal because it will help slow absorption of carbohydrates helping to keep the energy up. Fish, eggs, chicken meat and beans are excellent sources of protein, and 3 ounces per main meal is enough.
Fat. You need some fat in your diet, too. Low-fat dairy products like 1 percent milk and lean cuts of meat give you all the fat your body needs. Timing your meals and snacks is important. If you exercise in the morning and don�t have something to eat first, you can use up all your stored energy. If you skip breakfast eating a small piece of fruit before exercise will work.
You should drink fluids before, during and after workouts, even if you are not thirsty. Water is the best choice. The bottom line on eating for exercise is drink plenty of fluids and eat regular meals that include complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and fat, and you should have all the energy you need for your workout plan.
Speaking of working out, on the Internet dial up www.jazzercise.com, click on �watch the video� and see what Jazzercise does to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Now that�s a workout!
You can e-mail Gazette fitness columnist Mary E. Neil at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Accommodations close to Mount Hope are provided below in the order of their distance (closest at the top). Use our search tools to find cheap hotel rates near Mount Hope in Mount Hope for your upcoming individual or group travel.We list the best motels and hotels close to Mount Hope so you can review the discounted Mount Hope hotels & motels below and discover the perfect hotel. Need a room block for a group? Find a Mount Hope group hotel rate
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Protests against Secretary of State Kris Kobach's immigration agenda physically came to his doorstep recently. A group advocating amnesty for illegal immigrants protested on Kobach's front porch, prompting Kobach to suggest future protests could be met with a report of gunfire.
Substantively, however, Kobach suffered a much more significant blow from Washington D.C.
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on an Arizona law near and dear to Kobach. Arizona approved Proposition 200 eight years ago, requiring prospective voters to provide citizenship documentation. Federal law only mandates that voter registrants sign an oath stating they are a citizen. Arizona's referendum went further than the federal law, shifting the burden of proof away from the government and onto the registrant.
Kobach has made a national name for himself as the champion of hard-line illegal immigration reform. Consulting on laws like Arizona's SB 1070, which allows law enforcement officials to stop people to check for immigration status, and developing Kansas laws, such as the 2011 bill requiring prospective voter registrants to show proof of citizenship just like in Arizona, Kobach personifies the immigration warrior in the United States.
The strategy may pay off for Kobach with popularity among movement conservatives, but for the second time in a year the Supreme Court has dealt his particular brand of policy a serious setback. In June 2012, the Supreme Court overturned multiple components of SB 1070 while giving Kobach a partial win by upholding the vital provision allowing police to demand proof of citizenship status.
Democrats have zeroed in on these laws, publicly speaking the language of inclusion while privately betting they would fare better with more of the potentially disenfranchised electorate voting. Republicans, trumpeting fraud prevention, quietly expect to reduce participation by young, Hispanic and poorer voters and thus improve their own electoral math. With such a partisan divide on the issue, the bipartisanship of the Supreme Court's decision is striking.
During oral arguments three months ago, Kobach contributed to the conservative magazine National Review Online, claiming a liberal bloc of four justices would vote to nullify leaving five upholding for a majority. Kobach's prediction was drastically off. The lead author of the opinion was the bastion of high court conservatism, Antonin Scalia. The 7-2 opinion was a massive defeat for the proof-of-citizenship law, rejected by not only the most liberal member of the court but the most conservative as well. Kobach may take comfort from the decision being mostly a reaffirmation of federal supremacy over the states. Justice Anthony Kennedy's primary concern was that Arizona's law was stricter than its federal counterpart. Thus the precedent decision was more the court's partial affirmation of "'Obamacare" than an extension of the SB 1070 ruling.
Kobach's penchant for damn-the-torpedoes policy is controversial in its very nature, so it is not surprising to see many of the laws he has written or consulted on challenged in the courts. Controversies like these are the reason courts exist. But Kobach's laws tend to be overturned at least partially when challenged in the judiciary. If Kobach is merely engaging in symbolic politics, the defense costs for Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office suggest he is playing an expensive game positioning himself for either Capitol Hill or Cedar Crest.
Kobach would not tell reporters whether or not he planned on complying with the Court's decision, but did say that he believed the ruling would have little to no effect on Kansas law. If Kobach does ignore the Supreme Court's decision, he can expect some of those same groups who have protested against him in the past to bring federal action to enforce quicker than you can say "Voting Rights Act." With Kobach's 0-2 record, he probably shouldn't bet on a win any time soon.
Chapman Rackaway is an associate professor of political science at Fort Hays State University.


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Exhibit Space Information
Exhibit Space Rental Fees
Booth Space Pricing Formulae
Inline Booth Spaces
$25 per 100 square feet (10 x 10 = $2,500; 10 x 20 = $5,000; 10 x 30 = $7,500; etc.)
Add $200 for each 'corner' included in the inline booth space
Island Booth Formations
$25 per 100 square feet + $200 per corner
Two-Story Booth Formations - Cost for 2nd Level
$15 per 1 square foot for second level to be added to total cost of first level space
First Level: 20 x 40 = $20,800
Second Level: 10 x 20 = $3,000
Total booth price: $23,800
If you're considering a Two-Story booth, please contact Hadijah R. Kagolo for details on the Anaheim Convention Center Guidelines for Multi-level and Covered Exhibits.
|No. of Complimentary Exhibitor
Personnel Registrations
(2 per 100 square feet)
|Inline Basic
|10' x 10'
|2 complimentary registrations
|Inline Corner
|10' x 10'
|2 complimentary registrations
|To determine fee of inline booth space greater than 10 x 10, use formula above
|20' x 20'
|8 complimentary registrations
|20' x 30'
|12 complimentary registrations
|20' x 40'
|16 complimentary registrations
|30' x 30'
|18 complimentary registrations
|20' x 50'
|20 complimentary registrations
|30' x 40'
|24 complimentary registrations
|30' x 50'
|30 complimentary registrations
|40' x 40'
|32 complimentary registrations
|40' x 50'
|40 complimentary registrations
|40' x 60'
|48 complimentary registrations
|50' x 50'
|50 complimentary registrations
|40' x 70'
|56 complimentary registrations
|To determine fee of island booth space sizes not listed, use formula above
Two-Story Booths
|20' x 20' island or larger
|$15 per 100 square feet
(to be added to total cost of
first level space)
|Publishers Row
|10' x 10'
|2 complimentary registrations
|10' x 10'
|2 complimentary registrations
Exhibit Space Selection - Using the Current Floor plan
The floor plan posted is a DRAFT plan and currently shows 10' x 10' booths and island formations of various sizes and locations. The sizes and locations of booths will change on the plan once space assignments are made.
Inline booths - If you would like to reserve a space larger than a 10' x 10', on the space application please list the numbers of the booths you'd like combined in order to create your in-line booth (10' x 20', 10' x 30', 10' x 40', etc).
Please note, the AAPM does not allow peninsula formations.
Island formations - You may either identify current island formations on the floorplan as your desired top 3 choices OR if you can:
- Combine any 10 x 10 spaces to form an island
- Or select a current island booth and location and ask that it be downsized or increased to fit your needs.
- NOTE: It is suggested that if you wish to request a formation other than what appears on the draft plan, you print the floorplan, use a marker to outline/indicate your top 3 choices, and submit the floorplan with the space application.
Target Move-In Schedule
With the cooperation of Service Contractor, Exhibit Management will be using a Target Move - In Schedule for the meeting. Schedule to be posted in April.
Exhibit Space Assignment Process
All applications received on or before February 20th, 2009 will be awarded 60 points. These applications will be separated and identified as AAPM Corporate Affiliate Members and Nonmembers. On February 21st all applications will be assigned a random number with applications received by AAPM Corporate Affiliate Members being assigned random numbers first followed by applications received by Nonmembers. Exhibit space assignments will then be made based on the random number assigned.
Applications received after February 20th will be assigned space based on a point system. The point system is based on three tiers of information: historical data, date application is received, and event sponsorship. Corporate Affiliate Contracts received after February 20th will be assigned space along with nonmember organizations based on historical data, date application is received, and event sponsorship.
The historical tier of the point system awards four points for each consecutive year a company has exhibited, going back nine years. A maximum of 36 points can be accumulated this way. Three points are given for each year exhibited non-consecutively.
The date-point tier begins February 21st. Two points will be subtracted from this sixty-point maximum for each application received each business day thereafter. No points are given for applications received after 30 days. Bonus points earned by sponsoring AAPM Annual Meeting events will be added to the aforementioned system.
Total points, Corporate Affiliate level and Exhibitor preference regarding proximity to other exhibiting companies will be used to break ties. Every effort will be made to respect the Exhibitors' space choices, whenever possible, but the decision of Exhibit Management will be final.
Exhibit Management Policy: Exhibit Management reserves the right to rearrange the floor plan at any time when such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the total exhibit effort. Exhibit Management reserves the right to relocate exhibitors should it become necessary for causes beyond the control of AAPM, or advisable in the best judgment of AAPM to transfer assignments.
Exhibit Space Application Submission and Payment
To complete the Exhibit Space Application: (This is a fillable form)
- Review the AAPM floor plan and determine your top three (3) booth selection requests. The entrances are indicated on the floor plan so please note when selecting your requested booth spaces.
- List any exhibitors you wish to be near and any competitors you do not want to be near.
- Indicate your priority regarding the assignment of your booth space (i.e. floor location, competitor proximity, associate proximity, corner space).
- Indicate the product focus and product line that best applies to your organization. This information will be displayed in the online Buyers Guide.
The Application for Exhibit Space must be accompanied by FULL PAYMENT in the form of either a credit card payment or a check in US funds drawn on a US resident bank.
- Credit cards accepted include Visa, Master card and American Express (If you prefer to call to charge your credit card, contact Hadijah at 301-209-3371)
- Checks should be payable to the AAPM.
- Forward Applications and Payments to:
Attn: Hadijah Robertson Kagolo
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740-3846
(Fax) 301-209-0862
- If you would prefer to wire the payment, the wiring instructions are as follows. Please note that an additional $30.00 fee is required to cover the bank charges for an international wire:
1753 Pinnacle Dr
McLean, VA 22102
Swift# PNBPUS33
Acct# 2000028809867
Please Note:
Space assignments are subject to availability of space, preferences, special needs, and compatibility of Exhibitors. Booth assignment will not be made until the FULL PAYMENT is received regardless of when the Application for Exhibit Space is received.
Refund for Cancellations / Space Reduction
Should the Exhibitor be unable to occupy and use the exhibit space contracted for, they will promptly notify Exhibit Management. All sums paid by the Exhibitor, less a service charge of 10% of the contract price, will be refunded.
No refund for cancellation will be made after April 30, 2009.
Space Reductions:
Should the Exhibitor need to reduce the size of space originally contracted for, they will promptly notify Exhibit Management. If space originally contracted for is reduced, a 10% service charge of the original contract price will be due AAPM.
Exhibit Management has the right to reassign a different booth space to Exhibitor.No refund for space reduction will be made after April 30, 2009.
Floor plan - Viewing Instructions
In an effort to provide better viewing of the floor plan for space selection, we are using Expocad FX software. From the floorplan, you may access viewing instructions by clicking on the Expocad FX Help icon (see image below).
» View and Print the Online Floor plan «


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|"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really exists), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.
The Coliseum is an amphitheatre located in the centre of Rome, Italy, built in the first century by the Romans.[1]
In 1754, the Coliseum was selected as the finishing line in a broom race from Aberdeen to Rome between famous fliers Torquil McTavish and Silvio Astolfi, and government representatives and supporters gathered there to await their arrival. However, just as the pair were seen flying toward the ancient amphitheatre, a clash broke out between rival factions of fans. During the fight, an explosion was somehow set off, leaving the Coliseum in ruins. Orabella Nuttley stepped forward and repaired a few columns with the Mending Charm she had invented. Amazed, the assembled ministers asked her to teach them how to perform it, and the damage to the Coliseum was undone by the time that Muggles woken up by the sound of the explosion arrived at the scene.[2]
Notes and references
- ↑ "Colosseum" on Wikipedia
- ↑ Wonderbook: Book of Spells


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The alumni H-Club at Hope College will present its "Hope for Humanity Award" to President James E. Bultman and Martie Bultman on Saturday, Oct. 15, during the college's Homecoming Weekend.
The alumni H-Club at Hope College will present its "Hope for Humanity Award" to President James E. Bultman and Martie Bultman on Saturday, Oct. 15, during the college's Homecoming Weekend.
The Bultmans are being honored for their dedicated service to Hope as president and first lady of the college since 1999. James Bultman will be retiring at the end of June.
The "Hope for Humanity Award," first presented in 1990, recognizes Hope athletic alumni for consistent service to others and demonstrating the values of Christian commitment and service. The H-Club consists of Hope alumni who were athletic letter winners and other honorary letter winners as approved by the H-Club's Board of Directors.
The group will honor the Bultmans during halftime of the 7 p.m. men's soccer game with Calvin College at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Tickets for the game cost $5 for adults and $3 for those under 18, with admission free for children five and under, and will be available at the gate.
The award will be presented by Ray and Sue Smith, long-time friends and colleagues. Ray Smith is a professor emeritus of kinesiology and former head football coach at Hope, where he taught from 1970 until retiring in 2009. At the time a member of the Hope education faculty and then dean of the social sciences, James Bultman was an assistant football coach from 1970 through the fall of 1984.
"Jim and Martie Bultman are special people indeed. They are passionate about every aspect of the college and united as a team in leading Hope," said Ray Smith. "They place a high value on interfacing with students, promoting academic rigor in the classroom, maintaining a vibrant Christian dimension on campus and continuing to renovate old buildings and build new ones as needs dictate. In short, they are committed to achieving excellence at every level of the college."
The Bultmans' involvement in the life of the college extends back to their student days beginning in the fall of 1959. Their commitment to education is life-long, each having graduated from the college in 1963 with a teaching degree. Their love of Hope and dedication to students have combined during the more than 12 years that they have served during James Bultman's presidency.
They are both enthusiastic and tireless supporters of students and their activities. They regularly attend student scholarly presentations, performances, and competition in athletic events, usually together but sometimes individually when activities are happening simultaneously - so at least one of them can be present at each. Together they serve communion during the college's Sunday-evening worship services in Dimnent Memorial Chapel, and they also break bread with students by joining them for lunch or dinner in the dining halls, or by inviting them for a meal in the President's Home.
James Bultman's emphasis as president has been on assuring that Hope provides students with an exceptional educational experience in a vibrant and caring Christian environment, and the college has enjoyed distinction on a variety of external measures during his tenure. Martie has additionally worked with students directly as co-advisor of the college's chapter of the "Mortar Board" honorary society, which in 2010 was recognized as the nation's top chapter, receiving the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award.
James Bultman majored in chemistry at Hope, where he captained the football and baseball teams and was president of the senior class. He went on to complete a master's degree and doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. After graduation from Hope, he taught and coached in the public schools in Portage and was the assistant principal of Portage Northern High School before returning to the college as a member of the education faculty in 1968.
He chaired the department of education from 1976 to 1982, and was dean of the social sciences from 1982 until 1985. He was head baseball coach at Hope from 1971 to 1985, and an assistant football coach from 1970 to 1984. From 1985 to 1999 he served as president of Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
Martie Bultman graduated with a major in psychology and initially taught elementary-age special-education students in the Portage schools. She took some time off from teaching after son Matthew and daughter Heather were born, but stayed involved in the field as adult coordinator for Special Education Ministry in Holland while her husband was back at Hope as a member of the faculty. Based on her work with the ministry program, she co-authored the "Friendship Series," a religious curriculum for sharing God's love with persons who have disabilities that is used throughout the English-speaking world and has now been translated into Spanish for use in Latin and South America.
She also served the department of education as an observer of student teachers in special education. Realizing that she missed teaching herself, she subsequently taught high school students in Holland's West Ottawa School District from 1979 until 1985. While in Orange City, she was a learning disabilities instructor at MOC-Floyd Valley High School.
In addition to their active engagement with the Hope community, James and Martie Bultman are both involved in service and leadership beyond campus.
An active leader in higher education circles, James Bultman is chair of the Division III Presidents Council of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), chair of the Council of Presidents for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and a member of the Presidents Council of the Michigan Colleges Foundation (MCF). He is immediate past-chair of the Board of the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA), former chair of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan (AICUM) and former chair of the Financial Aid Commission of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).
He is a member of the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce and the Holland Rotary Club, and serves on the Board of Directors at The Bank of Holland, the Board of Directors of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, and the Board of Governors of the Van Andel Institute. He is a former chair of the Ottawa County United Way Campaign.
Bultman received an honorary doctorate from Keiwa College of Japan in 1998 and from Hope in 1999. He received Distinguished Alumni Awards from Hope and Western Michigan University in 1995 and 2001 respectively.
Martie Bultman is currently serving her third term on the Board of Directors for Friendship Ministries, and served previously on the Board of Trustees of the Ministerial Formation Coordinating Agency and the steering committee for disability concerns for the Reformed Church in America, as well as the planning committee for Western Theological Seminary's Friendship House. She has also served several community organizations, including as a member of the Holland Area Arts Council Board of Directors and as chairwoman of the Kate Garrod Post Educational Scholarship Fund for the Woman's Literary Club.
James and Martie Bultman are also active members of Christ Memorial Church in Holland.


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Jackson Hole Antler Arches, an iconic symbol…
The Grand Tetons, the Mormon Barn, The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and the Antler Arches on the town square downtown Jackson Hole are just a few of the most memorable and most photographed features of the valley. As Jackson transformed from a mountain man town into a dude ranch town the antler arches grew in popularity with family travelers and locals alike.
There are four antler arches, one marking each corner of the town square. Though there isn't an exact date of when the first arch was built and placed on the town square, most sources cite 1960 as the year the first antler arch was added to the town square. In 2007 they began to replace the arches, and auctioned off the old weathered ones.
Each arch contains about 10,000 pounds of elk antlers. Don't worry not one elk was harmed in the making of the arches. Elk grow antlers that they shed annually. Unlike horns that must be cut off and are hollow inside, antlers, fall off naturally and are solid. Starting May 1 locals, tourist, and the local Boy Scout club hit the National Forests and Elk Refuge in search of the all the antler sheds. Each year at the Old West Days the Boy Scouts put on an auction where they sell their antlers. Others sell them to jewelers, furniture makers, private deals, dealers from overseas, or just keep them to enjoy in their own homes.
Next time you are in Jackson Hole Wyoming on vacation, make sure you stop by the town square and get your iconic picture in front of the JH Antler Arches.