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When it comes to recording images, Eastman Kodak has met its match. And it has come in the form of a little electronic card encased in plastic.
Vast improvements in flash memory cards -- small, thin, but decidedly unsexy products capable of storing hundreds of photographs -- have made the significant growth in digital camera sales possible.
But now these devices, known by such names as CompactFlash, Memory Stick and SD Card are also becoming the storage media of choice for a range of other consumer products, including TV's, cellphones, music players, personal digital assistants and camcorders. And as the notion of the connected home begins to resonate, ever-smaller versions of flash memory cards will routinely be found, offering consumers an easy way to transfer pictures, movies, music and data from one to another.
Even as the flash memory business is growing rapidly over all, however, some formats are losing market share. And within the next five years, analysts say, a few will disappear altogether.
''In the long term, two memory formats will survive, Memory Stick and SD,'' said Nelson Chan, senior vice president for SanDisk, the only company licensed to make and sell every flash memory format, which includes MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia and xD-Picture Card.Continue reading the main story
Not everybody agrees with that. But in the last year, the SD memory card's monthly market share has surged. By last November, 42 percent of all aftermarket flash memory cards sold in the United States were in the SD format. CompactFlash, its closest competitor, accounted for under 26 percent, according to the NPD Group, a market analysis company.
In the United States, 10.9 million flash memory units were sold in the first 11 months of 2003, according to NPD, a 54 percent increase from the same period in 2002.
Yet like film before it, flash memory's dominance will also be challenged by yet another storage format -- mini hard drives, which are tiny, fast-spinning disks that can store multiple gigabytes of information.
Flash memory has some inherent advantages, though. Unlike hard drives, the devices have no moving parts and can be subjected to more rough handling without fear of erasing data. And low-capacity versions capable of storing several hundred pictures cost a quarter the price of the current crop of tiny hard drives.
The growing popularity of small cellphones that can also take still pictures is likely to mean that the CompactFlash or CF format, which is still found in the majority of digital cameras, will lose ground. The CF format's larger cards will not fit in the diminutive cellphones, which are expected to account for 29 percent of flash memory applications by 2006.
While smaller versions of both SD and Sony's Memory Stick are available, Bill Frank, executive director of the CompactFlash Association, said, ''it is technically not possible to make a smaller CF card.''
The SD format, available in both regular and mini sizes, is expected to forge ahead. This year, SanDisk plans to introduce a one gigabyte version of the SD memory card, up from 512MB, and plans 2GB and 3GB versions for succeeding years. ''By 2006 we will have SD cards with sufficient capacity and transfer speed to record high-definition video,'' said Andrew Nelkin, a vice president for digital technology at Panasonic's consumer electronics division.
During the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month, Panasonic, a unit of Matsushita, showed a prototype of a miniature high-definition camcorder that uses an SD card to record images. Panasonic markets the only DVD-quality video camera that uses solely flash memory -- one of its D-snap models, the size of a credit card and weighing less than 6 ounces.
The pictures captured with the D-snap can then be viewed by inserting the SD card into a compatible product, like a television or a PC.
Industry executives say they believe that the growing desire to connect various products will encourage consumers to stick with the same memory format used by their existing gear, to avoid introducing incompatible products into the home. That is likely to sustain the popularity of Sony's Memory Stick, even though few other manufacturers have adopted the format.
Sony, the biggest seller of camcorders and digital cameras in the United States, will be able to keep the Memory Stick viable as it incorporates the technology into a wider range of devices, including televisions and music players, industry analysts say.
Last spring, Sony introduced in Japan its Mobile Movie concept, a series of products that enable customers to record TV shows at home and then watch them later using a compatible portable player, a Sony Clié hand-held or even a cellphone.
''Memory Stick will remain strong as long as Sony continues to support it, since the company has a substantial share of the camera and P.D.A. businesses,'' Stephen Baker, director of industry analysis for the NPD Group, said. The format holds 16 percent of the market now, and is expected to become the second most popular format, behind SD, by 2007, because Memory Sticks can be made small, with high storage capacities and fast data transfer rates.
Because technical factors limit its memory capacity, SmartMedia is being phased out in favor of xD-Picture, a flash memory device used by Olympus and Fuji in digital cameras. The MultiMediaCard, which has the same dimensions as SD, is being positioned primarily for use in cellphones.
A 256MB flash memory card is more than adequate to store hundreds of still photographs, but much more storage capacity is needed for long home movies or thousands of songs. As the industry develops flash memory cards capable of storing up to 4GB of data, the challenge will be producing them at a cost that is competitive with miniature hard drives of the same capacity.
Several mini hard drives, measuring as little as one cubic inch, are available for less than $100 wholesale from companies like Cornice, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and RioSpring. Last month, Toshiba announced what are said to be the world's smallest hard drives, 2GB and 4GB models that are less than an inch long.
More than 3 million hard drives smaller than 2.5 inches were sold in 2003, according to Gartner, which expects an exponential increase in sales over the next four years, to as many as 20 million units. That growth will be fueled by including the devices in cellphones, MP3 players (the Apple iPod is one of the largest users) and camcorders.
''While a mini hard drive is less shock resistant than flash memory, it is not the most fragile element of a camcorder,'' John Monroe, a vice president at Gartner, said. ''A lens will break first.''
While hard drive memory, per megabyte, is less expensive, individual flash cards, irrespective of capacity, will probably always be cheaper.
''Where memory capacity is key, such as in $200 MP3 players, mini hard drives will dominate,'' Mr. Monroe said. ''But with less-expensive digital still cameras, flash has the edge. Unlike flash memory, mini hard drives will never cost eight dollars.''Continue reading the main story


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Bruce Berkowitz, manager of Fairholme Fund, started his fund 8 years ago. Over the past 8 years his fund has appreciated by 17.40% per annum compared to a gain of 1.71% per annum for the S&P 500 Index. With this article we like to review how Bruce Berkowitz achieved this outstanding result.
Bruce Berkowitz achieved good returns well before he started his own shop. Even Joel Greenblatt borrowed his ideas to profit. In his book "You can be a stock market genius", page 221 - 223, Joel Greenblatt wrote:
"In December 1992, I read an interview conducted by OID with an investment manager at Lehman Brothers who was previously unknown to me, Bruce Berkowitz. The fact that I had no idea who he was didn't matter. The logic and clarity of the investment case he made for Wells Fargo stock was overwhelming on its own. At that time, Wells Fargo, a large California-based bank, was trading at around $77 per share. California was in the middle of the worst real estate recession since the 1930s. Wells Fargo had by far the largest concentration of commercial real estate loans on its balance sheet equal to only $48 per share (its stock price was approximately $47 per share). Wells Fargo, on the other hand, had commercial real estate loans totaling about $249 per share (as compared to a stock price of about $77), Further, Wells had taken a loss provision (reserves that anticipate future loan losses) of $27 per share the previous year, wiping out almost all of its earnings. In just the first nine months of 1992, Wells had provisioned for an additional $18 per share of losses. Many investors questioned whether Wells Fargo would survive the real estate downturn."
"Berkowitz's investment case was fairly simple. If you excluded the loss provisions, Wells (adjusting for cash earnings and one-time expenses) was already earning nearly $36 per share before taxes. Of the real estate environment ever recovered to a more normalized level, loan-loss provisions, based on past experience, would probably fall to approximately $6 per share on an annualized basis. This would translate to normalized pretax earnings of $30 per share, or $18 per share in earnings on an after-tax basis (assuming a 40-percent tax rate). At a price of nine or ten times earnings, Wells Fargo could be trading at $160 to $180 per share (versus its then current price of $77). The question wasn't how Wells Fargo could increase its earnings power to reach $18 per share in after-tax earnings. Wells was already earnings that earning that kind of money – but for the effect of the extraordinary loan-loss provisions. According to Berkowitz, the real question was: What was the right way to look at the loan-loss provisions and how bad were they?"
This is the return of Fairholme Fund relative to the S&P500. We can see that he has beaten the index by wide margins. He has only one down year, down a minimum of 1.58% in 2002, when the index was down more than 20%. In 2007, when many value investors suffered, he was up by 12.37%, handily beat the 5.5% gained by S&P500. If you invested $10,000 in The Fairholme Fund at fund's inception, it has grown to $36,117 while $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 Index has grown to $11,455.
So what kind of companies does Bruce Berkowitz invests in? He wrote in his 2000 annual shareholder letter. He and his team "focus on creating long-term ownership of companies that have durable competitive positions, predictable cash earnings, high returns on capital, and owner oriented managers – at attractive valuations."
How did Bruce Berkowitz achieve this? We have studied his shareholder letters, interviews and articles about him. This is what we found out.
Concentrate the bets on the best ideas
Bruce Berkowitz concentrates his investments in a relatively small number of companies. He thinks that the more diversified the portfolio, the more likely the performance will be average.
"If you can buy more of your best idea, why put [the money] into your 10th-best idea or your 20th-best idea? If we're confident in what we do, then that's the way we should do it. The only reason not to is a fear of being wrong. The more positions you have, the more average you are." He said in interviews with Barron's.
In his Fairholme fund, Berkowitz has more than 50% of the asset in the top five holdings (excluding cash). His top two holdings, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B), and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) are in more than 33% of the fund.
"We try and know what you can know. We try and only buy a few companies which we believe have been built to last in all environments. We recognize that you only need a few good ideas in a lifetime to be fabulously wealthy...." He wrote in his shareholder letter.
Focus on Free Cash Flow
"Cash is all you can spend," said Bruce Berkowitz. He does not care much about earning per share, he cares cash earnings. He defines free cash flow as the cash a company would generate annually from operations after all cash outlays necessary to maintain the business in its current condition.
His definition of free cash flow is close to what Joel Greenblatt defines in his book "The little book that beats the market". Company earning is the cash it brings in minus the cash it spends to maintain current operations.
"Because it makes the most sense to me," said Bruce Berkowitz in an interview with BusinessWeek. "My first job was at a little corner grocery store, and it seemed pretty simple. Cash goes into the register; cash comes out of the register to pay for supplies, payroll and taxes -- enough to maintain the business at a steady state. What was left over was the owner's earnings, or free cash flow. That was really what the business made."
Invest with Capable Owner Oriented Managers
All of Bruce Berkowitz's holdings have the management team that he likes. He wrote:
"So we try to position ourselves with companies that are capable of reacting to whatever environment comes their way, because in the good times companies take care of themselves. It's only in the bad times when you want to find companies that actually plant the seeds of greatness. There is Berkshire Hathaway there has been Leucadia National [LUK], a holding company with a lot of different businesses, and similar companies. They are always playing defense, because you never know when something bad will happen."
"The Fund continues to own a stable of terrific businesses with some of the most competent and honorable business jockeys in the world. Warren Buffett (BRK-A, BRK-B), Murray Edwards (CNQ), Ian Cumming and Joe Steinberg (LUK), Charlie Ergen (DISH), Eddie Lampert (SHLD), and Jeff Lorberbaum (MHK) are among the cream of the crop. They are risk-averse business people who intuitively understand that profits are lumpy and conditions not always favorable. No matter the environment, these wonderful owner/managers should be able to find ways to make money for the Fund's shareholders."
"The winners (in business) are usually run by battle-hardened owner/managers who know that the seeds of greatness are planted during the worst of times and reaped after the storms pass. To the victor belong the spoils…"
Buying on One-time event:
"Volatility is more of an opportunity. There's nothing better than a one-time event that allows you to buy a reasonable company at a great price. So we are looking at the chance -- in terms of risk -- of a permanent loss, based upon our own security research."
His recent purchase of WellCare Health Plans Inc (WCG) is an example of one-time event. In Oct. 2007 FBI agents raided the headquarter of WCG, and its stocks plunged from $120 to $30s. He started to buy as he recognized that the company continues to grow and continues to get enrollment in more and more counties in the U.S. "And there are certain indicators you can't ignore, among them how WellCare has been building up cash. Also, the independent directors acted quickly and wisely."
As a matter of fact, we reported his Nov. 2007 purchase of WCG in the Real Time Picks section of Premium Features. Since then, the stock has appreciated by about 40%. If you are not a Premium Member, we invite you for a 7-day Free Trial.
Borrow Ideas from the Best
Bruce Berkowitz is not shy with borrowing ideas from the best. He wrote in the 2002 annual shareholder letter: "On the new investment front, please note WilTel. In recent years, the company spent roughly $8 billion laying optic fibers with all the trimmings just in time to file Chapter 11 in April of 2002. Our interest was piqued when Leucadia National agreed to purchase 44% of the company as part of an overall plan of reorganization. After review of WilTel's plan of reorganization, the Fund purchased busted senior bonds that have since converted into equity of this newly reorganized company."
The idea worked well. He wrote in 2003 letter: "Leucadia National has now become the Fund's second largest holding by acquiring our shares of WilTel Communications in exchange for Leucadia shares at about a 50% premium to our cost. Effectively, we acquired a chunk of Leucadia at around book value — truly a bargain price."
Bruce Berkowitz is a fan of Leucadia management. "Relatively unknown, Ian Cumming and Joe Steinberg have compounded Leucadia's book value per share at over 20% per annum since they took control of the company in 1978." He wrote in 2002.
Interestingly, Bruce Berkowitz also bought AmeriCredit (ACF) as Leucadia becomes the largest shareholder of the company, owning 30% of total shares. Is this also a borrowed idea?
Willing to Hold cash:
Bruce Berkowitz is willing to hold cash. He fund always holds about 20% of cash. Holding cash may hurt the overall performance if the market goes up, but he is willing to hold cash because he believes that a certain amount of liquidity in the Fund's portfolio is desirable to take advantage of new investment opportunities. "No. 1, we don't have to sell that which is cheap [in order to] to buy that which is cheaper, especially companies that we have gotten to know and love. And No. 2, where there are special situations, we can act quickly." He wrote.
Perform and They Will Come
Bruce Berkowitz does not have marketing team in his firm. He believes in "perform and they will come."
Sure, in 8 years, his asset under management grows to more than $8 billion. His Fairholme Fund has grows its asset from year 2000's $10 million to more than $7 billion.
On Berkshire Hathaway: In the past, the market has made some mistakes in valuing this company. But in general, right now the market is within an intrinsic value range of anywhere from $125,000 to $175,000 per A share.
On Sears Holding: Look at Lampert's overall performance. He has done a good job with retail holdings in the past, and he understands Sears' assets. We've looked at a lot of the tax assessments and location maps on many of their properties, which have a lot of value and provide downside protection. We're in the middle of a very difficult environment, so Sears is being priced for a very, very difficult outcome. Meanwhile, it's making money, and has significant assets, so I'm not concerned. We've had a position since September.
On Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): Energy continues to be a substantial component of the Fund with Canadian Natural Resources the second largest Fund investment. Notwithstanding the province of Alberta's proposed royalty increases, the company has a unique ability to materially increase production without acquisition in today's high price/high cost environment. Canadian Natural remains undervalued in a world where most reserves are subject to significant political risk and long term-demand threatens to outrun supply.
On EchoStar (DISH): EchoStar's stock price has recently declined with snowballing residential real estate delinquencies and foreclosures on the theory that homeowners behind on mortgage payments are less likely to pay their satellite-TV bill. Notwithstanding such concerns, the company continues to increase offerings, subscribers, and free cash flow. Recently, the company separated the DISH pay-TV network (ticker: DISH) from its technology company (ticker: SATS) to highlight under-appreciated assets, accelerate growth, and ease capital transactions.
On Leucadia National (LUK): Leucadia National knocked the ball out of the park last year with its investment in Australian, iron-ore miner Fortescue. Although Leucadia does not seem inexpensive, its roster of lottery tickets, liquidity, and history of success in difficult times allow us the luxury of patience.
If you are not a Premium Member, we invite you for a 7-day Free Trial.

subset: commoncrawl


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A little historical perspective
Many attendees at BronyCon are young enough that this is their first fandom; they might not have the experience from which to draw any comparative conclusions between this one and others that have come before. But from the perspective of someone who has seen fandoms come and go over the years, the difference in atmosphere between a new one on the rise and one that's been around for a long time is remarkable.
Walking the con floor on Saturday I encountered Dustykatt, broadly known in the fandom as The Manliest Brony in the World, an old friend of mine who has been a part of conventions like these for the better part of two decades. I found him in the middle of an aisle being mobbed by fans, accosted for photos and autographs, and in general made to understand that not a single pony fan in the entire hall didn't recognize him on sight. His Everfree Radio channel, Stay Brony, My Friends (modeled, of course, on the iconic Dos Equis ad campaign), has become such a popular production that Dusty is on the verge of being the fandom's first homegrown folk celebrity—worthy of anchoring a panel of his own.
What's funny, though, is that what he's doing right now is no different from the schtick he's been doing for years—it's just that pony fandom is so energetic and so eager for his particular take on sentiments like Faust's early flippant comment that "only the manliest of manly men can watch My Little Pony" that he has only now found an audience in which his popularity is achieving breakout. Prior to his newfound fame among pony fans enamored of his aggressively masculine "biker" persona, he had been most closely associated with the anthropomorphic or "furry" subculture—a community that has seen its fortunes over the past twenty years rise, stabilize, and then begin to decay.
"Furry isn't what it used to be," he told me, pausing to acknowledge the shy, starstruck wave of a passing fan wearing pink Fluttershy hair by knitting his eyebrows and glowering theatrically. His voice turned wistful. "At least for me. It's just not as much fun anymore. Nowadays you've got two or three cons competing for attendance, and all they do is fight each other. It's just stupid. Arguing over who had the most entries in their costume contests? Seriously?" He raised a massive arm to give an overpoweringly forceful brohoof to another giggling passerby. "But now, Pony is where it's at. This is where all the fun is. People are here to just make art and create stuff and have a good time with each other. It's like the old days."
One fundamental difference between the pony and furry fandoms is, of course, that the latter is not based around any particular corporate property; all its content is created by the grass-roots membership. But, though that has often been a point of pride and a rallying cry for furry fans over the years who wished to set themselves apart from corporate-property fandoms like Star Trek and Harry Potter, it does put a fundamental limitation on the draw of the community—you won't find VIPs like John de Lancie and Tara Strong on panels at Anthrocon—and on its relatability to the outside world. It's much more difficult to describe anthropomorphic fandom to the press than, for example, a contingent of adult men who brave social stigma to proclaim their love for My Little Pony.
Telling reporters the answer to "why ponies?" makes for a tempting narrative. Lauren Faust has repeatedly explained how she designed the show to legitimize the entertainment aimed at young girls, to unload the linguistic baggage we attach to words like girly and remove the negative connotations with which we reflexively burden them. Seeing adult men embrace the show for its objective quality blended with the charm, beauty, and humor that makes it appealing to all ages leads an observer to conclude that something fundamental and exciting is happening to the very structure of society, catalyzed by this show appearing in the right place at the right time: that our traditional ideas of "masculinity" and "femininity" are being upended, that what was once unthinkable for one gender to appreciate is now perfectly acceptable for both. A man dressed as Rarity is not inherently "in drag" or making a statement about his sexuality. The show set out to prove that entertainment for little girls didn't have to be dreck; but in the process it showed that there's no reason dudes can't wear pink hearts and rainbows on their backpacks.
Smile, smile, smile
But if you step onto the floor of BronyCon, matters of weighty social import disperse into the atmosphere.
What there is in the pony fandom, more than anything else, is fun. There is simply so much fun to be had, immersing yourself in the sea of happy pony-loving faces, that you forget every little impulse that tells you you shouldn't be here. You're just there because you love the show. What's more, you're surrounded by people who don't care how awkward you might look or sound—but all 4,000 of them share your most embarrassing secret and are shouting it to the flaming rafters. Interacting with fellow pony fans, knowing that any observation you might make about the characters or their stories will meet immediate understanding and enthusiasm instead of confusion and narrowed eyes, is a recapitulation of the feeling of discovering the show for the first time; and even once the show itself has settled into your mind with comfortable familiarity, at a con you are thrown back into that sense of furtive, desperate joy that accompanied your growing realization of how much you loved it.
Amy Keating Rogers, one of the show's long-time writers and one of the creative forces who collaborated earliest with Faust to flesh out the show, took me up on my invitation to attend the convention following her interview which kicked off this site's career. In doing so, she—along with Faust and current head writer Meghan McCarthy—helped turn the focus of this BronyCon's panel lineup from the technical execution side (as with previous cons focused on figures like director Jayson Thiessen and the voice actors) to the creation side, giving fans their first real look at what kinds of thoughts went into bringing their beloved characters to life.
While Faust in her panel described the genesis of the show in the toys she had played with as a kid, selecting six of her favorites to which she'd applied one-word archetypes like "debutante", "tomboy", "waif", and "bookworm", Rogers gave invaluable insight of her own into the process by which these characters and their defining moments evolved. Pinkie Pie's "Smile" song began life in a demo sung by Rogers herself—a much longer version than the final, with a protracted "patter" section in the middle in which Pinkie interacts with pony after pony, demonstrating her uncanny knowledge of just what makes each one of her friends happy. Rogers braved the attention of the thousands of fans in the audience and sang the demo live. By the time the audience had begun clapping along, it was clear that this was one of those "you had to be there" moments that is impossible to convey properly—the positive feedback in both directions, from audience to panelists and back, drove the needle off the scale.
Continued on Page Three…


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MYSTERY surrounds how a man found lying in a pool of blood in a city street came by his injuries.
A police investigation is underway in a quiet residential road in Southampton after the injured man was discovered in the middle of a road in the early hours of yesterday morning.
A cordon was in place on a section of Andes Close in Ocean Village, Southampton, which was at the centre of a police investigation yesterday.
But it was unclear how the man came by his injuries. A dried pool of blood marks the spot where he was found before he was taken to hospital by paramedics.
A Hampshire police spokesman said: "Police were called just after 2am after a man was found lying injured on the ground on Andes Close in Southampton.
"He was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.
"His injuries are not thought to be serious. At this time it is unknown how these injuries were sustained."
One neighbour said he awoke to find the street taped off.
He said: "I think there was an affray, some sort of fight in the middle of the night. I don't know any more than that."
Another said he was surprised at the incident because the area is usually quiet with a lot of older people living on the street.
The cordon barred dozens of tenants from moving their cars or to receive visitors yesterday morning.
Anyone with information that may help police with their investigation into what has happened is asked to call Southampton Central CID on 101.


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HPI Racing Heavy Duty Aluminum Brake Mount (Gunmetal)
HPI Racing
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This is a optional HPI Heavy Duty Aluminum Brake Mount and is intended for use with HPI Baja 1/5th scale vehicles. This Heavy Duty Aluminum Brake Mount is a machined alloy option part for HPI Baja 1/5th scale vehicles. This is an authentic HPI bolt-in upgrade part that is precision built to the exact factory specifications for a perfect fit. Heavy duty aluminum construction adds strength, built in heat sink fins help dissipate heat to prevent overheated brakes and melted parts. The mount comes with two pins and set screws. Machined from billet aluminum and gunmetal anodized for a custom look. This upgrade part replaces the stock nylon mount (#85436).
This product was added to our catalog on June 18, 2009.


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My credit card company still does not allow paypal. I will send you a check again.
My credit card company still does not allow paypal. I will send you a check again.
Step 2: Select which subscription level you want and click "order".
Step 3: Click "order with paypal".
Step 4: Use any major credit card to pay through paypal.
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace."
Countdown the the End of An Error
I selected the level of subscription I wanted but when I clicked on the order button I got the message "An invalid currency was selected." How is this possible when I didn't even have a chance to select a currency?
I do not suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.
We've been having some site issues, although I don't know if that was the problem or not. I'm sure a mod will be in here to answer your question.
I can't think of anything witty to say for my signature line.


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TPWD Print-Friendly Page: http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/print.phtml?req=20110606bMedia Contact: TPWD News, email@example.com, 512-389-8030
TPWD Website: http://tpwd.texas.gov
TPWD News Release — June 6, 2011
The TCAP, formerly the Texas Wildlife Action Plan, is developed by TPWD to encourage land owners, natural resource professionals and the public to preserve our natural heritage for future generations. TPWD urges public and private stakeholders to use the guide in developing conservation initiatives both locally and state-wide. The department uses the plan for many grant distribution programs including the Landowner Incentive Program, the Horned Lizard License Plate funds, State Wildlife Grants, and the Healthy Habitats program.
An online public survey for the TCAP draft will be available on the TPWD Web site June 10-July 8. Visitors are encouraged to fill out the survey to help hone state priorities for primarily non-game wildlife conservation. When finalized, the TCAP will be reviewed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and go into effect later this year. With a current conservation plan in place Texas will continue to receive millions of dollars annually in federal state wildlife grants.
The TCAP provides a roadmap for management and recovery projects as well as restoration and research addressing wildlife species of greatest conservation need. The plan seeks to proactively improve the status of these species across the state to keep them from falling under the Endangered Species Act.
"The plan is only as good as the people who read it, care about it, and do something with it," said Wendy Connally, the department's TCAP Coordinator. "The survey will help us find better ways to communicate with Texans to make a difference for species and habitats in need."
Last year, the Healthy Habitats program awarded $225,000 in grants to 15 different schools and non-profit youth organizations across the state. With the grant, students created service projects that addressed priorities in the Texas Conservation Action Plan. Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. donated a total of $486,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to support the Healthy Habitats grant program and other programs in accordance with the Plan.
On the Net:


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IMPHAL, INDIA – Tens of thousands of Indian troops are deployed to these remote borderlands, their mission to fight a decades-long armed separatist rebellion.
But for years, residents of the area have alleged that security forces have also waged a separate war of rape and murder of civilians, one they continue with impunity because federal law virtually prohibits the prosecution of soldiers in conflict zones.
Now, 2,500 km away in the capital, New Delhi, there is a new demand to change that. A committee established last month in the wake of mass protests over a gruesome gang rape recommended that the law be re-examined. At the very least, the Justice Verma Committee said, soldiers accused of rape should be tried under civilian law.
But the government has dragged its feet. Although it implemented many of the committee's suggestions for new protections for women in an emergency ordinance passed this month, the recommendation to curb the armed forces' immunity was set aside. The government said it was reluctant to tell the army what to do.
While the New Delhi protests prompted India to re-examine its treatment of women, the debate over soldiers' immunity — and the dark history in the border region — have underscored the limits of the power of India's democracy to effect change when it comes up against entrenched vested interests such as the army, a supposedly apolitical institution that wields significant influence.
"We can't move forward because there is no consensus," Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said in a recent speech on national security, according to local media reports.
Referring to the immunity law by its full name, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, Chidambaram continued: "The present and former army chiefs have taken a strong position that the act should not be amended. . . . How does the government move forward . . . to make the AFSPA a more humanitarian law?"
In the state of Manipur, where a local human rights group has documented 1,528 alleged extrajudicial executions and many cases of rape and sexual assault carried out by the police and army in the past three decades, the stalling of momentum has caused little surprise.
In 2004, soldiers arrested 32-year-old Thangjam Manorama Devi in the early morning, then left her bruised and bullet-ridden body by the roadside a few hours later. Police forensics experts concluded that she had been tortured and shot at close range while lying down. They also found evidence that she might have been raped.
For months afterward, the tiny hill state on the border with Myanmar erupted in protest. A group of women made national headlines when they stripped naked in front of an army barracks and held up a large banner that read "Indian Army rape us."
But the Manipur incident changed nothing.
For eight years, the Indian government has blocked the release of a judicial investigation into Manorama's death, fighting a long legal battle that has now reached the Supreme Court, nor has it made any move to prosecute those responsible.
A committee that was formed to review the AFSPA concluded in 2005 that it should be repealed. But its findings were never officially released — although they were eventually leaked — nor were they implemented.
Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch, a watchdog group, said the pressure the army is bringing to bear on the government over the issue is "extremely worrying in a democracy." Others, including Sanjoy Hazarika, a member of the 2005 commission that demanded the law be repealed, say the government is equally to blame.
Manipur, with a population of a little more than 2 million, is tiny by Indian standards, and the country's economic development of the past two decades has largely passed it by. Most of its residents are Hindus but are of Tibetan-Burmese origin and are thought to look more Burmese than Indian; they feel their countrymen look down on them. An armed separatist rebellion began there in the 1960s and has led to about 20,000 deaths.
For 12 years, a Manipuri woman, Irom Sharmila, has been on a hunger strike against the armed forces act. Having been convicted in court of intent to take her own life, she is under police guard in a hospital and force-fed through her nose.
Last week, Sharmila, 40, emerged from the hospital for a biweekly appearance in court, and, in an interview outside the courtroom, while being flanked by two female police officers, Sharmila said she was not optimistic that the government would relent any time soon.
The formation of committees is a tactic to deflect public anger, she said in halting English, and the people of Manipur are not given the respect accorded to other Indians. "They treat us like stepchildren," she said before police whisked her away.
Across town, 37-year-old Neena Ningombam has cared for her two children alone since her husband was taken away by police in November 2008. A few hours later his body, with a hand grenade planted next to it, was shown on television, supposedly that of a rebel killed after attacking the police.
In one sense, Ningombam is lucky. Witnesses saw her husband being arrested, and they have not been intimidated into silence. A local magistrate who investigated the case found that her husband had never been involved in a militant group and that he was killed in what is known locally as a "fake encounter."
Babloo Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert, a local rights group that has documented the alleged rapes and extrajudicial executions, said members of the security forces who kill militants are rewarded with cash, medals and promotions.
"An incentive structure has created vested interests in the army and police just to kill people on the flimsiest charges," he said, "while the judicial process has completely failed."
With Loitongbam's help, the widows of Manipur are fighting back. Responding to a petition they have filed, the Supreme Court appointed a respected three-person team last month to look into the alleged extrajudicial executions. Yet another committee of inquiry, it could nevertheless put more pressure on the government to roll back what residents describe as a cloak of impunity shrouding events in Manipur.


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Coffee Break with Liz and Kate » Headline, link » http://fbbfbodybuildin.heavy.jp/
There's big doin's here in the Bluegrass right now. After a multi-year countdown, evidenced by electronic countdown clocks splattered all over the county, the World Equestrian Games are under way. The games have never been held in the United States, so I guess the fact that little ol' Lexington, KY was chosen to host this year is a pretty big deal.
So when there's a big event like this, people are prone to do other big things to celebrate. Take the life-size horse cake, for example. That's right. Someone's building a cake in the shape of a full-size horse. This info is from the Shops at Lexington Center:
As a part of the exciting Equestrian Festival, renown cake artists Geraldine Kidwell and Leigh Sipe, native born Kentuckians, are partnering with Midway College and working with the Lexington Center to construct a life size horse that is constructed completely from cake and edible products. These ladies have volunteered their time, knowledge and expertise to lead a team of decorators from the Kentucky Chapter of I.C.E.S. (International Cake Exploration Societe)…
To this point, all I have is a photo of the frame (the finished product has not yet been moved to the place where it will be showcased throughout the remainder of the games, so I'll have to update Thursday or Friday).
Anywho, here's the base, as well as some other stats on what exactly goes into making a life-size horse cake.
Making the Frame:
- 3 sheets 3/4 inch plywood
- Five 1/2 inch x 36 inch all-thread rods
- 4 1/2 sheets foam core board
- 4 wheels for frame
- 1/2 inch nuts/bolts and washers
- Green outdoor carpet for the grass
Cake Ingredients: (don't try this at home…)
- 350 pound dry ingredients – flour and sugar
- 10 batches royal icing
- 90 dozen eggs
- 90 pounds margarine
- 21 gallon water
- 5 pounds fondant
- 10 pounds Choc-pan
- 1 pound Isomault
- 15 pounds black licorice laces
Icing Ingredients:
- 320 pounds confectionery sugar
- 135 pounds shortening
- 1 gallon water
- 70 pounds of chocolate
Horse Legs:
- 5 boxes rice crispy cereal
- 5 bags marshmallows
- 2 pound butter
The finished product will weigh in at approximately half a ton.
If an edible horse isn't enough, check out this corn maze (aerial photo by Charles Bertram/Lexington Herald-Leader). Not sure I want to get lost in that thing…
Meanwhile, here's the official home page of the WEG if you'd like to learn more. Also, I know many of you who live in the area will be attending the games, so share your stories and experiences of the WEG with us. And I'll post a photo of the finished cake later this week!
Have you purchased your copy of In the Kitchen with Liz and Kate: Practically Painless Recipes yet? Order Now!
Filed under: Headline, link · Tags: coffee break with liz and kate, Lexington Kentucky, lifesize cake horse, WEG, World Equestrian Games


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Washington, Mar 5: The US State Department has decided to posthumously confer the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award on the Delhi gangrape victim who is referred to as "Nirbhaya" as her real name cannot be disclosed under Indian law.
The paramedical student, who has become a source of inspiration to people across the world, will be honoured alongwith nine other extraordinary women at the Department of State's Dean Acheson Auditorium on Mar 8. First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the ceremony as a special guest.
The State Department presents the aforementioned award every year to "women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk."
The citation for the award mentions how "Nirbhaya" fought for justice even while she was battling for life in hospital.
The 23-year-old was severely injured in the brutal attack on Dec 16, 2012. Despite doctors at the Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi and later surgeons at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore trying their best to stablise her condition, she breathed her last on Dec 29.
The State Department praised her courage in the citation which reads:
"Known to India and the world as "Nirbhaya" (Fearless), the courageous 23-year-old physiotherapy intern whose brutal gang rape on a moving bus in Delhi in December inspired widespread protests, has become the foundation of a popular movement to end violence against women in India. For millions of Indian women, her personal ordeal, perseverance to fight for justice, and her family's continued bravery is helping to lift the stigma and vulnerability that drive violence against women. "Nirbhaya" bravely recorded two police statements while in the hospital, repeatedly called for justice against the six attackers, and stated her will to survive to see justice done. Like many Indians inspired by her struggle, she was born into a working class family that invested their hopes and life savings into her dream to pursue medicine. She had just graduated from a physiotherapy program when her life was cut short. In the wake of her death just two weeks after the attack, India's active civil society began advocating heavily for legislation and social programs to stem gender-based violence in all its forms and to ensure higher rape conviction rates and gender-sensitive law enforcement and justice systems. Thanks to these efforts, the Indian government has begun to take action to follow through on those demands."The family of the Delhi gang rape victim on Tuesday said it was happy that the girl's courage has been acknowledged by the United States which has selected her for a bravery award.
Family of "Nirbhaya" welcome the award
She is truly deserving of the award and we are happy that her courage and bravery has been acknowledged," the victim's brother told PTI on phone from Delhi.
The brother said they had received a phone call from the US embassy two days ago after which three officials came to their residence in Delhi and took all the details about his sister.
To a question, the brother said the family had not yet decided who will go to receive the award and a formal invitation is also awaited.
Besides "Nirbhaya", the following women will receive the International Women of Courage Award for 2013:
- Malalai Bahaduri, First Sergeant, Afghan National Interdiction Unit (Afghanistan)
- Samira Ibrahim, Coordinator, Know Your Rights (Egypt)
- Julieta Castellanos, Rector, National Autonomous University of Honduras (Honduras)
- Dr. Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin, President, Campaign for Democracy (Nigeria)
- Elena Milashina, journalist, human rights activist (Russia)
- Fartuun Adan, Executive Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre (Somalia)
- Tsering Woeser (Wei Se), Tibetan author, poet, blogger (China)
- Razan Zeitunah, human rights lawyer and Founder, Local Coordination Committees (Syria)
- Ta Phong Tan, blogger (Vietnam)
Woeser, Zeitunah and Tan will be awarded in absentia.
OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)


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ESTATE Connells in Stourbridge has seen continued improvements in the housing market as 2012 has progressed and confidence is returning from both buyers and sellers wanting to move home this year.
"Stourbridge is a popular location with commuters, families, downsizers and young professionals. It has excellent road and rails links, good schools and lots of open spaces," says Michelle Purcell, branch partner at Connells.
"We are registering lots of committed buyers wanting to purchase in the area and currently three and four-bedroom family homes are proving particularly popular. However, we are finding there are not enough properties to sell to meet demand and we urgently need more stock."
Properties that are well presented, correctly priced and pro-actively marketed are selling well, according to Connells.
The days of sellers insisting on asking an over-inflated price and waiting for the market to catch up with it are long gone. So, if people are serious about moving they need to be realistic about price and prepared to accept a reasonable offer. "The nation's mood has been given a boost following the recent celebrations of the Queen's Jubilee and the anticipation of other great events to come this year. However, there is a need to maintain long-term confidence in the market going beyond the 'feel good summer of 2012", says Michelle.
For further information about the local housing market or to arrange a free market appraisal, contact Connells Stourbridge office on 01384 374 545 or email email@example.com


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'Hoover Face' Has to be One of the Rudest Awakenings Ever [VIDEO]
Let's face it, whether it be on the couch, your favorite chair, or in bed, no one like to be woken up when they're enjoying a nap. And a girl named Jade who is sleeping peacefully on a couch is about to be the recipient of one of the top 10 rudest awakenings ever, and it comes from and unlikely pair, a young boy and a vacuum cleaner. And to top it all off, he called it "Hoover Face", and posted the video of it on Vine for all of us to enjoy.


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There's nothing as relaxing as a massage, except for maybe a whole month without any nightmares. Drift off with this Groupon.
The Deal
- $85 for spa package with two spa services, $30 gift card, and one mimosa (up to $214 value)
Choose two of the following spa services:
- 60-minute aromatherapy Swedish massage (an $89 value)
- 60-minute customized European facial (an $84 value)
- Ocean spa peeling body scrub (a $59 value)
- Anti-aging, anti-pigmentation photo-facial (a $125 value)
- Microdermabrasion (an $89 value)
Susanne Marie Suffoletta: MA6072 Gisela A. Suarez: MA44038 Larisa Brasov: MA72364
Deluxe Center Spa
One look at the menu of body scrubs and wraps at Deluxe Center Spa, and you might think you've gone to a restaurant, with treatments such as the sweet choco wrap, the cocoa scrub, and the red grape wrap. Many of the spa's facials also make use of natural organic elements to help nourish skin from the inside out.
The spa offers its share of technology-based therapies, too. A radio-frequency face lift is available to help increase elasticity, and laser lipolysis works to diminish cellulite and contour curves. Staffers also help clients stock up on products to fight the signs of sun damage from the comfort of their house, apartment, or Space Station dorm—where you're materially closer to the sun.


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When the so-called beast came out in Alex Poythress in the Duke game back in November, he may have created a monster problem for himself: Beastly expectations.
Once everyone, John Calipari included, saw he could fly above the rim for emphatic dunks, play with energy and use his NBA physique to overpower college forwards, people expected him to do it on a night-in and night-out basis.
"The pressure for him is crazy," freshman forward Willie Cauley-Stein said. "I don't think people realize how much weight he has on his shoulders being who he is and who Coach Cal is. People have just got to realize that he's got a lot more expectation and pressure than most of us do."
Calipari called him a beast at the time, but the beast has been fairly quite since.
Since that Duke game, Poythress has been consistently inconsistent (18.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds in his first five games; 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in the seven games since). There are times and flashes of that dominant player everyone saw in the Duke game, but not enough for Coach Cal's liking, especially from an energy standpoint.
The culmination was Saturday's game against Louisville where Poythress found himself on the bench after a frustrating, sometimes maddening 15 minutes of play. Upset with the lack of energy and ability to finish plays, Calipari sat Poythress for all but three minutes of the second half.
"He just didn't do anything," Coach Cal said. "He's trying harder than you so you've got to sit."
The next day, on this website, Coach Cal decided it was time to focus his personal attention on Poythress. After working individually with Ryan Harrow and Willie Cauley-Stein the previous week – which has noticeably paid off in games – Calipari decided he was going to work out Poythress after practices.
The idea is to get Poythress to break old habits and get him to understand that he has the tools to be one of the best players in the country.
"He's just got to change his habits just like Ryan had to," Calipari said. "The minute he changes his habits, the minute he changes his mentality of how he wants to play and how he needs to play, he'll be fine. When you see him in two weeks, you'll say slowly you've seen the change."
Calipari said he began doing the individual workouts with injured players when he was the head coach with the New Jersey Nets in the 1990s. Until his players could get through the workout, he wouldn't let them play in a game.
"When they played in the game, they had better numbers than before they were injured because I knew and they knew they were ready to go play," Coach Cal said. "That's what I'm trying to get through to (Poythress)."
Whether it's Poythress, Harrow, Cauley-Stein or Kyle Wiltjer, who began individual workouts with Calipari on Monday, they are tailored to the player.
For Poythress, that consists of using two hands, bending down, sprinting and playing hard all the time. In between the individual drills, Poythress has to shoot free throws. If he misses one of his five attempts, he has to sprint.
The ultimate goal of every drill is to develop mental toughness.
"You can't break down when you just feel that you're tired, so anytime he breaks down, he has to go again on the stuff that we're doing," Calipari said. "It's all stuff relevant to him, that's going to help him in the games."
Sunday's initial workout didn't go so well for Poythress, Calipari said. It took him 38 minutes to finish. On Monday, Cailpari saw significant improvement as it took Poythress just 27 minutes to complete the drills.
After "fighting" him all season, Calipari said Poythress got the message to change.
"He was way better today than he was yesterday," Coach Cal said. "It wasn't close. Now, was he all the way there? No. He's still not ready to play a game. Now we've got to go, and the next few days we'll see where he goes. Then we have time before our next game, and we'll see where he goes."
If there is a player who knows what Poythress is going through, it's the aforementioned Harrow. After missing two weeks earlier in the season, Harrow had to work his way back into the lineup and back into the good graces of Coach Cal by changing his habits.
"I definitely know what he can do because he's just a beast," Harrow said of his teammate. "He has all the talent to be one of the best players in the country. It's just a mental thing with him. He has to believe it; we can't believe it for him."
Harrow was averaging just 1.5 points and shooting 15.8 percent in his first four games, but he's quickly turned the page and is playing the best basketball of his career.
Over the last four games, Harrow is averaging 15.0 points and 3.8 assists. Against Louisville, he was quite arguably Kentucky's best player on the floor, scoring 17 points and grabbing five rebounds in 39-turnover-less minutes against the nation's top pressure defense.
Not all of Harrow's improvement came after Calipari's workouts – Harrow's development has been weeks in the making – but Harrow believes Poythress could be dealing with a similar problem he initially had with Coach Cal. Instead of listening to the message, Poythress is focusing on the tone.
"I just think it's a mental thing with him," Harrow said. "Just listening to what Coach says, you just can't take it to heart because he's screaming. That's what he does, he just screams. I think once he figures that out and once he starts believing in himself again, he'll be the beast that you all saw in the Duke game."
Calipari and Harrow agreed that it isn't that Poythress is sensitive; it's more the fact that Poythress was the best player on his high school and AAU teams and could get away with bad habits and still win.
"It's just Coach Cal is different than any coach that I've ever came up against and I'm sure he's a different coach than Alex has ever had," Harrow said. "Being in high school, if your coach was to talk to you like that, you'd be like, 'Who are you talking to? You basically need me in high school.' In college you can't do that. You have to listen to everything he sees and you have to take it in and try to change for the best.' "
If Kentucky was like any other "normal" program in the country and Poytherss was a "normal freshman," Calipari said Poythress' inconsistencies wouldn't be a problem. He'd focus on getting Poythress better in the long run, count on him making big strides next year and then taking off his junior year.
But Poythress is no normal freshman and Kentucky is no normal program. Both Poythress and Kentucky are under different expectations and different pressures to succeed right away.
"This stuff is on steroids," Coach Cal said. "This is a process that you accept coming in."
So for Poythress, the time to change is now. Calipari is making certain of it.
"You're kind of invested in their success," Coach Cal said. "Now, when they succeed, you're invested in it."
The Scouting Report with Coach Robic (Louisville game)


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OSHA warns of oil spill traning scams
May 27, 2010
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Many unemployed workers in South Florida hope to gain work from the Gulf oil spill, but beyond beach cleanup, training for hazardous oil spill cleanup work is difficult to find, according to the Sun Sentinel.
While legitimate training is taking place, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and contractors warn workers seeking jobs to be cautious of online training or classes less than the full 40-hour hazardous waste and emergency training, the release stated.
According to the article, OSHA recommends Florida workers wait until they are needed and get free training.
"If you get hired by BP or a contractor, they will pay for your training. You don''t have to pay for anything," said Michael Wald, a spokesman for OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor in Atlanta.
"There''s a lot of fraud out there. We''re catching instructors acting like PEC instructors. All PEC training is paid for by BP," said Wes Carr, PEC''s executive vice president.
Click here to read the complete article.


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The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that injured a Hydesville resident, who was found "staggering" at a turnout near Bridgeville.
According to a press release, sheriff's deputies were notified by Redwood Memorial Hospital staff at about 4 a.m. Friday morning that a gunshot victim had been brought into the emergency room.
The 24-year-old Hydesville resident was taken to the hospital after he was found "staggering" at a turnout on State Route 36 near Bridgeville, the release said.
When interviewed by deputies, the release said the man was not able to remember what had happened, other than he hitchhiked to the Bridgeville area from Hydesville on Thursday. He said he had been picked up by three different drivers.
The man was treated for non-life threatening injuries, and the case remains under investigation.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity to call the sheriff's office at 445-7251 or the sheriff's office crime tip line at 268-2539.


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|Trad, 1 pitch, 65'
|YDS: 5.11c/d French: 7a Ewbanks: 24 UIAA: VIII ZA: 25 British: E4 6a [details]
|KC Baum, Tom Archibeque January 1990
|Page Views:
|Submitted By:
|Matthew Seymour on Apr 14, 2007
|Comments on Never Cry Wolf
|Add Comment
|Show which comments —
By BJ Sbarra
From: Carbondale, CO
Dec 11, 2008
|One of the best pitches here, don't miss it.
By Paul S
From: Fruita, CO
Mar 4, 2012
|Right by this climb, there's a large boulder with a slab that's facing the route. If you look carefully, you'll be able to see a set of about 8 dinosaur tracks. Several of the other boulders at the base of the wall have tracks too, it's pretty neat! The owner of the dinosaur museum in Fruita had a little group up there and pointed them out when I was racking up for this climb.
By Sean Nelb
From: Indian Creek
Nov 7, 2014
|Fun route. The offwidth is short, and you can dispense with the #5 Camalot if you don't want to bring it. I took one #3 and was happy.


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Cryogenic control of chemistry in plasma deposited organic films
Journal Article
We have investigated reducing the substrate temperature during plasma deposition as a means for controlling film chemistry. We hypothesize that because the glow discharge is a weakly ionized plasma, by reducing the surface temperature during film growth, the concentration of unfragmented precursor (the vapor being ionized) in the region of film growth can be increased by adsorption or condensation. Experimentation has shown that cryogenic substrate temperature during plasma deposition can be used to control film chemistries for several precursor types. The degree to which control can be maintained depends on the type of precursor used, the film temperature and the power level of the plasma (i.e., degree of fragmentation/ionization). There may be more than one mechanism leading to predictable film chemistry.
Cited Authors
- Lopez, GP; Ratner, BD
Published Date
- 1990
Published In
- Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering, Proceedings of the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering
Volume / Issue
- 62 /
Start / End Page
- 14 - 18


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basicly, im not looking for a full featured shop script, i just need the checkout part that connects to paypal payments pro, something i can integrate into my site.... and so far all i can find is this
but im not really sure if its the best. or if theres anyone here who could code something like this, please let me know
if theres anyone here who could code something like this, please let me know
are you paying for this?
uh, yes, but im not looking to spend a whole lot
There's a market place here, scroll up to the menu.
I agree with Hash. SitePoint has a marketplace for PHP, but if you are looking beyond to it, you need to search through Google or try to post a thread on any webmaster forums under the Scripts or Content section about the Paypal payment script. It's one of the best ways to do it if you need it as soon as possible.;)
thanks guys,yeah i was thinking of posting the same thing on the paypal developers site.


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|Reviews for Left in the Cold
| writeallnight chapter 4 . 7/3/2013
I'm really loving how you've written this as a combination of flashbacks and current events. It moves the story around in a really interesting way and helps to build up the mystery. Can't wait to find out where we're going next!
| writeallnight chapter 2 . 7/3/2013
Ooh so much mystery! How did Donnie end up in the freezer? How did the team find him? Hoping to find out soon! Loving all the Don whump too btw :)
| nessy22 chapter 9 . 6/6/2013
Hey, thank you for finishing this Story! So very well written and thrilling. I loved it very much.
| foxeeflame chapter 9 . 6/2/2013
LOVED this chapter. Good back story. Thank you for not giving up on this fic! You made my week!
| notsing chapter 9 . 6/2/2013
Well done! I enjoyed your story a lot, and the unusual format was an added twist. Thank you.
| Guest chapter 9 . 6/2/2013
Very happy to read suite and end of this fic. I've liked it very much.
| serenity3695 chapter 9 . 6/2/2013
You finished it . I kind of feel bad for Lizzy , she lost her mother after all , but Don really couldn't have done anything more . Nice story. Just wondering if you're planning on continuing with your story Little Talks because it's really interesting too .
| TheLastInspiritDragonRider chapter 9 . 6/1/2013
Wow. This was a great Fic! I'm glad that you finished posting this. I loved the beginning and put it on my alerts, so when I got the alert that you posted the last chapters, I actually jumped up and down, I was really excited to see how you would finish the story. It was a great adventure and I'll be watching for your future Fics.
| A Friend chapter 7 . 2/28/2013
Thought there was going to be more ? You stated there are only two chapters remaining...is there a chance you might find the time to post them ? Please ? Need to complete this story ! :)
| nessy22 chapter 7 . 2/10/2013
Well done, I wished it was longer, though (sigh). With anticipation I'm waiting for the next chapter.
| Neshomeleh chapter 7 . 2/8/2013
It was nice to read so far, not very good, but I would like to read more... a few mistakes too much, I guess, if you work more carefully on the next chapter it could be a good one
| Brothers2008 chapter 7 . 2/7/2013
OMG ! This is great ! Don continues to fight, even though he is out numbered and handcuffed to a poll. Really glad Don got one of the bad guys...but now comes the cold ! Where is Charlie when he really needs him ? Really can't wait for Charlie's POV of Don being missing, and then Don being rescued ! Please hurry with the next update ! Please ! Thanks for writting this story ! Always enjoy Don angst/hurt/comfort.
| Brothers2008 chapter 6 . 2/7/2013
Loved it ! Charlie going downstairs to check on Don. ust towatchand see that his big brother ws still breathing. I could see this happening. Please continue, looing forward to finding out how Don ended up in the freezer in the first place. Keep up the great work !
| notsing chapter 7 . 2/6/2013
Fantastic! Loved the Don whump, and Don fighting back so hard. Thanks.
| Cissyaliza chapter 7 . 2/6/2013
Very good chapter now we know how Don has been left in freezer... I'm impatient to read missing parts...


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Did you ever wonder why it can take so long to buy a car? Have you questioned whether the salesperson really has to check with his manager to get a deal approved? Do you want to know why a car salesman can't just give you his best price upfront?
We know there are things about car shopping that seem mysterious. And we're here to give you some insight into what's going on.
Between the two of us, we have nearly 20 years of experience in buying and selling cars. Matt worked in car dealerships for 12 years as a salesman, sales manager and Internet sales manager. Ron buys and sells cars for Edmunds' long-term fleet of test cars and has written dozens of articles about all aspects of car shopping. Both of us help friends and family with their car buying. We hope we can make your car-buying experience smoother — and maybe even fun.
With that said, here are our answers to six common car-shopping questions:
Q: Why is it taking so long to wrap up this car purchase?
A: Usually one of two things is going on — or maybe both: You're shopping on a weekend or you may not have all the documents and information you need to do a car purchase.
Foot traffic at car dealerships is lowest on Tuesdays and peaks on the weekends, when most people have their days off. While there may be plenty of salespeople on the floor, the bottleneck typically occurs at the finance and insurance office (also known as F&I — we'll talk more about that later).
In the finance office, a manager will likely offer an extended warranty or other products and, of course, this is where you'll sign the sales documents. Fewer people work there and each customer might be talking to one of the finance managers for 30 minutes or so. While all this is going on, your new car is being washed, gassed and prepped for final delivery. If that process doesn't sync up exactly, you might have to wait a while longer for the car to be ready.
The other thing that takes time is, obviously, the deal itself. The average car sale takes about four hours. Yes, it's a long time, and that's because there are a lot of pieces to it. The dealership needs to run your credit, get your loan approved, appraise the car you're trading in, figure out the pay-off amount to your current car and agree on a price for the new car you want to buy.
Now, if during all this, you forgot a key piece of the paperwork, things can grind to a halt. So be sure you have the following ready:
Payment: This can be a bank or credit union check for a pre-approved loan, or it can be a cashier's check, a personal check or even a credit card payment for a down payment when the financing is done at the dealership. To find out what forms of payment the dealership will accept, call ahead of time and ask to speak with a finance manager.
Driver license: You have to drive the car off the lot, so the dealer needs to know that you are a legally registered driver. The driver license also serves as identification for your check or other form of payment.
Title for your trade-in vehicle: If you are trading in a vehicle, you will need proof that you own it. The title, sometimes called the "pink slip," shows that you are the owner.
Current vehicle registration for trade-in: If you are trading in a vehicle, you will need a copy of your current registration. Locate this important document, verify that the registration is current and also check that the sticker is on the license plate.
Proof of insurance: To drive a new car off the lot you need to prove you have insurance on that car. You can call ahead and set up the new insurance policy if you know which car you are buying
Account number for trade-in loan: If you are trading in a car for which there is an unpaid loan, you will need to bring the loan's account number, which is on one of your payment stubs. Better yet, call the lender yourself, explain that you are trading in the car and ask how to facilitate the transaction. If you are car shopping on the weekend, ask if a representative is available to handle the transfer.
If you want to speed up the process, try these tips: Shop during the week. If you have to shop on the weekend, get your trade-in appraised on a different day (or sell it yourself). Finally, here are some other shopping tips that can cut your time in half.
Q: Why does it take so long to get a test-drive?
A: Because the car you've chosen is not easy to get to.
If you saw a car online and dropped in to see it in person, the car might not be on the main dealer lot. There is a finite amount of space at a car dealership. Cars are often parked like sardines to fit the entire inventory and many will be on satellite or "overflow" lots, which could be miles away. If you've chosen one of these cars, the salesperson has to locate the key, get to the car and move the ones that are blocking it. And when he gets there, the battery may be dead or the car may be so dirty that he gives it a quick wash to ensure it makes a good first impression.
Do you want to test-drive that nice car you saw in the showroom? Even more complicated: The dealership is going to have to open up the doors and move other cars that are in the way.
Here's what to do to avoid all that: Call ahead and make an appointment for a test-drive. If you don't want to talk numbers yet, let the salesperson know that you're still in the research phase and aren't ready to buy. When you arrive for the test-drive, the car will be out front waiting for you. You've cut the wait time to zero. If you're considering a showroom model, ask if there is a comparably equipped car that might be more accessible.
Q: Why can't they give me the best price upfront?
A: It goes against one of the big rules of negotiating. If the salesperson did give you his best price, one of two things would happen: You would take that price to another dealer and ask them to beat it, or you wouldn't trust the first price and you'd ask for something even lower. Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with comparing quotes or with healthy skepticism, but you can see why the dealer is hesitant to show all his cards at once.
That said, there are a number of dealer groups that are bucking the trend and offering a very competitive price upfront, so it is important to recognize when you are at this type of dealership. Lexus has also begun to test the waters of a no-haggle, no-negotiating sales process, so the tide may be changing. And finally, thousands of dealerships participate in Edmunds Edmunds Special Offers, which give you a guaranteed no-haggle price that's meant to save you time and money.
We use the nonconfrontational approach to get a great car price. Call the Internet sales manager at three dealerships. Rather than asking each for his "best price," use the term "asking price." You'll get three quotes, and you'll easily see which is giving you the best price.
Q: What happens when the sales guy goes to talk to the manager, and why is he gone so long?
A: Most salespeople just aren't authorized to make deal decisions, such as determining a trade-in value or discounting the price of a car on their own. They usually have to take a trip over to the sales manager (a process that's known as "visiting the tower").
The sales manager may be working out terms for other deals at the same time as yours. And if you're shopping during peak hours, those deal discussions are stacking up like air traffic at Los Angeles International Airport.
Even if you are the only customer in the dealership, there is still no guarantee you'll be able to get a deal offer in a flash. If you're taking out a loan, the sales manager might have to run your credit to get your credit score. He'll call the finance department to get your interest rate, and then look up specials and incentives on your car to make sure you're getting the right program offer for the right car. Sometimes it just takes a while to get all the information together.
Q: Don't dealers make a ton of money on every new car?
A: Maybe in days past, but certainly not now. Some new cars, like the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta, may have less than $500 profit for the dealership when they are sold at full sticker price. And most shoppers don't pay full sticker. These days, car dealerships make the majority of their income in the service department, on used-car sales and in the finance and insurance office.
Q: What exactly is the F&I office, and why do I have to go there?
A: Think of the employees of a nice restaurant: You have waiters, bartenders and chefs and all do their own special job. And for the most part, they do that job only. Many dealerships use this same technique. They delegate different parts of the car deal to different parts of the staff.
Most dealerships are firm believers in this kind of specialization. One group of people (sales) demonstrates the car. Another group (sales managers) works out the sales price, trade-in values and calculate payments. A third group ties up the loose ends of a deal and does the final paperwork. That's the F&I department.
These people have the task of making sure all the appropriate legal and deal documents are signed and sent to the right place, like the DMV or the bank. F&I employees are also the people dealerships usually use to get loans approved. On top of that, this is the group who double-checks the information that the salesperson collected. You don't want your name misspelled on your car's title.
F&I people also sell extra products for your car, like extended warranties and paint protection.
Some dealerships have the salesperson do all the paperwork from start to finish. But the vast majority of dealerships across the U.S. have F&I departments. If you're buying a car from a dealership, the F&I will likely be the last step of the deal before you're handed the keys to your new car.
To find a dealership that knows how to treat shoppers right, please visit Edmunds.com's Dealer Ratings and Reviews.


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So a few weeks ago I visited a church while staying with a friend. If you follow my blog, then you will know that it has been many moons since my last church visit and ages before that. No, I did not burst into flames or was struck by lightning from God's wrath due to my absence. As always, the church was beautiful and everything went according to the church rituals.
It so happened that this was graduation week for that college town and so many visitors were there. I sat through the whole service and concluded that I only liked two aspect of the church service – the sermon which was done by a visiting pastor and the musical ensemble. I love classical music and it has been years since I was at a concert so it was nice to see and hear the ensemble. Everything else I could do without especially the closing prayer given by one of the graduating students.
Before I get to the self-serving revenge prayer, I have to talk about my issues with mass prayer. The first thing is kneeling. I was taught as a child to kneel on the floor to pray (I tried kneeling in bed but my parents would not have it). The problem is not the prayer but the fact that kneeling always hurts my knees and therefore is a distraction. Instead of taking my time to do a God talk moment, I rush through the prayer (and trying not to get into trouble with my parents as a kid) in order to end the torture on my knees. This is the same issue I have with church prayers, I just can't focus because I can't wait to quit kneeling and end the pain. The other thing is church mass prayers are designed to be so long-winded. When the person praying starts going on and on and on, then I naturally tune them out or find my mind wandering. I guess for me when it comes to prayer, I totally subscribe to the going into your closet to pray suggestion. I just don't find public prayers as meaningful as they are intended to be.
So it was the end of the wonderful sermon (I got a really good lesson about expectations and never giving up when you fall). The gentleman came up to the pulpit to start his prayer. At first, I was not sure if he was preaching or praying. He had the intonation of a Southern black minister who was on a roll. At first I am thinking, is he flexing his ability to preach or was he attention seeking? If that was all, I would have been okay but then he started to use the pulpit and the prayer as a way to exact verbal revenge. I had no knowledge of the bur that started his fiery feelings but I deduced from his so-called prayer that he was not happy with some incident that involved him and school administration. He particularly asked divine guidance for the teachers and school president. However, the request was less than Godly and more rebuking (but with church appropriate words). As he continue into his preaching (disguised as prayer) long tirade, I could not help but wonder "why the hell are you using this venue to air your grievance?"
When did the pulpit become a place to curse those who did wrong to you? He is not the first person to do this. Many pastors will use the pulpit to air certain things and you know that they are speaking about a particular incident. As much I have
some many reservations about organized religion, I do not want to hear personal shit during the church hour on the days I actually attend a church service. The briefly unfortunate thing was this new graduate's vengeance actually ruined a wonderful church moment for me. His prayer was unnecessarily preachy and over the top not to mention his obvious contempt for the school management. Once he was done with his verbal diarrhea my mood was saved by the ensemble playing to help usher the congregation out. Music saved the day.


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WWE published an article stating that Kane was injured by the Wyatt Family on last night's episode of Raw. Their article noted that Kane was stretchered from ringside and his cervical spine was immobilized with a cervical collar.
Dr. Chris Amann said that Kane was coherent in the ambulance, but they are concerned that he may have suffered "any sort of brain or cervical spine trauma that may be significant enough to either warrant surgery, or an extended period of time away from the ring."
The article questioned Kane's status for this Sunday's WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view, and that they would provide further updates.
Backstage News on Who May Replace Kane at Money in the Bank….


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Leave your princess gowns at home — when Disney on Ice comes back to town, Woody, Buzz and Jessie will be the stars this time around.
The "Toy Story 3" ice show is inspired by the film and will also feature pals from Sunnyside Daycare, including that lovable grump, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear (will he still smell like strawberries?)
The show opens Wednesday and continues at 7 p.m. Jan. 26; 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 27; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 28; 11 a.m., 3 (Spanish performance) and 7 p.m. Jan. 29.
Details: Disney on Ice: Pixar's "Toy Story 3," 7 p.m. Wednesday. Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway. $16 to $55. (800) 745-3000 or disneyonice.com


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Every startup invariably chooses between two distinct paths to profit, whether on purpose or by happenstance.
They can follow the money and try to maximize revenue at every turn or they can be mindful of margins and budgets, making sure that every dollar out has a high ROI. Each path has its own benefits and drawbacks. Lately, according to entrepreneur and VC Chris Dixon, more companies have chosen revenue over margin. But in the end, you still have to subtract costs from revenue before you can see your true profits.
In the era of the lean startup, it's curious to see the accounting history of many of today's IPO companies continually demonstrate somewhat of a disregard for margins (Dixon believes that it's a byproduct of the VC-driven era that they're from). Ideally, every company would like both revenue and margin, but it's usually one or the other. And it seems that most recently successful technology companies have gravitated toward revenue, says Dixon.
How did the tech industry come to this? Some of it, explains Dixon, can be traced back to a long-held belief that exceptional revenue streams are more common than exceptional margins. That is, it's much harder to find a company creating profit by relying on the latter, rather than the former. For more on revenue versus margin, read the full article by Dixon.


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Mavericks continue to bulk up backcourt by agreeing with Wayne Ellington
The Mavericks continue to bolster their backcourt, apparently coming to terms with four-year veteran Wayne Ellington, who could be a candidate to start at shooting guard.
Yahoo Sports first reported the news. Ellington split time last season between Memphis and Cleveland.
He was drafted 28th overall in 2009 by Minnesota.
The Mavericks now have agreed to terms with Jose Calderon, Devin Harris and Gal Mekel in the backcourt, along with Ellington.
Ellington averaged 10.4 points in 38 games with the Cavaliers last season. The North Carolina product has shot 38.2 percent from 3-point range in his career.
It is believed Ellington will be earning the Mavericks' mid-level exception this season, which will be $2.652 million, the NBA said Tuesday night when releasing the new salary cap, which is at $58.679 million.


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Launchpad is a new application launcher introduced by Apple in their new Mac OS X Lion.
WinLaunch is a Mac OS X Lion Launchpad for Windows. With WinLaunch for Windows XP, Vista and 7 you can replicate the iOS group folders or Mac OS Launchpad feature on Windows PC. Available for both 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows you can customize to the core to make it look like Mac OS X LaunchPad or create your own themes. Features: Instant access to all your important applications and documents from everywhere! Perfect Mac OS X look and feel. Tons of customization options. Optimized controls for touchscreens and tablets! Windows 8 ready! + it's Free! WinLaunch runs very smoothly, especially considering it's still in beta, so if you want tweak your Windows look and feel and make it somewhat more Mac-ish, you're going to love WinLaunch.
What's new in this version:
- Updated languages
- fixed some bugs
- fixed closebox hit-testing
- fixed updater bug
- added several new translations
- refined some animations
- added a full auto updater
- fixed some language bugs
WinLaunch is portable application -- requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 to be installed in your system.
Download: WinLaunch 0.4.5.2 | 16.1 MB (Freeware)
View: Homepage | DeviantART Page


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Trade Show Displays
View All Departments
The Rundown
10' XRline XR.W.1N.H.LIT package includes 10' display unit with wave aluminum canopy and 6 pre-installed downlights, header with graphic, one NLC1 locking counter, large graphic for backwall, wings, and casing. This sleek display package ships in 2 wheeled cases that can be shipped via UPS/FedEx.
This system can be set up by one person in about than 45 minutes, although it is easier and faster with two people. The few tools that are required are provided.
A Little More Info.
Download graphic templates below:
10' XRline Backwall - File should be 68.375"w x 74.75"h.
Live Visual Area is 68"w x 74.375"h
Wave Header - File should be 36"w x 10.5"h.
See graphic template for more details.
Wings - See templates for details. Illustrator template has wing shapes available on layers palette.
General Artwork Guidelines:
Artwork should be built at full-scale at 100 dpi minimum in CMYK mode. All fonts should be outlined and linked images provided. Provide any critical PMS colors to Displayit. For more information, see our artwork requirements.
Final art can be uploaded here before or after you place your order.
XRline Laminates Available
Due to variation in monitor settings, the color shown on your screen may vary from the actual color of the laminate.
Wing/Header Materials
XRline Infill Panels Available
Due to variation in monitor settings, the color shown on your screen may vary from the actual color of the infill.
* Only available for flat panels
** Only available for flat and slightly curved panels
Video: XRline Overview
Download low-resolution Windows Media Player video
Video: NLC1 Counter Assembly
(Above) A video rendering showing how the NLC1 counter goes together. (Below) Video of Ben putting his first NLC1 counter together.


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Moderators: quietgirl2538, Snaga
newuser wrote:I don't know if I have depression, or my symptoms are side-effects of Lexapro. I don't feel like crying, but I just feel tired all the time and don't feel like doing much at home but sleeping. I think I will stop Lexapro and see what happens. If that doesn't work, I can try taking 10mg.
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Sanford Wheeler
|This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (May 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
|Sanford Wheeler
|Personal information
|Date of birth
|6 April 1970
|Place of birth
|California, United States of America
|Original team(s)
|Parramatta (Sydney AFL)
|Round 6, 6 May 1989, Sydney Swans
vs. St Kilda, at Moorrabin
|186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
|90 kg (198 lb)
|Playing career1
|Games (Goals)
|Sydney Swans
|43 (7)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1994.
|Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com
Sanford Wheeler (previously known as Matthew Wheeler) (born 6 April 1970 in California, United States) is a former Australian rules football player for the Sydney Swans.
He is notable as being the first African-American born player in the history of the AFL and one of few players from the United States to play in the Australian Football League.
Matthew Wheeler migrated with his Australian father and African-American mother to Sydney, New South Wales at the age of 5. As a teenager, he began to take an interest in Aussie Rules and played his junior football for the Parramatta Aussie Rules club.
Recruited by the Sydney Swans as a rookie using their zone allocation, the athletic long haired Wheeler frequently exhibited some dash and flair off the wing and as a rugged rebounding defender off the half back flank. His quick run and hard tackling were trademarks of his game. However his disposal skills let him down and he had a tendency to get caught holding the ball.
Midway through his career, he changed his first name by Deed poll to "Sanford".
Up to 1993, he had played 36 games and kicked 6 goals during the Swans' darkest era.
After a serious knee injury and being used sparingly by coach Ron Barassi, he was delisted after the 1994 season as part of a shake up of the Swans list.
External links[edit]
- Sanford Wheeler's statistics from AFL Tables
|This Australian rules football biography of a person born in the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
- 1970 births
- Living people
- American players of Australian rules football
- Sydney Swans players
- Australian rules footballers from New South Wales
- East Coast Eagles players
- American emigrants to Australia
- New South Wales Australian rules football State of Origin players
- Australian rules biography, 1970s birth stubs


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Pre-1965 40% Silver coins, sometimes referred to as junk Silver or scrap Silver, are a great way to start your Silver investments. These Silver coins were pulled from circulation with the introduction of copper/nickel clad coins and the rising demand of Silver. The public saved them for their 40% Silver content as a rainy day fund they can fall back on.
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We provide all of our customers with a refund, return and / or exchange on everything we sell including all bullion and certified coins. If for any reason, you have a problem, please feel free to call us. We will always do our best to accommodate you.


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Superman lives! Kind of. An RC enthusiast created a life-sized, remote-controlled version of the Man of Steel and has been flying it over the dunes straddling the Pacific Coast Highway near Carlsbad, Calif.
Stunned spectators have been stopped in their tracks, but, luckily, one cyclist had the presence of mind to whip out his iPhone and make a video.
According to the LA Times blog, published on Jan. 3, Kyle Gough was cycling along the PCH with a buddy when suddenly they were shocked to see Superman soaring overhead.
"We stopped, got off our bikes just in time to watch him land. After a quick battery change, I grabbed the only thing I had on me (my cellphone, sorry for the quality) and took some video of what is EASILY the coolest custom RC plane I've ever seen."
Superman flies over Carlsbad
RC – Superman!
via 'Superman' spotted flying near the Pacific Coast Highway (Video) – Allentown Culture | Examiner.com.
Here's a similar thing…


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Edit: Can't change thread title...This problem is not really related to PeekMessage.
Nevermind my earlier post, I have a working draw routine, but it leaks GDI resources by the thousands...
I clean up the compatible DC with DeleteDC, I clean up the window DC with ReleaseDC and select the default bitmap before I delete the memory DC. I read the MSDN section several times but I still can't see what I'm leaking.Code:
HBITMAP hbmOld;
HDC hdc = GetDC(hwnd);
HDC hdcMem = CreateCompatibleDC(hdc);
hbmTemp = CreateCompatibleBitmap(hdc, 256, 240);
SetDIBits(hdcMem, hbmTemp, 0, 256, bmMainBits, bmiMain, DIB_RGB_COLORS);
hbmOld = SelectObject(hdcMem, hbmTemp);
BitBlt(hdc, 0, 0, 240, 256, hdcMem, 0, 0, SRCCOPY);
SelectObject(hdcMem, hbmOld);
ReleaseDC(hwnd, hdc);


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Henri Rivière
A printmaker, stage designer, collector, and author, the versatile Henri Rivière (1864-1951) was largely self-taught. His exceptional gifts as a technician first came to light at the famous Paris cabaret Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat), where the young artist created ingenious shadow plays using zinc figures and backlighting. This experience with the effects of light and shadow may well have piqued his interest in the camera. Rivière took up photography in the mid-1880s, though he did not use the popular Kodak. Instead, he chose a lightweight box camera that used glass plates with a highly sensitive emulsion. Well versed in the technical aspects of the medium, Rivière made cyanotypes as well as gelatin silver prints. The artist's photographs reflect his abiding interest in the pace of city life, recording the activity along the streets of Paris and the banks of the Seine. He also directed his camera to the beauty of the Brittany countryside, where Rivière and his wife Eugénie spent their summers. A passionate member of France's great printmaking revival, the artist created woodblocks and lithographs that showed his admiration and understanding of Japanese woodcuts. The closest links between Rivière's photographs and prints exist in a portfolio of Eiffel Tower views printed in 1902, which was designed in homage to the Japanese printmaker Hokusai.
The Eiffel Tower: Painter on a knotted rope along a vertical girder, below an intersection of girders, 1889, Gelatin silver print and Plate 36, The Painter in the Tower from Thirty-six Views of the Eiffel Tower,1888–1902, Lithograph.
In 1889, Rivière and his colleagues from the Chat Noir cabaret attended a preview of the Eiffel Tower upon the invitation of the structure's visionary engineer, Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923). Rivière's visit yielded thirty-nine photographs, four of which directly inspired images in a bound suite of thirty-six lithographs. In addition to photography, the aesthetic of the series is indebted to Japanese woodblock prints. Rivière taught himself to recreate the processes of Japanese printmakers and for this album he employed the restricted palette they favored for their books. Even the title of Rivière's publication – Les trente-six vues de la Tour Eiffel (Thirty-six Views of the Eiffel Tower) – references Katsushika Hokusai's famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (1826-1833).


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TAMPA — By the year 2100, much of the Pinellas coastline and parts of Hillsborough will be inundated with water, an estimate that almost doubles researchers' original predictions about the rise in sea levels, scientists in global warming said Thursday.
Scientists with the Clean Air-Cool Planet initiative, which aims to find solutions to global warming, unveiled their findings at the Florida Aquarium. It was their first stop on a "Hip Boot Tour" discussing the global effects of the rapid decline of the Greenland ice sheet.
"In a place like Florida, you're going to be constantly shoveling out buckets of water," said Gordon Hamilton, an associate research professor at the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute who studies polar glaciology. "Flooding will inundate structures and ecosystems."
Hamilton said he first realized the urgency of melting polar ice on a flight to the region in 2005. He had mapped the coordinates of a glacier a few months before his trip. The day of the helicopter flight, the glacier was no longer there.
"That was my 'gee whiz' moment," Hamilton said. "We were flying over open sea."
Melting ice and broken glaciers send water levels rising around the world. This year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded through its latest research that the rise of sea levels could be about 1 meter. However, Hamilton's study indicates that the number could be double that. In Florida, the levels would rise about 3 to 6 feet, or even more.
But some scientists said the numbers vary so widely above and below the panel's numbers that it is hard to say whose predictions are correct.
"People are measuring (the rate of polar ice melting) all the time, but no one knows for sure whether it's a long-term acceleration that will continue to increase or it is part of a gradual up-and-down kind of thing," said Abby Sallenger, an oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey's center for Coastal and Watershed Studies. "There has been a tremendous amount of uncertainty."
If Hamilton's predictions come true in low-lying Florida, ground water would be contaminated by saltwater, making it unusable.
Communities in Pinellas County that sit along the Gulf of Mexico would be saturated. Homes and businesses along Old Tampa Bay and MacDill Air Force Base also would be affected.
"The implications for the environment and society are pretty alarming," Hamilton said.
Brooks Yeager, executive vice president for policy for Clean Air-Cool Planet, also took the tour to the Sun Spree Resort in St. Petersburg, where scientists spoke at the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Area Scientific Information Symposium.
While at the aquarium, Yeager pointed to several steps people can take to slow the warming. They include reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon into the atmosphere and looking at the development of coastal infrastructure like cultivating mangroves that can slow the rise of the water.
Emily Rocheleau, the Hip Boot Tour organizer, donned a pair of hip boots to communicate the visual difference between previous scientists' estimates and Hamilton's findings.
She raised a hula hoop near her knees to represent the 17.3-inch rise in sea levels that scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have predicted for this century. She then raised the hoop to her waist and then her chest to represent the new ranges. The grimmest scenario: The hula hoop lingered above her head.
Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at (813)909-4613 or email@example.com.